Almost finished my upgrade! Just need a good motherboard suggestion and some thoughts on how it’s going.
Almost finished my upgrade! Just need a good motherboard suggestion and some thoughts on how it’s going.
I choose the most affordable ASUS X570 motherboard, they all work well and support overclocking for a 3950 on them. The cooler is excellent but quite costly. The Noctua NH-D15 costs half as much with comparable performance. That PSU can't handle a 3950 plus 980Ti or 3080Ti, so I recommend picking the Corsair RMX650.
noctua nh15 comes in black and pairs well with a third model for its motherboard setup. For top value, an ASUS TUF is great, but you can also invest more for features like MSI MEG X570 Ace, which includes Wi-Fi + BT. You mentioned using gigabit Ethernet—have you thought about other uses, such as streaming games to other devices or connecting wireless controllers?
Discuss the features of this Noctua cooler and how it stands out without a liquid design. It offers advantages over other options you mentioned. Regarding the Noctua D15 Chromax, it’s praised for being quieter than air coolers, making it a good fit for your preference. For the 3950X CPU, the RMx650 should handle it well. Your interest in the 3080Ti suggests you want top-tier cooling. When it comes to RAM, you’re aiming for 3600/3800 MHz, Gigabit internet, and great VRM performance—ASUS TUF, Asus Hero VIII, and Gigabyte Aorus Master are popular choices. Higher-end motherboards often bring better stability and support, though they come at a higher price.
That's exactly what I was discussing. https://www.relaxedtech.com/reviews/noct...-coolers/1 Yes, 650w should suffice. 3600ram is ideal. All ASUS X570 models have voltages appropriate for an overclocked 3950x, so options like TUF, Prime, Strix, or any suitable are fine. The variations lie in other aspects like ports and Wi-Fi features.
Air coolers don’t naturally produce more noise than water coolers since they share similar fans and a dual tower model matches the surface area of a two-fan radiator. Noctua is known for producing nearly silent fans. I recently assembled one using a 3950x and an NH-D15, and even at maximum performance I barely heard it unless I positioned my ear against the glass. Still, it’s quite large. Trident Neo should work well, but pairing it with a taller memory module could cause issues with the heatsink.
I found a review on the website discussing the Noctua NH-D15 compared to closed-loop liquid coolers.
I believe there might be a mix-up, I’m not interested in the Corsair H100i. You’d like a DIY liquid cooling setup using a pump and reservoir, targeting the CPU and GPU. The Inwin 309 Lite fits inside that case, so it should work. Finding reliable fans and quality components can be challenging, but there are good options available. Corsair offers comprehensive kits, though you’ll need to verify compatibility and trustworthiness.
My primary aim with this setup is balancing gaming and content creation. The 3950x offers solid performance for both, though its gaming efficiency doesn’t significantly surpass the 3900x or even the 3700x when you factor in cost. A 3700x would be a more affordable choice just over half the price of the 3950x, while the 3900x remains a strong pick at a $300 discount. If budget allows, upgrading to the 3950x could still be worthwhile, especially if I decide to go with it later this year. For those not focused on gaming efficiency, a cooler air cooler like the B Quiet Dark Rock Pro might be a better fit, offering similar performance at a lower cost. If you’re saving money by downsizing, swapping your 3950x for a 3900x and replacing the X62 with the Dark Rock Pro could save around $400, leaving room to upgrade your PSU for an extra $100–$120. Whether you already own a PSU or need to buy one, this plan maximizes value. The motherboard choice is also important—my Gigabyte X570 Aorus Master proved reliable and powerful, with top-rated VRMs and ample expansion options.