Intel's 13th Generation Raptor Lake processors are some of the best CPUs for gaming. There's no doubt about it. However, have you ever wondered which chips overclock the best? German publication Igor's Lab (opens in new tab) has tested up to 480 Raptor Lake processors and published the binning data on the silicon quality you can expect from each processor tier. Intel does its bit of binning before sending the Raptor Lake processors off to the retail market. During production, the chipmaker evaluates each chip and implants a unique V/F curve into each one of them. The V/F curve houses the data for each core regarding the minimum voltage corresponding to each frequency. The V/F curve, different for each SKU, tells the motherboard how much voltage is needed for a particular frequency. Some motherboard manufacturers, such as Asus, utilize these V/F curves to determine the quality of the processor and the chip's overclocking potential. Asus built a feature into the … [Read more...] about Core i9-13900KF CPUs Overclock Best, Binning Stats Reveal
Overclocking
RIP, Overclockable Non-K Intel Chips, We Hardly Knew Ye
In a development sure to disappoint enthusiasts, it turns out that Intel's 'locked' Non-K 13th-Gen Raptor Lake models are not overclockable like the previous-gen Alder Lake chips. We verified that the previous-gen non-K chips can still be overclocked, but unfortunately, the newer 13th-Gen models cannot. According to our industry contacts, it doesn't look like the situation will change any time soon. Alder Lake processors came with an unexpected surprise — the locked non-K models were overclockable despite Intel's continued policy of restricting overclocking to its pricey K-series models. Sure, Intel released a statement warning that overclocking the locked Non-K chips could damage them, but you could still overclock them at will on certain motherboards. overclocking was only possible because the company issued an early pre-release microcode to OEMs during the development cycle that accidentally allowed manipulating the chips' BCLK setting, thus enabling overclocking. Intel … [Read more...] about RIP, Overclockable Non-K Intel Chips, We Hardly Knew Ye
Developer says MSI Afterburner is on the brink of disaster | Digital Trends
We have some rather grim news if you’re a fan of overclocking your graphics card — MSI Afterburner is in trouble. According to the author of MSI Afterburner himself, the program is not receiving any funding and may be unable to continue. However, there is hope — MSI wants to keep the project alive. MSI Afterburner is, arguably, the most popular software used for tuning a graphics card . This includes overclocking and undervolting . While it can have a bit of a learning curve, it’s effective and fairly accessible, which makes it a good option even for beginner overclockers. Some GPU manufacturers offer their own versions of similar software. Even MSI has something else of its own, called MSI Dragon Center. However, the popularity of Afterburner has not waned, and it’s still the go-to software for GPU tuning. This is why it’s a shame to hear that it might be in jeopardy. The information comes directly from the source, and by that, we don’t mean MSI, but the creator of the … [Read more...] about Developer says MSI Afterburner is on the brink of disaster | Digital Trends
Gigabyte’s RTX 4090 Gaming OC Available at $1,709
The Nvidia RTX 4090 launched last October with a suggested starting price of $1,599. Since that time, we still haven't seen any cards readily available without paying a substantial premium — most models listed at retailers start at over two grand. It's one of the best graphics cards around and unequivocally the fastest by any meaningful metric if you look at our GPU benchmarks , but paying over 25% extra on an already incredibly expensive GPU is a tough pill to swallow. Gigabyte RTX 4090 Gaming OC , and found it to be a capable take on the GPU. It's pretty much a reference card made by a third party AIB, and don't pay any attention to the "Gaming OC" part of the name. The factory overclock consists of an extra 15 MHz over the reference boost clock, which at 2520 MHz means you get a potential 0.6% increase in theoretical performance! (opens in new tab) Gigabyte RTX 4090 Gaming OC for $1,709 (opens in new tab) View Deal (opens in new tab) Prices … [Read more...] about Gigabyte’s RTX 4090 Gaming OC Available at $1,709
Best Alienware deals for January 2023 | Digital Trends
PC gamers around the world know about Alienware — the Dell-owned brand that’s ballooned in popularity within the gaming community. Every gamer recognizes the Alienware logo, as that little Martian’s head is seen on devices with premium design and top-of-the-line features. Alienware products don’t come cheap, but fortunately, there are laptop deals , monitor deals , and other kinds of offers that will let you enjoy significant savings. To help you out, here’s our roundup of the best Alienware deals that you can shop right now. Contents Best Alienware deals When are the best Alienware deals? Best Alienware deals Alienware AW510K Gaming Keyboard — $110, was $199 Alienware AW920H Wireless Gaming Headset — $179, was $200 Alienware Aurora R13 Gaming Desktop — $2,200, was $2,580 Alienware m17 R5 Gaming Laptop — $2,200, was $2,650 Alienware Aurora Ryzen Edition R14 Gaming Desktop — $3,050, was $3,800 Alienware AW510K Gaming Keyboard — $110, was … [Read more...] about Best Alienware deals for January 2023 | Digital Trends