New The PC Build Thread

[Fulcrum29]

There is always this...

 

[rambo919]

Fractal is updating their cases to be BTF compatible. I think some people who are upgrading should keep with their current case until the new BTF-ready cases are phased in. I have also seen a Montech Air 903 which is BTF-ready, but they said it is a concept.

Not a biggie, but BTF is being pushed, and having a case which is BTF-ready enables you with an upgrade path and more options.

I can see the benefits of BTF.... but not how it can gain traction in any bracket other than enthusiast because it will mean replacing so many things. Years down the line though this could change.

 

[Fulcrum29]

I can see the benefits of BTF.... but not how it can gain traction in any bracket other than enthusiast because it will mean replacing so many things. Years down the line though this could change.

Yes, it will take a long time to displace the current standard. It helps to be prepared in advance. Down the line, it could save you some money.

 

[Neoprod]

Some advice would be appreciated:
I'm looking for a RAM upgrade for my PC (Currently 32 GB). The recovered 32 GB will go into the kids PC that really needs a rebuild.

The following 32 x 2 sticks are available from Amazon USA for about R2700, including tax and delivery. (One Corsair and one Crucial pair.) This is about R1000 cheaper than what I can find locally.

My PC has an AMD 5600x in an ASUS B550TUF Gaming board, FWIW. Which of these sets would you recommend? Alternately, is there anything better in that price-range?

Links to the 2 alternatives:

Amazon.com

Amazon.com

I don't think you included shipping in your calculation - the Corsair Vengeance is R2700 with shipping, the other one a few bob less. What happens if you have an issue and need to send it back?

Just get something like this -

https://www.wootware.co.za/g-skill-...-3200mhz-cl16-1-35v-black-desktop-memory.html

 

[Neoprod]

Fractal is updating their cases to be BTF compatible. I think some people who are upgrading should keep with their current case until the new BTF-ready cases are phased in. I have also seen a Montech Air 903 which is BTF-ready, but they said it is a concept.

Not a biggie, but BTF is being pushed, and having a case which is BTF-ready enables you with an upgrade path and more options.

Doesn't interest me at all, tbh. Unless there's price parity or it's the only option when I upgrade, I wouldn't bother.

 

[Fulcrum29]

I don't think you included shipping in your calculation - the Corsair Vengeance is R2700 with shipping, the other one a few bob less. What happens if you have an issue and need to send it back?

Just get something like this -

https://www.wootware.co.za/g-skill-...-3200mhz-cl16-1-35v-black-desktop-memory.html

This is the way.

For modelling though, 64 GB is not enough.

 

[deesef]

Is there a reason you feel you need 64GB of RAM? Beyiond video editing or some other applications, 64GB is overkill for most users.

Periodic video editing plus VMs

 

[rambo919]

Funny enough... I have 32GB because of VM's.... but I don't use them as much as I used to because of how good wine has gotten.

 

[Neoprod]

This is the way.

For modelling though, 64 GB is not enough.

 

[deesef]

I don't think you included shipping in your calculation - the Corsair Vengeance is R2700 with shipping, the other one a few bob less. What happens if you have an issue and need to send it back?

Just get something like this -

https://www.wootware.co.za/g-skill-...-3200mhz-cl16-1-35v-black-desktop-memory.html

Re pricing, I did say "about R2700" including delivery and tax

Returns can be a problem, but the first month has free shipping. These things usually last after the initial burn-in period, unless they are being hammered... It becomes a risk assessment: i e. is the warranty worth the extra R1000 required to buy locally.

Re Wootware - I somehow missed the G.Skill when I was browsing. Thanks for finding it. That makes importing a mute point.

 

[Neoprod]

Re pricing, I did say "about R2700" including delivery and tax

Returns can be a problem, but the first month has free shipping. These things usually last after the initial burn-in period, unless they are being hammered... It becomes a risk assessment: i e. is the warranty worth the extra R1000 required to buy locally.

Re Wootware - I somehow missed the G.Skill when I was browsing. Thanks for finding it. That makes importing a mute point.

My bad, I was watching QdK smacking the Indian Americans - wasn't actually reading.

 

[deesef]

My bad, I was watching QdK smacking the Indian Americans - wasn't actually reading.

Me too. We are invading the USA

 

[Fulcrum29]

Doesn't interest me at all, tbh. Unless there's price parity or it's the only option when I upgrade, I wouldn't bother.

For me, neither. Just a trend to keep your eye on when you are a new buyer.

Computex in a nutshell:

1. A!
2. BTF / ABTF
3. SFF

I have three new cases which aren't BTF ready, not crying about it.

 

[Neoprod]

For me, neither. Just a trend to keep your eye on when you are a new buyer.

Computex in a nutshell:

1. A!
2. BTF / ABTF
3. SFF

I have three new cases which aren't BTF ready, not crying about it.

Same case since Skylake days...must be 7-8 years now. Can't see a reason to change it beyond just to have something new - it does fine.

I've noticed new cases offer similar features for a lot less money than I paid for the Phanteks Evolv thing I have now - like less than half the price gets a case that comes with 3 fans pre-installed and better breathe-ability. That's pretty good.

 

[Fulcrum29]

For the people doing compute workloads on Radeon, AMD ROCm 6.1.3 dropped:

New AMD ROCm™ 6.1 Software for Radeon™ Release Offers More Choices to AI Developers

AMD has unveiled the latest release of its open software, AMD ROCm™ 6.1.3, marking the next step in its strategy to make ROCm software broadly available across its GPU portfolio, including AMD Radeon™ desktop GPUs. The new release gives developers broader support for Radeon GPUs to run ROCm AI...

community.amd.com

Key feature enhancements in this release focus on improving compatibility, accessibility, and scalability, and include:

• Multi-GPU support to enable building scalable AI desktops for multi-serving, multi-user solutions.
• Beta-level support for Windows® Subsystem for Linux®, allowing these solutions to work with ROCm on a Windows OS-based system.
• TensorFlow Framework support offering more choice for AI development.

Still no native Windows support, maybe with the next release, but:

With ROCm 6.1.3, we are making it even easier to develop for AI with Beta-level support for Windows® Subsystem for Linux®, also known as WSL 2. This means you can now run Linux-based AI tools on a Windows system. WSL 2 eliminates the need for a dedicated Linux system or a dual-boot setup.

 

[Fulcrum29]

Kingpin is linking up with PNY:

 

[Soul Assassin]

Kingpin is linking up with PNY:

It's weird that people never talk about PNY, I remember looking at a review of one of their 4080's and thought that person just sucked at reviews because it blew everything else out of the water with noise and temps that I had to check other sources, turns out it's just that good.

 

[Fulcrum29]

DDR5 vs DDR4: Is It Time To Upgrade Your RAM?

Welcome to the new era of DDR5 RAM

www.anandtech.com

CUDIMM Standard Set to Make Desktop Memory a Bit Smarter and a Lot More Robust​

https://www.anandtech.com/show/21455/making-desktop-ddr5-even-faster-cudimms-debut-at-computex
...

Standardized by JEDEC earlier this year as JESD323, CUDIMMs tweak the traditional unbuffered DIMM by adding a clock driver (CKD) to the DIMM itself, with the tiny IC responsible for regenerating the clock signal driving the actual memory chips. By generating a clean clock locally on the DIMM (rather than directly using the clock from the CPU, as is the case today), CUDIMMs are designed to offer improved stability and reliability at high memory speeds, combating the electrical issues that would otherwise cause reliability issues at faster memory speeds. In other words, adding a clock driver is the key to keeping DDR5 operating reliably at high clockspeeds.

All told, JEDEC is proposing that CUDIMMs be used for DDR5-6400 speeds and higher, with the first version of the specification covering speeds up to DDR5-7200. The new DIMMs will also be drop-in compatible with existing platforms (at least on paper), using the same 288-pin connector as today's standard DDR5 UDIMM and allowing for a relatively smooth transition towards higher DDR5 clockspeeds.

Zen 4/5 might like this. I don't know Manta V-color, but they are pushing the boundaries (speed bins between 6400 MT/s and 9000 MT/s). G.Skill also had CUDIMMs and CSODIMMs modules on display. Not much is known, will have to wait and see until these get released to market and benched.

Could be expensive...

 

[Fulcrum29]

Gamers Nexus reporting on the Deepcool sanction:

 

[Fulcrum29]

I have already seen a US system builder moving over to Zalman cases. I am curious whether Aerocool might make a comeback in the case market. This is speaking to the system integrator market.