For Bluetooth, many adapters have a cable that plugs into a USB 2 header on the motherboard. If it isn’t plugged in, you won’t have Bluetooth. And of course, make sure you have drivers for it. Windows usually handles it, but often the drivers that you can download give extra performance.
As long as you have something that works for you, that’s all that matters. I have a 7900 XTX now, and I’m watercooling it only because I already had everything except the block. It runs cool on air.
And I agree, watercooling is almost never worth it. I love the hobby, so I stick with it, but I don’t generally recommend it. It is an incredible amount of work and money.
When I bought my reference 6800XT, the temps were horrible. The regular core temps weren’t too bad, high 70s to mid 80s, but hotspot was constantly in the low 100s. Mem temps were about the same.
I had good airflow, and a cool house. Checked all the torques on the board, everything seemed fine. I finally went watercooling, and the card cooled down so much it was unbelievable. I could run 3dMark on a constant loop, and never even crack 50 degrees. Fur mark for an hour, never above 44 degrees and this was on a single 360 rad.
However, temps crept up by 10 degrees over time. Paste pump out happened. Tried a different paste same thing happened a couple months later.
Finally tried Gelid GC Extreme, and it has stayed the course. I think the coolers on the reference cards are just bad, and when you add in thermal cycling, it’s a bad time. I found it especially suspect that the 7900 XTX reference boards had major vapor chamber problems. I wonder if there wasn’t a problem a while in the making.
OW2 is OW1. They just added a couple maps, removed some maps, took away a tank, and filled it full of grind and micro transactions. Absolutely no reason for “2”.
I find this pretty intriguing, tho I would like to see some thermal testing.
If it isn’t ridiculously expensive, the ease of use would be worth it.
I appreciate the update! Seems pretty similar to mine, so I’m guessing there a some similarities in the VBIOS. Thanks again!
Always 3DMark. I love that program. So many uses.
I try to stay mostly on Linux, and voltage control hasn’t been exposed yet. I may go to my Windows drive and play with it, and test the results.
The fan curves on mine aren’t necessarily aggressive, I just wish they were more constant, at a low level. Still, if you remember when you do, I would love to know how your curves are, out of sheer curiosity.
So I have the Sapphire Nitro+, and was wondering if you have monitored your temps on idle?
My temps creep up to 62C, then the fans kick on at about 30%, and cool it down to about 42C, rinse and repeat.
It’s the oddest fan curve I have seen. Just wondering if yours act in a similar fashion, or if this is just how Sapphire programmed it. I have been waiting more than a month for a waterblock, and it looks to be a couple more weeks. I’ll be happy when it comes in, because then the fan curves will be a non-issue.
Have you ever paid attention to packet loss?
Honest question, because I’m an electrician and Ethernet is so fickle, I’ve always assumed it would play hell on the overall quality.
I do full PC teardowns for my watercooling maintenance once or twice a year.
Usually in pajama pants and socks.
I keep mine in the family area. More distractions, but it keeps me more available for everyone.