I like the eco option too! Zen CPUs are quite effective at slightly lower clocks than what gives the utmost of performance, which is neat when an energy crisis hits. Is that why you bought a 7950X, and then chose to make use of the eco option? So that you at a later point could turn up the performance (given an acceptable trade off with energy at that time)?

I’d also guess a lot of people like that somewhat obsessive but exciting feeling when researching new gear (be it hardware or otherwise)! Choosing the right stuff for you - with options and capabilities - is a fun exercise in optimisation. At least that’s how I think of it.

Yeah i get that about support and ability to update firmware; and it’s actually what I was interested in learning when I asked with regards to the Intel/AMD debacle. But it’s more regarding the other components in the setup that would affect the experience, right? Do you run a Linux distribution daily, or was it simply required that it should be able to someday?

I myself have used Ubuntu for years, and finally got my better half to let me install it (though it was Kubuntu for both of us at that time). It actually worked quite well, until we got to gaming Hogwarts Legacy… that didn’t quite agree with our setups. On one (5600X+6950) it was sadly only fixed when I switched it to Windows. The other one was also switched to Windows (😓) but it didn’t fix the problem - after a lot of tries and increasing frustration, I tried turning off SMT. And it worked… entirely. That is a 1800X+6950.

I’d really like to go back to Kubuntu (or Neon), but it would have to be a sure solution as I have just started a job and the free time is limited now. I tried lots of debugging measures, including trying to increase the memory maps (I think - please correct me if I’m wrong) to rather large number, as others said it was defined to on the Steam Deck. Also I tried SAM both on/off without luck. So, Windows it is for now, but I lurk in these sections on any input for gaming on Linux, hoping 😅