Getting a new PC

[Mary Terry]

I could not do that. I am wondering if they might try to re-deliver. Also the latest information from them says it will arrive by 8pm so maybe I will be lucky and it will not come until the afternoon. That would be okay, I would be home.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that you'll be back home when they deliver. That seems like the best thing you can do.

 

[Judge]

Exactly which i9 Ultra CPU are you talking about? Series one or series two?

(Assuming it's a desktop version - not a mobile cpu). It may make a great deal of difference...

See Intel's links for all these i9 processors:

Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors

Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors (Series 2) Product Specifications

 

[grommet]

I'll keep my fingers crossed that you'll be back home when they deliver. That seems like the best thing you can do.

Thank you. I do not remember them delivering early in the day very often so I hope they come late.

 

[grommet]

Exactly which i9 Ultra CPU are you talking about? Series one or series two? (Assuming it's a desktop version - not a mobile cpu).

It may make a great deal of difference...

See this link of all these processors:

Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors

Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors (Series 2) Product Specifications

I cannot be exact. I do not have the specifications. When it arrives I can tell you. I did not build it so I am not sure what the choices were.

 

[Judge]

I cannot be exact. I do not have the specifications. When it arrives I can tell you. I did not build it so I am not sure what the choices were.

Ouch. Hopefully you aren't getting a desktop system with a laptop version of an i9 cpu.

 

[grommet]

Ouch. Hopefully you aren't getting a desktop system with a laptop version of an i9 cpu.

I think it is the highest performing gaming pc Dell Alienware has. The PSU is 1,500 watt Platinum, the RTX 5090, I think they would use a high performing CPU.

 

[Judge]

I think it is the highest performing gaming pc Dell Alienware has. The PSU is 1,500 watt Platinum, the RTX 5090, I think they would use a high performing CPU.

That means nothing given the number of model cpus Intel offers in this range. If the Ultra series (which one) is so energy-saving giving their power output, I have to assume that enormous power supply is more relative to the RTX 5090.

Do you have a specific Dell link for this? Aurora or Area-51 desktops? Which custom configuration did you select? 64GB memory or 32GB memory model?

 

[grommet]

That means nothing given the number of model cpus Intel offers in this range. If the Ultra series (which one) is so energy-saving giving their power output, I have to assume that enormous power supply is more relative to the RTX 5090.

Do you have a specific Dell link for this? Aurora or Area-51 desktops?

This is the page we looked at when he was talking about the PC. I am getting the one on the right.

Alienware Area-51 Gaming Desktop | Dell USA

 

[grommet]

That means nothing given the number of model cpus Intel offers in this range. If the Ultra series (which one) is so energy-saving giving their power output, I have to assume that enormous power supply is more relative to the RTX 5090.

Do you have a specific Dell link for this? Aurora or Area-51 desktops? Which custom configuration did you select? 64GB memory or 32GB memory model?

Chat said this: Yes — the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K is currently the highest‑performing model in Intel’s Ultra 9 lineup, and it outpaces other Ultra 9 variants.

 

[Judge]

This is the page we looked at when he was talking about the PC. I am getting the one on the right.

Alienware Area-51 Gaming Desktop | Dell USA

The 32GB DDR5 6400 memory model? Ok, that sounds better....then you are getting the Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 285K processor (24-Core, 76MB Total Cache, 3.7GHz to 5.7GHz).

The "285K" was what I was looking for. OMG this thing is massive. You will probably need help in getting it up and running.

The review by Steve Burke from Gamers' Nexus sounds mostly positive, though they are brutal about its pricing. He's probably one of the Internet's the toughest critics. Be sure to closely inspect the NVMe SSD to make sure it isn't warped. And check to see how clean or dusty the whole unit might be.

 

[grommet]

The 32GB DDR5 6400 memory model? Ok, that sounds better....then you are getting the Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 285K processor (24-Core, 76MB Total Cache, 3.7GHz to 5.7GHz).

The "285K" was what I was looking for.

I had to learn about the cache in this chip because it is higher in total but instead of more L3 it has more L2. Chat says that can help with certain things in Flight Simulator.

 

[Judge]

I had to learn about the cache in this chip because it is higher in total but instead of more L3 it has more L2. Chat says that can help with certain things in Flight Simulator.

Word of advice: Be careful about using AI for specific answers to technical questions.

I've done the same lately to find that not all responses may be accurate. Especially questions which had no objective proper and correct answer involving thermodynamic metrics and competing explanations involving standardized metrics (TDP) versus the proprietary metrics of Noctua who make fans and heatsinks. That the AI tossed out a number that incorrectly correlated to TDP ratings and not what Noctua meant relative to compatibility of fans and heatsinks versus specific cpus.

Noctua's position is that TDP ratings themselves are an obsolete metric.

 

[saturnv]

Fedex has always tried to redeliver the next day when I was not there for the first attempt. I hope it works out for you.

 

[grommet]

Word of advice: Be careful about using AI for specific answers to technical questions.

I've done the same lately to find that not all responses may be accurate. Especially questions which had no objective proper and correct answer involving thermodynamic metrics and competing explanations involving standardized metrics (TDP) versus the proprietary metrics of Noctua who make fans and heatsinks.

Thank you. I agree. I have gotten some terrible answers and I lost money a few times. It said something would do what I wanted and it was wrong. It makes things up.

 

[grommet]

Fedex has always tried to redeliver the next day when I was not there for the first attempt. I hope it works out for you.

Thank you so much, I hope you are right. The delivery is on a Friday, I think they do not come on Saturday so maybe the would try Monday but if they come late I will be home for it.

My plan is to tip one side up and put furniture sliders under, move the box in that way unless the driver helps me bring it in.

 

[Judge]

Thank you. I agree. I have gotten some terrible answers and I lost money a few times. It said something would do what I wanted and it was wrong. It makes things up.

It disappointed me, though I wasn't surprised. The thing is, for objective questions with objective answers I've always thought that a basic search engine should be able to properly answer them. And in most cases they have.

Though in this instance I needed to equate one metric with another where there is great debate between competing technologies. And no clear way to bridge this gap under the circumstances. I guess I was testing AI by "putting it on its ear" and it failed. Oh well...

My end result was concluding that if you choose to use a Noctua product, you have to interpret their thermodynamics by their metrics and no others. In other words, take their word as an act of faith and little else. But then this may also reflect their arrogant position in the industry. That they are the best, so they can afford to take such an attitude. Which in their mind may also bolster their pricing structures, which are often outrageous compared to competitors like Thermalright.

When I build a PC, while I may not seek to build the most powerful system, I always try to use the best known components available. Even in the case of Noctua or Thermalright cooling solutions. One outrageously expensive, one amazingly affordable. While both seem to do quite well in the industry.

 

[grommet]

It disappointed me, though I wasn't surprised.

The thing is, for objective questions with objective answers I've always thought that a basic search engine should be able to properly answer them. And in most cases they have.

Though in this instance I needed to equate one metric with another where there is great debate between competing technologies. And no clear way to bridge this gap under the circumstances.

I guess I was testing AI by "putting it on its ear" and it failed. Oh well...

My end result was concluding that if you choose to use a Noctua product, you have to interpret their thermodynamics by their metrics and no others. In other words, take their word for it as an act of faith and little else. But then this may also reflect their arrogant position in the industry. That they are the best, so they can afford to take such an attitude.

Which in their mind may also bolster their pricing structures, which are often outrageous compared to competitors like Thermalright.

When I build a PC, while I may not seek to build the most powerful system, I always try to use the best known components available. Even in the case of Noctua or Thermalright cooling solutions. One outrageously expensive, one amazingly affordable. While both seem to do quite well in the industry.

I saw Gamer's Nexus compare the Thermalright CPU anti-bend bracket to Thermal Grizzly and they liked the Thermalright.

 

[Judge]

I saw Gamer's Nexus compare the Thermalright CPU anti-bend bracket to Thermal Grizzly and they liked the Thermalright.

Uh-oh. I originally told you about that device relative to an Intel i9- based on the LGA1700 socket. Wasn't aware then you were talking about an i9 Ultra cpu.

To my knowledge an i9 Ultra uses a very different (1851?) socket. If the Thermalright anti-bending device you purchased is only for an LGA1700 socket I don't think you can use it.

But they do make one for the 15th gen 1851 socket:

Amazon.com

 

[saturnv]

I will go against the grain a bit and recommend that you don't try to do anything to the hardware or settings right away. It sounds like your interest is in flying things in a sim and not messing around with computer hardware and software. If that is true, I would recommend that you just turn it on and play. Only if you encounter problems should you change things. Monitoring the temperatures with a program to make sure all is well wouldn't be a bad idea though.

 

[grommet]

Uh-oh. I originally told you about that device relative to an Intel i9- based on the LGA1700 socket. Wasn't aware then you were talking about an i9 Ultra cpu.

To my knowledge an i9 Ultra uses a very different (1851?) socket. If the Thermalright anti-bending device you purchased is only for an LGA1700 socket I don't think you can use it.

But they do make one for the 15th gen 1851 socket:

Amazon.com

It is okay. I found the right one for the new i9 Ultra, it is a different socket. I never would have known about the problem and to fix if you had not told me so you helped me a lot, thank you.