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cooked

China1238 Posts

February 09 2014 13:32 GMT

#4341

Thanks for all the info so far - I'm overclocking for my first time, and as for expectations, I'm not doing or playing anything that demands it (CSGO, Dota), nor am I really looking to push it to the limit. But I'd still go as far as it is reasonably safe to with the motherboard and a roughly $40 heatsink on an $800 build.

With all that, seems Cyro and Ropid say the Asus -A might be unnecessary and that the overall overclocking experience will be about the same. If all that's true, I'd definitely try to save the $45.

Cyro

United Kingdom20341 Posts

February 09 2014 14:03 GMT

#4342

CSGO doesn't really demand it (i've heard that a few times, but dunno why)

^max settings with 4xmsaa on a 770 - there's also little reason to use anywhere near that fps cap due to having to hold only 128fps for max update rates and no screen on the market that takes a signal over 120hz*

*edit: There's actually some 144hz, but on asus/benq etc ones you'd want to be using 120hz for strobe backlight in csgo 100%, i can't remember any other >120hz monitors aside from overclocked stuff or the interpolated eizo monitor that takes 120hz signal

The big games right now for OC would probably be sc2, planetside 2, maybe battlefield 4, guild wars 2, (WoW?)

^those are the ones that give problems on a 60hz screen and see massive slowdowns - aside from that, OC is good for stuff like video encoding

In comparison taking numbers from anandtech for x264 encoding:
+ Show Spoiler +

Intel Core i7 4960X - 23.2fps

Intel Core i7 3970X - 20.7fps

Intel Core i7 4770K - 16.5fps*

AMD FX-8350 - 15.1fps

Intel Core i7 3770K - 14.6fps

Intel Core i5 4670K - 14.1fps

AMD FX-8320 - 13.2fps

AMD FX-8150 - 12.7fps

Intel Core i5 3570K - 12fps

Intel Core i5 3470 - 11.4fps

Intel Core i5 2500K - 10.6fps

AMD FX-6300 - 10.1fps

Intel Core i7 920 - 8.9fps

AMD FX-4300 - 7.39fps

Intel Core i3 3220 - 6.61fps

^Also why cooling is more important on i7 over i5. HT is power/heat expensive - not as much as raising clockspeed and voltages for extra performance, but you see from these numbers a ~15-17% performance gain, yet compared to my temps:

second hottest core 75c max with ht, 66c without ht

^which can also be written as ~53c over case temperature with ht or ~44c over case temperature without HT, so that's a pretty significant temperature gap

mav451

United States1596 Posts

February 09 2014 16:20 GMT

#4343

Cooked - OK sounds like you'd be happy with any basic air OC (4.3-4.4), so I wouldn't fault you for trying to save cash. Those lower clocks would still be in the range of stock VRIN and vcore too (at or below 1.8 and and 1.18 respectively).

Anyway let either Cyro or I know if you have additional Haswell questions. Maybe you'll be the first G41 to get charted then haha.

One last question - how do you have access to Microcenter if you're located in China?

RiceAgainst

United States1849 Posts

February 10 2014 00:32 GMT

#4344

I'm thinking of OC'ing, though I don't know how much more I'm going to have to spend for a good MOBO, HSF, and maybe Thermal Paste. It seems the sub-$100 MSI Z87 boards aren't worth it so I'll be spending at least ~$120-130 for a UD3H board. As for a HSF, though a Hyper 212 seems like a good, low-cost pick, what if I spent $50 instead on let's say, Phantek TC-12?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835709018
http://www.frys.com/product/7706428?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

Ropid

Germany3557 Posts

February 10 2014 00:42 GMT

#4345

That board you linked to, I don't know if it's that much better than the MSI boards you don't want to buy. I have no idea why it's so expensive. Look at the GA-Z87X-D3H on newegg.com instead.

The cooler you chose, there should be stronger parts for similar money. You can get the Thermalright coolers HR-02 Macho and True Spirit 140 at amazon.com in the US which use a 140mm fan instead of 120mm. Newegg.com has the Zalman CNPS14X.

cooked

China1238 Posts

February 10 2014 02:56 GMT

#4346

Yeah Mav, I suppose I'll give the G41 a shot given I'll only be overclocking modestly. Though if modest means getting 4+ GHz on a CPU that costs as much as ones fixed at 3.2-3.4, that sounds pretty damn exciting, to a first-timer at least.

I'm in the States currently, and will probably make the drive out to a Microcenter soon.

Froadac

United States6733 Posts

February 10 2014 09:13 GMT

#4347

Yay. finally ordered everything. Got some good deals, I'll look to upgrade the gpu if I feel it's lacking. Otherwise I am quite satisfied

Cyro

United Kingdom20341 Posts

February 10 2014 10:48 GMT

#4348

Though if modest means getting 4+ GHz on a CPU that costs as much as ones fixed at 3.2-3.4, that sounds pretty damn exciting, to a first-timer at least.

You're paying for the mobo+cooling etc and 4770k for example runs at 3.7ghz 24/7 with four core load, 3.9ghz with 1-2 core load (sometimes 3.9ghz always..) so 4ghz isn't all that exciting - paying like $100 to be ~100-300mhz faster. That's partially why i value being at like 4.7 over 4.4 so much when they're in actual numbers, somewhat close

never_Nal

Costa Rica676 Posts

February 10 2014 15:17 GMT

#4349

Mac or Pc? I really don't know If building a costum PC is the way here, or getting a Mac, (I've Used Mac mi whole life in my house, work and school it's always been PC)

Cyro

United Kingdom20341 Posts

February 10 2014 16:22 GMT

#4350

Depends what you want to use it for

Myrmidon

United States9452 Posts

February 10 2014 17:26 GMT

#4351

You can build your own Mac if you really want, but it's some more effort because it's not exactly official.

Anyhow, for general use, a Mac Mini fits most needs.

For gaming, there's no need to ask. You'll be wanting a Windows install, regardless of the hardware.

Ask a generic question and get generic answers.

Incognoto

France10239 Posts

February 10 2014 18:31 GMT

#4352

oh, micro stuttering with a nifty diagram that greatly aids comprehension: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/graphics-card-myths,3694-3.html

not sure about the article itself, still reading

Cyro

United Kingdom20341 Posts

February 10 2014 18:41 GMT

#4353

That's talking about vsync stutter*, not microstutter

*when a frame takes longer than refresh interval to render so it's held in buffer until the start of the next refresh interval (which is 16.67ms later on 60hz)

Incognoto

France10239 Posts

February 10 2014 18:57 GMT

#4354

ah so there's a difference.

well I won't be trying to get into microstutter this evening, I'll do it another time! :p

Cyro

United Kingdom20341 Posts

February 10 2014 19:05 GMT

#4355

Yea they're completely different thing

rei

United States3594 Posts

February 10 2014 23:43 GMT

#4356

My parts are coming in, I have the hard drives and the dvd and the video card but they don't come with any cables? do I have to buy my own SATA power and data cables? or would it come with the motherboard?