electrosoft

So much for Brian's foray into using the 7900xtx as his main GPU (for now): Reasons:

Absolutely! Nice surprise especially considering with 1:1 we were already maxed out with low tier memory speeds as 9000 is right around the corner with 10k on the horizon. AMD clearly sees bandwidth has its advantages. On the Intel side, there are plenty of benchmarks out there showing as DDR5 continues to gain in frequency it is finally vanquishing the last vestiges of any DDR4 superiority even at 1:1 and superior timings. I can see the same being true for AMD too.

I waited and picked up a used A-die kit which is now priced around that new but I love seeing DDR5 being adopted so rapidly and prices dropping like crazy. And at this rate, by this time next year I can see DDR5 kits around the 10k range.

Doesn't change what I said..... 🙂 What I stated still stands and is sound. 😁 But I am curious will this be massively diminishing returns, bandwidth for the sake of actual throughput or proper async advantages (aka have our cake and eat it too). If we look at Intel, you need ~7400+ 1:2 to match DDR4 4133 1:1 in many scenarios. Acknowledging they are not the same, using the same ratio for AMD we may find ourselves in the same boat *early on* waiting for ~ 10800+ 1:2 to match 6000-6200 1:1. This could be laying the groundwork for next gen DDR5 (See 11th gen Intel 1:1 vs 1:2 mode DDR4). I am glad it was implemented and we can now will have the same choice and platforms to flesh out what works best knowing DDR5 will eventually take over (if it hasn't already on implementation).

Still stuck around imc / fclk limitations. WIth this variant, you end up with mclk boost from 3000 to 4000 (!). I mean you can run your memory faster though but if it ends up being a 1:2 scenario you will potentially end up still having better results (and overall timings) running it 1:1 like AM4 and DDR4. On the other hand, if this is a truly optimized async setup that's at least interesting. One thing I am curious to see and hopeful for is the noted improvements in 1:1 performance as this version is rumored to bring refinements in that area and maybe more IMCs can be pushed closer to 6400 1:1 than before.

@tps3443 seems to come and go. I suspect life as always. 🙂 Hopefully it's on the up and up and a good deal for that price. I'm generally curious as it says shipped from Amazon (but not sold by) so you would think Amazon would have vetted the product a bit.

When I was lamenting and accepting the fact that the NH55 was the last of the DTRs (and a scaled down one at that with mobile chipset and soldered GPU) and planning my switch to SFF portable computing, I did contemplate a super tiny lunchbox case with an external rad because then there is no airflow compromise. I would have went with as small of an AIO as needed though (240mm or 280mm) not that monster AC LF II 420 🤨 I wanted an all in one unit with wireless KB/M and a >=20" display for fast and easy setup while not being sprawled all over what ever desk/table it ends up being setup upon. Basically, the core challenge was, "could I take this into a bookstore or Starbucks and set it up quickly for use?" Having to remount the AIO, unmount, clean...repeat would grow tiresome quickly too. Looking at the case he used that would make a killer air cooled 7800X3D build out with a 7900xtx at a really good price. It doesn't include the riser cable though. Like @Custom90gt and his N200R, this is like prototyping/phase 1 sff build out exploration. I learned a lot with the N200R and Hyte R3 and what I like and dislike. I'll explore this Cougar ITX case next that was just delivered. Switching to SFF for portable use is exciting and makes mobile builds and tweaking fun again. I suspect over the next few years I will end up with an equal stockpile of SFF parts as desktop parts as I explore other builds and keep trying to make my portable rig(s) smaller and smaller while still packing a true desktop level punch.

I'm old bro. 🙂 I still remember my mom picking it up from the grocery store and reading it as a kid. It was our TMZ back in the day!

I routinely crack up over some of the thumbnails I see for YT videos but it as been proven "shock value" thumbnails pull in extra views. Modern day National Inquirer type cover shots. 🙂

The almost nail in the DDR4 coffin vs DDR5... My last sets of DDR4 was for a few budget boards but with ~7600+ DDR5 there is no scenario where you should be considering DDR4 especially as prices continue to fall.

@Mr. Fox 13900k on sale for $410.99 if you want to return that 13700k Amazon.com: Intel Core i9-13900K (Latest Gen) Gaming Desktop Processor 24 cores (8 P-cores + 16 E-cores) with Integrated Graphics - Unlocked : Electronics Edit: Might be a scam seller, but you can always get a refund if so.

Yeah the Cougar really caught my eye especially the traditional top mount ability for an AIO and the handles and sturdiness. It should be here Thursday. I call it a $67 itch to scratch. That's the Hyte Revolt 3 without the front and side panels on while I run it through its paces before installing the GPU I picked it up w/ PSU for $125 from Amazon when I sent back the N200R.

State of the SFF : I had to abandon the EVGA CLC 280 as the tubes from the top made it so tight in the Hyte R3 with bending the flow was compromised and the system was shooting to 99 and overheating even sitting in the bios. Found out MSI immediately sets all CPU settings back to auto/low when this happens when your system goes past your CPU temp limit set. I had an ID Cooling Frostflow x 280mm AIO $55 special sitting in the closet sealed and it checked enough of the boxes especially not having all types of "breakout" BS like Corsair and NZXT. I wanted to use a Kraken but having to use the CAM software to control everything and all the extra cabling. I wanted a minimal AIO and ID cooling is it. Fans run independently and the pump connects directly to the MB. Tubes are short and pump head is smaller and ergonomic. I swapped out the stock fans for Arctic P12s same as used on the CLC 280. ID runs about 4-6c warmer under CB23 (~80c) full tilt 5.6/4.3 on a $60 bargin bin AIO + Gelid Extreme with compromised air flow with no delid or heroic measures. I'm not doing backflips over this case and having worked with the N200R and now Hyte R3, I am not a fan of AIOs mounting directly over the motherboard in this side fashion. I wish Cool Master offered their N200R Max case with no AIO or PSU in the same price range as the N200R doesn't have space up for an AIO. I did pick up one of these to explore from Cougar. It looks like it checks all the boxes and then some for a portable ITX build. I found a show floor model on eBay for a substantial discount and upgraded to Noctua fans for $42 ($67 w/ shipping) 6700XT arrived early as I was finishing up the test build so I'll pop that in later but now I'm going to shift back to the NH55 to re-dial in the relidded 12900k in there.

When you're pushing the HOF, how is the pull distributed across the dual connectors? Evenly? One favored over the other? With the 666w BIOS and pushed to 1.10v your HOF clocks almost identical to my Suprim except I clock a bit higher on VRAM. There were some over on OCN saying the newer Nvidia drivers let them push their memory higher. I haven't given it a whirl yet to see but it looked like not much came of that. You should hunt down the 1000w+ vBIOS and attach TWO cable mod adapters for double trouble! FAFO in full effect! 😅

Sheesh, even the angled adapters aren't safe.... I'm more than happy with my tentacled stock beauty. 🙂

As always, I'll be waiting day one to see your results bro. 🙂 Well, there's always this SP117 on eBay for $2500.....

Loved FO4 and absolutely love FO76 but it took 3yrs to get FO76 to where it needed to be. 🙂 Hopefully they are in a better place and have learned a lot from their previous works and forays into pseudo MMOs.

Holy $(%$# 366w even with LLC adjustment? Should been sold as a 13900KKS "Kinda KS" with enough voltage and cooling any K can run like a stock KS. 🙂 4070ti isn't a bad card at all. None of Nvidia's cards are bad. They're all actually quite good even the 4060. It is just their pricing and placement. If they had priced the 4070ti like the 3070ti they would have been flying off the shelves. Even $699 like you mention would have moved them a bit faster. Congrats!

Yeah I'll definitely be playing. I've just about wrapped up the scoreboard in Fallout 76 for the season already. I'll then play Diablo IV (or get back into WoW since the wife has been asking) till Starfield drops. I usually always try to buy used parts along with open box / return items from the retailers to save as much as possible even if I'm buying within the current generation when the opportunity presents itself. If I want something and the only option is new sometimes I just grin and bear it but I do like to save as much as possible.

It will be fun to see where certified 8000 sticks go on your board to test the CPU but more importantly to see what that memory slots can do. Now you've piqued my curiosity. I might go in there and change gears and see where these DR A-die's decide to give up the ghost on my MSI. ---- I ended up picking up Winasm's NH55 (as predicted over a year ago) and I plan on holding onto it for quite some time as it is the true last DTR'esque laptop with interchangeable components sans GPU. I did drop this choice SP115 13900ks in there just to see but as expected a BIOS updated is needed. If you could, um, get Prema on a CPU update and get that over to me that would be swell. 😁 I tested the 13900KS on my Z690 D4 with motherboard constraints to simulate the laptop (140w + -0.100 UV) comparing it to my two 12900k chips with the same conditions I used to pre-qualify for NH55 use (it also let me quickly realize the binned 12900k from Winasm was running abnormally hot and a delid showed the STIM was missing from around one side) and the SP115 13900KS was popping out ~34k in CB23 even constrained to 140w w/ a UV. Down the line, I'd love to eventually move that into the NH55 with a proper delid and really let it flex but some Prema love would be required. I'll be updating the NH55 thread with results once I relid this 12900k. My conformal coating decided to crack and leak everywhere on my shelf so I had to order another bottle.

Ah yes.... "requires" I don't like what AMD is doing but I understand. I don't like what Nvidia is doing but I understand. It's war and they both play dirty. DLSS or not, I'll be playing Starfield. 🙂

14th gen refresh is shaping up nicely. Lower tier chips are getting a little bit of both (extra cores and frequency) 14900k = 13900KS Wonder if they'll have a 14900KS down the line? The ultimate of ultimate binned. This feels a touch like Skylake stretching. 🙂

You will probably dial those in and get amazing timings as these newer revs are getting better and better as DDR5 picks up steam. AMD Gear 2 (aka gear 4 for Intel) might hit a motherboard limitation before the memory even gets close to giving up the ghost. It would also give us some indicator for future AMD chips on older rev boards if they support higher IMC frequencies. Diablo IV was using 20GB of system memory AND 20GB of VRAM at one point when I was playing in 4k. You can never have enough unless the memory upgrade severely compromises frequency and timings.

The previous idea was a 4k 144hz portable system with a FE 4090. Display was ~$500 along with bulky (~27") and GPU $1600. I switched up to a 22" 1080p 144hz portable display for $85 after tax and now the 6700XT net $191. I, ah, had a change of heart financially. 😁 I plan on playing Starfield so a win win. As for DDR5, dual rank > single rank but single rank scales so much better that for a platform like Intel those frequency gains outweigh any advantages dual rank would have. The impact of DR isn't as great as DDR4 but it still provides an advantage. Luckily AM5 is capped to realistically 6000 +/- 400 depending on IMC and DR/SR status. Since our IMCs are capped, we can have it all: Optimal frequency (6000), timings and DR. I ended up with a pair of A-die DR 2x32GB G.skill sticks with great timings at 6000. If this were Intel, I'd be looking for SR sticks that can do 7600+. Those same DR A-die sticks rockin out on my AM5 give up the ghost at 7000 on my MSI Z790i Edge w/ 13900KS. I already booted 8200 SR sticks on it a week or so ago testing some GEIL 8000 rated sticks.

Congrats on the pick up and that is the best price out there for all 6950XT cards and matches the pricing on the Red Devil 6950XT but that's out of stock (I would have picked up the Asrock anyhow). Toss in a free $100 game code and that's win win all around. After hemming and hawing and going through so many pricing scenarios, I ended up picking up a Powercolor Fighter 6700XT from Amazon for Prime Day. They are offering 7% back on the Prime Visa card for slow shipping so it won't ship out and be delivered till next week but that gives me time to check on other deals and cancel if needed so after tax and 7% back my total cost was ~$298. Toss in a $100 game code (~$107 after tax) and my net cost for the card is ~$191. I spend a lot of time doing performance comparisons with everything from the 6600 up to the 6800xt/4060ti and the 6700xt at that price point made the most sense especially with the 6700xt including the Premium edition of Starfield. That basically knocked every Nvidia potential out of running even moreso than before. I was going to pick up an MSI 6750xt but it was ~$45 more when everything was said and done for basically the same performance. I'll still keep an eye on them just in case.