Dan/all,
Is enabling ECO mode still the more practical approach in terms of choosing AMD over Intel for the A4 SFX?
Zen 5 is coming out, and, although I've always been using intel, it seems like I'll have an easier time enabling ECO mode instead of intel's PL1/PL2 adjustments. This is assuming I'm trying to get the most performance out of a 92mm.
Thoughts?
AMD ECO mode is a nice easy setting to get a no fuss cooler and quieter solution with small 92mm air cooler.
That's not to say Intel isn't fairly easy too - you can just set PL1/2 limits and it effectively does the same thing. Nothing preventing you setting PL1/2 to say 65W base TDP, maybe even less if you wanted to.
Intel often has better power usage at idle but runs away with it under higher boost clocks. Slightly underclocking max boost clock speed in BIOS or with software like Throttlestop, and limiting power levels, you can achieve very good results although it may still be overall less efficient than AMD under most loads.
My A4 has a 5600X running 45W ECO mode under the Noctua L9a. Very good thermals given my custom, quieter fan curve. It being a 65W chip can run at stock OK, but the fan will have to run much louder to keep up.
This is promising for thermals.
Very nice, I am keeping my eye on Zen 5 and am happy to see them bring the 9600X and 9700X back down to 65W base TDP as it was on the 5600X and 5700X. I hadn't read about the improvements to the heat spreader before now - any gains there could be very welcome with limited cooling capacity.
I am about to build a second faster machine in another A4 and was considering the i5-14400F. However, I know I will get much better performance from the upcoming Ryzen 9600X so will wait for release and reviews to see what performance and power usage is like.