New PC - Overclocking info / help

[Tarmac]

Hi folks

Just ordered the following rig:

Case: COOLERMASTER MASTERCASE MAKER 5t GAMING CASE
Processor (CPU): Intel® Core™i7 Quad Core Processor i7-7700k (4.2GHz) 8MB Cache
Motherboard: ASUS® ROG MAXIMUS IX FORMULA: ATX, LG1151, USB 3.1, SATA 6GBs - RGB Ready!
Memory (RAM): 32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3200MHz (4 x 8GB)
Graphics Card: 8GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1080 - DVI, HDMI, 3x DP - GeForce GTX VR Ready!
2nd Graphics Card: 8GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1080 - DVI, HDMI, 3x DP - GeForce GTX VR Ready!
1st Hard Disk: 2TB SEAGATE FIRECUDA 3.5" SSHD - UP TO 5X FASTER THAN HDD!
2nd Hard Disk: 10TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA PRO 3.5", 7200 RPM 265MB CACHE
M.2 SSD Drive: 1TB SAMSUNG SM961 M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 3200MB/R, 1800MB/W)
2nd M.2 SSD Drive: 1TB SAMSUNG SM961 M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 3200MB/R, 1800MB/W)
DVD/BLU-RAY Drive: 12x BLU-RAY ROM DRIVE, 16x DVD ±R/±RW
Power Supply: CORSAIR 750W CS SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Processor Cooling: CoolerMaster Hyper 212X (120mm) Fan CPU Cooler
Thermal Paste: ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND
Extra Case Fans: 2x 120mm Black Case Fan (configured to extract from rear/roof)
Sound Card: ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Wireless/Wired Networking: ASUS PCE-AC88 AC3100 2100Mbps/5GHz, 1000Mbps/2.4GHz
USB Options: MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System: Genuine Windows 10 Professional 64 Bit - inc DVD & Licence
Monitor: AOC G2460PF 24" LED 144Hz GAMING MONITOR

Can anyone tell me what to do about overclocking please? Specifically, I'm wondering is there a safe way to do it through software so I don't inadvertantly fry something! Does a new system come with a certain amount of overclocking done by the PCSpecialist guys already?

Thanks for any info.

 

[Rakk]

Does a new system come with a certain amount of overclocking done by the PCSpecialist guys already?

It only comes pre-overclocked if you order it from the overclocked section of the website here: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/intel-overclocked-computers/

 

[Oussebon]

As above, if you want it overclocked by aren't familiar with overclocking yourself getting it pre-OCed is not a bad idea.

What's the PC for out of interest?

 

[Tarmac]

Thanks guys. It's ordered already and in "Processing" so I've missed the boat asking them to pre-OC it unfortunately I'll have to have a look around youbtube for greenhorn guide to overclocking when I get try it.

@Oussenbon: It's primarily for gaming - my current PC is really starting to have a meltdown trying to run Mass Effect Andromeda at any decent state. I also do alot of programming and media editing though, so it's a nice all rounder (I'm hoping!).

 

[keynes]

If it is still processing you could contact PCS and request a pre overclocked system. You may also want to consider a better cpu cooler

 

[Oussebon]

You can probably still cancel the order and resubmit it, or possibly have PCS amend it to a pre-OCed build. I'd suggest you phone them tomorrow.

Processor Cooling: CoolerMaster Hyper 212X (120mm) Fan CPU Cooler

The 7700k can run quite hot, so you'll want to upgrade the cooler to something like the Noctua or the H100i V2 (if you don't like the Noctua's aesthetic). Regardless of what you choose about having it pre-OCed, you will want to look into amending the order for a better cooler.

Power Supply: CORSAIR 750W CS SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET

With the kind of budget you seem to have I'd also suggest a n RM850X PSU as it's better quality and quieter than the CS650.

Graphics Card: 8GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1080 - DVI, HDMI, 3x DP - GeForce GTX VR Ready!
2nd Graphics Card: 8GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1080 - DVI, HDMI, 3x DP - GeForce GTX VR Ready!
...
Monitor: AOC G2460PF 24" LED 144Hz GAMING MONITOR

A single GTX 1080 would be more than fine on a 1080p 144hz monitor. Indeed it would be more than fine on a 1440p gsync monitor, which would still work out cheaper than a pair of 1080s and that monitor.

Motherboard: ASUS® ROG MAXIMUS IX FORMULA: ATX, LG1151, USB 3.1, SATA 6GBs - RGB Ready!

Unless you have a specific need of the features this offers vs some of the others (e.g. support for liquid nitrogen overclocking) you could save some £ and go for a Z270E, which is already very expensive and full of features.

 

[Tarmac]

I tried picking the better CPU cooler option but it wouldn't let me proceed with the order because it said that part needed pre-ordering or something.

I already have another 24 inch monitor that's reasonably new, so the machine will be driving two monitors and a large TV screen, so 3 displays at once depending on what I'm doing.

I was debating about getting the second gfx card or not but reckoned I'd future proof it to a degree for any demanding games that are released over the next 3 - 5 years. Probably overkill for what I play at the moment, but hoping it works out in the end.

With regards the motherboard choice, I read reviews of the Z270E and the one I chose and the Z270E did get good write-ups but the reviewer (toms hardware I believe) lamented the dodgy firmware for it currently. So decided to go with the one that had no real "cons".

Thanks for the input everyone.

 

[Oussebon]

I already have another 24 inch monitor that's reasonably new, so the machine will be driving two monitors and a large TV screen, so 3 displays at once depending on what I'm doing.

I was debating about getting the second gfx card or not but reckoned I'd future proof it to a degree for any demanding games that are released over the next 3 - 5 years. Probably overkill for what I play at the moment, but hoping it works out in the end.

If you're only gaming on one monitor, using the others with web pages / movies etc is completely trivial for the GPU.

In all candour, SLI isn't the best way to futureproof your setup, especially at 1080p 144hz. Not all games scale well on SLI - some don't gain any performance advantage or even can scale negatively. It would likely be the smarter play to buy a single GTX 1080 now, and then upgrade the GPU in a few years to something then. A single card solution upgraded periodically is nearly always the better choice vs a dual card solution of the same performance.

Out of interest, what did Tom's Hardware say about the Z270E's firmware? I only skim read that review but the single comment about dodgy firmware I read related to a gigabyte mobo:

Average performance differences were not great enough to offset the energy-to-efficiency ratio, leaving the second best power miser ROG Strix Z270E Gaming as the second most efficient motherboard. Conversely, an early fixed-core-voltage firmware led to a poor efficiency score for the Aorus Z270X-Gaming 7.
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/asus-rog-strix-z270e-gaming-atx-motherboard,review-33794-3.html

Also Asus's most recent BIOS update for the Z270E was released 24 March 2017 and apparently had a few fixes in it: https://www.asus.com/uk/Motherboards/ROG-STRIX-Z270E-GAMING/HelpDesk_Download/

It's your cash ofc, I'm just not sure I'd tip an extra £140 down Asus's open beak for features I wouldn't use if it were mine

 

[Tarmac]

hmm, I didn't know that about SLI Oussebon I assume if I find it detremental to a game, I can just disable SLI though? Or is it something that's "always-on" at a hardware level?

I must admit, I'm totally green about technical knowledge on these things - it was a case of save up some cash over a few years between PC's and then buy a "monster", hoping it'd be good for another few years. The multi-monitor config I have in mind is for games like Elite Dangerous and Guild Wars 2 that will avail of multiple monitors - so have the game on the two monitors and a web page or something open on the TV screen. Might be sorely mistaken with how it'll work out though!

 

[Oussebon]

You can disable SLI as and when you want. But the point is that if you're doing that, or if the games get no benefit, there was no point spending the £ on it anyway.

It may be a better option to go with a single GTX 1080 ti, which is a good deal more powerful than a single GTX 1080, and dodges the issue of SLI by just being a single GPU.

Though as I say, a single GTX 1080 would be fine for the setup you're describing.

so have the game on the two monitors

I haven't played either of those games, but how do you have the game on 2 monitors? Because with any normal game even if you could set the custom resolution for it to work that way, you would have the bezels bisecting the middle of your game. So half your crosshairs (or character) would appear on one screen, half on the other, with an inch or two of monitor bezels between them, making the game entirely unplayable. Unless you're running two separate instances of the game (i.e. playing 2 characters at the same time).

If gaming on multiple monitors it's usually across 3. And if playing a game across multiple monitors I assume you'd also need monitors on the same refresh rate, or at least to lock your 144hz monitor to 60hz if your existing screens are 60hz, in which case there wasn't much point buying it. And a single GTX 1080 ti would be fine for gaming across 3 screens since it can handle 4k gaming and 3x 1080p is less demanding.

 

[Tarmac]

As I understand it, you can set 'spare' monitors to viewports in certain games. So in Elite Dangerous, which is basically flying around in a spaceship, you could have your main monitor as your main view and a second monitor to be your left or right cockpit view - whichever side has the most commonly used readouts or whatever. Three monitors would be perfect indeed for it, but I simply don't have the deskspace for three unfortunately.

I do wonder - if there are these problems with SLI, why is it sold as an option? Are there no benefits to it or is it simply a case of there isn't a sizeable portion of games that avail of the functionality?


Edit: I just noticed I can amend my order. Based on your advice, I've removed the second card and changed the first card to a "8GB EVGA GEFORCE GTX 1080 FTW GAMING - DVI, HDMI, 3 x DP" (there was no option with Ti for a 1080 card available). It told me to get a lower PSU also, so that changed to a "CORSAIR 650W CS SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET". Thanks for the great advice and saving me a few hundred quid!

 

[Oussebon]

That's interesting about Elite Dangerous, ta.

I wouldn't get the GTX 1080 FTW as it's £139 for literally a few more FPS:


Pascal GPUs can already boost themselves quite high, so you'll get much the same results with a generic GTX 1080 as you would with one with a custom PCB and other bells and whistles if you're not doing things like enthusiast overclocking using custom BIOSes on the cards, or whatever.

The GTX 1080 ti ought to be there:


Though a regular 1080 should also do you fine.

SLI does work in many games, and is a viable or even preferable solution for some situations. For instance, if you wanted to game at 4k before the GTX 1080 ti came along and you had £1200 to blow on GPUs then GTX 1080 SLI was your best option, rather than buying the £1200 Titan X Pascal. However, it's my opinion that running a pair of 1080p monitors isn't a scenario that really needs or would make good use of a 1080 SLI setup. Some games won't get any benefit, it uses more power, generates more heat, and there are potential issues like 'microstutter' (which you may or may not get, and may or may not notice even if you do get it). Plus not all games that do get gains from SLI will give you 70-100% performance scaling, some might be a good deal lower. So SLI is certainly an option in some cases, but a single GPU is generally the route with fewer headaches and seems to be broadly considered preferable, where a single GPU offers sufficient performance.

Since a 1080 ti can run games at 4k (4 times the pixels of 1080p), a pair of 1080p monitors should be pretty easy for it. Even a single 1080, which can also get you by at 4k res with a few settings tweaked should cruise through gaming on a pair of 1080p monitors.

You might want to consider getting the RM850x PSU. It's much better build quality than the CS series and quieter anyway, so is arguably worth getting on its own account, but the higher wattage means that if you do decide to go SLI as a future upgrade - perhaps you get a 4k 120hz monitor or something - you'll have that option. The 850x should cover you for SLI with either 1080s or 1080 tis in SLI.

 

[Tarmac]

That's odd - I don't know why I didn't see that Ti option previously. I've switched it to the "11GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1080 Ti - HDMI, 3x DP GeForce - GTX VR Ready!" now successfully though - thanks Ousssebon.

 

[Oussebon]

Cool. Keep us posted with how it goes - if you can find the time once it arrives!