MB replacement

[KGBK]

Hey guys,

I am slightly confused and wanted to ask advice.

I started a build for some games but primary use of the PC is going to be Unreal Engine. I work with audio integration and really needed real time/decent FPS. The spec I came up with (and put together) is
Ryzen 2600x, Gigabyte b450m DS3H, Coolermaster 600w, 16gb Corsair vengeance LPX 3000mhz, zotac 1070 mini 8gb. It all worked well for a week then two USB porta on the motherboard died and also my front USB ports stopped working. Having worked in a service center previously, I completely accept that parts can come DOA, although it took like a week to die. I bought it off Amazon and will return it back and was thinking of actually replacing it for the MSI x470 gaming pro motherboard and while i am at it to do the 2700 cpu as well (non x) as here in the UK this change will only cost me additional 50$ US or so.

 

The reason I was thinking of going the x470 route is because my gigabyte would not overclock. Yes i know.. I am using the cooler that came with a CPU, but I also have 3 case fans and the system freezes well before it even reaches 60C and the most stable mode was to leave it as it was stock. I get a boost of 300 mhz to about 3.8 from my stock 3.6 during normal operation. Excuse me for a stupid question, but is this a good upgrade to do? (motherboard wise, to overclock) As far as I understand, the x470 would give better overclocking capability than the b450. I also do not want a replacement gigabyte motherboard as i saw some poeple complaining about their budget range after some research.

 

The CPU is only like an extra 20-30$ currently, and is something I will definitely replace, as Unreal Engine seems to favour cores while doing lighting builds rather than graphics, but the motherboard is my concern. Case can support ATX boards, although I did plan on upgrading it to somthing that is micro atx in the future (not a big deal, can do with a bugger case if it means better performance due to the x470 MB)

Thanks!

[Chronified]

A 300mhz boost on a 2600x on a stock cooler sounds typical with the stock paste the cooler comes with, it barely has any thermal headroom on the stock cooler as it is. What were you using to monitor temps? Some software will just show the temp of core0 instead of the Junction temps, which can be MUCH hotter. 

 

Yes, 100% send that board back, start the RMA process now, you can send it back within 2 weeks of being approved for the RMA. 
Switching to the x470 would be a good idea just because you'd be ditching the terrible 4+1 power phase 

As for switching from your 2600x to the 2700, perhaps hold off a little longer and wait for 3rd gen Ryzen to drop. The 2600x actually has a better single core performance and the overall performance boost between the two is only about 15-20%. With the better single core performance on the 2600x you might actually see better performance with that as opposed to the 2700. 
Again, wait, I'm sure to bet that the 3600x/3700 are going to be great options for your system!

 

 

Also, if you're planning an mATX upgrade down the line, why not just do it now??? Full ATX cases can fit mATX boards, you can upgrade your case to something smaller later. 

[KGBK]

8 minutes ago, Chronified said:

A 300mhz boost on a 2600x on a stock cooler sounds typical with the stock paste the cooler comes with, it barely has any thermal headroom on the stock cooler as it is. What were you using to monitor temps? Some software will just show the temp of core0 instead of the Junction temps, which can be MUCH hotter. 

 

Yes, 100% send that board back, start the RMA process now, you can send it back within 2 weeks of being approved for the RMA. 
Switching to the x470 would be a good idea just because you'd be ditching the terrible 4+1 power phase 

As for switching from your 2600x to the 2700, perhaps hold off a little longer and wait for 3rd gen Ryzen to drop. The 2600x actually has a better single core performance and the overall performance boost between the two is only about 15-20%. With the better single core performance on the 2600x you might actually see better performance with that as opposed to the 2700. 
Again, wait, I'm sure to bet that the 3600x/3700 are going to be great options for your system!

 

 

Also, if you're planning an mATX upgrade down the line, why not just do it now??? Full ATX cases can fit mATX boards, you can upgrade your case to something smaller later. 

Thanks for the advice! A few things on that:

I was monitoring the temperature within the desktop AMD software used to overclock and test the CPU.

what is the 4+1 power phase and how will the x470 be better than b450? Is there even a point to go x470 vs b450?

In terms of waiting, I do need the machine now, so I doo need to either keep my 2600x or upgrade to 2700 for a very tiny amount of money, but your explanation helps, thank you!

[Chronified]

2 minutes ago, KGBK said:

Thanks for the advice! A few things on that:

I was monitoring the temperature within the desktop AMD software used to overclock and test the CPU.

what is the 4+1 power phase and how will the x470 be better than b450? Is there even a point to go x470 vs b450?

In terms of waiting, I do need the machine now, so I doo need to either keep my 2600x or upgrade to 2700 for a very tiny amount of money, but your explanation helps, thank you!

Download CPUID HWMonitor, it'll give you a way better indepth look into your CPUs temps. 

 

The 4+1 is the power delivery system. 
Here's the board you have, I've circled the 5 power phases, they always put a +1 incase one burns out (at least I think that's why??). 

 

And here's the board you're considering. 

I can't count exactly how many there are because of the heat shielding, but I count at least a 7+1 power phase AND it has cooling on the power delivery system, meaning it'll last many MANY times longer than the other board in terms of run-time, and you'll have an easier time overclocking without pushing voltage. 

 

But again, why not bite the bullet and upgrade to mATX or mITX now?? 

[KGBK]

3 minutes ago, Chronified said:

Download CPUID HWMonitor, it'll give you a way better indepth look into your CPUs temps. 

 

The 4+1 is the power delivery system. 
Here's the board you have, I've circled the 5 power phases, they always put a +1 incase one burns out (at least I think that's why??). 

 

And here's the board you're considering. 

I can't count exactly how many there are because of the heat shielding, but I count at least a 7+1 power phase AND it has cooling on the power delivery system, meaning it'll last many MANY times longer than the other board in terms of run-time, and you'll have an easier time overclocking without pushing voltage. 

 

But again, why not bite the bullet and upgrade to mATX or mITX now?? 

It's not a priority, and if this one is a better MB than the b450 then i can skip the case upgrade later, it does not matter too much really

[KGBK]

47 minutes ago, Chronified said:

Download CPUID HWMonitor, it'll give you a way better indepth look into your CPUs temps. 

 

The 4+1 is the power delivery system. 
Here's the board you have, I've circled the 5 power phases, they always put a +1 incase one burns out (at least I think that's why??). 

 

And here's the board you're considering. 

I can't count exactly how many there are because of the heat shielding, but I count at least a 7+1 power phase AND it has cooling on the power delivery system, meaning it'll last many MANY times longer than the other board in terms of run-time, and you'll have an easier time overclocking without pushing voltage. 

 

But again, why not bite the bullet and upgrade to mATX or mITX now?? 

also is MSI B450M MORTAR a better or equally good choice? Instead of the x470

[Chronified]

2 minutes ago, KGBK said:

also is MSI B450M MORTAR a better or equally good choice? Instead of the x470

Feels like a worse choice than you have now, it doesn't even have that +1 to fall back to if one fails. 

[KGBK]

6 minutes ago, Chronified said:

Feels like a worse choice than you have now, it doesn't even have that +1 to fall back to if one fails. 

That helps, thanks so much!

[KGBK]

20 minutes ago, Chronified said:

 

Feels like a worse choice than you have now, it doesn't even have that +1 to fall back to if one fails. 

The x470 also has another 4 pin connector with the 8pin on the motherboard, and I am having difficulties finding if I have that extra 4 pin one on my MasterWatt lite 600w PSU. If it does not, can I use an adapter?

[Chronified]

10 minutes ago, KGBK said:

The x470 also has another 4 pin connector with the 8pin on the motherboard, and I am having difficulties finding if I have that extra 4 pin one on my MasterWatt lite 600w PSU. If it does not, can I use an adapter?

The 2nd PSU connector (4-pin) isn't really needed unless you're going to do some extreme overclocking with a Ryzen 7, and even then it's not a requirement, it's moreso for prolonging the lifespan of lower wattage PSUs so 200W+ isn't going through a single rail (simplified, a power channel in the PSU). 

[KGBK]

3 minutes ago, Chronified said:

The 2nd PSU connector (4-pin) isn't really needed unless you're going to do some extreme overclocking with a Ryzen 7, and even then it's not a requirement, it's moreso for prolonging the lifespan of lower wattage PSUs so 200W+ isn't going through a single rail (simplified, a power channel in the PSU). 

ok thanks! going to go for that x470 board then and the ryzen 2700 for now.