Question Need help and guidance on my first PC build i5-14600K

[GentleX]

Hey, so I had a chance to check what I did with the i5-14600K in the bios of the MSI Pro Z790-A WIFI...

Here's the link to make it easy. Tuning a 14600K on a MSI Pro Z790-A

I flashed the bios without putting the CPU in with the Flash usb feature on the io of that MSI board, first. Easy, and the video is available on the MSI site. Get everything up and running first on whatever the lowest settings offered when you're posting... Stock Cooler or Intel Defualts, not sure what it is with the new bios updates. Get all of your stuff on and then Cinebench23 it while watching your HWMonitor. The temps shouldn't get into the 90C's, with your cooler, but if they do just watch it. This is your baseline and it will probably surprise you. If you see 100C on any core during any test, shut it down immediately!

Once you have everything ready, restart and go back into the bios, I then chose water cooler option after A LOT of tinkering. Then follow the directions in the link above. Just changing what he has pictured at the top is enough, the comments and how the thread develops sort of confuses what he did a little. I was able to get my undervolt to Mode 5 too on the CPU Lite settings after manually setting the P and E cores higher as pictured in that link. I think I wound up with setting the p cores at 55 and the e cores at 44. That's with the Water Cooler setting, (there's a cooler choice in the Bios, but it escapes me what it's called...( just scroll thru the bios settings and you'll find it.) which optimizes everything, and then the undervolting to get the temps down while keeping the performance up.

With those simple changes, it ran cooler and faster than any of the stock settings. My son has been using it without issue for about a month since I did the most recent Bios update and did these simple changes. My Cinebench23 was 25xxx. And that was while running antivirus and a couple other startup programs in the background. *Edit* The HWMonitor showed it was pinned at 5.49Ghz on the P-Cores and 4.39Ghz on the E-Cores while running Cinebench 23, with temps only into the very low 80C's.

Good luck. Looking forward to see how yours turns out.

I find this on anandtech. They said that, intel 13th/14th gen are full of instability issues.

Intel processors crashing Unreal engine games (and others)

As if we needed any more evidence that these Intel furnace monstrosities are being pushed beyond their limit just to win performance benchmarks. No wonder even 480mm rads or 1.5kg coolers aren't enough for these solar flares. These parts are being redlined because they're horrifically inferior...

forums.anandtech.com

 

[Lafong]

"furnace monstrosities…………….solar flares…………….horrifically inferior………..absolutely incompetent".

What comes to your mind when you see terminology like the above?

Have you done any further digging into that issue?

Are you prone to buyer's remorse?

 

[GentleX]

"furnace monstrosities…………….solar flares…………….horrifically inferior………..absolutely incompetent".

What comes to your mind when you see terminology like the above?

Have you done any further digging into that issue?

Are you prone to buyer's remorse?

I'm a noob when it comes to hardware. Could you suggest a CPU (Intel)? Should I avoid the 13th/14th gen of any Intel i5, i7, i9, and so on?

 

[Lafong]

I'm a noob when it comes to hardware. Could you suggest a CPU (Intel)? Should I avoid the 13th/14th gen of any Intel i5, i7, i9, and so on?

It sounds like you are quite anxious about the issue.

For that reason alone, I'd suggest you don't buy 13th/14th gen Intel. Justifiably or not.

Why purchase anxiety?

 

[GentleX]

It sounds like you are quite anxious about the issue.

For that reason alone, I'd suggest you don't buy 13th/14th gen Intel. Justifiably or not.

Why purchase anxiety?

I appreciate your care for my situation. I admire the i5-14600K, but I’ve just seen some negative reviews. I just need your opinion: does it still matter? Has Intel fixed it? Do I really need to be anxious about it?

 

[Lafong]

I appreciate your care for my situation. I admire the i5-14600K, but I’ve just seen some negative reviews. I just need your opinion: does it still matter? Has Intel fixed it? Do I really need to be anxious about it?

It still matters if it worries you....regardless of your reasons.

You can easily find all sorts of posts that are skeptical about Intel fixing anything.

Few people have much control over what makes them anxious, without medication.

If you buy it and have a bad experience, do you say "so what", buy something else, and forget about your "mistake" in 10 minutes?

Or would you flagellate yourself endlessly for not listening to those who said "avoid Intel 13/14 gen"?

I have no idea how you would react, but you should have a very good idea.

How much does it cost you to avoid the situation? What is the downside of avoiding the situation?

Maybe your admiration trumps other considerations. If so, buy it.

 

[GentleX]

It still matters if it worries you....regardless of your reasons.

You can easily find all sorts of posts that are skeptical about Intel fixing anything.

Few people have much control over what makes them anxious, without medication.

If you buy it and have a bad experience, do you say "so what", buy something else, and forget about your "mistake" in 10 minutes?

Or would you flagellate yourself endlessly for not listening to those who said "avoid Intel 13/14 gen"?

I have no idea how you would react, but you should have a very good idea.

How much does it cost you to avoid the situation? What is the downside of avoiding the situation?

Maybe your admiration trumps other considerations. If so, buy it.

Which would be better for me? Just speak out man. I appreciate you anyway. Should i stick with 14600K or no? Just give me a solid advice kindly.

 

[Lafong]

Which would be better for me? Just speak out man. I appreciate you anyway. Should i stick with 14600K or no? Just give me a solid advice kindly.

I won't do that.

One guy says yes; next guy says no.

Why would you choose one opinion over another?

Which CPU you choose could easily be the least of your worries.

Somebody may tell you shortly to do X, Y, or Z. You can then listen to them if you like.

 

[GentleX]

I won't do that.

One guy says yes; next guy says no.

Why would you choose one opinion over another?

Somebody may tell you shortly to do X, Y, or Z. You can then listen to them if you like.

I'm sorry if I said anything wrong to you.

 

[Lafong]

I'm sorry if I said anything wrong to you.

You have a very vivid imagination.

 

[drjohnnyfever]

I find this on anandtech. They said that, intel 13th/14th gen are full of instability issues.

Intel processors crashing Unreal engine games (and others)

As if we needed any more evidence that these Intel furnace monstrosities are being pushed beyond their limit just to win performance benchmarks. No wonder even 480mm rads or 1.5kg coolers aren't enough for these solar flares. These parts are being redlined because they're horrifically inferior...

forums.anandtech.com

What you're quoting in the above post are comments based on chips that went into MOBO's where the MOBO manufacturers defaulted their product to "Top Performance" settings. Whether it was Intel's fault in not recognizing that MOBO manufacturers were doing this, slow to respond if they did know, or wrong in not requiring MOBO manufacturers to default to Intel's recommended settings is open to interpretation and opinion. There are tons of threads about all sides of the argument here. My take is that there are some bad chips and the confluence of that with the MOBO settings made for disaster and then some degree of fear mongering. But that's just my opinion.

What was found, however, was that chips were damaged as a result of these default MOBO settings and it also revealed a flaw in some 14th Gen chips. The i5-14600K, and the i7 and i9 14th gen chips were included in a manufacturing concern. What I have been unable to determine is whether the chips themselves are potentially "faulty" or if they become that way as a result of being overvolted due to the default, wide-open settings that MOBO's enabled with certain chips and that the heat generated from those overvoltages began or accentuated the "flaw."

I was aware of the heat issue and as a result never allowed my i5-14600K to reach 100C but once or twice during testing, but certainly shutting tests down before it throttled or shut down. From the links I provided you, I undervolted my chip almost immediately and have had consistent, trouble-free performance for almost a year at a level that approaches levels of far more expensive chips.

You'll have to make up your mind for yourself. I decided on this chip before being aware of any of the heat and flaw concerns, but went ahead with it after reading a good amount and engaging people here for their views. You have a good build. If your more comfortable going another route, then you have to make that decision. Some of the articles you quoted above seem a little hyperbolic, probably the initial response when the issues or concerns first came to light. I keep an eye on these issues and the performance of the PC I have with that chip. If there's an issue down the road, there is at least a warranty that's in effct and has been extended on those chips because Intel is aware of the issues.

 

[GentleX]

Finally, Here is my revised build :

CPU: Intel Core i7-12700K Alder Lake Processor
Motherboard: MSI Pro Z690-A WiFi DDR4
RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 64GB (2 x 32GB) DDR4 3200MHz Black (CMK64GX4M2E3200C16)
SSD: Samsung 990 Pro 1TB
HDD: Toshiba P300 1TB 7200RPM
Casing: Lian Li Lancool II Mesh Performance
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 Chromax.Black Air Cooler / Arctic Liquid Freezer II 280 AIO Liquid Cooler (Not sure)
Keyboard & Mouse: A4Tech 4200N Wireless Combo
Power Supply: Corsair RM750x Shift 750W 80+ Gold Full Modular
UPS: APC 1000VA

Thanks in advance. . .

 

[drjohnnyfever]

Finally, Here is my revised build :

CPU: Intel Core i7-12700K Alder Lake Processor
Motherboard: MSI Pro Z690-A WiFi DDR4
RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 64GB (2 x 32GB) DDR4 3200MHz Black (CMK64GX4M2E3200C16)
SSD: Samsung 990 Pro 1TB
HDD: Toshiba P300 1TB 7200RPM
Casing: Lian Li Lancool II Mesh Performance
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 Chromax.Black Air Cooler / Arctic Liquid Freezer II 280 AIO Liquid Cooler (Not sure)
Keyboard & Mouse: A4Tech 4200N Wireless Combo
Power Supply: Corsair RM750x Shift 750W 80+ Gold Full Modular
UPS: APC 1000VA

Thanks in advance. . .

If you are worried about the i5-14600K, I would go to the i5-14500, which is not unlocked and will only perform to it's specifications on any given MOBO. In that case, you could keep everything the same as in the build you put together for the 14600K. I would still stick with a MOBO that can utilize DDR5 because from the i7-12700, the only improvement avenues CPU-wise are into the 13th and 14th Gen chips... but there is a lot of improvement potential once the concerns you have are either settled by time, reading, and assessment of what the reality is/was with the "faulty" chips.

If you are merely going to the i7-12700K because of your worries about newer chips and never envision yourself trusting the newer chips, you have essentially cut off improvements in the CPU at the 12th Gen. And be aware that the 15th Gen Intel CPU's use a different socket, so if you decided you like one of those or even one in say the 16th Gen, you will need a new MOBO to accommodate the newest Intel CPU's.

There are CPU upgrades, MOBO features, and RAM types you should consider before pulling the trigger; but either of the builds you've put together look nice. Thinking a little about what you might want to do in a year or 18-24 months and what is coming, compared to what you want to do now and if you can get to where you might want to be in that longer time frame with what you BUY now is something to consider.

 

[drjohnnyfever]

I appreciate your care for my situation. I admire the i5-14600K, but I’ve just seen some negative reviews. I just need your opinion: does it still matter? Has Intel fixed it? Do I really need to be anxious about it?

I would suggest before making a final decision, you look into Reddit a little and even the forum you posted where "furnace monstrosity" was used to understand what's going on with Intel, their 14th Gen chips, and the MOBO manufacturers. Simple searches of i5-14600k on Reddit will yield some real world perspective. That thread is 80-some pages and almost a year ago now since that post. A lot has been said AND a lot of really experienced people figured out the power was too high and that that MUST be addressed before really even testing the CPU. Undervolting and i5-14600k search on Reddit will yield still more info and clarity. I'm sure you'll find other viewpoints and maybe some pointers, as I did, after I had already gotten this chip when all of this sort of started boiling. Luckily, I was aware and prepared to address the main cause of the heat issue which was wide-open MOBO settings.

Anyway, good luck.

 

[GentleX]

I would suggest before making a final decision, you look into Reddit a little and even the forum you posted where "furnace monstrosity" was used to understand what's going on with Intel, their 14th Gen chips, and the MOBO manufacturers. Simple searches of i5-14600k on Reddit will yield some real world perspective. That thread is 80-some pages and almost a year ago now since that post. A lot has been said AND a lot of really experienced people figured out the power was too high and that that MUST be addressed before really even testing the CPU. Undervolting and i5-14600k search on Reddit will yield still more info and clarity. I'm sure you'll find other viewpoints and maybe some pointers, as I did, after I had already gotten this chip when all of this sort of started boiling. Luckily, I was aware and prepared to address the main cause of the heat issue which was wide-open MOBO settings.

Anyway, good luck.

I appreciate your advice. Thank you so much from the heart. I will research more and will come back here again. Until then, take care!