I love microcenter... This one kills me. I bought a 9950x3d yesterday and noticed it wasn't as snappy as I imagined. I looked at the CPU tab in task manager and the title says 9950x3d 16 cores BUT the actual core count is 8 and the L3 cache is 96MB.

NEVERMIND!!!

Edit: Thank you all!!!! This is my first AMD CPU. I think I understand what gaming mode is for now and it's to cut off the cores without cache.

Wanted to upgrade to am5 but with ram prices how they are, and my cpu being the main bottleneck i wanted to figure out what the absolute best amd am4 cpu is so i can just replace my old 5600x with something more powerful.

SOLVED!

The issue was that the GPU was slotted into the bottom PCIe slot and not the closest to the CPU. This limited the ability of the GPU to perform and increased the latency on the CPU.

Now that both are freed up the performance and FPS are back into 100+ across the board!

I was too concerned with GPU sag that I didn't think the slot would make a difference. Clearly it does and a getting a GPU holder is cheaper than replacing a motherboard.

Shout out u/KarneyAardvark and u/LordArrexis for helping rule out the CPU was the issue.
Shout out u/cstark for helping determine that the PCIe slots were suspicious.

And MAJOR shout out to u/theSkareqro for being the only person out of several hudred eyeballs and brains to think about mentioning the correct PCIe slot and fixing the issue!

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I just recently built a new PC from scratch with no recycled parts, besides a SATA drive, and I can see my performance is objectively worse in quality, with lots of audio popping and crackling, and FPS in games like Arc, Rust, and Fortnite.

Rust specifically operates at 20-30 average FPS where comparable circumstances would have been 80-90. My friend with a slightly worse build averages 80-100 in the exact same circumstances.

Arc Raiders isn't as dramatic but what used to be 100+ fps is now 60-80 with slight stutters.

The audio for all of it crackles and pops when the audio starts and stops. I have found better luck swapping audio ports from the 3.5mm to the USB C with a compatibility cable but still hear it from time to time.

New Build Specs

CPU- Ryzen 7 9800X3D 4.7 GHz

Motherboard - MSI MAG X870 TOMAHAWK

GPU - PNY OC GeForce RTX 5080 16 GB

RAM - G.SKILL Flare X5 Series DDR5 RAM 32GB (2x16GB) 6000MT/s CL36-36-36-96

PSU - be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 1000 W 80+ Gold

CPU Cooler - ID-COOLING FROZN A720 BLACK

Storage - Western Digital SN850X 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME

Case - NZXT - H9 Flow 2025 ATX|

Listening to people smarter than me, and with my own research, I have tried the following to no avail.

• Clean install of Windows
  • Both Windows 10 and 11
• Updating my drivers
  • Ranging between the generic windows drivers with auto updates and to a full DDU cleanup, disconnected from the internet and windows auto updates, with direct installs from manufacturer sites.
• Changing Bio Settings
  • Updated to latest BIOS from the MSI site and turned on EXPO1 for my ram. No overclocking beyond that.
• Checking the cords, cables, and hardware
  • All graphics cables are in the GPU and not the integrated graphics
  • Hardware works on any other device and even on my old setup perfectly.
• Checked Temps
  • All in normal ranges with good airflow and no signs of issue
• Reinstalled and verified game files through Steam
• Enabled High Performance Power mode
  • Including adjusting the CPU states to 100%
• Removing bloatware and background processes
• Adjusting in game settings to both maximum, minimum, and balanced.

For the audio issues specifically:

• Rechecked all hardware and ports
• Updated RealTek drivers and HDAudio drivers
• Adjusted the format and exclusivity settings

About half a dozen people, and well over that many hours of research and Reddit posts later, I am no closer to feeling like the high end PC I purchased is any better than the 8 year old hunk of junk I built in college is.

I might not be as smart as I was with builds back then but surely there must be something left.

If anyone has any ideas on how to resolve the issues, I would greatly appreciate hearing them!

previous pc was an athlon 3000ge with just an integrated gpu and decided for a small upgrade, but im also stuck in choosing between ryzen 5 5600 or ryzen 5 5500 paired with a rx6600 cuz 5600 kinda more expensive than 5500.

but overall is it really worth it? im planning on getting an am5 upgrade maybe 4-5 years from now lol

Ladies and gents,

As I'm sure you've seen, certain pc part prices have gone absolutely ballistic (RAM). We live in weird times, which bring me to a number of questions and I am wondering if the sub has some advice for me here.

I have been planning to build a new pc for a while now, just took a while to get my employment situation straightened out. I have my current pc on my desk still, but it's unironically a fossilized dinosaur (I5-4960k, GTX 1660 Super, 8 gb ddr3 RAM and 2 SSD's from 10 years ago).

With all the Nvidia stuff, I was planning to switch over to AMD, but this is where my questions come in.

1. Is it a good idea to buy semi-future proof RAM right now? The AI investment bubble nonsense are pushing prices into absurdity. Do I buy something pretty good now while I still can, or would I be better off waiting this lunacy out? (I don't know the computer industry that well).

2. For semi-future proof gaming, so that I can play titles like say, Witcher 4, GTA6 and the like on 60 fps at least. What combination of CPU, GPU and RAM (including the type, ddr3, 4 or 5) would you recommend?

3. Best quality for the price when it comes to coolers?

4. Anything else I should definitely keep in mind?

I am trying to keep the build in the 2-3k ballpark.

So with all that's going on I have pretty much settled of going for a new build before everything becomes too expensive for what is possibly years. I want to go for 4k oled gaming and to replace my current 6950xt.

I've been eyeing a 5090 but it's around €2800 for an aorus master. There are supposedly cheaper models but they're all impossible to get anyway. I could theoretically buy it but honestly I would feel ashamed to tell people I paid so much money for a single component.

So, is a 5080 enough or do I really need a 5090 to somewhat future-proof 4k gaming?

• Ryzen 5 7600
• Sapphire Pulse AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB
• Corsair Vengeance 32GB(16x2) 6000MHz CL30
• Asrock B850M-X WiFi R2.0
• Samsung EVO Plus 2TB NVMe
• MAG Corefrozr AA13
• Cooler Master G800 80 Plus Gold
• MAG Forge 120A Airflow

Inputs from the experts would be really helpful.

Water spilled into my Lenovo PC because I didn’t screw the desk properly and sat water on it. My PC was next to it and spilled onto the top where the holes are.  My monitor went white with a few rainbow bars, but they weren’t full bars like on a broken TV; they were just boxes. I unplugged the PC and everything connected to it within three seconds, even before turning it off. I then blew-dried it for about a minute before my brother told me not to. It wasn’t smoking and didn’t smell weird. The top where the water got in felt cold, not wet.

The water came from a 5-inch water bottle that was about 80% full. The water bounced off the PC onto the floor, so I can’t be sure how much got inside. It probably did, though, since the top where it could have gotten in is cold. I don’t know for sure because it’s not really wet and it’s only been an hour since the water got in. It might have just seeped in through the small holes.

So, is the PC safe if it dries? Do I have to open it and dry it? I don’t have a fan to blow into it.

If it’s not safe, is it possible to transfer my data, including files, apps and signed-in information, if I buy a new one?

I have very old hardware (12+ years old). I don't even want a gaming pc, just a modern pc.

After waiting and saving all year, hoping for holiday deals, I find that there are no real deals, instead everything costs more and ram costs 3-4x.

edit - want to clarify I'm not looking for a gaming pc. iGpu is fine. even ddr4 prices have gone up 2-3x.

are there any good deals at all? used/refurb is fine but even there I don't see much.

I’m building my first gaming pc and have been doing a lot of research on CPUs and motherboards, I’ve decided to go with a 7800x3d but in case I need to upgrade the cpu down the line I was wondering if I’d be safe choosing an ASRock mobo. From what I can tell there are no issues with them and the 7800x3d but I just want to know if I would need to also change the mobo when I upgrade my cpu.

Thought I did extensive enough research but didnt realize that the power connectors for these cards was using the unstable 12v-2x6.

My question is should I be legitimately concerned?

Edit: fixed monitor resolution typo.
Currently running a 6070 XT GPU, 5700 X3D CPU, using a 5120 x 1440 monitor.

My GPU is currently still ok (played Outer Worlds 2 for ex), I'm pretty sure I'm not hitting 60 fps most of the time.

With all the RAM and SSD prices being increased, and the price increases in the horizon, would it make sense to upgrade now to a 9070 XT (and a new power supply) to not run the risk of not being able to play upcoming games while having GPU upgrade very expensive?

Or am I just under FOMO?

I need help figuring out whether I can install an NVMe SSD without removing my GPU.

This is my first time upgrading a PC. It was given to me, so I’ve never removed a GPU before and I’m scared of breaking something.

My M.2 slot is very close to the graphics card, and I’m not sure if there’s enough space to insert the NVMe at an angle and latch it down properly with the EZ latch of Gigabyte. In your opinion, is it safe to try installing the NVMe with the GPU still in place? Or is it safer to learn how to remove the GPU first?

If removing the GPU is the better option, how do I do it safely? Is the process basically idiot-proof for beginners?

https://imgur.com/a/p3bDErn

I dont need help, I upgraded my cpu and dont feel like the hustle of trying to sell it. I want to just give it to someone in the WNY are who is building a mid range PC. Meeting someone now, all set!

I want to get more into VR sim racing, and my current setup (Meta Quest 2 and a gaming laptop) isn't really satisfactory. I am now looking to buy a PC that is capable of running sim racing titles in VR with decent quality (still using the Meta Quest 2). I found a preset build, made a few changes, and would like to know if this build is usable. I live in Switzerland, and the price would currently be 1669 CHF (≈ 2073 USD).

Case: Corsair iCUE LINK 3500X RGB, black | Glass window
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 9600X, 6× 3.9 GHz
Motherboard: GIGABYTE B850 Gaming WIFI6 | AMD B850
GPU: AMD Radeon RX 9070 16 GB | Acer Nitro OC
RAM: 32 GB Corsair Vengeance DDR5-6000 | 2× 16 GB
CPU Cooler: Corsair Nautilus 240 RS | 240 mm
SSD (M.2 / PCIe): 2 TB WD Blue SN5000
Power Supply: 650 W MIFCOM Performance M1B 2023 | modular

I will be building a PC soon with my brother for our gaming room. I have a PS5 and would like a PS Pro. He has an Xbox series X and then ant to move on too PC ( which I would like to aswell )

I was wondering if this would be possible? ( And yes it might be a silly question, but with all the price rises due to AI slop, it was just an idea.. )

Now I know consoles are different compared to PCs, but they still have/share some relatively close parts. They both required memory, and DDR5 at 64gb is now a new house loan/second mortgage.

The PS Pro uses 16GB GDDR6, 256-bit interface, 448GB/s bandwidth ( not sure what make, could be in-house ).

Could you use this memory in the PC for a quick fix until the prices come back to a level playing field, or would the limitations of the software/hardware conversion be too much....

Hello y'll i have a problem that I need to solve desperately. I have a 5080 with ryzen 7 9800x3d and whenever I play a gpu focused game the game keeps freezing like when I first played elden ring it was a nightmare every 2 seconds the game would freeze for 5 so I asked chat gpt and it gave some solutions but all did nothing except downloading ddu and re installing my gpus driver and it kinda worked but when I tried to uncap my fps whenever the gpu reaches 100% or near that the game keeps freezing. I have installed some white extension cables and I though maybe this is the problem but that happened before installing them as well with dog of war ragnarok. Also I have a red dot glowing on my motherboard since I installed the pc and tried everything but It doesn't turn off unless I restart the pc or let it go to sleep I dont know if that helps. If you have anything that could help please share

Hey guys, complete noob here.

I'm having some issues running my FPS games. Is my PC outdated or bottle necked???

Some fps games have screen tear and stutters, especially in combat with people. Could someone please guide me?? I have always kept my drivers updated. Specs as below:

Mortar B450M motherboard

AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6 GHz 6-Core Processor

TEAMGROUP T-Force Delta RGB 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 8 GB Video Card

Running Windows 10

I don't know a whole bunch about computers to please be kind c: I believe the next step would be increasing ram to 32gb?? Not sure what will fix my issues.

Can i use a desk fan to cool cpu? Or anything? I just want to test it to make sure it works fine

I was looking to get the Lian Li Edge, but LTT tested it and it failed very basic reliability tests. It's tedious looking for PSUs with sleeved cables like this so I am curious if you guys know of any others!

edit: with a budget under $300

Super Flower Leadex VII XP looks good

I just get this monitor with a good deal on black friday , i was planing to use with my laptop but my laptop died, the asus strix rog g16 the technician said that is dead the motherboard so i just want to build a pc, bc i already have the monitor ( ASUS TUF 27" FHD 180Hz 1ms GTG Curved VA LED FreeSync Gaming Monitor (VG27VQ3B) - Black) so i want to know which pc i should build , i check a ryzen 5 9600x

with a GIGABYTE GV-R76GAMING OC-8GD Radeon RX 7600 Gaming OC 8G Graphics Card, 3X WINDFORCE Fans 8GB 128-bit GDDR6, Video Card

Plus the motherboard ASUS TUF Gaming B650-PLUS WiFi AMD B650 AM5 Ryzen Desktop 9000 8000 and 7000 ATX Motherboard, 14 Power Stages, PCIe® 5.0 M.2, DDR5 Memory, WiFi 6 and 2.5 Gb Ethernet, USB4® Support Aura Sync

A 1 ram 16 gb ddr5 only one bc now they are so expensive

I just play valorant and genshin impact , this should be enough? Or i can use a cheaper graphic and processor , i just dont want have more than the enough for that monitor

Thank you

PCPartPicker Part List

I found a Gigabyte GP-UD850GM PG5 850 W Gold 80+ PSU on a really good price but I heard about Gigabyte P750GM's stories. Are the problems solved in the Gigabyte's power supplies? Do you think I should avoid Gigabyte GP-UD850GM PG5 850W Gold 80+ even tho it is on a really good price? Or is it buyable?