Why is my i7-10700F stuck at 2.9 GHz in an Alienware Aurora R11?
My i7-10700F never boosts beyond its 2.9 GHz base clock. HWiNFO reports a constant 29x core ratio, even while idle, and Cinebench R20 multi-core scores only 1772. During…
CPU performance
Why is my i7-10700F locked at 2.9 GHz in an Alienware Aurora R11?
My i7-10700F stays at its 2.9 GHz base clock instead of boosting, even when idle or under load. HWiNFO reports a constant 29x multiplier, and Cinebench R20 multi-core…
Is the Core 5 120F Good Enough for Gaming, or Should I Pay More for the i5-14400F?
I'm comparing Intel's Core 5 120F with the i5-14400F for a gaming PC using 32GB of DDR4-3200 memory and an Nvidia RTX 5060. I found the Core 5…
Can an 8,000Hz Keyboard Reduce CPU Performance or Cause Game Stutters?
I recently bought a FUN60 Pro keyboard advertised with an 8,000Hz polling rate, but its software doesn't provide a way to lower that setting. I'm wondering whether such…
Can an 8,000Hz Keyboard Reduce CPU Performance or Cause Game Stutters?
I recently bought a Fun60 Pro keyboard advertised with an 8,000Hz polling rate, but its software doesn't provide a way to change that setting. I'm wondering whether the…
Why do these games freeze every second on my PC?
Cities: Skylines II and Anno 117 both freeze at regular one-second intervals, including on their menu screens. Other games have not shown the problem so far. The system…
Why does Farming Simulator 25 run poorly on a powerful 13700K and RTX 4090 system?
I built this system around two and a half years ago with a Core i7-13700K, Z790 Hero motherboard, RTX 4090, 64GB of DDR5-6400, multiple NVMe drives, a 360mm-class…
How can I build a foundation in computer hardware for my IT course?
I'm in college studying IT, but I'm already struggling with the basics. We started with identifying computer components, and now we're being asked to compare and rank processors…
Why Is My Ryzen 7 9800X3D Scoring Lower Than a 7800X3D in 3DMark?
My friend and I built nearly identical PCs using the same RTX 3070 and DDR5-6000 memory. The main difference is the processor: I have a Ryzen 7 9800X3D,…
Overwatch Suddenly Drops to 3 FPS and 700 ms Latency—How Can I Fix It?
I started playing Overwatch on my PC about two months ago. It ran normally for the first couple of weeks, around 140 FPS with 40 ms latency, but…
What actually makes a CPU good, and is a 9800X3D overkill for a 5070 Ti?
I'm trying to understand what really determines CPU performance. I know the usual advice is to avoid pairing a CPU with a GPU that it can't keep fed,…
Overwatch Suddenly Drops to 3 FPS and Causes Extremely High Ping
I started playing Overwatch on my PC about two months ago. It ran normally for the first couple of weeks at around 140 FPS and 40 ms latency,…
What actually makes a CPU good, and is a 9800X3D overkill for a 5070 Ti?
I understand that a CPU should be fast enough not to hold back the GPU, but I'm not sure how to judge that in practice. What do CPU…
Is This CPU and GPU Pairing Good for 1080p 240Hz Gaming?
I'm putting together a micro-ATX gaming PC and want the highest possible frame rates for the lowest reasonable price in the UK. I'm planning to play CPU-heavy 1080p…
Which CPU is better for gaming: the Core i9-11900K or Core i7-12700?
I'm choosing between an Intel Core i9-11900K and Core i7-12700 for a gaming PC. A benchmark comparison claims the i7-12700 is only about 4% faster, even though its…
Why Is My Download Speed Much Slower in Steam Than in the Riot Client?
My download speed varies a lot depending on the game client. The Riot client can reach around 50 MB/s, while Steam has occasionally reached that speed but usually…
Why Does Steam Download More Slowly Than the Riot Client?
My downloads reach around 50 MB/s in the Riot client, and Steam has occasionally reached that speed too, but it usually stays between 10 and 20 MB/s, averaging…
Do PC components lose performance as they age?
I bought my PC around 2020 or 2021, and I'm wondering whether its performance may have noticeably declined from normal daily gaming use. The system has a Ryzen…
Is Upgrading from a Ryzen 9 7900X to a 9900X3D Worth It for Gaming?
I currently have a Ryzen 9 7900X and a PowerColor Hellhound Radeon RX 7900 XT 20GB. I built my PC about a year ago and am still learning,…
What desktop build offers the best performance per watt for an off-grid setup?
I'm looking for a desktop-oriented system that uses as few watts from the wall as possible while still delivering strong performance. My budget is up to £2,000, although…