Hardware obsession

[apoppin]

Does anyone else has an obsession with buying hardware? I just LOVE doing research, selecting and putting together Computers/PC Config.

...

Anyways, anyone else with similar issues? hehe

I identified possible issues and decided i didn't want to actually *buy* HW although i wanted to indulge my passion for it.

i think i found a good solution. i spent $80 on hardware over the last 8 months but got thousands of dollars worth of HW during that same period to evaluate and upgrade my PCs with.
^_^

 

[Dice144]

My friends say I spend to much money on upgrading my PC left and right. I then point out how much they spend on beer at the bar weekly! Granted this may will be a year of me not upgrading my main rig (first time in years). Itching for a SB or Bulldozer (unless it sucks)

 

[load81]

I was going to buy an 800d but after reading a few reviews I was concerned with airflow . Did adding the second 140mm fan in the bottom help out alot?

But yeah I have a hardware obsession. Researching and forums are taking over gaming as my main pc usage.
Usually after I upgrade it stops but not anymore.

 

[Grooveriding]

I was going to buy an 800d but after reading a few reviews I was concerned with airflow . Did adding the second 140mm fan in the bottom help out alot?

But yeah I have a hardware obsession. Researching and forums are taking over gaming as my main pc usage.
Usually after I upgrade it stops but not anymore.

The reviews are accurate. The case is terrible for aircooling. I added more than the one fan you can see, I added three to the top and one on the front via a fan bay. I also replaced all the stock fans with aftermarket fans.

Doing that in tandem with custom fan profiles on the video cards managed to get me reasonable temps, which I am happy with considering the case is normally poor for air-cooling and 480s are stupid hot. The issue I have is the cards are loud in demanding games, but I'm used to it and usually use headphones anyways.

Crysis usually pegs the middle card at 90C, top at 85C and bottom around 80C, with the fans pushing to 75%. It's pretty loud!

 

[Gloomy]

You guys should get into LEGO instead. You get to put stuff together and search for the right pieces too!

and you can buy the wife a bit of jewelry with the money you save! Maybe... nah ()

 

[Patrick Wolf]

No obsession here. It's fun to upgrade, but I have just one PC I only upgrade when needed (or I find a rational reason to) and buy only what will accomplish my goal. Don't want to pay for the extra features or performance I'll never use.

 

[cocoreno]

I feel you, my brother-in-hardware.

I'm fortunate enough to be able to afford the latest. Assuming a measurable benefit I'll buy it. I'm running (and loving) my i7-2600 w/ 16GB on an Asus P8P67 Deluxe (yes, my one SATA drive is on the 6GB port, so the bug won't affect me.)

That said, I haven't updated some my displays in 2+ years. If anything, the 30" territory is treading water. I see little innovation, and looking at recent LED TV offerings, I'm starting to thing manufacturer's are getting lazy.

 

[n0x1ous]

The reviews are accurate. The case is terrible for aircooling. I added more than the one fan you can see, I added three to the top and one on the front via a fan bay. I also replaced all the stock fans with aftermarket fans.

Doing that in tandem with custom fan profiles on the video cards managed to get me reasonable temps, which I am happy with considering the case is normally poor for air-cooling and 480s are stupid hot. The issue I have is the cards are loud in demanding games, but I'm used to it and usually use headphones anyways.

Crysis usually pegs the middle card at 90C, top at 85C and bottom around 80C, with the fans pushing to 75%. It's pretty loud!

I really want this case as well, but am coming from a case that has atrocious airflow, but i thought doing something like you did with the top fans would be enough to overcome it. Mind taking some pics for us of the front and top fans Groove? I would appreciate it.

While my 3 260's aren't as hot as your 480's are I think things might be somewhat comparable...

 

[Wag]

Wasn't "Hardware Obsession" a Jimi Hendrix tune?

 

[nyker96]

Does anyone else has an obsession with buying hardware? I just LOVE doing research, selecting and putting together Computers/PC Config.

I've build about 4-5 PCs over past 10 years, about $6000-7000 on Newegg spent.

It's kind of easy to identify this obsession. Usually Want VS Need will jump out at you. But there is also that time when you build a rig, install windows....games...then sit back and say, why the hell did I build this PC again?

Hasn't happened to be lately, perhaps with a monitor back few years ago...but I kind of needed one <<<<< see? :biggrin:

Funny, last week I was at costco and I had that new 27" Samsung in my cart, then something triggered in my mind and I put it back.

When I got home, I was happy I didn't get it. It's kind of silly to be honest, I mean Monitor Size is not THAT big of a deal. I moved my monitor closer to me (6-8 inches) and said to myself "Now I have a 27" inch"

It's kind of true, I mean if you think about it.....What's the difference between distance from your eyes to monitor and bigger monitor size?

Anyways, anyone else with similar issues? hehe

yes I've been spending about 400-500 on computers a year like clockwork, not even sure where I spent it all, an HD upgrade here, new case there, a more powerful PSU, a better graphics card, brand new quad core upgrade etc. etc. until this year, I've decided to reign in my spending, kinda never really use any of the hardware I own, with all the money I've spent on it, I can get some stuff more to me needs like new aquarium pump, a new office chair, kindle, better TV, a trip overseas, a few new games I wanted etc.

Now when I get that upgrade bug, I just go on newegg, add about $1200-1500 of new rig build into my cart, get that upgrade feeling, then clean out on cart just before I leave. It's very therapeutic w/o spending the cash.

 

[Grooveriding]

I really want this case as well, but am coming from a case that has atrocious airflow, but i thought doing something like you did with the top fans would be enough to overcome it. Mind taking some pics for us of the front and top fans Groove? I would appreciate it.

While my 3 260's aren't as hot as your 480's are I think things might be somewhat comparable...

Here is a post in another thread I made giving some advice to someone else who wanted an 800D.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=30654764&postcount=19

My rig was a little different at the time, but fan placement and fans are all the same. That post also has links to the fans and fan bay I used in the case. I can put up some actual pics of the top fans and front bay as well. The front bay blends in perfectly with the case and matches it nicely.

 

[Zargon]

Um no.... I have no idea what you are talking about.


Wait stop! Don't look down! Stop reading my signature damnit! I said no!

this.

I have 3 other builds not listed that are older and one newer one at my parents

 

[n0x1ous]

Here is a post in another thread I made giving some advice to someone else who wanted an 800D.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=30654764&postcount=19

My rig was a little different at the time, but fan placement and fans are all the same. That post also has links to the fans and fan bay I used in the case. I can put up some actual pics of the top fans and front bay as well. The front bay blends in perfectly with the case and matches it nicely.

Thanks Groove. I really appreciate you taking the time to do that.

 

[jiffylube1024]

I have the bug too. What's funny is that it's not always even an upgrade bug - I just like testing out new stuff. Like, I went from an ATI 4850 to a 2600XT (downgrade) for a bit, then to a 3850 to a GTX 460 to a 6870 HD. I almost downgraded to a 5770 HD recently then decided against it.

For SSD's it's been even crazier - I've bought and owned one of so many SSD's - 30GB Solid 2, 60GB Agility, 30GB Vertex, 120GB Vertex, 60GB Agility 2, 80GB X25-M and 160GB X25-M.

What I've noticed - they all "feel" more or less the same, even the 'slower' ones.

 

[Kyanzes]

I almost always manage to convince myself that there's no reason to buy low-end or budget components. Ofc one always needs some personal limit set, otherwise you end up spending all your money on unnecessary stuff.

Every year or two, I find myself in the possession of excess computer parts which I can use to build 1-2 "low-end" computers. I build and sell them.

Somehow, I can't convince myself to buy a high-end computer case. That's why I have my hobby comp in a very cheap one.

OMG, now I can feel the urge again. I *must* buy a Razer Lycosa. Perhaps a mouse too.

 

[Jacky60]

I got obsessed as a tech journalist when the hardware cost me nothing and was regularly upgraded for free ny ATI and Nvidia. Now I rebuild every 2 years or more often and it costs me a lot more than nothing but me and the mrs have no kids and it costs a lot less than running a car ever did. PC gaming in terms of dollars/pounds per hour enjoyed can really be very good value for money.

 

[Ancalagon44]

I get that disease sometimes. Right now, I'm looking into buying a 13.3 inch notebook/laptop with integrated 3G, and a powerful work station computer with dual screens, for my non existent computer games studio. I've started writing the game at least.

The workstation makes marginal sense, or it would if I didnt already have a powerful enough computer (although only one screen). The 13.3 notebook however, makes no sense at all. I'll never use it. Or like twice a year.

 

[Morg.]

Alright ... next thing I do is quit all those windows and attempt to forget about this forum . and Anandtech, and hardware, and awesome 6990 watercooled benchmarks and...

I don't think there's a big difference between obsession and hobby though, and this one is real bad right now. The one good thing is I usually control myself enough to not buy anything expensive (last year a case and a corsair psu, this year 60 bucks of fans ...).

But seriously, hobby=obsession=time-eating passion=lots of fun=no productivity.

 

[bryanW1995]

It's more of a hobby than an obsession. And while I'm hardly made of money, this hobby is much cheaper than what I used to waste money on (my car). Buying a $300 video card every year is no big deal compared to buying a new $1500 turbo every 18 months, stand alone ECU's, head rebuilds, etc, etc.

haha, true. I never spent lots of money actually tweaking my car, but my m5's depreciation over 9 years was probably more than I'll spend in a lifetime of computer upgrades.

 

[tweakboy]

Does anyone else has an obsession with buying hardware? I just LOVE doing research, selecting and putting together Computers/PC Config.

I've build about 4-5 PCs over past 10 years, about $6000-7000 on Newegg spent.

It's kind of easy to identify this obsession. Usually Want VS Need will jump out at you. But there is also that time when you build a rig, install windows....games...then sit back and say, why the hell did I build this PC again?

Hasn't happened to be lately, perhaps with a monitor back few years ago...but I kind of needed one <<<<< see? :biggrin:

Funny, last week I was at costco and I had that new 27" Samsung in my cart, then something triggered in my mind and I put it back.

When I got home, I was happy I didn't get it. It's kind of silly to be honest, I mean Monitor Size is not THAT big of a deal. I moved my monitor closer to me (6-8 inches) and said to myself "Now I have a 27" inch"

It's kind of true, I mean if you think about it.....What's the difference between distance from your eyes to monitor and bigger monitor size?

Anyways, anyone else with similar issues? hehe

You missed out on a 1ms amazing CRT like lcd. You wont look back, you should get it. I was like damn I will get a lot of lag and mouse lag but I get none, its just like on my Sony CRT. Amazing monitor 1MS plus its got some technology you will never complain of lag because there is none. thx

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

...and I am a Computer Hardware Addict

Spent all morning just thinking... just like zoning out on what my best option is that will have lateral use and at the cheapest spending...

 

[postmortemIA]

I'm glad you didn't get that 'cheap' 27" - see Dell U2711 Thread and get that

 

[load81]

Thanks Groove. I really appreciate you taking the time to do that.

Yeah thanks Groove I kind of did the same thing you posted with my 800d. Dropped temps on all 5 of my sensors inside my case alot.

 

[Seven]

I do have this obsession, but not only on hardware, but also on other things, like photography, etc..

A couple days ago I was about to pull the trigger on the U2711 Dell monitor that I had it in my cart for a few days, but glad I didn't. I held off till the last minute and deleted it from the cart. Mission accomplished.

I did the upgrade to SB from my Conroe system, and I have no regrets IMO. I got a good deals on the parts and I really felt that the upgrade was necessary.

I also get addicted to photography. I like takings pics, and appreciate the quality of it. So when something ticks into my head and I say, this lens is no longer good and I need to get a better one. Then I go ahead and buy a $1K lens. Well, guess what, I need another one for people photography, so here is another $1K on it. The good thing about it that you can always sell almost at zero loss of money unlike the hardware.

 

[Emultra]

Not as much as I'd want, because hardware is about 25-40% more expensive in Sweden compared to the US.