PC Buying Guide 2024

[Danno]

Coming from years of intel, does AMD come with any new quirks or compatibility issues?

[Danno]

I do use some ilok software, is that working yet?

[uOpt]

Coming from years of intel, does AMD come with any new quirks or compatibility issues?

When they put out new sockets there's some hoopla around BIOS fixes for a while. Right now it is quiet.

[uOpt]

I do use some ilok software, is that working yet?

iLok says there was a CPU bug in the 9xxx series. If the mainboard in question has a BIOS update then it's fine.

The whole affair was a bit fishy.

[Danno]

Ya I see they mention the mobo 'may' require a bios update. I don't think I've ever done a bios update before but it can't be that difficult.
This is my build so far.. any comments? (This is probably the most I want to spend)

https://newegg.io/2d93f95

[Lerian]

I don't understand why people keep gravitating towards intel when it is clear for many years already that AMD took the lead in every aspect.

Intel still has a couple of advantages ..

Marginally, and at the expense of lots of stability issues, even in 12gen. Imo 7950x on x670e is the sweetspot of price/performance in 2024. For less than $1000 you get top performance plus 64gb DDR5 on a mobo with PCIe5 lanes. 13900K offers theoretically similar performance in single core, but it has half of the performance cores (8 vs 16) and it melts. To me, there's no comparison.

[uOpt]

Ya I see they mention the mobo 'may' require a bios update. I don't think I've ever done a bios update before but it can't be that difficult.
This is my build so far.. any comments? (This is probably the most I want to spend)

https://newegg.io/2d93f95

Nice machine. I would upgrade the PSU to the RMx. I don't know that board.

[Danno]

I've found a few comments on issues with USB RME interfaces. (I use an original UFX)

I can't find TONS of info on this so I'm guessing it's not a widespread issue.

[vignesh.vijay]

AMD 7950x is a beast for audio, and now its less than $500. Pair it with a x670e mobo with DDR5 and PCIe 5, and you're good to go for many years from now.

Is AMD 7950x better than the 9950x? Or do you recommend 7950x for the price factor?

How good is 7950x3D? Is it better than 9950x and 7950x for audio production?

[Pictus]

Ya I see they mention the mobo 'may' require a bios update. I don't think I've ever done a bios update before but it can't be that difficult.
This is my build so far.. any comments? (This is probably the most I want to spend)

https://newegg.io/2d93f95

This https://newegg.io/a51240e2

You do not need 6400Mhz RAM, 6000MHz CAS 30 is fine, this model has EXPO.
https://www.newegg.ca/g-skill-64gb-ddr5 ... 6820374518

Get a cheap Windows 11 OEM key
https://www.premiumcdkeys.com/products/windows-11-professional-oem-key

Plug the USB audio interface in the ASRock orange/yellow USB port and in the
other USB orange/yellow port plug the mouse.
ASRock Lightning Gaming USB ports are good for USB audio Interfaces and DACs.

Do not forget to first update the motherboard BIOS.
https://pg.asrock.com/mb/AMD/X670E%20PG ... x.asp#BIOS
(It's not the same model, but the same process. If the system is already built, there's no need to remove anything.)

In the BIOS do not forget to set the FANS to PWM, if they are PWM(4 pins).

You are going to use a RME USB audio interface, so disable the onboard audio and install only:

The chipset driver https://www.techpowerup.com/download/am ... t-drivers/
The LAN driver https://www.realtek.com/Download/ToDown ... oadid=4342
The GPU driver https://www.techpowerup.com/download/am ... s-drivers/
The printer, Audio interface driver and nothing more!

If you need a case
https://www.newegg.ca/black-phanteks-xt ... 6811854133

I've found a few comments on issues with USB RME interfaces. (I use an original UFX)

I can't find TONS of info on this so I'm guessing it's not a widespread issue.

Verify if the RME UFX firmware is updated.
https://archiv.rme-audio.de/en/downloads/driver/uc.php
Make sure to plug it to the motherboard yellow/orange USB port, do some tweaks viewtopic.php?p=8820694#p8820694
and it should be fine. Good luck!

[Lerian]

AMD 7950x is a beast for audio, and now its less than $500. Pair it with a x670e mobo with DDR5 and PCIe 5, and you're good to go for many years from now.

Is AMD 7950x better than the 9950x? Or do you recommend 7950x for the price factor?

How good is 7950x3D? Is it better than 9950x and 7950x for audio production?

The x3d cpus are optimized for gaming, having some larger cache, but it won't help you at all with audio.

Your best options are the X versions - 7900x, 7950x, 9900x, 9950x. And having the 7950x at around $450-$500 and 9950 at $700.. you do the math. The performance difference between 9950x and 7950x is marginal, while in price is $200-$250 depending where you buy. Also, 9950x have lower speeds in 8 of the 16 cores, compared to 7950x that have the same speed in all 16 cores. And single core speed matters most in audio. That's why you can and might want to underpower it your CPU to lower the heat and therefore achieve higher single core speeds. Its a very common tweak in newer AMD CPUs, and its as safe as stock, if not safer given the lower temps.

In conclusion, 9950x doesn't make much sense given the price. You can get 96gb (2x48) of good DDR5 RAM (AMD EXPO) for the $200. In real life performance you won't feel any difference. And the platform is the same - AM5 - so you can upgrade only your cpu when the next gen arrives.

PS: don't get the B650 mobo, get a x670e. It has more options, PCIe 5 M.2 slot, and so on. Its a better chipset overall, designed for higher end PCs.

Watch this video:

[Pictus]

AMD 7950x is a beast for audio, and now its less than $500. Pair it with a x670e mobo with DDR5 and PCIe 5, and you're good to go for many years from now.

Is AMD 7950x better than the 9950x? Or do you recommend 7950x for the price factor?

How good is 7950x3D? Is it better than 9950x and 7950x for audio production?

Check https://www.scanproaudio.info/2023/03/03/4841/
As a nerd I like the 7950x3D as I have no problem dealing with the X3D cache, details in the tweaks
viewtopic.php?p=8820694#p8820694
The future AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D(3D cache in both chiplets) will be very good.
https://www.techpowerup.com/327057/amd- ... d-chiplets
https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-compone ... gaming-cpu

[uOpt]

AMD 7950x is a beast for audio, and now its less than $500. Pair it with a x670e mobo with DDR5 and PCIe 5, and you're good to go for many years from now.

Is AMD 7950x better than the 9950x? Or do you recommend 7950x for the price factor?

How good is 7950x3D? Is it better than 9950x and 7950x for audio production?

During 7xxx times the 7950x was higher clocked than the 7950x3d. For most music uses that made it faster.

We don't know yet whether the same will apply with 9xxx.

[Danno]

Holy that's a wealth of info, thanks. The order is done, so it is what it is now.

So I can flash the bios AFTER I've got Windows installed right?

[Pictus]

Holy that's a wealth of info, thanks. The order is done, so it is what it is now.

So I can flash the bios AFTER I've got Windows installed right?

You are welcome.
Look at the video, better before install the CPU/RAM/ETC.