Upgrading Dominos...7950X3D; 9950/X3D etc

[J7SC_Orion]

For many years, new 'leading-edge' hardware eventually moves on from 2/3rds fun to 2/3rds productivity in my use cases. Recently however, I had to make an 'unscheduled change' to deal with GPU hotspot problem that developed after trying out some different approaches to not-so-cool the VRAM on the 4090 as GDDR6X usually likes between 50 C and 60 C for best overclocks. I tried various layers of Kapton tape and arrived a decent solution - but it did not last as a hotspot delta problem became worse and worse, probably because I had not been careful enough when rushing the earlier remounts (three in one week).

 

Since I knew that I had to rebuild that system anyway and as the original loop was part of a 2021 project with the liquids getting older,  a bit more than just a rebuild was the result:

 

1. - converted the heavily modded TT Core P8 to handle three instead of two systems (the third, a Z77-based BSD firewall, sits behind the 'new addition' shown below)

2. - re-routed and simplified the loop for the 7950X3D / 4090 setup, along with a thorough flush and 4.25 liters of new liquids (rads, QD4s and pumps stayed the same) 

3. - incorporate a second-hand mining frame I picked up cheap that came with 5 new Arctic P12 PST (btw, now have ~ 70 of those in service), along with a Deepcool fan hub.

4. - add a new CPU block (Alphacool Core 1 Aurora) and PTM 7950 phase-change thermal pads for both the CPU and GPU. Also, just one layer of Kapton tape and 50% less thermal putty (TG PP10)

 

Starting at the end, here is the outcome:

 

 

Edited July 19 by J7SC_Orion

[J7SC_Orion]

Here is the hot spot delta problem...top right is the original water-block mount for the 4090 which held steady great and steady temps over a year, but VRAM tended to be too cold... Bottom left shows the deteriorating hot spot delta after multiple remounts with different layers of Kapton tape... Bottom right shows the recent rebuild of the GPU (including PTM 7950) with steady for close to a month.

 

[J7SC_Orion]

As to the 'dominos' in the title, here is the first iteration of the customized TT Core P8 / two mobos, then the second:

 

 

  
...meanwhile, the Asus Strix 3090 OC had moved over to my previous 'top system' (in 2018/19), an AMD Threadripper 2950X / MSI X399 Creation with dual RTX 20280 Ti. With the RTX 3090 on board as well, that 3x RTX GPU system is great for productivity such as rendering and even machine learning.

 

Then another 'domino' trigger - in wandered an Aorus 670E / 7950X3D / DDR5 (48 and 96 GB GSkill kits, one for DDR5 8400 at 1.4V. The 3950X that was there before moved on as a separate development server after getting upgraded with 128 GB of DDR4 (DR) 3600...

 

Edited July 15 by J7SC_Orion

[J7SC_Orion]

Below are  new /additional parts and things for the 7950X3D / RTX 4090 rebuild project (and also future builds as I like to have a 'reserve' of certain items). I wanted a new PCIe 5.0 / ATX 3.0 PSU. While not quite as good as the Seasonic PX Prime Platinum 1300 I used before in this build, this will do (the price was very good, as is the warranty) and it has a strong review re. 12V ripples. The Seasonic will experience its own domino travels soon...

   

 

 

 

Below is the cleaned-up Bykski block, with one layer of Kapton tape. The 12VHPWR connector (handling > 600 W since October 2022) looks pristine, probably because I am a bit paranoid about the 12VHPWR cable and connectors. 

 

This time, I used only half as much TG PP 10 thermal putty as in the last re-mount. I still have some new TG pp 10 vacuum-sealed in the fridge for future builds...

 

The final step was to remount the extra heatsink on the back of the RTX 4090 backplate. In addition, there is TG PP 10 between the back of the 12VHPWR connector and the GPU's backplate as that VRM area gets quite toasty...furthermore, there is a 140 mmm fan blowing down along the 12VHPWR cable and also reaching the backplate's heatsink. In addition, there are 3x Arctic P12s blowing from the left...

 

Edited July 15 by J7SC_Orion

[J7SC_Orion]

Some detail pics...the new frame lined up perfectly and sits in front of the TT Core P8. Behind it in TT Core P8 is room for the Z77-based firewall. The beauty is that I could add another system which is much easier to access for service and upgrades (those dominos again) WITHOUT any additional footprint taking away from my home office work area 

 

 

 

After leak-testing and mounting a partial section of tempered glass, the 7950X3D and 5950X are enjoying some blue-tint harmony. This whole project was made easier by the Koolance QD4s I use. The 1440 mm x 64 mm triple-core rads stayed the same (with push/pull Arctic P12s of course) as did the 3x D5 pumps.

 

A thorough flush was in order though, along with simplified loop routing. After that, 4.25 liters of new deionized water along with some XSPC EC6 biocide.

 

[J7SC_Orion]

Some low-light shots...'RGB can be any colour as long as it is blue...'

 

 

 

...and back to the beginning...

 

 

 

 

[J7SC_Orion]

...some interesting new 'dominos' available at the end of the month ! I might try to hold out until the 9950X3D as I am running my 7950X3D at DDR5 8200 already...time will tell, though Zen5  / AM5 looks like a definite  winner for AMD ! Who knows, perhaps even @bonami2 will chuck Intel for a while ?

 

 

Edited July 16 by J7SC_Orion

[Barefooter]

That's some nice gear

[J7SC_Orion]

7 hours ago, Barefooter said:

That's some nice gear

 

Thanks 

 

Here are some higher-res collage pics, some of it has not been shown before

 

 

 

 

Edited July 16 by J7SC_Orion

[bonami2]

23 hours ago, J7SC_Orion said:

...some interesting new 'dominos' available at the end of the month ! I might try to hold out until the 9950X3D as I am running my 7950X3D at DDR5 8200 already...time will tell, though Zen5  / AM5 looks like a definite  winner for AMD ! Who knows, perhaps even @bonami2 will chuck Intel for a while ?

 

 

So busy with work i cant keep up with news. Well am just too mentally burned to put any effort .

 

I went intel because of core count and ipc.  Game engine benefit from ipc and beam ng love core.

 

Only issue with ryzen is 16 core if it was 20 or 24 my 13900k would be amd!

Kinda regret it though pull 200w to perform like a 50w 9950x3d

[J7SC_Orion]

5 hours ago, bonami2 said:

So busy with work i cant keep up with news. Well am just too mentally burned to put any effort .

 

I went intel because of core count and ipc.  Game engine benefit from ipc and beam ng love core.

 

Only issue with ryzen is 16 core if it was 20 or 24 my 13900k would be amd!

Kinda regret it though pull 200w to perform like a 50w 9950x3d

 

...a lot of serious stories around quick-degrading Intel i9s    ...AMD 9950 looks promising (same socket until 2027 or so). I am more likely to wait for 9950X3D though would also like to get info first on Intel's first real new desktop architecture. My current setup has a lot of legs left anyhow...

[Sir Beregond]

9800X3D looks like a good upgrade for my 5900X, but we'll see how things go this year. Might just hold out another gen for Zen 6 since I haven't been gaming much lately.

[J7SC_Orion]

On 17/07/2024 at 09:48, Sir Beregond said:

9800X3D looks like a good upgrade for my 5900X, but we'll see how things go this year. Might just hold out another gen for Zen 6 since I haven't been gaming much lately.

 

More detail on Zen5 architecture and chipsets in the vid below. I will take a close look at 9950X3D when it is released in the fall but unless I transfer the 7950X3D to another productivity setup, I am in no hurry to upgrade from it. If I do, very likely keep the current Aorus X670E Master mobo and the 48 GB of 8400 DDR5.

 

 

[bonami2]

On 17/07/2024 at 12:39, J7SC_Orion said:

 

...a lot of serious stories around quick-degrading Intel i9s    ...AMD 9950 looks promising (same socket until 2027 or so). I am more likely to wait for 9950X3D though would also like to get info first on Intel's first real new desktop architecture. My current setup has a lot of legs left anyhow...

Will need a 6090ti before i need to upgrade cpu for beam. I can mostly push 100 fps + easily already. Sure would be fun to push 120+ for VR.

 

Wonder if the efficiency will catch up to us would love a 35w 16 core cpu that beat my 13900k

[J7SC_Orion]

3 hours ago, bonami2 said:

Will need a 6090ti before i need to upgrade cpu for beam. I can mostly push 100 fps + easily already. Sure would be fun to push 120+ for VR.

 

Wonder if the efficiency will catch up to us would love a 35w 16 core cpu that beat my 13900k

 

 A new 'broader acceptance /app supported' graphics resolution such as 8K240 might require a RTX 6090ti  ...and my 4K 120 OLED (which I adore) is really the 'limiting factor' now. 

 

Good thing though that AMD's brand new AGESA primarily released for Ryzen 9K has some new goodies for Ryzen 7K as well  (ie. my 7950X3D) such as 'Curve Shaper', so not done yet...btw, the max CPU Package Power for the 7950X3D I've seen is in the mid 160 Ws range. What I still hope for is support for > DDR5 8000 for the Ryzens; I am running a GSkill 8400 kit but 8200 (w/bclk) is the current sane limit per bclk though w/more crazy bclk, I had it at 8600 already. 100 x84, 100 x86 and may be 100 x88 would be perfect if enabled.

 

In any case, this fall should be interesting, what with Intel's upcoming Arrow Lake and AMD's 9950X3D - and possibly the NVidia RTX 5090, though rumours still diverge on that one re. Q4 / '24 or Q1 / '25 intro. 

[J7SC_Orion]

My 40 inch Philips workstation panel started dying last night  . It served me well for close to a decade, first as a primary, then as a secondary workstation. My LG C1 48 OLED is still going strong, so I wanted something more pedestrian which could also have the setup for television etc. I ended up getting a HiSense 43 inch A68N (2024 model) today for ~US $ 250...It cannot quite compete with the OLED but heck, these tv/monitors (3 x HDMI) have come a long way  in terms of picture and sound quality; this thing has HDR / Dolby Vision etc and it looks really good ! 

   

[J7SC_Orion]

...new monitor above led to a major home office shuffle of seven systems and their screens; 'of course' the HDMI 2.1 cables I had in reserve were too short for the new layouts, so I picked up 2x long (3meter each) Club3D HDMI 2.1 cables today

 

[bonami2]

On 31/07/2024 at 23:03, J7SC_Orion said:

My 40 inch Philips workstation panel started dying last night  . It served me well for close to a decade, first as a primary, then as a secondary workstation. My LG C1 48 OLED is still going strong, so I wanted something more pedestrian which could also have the setup for television etc. I ended up getting a HiSense 43 inch A68N (2024 model) today for ~US $ 250...It cannot quite compete with the OLED but heck, these tv/monitors (3 x HDMI) have come a long way  in terms of picture and sound quality; this thing has HDR / Dolby Vision etc and it looks really good ! 

   

 

 

I agree that newer panel are getting color close to oled these days. Still a long ways for black but still awesome!

 

When i put the 1440p panel on my laptop i was impressed. But still OLED is something else.