Mr. Fox

That question was for @Talonregarding his IMC SP rating. New version of RivaTuner. Looks like new features and fixes. https://www.guru3d.com/files_details/rtss_rivatuner_statistics_server_download.html

What is the IMC SP rating on that 13900K?

I like the CPU frame mainly because it provides some extra protection to the CPU SMDs and socket running liquid metal. You could actually omit the screws and just use the water block to press the CPU into the pins. The danger there is only during disassembly. You don't want the CPU to stick to the block initially, then come loose and fall into the open CPU socket and bend the pins or damage the CPU. But, if you do the washer mod it will be good enough. Using 1.0mm nylon washers between the ILM and mobo PCB gave me the same results as the CPU frame and it was enough pressure to have proper pin contact.

If they fix it the EKWB DD kit should be fine. If they do not, then I will lap the cold plate and see if I can fix it. But, as shipped it is no better than using the IHS and a total waste of time and money. The problem seems to be the cold plate is not flat. It is shaped for a concave surface as you would expect using an IHS. That messes up contact between the block and die. The Supercool kit is definitely better by a lot due to the flawed cold plate on the EKWB DD.

How many processes are showing as active in Task Manager. You need to be down below 75 processes (50 or less is ideal) and run the benchmark with the CPU priority set to Realtime. Looks like you have taken the right steps. Like @johnksssyou can try Above Normal or High. Once in a while I see lower Cinebench scores with realtime. How does your cache ratio and memory clock compare to the one you are trying to beat? If all things are equal, blame the OS. Have you removed Windows Defender and uninstalled any third-party AV? How about disabling network and audio adapters? Their drivers can also slow down a CPU. Basically, you want the CPU to be distracted by nothing. When running Cinebench, its one and only mission in life at that point in time should be running Cinebench and nothing else matters.

I just ordered a CPU from them. I spoke to a salesman and confirmed the 100% satisfaction guaranteed applied to the CPU. So, if I get it and it is a lousy sample I have 30 days to return it for refund no questions asked. He could not tell me what an "embargo" 13900KS is, but my logic is that it was a first batch intended for reviewers and may be (hopefully) cream of the crop silicon quality. I guess we will find out. And, I will know within 5 minutes or less if it is a keeper or an RMA candidate. A couple of years ago I never would have bought a tray CPU because they have no warranty from Intel. They are for bulk sales and system builders and the seller has to provide a warranty. But, now that Intel no longer offer the performance tuning warranty and they arbitrarily void your warranty if you admit to overclocking the CPU or memory, buying a boxed retail CPU is pointless unless you plan to lie to Intel and hope they believe you.

If they don't take care of me they'll be on my brand to avoid list like Asus. I can probably lap the cold plate and get the results I want but I really don't want to destroy the nickel finish that is ideally suited for liquid metal. I can't really even sell it with a clear conscience because I know that would be selling something that does not work to someone that doesn't know better. That would make me no better than the scumbag that screwed brother @tps3443selling him a defective Apex. I think I could release a pretty harmful video on YouTube if EK don't make this right.

On a happier note, the Cuplex Kryos block that I used to have on Wraith looks great on Banshee. As was the case before, CPU temps are identical to the OptimusPC Foundation block. So, nothing to complain about, and a nice little "extra" benefit having the coolant temperature monitored. One of these days I am going to grab another memory waterblock so I can get rid of the tacky-looking Noctua fans blowing on the RAM. And, this is what I love about the stock ribbon cables that come with the Corsair RM1200x SHIFT PSU. They look great and they are SO MUCH easier to manage than round cables with sleeves. They take up comparatively little space and look very neat and clean. That is three 8-pin GPU power cables in this compact bundle.

Sounds like there is very little difference between your K and KS when installed in a motherboard that functions correctly. Awesome.

I still have it. They refused to do anything and said my stupid high temperatures were "as expected" for my overclock. I am asking them to make it right now. Below is the last email exchange with EKWB from 3 weeks ago when they told me it worked as intended. These are the unlisted YouTube videos I provided to EKWB already. If they make this right I will do a public review and give them credit for resolving the issue and doing the right thing. If they do not make it right, then I will do a negative video review exposing them for releasing a defective product and refusing to fix it for me, even though they fixed it for other customers, and include links to that thread for others to post their bad experience.

Thanks. I posted in that thread and asked them to reopen my case and send me the new parts. I would love to be able to use it. It is beautiful but does not work as intended. What makes this a bad reflection on them is that they never contacted me with the solution. I am having to find the information without their help (thanks to your help) and ask them to reopen my support case and fix the problem for me. They should have proactively contacted me to inform me that they have a solution to my issue instead of me having to pursue them. https://www.overclock.net/threads/ek-velocity-2-direct-die-problems.1804920/page-4#post-29169460 I was an early adopter and one of the first to receive the new defective product, had lots of communication with them about it starting more than a month ago. They ended with a "we're sorry" email and now I am having to come back and ask them to make things right again. Would have been much better for them to have contacted me with "we have a solution and we are making this right" email. I sent them numerous videos and information. I should have been one of the first they contacted proactively and nothing.

Agreed about the dishonesty part, but being a 2021 or 2022 does not in itself guarantee greatness or lack thereof.

I think the issue is that you got a garbage sample, not the Z690 Apex product in general. There should not be any garbage samples of such an expensive motherboard. It is a very capable highly performant enthusiast product if you get one that is not messed up. It is truly tragic that ASUS QC is poor.

Looks cool. Hadn't heard of it before. Edit: bummer... online co-op. Hopefully, that is only the early access version and the final product will be single player campaign with an online multi-player option or I will have to skip it. Otherwise, looks good.

This is a pretty cool-looking open bench at a really decent price. ($65 USD) Modular design and anodized CNC-cut aluminum. https://www.ebay.com/itm/195461130633? I would use it flat/horizontal, not angled like in the marketing images.

Probably so, but you may have to increase the voltage based on the Micron silicon quality. It is hard to know for sure until you try, and there is a silicon lottery with all of the memory ICs. The best answer is "yes, probably, but..." 😄 There is a fair amount of inconsistency in the tuning capabilities on DDR5 modules with the exact same IC, SKU and branding. I think more than there was with DDR4. The variance applies to all of the ICs, unfortunately. To some degree I think it is more so with DDR5 than DDR4 due to the much high clock speeds and running in quad channel mode.

Micron, Samsung and SK Hynix perform the same within a margin of error at a given clock speed using the same timings. Where they differ is how far they can be overclocked, how tight the timings can be set, and the amount of voltage it takes. At 5600 CL40 it will perform like 5600 CL40 if all things are equal in terms of timings. It is very mechanical and all about bandwidth and data transfer rates.

Good point. There is a possibility that something(s) won't fit even if they look the same on the surface. Probably the only way to know would be to try it and see what happens.

Cool. You certainly don't see that much on laptops any more. Is that with the stock Lenovo firmware, or a BIOS mod?

Assuming you don't get a defective one, overclocking excellence is the drawing card for this model. It is the Asus competitor to the Dark offered by EVGA and the Unify-X from MSI. 4-DIMM motherboards universally suck at memory overclocking, but these are the Titans that represent the trifecta of the XOC enthusiast motherboards. Simply put, you can't do better with anything else other than one of these three options. Results trump features in this arena. I love that solution. If Asus leaves you holding the bag on the defective one that was pawned off on you, squeeze that lemon and enjoy the lemonade. It is truly idiotic that the guy on HWBOT sells the heatsinks for the value of copper. He should not have a surprised look on his face that nobody (so far) wants to buy his butchered piece of crap leftover motherboard, but in this case it could work in your favor with the donor on hand.

The last 3 high-end Asus motherboards I have purchased failed and were replaced by an EVGA motherboard that never failed. The replacements sent to me by Asus weeks later were sold on eBay without ever being installed or tested. The last 3 budget/mid-range motherboards have been rock solid and haven't missed a beat (Prime and Strix models). They are not the best at overclocking, but have been reliable. Pay more, get less. What's wrong with this picture? It seems like they only care about getting things right on the products that they sell the most of, not the products that they charge the most for. That fits my scenario, and it sounds like it mirrors what Brother @Rage Sethas experienced with his TR mobos.

They may fix it for a reasonable price. I think ASUS charges like $75 or $100 USD when they deny warranty for that reason. I think @johnkssshas paid them something like that before. MSI is probably the same if they have the ability.

Walmart computers are often the stuff that people that have a smidgen of tech knowledge won't buy from a place that noobs normally shop, like Best Buy. I think that is how they end up with the products and sell them cheap. They are the masters of selling inexpensive products to impulsive buyers that don't know much about what they are buying. That is not to say everything they sell is junk, or that people that shop there are all stupid. To the contrary. I shop there all the time and they do sell good products. I like them as a company for the most part. They are just really good at selling garbage to people that don't know better and grab things just because they are cheap... that's all I am saying. They have an excellent return policy, so I'm OK with that. They've never given me any crap about returning anything... ever. I love and respect that.

@tps3443the decal on the back looks like the SN. The numbering syntax follows the same pattern as the ASUS mobos registered under my name that I no longer own. The "SN" prefix is also kind of a give-away. Examples from my account... none of which I still own. The Strix was solid, but the other three were trash. This bears repeating/re-reading... especially the last two paragraphs.

Yeah, I am really sorry to hear that. When you get a good ASUS product they are truly amazing. When you get one that is not, they are garbage. That is why I try to avoid the brand... total crapshoot. It's really unfortunate because they were once the best. Now they are only the best sometimes... randomly. QC lottery is worse than the silicon lottery. I suspect you know now why you got a good deal on it. Someone lost in the ASUS QC lottery and you inherited their abortion. Makes me feel sick for you, bro. I am well acquainted with drawing short straws on flagship ASUS motherboards that turn out to be trash. It is unfortunate that their less expensive models are more reliable. Prime and Strix are generally consistent, but not great for any kind of hardcore overclocking. If you can convince ASUS that it needs to be replaced (and that is iffy) you might have a good replacement in 4 to 8 weeks. Good luck convincing them it's not trash. Be sure to take very high resolution photos of the CPU socket and everything else or they'll find something obscure to void the warranty and make it your fault, even going as far as sending you pictures of someone else's bent CPU socket pins. They are extremely dishonest. I have even heard that having thermal paste on the motherboard has been used as an excuse to deny warranty, and it fits with the lousy experiences I have had dealing with the imbeciles in their tech support department.