Gaming PC Parts discussion thread.

[Leslieann]

Having 96GB of RAM in a gaming computer is silly. I have 32gb and I cannot imagine upgrading any time soon. Even if I was to build another machine today, I'd get 2 sticks of 16gb. You can always upgrade later, but why spend the money?

So much this.
Tell me why you need 32, let alone 96. "Because Chrome/Edge,etc!"
Have you actually looked at the ram use in your system? Sure you filled up 16Gigs, it's not hard when the system uses 8-12gigs, but have you tried 32 or are you just assuming if 32 is good, 64  or 96 will be even better?

Ram is only part of the bottleneck, you can put 128gigs and still bog it down if the rest of the system is also not beefed up. You need more cpu, the software isn't designed to handle that much ram by itself, but also YOU. You are the real problem. How many windows and tabs do you have open? They never designed it with people like you in mind and this push by Microsoft and Google to leave the system running 24/7/365 only made the problem worse by not forcing you to clear out the ram and maybe your windows/tabs.

Admit it, you aren't actually using all 600+ pages every day/week, ever heard of bookmarks? You can open a whole folder of bookmarks at once. There's no need to leave 400 tabs open 24/7. I have one bookmark folder with 60 pages. One (middle) click they all open and then I can close them with a click and the system runs just fine. Organize your crap and the ram will no longer be a problem. Guess what though, even with 400 windows open and playing videos I still couldn't fill 32 gigs before the system bogged down.

[fohat.digs]

using all 600+ pages

It bothers my field of vision + focus have all that crap in front of my face. It is very rare for me to have more than half a dozen tabs open, and I close everything out and shut the computer down every night.

Several years ago I heard a talk by a psychologist and productivity expert and he burned a principle into my mind =  "Multi-tasking is Worse Than a Lie."

[TomahawkLabs]

I got a genuine improvement in RDR2 going from 16gb to 32gb (3440x1440), but that may be more frequency increases 2666 or whatever to 3200. I am also a staunch close all other apps before playing a game kinda guy. I want all my resources for just the game. Gotta hit 144hz in Oblivion.

[tp4tissue]

Slower typers and/or using slow cpus, they develop a habit where it's very cumbersome to "Get To" the website they want.

So, this is a poverty issue.  And the primary cause of poverty is HyperCapitalism,

The only way to fix this, is to eat 100% veggie, take down capitalism, then move towards Faster CPUs for all mankind.

[Leslieann]

I got a genuine improvement in RDR2 going from 16gb to 32gb (3440x1440), but that may be more frequency increases 2666 or whatever to 3200. I am also a staunch close all other apps before playing a game kinda guy. I want all my resources for just the game. Gotta hit 144hz in Oblivion.

Just because 16 isn't enough, doesn't mean 32 won't be or will fix the problem.
The OS will only take advantage of so much, so will the apps so there is a point of diminishing returns, especially with lower end CPUS. 24 seems to be about that point but 24 makes for an odd config so 32 it is. Due to the way software is made, there hasn't and won't be any time soon where having 8x the typical memory will be of much use to the average user. Double, yes, but not 4 or 8x.

Like you, I'm running 32 as well, 16 wasn't quite enough, but I almost never max that out.


BTW, some games will actually take a hit with too many cores and too much memory (64 gigs seems to be where this starts). Just like high end GPUs, too many cores and memory addresses take CPU power to manage it all and if it's too much the system works too hard to take advantage actually losing performance. Early AMD Threadrippers highlighted this issue where it took quite a bit of CPU just to decide what core to send what data. Still made for a fast cpu, just just as much as people hoped.

Slower typers and/or using slow cpus, they develop a habit where it's very cumbersome to "Get To" the website they want.

This is all the more reason to use bookmarks how I described. Less typing, less resource use.

They're actually making their own problem worse, not helping it.

[tp4tissue]

Why hasn't anyone invented a device which allows Gamers to eat rice and play video games at the same time.

[tp4tissue]

You guys remember just LEAVING the game running?

Can't do that no more if it's pulling 500watts from the wall. Unless you're Mega Rich.

[tp4tissue]

LOL, the latest internet joke is Nvidia 5 series cards are Rop'ping people. "missing ROPs, manufacturing defect"

Losing 4-10% performance.

[tp4tissue]

Is it even ethical to use 600-800 watts per hour just to play a PC game? 

[TomahawkLabs]

Is it even ethical to use 600-800 watts per hour just to play a PC game? 

TP4, have you ever seen The Good Place? Because I believe you are the closest living human to Doug Forcett.

[tp4tissue]

Is it even ethical to use 600-800 watts per hour just to play a PC game? 

TP4, have you ever seen The Good Place? Because I believe you are the closest living human to Doug Forcett.

Don't try to flatter Tp4, his Do-Not-Kill list isn't soooooh easy to get on. 

[fohat.digs]

Doug Forcett
.

Tp4, his Do-Not-Kill list

Staggering irony there.

[TomahawkLabs]

If not your list, the list of the Keyboard Institute. They are not happy that I salvage (and restore) Alps switches.

[tp4tissue]

1st world problem.

Thought about doing a De-shroud mod.  But the problem with this red-devil 79xtx is that it doesn't go below 35% pwm, which means, If you buy most 3000rpm fans on the market, it'll push 1500-1700rpm.  The stock fans do 900ish rpm on 35% which is almost silent, but not because it's ball bearing.

Don't think they make PC 3000rpm fans that get near 900 @ 35%.

Controlling it through motherboard would be, tedious. Althoughhhhhh.....

[tp4tissue]

Okokokok, Coverage will probably be about the same. The overhang, mmmmm...

Last photo is the same card the Tp4 has. 1st 2 photo are 79xtx, but diff models. Similar sizes though.

Obviously Tp4 is not going to use overpriced noctuas, arctic p9max p12max p14max(not in stock).

4 options.

The cooler itself is ~30cm long 11.5 cm wide

3x 90mm
2x 90mm + 1x 120mm
3x 120mm
2x 140mm

[tp4tissue]

Just watched FanPhys 's static pressure fans don't exist series.  Tp4's life has been a lie.  Noctua, LIARRRS. 

[fohat.digs]

Tp4's life has been a lie.

So make it real and admit that it is worth living.

[tp4tissue]

9070xt , Blind Buy.  It's got 4070super lvl Raytrace,  which could be slightly faster than 7900xtx depending on the game.

There's literally no reason not to buy it assuming the Price is reasonably close to $599.


What is the possibility of a 3.2ghz edition AIB OC model. Hrrrrm........ pretty low, these would be very high bins, and they'd have to juice it pretty hard, more than 350watts, probably almost 400.

[phinix]

9070xt , Blind Buy.  It's got 4070super lvl Raytrace,  which could be slightly faster than 7900xtx depending on the game.

There's literally no reason not to buy it assuming the Price is reasonably close to $599.


What is the possibility of a 3.2ghz edition AIB OC model. Hrrrrm........ pretty low, these would be very high bins, and they'd have to juice it pretty hard, more than 350watts, probably almost 400.

For some reason I still want 5070.
Am I terribly wrong?
Same price I think.

When are reviews out?

[tp4tissue]

For some reason I still want 5070.
Am I terribly wrong?
Same price I think.

When are reviews out?

You don't need reviews, we are 100% confident in the 9070xt being the better value.

If you got a specific game important to you on the Nvidia list, maybe you can go that direction, but Given the Rop'ped scandal, IDK. I just wouldn't

[phinix]

For some reason I still want 5070.
Am I terribly wrong?
Same price I think.

When are reviews out?

You don't need reviews, we are 100% confident in the 9070xt being the better value.

If you got a specific game important to you on the Nvidia list, maybe you can go that direction, but Given the Rop'ped scandal, IDK. I just wouldn't

Is it possible that its true that 9070XT will be similar to 5070Ti in fps?

I don't know which games are nvidia preferred. I like games like Dead Space, Silent Hill, Cyberpunk, Witcher...

[noisyturtle]

The 4 and 5K series just don't seem worth it, and it's been shown Nvid is bottlenecking releases.
The 6K series is where we will really see something new and worth upgrading over. There has been almost no significant advancements since RTX was introduced in the 2/3K series. Just squeezing blood from a stone at this point. 6K will be something new, 7/8K will be minor improvements upon that. 9K will be a one-off. 10K will begin to integrate quantum computing.

And so my crystal ball reads

[tp4tissue]

Why are there so few 3000rpm fan options??

[tp4tissue]

There's literally only 2 that are reasonably priced.

[tp4tissue]

AMD platform is smarter.

It's really not that Hopping the Chipset itself will introduce "THAT" much more latency, it's that unexpected latency can happen as motherboard vendors change host chips/ configurations/ routes.

Whereas with the AMD's USB integration, AMD can guarantee, and does the quality control on your most important peripherals.

There were bugs when they first introduced this, but it's been well ironed out over time.

If you're using AMD plat, make sure to jack in to the native usbs, those are the bestest usbs.


For comparison.  Tp4 did some tests using a usb dac.  On old motherboards which have the hop, some boards can introduce as much as 100-200ms audio latency to the dac. On the 3x b650 mobos the Tp4 owns, without a hitch, no perceptible latency at all.

[tp4tissue]

Went to the basement just now to get some sodas. Shooting pain up the leg. Stepped on a pc-thumb-screw.  Where did it come from, Tp4 knows not.  Haven't done any PC stuff down there of late, certainly haven't used thumbscrews for YEARS..

PC thumbscrews, people still'us'em?

[phinix]

Looks like 9070xt going to be really good card, cheaper but same performance to 5070Ti.
Almost same price as 5070.
I'm scared to change side and go for red, whole life had nvidia cards only. Is it really good to buy AMD? They have their own DLSS and frame-generation, right?
Only thing is most 9070XT need 3x 8 pin plugs, only one I found, Sapphire takes just 2x8pin. I wish they had that new 12pin socket.

I could get 9070xt and then if want nvidia again, change it when 5xxx Super series is out. I dont know...
But 5070 would be enough for me I think. Just that stupid vram issues, 12GB might be not enough for 4k gaming in some cases. What happens when vram is full?

[tp4tissue]

Check the specific game you care about, if it's one with heavily biased fps performance.

Other than that, no major issue. FSR is more/less equivalent to DLSS. Frame gen works on both.

3x8pin is there for flair, 9070xt only run 300ish watts.  You only need the 3rd one at 400+.

Tp4 has ran his older sapphire pulse 7900xtx with 2x8pin for over a year, and little break out at the end to go into the 3rd 8pin. It's been fine. 390watts.

The Red devil 7900xtx is using all 3, and it's only 430watts.  The other pc has an older psu

[phinix]

Check the specific game you care about, if it's one with heavily biased fps performance.

Other than that, no major issue. FSR is more/less equivalent to DLSS. Frame gen works on both.

3x8pin is there for flair, 9070xt only run 300ish watts.  You only need the 3rd one at 400+.

Tp4 has ran his older sapphire pulse 7900xtx with 2x8pin for over a year, and little break out at the end to go into the 3rd 8pin. It's been fine. 390watts.

The Red devil 7900xtx is using all 3, and it's only 430watts.  The other pc has an older psu

When are they going to release reviews of 9070XT?
Card comes out day after 5070, but I want to see reviews...

[tp4tissue]

Order both as quickly as possible, it will sell out. Return the one that you like less.

[YALE70]

When are they going to release reviews of 9070XT?
Card comes out day after 5070, but I want to see reviews...

TechPowerUp reported the review embargo might lift on the 5th(https://www.techpowerup.com/332738/amd-radeon-rx-9070-series-review-embargo-reportedly-lifts-on-march-5), but that's pretty old news at this point. No idea if it'll hold true.

I'll second what the others have said; I'd be weary of jumping into 50-series after everything that's happened so far. I'm a longtime Nvidia user myself - I wouldn't touch their current offerings just out of spite, nevermind the legitimate issues that have come up with this gen. Even if Nvidia wasn't full of crap in regards to pure raster performance, there weren't any stock or pricing issues, ROPs weren't missing, and power connectors weren't melting - the 9070 XT at least on paper seems like it's a substantially better value over a 5070 Ti. I think outside of very specific use cases (ie. you really, REALLY care about RT, need CUDA specifically, etc.), the name on the card isn't going to matter a whole lot.

But unfortunately, this doesn't seem to be a market where you can really take your time on cross-shopping anymore. Trying to buy both and returning one of them isn't the worst idea considering it's probably going to be quite hard to get either card for the next few months or so.

[phinix]

When are they going to release reviews of 9070XT?
Card comes out day after 5070, but I want to see reviews...

TechPowerUp reported the review embargo might lift on the 5th(https://www.techpowerup.com/332738/amd-radeon-rx-9070-series-review-embargo-reportedly-lifts-on-march-5), but that's pretty old news at this point. No idea if it'll hold true.

I'll second what the others have said; I'd be weary of jumping into 50-series after everything that's happened so far. I'm a longtime Nvidia user myself - I wouldn't touch their current offerings just out of spite, nevermind the legitimate issues that have come up with this gen. Even if Nvidia wasn't full of crap in regards to pure raster performance, there weren't any stock or pricing issues, ROPs weren't missing, and power connectors weren't melting - the 9070 XT at least on paper seems like it's a substantially better value over a 5070 Ti. I think outside of very specific use cases (ie. you really, REALLY care about RT, need CUDA specifically, etc.), the name on the card isn't going to matter a whole lot.

But unfortunately, this doesn't seem to be a market where you can really take your time on cross-shopping anymore. Trying to buy both and returning one of them isn't the worst idea considering it's probably going to be quite hard to get either card for the next few months or so.

eah, I may do what tp said - try to catch 5070 on Wednesday, then 9070xt on Thursday...

[tp4tissue]

It is Friday, Phinix has broken the F5 switch and needs a replacement.

[tp4tissue]

Ok, this is how is gon' be.

Deshroud 7900xtx Red Devil,  Test 3x120mm bank of all 4 fans.
There's no replacement for testing, because performance may vary quite a bit depending on air turbulence/ impedance characteristics of specific heatsinks.

The plan is:

RPM normalized run through
Temp normalized
Noise normalized, tp4 can't measure below 30db, it's also unrealistic to measure lower, because of perceptual issues.
Perceptual silence normalized, by ear (how annoying the sound normalized)
Bearing noise evaluation, by ear.

--Thermalright C12 Black, 1500rpm, $4.30 each, This is a really good fan, it's entirely CFM+Turbulence optimized for its rpm range.

--Arctic P12 Max FDB 120mm, 3300rpm, Cheeeeeep, $10 each, German engineering (so they advertise)

--Scythe Grand Tornado, 3100rpm, FDB, Cheep motor, Glass fiber plastic + housing, $15 each

--Antec Nova 120mm 3200rpm (just came out), 3phase motor (precision rpm target, useless but cool), glass fiber plastic, $21 each, very aggressive value'proposition.

The vaon is likely produced by the same oem that made the overpriced Phantek T30, which also has 3phase + rpm target.

T30 is way overpriced.

[phinix]

It is Friday, Phinix has broken the F5 switch and needs a replacement.

Yeah, F5 is gonna use its lifespan of 50mil hits tomorrow

[tp4tissue]

Brohhhh....

1st set of fans arrived Arctic P12max. Crazy preliminary results after deshroud / mounting 3x120mm.


RPM matched. 2000 rpm.

Stock fans, 52 C, 84 C hotspot
Arctic p12max, 49 C, 74 C hotspot

Thermal paste (ptm7950) Untouched, the shroud was removable without removing heatsink, so the ptm7950 was already fully cycled and cured.

Freakn' amazing.. 


$850 7900xtx powercolor red devil,  Gpu fans are always pretty weak. They're only half the depth (thickness) of regular fans ontop of smaller diameter.

Minimum speed in the card's bios is also 35%, so stock fans run 1000rpm at minimum, not loud, but you can definitely hear it + the bearing.

These p12max fans can go down to 371 rpm idle. Can not hear it whatsoever.

[tp4tissue]

Fan Control is so amazing. Crazy good software. It's just, wow, works perfect.  Auto calibration is messed up and inaccurate, but other than that. It's awesome.

Don't use auto cal, because it doesn't set fan start and stop values correctly.

[tp4tissue]

Fan Control.  It's amazing. Wonderous application.

If they could add a logic where the curve can respond to multiple sensors, depending on which one is higher. Then that's PERFECT.

Edit: OMG it is perfect, it can respond to multiple sensors on 1 curve. OMG...

[tp4tissue]

Oof, this takes Tp4 back. Classsic

[tp4tissue]

Antec nova just arrived. This material is prettttty skook'ms. Glass fiber plastic isn't exactly new, buh..Finally trending.

Rigidity is very high. These are new for the year, so the molds aren't way overshot.

Blades are really heavy, spin up will be slower, not a huge problem, but probably higher current on ramp.

[tp4tissue]

U know whuuhh.. 

RPM matched, performance is identical between the Arctic and Nova.

Buhtt, the Arctic has a distinctly lower pitch wind noise.  Starting to believe dat German Engineering.

415watt gpu Celcius, Core, Hotspot, Ram

Nova,

3200rpm  48 73 78
1820rpm  52 77 81

Arctic

3100rpm 48 73 78
1824rpm 52 78 82

[tp4tissue]

Ok yea, back and forth several times now.

Quite distinct. Beyond the 1700rpm range, the Novas have a higher pitch whine.

This is certainly influenced by heatsink dynamics. But that's why testing is important. If you just went by specs or some internet review, even with due diligence, it's impossible to know where the pitch gets annoying in your specific setup. No substitute for live action.

Quite the upset.

$10 beating $22.

[phinix]

tp, you have too much time on your hands
I used to play around with my hardware a lot back in the days, but its old times for me now...
Nowadays I buy new stuff, install it and forget.

[tp4tissue]

tp, you have too much time on your hands
I used to play around with my hardware a lot back in the days, but its old times for me now...
Nowadays I buy new stuff, install it and forget.

When pc hardware is the only constant in this modern dystopia. One has to make do.

[phinix]

tp, you have too much time on your hands
I used to play around with my hardware a lot back in the days, but its old times for me now...
Nowadays I buy new stuff, install it and forget.

When pc hardware is the only constant in this modern dystopia. One has to make do.

..that and veggies

[tp4tissue]

Always veggies.

[Sniping]

ended up caving in on my words of not buying a new gpu, new 4080 super FE coming into my possession tomorrow. I'm hyped to get it in the rig but not actually sure the safest way to connect it to my old gen sf750 psu lol. hopefully I don't start one of those fabled gpu cable fires. my current GPU is mounted upside down (nr200p inverted) with the cable being pretty bent so I think I'll need to remove one of the case fans that's limiting the clearance of the gpu power cables.

[tp4tissue]

You can buy the multimeter with the current clamp.

[YALE70]

Yeah, F5 is gonna use its lifespan of 50mil hits tomorrow

Hope you caught the 5070 reviews today. Consensus seems to just be "wait until tomorrow". Gamers Nexus evidently already benched the 9070 and 9070 XT and more or less 'strongly implied' that one of the two is at least as powerful as a 7900XT, and within punching distance of a 4080 at times.

When pc hardware is the only constant in this modern dystopia. One has to make do.[/size][/color]

Me being a habitual cheapskate has taken me down many a rabbit hole with PC building that I could've/should've just avoided outright. Any sane person would have bought a new case like... yesterday, but instead I'm here showering myself with metal dust from the Dremel and swearing at my 3D printer.

But I'm having fun! I think...

[phinix]

Yeah, F5 is gonna use its lifespan of 50mil hits tomorrow

Hope you caught the 5070 reviews today. Consensus seems to just be "wait until tomorrow". Gamers Nexus evidently already benched the 9070 and 9070 XT and more or less 'strongly implied' that one of the two is at least as powerful as a 7900XT, and within punching distance of a 4080 at times.

When pc hardware is the only constant in this modern dystopia. One has to make do.[/size][/color]

Me being a habitual cheapskate has taken me down many a rabbit hole with PC building that I could've/should've just avoided outright. Any sane person would have bought a new case like... yesterday, but instead I'm here showering myself with metal dust from the Dremel and swearing at my 3D printer.

But I'm having fun! I think...

Yep, saw the reviews. For me 5070 is alraedy good upgrade, even if the card itself should have been somewhere higer.
Cyberpunk - my 3070 = 30fps, 5070 - 49fps. It is almost 60% increase in this particular game.

However, also noticed that FE won't be available today, but end of March, which I want. So I may see and maybe try to buy 9070XT instead tomorrow
AMD releases reviews today, so lets see Maybe I would get 9070XT, then in 2 years new 6070 FE, if comes out with proper power increase.