Consider some concerns regarding my upcoming 7800X3D setup.
Consider some concerns regarding my upcoming 7800X3D setup.
You can simply navigate to bios and check the available choices.
ASUS EZ Flash 3 ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi is a cutting-edge system featuring 12 power stages, DDR5 memory, and PCIe® 5.0 storage. It includes three M.2 slots with cooling fins, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, WiFi 6E, AI networking, dual-way AI noise cancellation, and more.
The motherboard typically includes the most recent BIOS at the time it is made. It’s unlikely you’ll need to upgrade the BIOS unless you’re experiencing issues.
General advice suggests avoiding BIOS updates once your system is stable.
However, a failed BIOS flash in a new build can have minor effects.
I tend to update to the latest version immediately after setting up a new system.
As someone transitioning from Intel to AMD, there are notable differences.
Ryzen has strict requirements for RAM compatibility.
Make sure the RAM you choose is compatible with your motherboard and CPU combination.
You can check this using the motherboard’s RAM specification list or the G.Skill support app.
RAM compatibility often leads to early BIOS updates.
You’ve picked a great case for air cooling.
I’d prefer an air cooler over an AIO model.
Current processors and motherboards can turbo up to the maximum CPU temperature for optimal performance.
They generate heat but are designed to handle it.
AIO coolers usually fail after about five years and will need replacement.
The Noctua NH-D15 is highly recommended for your 7800X3D.
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D | CPU Compatibility | Noctua Compatibility Centre
Series: Raphael-X, Socket: AM5
ncc.noctua.at
Same applies for the 14600K.
A 750W power supply is acceptable. Seasonic Prime performs well.
But for the future, consider upgrading to a more powerful graphics card.
At least 850W or higher might be suitable.
I’m not extremely hot with the X3D chips.
They seem to perform well in their current form.
For gaming, the base models are still solid but excel more in everyday tasks.
I’d have considered the 14600K.
Single-thread speed is key to a fast PC.
Try running the CPU-Z benchmark on your 8600K.
You should see a score around 653:
CPU-Z Benchmark for Intel Core i5-8600K (1T) - CPU-Z VALIDATOR
Best CPU performance - 64-bit - January 2026
valid.x86.fr
This is comparable to the 7800X3D:
CPU-Z Benchmark for AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D (1T) - CPU-Z VALIDATOR
Best CPU performance - 64-bit - October 2023
valid.x86.fr
(Early results for the 14600K show a rating of 868.)
How much importance do you place on gaming?
Hi everyone, another query. Should I opt for an x670e motherboard over a b650? Some have suggested going with an Asus Tuf gaming x670e MB instead of the Rog Strix b650-a, but I’m still unsure about making the switch.
@geofelt
Actually, my main purpose for the PC will be gaming. I don’t handle any tasks that need strong single-core performance, so a 7800x3d is more than sufficient for me.
I have some concerns about the Deepcool AIO. Some people recommend a peerless assassin or noctua nh-15, but I don’t like how these large coolers leave very little space for RAM (they often block the slots). That’s why I prefer a reliable AIO. Should I be confident in its durability?
And the final question… the build will include 2 intake 160mm fans, 3 exhaust 120mm fans on top (radiator), and 1 exhaust 140mm fan at the back. Will it deliver strong airflow?
The choice of a motherboard should focus on the features that users actually need. I've observed that people tend to select boards not based on a comprehensive feature list, but more like personal preferences, similar to how one chooses a PC case.
I can't fault them when it comes to aspects such as:
- the number of USB ports
- wifi (yes/no)
- bluetooth (yes/no)
- fan or pump headers onboard
- rgb or argb connectors
- U.2 header (yes/no)
- PCI/E slots count
- M.2 slots
- q-code display
- dual bios button
- bios flashback button
- thunderbolt port
Of course, the more demanding your requirements, the higher the price.
Durability is another factor: will the cooler withstand heavy use? All components eventually fail, and once they do, it becomes e-waste. It's hard to predict exact longevity due to varying experiences. I recommend keeping a spare air cooler on hand, preferably an external one.
When it comes to AIOs (All-in-One Coolers), here are some pros:
- Dual and triple models provide extra airflow, which helps compensate for cases lacking fans or when you don’t have spares.
- They offer better compatibility and cooling in situations where tower air coolers aren’t suitable, especially with modern downdraft designs.
- They don’t need extra maintenance compared to custom loop setups.
- They have larger fluid reservoirs, enabling more aggressive cooling. [Still requires air for optimal performance.]
For front fans in air coolers that sit over the RAM, you can slightly raise them, but this increases the overall height of the cooler.
There are also models that don’t block the RAM:
- NH-D15S (receives less attention, but older reviews suggest the absence of a fan has minimal impact)
- Thermalright Silver Soul 135
- Scythe FUMA 3
- Deepcool Assassin IV
Overall, yes.
THanks for your elaborated answer.
Yeah, maybe "durablity" wasn't the best word to apply there. English isn't my native language, so maybe I do not always choose the right words for the things I try to explain.
About the features of the Strix b650-A gaming, I think it has everything I need. It has wifi (can be useful in exceptional circumstances), bluetooth, and ROG SupremeFX 7.1 (I like listen to rock, heavy and metal music, so this is a plus for me)... and honestly, the PCI Express 4.0 isn't a problem to me. When PCI 5.0 becomes a real and mandatory things, probably the rig will be quite outdated and I will buy a whole new computer. I'm not the type of guy that always a new GPU every year. That RTX 4070 will serve me for quite a long time. And probably even RTX 6000 series will perfectly run on PCI 4.0 with a negligible loss in performance. So I think I do not need a X670 motherboard.
About the airflow... my concern is that maybe there's too much exhaust and too little intake, although the 2 intake fans are quite big (160mm). That's why I'm thinking about adding two extra intake fans below the GPU. I have seen several builds using this PC case that adds these bottom intake fans. So I suppose it's not a bad idea.
My current PC has a Enermax Liqmax II 120 AIO, and still works perfectly (I bought it in 2018). It's very likely I will buy the Deepcool LS720 se (a much better AIO that the one installed on my current PC, by the way). Deepcool is a reputable brand and probably I will be fine for a long time.
About the nvme... I'm not sure what brand should I buy. I want a 2 TB Nvme, but I'm not sure about what brand is the most reliable.
Sneaky Asus... it's merely a rebranded version of Realtek audio codec, with added price tag and some changes.
When I first heard about it a few years back, I found myself chuckling while shaking my head...
Without personally trying different configurations, a lot of guesswork will continue without solid proof. Other elements affect airflow beyond just fan size and placement.
Analyzing how dust accumulates with a particular fan arrangement also needs ongoing testing.
If you don't conduct several tests, the standard configuration should work well, except in a few unusual situations.