-rascal-

Gigabyte's block diagram supports what I am saying, so does their details specification. Look at AMD's specification sheet for a AMD Ryzen 7000-series CPU, and the block diagram AMD released. For an example, the Ryzen 7800X has 28 PCI-E 5.0 lanes supplied by the CPU, 24 are usable, while the remaining 4 is allocated for the communication bus between the CPU and Chipset. From the X670E AX motherboard block diagram. However, how to split, distribute, manipulate, and wire the PCI-E lanes, it is up to the board manufacturer. On the CPU side, and how AMD designed the I/O, it provides 28 PCI-E 5.0 lanes.

Have you monitored the temperatures on the GPU during gaming? How high does the Junction / Hotspot temperature get? Also, are you using a custom fan curve, or using the default 'Auto' ?

Which make/brand and model of your RX 6800? Which version graphics drivers are you using? If it IS too out-of-date, don't just ignore the warning box...actually go and update them. Latest stable release is 24.1.1 - actually released yesterday (Jan-23-2024).

Did you go through the nVidia control panel? You can go through 'Global Setting' and manually override it... or use 'Program Settings' to make it program/game specific. Default is 'Auto-select'

The PSU just needs to run to power the pump - just the SATA or 4-pin Molex...or whatever is used to power the pump. You can completely disconnect power from the motherboard, GPU, etc. If the EPS 8-pin, ATX 24-pin, and PCI-E connections are extensions, just disconnect them from the PSU end. If the PSU is bridged on the 24-pin connector end, the on/off switch on the back of the PSU is what you use. Fill the res/distro plate with water. Flip the PSU switch to the "on" position. Watch the pump start to push the water into the loop. Before the res/distro plate runs dry on water, shut the PSU off. Add more coolant. Repeat above steps until there is enough coolant in the loop so the pump is constantly fed -- so not running dry. Top-up the coolant with the pump running, no need to turn it on and off. Let the entire loop run for a few hours (or overnight) to cycle the air bubbles out of the loop. Top-up the coolant on last time.

You need to see if, when the game is running, it is using the iGPU off the i7=12700H or actually using the RTX 3050 Ti instead. Are you running off battery, or plugged into the charger? Are you able to monitor the CPU's frequency? Intel only lists the "maximum" or "up to" frequency for the i7-12700H. It might be hitting 90*C and throttling the CPU frequency down... from 4.7 GHz.... to like 2.7 GHz or something. https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/132228/intel-core-i712700h-processor-24m-cache-up-to-4-70-ghz/specifications.html

You'll have to do a little bit of research / digging. From what I recall, I could be mistaken, the coolant used to fill AiOs has a specific chemical in it to prevent / significantly slow-down galvanic corrosion. Doing some quick reading, people are suggesting either options below....that is, after draining + flushing the old coolant out, and using completely new stuff. Also mixed views of whether or not to maintain it on a regular basis (i.e. drain + refill) like a typical custom "open loop." Diluted anti-freeze, like 70:30 or 75:25 distilled water to anti-freeze mixture Higher concentration of...EK-Cryofuel EK claims their EK-Cryofuel meet these standards. BS5117 ("Testing Corrosion Inhibiting, Engine Coolant Concentrate ('Antifreeze') Part 2: Methods of Test for Corrosion Inhibition Performance Section 2.3: Recirculating Rig Test") ASTM D1384 standards ("Standard Test Method for Corrosion Test for Engine Coolants in Glassware")

Your AiO is just the CPU, so it doesn't need much coolant, either the pre-mix or the concentrate (and then mix it yourself) will work. Keep in mind, they have a shelf-life date. IMO, use a concentrate like this.... 4-year shelf-life. You probably just need to do like a 10 mL biocide + 90 mL distilled water mix... Replace the coolant once a year. https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-cryofuel-clear-concentrate-100ml

Which AiO are you using? Most AiO's are not meant to be disassembled / serviced... they are referred to "closed loop" coolers as so. I would not use anti-freeze as it is corrosive, and can/may eat at the plastics, etc, of the AiO. Most AiO OEMs use a Glycol mix, but you can also just use distilled water + anti-corrosion / anti-growth concentrate. Most people with custom loops, or known as "open loops" just use the latter (including me as well). Something like this: https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-cryofuel-clear-concentrate-100ml 100 mL mixes with 900 mL of distilled water.

The ASUS Z390-P unfortunately DOES NOT have the USB BIOS Flashback feature (i.e. update the BIOS without a compatible CPU -- headless BIOS update). You'll need to get a compatible 8th Gen CPU (i.e. Pentium, etc, will work) -- ASSUMING that IS the problem. What steps have you done to confirm that outdated / incompatible BIOS is possibly the cause? If you don't already have one, plug a "beep code" speaker onto the motherboard.

It's just because the current-generation Intel CPUs only provide: 16x PCI-E 5.0 lanes (i.e. graphics card) 4x PCI-E 4.0 lanes (i.e. NVMe M.2 SSD). 8x PCI-E 4.0 for communication between CPU and Motherboard chipset If you want to make use of a PCI-E 5.0 M.2 slot, the only option it to split the PCI-E 5.0 lanes.... AMD went with: 16x PCI-E 5.0 lanes (i.e. graphics card) 8x PCI-E 5.0 lanes (i.e. NVMe M.2 SSD, up to 2x SSDs at full 4x speed each) 4x PCI-E 5.0 for communication between CPU and Motherboard chipset

Totally forgot about the mATX Gene. Crosshair, Maximus, Rampage were the different platforms. Crosshair was for AMD's mainstream platform, while Maximus was for Intel's mainstream platform (i.e. Z790) and Rampage was Intel HEDT (i.e. X58, X79, X99). You can have combinations of Crosshair/Maximus/Rampage with TUF/Strix/Hero/Formula/Extreme/Apex, etc, etc. Rampge VI Extreme was LGA 2066 / X299. Strix owl, Cerberus hound, and then TUF Sabertooth...is now just TUF.

Which specific model "EVGA Supernova 650 80 Gold plus modular" ? What was the make + model of the older power supply? If the system is shutting down, as if the plug was pulled, then it would be the RTX 3070 tripping the PSU's over-current protection. This is a known thing for older design power supplies, in combination with the RTX 3000-series' high transient power spikes.

Yes, the RTX 4000 series is on Gen4 still. However, available bandwidth from the slot... is not what you think. Let's say PCI-E X16 5.0 is the number of available lanes on a freeway -- X16 Gen5 = 16-lanes, 150 MPH. You only have 8 lanes of 120 MPH worth of car traffic. It doesn't cause a traffic jam. It's when you EXCEED what the lanes can handle, is where you run into performance issues. The RTX 4090 is running as fast as it can. It's not being gimped by the bandwidth on the PCI-E slot. That is not a surprise. It's to give more "future-proofing". They don't need to come up with a PCI-E Gen6 spec whenever a new RTX 5090 or 6090 comes out. Why TF would you design something that's "fast enough" for a...RTX 4090 or 7900XTX, and then dump another like $XXX million again a year later?

I'm just so confused with ASUS' line-up of "ROG" boards these days, and the insanely high price premium for "ASUS" and "ROG". They were not like this prior to.... 2017? From top -> bottom Apex / Encore Extreme Formula Hero Impact (ITX board) StriX The -Hero tier was the "budget" ROG line-up, if you didn't want the "High OC" boards. How is the Apex / Encore CHEAPER than the Hero these days....

What CPU, and what game? Now that we know you have a GTX 1060. Oh, GTX 1060 3GB or 6GB?

What GPU do you have / using? If you are using some sort of Integrated graphics, it may be VRAM limited. 26%? 11% Are you using Windowed Mode, or Borderless, rather than Full Screen?

You should be able to get replacement O-rings for the fittings pretty easily. EKwb should still carry/stock them. Should be standard G 1/4. https://www.ekwb.com/shop/catalogsearch/result/index/?cat=54&q=o-ring https://www.ekwb.com/shop/outer-g1-4-fitting-o-ring-6pcs Seal for the EK-Supremacy....should be same as the -EVO..? https://www.ekwb.com/shop/or-cpu-supremacy-epdm-70 O-rings for the pump and res... https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-d5-pump-o-ring https://www.ekwb.com/shop/o-ring-for-ddc-tops https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-res-x3-o-ring Replacement seal for the GTX 1080 block might be hard. You'll probably need to reach out to EKwb (or whoever made the block) to see if they still have replacement/spare parts available.

What / how did the 5700 XT burn? What power supply are you using now? This Chieftec? Because that's a PRETTY bad power supply... What motherboard BIOS version are you running on the board?

It's hard to say by looking at the GeForce overlay, it gives TOO basic information. They should either have the GPU-Z monitoring / sensor tab open, or something else like HWMonitor running. It can be just something overheating (i.e. VRM, Memory, or Hotspot temperature). Or...there is something physically wrong with the graphics card.

Fair enough. I guess the wife has put her foot down and made the executive decision. I'd thought the e-CVT with the physical first gear would be okay for at a stand-still launch on the non-hybrid trims. Nonetheless, hybrid option, I think, is definitely the way to go daily driving around town, etc. Reason I recommended hatchbacks is, you can have compact SUV cargo capacity, without SUV-like feel and driving / handling. Again, it looks like your lady is okay with the seating position and driving feel of the Corolla Cross .

Not a fan of the torsion beam rear suspension on the CX-30 - pets/people seated in the rear will complain. I'd suggest the Mazda3 AWD Sport (Hatchback) over a CX-30. You don't *need* the 2.5T engine option, the non-tubo 2.5 is peppy enough. +1 on considering hybrids variants if you just need something to commute / put around town, etc. Depending on the budget, Lexus UX 250h? (It's gone UP in price since the UX's 2019 debut) 11th gen Honda Civic Hatchback? It is A LOT more cubic footage and rear space + trunk space, at the level of compact crossovers. Certain regions already have the Hybrid version, but coming to North America as 2025 model year.

Okay fair enough...I assumed like a 2g or 4g / 5g tube. Jeez 50g

Did you use the ENTIRE syringe of thermal paste? You only NEED like 1/3 or 1/4 of that....jeez.

I understood your point, and I was attempting to "expand" on what you said that so other people could see why it's $260, instead of $5. I'm not disagreeing with you, but rather, agreeing with your statement 100%.