But, you keep saying BOTTLENECK!!!!

[JayCobs]

Long set up story shortened, I've been compiling components for my build for close to 2 years.

I currently have:
GA-990FXA-UD3 rev. 1.1 BIOS F9
Corsair CMZ16GX3M4A1600C9 [only using 2 4GB sticks]
MSI R7950 Twin Frozr 3GD5/OC Radeon in Crossfire
AMD FX-8320 Vishera 3.5GHz 8-core
Corsair AX1200

No components are overclocked. Memory, CPU, and GPUs are liquid cooled.

I am currently using 1 27in 1080p LED monitor, and 2 21.5in 1080p LED monitors. I only game on the 27in.

On another website a member began tearing into my build component-wise saying "You wasted so much money to get no power!", "Why did you buy such a pathetic motherboard?", "I thought this was gonna be a high-end PC, turns out it's just some 8 core AMD.", "What a noob mistake buying a 8 core CPU!", "A i5 4 core will beat you in a benchmark using 8 cores.". I didn't understand that last one...:huh: How does the member know what I spent?? Weird... The CPU was only $99USD on Black Friday - why not buy it? Now according to this member I am causing a bottleneck by not using one of the many Intel CPUs he mentioned. However, when I pressed the member to give me a component list that will liberate my GPUs the responses ceased.

Is there a way to tell for sure my current config is bottlenecked? Considering how diverse a build can be, how can I determine if am getting everything out of it? I don't have a selection of benchmarking tools. I do have MSI Kombustor. Any help would be most appreciated. If I have not supplied enough data here, let me know what is needed. This is the first time I have considered fine tuning my config so, be gentle!

 

[NickOmega]

As far as I'm aware there isn't a single GPU available at the moment that should be bottlenecked by your particular CPU.
Certain games might depending on how poorly they're optimised, but generally speaking it shouldn't be an issue.
Sounds more like that member is a raging intel fanboy.

 

[JayCobs]

As far as I'm aware there isn't a single GPU available at the moment that should be bottlenecked by your particular CPU.
Certain games might depending on how poorly they're optimised, but generally speaking it shouldn't be an issue.
Sounds more like that member is a raging intel fanboy.

I figured as much. Sometimes you need to hear it from someone else...a non-fanatic someone else! What do you think overall of my config?

 

[Feronix]

I'd say it's just an above average gaming PC. Nothing wrong with it (except maybe a bit overkill on the PSU).

I guess they meant that whenever people see a huge project log on which the OP spends lots of time (like yours) they expect the build to contain only the highest end hardware. I don't think there's anything wrong with watercooling/modding a build with 'mid range' components either though.

 

[SeekaX]

that's not a high end gaming PC, but the CPU is definitely not a bottleneck. yea it's true that the i5 beats it quite badly in some games and has in general a more even performance, but in most scenarios they are pretty much even.

 

[iBeInspire]

As said in most situations you'll generally be almost on par, but there will be also be moments when you will be bottlenecked - or to use a correct term, your CPU will be the limiting factor.

In my opinion, since you can't even get HALF a unlocked i5 for $99 you have absolutely nothing to worry about, money well spent

 

[Tripp]

the only thing i know about with that mobo you have, is there are problems with the power phases an sometimes this will down clock you cup (only heard of that happening to people who had overclocked on that mobo though)

 

[NickOmega]

the only thing i know about with that mobo you have, is there are problems with the power phases an sometimes this will down clock you cup (only heard of that happening to people who had overclocked on that mobo though)

I have the same board, I'm not sure about power phase issues, but the Northbridge and mosfet heatsinks do get very hot, probably not helped by using an aftermarket cooler that doesn't direct air across them.

 

[JayCobs]

...(except maybe a bit overkill on the PSU).

I purchased it with much bigger plans in mind. I didn't know the industry was headed towards smaller, more powerful, yet less energy-hungry components at that time.

I have the same board, I'm not sure about power phase issues, but the Northbridge and mosfet heatsinks do get very hot, probably not helped by using an aftermarket cooler that doesn't direct air across them.

When I did get an overclock stable with my 965 Black Edition, one time I was down-clocked from 3.8 to 3.6 without any BSoDs or hiccups to indicate something had happened. Also those heatsinks get blazing hot. Hot enough to where I searched the internet for some kind of waterblock, to no avail though.

 

[NickOmega]

When I did get an overclock stable with my 965 Black Edition, one time I was down-clocked from 3.8 to 3.6 without any BSoDs or hiccups to indicate something had happened. Also those heatsinks get blazing hot. Hot enough to where I searched the internet for some kind of waterblock, to no avail though.

I've noticed when stress-testing with OCCT that my clock speed keeps spiking up and down.

Something I read suggested enabling then disabling turbo within AMD OverDrive (it was already off in the BIOS along with CnQ and all the other crap).
I have no idea how or why, but it worked and stopped dropping the clocks.

 

[JayCobs]

I've noticed when stress-testing with OCCT that my clock speed keeps spiking up and down.

Something I read suggested enabling then disabling turbo within AMD OverDrive (it was already off in the BIOS along with CnQ and all the other crap).
I have no idea how or why, but it worked and stopped dropping the clocks.

That's intriguing. I don't use any of the program-based OC tools, just in the BIOS. I will try that next time I OC and see if it stabilizes. Do you know of any water blocks for the MoBo heatsinks?

 

[NickOmega]

That's intriguing. I don't use any of the program-based OC tools, just in the BIOS. I will try that next time I OC and see if it stabilizes. Do you know of any water blocks for the MoBo heatsinks?

Yeah I wasn't using it to OC, I used it for monitoring.

I did find a forum post with links to some EK blocks that supposedly fit the UD3, but all the links return a 404.

Had a look on coolingconfigurator.com and EK say they don't make any blocks, but I also found this: http://www.coolingconfigurator.com/waterblock_genpdf?wb_id=397

Could always throw them an email and enquire about them.

 

[barnsley]

When I did get an overclock stable with my 965 Black Edition, one time I was down-clocked from 3.8 to 3.6 without any BSoDs or hiccups to indicate something had happened. Also those heatsinks get blazing hot. Hot enough to where I searched the internet for some kind of waterblock, to no avail though.

I think AMD motherboards just get hot in general :l. I fixed mine getting really warm by just adding an intake fan in the roof to push air through them.

Something I read suggested enabling then disabling turbo within AMD OverDrive (it was already off in the BIOS along with CnQ and all the other crap).
I have no idea how or why, but it worked and stopped dropping the clocks.

The turbo function basically auto clocks the cpu under load (for example it makes the 8320 go up to 4ghz at around ~60% usage) so it probably was downclocking the cpu to the turbo boost.

 

[NickOmega]

The turbo function basically auto clocks the cpu under load (for example it makes the 8320 go up to 4ghz at around ~60% usage) so it probably was downclocking the cpu to the turbo boost.

I was below the turbo clock rate (FX6300 3.5ghz, 4.1ghz turbo) I set it to 3.8ghz constant @ 1.4v (too high really but temps are fine) and it drops to 3ghz under OCCT stress test.

Yet if I open AMD OverDrive and enable then disable turbo, it doesn't downclock any more

 

[barnsley]

I was below the turbo clock rate (FX6300 3.5ghz, 4.1ghz turbo) I set it to 3.8ghz constant @ 1.4v (too high really but temps are fine) and it drops to 3ghz under OCCT stress test.

Yet if I open AMD OverDrive and enable then disable turbo, it doesn't downclock any more

-sigh- Oh AMD...
Honestly I really wish I didn't need to use overdrive but I find its the most accurate temperature monitor.

 

[JayCobs]

Yeah I wasn't using it to OC, I used it for monitoring.

I did find a forum post with links to some EK blocks that supposedly fit the UD3, but all the links return a 404.

Had a look on coolingconfigurator.com and EK say they don't make any blocks, but I also found this: http://www.coolingconfigurator.com/waterblock_genpdf?wb_id=397

Could always throw them an email and enquire about them.

I hit that site a while ago and for some reason never saw those blocks. Def gonna vet those.