Building a PC

[mettelus]

10 minutes ago, Shane_B. said:

I agree with liquid cooling if you are overclocking. I'm not convinced you need liquid if you are running stock speeds, based off the benchmarks I've seen.

Even if not overclocking and something is running "within spec," electronics in particular are subject to dielectric breakdown which is exacerbated by heat (i.e., the longevity of the CPU). This is why aluminum substrates are commonly used to get heat from the source to "whatever" heat sink is used. From a heat transfer perspective, Q = mcΔT is the driving equation and liquids can not only absorb more heat per volume, but can also be driven through a system without noise (if designed properly). To achieve the same with air would require significant airflow (and noise). While there are some engineering feats that have been forced to rely on air (or more often heat dissipation to a larger (highly conductive) metal mass), modern CPUs have a very concentrated heat generation that should be accommodated accordingly.

[hockeyjx]

I don't see the value in overclocking a decent current processor for a DAW at this point in time, I'd rather just add as much memory as can.

YMMV

 

[Jim Roseberry]

10 hours ago, hockeyjx said:

I don't see the value in overclocking a decent current processor for a DAW at this point in time, I'd rather just add as much memory as can.

YMMV

 

Most of us are talking about the CPU achieving maximum rated Turbo Boost Frequency.

That's not the same as trying to over-clock and push the CPU beyond its rated capability.

The 13th and 14th Gen 13900k and 14900k run hot.  They need a large AIO cooler to both reach maximum performance... and to keep things reasonably quiet.

 

As far as RAM and how it relates to performance:

You need enough RAM for your largest projects... so that the machine doesn't hit the VM swapfile (which kills performance).

Additional unused RAM doesn't buy ANY additional performance.

ie: If your largest project uses 16GB RAM... and you're trying to choose between keeping your existing 32GB or updating to 128GB; the 128GB option will result in zero performance gain.

 

Another performance consideration:

Current memory controllers will run two sticks of RAM at much higher frequency than four sticks.

IOW, You'll take a performance hit for using four sticks of RAM.

ie:  A Z890 motherboard can easily run two sticks of quality RAM at 6000MHz.  Try installing four sticks and running that XMP 6000MHz clock-speed.  😉

The machine won't even post. 

Edited 18 hours ago by Jim Roseberry

[Shane_B.]

Fwiw ... I reluctantly OC'd my RTX3060. I only play 1 game and it's pretty rare I have the time to get into it these days.

I have Turbo off on my i7 6700k and everything locked at stock speeds except for the GPU. When I did have turbo on the CPU fan would ramp up and down a lot so I turned it off and locked it to its stock speed. I didn't see any performance change, but I'm not a heavy user either.

I'm running Fallout 4 in 2K with all ultra settings at a rock solid 60fps. Even in the downtown Boston area of the map which is notorious for frame dropping.

Max GPU temp is 60C and max CPU temp is 40C. I don't even have a case fan. Just CPU and GPU fans.

You guys are scaring me talking about the 14900k temps. Lol. Liquid cooling has always scared me, thats why I'm so hesitant to try it. But it does seem that liquid is where it's all going for sure. Maybe it's time I jump into it. 

[hockeyjx]

@Jim Roseberry What I'm really saying is that the Turbo Frequency probably isn't needed for a DAW on a 14900k. I have an 11 gen intel, and I'm nowhere to hitting rim on a synth-laden project. Memory, percentage-wise, is a bigger hog than CPU.

We all have different work flows; and lord knows I like to tinker and get max efficiency, but I don't feel like it is even needed these days.

That said, I'd still tinker 🤫