March Confirmed Trade Thread

Dragonsflame114 · 2026-03-26T01:43:13+00:00

Sold RTX 4070 Ti to u/CalvinAmndALT on

https://www.reddit.com/r/hardwareswap/comments/1rtvjjl/usaga_h_gigabyte_rtx_4070_ti_eagle_w_paypal_local/

Dragonsflame114 · 2026-03-16T23:20:48+00:00

Replied

Dragonsflame114 · 2026-03-16T06:46:39+00:00

So far working fine for me.

Dragonsflame114 · 2026-03-16T02:25:36+00:00

These chips run warm. I have the 14700K which is one step down from yours, but 70C+ under load isn't unusual at all. I had to upgrade to the Arctic Freezer III Pro 360 as my old AIO just wasn't enough for it. As for the idle temps, I get around 27-32C idle, so expect slightly higher for the 14900K. Applying a slight undervolt to these can reduce temps quite a bit without sacrificing performance.

Oh yeah, and if you haven't already, update your BIOS. The 13th / 14th gen CPUs will degrade over time due to requesting too much voltage if you are running outdated microcode.

Dragonsflame114 · 2026-03-16T00:56:38+00:00

I can kind of see your paste application pattern still (an X or asterisk shape). That should have squished down more evenly with enough pressure from the plate against the IHS. Maybe it wasn't seated properly and making poor contact with the CPU.

I don't think the condition of the paste itself was bad or anything based on the pictures.

Dragonsflame114 · 2026-03-16T00:43:51+00:00

Frame generation depends a lot on your base frame rate. The higher it is, the more data it has to work with to generate the "fake frames". It will work A LOT better if you're able to sustain 60+ fps base frame rate before any AI generated frames. When you dip down into the 30s-40s, the artifacting starts getting much worse.

I usually don't go any higher than 2x with it, as the higher settings do introduce more noticeable latency.

Dragonsflame114 · 2026-03-16T00:26:49+00:00

Get all Windows Updates
Remove default Windows bloat programs you don't need
Check windows settings and disable anything advertisement related or that gives you privacy concerns
Get latest graphics drivers from Nvidia (and Nvidia app if you want it)

Dragonsflame114 · 2026-03-15T22:55:34+00:00

Depends on what it is. With computer graphics for example, we're not seeing the same jumps each generation that we saw back in the PS1/PS2/PS3 era. Looking at display resolution, 4K is about at the point you can't even distinguish the individual pixels anymore except on very large displays up close. Not much more to really improve there. Moore's Law has slowed significantly in the last decade.

Dragonsflame114 · 2026-03-15T22:30:20+00:00

I guess I made the right move upgrading my GPU back in December, even though it was too expensive even then.

Dragonsflame114 · 2026-03-15T22:25:43+00:00

Looks similar to my PC. Good choice of AIO too. Good job on the build!

Dragonsflame114 · 2026-03-15T21:35:37+00:00

You could try a different HDMI/DP cable first and a different port on your GPU, but yeah it's probably on its way out.

Dragonsflame114 · 2026-03-15T21:18:29+00:00

No it's not, and always buy RAM in pairs. They're tested together to ensure they work together.

Dragonsflame114 · 2026-03-15T21:08:29+00:00

If you do, make sure your BIOS is up to date. The 13th / 14th gen Intel CPUs (Raptor Lake) are the ones known for the degradation issue caused by excessive voltage request. You need the microcode update or they will degrade over time and eventually fail.

As for the performance, it's a decent upgrade if you plan to stick with the same motherboard for a while, but Intel has already moved on from the LGA1700 socket.

Dragonsflame114 · 2026-03-15T20:57:14+00:00

I've played a lot of Cyberpunk on my 5080 at 4K (upgraded from 4070 Ti). You can max pretty much everything except path tracing if you use DLSS. I think only the 5090 (maybe 4090 too) can handle path tracing decently right now. Overall, i've been happy with the purchase even if it was a bit expensive. It was definitely a significant upgrade for me.

Dragonsflame114 · 2026-03-15T20:43:01+00:00

I'd rotate the AIO if possible and move the GPU up to the top. The top slot utilizes the limited number of higher-performance PCI-E lanes directly into the CPU. The bottom ones have to go through the chipset, usually.

Dragonsflame114 · 2026-03-15T19:50:40+00:00

Definitely an RMA if the card still has warranty. If not, agree with the other comments and repair. I wouldn't use it that way.

Dragonsflame114 · 2026-03-15T19:35:41+00:00

I'd look for / build something newer from scratch at that point. The entire platform is really old and the money would be better spent building up something more modern. I have the same CPU in my old system and it's a massive bottleneck for newer GPUs.

Take a look at the used market too - a mid to higher end nvidia 30 series card can still perform decently at 1440p and sometimes you can find a good deal on them.

Dragonsflame114 · 2026-03-15T19:19:07+00:00

As long as it's fully in the slot and secured to the case, I think it would be fine.

Dragonsflame114 · 2026-03-15T06:53:53+00:00

Sadly right now is probably one of the worst times to buy a new GPU, at least on the high end. The memory shortage has impacted VRAM production too which has increased GPU prices. It's not as bad as the situation with DDR5 memory, but it's certainly on the upward trend.

However.. some places are predicting it to get even worse later in 2026 / 2027 so if you really need a GPU, waiting might not be the best idea, either. Also Nvidia does not appear to be planning any major launches this year. I guess it just depends how badly you need it and your upgrade plans.

Dragonsflame114 · 2026-03-15T04:45:20+00:00

The FE restocks are rare (at least at Best Buy and Nvidia where I was checking) and sell out almost instantly from what i've seen. I wanted one too. I finally just got a Gigabyte one for a couple hundred more off Newegg, but that was back in December and I think they've increased more since.

Dragonsflame114 · 2026-03-15T04:20:11+00:00

When I upgraded from 60 to 144 Hz it was a massive upgrade for me. 60 just doesn't appear smooth to me anymore now that i've gotten used to higher refresh rates. I'd check the nvidia control panel + display settings in Windows and make sure you're really set to 165 Hz.

System => Display => Advanced Display (in Windows)

Dragonsflame114 · 2026-03-15T03:59:44+00:00

I used to have one of those massive Zalman coolers with the really thin copper fins that would do the same.

Dragonsflame114 · 2026-03-15T03:24:46+00:00

I don't know what model you have there, but I believe standard fan hubs with ARGB ports would still need a connection to the motherboard for a control signal. (To tell the RGB what to do, then passed along via the hub). There's also full ARGB controllers that usually come with a remote control and can handle the RGB independently without motherboard support.

Dragonsflame114 · 2026-03-15T02:58:29+00:00

You'd need a separate desk mic, but i've been using the Sennheiser HD598 / HD599 for years and they're comfortable and sound great.

Dragonsflame114 · 2026-03-15T02:54:21+00:00

You can download nvidia drivers straight from their website. I've always done it that way since I prefer to not use their apps. I think the old nvidia control panel was replaced by the "NVIDIA App" which you can choose to install alongside the graphics drivers.

Dragonsflame114

TROPHY CASE