Author: aztpg8

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A small repair that makes a great difference

How did we get here?

What do you do when your graphics card starts running warm and sounds like a jet engine? Set aside some time, trust yourself, grab your tools and it may help to watch a teardown video or two.

My adventure began when I started benchmarking the RX 9060 XT against some other cards that I have. The testing went well, but I noticed how loud and warmer temperatures for my 3060Ti. This card has been a workhorse for me , and I only recently took it out of my main PC. I didn’t notice anything as I was using it to game and stream, but it was very noticeable during the comparisons.

I also noticed that the NVidia card ran much warmer than the other two by several degrees. Benchmarks measure performance by stressing components, but this card had some abnormal behavior. It wasn’t hard to see I had a small issue.

The card I have, an EVGA RTX 3060Ti, is a two fan card with a slightly larger heatsink, but it was obvious the cooling on this card was working much harder than the others. In addition, the time to heat up was very quick and cooling off was more gradual. The card was in regular use since purchase, but very seldom was it stressed for long periods.

The next steps

At this point I was sure of a couple of things. The card wasn’t overheating, but was warmer than normal. It was time to make sure that the temps didn’t adversely affect the results I was getting in the comparisons. The only way to make sure was to tear it apart and reapply the thermal paste. I was just hoping the change wouldn’t skew the numbers I had already collected for the video I just released, here.

The teardown itself is straight forward. Several screws hold the backplate, but the ones near the GPU take special care. These four spring loaded screws are handled in an alternating pattern similar to changing a car tire. This ensures equal pressure on each side of the chip and less chance of damage. Standard thermal paste like MX4 works fine assuming you make sure coverage is full.

Testing

With the paste applied and the card reassembled it was time to re test all of the benchmarks. The strange thing is that in almost every benchmark the results were slightly lower than the first set of runs with a lower temp. So, what happened, it should have been better.

Actually, it was better, just not the final numbers.

Observing the tests, it was important to see not just the temperatures, which were slightly lower, but the noise levels and the ramp up and cool down. In the first set of tests, the card would heat up quickly and recovery was slow. In this set, temps rose gradually and cooled off very quickly. My first indication that the re-paste worked.

Other indicators were the sound of the fans during stress, and the sheer amount of heat put off. The first set put off a considerable amount of heat when opening the case, while the second test was closer to expected. The fans were much quieter as well. There was fan noise, but it not to catastrophic levels. This was a success.

Now What?

The most important thing is that my comparison to the other two video cards is still valid. The results from testing were still within margin of error, so the results of the first test were solid. The card is cleaner and with fresh thermal paste, it will have long life.

The next thing is that it really was something simple and well within my experience level to fix. There are several small thermal pads on the video memory chips, and of course the paste itself, but the hardest part of this was keeping up with the screws. Not only did the back plate have several, but the end bracket had three tiny ones and two for the back plate had very small nuts. (go ahead, insert joke here).

The only other worry was making sure I used a cross pattern to tighten the screws holding the PCB to the Heatsink. Those were spring loaded, so the chances of overtightening was slim, but there was still a chance. It pays to take your time and exercise patience here.

Overall, this was a great success. I wasn’t sure of that when I started seeing the benchmark numbers come back slightly lower, but the cards behavior was vastly different and I’m happy. This wasn’t a repair as much as maintenance, but it’s good to know it was successful.

The YouTube video for this blog can be found here.

Feel free to check out more blogs with other things I probably shouldn’t have done. here

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When 8GB is enough memory for modern video games.

The Rx 9060 XT 8GB

Yes, the step sibling of the better model from AMD, and the model that made much of the tech community collectively groan. It has half the memory of the 16GB, and arguably other architecture making it worse. AMD denies this and says they are identical but the memory, but board partners have a say as well.

Part of the reason for the collective dissatisfaction is performance, but a larger part is naming. AMD has chosen to follow examples set by its dominant competitor and confuse us. Yes, sometimes following an example can be great, but when the example is one consumers hate, we are left scratching our heads.

For years NVidia has pulled a bait and switch tactic on us and gets away with it. Multiple cards have identical naming and different specs. Some have slower memory swapped in. Some have artificial limits set on them so a lower model doesn’t outperform a higher one. Super versions and Ti versions knock on the performance door of the next tier up, but money is always in play.

And that’s the example AMD choose. Both cards have the same name and in prebuilt PC’s can have either. You expect high level performance, but get a lower tier card. Money.

But what about the card?

The card itself is a pleasant surprise. Drop the XT and this meets or beats expectations. AMD has done that before with cards like the RX 7600 or RX 9070. Yes, the current gen has plain and XT flavors. This card was destined for price drops. That’s why I bought it. A recent price drop well below retail on some models almost makes this a decent card.

A full set of testing on a mid range system showed great results. Matched with a Ryzen 7 3700X, Cyberpunk in 1080P Ultra had 103 FPS and Monster Hunter Wilds had 71 with no Frame Gen . Great numbers for a mid range 1080P build. Matching it with a 12700KF with 32GB of DDR5 saw 83FPS and 76 in 1440P, respectively. Those were the lowest marks with highest ranging up to 319 in CS2. All without borrowing from system memory.

I thought this card would have no choice but to borrow in the newer, more demanding titles, but it didn’t. The only time I saw it have to borrow was in MH Wilds while trying to make it do so with the settings for another video. Steam’s new Performance Monitor. This card works great in 1080P and 1440P.

I fully expected to hate this card because I was told to by most reviewers. The fact is, I didn’t. I don’t game in 4K and I don’t push Ray Tracing to the limit in any games I play. Yes, I can see where that would show it’s deficiency, but if you are playing with full RT or in 4K, you probably aren’t looking for a budget card.

This card is fine

Yes, it should have a different name. But so should the RTX 3050 6GB, or the RTX 3060 8GB. Yes, that one does exist, so does a 2060 12GB. If this card were a RX 9060, I think half the complaints go away. As it stands, if the price drops to around 250USD, it is the price of the now available B580, and clearly beats it.

When the B580 came out, people called it a great card, but something that beats it head to head will be marred by a confusing name and a higher retail price. It’s a shame, because if this card had hit the market right, people would have loved it. The fact is, it’s a solid video card and maybe a lesson in marketing.

Click here for the video run down.

I discuss whether you may need a High End Gaming PC in the first place, here.

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Do you really need a high end gaming PC?

How did we get here?

One of the biggest disappointments recently, if you are a PC Gamer is the 50 Series of Graphics Cards from NVidia. Fundamentally, these are the same as the 40 Series with extra features. Improvement is nominal without it, and the only real reason to buy one is if you are rocking a 30 series or older. Don’t get me wrong, there are some performance improvements, but most is a benefit of Frame Generation and DLSS 4.

That is where we get into the debate of poor optimization vs more demanding game titles. Insert Unreal Engine 5 joke here. Do we need the new features because games or more demanding, or because they aren’t done when they release? There are arguments for each.

Another disappointment is the new processor chipset from Intel. No longer do we have the traditional i-series of processors, but a step back named Ultra. Again, poor optimization, but also poor performance. Intel has actually had issues with processors for a few generations with 13900 and 14900 voltage issues. This led to not only poor performance, but ruined consumer hardware.

So, what’s the answer?

I don’t think it’s a bad idea to look for used parts.

Yes, I have a YouTube channel that concentrates on budget and used parts, but deals can be found looking for something like last year’s model at big box stores, or open box items. Previous generation components can often save a lot of money without much performance loss, and lower tier new items can also save a lot.

If you were buying a new dishwasher for your home, chances are you do some research. PCs are no different. If I can but an RTX 4070 Ti for significantly less than a new 5070 Ti, it’s worth considering. Or if you’re gaming and production habits are less than bleeding edge, maybe the parts can be two. I buy parts I need, not the ones that help me keep up with the Jones’. I simply don’t need an RTX 5090.

Not off the hook

I mentioned NVidia and Intel, but AMD is also guilty shady tactics.

They had a great opportunity to separate themself from team green by having clear model numbers and pricing that matches performance. Instead, they turned lemming on us and offer the same model number with different memory layouts. They claim it gives the consumer more options for graphics cards. Don’t be fooled.

Many prebuilts won’t list which graphics card knowing full well they will sell a card with half the memory. NVidia and AMD both have graphics cards with cut down specs, that will certainly be in those builds. It’s like ordering a burger off the menu that has a picture with cheese and not getting it.

So, really, what do we do?

Buy according to your needs. Yes, a brand-new PC will have a warranty and you should be able to rely on it, but more and more, that’s a fantasy. It’s not to say there aren’t great deals, but it may be on last year’s model, or an open box. Or even straight up, used.

I seldom trust a prebuilt without a lot of research, and I have a number of videos on finding used parts on sites like eBay. If you are worried about a site like eBay, try something like Jawa. The guidelines are tighter and many times the deals are better. No, I’m not sponsored.

If you are adventurous enough to use a local market place, use caution, but ask if they have other things they are getting rid of. You may score extras you weren’t expecting. It never hurts to try.

The big corporations won’t stop being shady; we aren’t their target audience anymore. The best we can do is not give in. Don’t pay stupid prices. Buy what you need, not the fancy upsells. Do your research. And if your computer does what you want it to do well, maybe you don’t need to upgrade. Sometimes, good enough is pretty darn good.

Here is my latest, ‘good enough’ build

Back to the blog

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Why the RTX5050 won’t be an complete failure

How did we get here?

The RTX5050 will be releasing this month and to most people in the PC community, this will be an abject disaster. At a two Hundred fifty dollar price point, my first reaction is to agree. That is until I start looking at NVidia’s behavior and success of previous budget minded cards. While it’s true that this card doesn’t have a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, it may not be the worst thing since the GT1030 DDR4 version.

Since Nvidia’s “current” numbering iteration began around 2009, Team Green has often had a x50 at the bottom of the product stack. Well, they have for most series. There was also a GTS 150, but that was actually, I believe, the top of the 100 series. They have also occasionally mixed in something like the before mentioned 1030, but those don’t come every cycle. The last one being the 1630.

The x50’s were once reasonably priced entry level cards. The 3050, however, broke that and was confusing. It had a 8GB version that needed external power and a 6GB version that didn’t. Both had the same exact name. On purpose, and shady. The RTX5050 will be priced too high as well, at 300USD, but there is a possible bright spot.

What Bright Spot?

Someone going from a GTX 1650, which was a solid card, saw an improvement going to a 3050, even with the 6GB, no external power version. Oh, that one. But that was a different card with the same name, that doesn’t count. I’m not done.

Yes, the RTX3050 6GB should have been called the 3040 or even 3030, but it had some advantages. AMD and Intel failed to take capitalize. AMD’s budget offering was the RX6400 with 4GB of VRAM and no encoder, and Intel insisted on Resizable Bar. Both of these completely impeded any use in an older system that was trying to hang on for a few more years. Check out the blog on the RTX 3050, here.

Offering a 6GB version that took no external power, meant saving thousands of old office PCs from landfills. A twelve year old playing Fortnite doesn’t need a high end Gaming PC to play online with friends. He or she needs something affordable that won’t quit on them. NVidia is reliable.

Yeah, but the RTX5050?

There are other forgotten bright spots from the x50 cards. Anyone remember the 750Ti, or the 1050Ti? Icons. No one can argue that although the 50 base model was decent, but the Ti version far exceeded it’s sibling. Although the 1650 didn’t have a Ti, it had a Super version as a step up. That could be this cards saving grace. An RTX 5050Ti makes sense.

If NVidia has the vision enough to make a 5050Ti, I think it can very easily regain some of the respect that has tarnished this series of cards. The 3050 6Gb did have the advantage of coming in a single slot, that could save older Optiplexes, but with Window10 reaching end of support, that might not be the “go to” it was a year or two ago. A 12GB 5050Ti with a faster clock and more cores, though, could absolutely reign as a budget king. Well, unless Team Green gets greedy again and marks it up to a stupid price. They would never do that, would they? Of course they will.

I’m not sure if I’ll spring for one of these base models, but if I do, it will be on the YouTube channel, here.

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Build it like I’m starting something new

How did I get here?

First, I need to explain myself. The purpose was to find out how well a PC from when I started my YouTube Channel would do now. That would be 2018, so I gathered my parts. My actual build still existed in one form, but it had upgrades, so I needed to make adjustments.

When I began my channel in 2018, I had a Ryzen 7 1700x, an X470 Asus motherboard, 16GB of DDR4 running at 2400MTS, a 1TB HDD, and an RX480, all in a Lepa 502 case. (below). Strangely, I do have all of the components, but they are spread out or put away.

lepa case
Lepa 502

What I DID have on hand, were most of the pieces and instead of the RX480, a GTX 1070 graphics card. I did have to make some changes. I no longer use the HDD as a boot drive, but this was a test to see how well the old system would hold up to modern gaming. The games were also on SSD.

So, I put everything back together, including the 600W EVGA power supply. I was so proud, as I clicked the power button. Nothing. Oh, I got power and the fans ramped up, but it didn’t post. Then I remembered why. I knew all of the components worked, but there was an issue with the motherboard.

Big Problems?

The AM4 platform has been around for ten years now, but some of the early motherboards abandoned support for older Ryzens with a BIOS update. The eprom didn’t have enough memory for every series. I have updated the BIOS on that X470 more than once for 3000 series, and for 5000. It wouldn’t post with a 1700X without another flash.

I had two solutions. I could reflash the BIOS to an earlier version, or use the next generation CPU. It was time for the Zen 2 processor. In this case, a six core, twelve thread 3600X. I do have a 3700X, but I wanted to keep this more of a mainstream experiment and the Ryzen 5 would be fine. I swapped in the 3600X and she came right up.

Another odd thing about this PC is that it runs on Windows 10 Education Edition. This is more of an enterprise version, and for quite a while it didn’t automatically upgrade to 11. It will also most likely be support past October of this year.

So, now what?

With the system up and running I started testing. Just how well a six year old system holds up was a pleasant surprise. Games ran smooth and benchmarks were consistent those run with the GTX 1070 and a modern CPU. Yes, modern CPUs run better and more efficiently, but this build is still solid.

The case, all be it large and with a plexiglass side panel, still has great airflow and a lot of room for larger video cards should someone choose to still use it. I don’t still have the original fans, but it does have room for 120mm or 140mm and room for an All in One liquid cooler. This thing holds up.

I then started comparing to PCs that were five or six years before this. Intel had the 4000 series, which were great, but AMD had the FX series. There were huge differences between the processors from 2013 to 2019, and AMD in particular looks to have made a lightyear scale jump.

Overall, this was a good little trip back, and except for the BIOS issue, I realized most of these components are interchangeable with brand new ones from today. CPUs are still being made on the AM4 platform and applications like FSR and XESS can make older Nvidia cards perform at very playable levels. I wonder if we will be able to say the same about current releases six years from now.

I will be posting the YouTube video soon, the link to it is here. If you like, there is a blog about another older build with a Xeon, here.