*** The Official Alder Lake owners thread ***

[mrk]

I'm sure another BIOS update or two will sort that 4000 kit

So far the RAM test is still running, no errors at all. I will let it get to 6000% assuming it stays like this and after that point I can be confident in general stability and then retest Cyberpunk 2077. If that is then also free from any CTD then that's stability fully sorted in and out of high end gaming

Edit*


Should I keep running it? At present the error detection rate according to the FAQ is 92% or more, it will hit 99% when it gets to 6400% coverage but is 92%+ enough to call it stable perhaps?

 

[mrk]

Cyberpunk played for a bit, no CTD, looks like it was indeed those BIOS mem settings! I've also been able to re-adjust my 3080 Ti undervolt as a result because previously I thought the CTDs were related to that but could not tweak the uv because could not fully test stability.

Next up is Ram, currently using Corsair LPX 3600 c18, but I've little to no experience in overclocking and tuning ram, any advice would be greatly appreciated

Be interested to see if you get anything out of this as sounds like we have the same memory? Mine is ‎CMK64GX4M2D3600C18

 

[mrk]

Tbh when they are matured up they just work and are great. That has been my experience. I guess we have reached a stage with ADL of relative stability with a bit of BIOS setting tweaks and the fact that we got there in a couple of months on a brand new platform is quite impressive I'd have to say. I don't think there has been a single mobo maker who has not had some type of issue to resolve.

Likewise selective RAM depending on mobo has been a thing for years as well. For me it's the hardware spec itself and now, the aesthetics to match what I'm after. This board seemed to look and match the specs I liked to suit the minimalistic non-RGB build

 

[mrk]

Is Multi Core Enhancement set to Auto or Enabled in the BIOS? Enabled will max turbo the cores at all times, auto won't. This might explain the rather swift jump to 100 degrees.

 

[mrk]

That then is an indicator of your cooler being the issue! What paste was used? It could also be that the base plate isn't contacting the IHS properly too as there needs to be a certain level of pressure. Idle temps?

Edit*
Just looked up the DR Slim, that does definitely look like it might not be enough to cool ADL under high stress load like Cinebench I guess.

 

[mrk]

Idle temp is nominal so that's good, when you play a game what does the cpu temp rise to? If it's only hitting 100 when running Cinebench or other stress bench tool then I'd say your cooler and/or paste is not up to that sort of usage.

In terms of paste I can highly recommend Kryonaut having used that on my build and am seeing superb temps under load (under 80 degrees running Cinebench etc).

 

[mrk]

You'd expect a brand like Be Quiet to have that sort of thing nailed although didn't Corsair have mounting issues on some boards too with the plate not covering the whole IHS?

 

[mrk]

Looks like I'm whiping out my sunglasses again to browse this thread cheers

 

[mrk]

Smashing! I guess the be quiet will go on MM or something now?

That temp is perfect too

 

[mrk]

True but the 12400 has no ecores so technically loses out where the higher 12th gens benefit. I guess as a gaming orientated CPU it fits the purpose but then again there are no ecores to offload background apps to like streaming tools and suchlike.

 

[mrk]

@mrk no more issues? all set now?

Certainly appears so cheers!

I played few more hours last night of Cyberpunk 2077 and if it was going to CTD it would have done so in that. Those BIOS settings mentioned earlier seem to have done the trick! I have cancelled the new RAM delivery and will have to drop the PSU back to the local point for Amazon to return for refund too.

I've even been able to tighten up the undervolt on the 3080 Ti which wasn't playing ball before as I thought the game crashes then were related to a too low voltage hence using 925 but have been as low as 850mV since yesterday.

Looks like I am now all set until the next round of hardware updates

 

[mrk]

Yup consider me avoiding any BIOS updates unless there's some major new change that adds new performance advantages or something

 

[mrk]

Welcome aboard shortly!

 

[mrk]

The roadmap shows 12th gen will be around for a couple years though... Just because it's replaced after that time doesn't suddenly make it obsolete lol. Otherwise what's the point in building any system when the replacement is 18 months away?

Many of us upgraded to 12th gen from 6th-9th gen which is a massive uplift in performance and efficiency. Those on 10th gen will still see a boost but they don't "need" to upgrade tbh, and 11th gen owners should know better than to buy the money grab that is 11th gen anyway and technically not really better than 10th gen whilst costing more

Current 12th gen will be solid performers for several years there is zero doubt on that, even with DDR4 configurations.

 

[mrk]

Looks like that DDR4000 issue is soon to be sorted then, good troubleshooting!
Mine has been super stable since those RAM/IMC voltage adjustments. It wasn't even a huge adjustment but several hours of game testing later and still not even a hiccup any more.

Unless I go DDR5, then this build will stay as is for a long time now I think and only update GPU in time if the need arises. It's been pretty fun have to say and a little frustrating thinking it was the RAM/PSU etc and buying new parts that got shipped then finding it was just voltages/BIOS settings and returning the ordered stuff

At least it's only taken 1-2 months to suss though. Recall I mentioned the Z190 Gaming X I had on the 6700K build took a couple years of BIOS updates to end up being rock solid but I guess my old build was 247 OCd and all throttling turned off so it was always at 4.4GHz boost so a little bit more stressed.

 

[mrk]

Can any of you experts give me a clue as to whether my memory is running correctly? I've attached some cpu-z pictures.
Uncore frequency drops to 3598.2Mhz when the cpu is benched.
If I use the stress cpu option in cpu-z, the score sits at just over 10000 points @70C


I've got the 8-Pack Ripped 3600 CL14 DDR4 16GB

In bios I just selected the xmp profile (only one xmp option is available, so I selected it)

The 12700K is clocked at: P-cores @ 5Ghz and e-cores @ 4Ghz with a -0.125v offset.

Everything else is untouched.




I'll reboot and check to see what gear I'm in

OK so I'm in gear 1, happy days

Looks fine from those, HWINFO64 will tell you your Gear mode in Windows but if the BIOS is set to Gear 1, the you're at Gear 1.

CPU-Z's bench for my 12700KF is 777 and 9371 respectively although I am at stock speeds.

 

[mrk]

All I can say is that your note on SA at 1.3v sorted my CTD in games issue out and memory errors in RAM tester!

 

[mrk]

Not sure I will bother dropping in a 13700K/KF tbh given how nice this is performing. Unless the gains are noticeable then I reckon this 12700KF will last me as long as, if not longer than, the 6700K I had for like 5 years+

That does not mean I will stay on DDR4 for 5yrs+ though, just move over to DDR5 once prices and latencies drop to normal levels

Then the 12700 will have a little bit of a boost at the same time with only minimal costs involved once the old board and RAM are sold.

 

[mrk]

I've got a 12700k arriving tomorrow but not sure I'll get the system built.

@mrk do you still use a 4000D case? If so do you have an AIO mounted on top?

I have the 5000D Airflow not 4000D but they are basically the same just different on size scaling. My AIO is front mounted not at the top. Best placement for cooling performance and two birds with 1 stone killed this way, intake for case, and cold air food through the radiator.

 

[mrk]

Should not be a problem really. That sort of config is fairly standard. I have 1x rear exhaust 120mm and 1x top exhaust 140mm. Idle temps are 27 dgerees.