AMD Ryzen 3rd gen. ZEN 2 processors for audio PC

[Pictus]

I also have one of those basic, passively cooled graphics cards, good enough if one doesn't play video games

And I use the AMD stock CPU cooler that came with my Ryzen chip, it works fine and I don't hear it at all.

The default cooler for the Ryzen 3600 is noisy and not efficient.
You do not want your Ryzen 3000 with temperatures above 75ºC.
One trick to keep the CPU cooler is to not use the AUTO voltage, here
I lock all the cores to 42GHz and voltage up to 1.212V.
YMWV

[e-crooner]

I also have one of those basic, passively cooled graphics cards, good enough if one doesn't play video games

And I use the AMD stock CPU cooler that came with my Ryzen chip, it works fine and I don't hear it at all.

The default cooler for the Ryzen 3600 is noisy and not efficient.
You do not want your Ryzen 3000 with temperatures above 75ºC.
One trick to keep the CPU cooler is to not use the AUTO voltage, here
I lock all the cores to 42GHz and voltage up to 1.212V.
YMWV

If you don't overclock, the standard cooler is sufficient.
They didn't just drop the cooler in the CPU package by accident, they did extensive testing in order to make sure the cooler is strong enough, which is also in AMD's own interest since they would have to replace the chip if it died because of AMD's cooler.

If you overclock, it is you that creates a problem where there was none. Overclocking AMD Ryzen chips makes little sense, anyway.

[Pictus]

If you don't overclock, the standard cooler is sufficient.
They didn't just drop the cooler in the CPU package by accident, they did extensive testing in order to make sure the cooler is strong enough, which is also in AMD's own interest since they would have to replace the chip if it died because of AMD's cooler.

If you overclock, it is you that creates a problem where there was none. Overclocking AMD Ryzen chips makes little sense, anyway.

Here with everything in AUTO, the CPU goes from 3.6GHz to 4.2GHz
in all cores, but the default cooler is not good enough to keep all
cores at 4.2GHz.

The CPU MAX speed depend on some factors, obviously the main factor is
the temperature and the CPU silicon quality, higher quality silicon can clock
higher with lower voltages, lower voltages produces less heat...
The default 3600 cooler is not good, it is not the same as the one from the
3600X and if you are *not* into a cold climate with a case with good
airflow, it will limit the max CPU speed...
I guess in the north or south pole, the default Ryzen 3600 cooler can keep
all the cores at 4.2GHz...
By adding a decent cooler is a guarantee that the CPU will achieve and *stay*
at maximum speeds, not only that as a big cooler can also be a LOT more silent...

Now the voltages...
Get a free program like HWinfo64
https://www.hwinfo.com/download/
And tell me what voltage(VCORE) does your CPU run at 100% load?
By doing tests I was able to discover that my CPU(very good silicon)
can stay with all cores at 4.2GHz with less voltage than the default!

[e-crooner]

I live in Portugal, we had 46° two years ago, I don't have an A/C, and yet my computer had no problem at all.
There is an entire line of Wrath coolers, different models for different CPU's. I suppose you have messed with the settings in the BIOS or some AMD driver software.

[Aliens]

Thanks for the advice and continuing the discussion.

For me, the 3600 is desireable but probably a bit overkill for my daw only needs, and I'd certainly have no need to over clock it as the standard clock speed and performance would be more than enough.

I'm still torn about just getting the 3600 with an msi tomahawk max b450. I won't need anything off the newer chipsets, so that's in my thinking for an even more value for money build considering my needs and my i7 2600 still chugs on without too many hiccups. My last ands least option is to go for a 3400g build with on board graphics and be happy with doubling performance for not much outlay at all.

[Pictus]

I live in Portugal, we had 46° two years ago, I don't have an A/C, and yet my computer had no problem at all.
There is an entire line of Wrath coolers, different models for different CPU's. I suppose you have messed with the settings in the BIOS or some AMD driver software.

It is not to have any problem at all!
When the temperature gets too high, the CPU throttles down...
You are saying that even in a hot summer your 3600+stock cooler
stays at top speed(4.2GHz?) in all cores with 100% loading?
Then you won the silicon lottery...
CPU quality varies, some are very good mainly the newer revisions.
The new 3600 XT is an example of this, your 3600 is a 3600 XT in disguise...
The "normal" behavior is not like yours...
https://www.techspot.com/review/1871-amd-ryzen-3600/

[Pictus]

Thanks for the advice and continuing the discussion.

I am glad to help.

I'm still torn about just getting the 3600 with an msi tomahawk max b450.

Is what I use.

[Aliens]

Ha, so I was guessing right about that option, then

So if I want to run bog standard clock, and using 3200 ram, do I have to mess with settings?

I checked the mb approved gpu list and found a cheap g force that will work, so no worries about that now.

[Pictus]

So if I want to run bog standard clock, and using 3200 ram, do I have to mess with settings?

If the RAM is in the motherboard compatibility list, probably no.
But the AUTO stuff may not apply the best settings.
HWiNFO64 is your friend...
With the B450 Tomahawk MAX I can help.
Some tweaks viewtopic.php?p=7624448#p7624448

[Aliens]

Cheers

[egbert]

What is the purpose of that "DP in" port? - I assume this is Display Port so does this allow external boxen to drive the monitor through this port.

DP = DisplayPort
To use a Thunderbolt display, the GPU DisplayPort out goes into the DP IN.

What puzzled me is that the "DP in" label is above the port on the MB back panel. It implies the signal is inbound to the computer rather than an output from the PC to a display.

[VitaminD]

Thanks for the advice and continuing the discussion.

For me, the 3600 is desireable but probably a bit overkill for my daw only needs, and I'd certainly have no need to over clock it as the standard clock speed and performance would be more than enough.

I'm still torn about just getting the 3600 with an msi tomahawk max b450. I won't need anything off the newer chipsets, so that's in my thinking for an even more value for money build considering my needs and my i7 2600 still chugs on without too many hiccups. My last ands least option is to go for a 3400g build with on board graphics and be happy with doubling performance for not much outlay at all.

Hmmmm. 'g' series Ryzen processors are really last generation with graphics built in. In the case of the 3400g it is really a 2000 series ryzen with graphics added.

2000 series didn't get the same single threaded performance level that the true 3000 series (non g) processors saw. You'll want a true 3000 series processor like the 3600 imo.

The other option is to wait for 4000 series G cpus to be released which could be in a couple of weeks at earliest (but no official date has been provided). Those would be true 3000 series desktop CPUs with graphics built in.

The naming is confusing but I hope that makes sense. If you're looking to upgrade later I'd get a B550 or X570 motherboard. There is an issue AMD claims with firmware on 400 series motherboards supporting all the various Ryzen generation processors. What they claim might happen is likely you would have to update the BIOS to a new firmware to support the 4000 CPUs but then lose 3000 and 2000 support permanently.

On the 500 series boards they support both 3000 and 4000 series ryzens no problem without losing any support.

But honestly if you're not that concerned with upgrading a B450 would work fine and save some money.

[Aliens]

Thanks VitaminD. I appreciated your help.
I'm actually not going to build until I've settled on my house sale and bought the new one, which should be mid September, so sure I'll check again before I do buy. What I have done though, is price up what's available locally to give me best bang for my money. A 3600 would be more than I can see me needing, given I'm sort of okay with what I already have, but while I'll have some spare cash, go get myself set for another 9 years. If I get the 3600 I wouldn't bother with a mind to future proofing. It would only ever be what it is, so a b450 would be fine.
Unless the 4000 series blows everything away and makes the (my) expected extra spend a no brainer, I'll go shopping for the old stuff and hopefully pick up more of a money saving discount.

[e-crooner]

I live in Portugal, we had 46° two years ago, I don't have an A/C, and yet my computer had no problem at all.
There is an entire line of Wrath coolers, different models for different CPU's. I suppose you have messed with the settings in the BIOS or some AMD driver software.

It is not to have any problem at all!
When the temperature gets too high, the CPU throttles down...
You are saying that even in a hot summer your 3600+stock cooler
stays at top speed(4.2GHz?) in all cores with 100% loading?
Then you won the silicon lottery...
CPU quality varies, some are very good mainly the newer revisions.
The new 3600 XT is an example of this, your 3600 is a 3600 XT in disguise...
The "normal" behavior is not like yours...
https://www.techspot.com/review/1871-amd-ryzen-3600/

Which of these do you have?


You know, if I did things that caused a constant max load on my CPU, I would disable the turbo boost thingy completely because that is not what it is meant for. It is meant for sporadic load peaks, not constant max plateaus. If a CPU runs constantly at the non-boosted speed on all cores, the stock cooler is enough.

[Scotty]

For new 3900x builds is it recommended to lock all cores to the same frequency for smooth ASIO and consistent performance or is it better to let it float and manage the frequency boosting on its own? The one I built for my pal I set up as all cores locked. I am wondering if you get better single threaded speeds which could be helpful in some scenarios as long as asio doesn't glitch as the load changes. Any thoughts?