I want to upgrade my CPU, should i?

Dark_Ansem said:
Oh it's the 2017 model of the Alienware Area-51.
Click to expand...

I am no expert on that particular model. All I know is that that OEM often uses non standard components and often uses inadequate cooling. Open the side and give it a good clean out and post a pic of it so we have an idea of what we are working with.

Dark_Ansem said:
I feel that its performance has degraded, maybe it could be a software issue, but I'm concenred about a system format.
Click to expand...

Run Cinebench R23 that I linked in a previous post. Look at the scores, you should be expecting over 27k multi and 1200 single threaded performance. Run the benchmarks for a good few runs and see if they get progressively worse.

SSD performance can degrade once they get full or if they are overheating.

crystalmark.info

Download

[2025/05/06] CrystalMark Retro 2.0.3 – Manual / History Installer: Standard Edition Aoi Edition ZIP： Standard Edition for 9x for NT Aoi Edition Aoi for 9x Aoi for NT Source Code Standard Edition Aoi Edition [2025/03/11] CrystalDiskInfo 9.6.3 – Manual / History Aoi Edition 4 themes / 43M...
crystalmark.info

Crystaldiskmark will give you all the info you need to test your SSDs.
 
Dark_Ansem said:
Oh it's the 2017 model of the Alienware Area-51.
Click to expand...

It appears to be the Alienware Area-51 R2, does that sound correct? If so, then it has a standard ATX motherboard and either a 850 or 1500 watt power supply. I don't know what format the PSU uses.

From a google, it appears that you can replace everything, including the motherboard, PSU (and cables, of course) with standard components, but there can be some issues with restoring 100% of the Alienware functionality (e.g. lighting and temperature sensors) and getting extension cables for cables which were designed specifically for the original motherboard (because they can be too short).

Dark_Ansem said:
I feel that its performance has degraded, maybe it could be a software issue, but I'm concenred about a system format.
Click to expand...

CPUs don't really 'degrade', as such (when run at stock settings anyhow), but they can overheat if the fans are dusty, not working, or the thermal paste has lost consistency / dried up. If you run a benchmark like Haz123 suggested then you can compare scores to check if everything is running properly. I'd prioritise sorting out your current system before looking at a new one, because it was not cheap and should be performing well.
 
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So, I did run R23 but,...
the first time, I got 17k for multi and 1065 for single, MP ratio 16.56
second time, still high end of 17k for multi and 1059 single
third time, same-ish results, high end of 17k for multi and 1048 single
 
Well it looks like your multi score is only a 2/3 of what you should expect with your cpu. The reason for this is most likely the mobo you have has poor VRMs and they are overheating and limiting power supply to the cpu or the cooling is insufficient and you are hitting Tmax when the cpu is at a lower frequency than the cpus is designed for.

We really need to see a picture of the inside of the case to have a better idea of what is happening.

If you want to see a scathing review of a newer one of their other high end systems then watch this.

www.youtube.com

The Worst Pre-Built We've Ever Reviewed: Alienware R13 $5000 Gaming PC Benchmarks

The Alienware R13 is easily the worst pre-built gaming PC we've ever reviewed. Dell manages to downclock an i9 to equal an i7 performance instead, yet charge...
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com

If you do not have time then the 11min mark is what I believe is relevant to your situation but I cannot be sure without seeing the innards.
 
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Ok I have been out and chilled out a bit so I will try again.

Your cpu is not working to its full potential. This is either because the cpu is faulty , the motherbaord is not supplying adequate power or your cooling is not adequate to keep it under its tmax so it throttles. Some of these things we can test and some we cannot.

Now I have asked for a picture of the cooler so we have more of an idea whether it is upto the task. Your cpu is a 165w sku so it needs good cooling or it will throttle. If you cannot let us see a pic then a name/model number/invoice will let us know what it is.

Hwmonitor , download and install then run Cinebench R23. Run Hwmonitor and check temps and Mhz of the cpu cores whilst the R23 benchmark is running. If the temp is locked to 94c whilst the cpu cores are only at 3ghz( I do not know off the top of my head what the all core boost of that cpu should be , I was estimating with 3ghz) then you have an answer, insufficient cooling. If that is not the case then the problem may be elsewhere.

The bottom line is that you are only getting 60% of the performance your cpu is capable of, 80% in single thread.
 
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Haz123 said:
Ok I have been out and chilled out a bit so I will try again.

Your cpu is not working to its full potential. This is either because the cpu is faulty , the motherbaord is not supplying adequate power or your cooling is not adequate to keep it under its tmax so it throttles. Some of these things we can test and some we cannot.

Now I have asked for a picture of the cooler so we have more of an idea whether it is upto the task. Your cpu is a 165w sku so it needs good cooling or it will throttle. If you cannot let us see a pic then a name/model number/invoice will let us know what it is.

Hwmonitor , download and install then run Cinebench R23. Run Hwmonitor and check temps and Mhz of the cpu cores whilst the R23 benchmark is running. If the temp is locked to 94c whilst the cpu cores are only at 3ghz( I do not know off the top of my head what the all core boost of that cpu should be , I was estimating with 3ghz) then you have an answer, insufficient cooling. If that is not the case then the problem may be elsewhere.

The bottom line is that you are only getting 60% of the performance your cpu is capable of, 80% in single thread.
Click to expand...
I appreciate that and I'm sure i didn't say anything so disagreeable or asinine that required chilling out. I get most of the things you said.

Hwmonitor and cinebench results say:

Cpu temp not higher than 74° max, min 25°, average 69°

Cpu utilisation 100% max around 99% avg

Min clock 1197
Max clock 12524
Average clock between 3000 and 3300.
 
Your cpu temps are absolutely fine so the issue is elsewhere. I will do some research and find out what your cpu should be boosting to in full core loads but I think it may be 4.6ghz and if you are only hitting 3-3.3 then that would explain your huge performance loss.

8Pack 10-18 Core i9 including 7980XE Testing, Bundles and binned delidded CPU's.

So Intel have indeed brought out the big guns with the launch of the i9 12-18 Core CPU's. In response to this I have designed some very flexible high end bundles for our customers to take advantage of. If you don't want to buy a pre overclocked bundle then of course you can buy the delidded...
forums.overclockers.co.uk forums.overclockers.co.uk

Huge amount of info in that thread. Will have a look through it tomorrow to see is any if it is relevant to your situation. A new X299 mobo is £300+ so best to be certian what your problem is before you consider buying that or whether to go for a new platform entirely
 
Haz123 said:
Huge amount of info in that thread. Will have a look through it tomorrow to see is any if it is relevant to your situation. A new X299 mobo is £300+ so best to be certian what your problem is before you consider buying that or whether to go for a new platform entirely
Click to expand...
I know, that's what I thought. It's a real shame as my CPU still seems healthy and powerful and after all your advice I am less willing to upgrade, but the prices seem extremely discouraging.
 
I don't know anything about Cinebench R23, but according to wikichip, the max clock for an i9-7980 XE (with all 18 cores pegged) is 3.4 Ghz, so that cinebench result (assuming Haz123 is referring to the same source as I) looks too high.

I can't find any review sources, I think because R23 is too new and wasn't used with older CPUs, but Nanoreview (never heard of it) puts the i9-7980 XE in the region of a 10900K (17.5 - 18K), which is 8 cores down, but has a massively higher boost clock.
 
OK so, I need to specify that my device is not the R2 but the Alienware Area-51 R4 and the mobo is Alienware 0HJ5Y7, don't remember PSU right now but enough to keep a 3080 nVidia up.
 
The results of my Official intel test

Code: 
--- IPDT64 - Revision: 4.1.7.39
--- IPDT64 - Start Time: 09/10/2022 12:32:20

CPU1
Genuine Intel CPU Test
Module Version: 1.0.23.64b.W
Start Time: Sun Oct  9 12:32:20 2022
Test Result - PASS
Expected: GenuineIntel
Detected: GenuineIntel
End Time: Sun Oct  9 12:32:20 2022
Total Time: in seconds: 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------
CPU1
CPU Brand String Test
Module Version: 1.0.25.64b.W
Start Time: Sun Oct  9 12:32:20 2022
Test Result - PASS
Expected: Intel(R) Core(TM)
Detected: Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-7980XE CPU @ 2.60GHz
Intel(R) Core(TM) processor detected..!!..
End Time: Sun Oct  9 12:32:20 2022
Total Time: in seconds: 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------
CPU1
Cache Test
Module Version: 1.0.21.64b.W
Start Time: Sun Oct  9 12:32:26 2022
Test Result - PASS

 --- Reading Cache Size --- 

- Detected L1 Data Cache Size --> 32
- Detected L1 Inst Cache Size --> 32

- Detected L2 Cache Size --> 1024
- Detected L3 Cache Size --> 25344

Cache Size Test Passed!!!

End Time: Sun Oct  9 12:32:26 2022
Total Time: in seconds: 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------
CPU1
MMXSSE Test
Module Version: 1.0.27.64b.W
Start Time: Sun Oct  9 12:32:26 2022
Test Result - PASS

DetectUtils64 DLL Version - 1.1.6

 --- Determining MMX - SSE capabilities ---
..MMX is supported on this CPU..
..SSE is supported on this CPU..
..SSE2 is supported on this CPU..
..SSE3 is supported on this CPU..
..SSSE3 is supported on this CPU..
..SSE4.1 is supported on this CPU..
..SSE4.2 is supported on this CPU..

MMX Test Result --- PASS
SSE Test Result --- PASS
SSE2 Test Result --- PASS
SSE3 Test Result --- PASS
SSSE3 Test Result --- PASS
SSE4.1 Test Result --- PASS
SSE4.2 Test Result --- PASS

End Time: Sun Oct  9 12:32:26 2022
Total Time: in seconds: 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------
CPU1
IMC Test
Module Version: 1.0.23.64b.W
Start Time: Sun Oct  9 12:32:27 2022
Test Result - PASS
--- Reading Memory Size ---
Detected Memory Size is --> 32.00GB
--- Subtest - Memory Size Test Passed!!!  ---
--- Integrated Memory Controller Stress Test ---
Memory to be allocated = 1048576 bytes
Memory Allocated.
Test 1 Ones and Zeros Moving Inversions write operations - Passed
Test 1 Ones and Zeros Moving Inversions verification operations - Passed
Test 2 32Bits Sliding Ones write operations - Passed
Test 2 32Bits Sliding Ones verification operations - Passed
Test 3 32Bits Sliding Zero write operations - Passed
Test 3 32Bits Sliding Zero verification operations - Passed
Memory Deallocated.
--- Subtest - Memory Stress Test Passed!!!  ---
Integrated Memory Controller Test Passed!!!
End Time: Sun Oct  9 12:32:27 2022
Total Time: in seconds: 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------
CPU1
Parallel_PrimeNum Test
Module Version: 1.0.0.11
Start Time: 09/10/2022 12:32:28
Test Result - PASS
 
Module Math_PrimeNum.exe Completed - Pass
 
 
Prime Number Generation Test
Module Version: 1.0.26.64b.W
Start Time: Sun Oct  9 12:32:28 2022
DetectUtils64 DLL Version - 1.1.6
AVX is supported in your OS
Max AVX supported = AVX512
Test Result - PASS
Operation Per Second: 81544
Error: 0
--- Prime Number Generation Test Passed!!!---
End Time: Sun Oct  9 12:33:13 2022
Total Time: in seconds: 45
 
Parallel_PrimeNum
End Time: 09/10/2022 12:33:13
--------------------------------------------------------------------
CPU1
Parallel_FP Test
Module Version: 1.0.0.11
Start Time: 09/10/2022 12:33:13
Test Result - PASS
 
Module AVX.exe Completed - Pass
Module Math_FP.exe Completed - Pass
 
 
AVX Test
Module Version: 2.0.28.64b.W
Start Time: Sun Oct  9 12:33:13 2022
Test Result - PASS

DetectUtils64 DLL Version - 1.1.6

  --- CPU Features Detection ---
..AVX is supported by this CPU..
..AVX2 is supported by this CPU..
..AVX512BW is supported by this CPU..
..AVX512CD is supported by this CPU..
..AVX512DQ is supported by this CPU..
..AVX512ER is NOT supported by this CPU..
..AVX512F is supported by this CPU..
..AVX512IFMA52 is NOT supported by this CPU..
..AVX512PF is NOT supported by this CPU..
..AVX512VBMI is NOT supported by this CPU..
..AVX512VL is supported by this CPU..
..AES is supported by this CPU..
..PCLMULQDQ is supported by this CPU..

..AVX is supported by this Operating System..

Most Advanced AVX Feature Detected.. AVX512
AVX512 Test Result --- PASS
AES Test Result --- PASS
PCLMULQDQ Test Result --- PASS

End Time: Sun Oct  9 12:34:03 2022
Total Time: in seconds: 50
 
 
Floating Point Test
Module Version: 1.0.25.64b.W
Start Time: Sun Oct  9 12:33:13 2022
DetectUtils64 DLL Version - 1.1.6
AVX is supported in your OS
AVX, AVX2 or AVX512 not supported
FMA3 supported
Test Result - PASS
Million Floating Points per Second, MFLOPS: 0.5225
Error: 0
--- Floating Point Test Passed!!!---
End Time: Sun Oct  9 12:33:58 2022
Total Time: in seconds: 45
 
Parallel_FP
End Time: 09/10/2022 12:34:03
--------------------------------------------------------------------
CPU1
Parallel_Math Test
Module Version: 1.0.0.11
Start Time: 09/10/2022 12:34:03
Test Result - PASS
 
Module Math_PrimeNum.exe Completed - Pass
Module FMA3.exe Completed - Pass
 
 
Prime Number Generation Test
Module Version: 1.0.26.64b.W
Start Time: Sun Oct  9 12:34:03 2022
DetectUtils64 DLL Version - 1.1.6
AVX is supported in your OS
Max AVX supported = AVX512
Test Result - PASS
Operation Per Second: 78725
Error: 0
--- Prime Number Generation Test Passed!!!---
End Time: Sun Oct  9 12:34:48 2022
Total Time: in seconds: 45
 
 
FMA3 Test
Module Version: 1.0.26.64b.W
Start Time: Sun Oct  9 12:34:03 2022
Test Result - PASS

DetectUtils64 DLL Version - 1.1.6

  --- CPU Features Detection ---
..FMA3 is supported by this CPU..
..FMA3 is supported by this Operating System..

FMA3 Test Result --- PASS

End Time: Sun Oct  9 12:34:48 2022
Total Time: in seconds: 45
 
Parallel_Math
End Time: 09/10/2022 12:34:48
--------------------------------------------------------------------
CPU1
Parallel_GPUStressW Test
Module Version: 1.0.0.11
Start Time: 09/10/2022 12:34:48
Test Result - PASS
 
Module Math_PrimeNum.exe Completed - Pass
Module Math_FP.exe Completed - Pass
 
 
Prime Number Generation Test
Module Version: 1.0.26.64b.W
Start Time: Sun Oct  9 12:34:48 2022
DetectUtils64 DLL Version - 1.1.6
AVX is supported in your OS
Max AVX supported = AVX512
Test Result - PASS
Operation Per Second: 79066
Error: 0
--- Prime Number Generation Test Passed!!!---
End Time: Sun Oct  9 12:35:18 2022
Total Time: in seconds: 30
 
 
Floating Point Test
Module Version: 1.0.25.64b.W
Start Time: Sun Oct  9 12:34:48 2022
DetectUtils64 DLL Version - 1.1.6
AVX is supported in your OS
AVX, AVX2 or AVX512 not supported
FMA3 supported
Test Result - PASS
Million Floating Points per Second, MFLOPS: 0.6175
Error: 0
--- Floating Point Test Passed!!!---
End Time: Sun Oct  9 12:35:18 2022
Total Time: in seconds: 30
 
Parallel_GPUStressW
End Time: 09/10/2022 12:35:18
--------------------------------------------------------------------
CPU1
DGEMM Stress Test
Module Version: 1.0.14.64b.W
Start Time: Sun Oct  9 12:35:18 2022
Test Result - PASS

DetectUtils64 DLL Version - 1.1.6

  --- CPU Features Detection ---
..AVX is supported by this Operating System..

Most Advanced AVX Feature Detected.. AVX512
DGEMM AVX512 Test Result --- PASS

End Time: Sun Oct  9 12:36:18 2022
Total Time: in seconds: 60
--------------------------------------------------------------------
CPU1
Frequency Check
Module Version: 1.0.5.64b.W
Start Time: Sun Oct  9 12:36:25 2022
Test Result - PASS
Processor Name: Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-7980XE CPU @ 2.60GHz
Expected Processor Frequency: 2.60
Measured Processor Frequency: 2.591174
End Time: Sun Oct  9 12:36:26 2022
Total Time: in seconds: 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------

System Information
------------------
Processor Name: Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-7980XE CPU @ 2.60GHz
Processor Information: Family 6 Model 55 Stepping 4
Number of Physical Cores: 18
Number of Logical Cores: 36
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 bit
Graphics Information: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
--------------------------------------------------------------------

--- IPDT64 - End Time: 09/10/2022 12:36:26
--- IPDT64 - Result: Pass
--------------------------------------------------------------------
 
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