Ali Rashid Khan

As Tech4Gamers’ Wiki Editor, I dissect gaming products, offering detailed perspectives from Best Motherboards to GPUs. When away from the keyboard, I’m into mechanical keyboards and global Scrabble competitions.

See full bio

The 3DMark Suite, like any other benchmarking tool, serves the same purpose — to evaluate the performance of your PC setup or mobile device. The 3DMark suite offers a variety of benchmarking tests, but the full version is hidden behind a paywall. However, the demo version is more than enough with its limited test selection.

It offers a straightforward UI and richly detailed results, with the option to compare results with other setups from their database. You can download the demo version from Steam on PC, Play Store for Android, and App Store for iOS devices.

User Interface and Usability

Initiating with its user interface, 3DMark boasts a relatively simple UI to interact with, there’s no clutter on the screen and everything is very intuitively put together. Navigating through the tool feels like an in-game menu with tabs like “Home, Benchmark, Results, Stress Test, Options” placed in the upper right corner: each devoted to a different function.

Similarly, the usability factor is also high, as this benchmark application can test all the PC components by imitating a game-like scenario. Moreover, its availability on mobile devices also counts.  

Core Features

The 3DMark Suite doesn’t fall short on the features and comes with a decent list of those, some of its key features are: 

1. Multi-Platform Availability
2. Wide Range of Benchmarks
3. Adjustable Benchmark Settings
4. Credible Performance Forecasting
5. System Monitoring

Multi-Platform Availability

Having a one-for-all solution is always welcoming to have. The 3DMark Suite is not just limited to the PC platform, it is also available on mobile phones, whether it’s an Android or iOS-based iPhone. You can also easily manage and compare results with multiple devices because of the cross-platform compatibility and availability. 

Wide Range of Benchmarks

One of the best things about 3DMark Suite is the number of different benchmarks to choose from for all supported devices. Moreover, each benchmark tests a different thing, like a different API or technology. Most of them are only accessible via the paid version. However, the demo version comes with Time Spy, which caters to the DX12 performance of GPU and CPU.

Firestrike is for DX11, Night Raid is for portable devices with iGPU, Steel Nomad Light is for mobile phones, and Steel Nomad is for high-end gaming PCs. These free included benchmarks are more than enough for the majority of casual PC users.

Credible Performance Forecasting

The richly detailed 3D scenes with a lot of action and complexity running on the system will help you estimate the gaming performance more accurately. Because those scenes look and work like a game with auto-mode on. So, it’s easier to figure out how the graphically intense game will perform on your system. 

Benchmarking Tools

The demo version of 3DMark Suite offers four benchmarks targeting a different API and device: 

Time Spy

This one is one of the most popular in the 3DMark Suite, as it is targeted at Windows gaming PCs. It thoroughly tests the PC using the DX12 API, which allows the PC to be utilized more than its predecessor. Additionally, this DX12 benchmark features four scenes to stress the graphics card as well as the processor by simulating an in-game environment. 

Fire Strike

Just like Time Spy, this benchmark is also targeted at gaming PCs, however, this time around it focuses on the DX11 performance of the graphics card with a physics test. Other than that, the CPU is also tested in a combined test similar to Time Spy. The basic version of Fire Strike is limited to 1080p resolution, and higher settings can be used by owning the paid version of 3DMark Suite.

Night Raid

Unlike the others, Night Raid is a fairly light DX12-based benchmark test that primarily targets portable devices, such as laptops and tablets with integrated graphics.

Steel Nomad Light

It’s a lightweight version of the normal Steel Nomad benchmark test and features far less demanding assets and graphical techniques that make the Steel Nomad resource-heavy. With cut-down settings, it still runs at 1440p resolution and is meant to test tablets, portable PCs, and gaming phones.

Steel Nomad

This benchmark test goes all out on the demanding stuff and only cuts out on the ray-tracing features, which Nvidia’s RTX 3000 and 4000 series graphics cards handle very well. Moreover, it runs at a native 4K to push the gaming PC to its maximum.

Pros And Cons

Comparison With Competitors

3DMark Suite is a no-brainer in comparison with other benchmarking tools like Geekbench, Cinebench, or AIDA64. But they either test the CPU performance or non-gaming GPU performance. Where the 3DMark Suite focuses more on gaming performance. Meaning, that 3DMark Suite can provide more credible and accurate insights related to in-game performance and how well your PC can handle it.

Use Cases 

We actively use 3DMark Suite in our gaming PC reviews to share a more accurate opinion on what kind of gaming and graphical performance you can expect from your components. Like if you’re using an Intel i7 14700KF generation CPU with an RTX 4080.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Varying Results: The 3DMark Suite is highly resource-intensive, so even a single program running in the background can affect the results, so, better to close everything before testing.
• Test Freezing: If you experience freezes during the benchmark, try reverting the OC settings on your system if there are any.
• Incompatible Drivers: In case the Suite isn’t performing as it should and crashing, then you better update the drivers on your system to the latest.

Glossary of Terms

• Ray Tracing: This rendering process creates more visually realistic lighting and reflections than older techniques like SSR, SSAO, or HBAO.
• Overclock: The process of pushing the clock speeds of GPU and CPU over stock limits to gain additional performance is called an overclock.
• Cross-Platform: If software supports and can run on different devices like a PC as well as a mobile, then it is said to be a cross-platform software.
• Frame Rate: The number of frames a PC is displaying per second on screen is called the frame rate, it is measured as frame rate per second.

Ali Rashid Khan

[Wiki Editor]

Ali Rashid Khan is an avid gamer, hardware enthusiast, photographer, and devoted litterateur with a period of experience spanning more than 14 years. Sporting a specialization with regards to the latest tech in flagship phones, gaming laptops, and top-of-the-line PCs, Ali is known for consistently presenting the most detailed objective perspective on all types of gaming products, ranging from the Best Motherboards, CPU Coolers, RAM kits, GPUs, and PSUs amongst numerous other peripherals. When he’s not busy writing, you’ll find Ali meddling with mechanical keyboards, indulging in vehicular racing, or professionally competing worldwide with fellow mind-sport athletes in Scrabble at an international level. Currently speaking, Ali has completed his A-Level GCEs with plans to go into either Allopathic Medicine or Business Studies, or who knows, perhaps a full-time dedicated technological journalist.
Get In Touch: alirashid@tech4gamers.com

3DMark Suite: A Complete Guide To All Features is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

Ali Rashid Khan

As Tech4Gamers’ Wiki Editor, I dissect gaming products, offering detailed perspectives from Best Motherboards to GPUs. When away from the keyboard, I’m into mechanical keyboards and global Scrabble competitions.

See full bio

DDR5 has seen some significant improvements in memory speed, and it can only benefit the system if they are used with proper timings and voltage settings. This is where overclocking profiles come in, they set the memory to properly tuned settings by the manufacturers so you don’t have to.

AMD EXPO does the very same thing, but where does it stand in scalability, what it takes to set it up and use it, and is it worth it over Intel X.M.P?  

What Is AMD EXPO?

The word EXPO in AMD EXPO stands for “Extended Profiles for Overclocking”, meaning a new contender in the memory profiles race. It allows the user to set the memory voltage, its frequency, and timings with just one click without the need to go the manual path.^[1]

It is compatible with DDR5 memory kits only, as it was designed by AMD specifically for their AM5 socket’s Ryzen 7000 series and onwards processors, and those only work with DDR5 memory. 

Features of AMD EXPO 

AMD EXPO offers some distinct features that set it apart from Intel X.M.P.^[2]

• Better Performance for Ryzen: The performance gets a lot better if the EXPO-supported memory kit is paired with the AM5 platform Ryzen processors. The aggressively tuned settings help the Ryzen processors to perform far more effectively.
• Open Standard: AMD has opted for an open standard for the EXPO and made it license-free for manufacturers like Intel X.M.P. However, the open standard is the exception. All the test results from manufacturers are available to the public. This assists the users in confirming the hardware compatibility with EXPO.

How Does It Work & How To Enable AMD EXPO

The profiles are loaded into the SPD chip^[3] of the DDR5 ram kit. When the PC boots up, its BIOS checks the data available on the chip and displays the AMD EXPO profiles for the user to choose from.

In order to activate the AMD EXPO, let’s take this Gigabyte X670E Aorus Master as an example. Firstly, boot into the BIOS by pressing the “Del” or “F2” button while booting the computer. You will be welcome into the “EZ Mode”, now press “F2” to enter “Advanced Mode”.

Click on the “Tweaker” tab, on this page, you can see “Extreme Memory Profile (XMP/EXPO)” right below the DDR5 Auto Booster setting. Click on it to select any profile of your choice to apply AMD EXPO settings and save by pressing “F10”. The procedure may vary slightly from motherboard to motherboard.

Difference Between AMD EXPO & Intel X.M.P 

Their core functionality is the same, which is to overclock the memory modules to the selected presets. While the differences exist, they’re not too many. 

• AMD EXPO is only available for DDR5 memory modules, whereas Intel X.M.P is also present on DDR3 memory kits.
• Being an open-source tech, AMD EXPO is also available on the Intel platform, whereas Intel’s X.M.P is exclusive to Intel processors. 

How To Check If Your RAM Supports AMD EXPO

If you’re unaware of whether the memory in your system supports AMD EXPO or not, then one of the simplest ways is by downloading and installing the CPU-Z software. After opening CPU-Z, click on the SPD tab and there you can verify the overclocking profile tech your RAM supports in the “SPD Ext.”

Helpful Resources:

• RAM Frequency
• CAS Latency
• RAM Comparison Tool
• RAM Latency Calculator

References:

1. AMD EXPO open standard, retrieved from https://www.amd.com/en/products/processors/technologies/expo.html
2. Intel X.M.P explained, retrieved from https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/gaming/extreme-memory-profile-xmp.html
3. What is an SPD chip? Explanation. https://itigic.com/ram-memory-spd-what-it-is-and-how-your-pc-can-read-it/

Ali Rashid Khan

[Wiki Editor]

Ali Rashid Khan is an avid gamer, hardware enthusiast, photographer, and devoted litterateur with a period of experience spanning more than 14 years. Sporting a specialization with regards to the latest tech in flagship phones, gaming laptops, and top-of-the-line PCs, Ali is known for consistently presenting the most detailed objective perspective on all types of gaming products, ranging from the Best Motherboards, CPU Coolers, RAM kits, GPUs, and PSUs amongst numerous other peripherals. When he’s not busy writing, you’ll find Ali meddling with mechanical keyboards, indulging in vehicular racing, or professionally competing worldwide with fellow mind-sport athletes in Scrabble at an international level. Currently speaking, Ali has completed his A-Level GCEs with plans to go into either Allopathic Medicine or Business Studies, or who knows, perhaps a full-time dedicated technological journalist.
Get In Touch: alirashid@tech4gamers.com

AMD EXPO [Features & How You Can Enable It] is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

Ali Rashid Khan

As Tech4Gamers’ Wiki Editor, I dissect gaming products, offering detailed perspectives from Best Motherboards to GPUs. When away from the keyboard, I’m into mechanical keyboards and global Scrabble competitions.

See full bio

Memory modules have always been of great significance for the performance and smoothness they bring to the table. Their overclocking is well-regarded and useful too; however, it’s not as simple as the overclocking of CPU & GPU. 

This is why memory overclocking presets such as Intel XMP exist to tune up the RAM’s CAS latency, clock speed, and voltage settings.

What Is Intel XMP?

Intel XMP stands for “Extreme Memory Profiles,”  and as the name suggests, it is used to tune the memory kits with just one click.^[1] The user doesn’t have to invest time in setting everything up manually because these pre-configured profiles do the very same thing. 

Furthermore, unlike AMD EXPO, the Intel XMP isn’t limited to just one specific generation or socket of processors. Intel XMP is available on DDR5, DDR4, and even the DDR3. Each generation has a different iteration of Intel XMP; for instance, Intel XMP 3.0 is currently being used to overclock DDR5 memory kits.

Features of Intel XMP

Intel XMP introduced several great features that helped the majority of PC users out there, especially the latest Intel XMP 3.0.^[2]

• Better Performance: Enabling XMP profiles can significantly enhance the system’s performance because the memory modules are running at a higher clock with optimized timings and power.
• Compatibility: Intel XMP is compatible with a wider range of motherboards and memory kits due to it being in the memory overclocking game for a good while. Almost every motherboard for Intel CPUs, from budget to high-end, supports XMP profiles.

How Does It Work & How To Enable It

SPD chips are responsible for storing the XMP overclocking profiles, which then lets the BIOS read its stored XMP profiles.^[3] Later, the BIOS shows every available profile on the screen. 

To enable the Intel XMP profile, let’s take the MSI Z790 Project Zero for example. Enter its BIOS by pressing the “Del” button. From there, you can see the “OC” box right below the “motherboard settings”. Click on it and all the overclock settings will pop up in the middle.

How To Enable XMP

1 of 2

Now click on the “Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)” under the DRAM settings, select from the available profiles, and press F10 to save and exit the BIOS. New settings will be applied automatically on your next boot. Do note, though, that the instructions and naming scheme may vary depending on the motherboard.

How Is Intel XMP Any Different From AMD EXPO 

Both are here to overclock the memory kits and unleash their true potential, however, Intel XMP being an old player has some extra perks over AMD EXPO.  

• Intel XMP offers up to three pre-configured profiles to the users in comparison with AMD EXPO which only lets you pick from either one or two profiles depending on the motherboard. 
• Intel XMP is also available on the AM4 platform, as it supports DDR4 memories as well. 
• There are significantly more XMP kits available than EXPO.

How To Verify RAM’s Intel XMP Compatibility

If somehow you have lost your RAM box and are not sure whether your memory kit is Intel XMP certified or not? It is quite easy to find that out with just a simple utility. All you have to do is download and install the CPU-Z software from the internet and head over to its SPD tab. There you can see the XMP written inside the “SPD Ext.” box. Moreover, XMP will be mentioned under the “Timings Table” where JEDEC is written, That’s how you can verify the overclocking profile compatibility.

Helpful Resources

• RAM Frequency
• CAS Latency
• RAM Comparison Tool
• RAM Latency Calculator

References:

1. Intel XMP 3.0, retrieved from https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/gaming/xmp-3-for-core-processors.html
2. Intel XMP explained, retrieved from https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/gaming/extreme-memory-profile-xmp.html
3. What is a Serial Presence Detect (SPD) chip? Explanation. https://itigic.com/ram-memory-spd-what-it-is-and-how-your-pc-can-read-it/

Ali Rashid Khan

[Wiki Editor]

Ali Rashid Khan is an avid gamer, hardware enthusiast, photographer, and devoted litterateur with a period of experience spanning more than 14 years. Sporting a specialization with regards to the latest tech in flagship phones, gaming laptops, and top-of-the-line PCs, Ali is known for consistently presenting the most detailed objective perspective on all types of gaming products, ranging from the Best Motherboards, CPU Coolers, RAM kits, GPUs, and PSUs amongst numerous other peripherals. When he’s not busy writing, you’ll find Ali meddling with mechanical keyboards, indulging in vehicular racing, or professionally competing worldwide with fellow mind-sport athletes in Scrabble at an international level. Currently speaking, Ali has completed his A-Level GCEs with plans to go into either Allopathic Medicine or Business Studies, or who knows, perhaps a full-time dedicated technological journalist.
Get In Touch: alirashid@tech4gamers.com

Intel XMP [What, Why, & How] is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

Ali Rashid Khan

As Tech4Gamers’ Wiki Editor, I dissect gaming products, offering detailed perspectives from Best Motherboards to GPUs. When away from the keyboard, I’m into mechanical keyboards and global Scrabble competitions.

See full bio

AIDA64 is a renowned enthusiast-level software that offers a lot of different functionalities such as in-depth stress tests, detailed system information and benchmarks for various components like CPU, GPU, memory & storage. It is primarily a stress-testing utility with a lot of features baked in. This is also why it’s paid software with a limited-time trial version. 

You can download the trial software straight from AIDA64’s official website and choose the AIDA64 Extreme version.

User Interface and Usability

As far as the UI is concerned, you are greeted with an old-fashioned yet functional user interface with a lot going on but in a streamlined manner. You can navigate through the available features and settings in two different styles. On the right side, you can access everything, such as system summary, OC settings, power management, sensors, and more, via their icons. Similarly, on the left side, you can navigate the menu with the provided tabs all on the same page. 

Besides that, AIDA64 comes in handy if you want to verify your PC is completely stable with the new settings you applied. Or if you’re looking to evaluate the system’s performance against the competition in its database.

Core Features

AIDA64 Extreme contains some of the coolest enthusiast-level features; a few that are the most important are:

1. In-depth system diagnostics & information.
2. Stress test for all components.
3. Benchmark for CPU, GPU, memory & storage.
4. System monitoring sensors.
5. Shortcut for drivers & bios updates.

Stress Test

The stress test is its most popular feature because AIDA64 can stress test RAM, storage, cache, and FPU besides the CPU & GPU. During the stress test, the software puts a load by giving computational tasks to the CPU & GPU, as well as making them generate a lot of heat by allowing them to draw maximum power. The memory and storage devices are thrown into read/write tasks that go on until the stress test is over. 

Moreover, you can monitor the usage, voltages, clocks, and temperatures in the graphs given below. Not to mention, if something goes wrong during the stability test, the utility notifies the user by mentioning the error in the status bar.

Benchmark

Besides the stress test, AIDA64 also has a benchmarking tool that can benchmark the system memory, storage, CPU, and GPU. The AIDA64 runs complex calculations on the CPU and GPU, which they already do, but not too many at once. Also, it doesn’t include 3D performance testing. 

For memory and storage drives, it tests their read/write speeds, cache, and also latency to produce a detailed report to compare with the competition. 

Monitoring Sensors

Alongside those two, AIDA64 allows you to monitor the temperature and voltages of every component in real-time as well. You can use the included monitoring feature by accessing the sensors tab from either side of the menu. From there, you can monitor stuff like CPU core voltage, fan speeds, DIMM voltage, SoC voltage, the temperature of the motherboard, VRM, CPU diode, PCI-E, Aux, GPU, Storage drive, and a lot of other components. It’s very much like HWinfo in terms of looks and function.

Benchmarking Tools

As we mentioned everything in detail earlier, AIDA64 Extreme is beneficial for enthusiasts because it can benchmark things like cache, memory, storage drives, CPU & GPU. We can benchmark pretty much everything from this app alone and don’t have to opt for other alternatives to test each of the components.

Pros and Cons

Comparison with Competitors

AIDA64, in comparison with Geekbench, Cinebench, and MSI Afterburner, has some edge. Simply because those tools primarily cater to either CPU, GPU, or both, that’s about it. However, the AIDA64 suite offers a lot of distinct and useful features that also cover the things that the competition can’t, like memory, storage drive, cache stability tests, and benchmarks. 

Use Cases 

We use AIDA64 extensively in our reviews related to CPU, GPU, memory kits, and storage drives. We use it to ensure their stability and performance when paired with different components and how they stack up against other combinations. You can do the same, especially while opting for overclocking, to verify the stability and performance gains. 

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Wrong Sensor Readings: If the sensor readings on the app seem to be incorrect, then it could be due to outdated drivers or bios. Make sure to install the latest hardware drivers and update the bios, either from within the app or manually from the web, to fix the issue at hand.
• Crash During Stability Test: In case you encounter software or system crashes, it’s definitely related to the hardware side of things. If you have done overclocking or undervolting, then you better change those and try to test again to find the stable value.
• Invalid License: In a situation like where you have bought the license, but the key isn’t being activated for some reason. It might be because the key is used or invalid, contacting AIDA64 online support will help you resolve the issue more effectively.

Glossary of Terms

• Latency: The time it takes to complete the requested action, the delay in between all this is called latency.
• Throughput: The total data that a system can process within a given time frame is called throughput and is usually measured in MB/s or Gb/s. 
• Stress Test: A test through which the stability and performance of the system is measured by taxing the system to its limits is called a stress test.
• Cache: This is a very fast and small memory inside a CPU and is responsible for storing data that is accessed frequently, it ensures quick processing.
• TDP: Thermal design power is the maximum power a component like a CPU or GPU generates when pushed to its limits.

Ali Rashid Khan

[Wiki Editor]

Ali Rashid Khan is an avid gamer, hardware enthusiast, photographer, and devoted litterateur with a period of experience spanning more than 14 years. Sporting a specialization with regards to the latest tech in flagship phones, gaming laptops, and top-of-the-line PCs, Ali is known for consistently presenting the most detailed objective perspective on all types of gaming products, ranging from the Best Motherboards, CPU Coolers, RAM kits, GPUs, and PSUs amongst numerous other peripherals. When he’s not busy writing, you’ll find Ali meddling with mechanical keyboards, indulging in vehicular racing, or professionally competing worldwide with fellow mind-sport athletes in Scrabble at an international level. Currently speaking, Ali has completed his A-Level GCEs with plans to go into either Allopathic Medicine or Business Studies, or who knows, perhaps a full-time dedicated technological journalist.
Get In Touch: alirashid@tech4gamers.com

AIDA64 – Why It Is The Best PC Benchmarking Tool is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

Ali Rashid Khan

As Tech4Gamers’ Wiki Editor, I dissect gaming products, offering detailed perspectives from Best Motherboards to GPUs. When away from the keyboard, I’m into mechanical keyboards and global Scrabble competitions.

See full bio

Geekbench is one of the most used benchmarking utilities, whether it’s for the processor or graphics card. The benchmarking tool can benchmark both of them and provide a comprehensive result with all the necessary details for the user. From minimalistic UI to a well-put result sheet, Geekbench offers plenty of useful features.

You can download the free version by directly visiting Geekbench’s website, as they also have a paid version with some additional perks.

User Interface and Usability

Starting with the user interface, there’s not much going on here, and even the free version of this software is clean and uncomplicated in terms of use. As visible in the attached picture, the main page shows your PC’s full specifications and the options for benchmarking the processor and the graphics card. Similarly, there’s a tab that lets you choose the GPU’s API before triggering the benchmark.

Additionally, the usability is not bad because the Geekbench 6 can benchmark both components even in its free-to-use version. Plus, its cross-platform support takes that usability factor to a whole new level.

Core Features

Geekbench is nothing short of numbers when it comes to offering features, which include:

1. Supports Multiple Platforms
2. CPU Benchmarking Tool
3. GPU Compute Power Benchmarking Tool
4. Geekbench Browser
5. Minimalistic UI

CPU Benchmarking Tool

You can easily use Geekbench to benchmark your CPU and evaluate its performance based on the result numbers. There’s no catch involved, and you can directly run the CPU benchmark from the main page. Moreover, Geekbench throws a series of different tests to mimic a real-world situation so you can have a better understanding of how your processor is going to perform in daily life processing tasks.

CPU Benchmarks

1 of 2

The tests are done twice, as the tool benchmarks the CPU in both single-core and multicore situations. The series of tests includes stuff like file compression, photo filter, HDR, asset compression, PDF renderer, and so on. These are the things that the CPU handles pretty much daily.

GPU Benchmarking Tool

Geekbench isn’t limited to just CPU benchmarking, it also has the option to test GPU’s compute power via its GPU benchmarking tool. The same process of throwing multiple real-world tests such as particle physics, edge detection, background blur, and more at the GPU happens here. This way, Geekbench evaluates the computing power of the graphics card and gives the same detailed result for the user.

GPU Benchmarks

1 of 2

Geekbench Browser

The results of both benchmarks go straight into the Geekbench browser, and it acts more like a database, which not only lets you see the results but also shares your results online for others to compare them with their own. Moreover, you can do the same and compare your results with other devices, ranging from mobile phones to desktop computers & Macs.

Benchmarking Tools

As stated above, Geekbench boasts two benchmarking tools to test both the CPU and GPU. Its versatility also allows you to test the computational power of the graphics card with different APIs, such as OpenCL, Vulkan, and, lastly, the Metal API, which is exclusive to Apple Silicon devices.

Pros and Cons

Comparison with Competitors

Comparing it with other benchmarking tools, Geekbench has an edge. For instance, Cinebench is more focused on the CPU side and only tests its rendering power, and 3DMark does that with GPU, whereas Geekbench prefers to perform a far more in-depth benchmark encompassing multiple tests. 

Use Cases

We regularly use Geekbench for review and guide purposes, and you can do the same to evaluate your system’s performance. This is one of the instances where we were testing the Ryzen 3 2200G to put it in the chart against other APUs.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Imprecise Scores: If the tool is giving out unexpected and wrong results, then you better check the system’s thermals as well as the background processes and see if any system-intensive programs are running behind the back. These are usually the reasons behind such inaccurate scores, so better mitigate these repercussions.
• Result Not Uploading: If you’re using the free version of Geekbench and having trouble getting the result on the Geekbench browser. In such a situation, make sure the internet you’re connected to is not having any issues and if you’re using a LAN cable, then try changing that or switching to Wi-Fi mode or a different network.
• Tool Crashing: In case you can’t seem to complete the benchmarking process because of the tool crashing over and over again. You better check if your system is up-to-date and the tool is not missing any files either. Moreover, do check the task manager and see if something else is eating your memory and other resources, which is causing the crashing issues.

Glossary

• Single-Core Performance: It means the power of a processor’s single-core and how efficiently it handles everything, this is called the CPU’s single-core performance.
• Computing Power Benchmark: In this benchmark, the tool tests the computational power of the graphics card through various tests including feature matching, horizon detection, and particle physics to name a few.
• Cross-Platform Comparison: This refers to the possibility of comparing results with devices having different OS and specifications. 
• Multi-Core Performance: The phenomenon in which all processor cores work together to complete the task at hand and how efficiently, and swiftly they do that is called its multicore performance.
• Metal API: Just like OpenCL and Vulkan, this is another API that Apple developed for its devices featuring Apple Silicon, such as M & A series chipsets for its laptop and mobile platforms.
• Cinebench: Like Geekbench, it’s another benchmarking tool that is primarily used to evaluate the CPU’s performance through a rendering test.

Ali Rashid Khan

[Wiki Editor]

Ali Rashid Khan is an avid gamer, hardware enthusiast, photographer, and devoted litterateur with a period of experience spanning more than 14 years. Sporting a specialization with regards to the latest tech in flagship phones, gaming laptops, and top-of-the-line PCs, Ali is known for consistently presenting the most detailed objective perspective on all types of gaming products, ranging from the Best Motherboards, CPU Coolers, RAM kits, GPUs, and PSUs amongst numerous other peripherals. When he’s not busy writing, you’ll find Ali meddling with mechanical keyboards, indulging in vehicular racing, or professionally competing worldwide with fellow mind-sport athletes in Scrabble at an international level. Currently speaking, Ali has completed his A-Level GCEs with plans to go into either Allopathic Medicine or Business Studies, or who knows, perhaps a full-time dedicated technological journalist.
Get In Touch: alirashid@tech4gamers.com

Geekbench: An Overview Of The CPU/GPU Benchmarking Tool is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

Ali Rashid Khan

As Tech4Gamers’ Wiki Editor, I dissect gaming products, offering detailed perspectives from Best Motherboards to GPUs. When away from the keyboard, I’m into mechanical keyboards and global Scrabble competitions.

See full bio

MSI Afterburner is well-regarded all-rounder software, especially for gamers like us. The suite is popular for its multiple features that are easy to use and customize. These include different skins, the ability to monitor your PC’s in-game performance, and the option to squeeze more performance out of the graphics card via overclocking. 

Besides all those, it’s quite easy to download MSI Afterburner. All you have to do is search the web with the software name and access the official MSI site for a free downloadable setup.

User Interface And Usability

The UI of MSI Afterburner is very well-organized, with everything placed right where it needs to be. From stuff required to perform overclocking, such as core voltages, clock speed sliders, and power & temperature limits, to accessing the settings menu, everything is right on the main page as it should be.

In terms of usability, it does a lot more than just overclocking, we use it almost daily to monitor the in-game system’s average performance for our reviews and tests. You can also use it to monitor performance side by side while you’re adjusting the game’s graphics settings to get the best possible visuals and fps.

Core Features

MSI Afterburner is jam-packed with many cool features that add to its reputation. Some of its essential features are:

1. GPU Overclock & Undervolt
2. Plethora of Skins
3. System Performance Monitoring
4. Non-proprietary nature
5. Free to use
6. Built-in Stress Test 

GPU Overclock & Undervolt

Those sliders on the front aren’t there just for cosmetic reasons; MSI has made overclocking effortless, all you have to do is increase the core & memory clock sliders until the graphics card starts showing artifacts, crashes, or a black screen.

Stop the sliders right before the point where those things happen. Don’t forget to feed more power via the core voltage slider if it helps achieve a higher clock speed. The same goes for performing undervolt where you have to push the voltage slider in the opposite direction before reaching the crashing point. MSI also allows the user to save profiles with customized settings for later use.

System Performance Monitoring

You can monitor in-game performance metrics such as CPU, GPU, RAM usage & temperature as well as FPS with a frame time graph in real-time with the metrics overlay that will show up at the corner of your screen. All this can be enabled by going into the monitoring tab inside the settings menu. 

Moreover, Afterburner comes with an additional app called RivaTuner which caters to this side of the utility. We can adjust the size and position of the metrics on screen, as well as set a custom fps limit, which sometimes makes the frame time graph a lot more stable than the actual in-game Vsync.

Plethora of Skins

You can also select from a number of different skins for Afterburner, each skin is distinct from the other, and this gives the user a more immersive experience. In case, you can’t seem to find a suitable skin for yourself, you can create your own and share it with other Afterburner users as well. 

Benchmarking Tools

As mentioned above, MSI Afterburner only offers a single benchmarking tool called Kombustor. The tool is exclusively for graphics cards only and can’t be used to stress test the CPU and check its stability. We find the tool to be extremely helpful, as we don’t have to open another app to check the GPU’s stability after tweaking it via Afterburner.

Pros and Cons

Comparison with Competitors

The MSI Afterburner isn’t all alone in this battle and has competitors like ASUS GPU Tweak II, NZXT CAM, and EVGA Precision X1. However, Afterburner stands out from the rest, because some lack overclocking capabilities, and some don’t offer real-time hardware monitoring. Whereas, Afterburner offers all those features at once.

Use Cases

This is one of the cases where we had to use Afterburner’s system monitoring feature to keep track of system performance, temperatures, and other stuff. So, if we feel like the system could use a little more juice, we can crank the graphics card’s clocks via the same software too.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Frequent Crashes: If you’re experiencing app or system crashes, you might want to check on the overclocking settings you made and tune down those where everything feels stable.
• Performance Metrics Not Visible: In case, you can see the performance metrics on the screen, make sure you have checked the empty box named “Show in on-screen display” within the monitoring tab.

Glossary of Terms

• Overclocking: The process of increasing the clock speeds of a component from base clocks for extra performance is called overclocking.
• Clock Speed: The speed at which the components like RAM, CPU, and GPU run is called their clock speed, and it’s usually calculated in GHz or MHz.
• Voltage: The power supplied from the PSU to other components of the PC is called voltage, and it’s adjustable as per the component.
• On-screen overlay: This feature enables the performance metrics to be visible on-screen during any game.
• Custom Fan Curve: The customized fan curve that causes the fan to spin at different speeds based on the temperature readings is known as Custom Fan Curve.

Ali Rashid Khan

[Wiki Editor]

Ali Rashid Khan is an avid gamer, hardware enthusiast, photographer, and devoted litterateur with a period of experience spanning more than 14 years. Sporting a specialization with regards to the latest tech in flagship phones, gaming laptops, and top-of-the-line PCs, Ali is known for consistently presenting the most detailed objective perspective on all types of gaming products, ranging from the Best Motherboards, CPU Coolers, RAM kits, GPUs, and PSUs amongst numerous other peripherals. When he’s not busy writing, you’ll find Ali meddling with mechanical keyboards, indulging in vehicular racing, or professionally competing worldwide with fellow mind-sport athletes in Scrabble at an international level. Currently speaking, Ali has completed his A-Level GCEs with plans to go into either Allopathic Medicine or Business Studies, or who knows, perhaps a full-time dedicated technological journalist.
Get In Touch: alirashid@tech4gamers.com

MSI Afterburner: Key Features, Troubleshooting Tips, and More is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

Ali Rashid Khan

As Tech4Gamers’ Wiki Editor, I dissect gaming products, offering detailed perspectives from Best Motherboards to GPUs. When away from the keyboard, I’m into mechanical keyboards and global Scrabble competitions.

See full bio

Cinebench has made a name for itself with its different iterations over the years. It is used to test the single-core and multicore performance of a processor. The benchmarking tool has been around since 2000 and is still coming out with a new version every year.

Whether it is about testing CPUs or benchmarking GPUs, we have been using Cinebench for well over a decade for our reviews and guides. Anyone can download it by going over Maxon’s official website and choosing the one compatible with their OS.

User Interface and Usability

One of the likable things about Cinebench is its simplified user interface that has nothing complex on screen because all that sort of work gets done in the background. Moreover, you will find score data of several CPUs after launching it, which is certainly of great use because it helps you understand where your CPU stands in the competition.

If you are thinking of starting to use Cinebench and you’re not familiar with such tools. Worry not, as the user interface is uncomplicated and won’t overwhelm you, enabling you to adequately benchmark your selected CPU. So, yeah, even for newbies, Cinebench is snappy to use.

Core Features

Speaking of features, Cinebench has four things to offer its users. 

CPU Benchmark

Now, this is an obvious one: the tool lets users test their processor’s strength in both single-core and multicore rendering tests. Cinebench puts a highly detailed 3D scene with complex geometry, high-quality lighting, textures, and reflections against the CPU and makes it render the full scene in chunks within a default timer of 10 minutes. 

Similarly, to evaluate the results, Cinebench has criteria in which Cinebench notes down the rendering speed of the CPU as how quickly it rendered the scene, as well as the thermal performance, whether the CPU did thermal throttling or not. Then Cinebench gives a score based on those things and places it in the list of other already tested CPUs for you to judge.

GPU Benchmark

Cinebench also offers graphics card benchmarks; however, it was limited to testing only the OpenGL side of things. It wasn’t ideal as the dedicated graphics card benchmarking tool, but was good enough to have an idea regarding the GPU’s capabilities. Do note, though, that it has changed with the 2024 iteration of Cinebench, as Maxon has integrated the Redshift render engine for the graphics card’s rendering performance.

With that upgrade in the render engine, now Cinebench tests the GPU the same way as it does with the CPU. This is by making the graphics card render a 3D scene featuring a lot of stuff going on that you will either see in a game or during high-quality animated content creation. Such an approach and complex 3D scene push the hardware to its limits for the set time duration of 10 minutes or more.

Support For Multiple Platforms

What else we get with Cinebench is the multi-platform support, whether x86 and Arm64-based Windows machines or macOS-based MacBooks featuring Apple Silicon. It works across all platforms; it gives us the freedom to test a variety of devices. 

Cost of The Tool 

Another excellent point about Cinebench is that it’s a completely free benchmarking tool and requires no registration or payment process to use it. This further adds to its reasons for popularity and makes it more accessible to a wider audience. 

Benchmarking Tools

We get to use two distinct benchmarking tools within Cinebench, the first one to test the CPU performance, and the second is reserved for graphics cards. 

Moreover, the latest iterations of Cinebench, including R23 and R24, do not test the CPU within a minute or two. These new versions of Cinebench run benchmarks for a good 10 minutes to thoroughly test the processor’s performance by taxing all the cores and threads available. This applies to both single-core and multicore performance tests. It has been of great use, as now we can publish more accurate performance scores than before, and so can you.  

Pros and Cons

Like everything has some unappealing things on its side, Cinebench also isn’t spared and has a number of Pros and Cons to offer.

Comparison with Competitors

When comparing it with other benchmarking tools such as 3DMark, Geekbench, AIDA64, UNIGINE Benchmark, and UserBenchmark. It differs by a significant margin as it primarily focuses on CPU performance tests, while the 3DMark and UNIGINE take care of graphics cards, AIDA64 benchmarks the full system, and GeekBench for CPU and GPU.

Use Cases 

This is one of the use cases for us where we were testing multiple CPUs against the Ryzen 7 7800X3D to see where they stand in terms of RAW CPU performance. We used Cinebench as one of our tools to conclude whether the Ryzen 7 7800X3D has the horsepower to run the latest and most demanding titles or not. Similarly, we also use Cinebench to benchmark our graphics cards.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

As it is an application, it’s prone to develop issues for some reason, which is why we suggest you follow these troubleshooting steps to fight back against those issues.

• System Freeze & Crashes: While performing tests using Cinebench, sometimes the system crashes or freezes mid-test. In such a situation, the culprit could be your CPU or RAM being unstable or the CPU running too hot. Check CPU temperatures during testing and perform a Prime95 test for RAM & CPU stability confirmation.
• Cinebench Stops Responding: If, during a test or even after opening Cinebench, it stops responding all of a sudden, then make sure that you have all the requisite software installed and your PC’s operating system is up-to-date. If nothing works, try reinstalling a fresh copy of Windows.
• Results Do Not Save: If test results refuse to save, then it’s either a bug or the tool lacks permission to save stuff on the drive. Run it as administrator and allow the software to save results locally.

Glossary of Terms

• OpenGL: It’s a cross-language API that assists the GPU in rendering graphics, both 2D & 3D.
• Single-core Performance: It represents the power of a single core of the processor; some tasks can’t be divided among multiple cores, so a single core has to do it.
• Benchmarking Tool: Benchmarking tools exist for various components, and they help you evaluate the performance of those components against the competition. 
• Thermal Throttle: Thermal throttling is a safety feature so when the CPU/GPU exceeds their safe temperature limits, they automatically throttle down their clock speed to deal with higher temps.
• Apple Silicon: Apple Silicon means those computing chips that Apple has made specifically for their products. 
• Prime95: This is another benchmarking tool that is mostly used for verifying CPU and RAM stability.
• Rendering: When an image is being generated from a model or something else, it is called rendering.
• API: The necessary protocols and tools needed to make software is called an API. OpenGL is an example of an Application Programming Interface or API.

Ali Rashid Khan

[Wiki Editor]

Ali Rashid Khan is an avid gamer, hardware enthusiast, photographer, and devoted litterateur with a period of experience spanning more than 14 years. Sporting a specialization with regards to the latest tech in flagship phones, gaming laptops, and top-of-the-line PCs, Ali is known for consistently presenting the most detailed objective perspective on all types of gaming products, ranging from the Best Motherboards, CPU Coolers, RAM kits, GPUs, and PSUs amongst numerous other peripherals. When he’s not busy writing, you’ll find Ali meddling with mechanical keyboards, indulging in vehicular racing, or professionally competing worldwide with fellow mind-sport athletes in Scrabble at an international level. Currently speaking, Ali has completed his A-Level GCEs with plans to go into either Allopathic Medicine or Business Studies, or who knows, perhaps a full-time dedicated technological journalist.
Get In Touch: alirashid@tech4gamers.com

Cinebench – A Complete Guide To The Benchmarking Tool is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

Uzair Qureshi

At Tech4Gamers, I proudly wear the title of Comparisons Specialist. Focused on CPUs and GPUs, I bring forth a wealth of hands-on experience and a keen eye for detail to provide our audience with the latest insights and analyses.

See full bio

Power limits are crucial but often misunderstood concepts. They are essential, especially regarding CPUs and GPUs and how to optimize them. Let’s dig deeper and learn more about power limit concepts like PL1 and PL2.

Key Takeaways

• Power limits are the cap on the maximum power a computer hardware is allowed to draw from the power supply.
• PL1 and PL2 are two power limits in a component. PL1 is consistent, and PL2 is a short-term limit.
• You can increase or decrease the power limits in CPUs and GPUs according to your requirements and needs.

What Is A Power Limit In A CPU or GPU?

Power limits are the maximum amount of power PC components like CPU and GPU are allowed to draw from a power supply.^[1]

Manufacturers set these limits so that the power will not exceed the capabilities of a PSU. Higher power limits can allow higher clock speeds, while lower power limits reduce power consumption.

What Is PL1 and PL2?

Modern Intel processors have two power limits: PL1 and PL2.^[2] Both limits work together which is as follows:

• PL1(Power Limit 1): This is the maximum power the component can continuously draw over an extended period.
• PL2(Power Limit 2): This is the short-term power draw burst by the component that can briefly exceed PL under heavy loads.

Do I Need To Change Power Limits?

The company’s default power limits are sufficient for casual users. However, if you have the following scenarios, you need to change the power limits. ^[3] 

• Increased PL: If you’re considering overclocking, you might need to increase the power limit to achieve a higher clock speed. Also, increasing the power limit is a good idea if you’re facing thermal throttling.
• Decreased PL: If you’re planning to undervolt the system to reduce power consumption and heat generation, you might need to lower the power limits, especially in laptops or small form-factor PCs.

Remember, changing power limits can void the warranty and cause severe issues if done improperly. 

How To Optimize Performance Using Power Limits?

Adjusting the power limits is just one aspect of optimizing performance. You must also monitor the temperature and power draw closely and ensure the limits are safe. ^[4]

You can change the power limits by accessing the BIOS and adjusting the PL1 and PL2 accordingly. However, if you’re pushing the boundaries, you must have adequate cooling. Minor changes, as well as testing the stability of the system while tuning the power limits, are also important.

Helpful Resources by Tech4Gamers:

• CPU Temperature
• Liquid Cooling
• PSU Voltage Ripple

References:

Uzair Qureshi

[Comparisons Specialist]

I’m a passionate computer hardware expert specializing in CPUs and GPUs. With a lifelong curiosity for hardware and extensive hands-on experience, I provide valuable insights, practical advice, and in-depth analysis on these components. Engaging with the hardware community, I exchange knowledge and stay at the forefront of technological advancements.

Get In Touch: uzair@tech4gamers.com

Power Limits – Do You Need To Change Them? is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

Dayan Shahid

At Tech4Gamers, I’m a Tech Detective and Guides Writer, unravelling PC hardware complexities. With experience, I bridge the gap between novices and tech aficionados with informative content.

See full bio

With the growing popularity of frame generation technologies to boost performance in single-player gamers, it is hard to ignore to words: FSR and DLSS.

Let’s focus on FSR for a moment; AMD FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) increases FPS while maintaining visual quality. What is it, how does it work, and why is it becoming popular? Let’s get to know.

Key Takeaways

• AMD FSR renders images at a lower resolution and upgrades them to a higher resolution, giving a smoother gameplay.
• AMD FSR technology uses a dedicated algorithm to analyze, predict, and reconstruct low-resolution images.
• FSR is more accessible than NVIDIA’s DLSS technology. DLSS requires tensor cores, which are available in NVIDIA’s GPU.

What Is AMD FSR?

AMD FSR is a technology developed by AMD that renders the frames at a lower resolution and then upscales the image to a higher resolution.^[1]

FSR is part of AMD’s FidelityFX suite, is open-source, and provides smoother gameplay even in demanding scenarios.^[1] This super cool technology is compatible with various GPUs, including AMD and NVIDIA.

How Does It Work?

FSR technology uses a dedicated algorithm that analyzes and reconstructs the low-resolution image at a high resolution.^[2] The reconstruction process involves edge detection, sharpening, and temporal stability, reducing the GPU load.

The FSR offers multiple quality modes, including Ultra Quality, Quality, Balanced, and Performance.^[3] In performance mode, you get higher frame rates, while in ultra-quality mode, you get the highest image fidelity. 

FSR Vs DLSS

FSR is a widely compatible upscaling technology, but it is often compared with its competitor, NVIDIA’s DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling). The main difference between the working of these technologies is as follows:

• NVIDIA DLSS: DLSS uses a neural network trained on high-resolution images to generate higher-quality frames. The AI approach of DLSS requires dedicated hardware, which is present in RTX GPUs as Tensor Cores.^[4] DLSS provides highly accurate and detailed image quality.
• AMD FSR: FSR also provides a smoother gaming experience but doesn’t need dedicated hardware. FSR offers a good balance of performance and accessibility as it can also run on a wide range of GPUs from other companies and older models.

Evolution Of FSR

AMD has continuously improved FSR technology since its initial release. They addressed user feedback and refined the technology for better image generation and quality. AMD’s adaptability has made FSR remain at the top of the gaming experience battle.

GPUs That Support AMD FSR

The latest version of FSR is FSR 3.0, which was recently released and iterated from previous versions. According to AMD, FSR 3.0 supports AMD Radeon RX 590 and above from the AMD lineup and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10 series and above with upscaling only.

However, AMD recommends using their latest FSR 3.0 with upscaling and frame generation on AMD Radeon 6000 series and above from AMD and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 series and above from NVIDIA. 

Helpful Resources by Tech4Gamers:

• Ray Tracing
• Tensor Cores
• Hyper-Threading

References:

Dayan Shahid

[How To Guides Specialist]

Dayan Shahid is a skilled mechanical engineer passionate about technology. With certifications in various programming languages and subjects ranging from microcontrollers to aerial robotics, Dayan can effortlessly present complex technical topics in an engaging way. His ability to bridge the gap between theory and practical applications sets him apart as he continues to inspire others through their insightful content.

AMD FSR: All You Need to Know is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

Arsalan Shakil

As a Hardware Expert at Tech4Gamers, I bring my decade-long expertise in electronics design, embedded solutions, and prototyping. My knack for exposing misconceptions in the tech world finds a perfect outlet here.

See full bio

The demand for high-performance PC components like GPUs is constantly increasing, which, in turn, increases the demand for powerful PSUs. The 12VHPWR cable is a cable of new standards specially designed for power-hungry components. But what is it and whether you need it or not? Let’s find out.

Key Takeaways

• The 12VHPWR cable is a new standard cable with a 16-pin connector, used to power the more power-hungry GPUs, delivering up to 600W.
• If you have a high-end graphics unit, such as the NVIDIA RTX 40 series, and are considering buying a PSU, you can buy a 12V cable.
• If you are not experiencing any issues with the older cables, you don’t need to upgrade to a 12VHPWR cable.

What Is The 12VHPWR Cable?

The 12VHPWR (12 Volts High Power) cable is a 16-pin power connector that can deliver up to 600W of power.^[1] In the older days, users widely used 6-pin connectors with a max power of 75W and 8-pin connectors with 150W.^[2] 

This newer standard cable takes up less space for graphics units than multiple cables and offers better power transfer efficiency.

Do I Need A 12VHPWR Cable?

Whether you need a 12V high-power cable depends on your hardware configuration.

• GPU Requirements: Most high-end GPUs since late 2022, like the RTX 40 series, require a 12VHPWR connector^[3]. If you have older or less demanding graphics cards, they can often be 6-pin or 8-pin connectors.
• PSU Configuration: To get the most out of your ATX 3.0 power supply, you’ll need a native 12VHPWR connector.^[4] Additionally, you can use adapters to use the cable with older PSUs.

However, if your current build is sufficient and you’re considering upgrading to this cable, there’s no immediate need to switch.

Helpful Resources by Tech4Gamers:

• PSU Rails Guide
• GPU Artifacting
• What is VSync?

References:

Arsalan Shakil

[Errors Troubleshooting Expert]

Arsalan Shakil (aka GuyThatDoesEverything on YouTube) is a PC Tech Enthusiast and Electronic Geek. With over 10+ years of experience in Electronics, he then decided to explore Software Engineering to design embedded products and automate existing hardware solutions. 

When he started tearing down old cameras to understand how they worked, he was shocked (literally, when he got zapped by a flash discharge capacitor), giving him the power (debatable) to fall in love with videography/photography. He also started making some fun videos that later became YouTube tech reviews.

Skills:

• 10+ years of experience in Electronics design, embedded solutions, and prototyping
• Majored in Software Engineering
• Research paper publication in IEEE for Embedded Military Uniform & LoRa WAN wireless technology
• Specialized in IoT Solutions
• PC Enthusiast & PC Modder

In his local region, he’s known to expose cheap PSU brands, often claiming fake certification or false claims on the box. He’s a true nerd and needed some friends in his life. Then he met some guys who work at Tech4Gamers, and they also came out to be equal nerds who suggested he join Tech4Gamers as a Hardware Expert.

What Is The 12VHPWR Cable? is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News