Boy, building a PC is easy

[Ackmed]

Latest build. Bought this about two weeks before the 7700K launched.... thought it would be much more. Came into a bit of money and had the upgrade itch. Already had everything else. Should have waited for the 7700 or the Ryzen, but whatever. Guess I will be upgrading again. I have always rooted for the underdog, and AMD has been that.

 

[Craig234]

Latest build. Bought this about two weeks before the 7700K launched.... thought it would be much more. Came into a bit of money and had the upgrade itch. Already had everything else. Should have waited for the 7700 or the Ryzen, but whatever. Guess I will be upgrading again. I have always rooted for the underdog, and AMD has been that.

I relate. Always rooted for the underdog, which is AMD, also - good to have competition, though my latest build went with i7-4790K - bought all the parts over a year before actually building, oh well. Should have waited for Pascal instead of R9 390, etc.

 

[Ackmed]

I usually do wait. I hadn't upgraded in 3 years. But I got tired of it, and bit the bullet. I don't mind selling for a loss if Ryzen comes out and is all that, and cheaper. I'd take the hit to help them. TB 1.2 or Cel 300a is probably my fav CPU of all time. I was at almost 4ghz in 2003... with phase changing. Barely past that now without over clocking 13 years later.

 

[Staples]

Came across this article and I think it is funny and true.

https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/pc-gaming-is-still-way-too-hard

PC elitist would like you to believe that you can easily build a $500 gaming PC that will last 6+ years like a console but that is simply not true. If you build a $500 gaming PC, it probably won't play the latest games at a very details and it most certainly will not be able to play games 6 years down the road except at low res on the lowest details. Gaming PCs are a big money pit.

Just a few days ago my computer wasn't booting Windows. In fact, I could not even run Windows setup. Turns out, a PCI E card was loose. I have a small case and wires and all the other crap are stuffed into it pushing on things.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Came across this article and I think it is funny and true.

https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/pc-gaming-is-still-way-too-hard

PC elitist would like you to believe that you can easily build a $500 gaming PC that will last 6+ years like a console but that is simply not true. If you build a $500 gaming PC, it probably won't play the latest games at a very details and it most certainly will not be able to play games 6 years down the road except at low res on the lowest details. Gaming PCs are a big money pit.

What a damn whiner. (The article, not you.) Yeah, maybe some people cut themselves building a PC, but if you do that for more than your first build, you basically suck, and should pay other people to build your PCs for you.

 

[Staples]

What a damn whiner. (The article, not you.) Yeah, maybe some people cut themselves building a PC, but if you do that for more than your first build, you basically suck, and should pay other people to build your PCs for you.

Ok, I agree with the numbered list, mainly it is expensive and you will need to keep reinvesting time and money into it very often despite what the elitist "master race" tells you.
Yes you can cut yourself, I've done it many times back when we used moles connectors for drives. The second half of the article goes off into Whinning. I recommend a Mac because you don't have to deal with this which I find a dumb argument. The guy is complaining about building a gaming PC. I think recommending an Alienware would have been the appropriate argument.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Ok, I agree with the numbered list, mainly it is expensive and you will need to keep reinvesting time and money into it very often despite what the elitist "master race" tells you.

I disagree. Look at how many people are still running overclocked 2500K CPUs and Radeon 7950 / 7970 / 280 / 280X video cards.

Upgrade your CPU after 6 years, upgrade your video card every 3... that's not "very often". Only if you truely want to be "PC Master Race" do you "have" to, to be able to play the newest AAA titles, at 60FPS on Ultra, at 1440P or 4K UHD. But for a better-than-console-experience? Mostly even a budget gaming rig would do, and last for 2-3 years at the least. Those are $500-800. And considering the savings on the games themselves, during that time, assuming that you don't have to be a "1st-day player".

Edit: And oh, the only common place where you might cut yourself building a PC these days, since even the ultra-budget cases are mostly safe to work in these days, is the I/O panel cutout. Installing that can cause slices. So, wear some work gloves, that should take care of it. You can get those at a dollar store.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Came across this article and I think it is funny and true.

https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/pc-gaming-is-still-way-too-hard

PC elitist would like you to believe that you can easily build a $500 gaming PC that will last 6+ years like a console but that is simply not true. If you build a $500 gaming PC, it probably won't play the latest games at a very details and it most certainly will not be able to play games 6 years down the road except at low res on the lowest details. Gaming PCs are a big money pit.

Ummm... No. We know the hardware is more expensive, and we accept that cost in order to get a better game experience. ( multiple monitors, higher resolutions, faster frame rates, better controls, more/better mods, etc.)

Also, we save a lot of money on the games themselves. Compare a steam sale price on a game released six months ago (50% or less of launch), versus the price of a console title (still usually close to retail.)

Just a few days ago my computer wasn't booting Windows. In fact, I could not even run Windows setup. Turns out, a PCI E card was loose. I have a small case and wires and all the other crap are stuffed into it pushing on things.

Sooo... you were able to fix it? Good. If it had been a console, it would have just RROD'd an you'd be buying a new one.

 

[KMFJD]

lmao i hadn't seen that one yet, it's getting easier and easier to build a pc though it could still get a lot easier.

 

[Staples]

There is a savings on games over their console versions but I question how many games people actually buy. I know I don't really play that many games (I am old with kids) but the only game I've been playing for the past ~3 months (over 100 hours) is Xcom 2. Prior to that, I played Saints Row 3 and 4 I got cheap off Steam and I spent months with those two. Skyrim, Battlefield 4, Black Ops 2. Spent months and months playing each one of those by themselves.

I can't be the only one. Last game spent more than $30 on was Battlefield 4.

 

[IronWing]

Back in 1972 my parents purchased an Odyssey console. In 1983, eleven years later, my parents purchased a Kaypro 2 computer. The Odyssey offered more advanced gaming. <colbert>

 

[Darwin333]

Did he just touch his fingers on the CPU pads to press it in the tool? I have greesy skin. Even if it's OK, I'd never do that.

I was thinking the same thing. Can't say how many systems I've built for myself and friends/family and I've never had a bent pin, the CPU literally just drops into place when seated correctly. Had a buddy bend some pins once and helped him out using a mechanical pencil to straighten them and even that was relatively easy.

 

[Craig234]

There is a savings on games over their console versions but I question how many games people actually buy. I know I don't really play that many games (I am old with kids) but the only game I've been playing for the past ~3 months (over 100 hours) is Xcom 2. Prior to that, I played Saints Row 3 and 4 I got cheap off Steam and I spent months with those two. Skyrim, Battlefield 4, Black Ops 2. Spent months and months playing each one of those by themselves.

I can't be the only one. Last game spent more than $30 on was Battlefield 4.

More common is buying hundreds of games cheaply and not playing them.

 

[Rubycon]

Now you can simulate it!

 

[Craig234]

Funny - does it include simulating bent pins and occasional hangs?

 

[Red Squirrel]

And DOAs and having to go through the RMA process.

Has anyone here built a Rizen rig yet? How did it go?

 

[Crono]

And DOAs and having to go through the RMA process.

Has anyone here built a Rizen rig yet? How did it go?

Yes, going well. Build is pretty much done, just switched motherboard, only have to put some more red dye into Dracula's cooler and put the side window on before adjusting OC and stress testing again. Was running nice and stable on my other X370 motherboard, MSI Xpower Titanium before that (couldn't get the Hero right away).

Specs: Ryzen 7 1700X, ASUS Crosshair VI Hero, 16GB Team Group Nighthawk DDR4-3200 (running at 2667 for now), 256GB M.2 SSD, Cougar 1000W PSU, XFX R9 390 8GB, Raijintek Triton 360 w/3 Deepcool TF120 fans, Thermaltake Core P3, Windows 10 Pro.

EDIT: now it's done

The Ryzen build thread is fairly active.

 

[Rubycon]

Funny - does it include simulating bent pins and occasional hangs?

Bent pins???! Oh yeah AMD still using pins. Must be a bunch of bowlers.
They could also simulate running 3D Mark and game benchmarks.
And a virtual overclocker that not only would let you o/c your cpu to over 9000 MHz but see how fast it would run Tomb Raider.
Just maybe someone will be able to run Crysis at over 9000fps.
Might as well add 64 980tis in SLI running on a wall of 8K panels.
Just like a virtual sex room, let your imagination run wild on both quality and quantity. Right...
Simulate everything including the $50k power bill to run it!

Yes, going well. Build is pretty much done, just switched motherboard, only have to put some more red dye into Dracula's cooler and put the side window on before adjusting OC and stress testing again. Was running nice and stable on my other X370 motherboard, MSI Xpower Titanium before that (couldn't get the Hero right away).

Specs: Ryzen 7 1700X, ASUS Crosshair VI Hero, 16GB Team Group Nighthawk DDR4-3200 (running at 2667 for now), 256GB M.2 SSD, Cougar 1000W PSU, XFX R9 390 8GB, Raijintek Triton 360 w/3 Deepcool TF120 fans, Thermaltake Core P3, Windows 10 Pro.


The Ryzen build thread is fairly active.

How do you like this?
Is it worth using the cooler?
I understand the margin on these isn't that great, i.e. 4GHz wall.
Has anyone used one of these without a video card, i.e. IGP?
It would be interesting to run one with IGP only. You know, a WORK station?

 

[Craig234]

I just had a bent pin issue on an ASRock Z97 Extreme6 with an Intel i7-4790k.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Honestly I prefer the pins on the CPU. Much easier to take the cpu and have it in front of you to deal with any bent pins than to have to take the entire motherboard out, and essentially it turning into a whole rebuild because of a bent pin. But that said I can't say I've ever had to deal with a bent pin on a motherboard. But it would suck if it did happen as it would be much more work to deal with.

 

[Staples]

Nice looking build above. But there is definitely a clear distinction between functional builds and aesthetic builds. Aesthetic builds are a lot more complicated and costly. Functional builds are just screwing parts into the box and plugging stuff in. I used to buy cases with windows until I learned that it just encourages me to buy more costly stuff. And then more maintenance when they get dirty. Now I just buy cheap small cases.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Yeah I like the look of aestetic builds and they're also more fun to do. Is CCFL lighting still a thing? I had a clear plastic case that had that. Fun times. But my last few builds were purely functional, you would not want to see the cable management haha. They are tucked away in my server rack. I still need to run a cable so I can power cycle and reset from my office.

 

[MrSquished]

Nice looking build above. But there is definitely a clear distinction between functional builds and aesthetic builds. Aesthetic builds are a lot more complicated and costly. Functional builds are just screwing parts into the box and plugging stuff in. I used to buy cases with windows until I learned that it just encourages me to buy more costly stuff. And then more maintenance when they get dirty. Now I just buy cheap small cases.

I used to do windowed cases and maybe had one rig with a light in it. Then I became far more concerned with noise, so started buying Fractal Designs Define cases. They aren't cheap but they are super quiet. It's $157 now on Amazon but I got it for $120 just over a year ago. I highly recommend this case:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Q380LDY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Rubycon]

I just had a bent pin issue on an ASRock Z97 Extreme6 with an Intel i7-4790k.

Yes socket pins on LGA chips. I don't know how those get mangled up. I've managed to bend many pins though. Just the environment I've been working in the past 12 years. A motherboard isn't going anywhere but chips often wind up falling which bends pins. Thank goodness for my 0.5mm mechanical pencils!

And yes, those CPU pins are far easier to straighten then trying to repair bent pins on LGA sockets. If the damage is more than *slight* the socket needs to be replaced which isn't a DIY job for 99% of users for sure.

I do have some R7 1800X parts and 370X boards sitting in New Orleans. Should have them in hand by tomorrow's departure. Oh and also some 1080ti "founders edition" (whatever that means LOL) graphics cards. These have 11GB RAM?! That's funny. My two year old Titan-X cards (Maxwell) have 12GB.

 

[Craig234]

Yes socket pins on LGA chips. I don't know how those get mangled up. I've managed to bend many pins though. Just the environment I've been working in the past 12 years. A motherboard isn't going anywhere but chips often wind up falling which bends pins. Thank goodness for my 0.5mm mechanical pencils!

And yes, those CPU pins are far easier to straighten then trying to repair bent pins on LGA sockets. If the damage is more than *slight* the socket needs to be replaced which isn't a DIY job for 99% of users for sure.

I do have some R7 1800X parts and 370X boards sitting in New Orleans. Should have them in hand by tomorrow's departure. Oh and also some 1080ti "founders edition" (whatever that means LOL) graphics cards. These have 11GB RAM?! That's funny. My two year old Titan-X cards (Maxwell) have 12GB.

I couldn't find any practical way to fix the bent pins. All I finally did was find a jeweler who tried to improve it a little but it still had problems and the system still has unclear issues that cause HW hangs occasionally. I think founder's edition means they're the initial cards from the manufacturer before other brands issue their own versions of the card, but not sure.