Author Topic: It's Spec-Me-Up time! (Read 39325 times)

Eagle · **Reply #30 on:** May 14, 2023, 23:50:04 PM

Re: It's Spec-Me-Up time!

Reply #30 on: May 14, 2023, 23:50:04 PM

Uh-oh. Going down the rabbit hole here.

Motherboard allegedly supports fast RAM but I've read that the CPU will only support a max of 2133Mhz DDR4.

Task Manager reports however that I'm running 2666Mhz so what should I do? I'm just gonna get 2 sticks of 16Gb (as it is only an interim measure and I don't want to blow a hole in my wallet) but I'm assuming 2x 16Gb @ 2666Mhz will be 'safe' as it appears to be currently stable with that speed?

knighty · **Reply #31 on:** May 17, 2023, 08:06:00 AM

Re: It's Spec-Me-Up time!

Reply #31 on: May 17, 2023, 08:06:00 AM

sounds good to me :-)

I think you're looking into it too hard :-o

Clock'd 0Ne · **Reply #32 on:** May 17, 2023, 14:07:06 PM

Re: It's Spec-Me-Up time!

Reply #32 on: May 17, 2023, 14:07:06 PM

For DDR5 you definitely want a matched pair but not sure about DDR4 as I've skipped that, you are probably just as well getting a quad channel kit instead of two matched pairs if there's no price difference in it.

Why don't you use CPU-Z or the like to find out what spec RAM you have right now, then just buy bigger of the same?

Eagle · **Reply #33 on:** May 17, 2023, 16:06:34 PM

Re: It's Spec-Me-Up time!

Reply #33 on: May 17, 2023, 16:06:34 PM

I've installed the RAM now (correctly seated? third time's the charm, eh!

) and it's POST'd just fine. It is running at 2133 which the highest published supported speed of the CPU. Previous install ran 2x8Gb (matched pair) of Kingston at 2666 though so should I o'c it in BIOS to 2666 and see what happens? I'm guessing the worst that can happen is instability - or worst case simply not POST?

What does the BIOS setting do though - does it tweak the motherboard (which easilly supports it at that speed anyway) or is there some other CPU-based setting I need to fiddle with?

New RAM is 3200Mhz btw.

Last Edit: May 17, 2023, 19:10:45 PM by Eagle #187;

Eagle · **Reply #34 on:** May 17, 2023, 16:59:08 PM

Re: It's Spec-Me-Up time!

Reply #34 on: May 17, 2023, 16:59:08 PM

Manual o'c:

Windows POST: @ 2166

Windows POST: @ 2666

Windows POST: @ 2800

Why is it soooo tempting to keep on cranking it up?

Any suggestions for a simple utility to stress test it as it stands? No long, overnight stuff. Or just play games?

Last Edit: May 17, 2023, 17:24:57 PM by Eagle #187;

Clock'd 0Ne · **Reply #35 on:** May 18, 2023, 10:46:09 AM

Re: It's Spec-Me-Up time!

Reply #35 on: May 18, 2023, 10:46:09 AM

I can't remember how it works for overclocking RAM without the CPU, isn't that FSB x multiplier? Are you using XMP profiles or something? If the memory is rated to 3200Mhz and you're not adjusting the CPU then it should run fine at the higher speeds. Memtest86+ is still a classic for testing RAM stability (and that there's no errors).

Also worth noting that tighter RAM timings are probably more important than frequency.

Last Edit: May 18, 2023, 10:52:55 AM by Clock'd 0Ne #187;

Eagle · **Reply #36 on:** May 18, 2023, 16:07:47 PM

Re: It's Spec-Me-Up time!

Reply #36 on: May 18, 2023, 16:07:47 PM

I loaded up the default profile with XMP and it was having none of it - maxxed out the RAM at 3200 and refused to POST!

I think I'll just boost it up one or two more notches then tighten the timings a bit as you suggest. I'll then run it a while to see if there's any issues with stability before dabbling in MemTest86 (because I know I'll get bogged down in 'nth degree tweakery!)

Eagle · **Reply #37 on:** June 05, 2023, 15:49:02 PM

Re: It's Spec-Me-Up time!

Reply #37 on: June 05, 2023, 15:49:02 PM

I'm in a position to get a new build now!

Who would you recommend for a pre-built machine (just looking at options, I may yet self-build)? PCSpecialist? Scan? Overclockers?

Clock'd 0Ne · **Reply #38 on:** June 05, 2023, 18:40:30 PM

Re: It's Spec-Me-Up time!

Reply #38 on: June 05, 2023, 18:40:30 PM

For proper custom builds the places I see most often recommended are AWD-IT and Palicomp, you might find overall good deals elsewhere on pre-builds though, occasionally CCL have some too. Overcockers are still crooks to be avoided.

Eagle · **Reply #39 on:** June 05, 2023, 20:25:05 PM

Re: It's Spec-Me-Up time!

Reply #39 on: June 05, 2023, 20:25:05 PM

Still crooks, huh?

The thing I'm finding the most frustrating is these folks' build systems. I usually think "ah, this is going well"... then I find that they simply don't stock something I really want (like Corsair stuff for example or a specific motherboard).

Looks like I'm going to go Ryzen 7 7800X3D but I feel the mobos are kinda confusing.

...and don't get me started on GPUs... jury still defo out on that! I need as much VRam as possible but most options are just 8Gb

Last Edit: June 05, 2023, 22:21:24 PM by Eagle #187;

Eagle · **Reply #40 on:** June 05, 2023, 23:17:38 PM

Re: It's Spec-Me-Up time!

Reply #40 on: June 05, 2023, 23:17:38 PM

Musing...

https://www.chillblast.com/all-gaming-systems/start-from-scratch/configure?expert=true&buildid=16123&showsummary=true

It's probably a bit OTT money-wise but it's a balance between what I think will work and what I'm confident in ordering (since I'm pretty clueless in all this these days).

I could source the items and build it m'self I suppose. Might save a bit for a better graphics card too.

GPU choiuce remains the bugbear. Bloody scandalous prices.

Last Edit: June 05, 2023, 23:20:41 PM by Eagle #187;

Eagle · **Reply #41 on:** June 05, 2023, 23:53:54 PM

Re: It's Spec-Me-Up time!

Reply #41 on: June 05, 2023, 23:53:54 PM

Just specced doing a self build on those items and it works out £100+ more expensive (compared on Scan).

Above build from Chillblast was £2.5k

Not sure I'm gonna gain much by buying components.

I'll try pc part picker next...

...works out at around £2.1k - oh but the ballache of buying from multiple sources.

Eagle · **Reply #42 on:** June 08, 2023, 02:21:51 AM

Re: It's Spec-Me-Up time!

Reply #42 on: June 08, 2023, 02:21:51 AM

Think this is gonna be my final spec:

Corsair 5000D Airflow, Black, Mid-Tower w/ Tempered Glass Window
1000W Corsair RMx Series
Microsoft Windows 11 Home, 64Bit
DeepCool AK620 ZERO DARK CPU Cooler, 2x120mm Fan
Sapphire Radeon RX 7900 XTX PULSE 24GB GDDR6 Ray-Tracing Graphics Card, RDNA3, 6144 Streams
32GB (2x16GB) Corsair DDR5 Vengeance RGB, PC5-48000 (6000), Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 30, 1.4V, AMD EXPO
ASUS ROG STRIX B650E-F GAMING WIFI, AMD B650, AM5, DDR5, PCIe 5.0, 4x M.2, 2.5G/WiFi 6E, AMD EXPO™, ATX
1TB Samsung 970 EVO Plus, M.2 (2280) PCIe 3.0 (x4), NVMe SSD
2TB Samsung 970 EVO Plus, M.2 (2280) PCIe 3.0 (x4), NVMe SSD
AMD Ryzen™ 7 7800X3D, AM5, Zen 4, 8 Core, 16 Thread, 4.2GHz, 5.0GHz Turbo, 96MB Cache, PCIe 5.0, 120W TDP, CPU

ETA: upgrades: Case and PSU. Just to be safe!

Last Edit: June 10, 2023, 13:41:52 PM by Eagle #187;

Clock'd 0Ne · **Reply #43 on:** June 10, 2023, 12:40:16 PM

Re: It's Spec-Me-Up time!

Reply #43 on: June 10, 2023, 12:40:16 PM

Looks like a great spec, though if I was spending that much money I'd be tempted to drop in 64GB instead. I also wouldn't bother with the second NVMe right away and get a 4TB one further down the road, prices are constantly dropping.

knighty · **Reply #44 on:** June 12, 2023, 13:26:34 PM

Re: It's Spec-Me-Up time!

Reply #44 on: June 12, 2023, 13:26:34 PM

let us know what it's like

I keep getting tempted by an upgrade but I'm thinking I won't feel any real performance boost

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Author Topic: It's Spec-Me-Up time! (Read 39325 times)