Looking for a <gasp> desktop computer - any ideas?

[Arles]

I built a desktop PC about 8 years ago and gave it to my son to use to play games and school. After testing the RAM, power supply and graphics card, it looks like either the mother board or chip has gone kaput (when you turn it on, it runs for 3 seconds, turns off and then restarts again for 3 seconds).

So, I think this about the time to replace it. I already have two laptops (one for the day job and one for Grey Dog), so I really don't need a third. It won't be leaving our loft/computer desk - so there's no reason to pay for the portability of a laptop. I have a nice keyboard, mouse and monitor - so I'm just looking for a quality desktop for a decent price. It will need to run most of what is on Steam (for me), some development programs (me) and some games like Fortnight (my son...).

What specs should I be looking at and what is a decent price for a desktop? I don't mind ordering it online or going to Sam's/Best Buy/Fry's if there is deal there.

[thesloppy]

I built a desktop a couple years ago, and I guess they're getting more rare, but I would hate to give mine up. Are you against building your own this time?

For what little they're worth, my impressions about the current state of hardware is that 95% of systems that meet your needs are going to come with enough processing and memory power that you can practically ignore those specs, and you're likely to get bottlenecked by either your disk read speed or your video card.

Regarding disk speed, solid state drives are pretty common these days, but what may not be obvious is that there are essentially two classes: those that are driven by SATA, and those driven by PCIe, with PCIe ostensibly maxing out at 3X the performance of SATA.

Video card prices are I think still being driven upwards by crypto-miners, and so I think you generally have to pay a premium for anything decent which carries over to retail desktops some. I think the entry-level standard for a gaming video cards at the moment is still the NVIDIA GTX 1050ti.

As such, if you're running a gaming-level video card and a PCIe SSD (or ever planning on upgrading to such) you are going to need a motherboard with at least two PCIe slots.

That's about as much 'help' as I can offer.

[Arles]

I'd rather not build my own at this point given my time restrictions. But, I'm not against it if it's a big money saver.

[RainMaker]

Building is so much easier today. Takes about an hour and you'll save few hundred bucks. Plus easy to swap in and out parts down the road.

On the right hand side of the subreddit is a ton of helpful guides. Even some recommended builds based on budget.

Desktops might be getting rarer for some areas, but the gaming market has kept them rolling.

/r/buildapc - Planning on building a computer but need some advice? This is the place to ask! (https://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc/)

[RainMaker]

Another benefit of building your own is you can use the same case next time, same cords, same power supply, etc. Like I recently swapped in a new video card when in the past I'd have to buy a whole new rig.

[Arles]

Based on your guys' comments and pricing some pre-made ones, it looks like I may try building another one. All the stock desktops are $800+ that are decent. I would want atleast a 250 SSD, so that cuts out the $500 cheapies.

With that in mind, I have a fairly new 550 power supply and the old 10-inch graphics card still works well:

(EVGA GeForce GTX 570 1280 MB GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0) (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004EHZD5W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)


Is it possible for me to keep the 550 W power supply and this graphics card - and just buy a new case, motherboard, chip, RAM, SSD, RAM and 1-2 TB internal drive? Then, over time, maybe I replace the graphics card once it no longer can handle games.

Any thoughts on that plan and what peripherals to target? I checked and I last built this thing back in 2011 - so I'm sure things have changed :D

[Arles]

I just made a wishlist from NewEgg:

Arlie CPU Wish List 2019 (https://secure.newegg.com/Wishlist/MyWishlistDetail?ID=9000436)

Did I overdo it? Here's what's in the list:

Crucial MX500 2.5" 1TB SATA III 3D NAND Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) CT1000MX500SSD1 (https://www.newegg.com/crucial-mx500-1tb/p/N82E16820156174)
$119.97

SAMSUNG 970 EVO PLUS 500GB Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) MZ-V7S500B/AM (https://www.newegg.com/samsung-970-evo-plus-500gb/p/N82E16820147742)
$117.99

Intel Core i7-9700 Coffee Lake 8-Core 3.0 GHz (4.7 GHz Turbo) LGA 1151 (300 Series) 65W BX80684I79700 Desktop Processor Intel UHD Graphics 630 (https://www.newegg.com/intel-core-i7-9th-gen-core-i7-9700/p/N82E16819118024)
$329.99

ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming 4 LGA 1151 (300 Series) Intel Z390 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.1 ATX Intel Motherboard (https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16813157849)
$129.99

CORSAIR Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 2666 (PC4 21300) Desktop Memory Model CMK16GX4M2A2666C16R (https://www.newegg.com/corsair-16gb-288-pin-ddr4-sdram/p/N82E16820233835)
$71.99

Add in Windows 10 Pro and I'm at $900. I would just need to buy an ATX case and would use my existing graphics card and power supply. I would be at $1100 for the whole thing (using my old GPU and power supply). I checked and I'd be right at 550 on Watt req. I could have saved around $40 for going with a non-SSD for my main drive and $150 by going down to an i-5. But, the chip is the hardest thing (next to the motherboard) to replace. What do you guys think? I wanted to be between $700 and $900, so I'm a little over - but I can't really see what to cut.

Any ideas on a case? This one looked interesting:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LE0ZKR2/?tag=thowisguy-20

[RainMaker]

I don't see any problems. Suggestion though. Enter the parts into PC Part Picker. It'll tell you the power draw and whether your PSU is enough.

Also you can share it on that subreddit. The people there are huge into parts and can make suggestions for better deals.

Some examples:

First time build, any suggestions? : buildapc (https://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc/comments/bzv15a/first_time_build_any_suggestions/)

[Radii]

To add to what Rainmaker said I like looking through buildapc for completed builds in my price range to see if I can find something a little cheaper (or maybe a little more powerful for the same price). This helps a ton especially when I don't have a suggested build from someone else to start from, because I don't mind building the thing once all the parts come in, but coming up with exactly what to buy is something I don't enjoy.

[Edward64]

Unless you are looking for a moderate-to-hardcore gaming device, I think a Dell desktop during a sale is hard to beat (not a fan of HP).

I don't think building yourself is a big money saver if you catch a sale ... July 4 won't be as good as Black Fri/Mon but should still be pretty good.

[Arles]

Thanks to Rainmaker and others, I used some of these sites and benchmarked a few things. My graphics card is pretty pitiful compared to what's out there. So, even though it is about $200 more than my initial plan, it has a nice graphics card. I was also able to use my existing power supply and optical drive here as well. What do you guys think?

PCPartPicker Part List (https://pcpartpicker.com/list/vTNLMZ)

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 7 2700X 3.7 GHz 8-Core Processor (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/bddxFT/amd-ryzen-7-2700x-37ghz-8-core-processor-yd270xbgafbox) ($279.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI - B450 TOMAHAWK ATX AM4 Motherboard (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/Hy97YJ/msi-b450-tomahawk-atx-am4-motherboard-b450-tomahawk) ($109.99 @ B&H)
Memory: Corsair - Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/p6RFf7/corsair-memory-cmk16gx4m2b3200c16) ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung - 860 Evo 1 TB 2.5" Solid State Drive (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/yzfhP6/samsung-860-evo-1tb-25-solid-state-drive-mz-76e1t0bam) ($137.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte - GeForce RTX 2060 6 GB GAMING OC PRO Video Card (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/t7x2FT/gigabyte-geforce-rtx-2060-6-gb-gaming-oc-pro-video-card-gv-n2060gamingoc-pro-6gd) ($377.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Cougar - MX330 ATX Mid Tower Case (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/vYp323/cougar-mx330-atx-mid-tower-case-mx330) ($41.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair - CXM 550 W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/3hkwrH/corsair-power-supply-cp9020102na) ($59.99 @ Corsair)
Optical Drive: LG - WH12LS30 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/x4Lypg/lg-optical-drive-wh12ls30)
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Pro OEM 64-bit (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/MfH48d/microsoft-os-fqc08930) ($139.89 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1227.81
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker (https://pcpartpicker.com) 2019-06-12 18:45 EDT-0400

[thesloppy]

A second (or even third) monitor is a wonderful upgrade that isn't usually an option with a notebook. I've been working from home this last month and I love having a second monitor in portrait mode, for either messaging apps or extensive documentation. That said, you'd likely need a better video card (than your original GTX 570) to run two monitors effectively.

[thesloppy]

Thanks to Rainmaker and others, I used some of these sites and benchmarked a few things. My graphics card is pretty pitiful compared to what's out there. So, even though it is about $200 more than my initial plan, it has a nice graphics card. I was also able to use my existing power supply and optical drive here as well. What do you guys think?

PCPartPicker Part List (https://pcpartpicker.com/list/vTNLMZ)

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 7 2700X 3.7 GHz 8-Core Processor (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/bddxFT/amd-ryzen-7-2700x-37ghz-8-core-processor-yd270xbgafbox) ($279.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI - B450 TOMAHAWK ATX AM4 Motherboard (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/Hy97YJ/msi-b450-tomahawk-atx-am4-motherboard-b450-tomahawk) ($109.99 @ B&H)
Memory: Corsair - Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/p6RFf7/corsair-memory-cmk16gx4m2b3200c16) ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung - 860 Evo 1 TB 2.5" Solid State Drive (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/yzfhP6/samsung-860-evo-1tb-25-solid-state-drive-mz-76e1t0bam) ($137.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte - GeForce RTX 2060 6 GB GAMING OC PRO Video Card (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/t7x2FT/gigabyte-geforce-rtx-2060-6-gb-gaming-oc-pro-video-card-gv-n2060gamingoc-pro-6gd) ($377.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Cougar - MX330 ATX Mid Tower Case (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/vYp323/cougar-mx330-atx-mid-tower-case-mx330) ($41.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair - CXM 550 W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/3hkwrH/corsair-power-supply-cp9020102na) ($59.99 @ Corsair)
Optical Drive: LG - WH12LS30 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/x4Lypg/lg-optical-drive-wh12ls30)
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Pro OEM 64-bit (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/MfH48d/microsoft-os-fqc08930) ($139.89 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1227.81
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker (https://pcpartpicker.com) 2019-06-12 18:45 EDT-0400

I think that looks pretty good, the video card is certainly a beast. My one quibble is I think you could still use a PCIe SSD (SATA maxes out at 6gb/s vs 16gb/s PCIe) for a system drive. You could probably drop to a video card in the tier below and get yourself a small PCIe SSD without an increase in cost, and I think your overall performance would be better (unless you're planning to be constantly gaming at 4k)

[Arles]

Any recommendations for SSD and video card? I haven’t looked at parts in a while. I can’t seem to find a 1TB PCI SSD that works with the mother board.

[RainMaker]

I think what you have looks great. 2060 is the best bang for your buck in a GPU.

[Scoobz0202]

If you aren't in a hurry to build, AMD is dropping their 3000 series CPUs in a month. Spend maybe $30 for a nice improvement over the 2700x. Maybe look for a gold PSU? Bronze is probably good enough, but I have always been told that while the PSU is the most boring part of a build it's arguably the most important.


I'll be honest, maybe thesloppy is right, but in day to day computer use I don't know if you will feel that much of an improvement with a PCIe SSD. Yea, it's better, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with a 2.5' SSD.


I recently just built a PC. We went pretty similar. ( I paid $250 for the CPU/Mobo as a combo at MicroCenter)


PCPartPicker Part List (https://pcpartpicker.com/list/QbfmXP)

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 5 2600X 3.6 GHz 6-Core Processor (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/6mm323/amd-ryzen-5-2600x-36ghz-6-core-processor-yd260xbcafbox) ($179.79 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock - B450 GAMING-ITX/AC Mini ITX AM4 Motherboard (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/N4jJ7P/asrock-b450-gaming-itxac-mini-itx-am4-motherboard-b450-gaming-itxac) ($118.45 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/Cf98TW/gskill-memory-f43200c16d16gvkb) ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial - MX500 1 TB 2.5" Solid State Drive (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/h3tQzy/crucial-mx500-1tb-25-solid-state-drive-ct1000mx500ssd1) ($119.97 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA - GeForce RTX 2070 8 GB Black Video Card (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/mYYLrH/evga-geforce-rtx-2070-8gb-black-video-card-08g-p4-1071-kr) ($479.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Thermaltake - Core V1 Mini ITX Desktop Case (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/fGvRsY/thermaltake-case-ca1b800s1wn00) ($43.51 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA - SuperNOVA G3 650 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/y88H99/evga-supernova-g3-650w-80-gold-certified-fully-modular-atx-power-supply-220-g3-0650) ($97.49 @ Amazon)
Monitor: AOC - G2590FX 24.5" 1920x1080 144 Hz Monitor (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/tpvbt6/aoc-g2590fx-245-1920x1080-144-hz-monitor-g2590fx) ($199.99 @ Amazon)
Keyboard: Corsair - K63 Wired Gaming Keyboard (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/bJDzK8/corsair-k63-wired-gaming-keyboard-ch-9115020-na) ($68.90 @ Amazon)
Mouse: Logitech - G305 (Black) Wireless Optical Mouse (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/Yrw7YJ/logitech-g305-black-wireless-optical-mouse-910-005280) ($48.97 @ Amazon)
Headphones: Kingston - HyperX Cloud II 7.1 Channel Headset (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/p6hj4D/kingston-headphones-khxhscpgm) ($84.69 @ Amazon)
Total: $1516.74
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker (https://pcpartpicker.com) 2019-06-12 22:23 EDT-0400


In hindsight, I should have probably waited for the 3000 chipset, but my PC was dog shit and I was really antsy so whatever. The only thing I don't love is the GPU. Not because it is bad, because it's great, but spending that much money on a GPU just makes me sick lol. And I feel like the 2000 series GPUs won't age well. You are paying for Ray Tracing of which none but the highest 2080's do well due to FPS loss. I wanted to go with the 2060 due to the fact that I only do 1080p gaming, but I didn't want to get hamstrung by the lower VRAM in a year or two.

[Arles]

Is the PSU that important? If it is, you can get a gold 650 for $85. I just replaced the one on my old rig last year with the bronze 550 so I could reuse it. I’d like to get it in the next week or two since we would be down to just my laptop.

[RainMaker]

PSU is important, but mainly that it's a name brand. If the Bronze 550 PSU you bought last year is Corsair, EVGA, or something, just use that.

Difference in Gold and Bronze is efficiency. You'll likely not make your money back from the difference before your computer gets outdated. So save the money and go with a Bronze.

And 650 is overkill for your set up. Only really necessary if you're running 2 cards and overclocking.

[RainMaker]

Oh and hit me up if you want a Windows Pro key for $25. Nothing shady, just get them in bulk for work. Microsoft doesn't need the extra money.

[Edward64]

Video Card: EVGA - GeForce RTX 2070 8 GB Black Video Card (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/mYYLrH/evga-geforce-rtx-2070-8gb-black-video-card-08g-p4-1071-kr) ($479.99 @ Amazon)


I've never spend more than $200 on a discrete GPU. I know if you factor in useful life that it probably makes more sense to buy a more expensive GPU but can't find myself wanting to spend that much more. Low-to-mid range is enough for me as I don't play the graphic intensive games.

[Arles]

Yeah, I have the Corsair 550 80+ bronze. Is there a better GPU for the money than the 2060. I probably don’t need that high a card, but I figured it was worth the $100 difference to lower cards. But I may not be right with that logic.

[Edward64]

Yeah, I have the Corsair 550 80+ bronze. Is there a better GPU for the money than the 2060. I probably don’t need that high a card, but I figured it was worth the $100 difference to lower cards. But I may not be right with that logic.

Tom's had a much better GPU comparison/research several years back but this is where I still go to look at GPU's.

Best Graphics Cards 2019 - Top Gaming GPUs for the Money (https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-gpus,4380.html)

[Arles]

Is it worth the $100 to get the GTX 2060 over this GTX 1660 ti?

GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1660 Ti WINDFORCE OC 6G Graphics Card, 2 x WINDFORCE Fans, 6GB 192-Bit GDDR6, GV-N166TWF2OC-6GD Video Card (https://www.newegg.com/gigabyte-geforce-gtx-1660-ti-gv-n166twf2oc-6gd/p/N82E16814932130?Item=N82E16814932130&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-PCPartPicker%2c%20LLC-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&cjevent=1f625d208d9911e983ec004f0a1c0e0e)

[RainMaker]

Is it worth the $100 to get the GTX 2060 over this GTX 1660 ti?

GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1660 Ti WINDFORCE OC 6G Graphics Card, 2 x WINDFORCE Fans, 6GB 192-Bit GDDR6, GV-N166TWF2OC-6GD Video Card (https://www.newegg.com/gigabyte-geforce-gtx-1660-ti-gv-n166twf2oc-6gd/p/N82E16814932130?Item=N82E16814932130&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-PCPartPicker%2c%20LLC-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&cjevent=1f625d208d9911e983ec004f0a1c0e0e)

Depends on your monitor. If yours has a high refresh rate the 2060 might be worth it. But if your monitor is 1080p 60hz, the difference is negligible and you should save the money

[Arles]

Oh and hit me up if you want a Windows Pro key for $25. Nothing shady, just get them in bulk for work. Microsoft doesn't need the extra money.
I'm interested. Send me a PM or email at [email protected] with the info. Thanks!

[Arles]

OK, this is what I finished with. I don't have to buy the power supply and I'm getting the EVGA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti SC ULTRA GAMING ($279). So, my total cost is $279 for the chip (no tax or shipping from Amazon) and $622.79 for the case, board, GPU, RAM and SSD from NewEgg (with a couple discounts). Add in $25 for Windows and I'm at $926.79 for this PC.

PCPartPicker Part List (https://pcpartpicker.com/list/ZTHNKB)

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 7 2700X 3.7 GHz 8-Core Processor (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/bddxFT/amd-ryzen-7-2700x-37ghz-8-core-processor-yd270xbgafbox) ($279.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI - B450 TOMAHAWK ATX AM4 Motherboard (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/Hy97YJ/msi-b450-tomahawk-atx-am4-motherboard-b450-tomahawk) ($109.99 @ B&H)
Memory: Corsair - Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-2666 Memory (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/J27CmG/corsair-memory-cmk16gx4m2a2666c16) ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Crucial - MX500 1 TB 2.5" Solid State Drive (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/h3tQzy/crucial-mx500-1tb-25-solid-state-drive-ct1000mx500ssd1) ($119.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA - GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6 GB XC ULTRA GAMING Video Card (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/P6CD4D/evga-geforce-gtx-1660-ti-6-gb-xc-ultra-gaming-video-card-06g-p4-1267-kr) ($299.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Cougar - MX330 ATX Mid Tower Case (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/vYp323/cougar-mx330-atx-mid-tower-case-mx330) ($41.98 @ Newegg Business)
Power Supply: Corsair - CXM 550 W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/3hkwrH/corsair-power-supply-cp9020102na) ($59.99 @ Corsair)
Optical Drive: LG - WH12LS30 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer (https://pcpartpicker.com/product/x4Lypg/lg-optical-drive-wh12ls30)
Total: $981.82
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker (https://pcpartpicker.com) 2019-06-13 13:18 EDT-0400

[cartman]

Here is one site's take on the 1660 vs. 2060:

So, which is ultimately the better buy? The GTX 1660 Ti is the Turing card many gamers have been waiting for, and Nvidia finally delivered it. We have no hesitation in recommending it if your GPU budget simply can't extend past $300.

If it can, though, the RTX 2060 is about 10-15 percent faster on average and sometimes around 20 percent, while costing 25 percent more, and it has RTX features to boot. Granted, a $70 price difference is nothing to sneeze at, but if you can swing it, those additional funds are not being wasted on features that are hardly used right now—for the most part, you're paying for more performance, with RTX features being a bonus.

It makes more sense to pick the RTX 2060 over the GTX 1660 Ti if building a new PC, as opposed to just upgrading your GPU alone. For example, if your total build costs $780 with an RTX 2060 vs $700 with a GTX 1660 Ti, you're looking at around an 11 percent increase in cost for a higher-end card that will still be 15-20 percent faster.

Bottom line: there is no clear winner here, but if you can swing it, the GeForce RTX 2060 is still the best upper midrange card (or lower high-end card) that we have seen since the GeForce GTX 1070 Ti. This is especially true if you plan to play at 1440p. However, if you plan to only play at 1080p and/or need to keep the GPU budget under $300, the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is a very close second.

[Arles]

Cartman, thanks for the post. That kind of confirms my thinking. With a rebate, I'm saving $100 (the 1660 Ti is $269 compared to $369 for the 2060) and this PC won't be doing anything more than 1080p. I have my 2015 MSI pro laptop (GT72) that I still use as my main CPU (so I can travel with it). It has a GTX 980M and it runs everything very well (I have an Acer 34-inch curved monitor that I run on high res without any issues). That was top of the line for a laptop back then and the 1660 Ti blows that out of the water :D

[GrantDawg]

Ok, I want to brag. I just bought my first computer in 8-9 years. I wanted to get another beast that I can have for a long time. I picked up this system pre-made because I couldn't have built it my self for the price. It is a bit ridiculous.

Intel Core i7-9700KF Processor 3.6GHz
NVIDIA RTX 2080 8GB GDDR6
32GB DDR4 RAM
500GB SSD and a second 1TB SSD, plus added my old SATA 1 TB from my previous system just so I wouldn't have to re-download stuff.I haven't really run it through the paces yet, but super excited to try.

[Edward64]

Nice, should last you at least 5 years. What brand did you get?

[GrantDawg]

Nice, should last you at least 5 years. What brand did you get?




Powerspec. It is the Microcenter home brand.

[thesloppy]

Sounds like a beast!

I always have a bit of something like postpartum depression building or buying a new computer, because I get hyped up to the point of where I put the cart in front of the horse a bit....like YAY I GOT THIS AWESOME NEW COMPUTER AND NOW I CAN.....download some anti-virus software? Play the games that were already on my hard-drive at higher settings? Run some benchmarks? All of that is definitely stuff I want to do yes, but nothing quite qualifies as exciting.....I want a chorus of trumpets to commemorate my increased computing power or something.

[GrantDawg]

Sounds like a beast!

I always have a bit of something like postpartum depression building or buying a new computer, because I get hyped up to the point of where I put the cart in front of the horse a bit....like YAY I GOT THIS AWESOME NEW COMPUTER AND NOW I CAN.....download some anti-virus software? Play the games that were already on my hard-drive at higher settings? Run some benchmarks? All of that is definitely stuff I want to do yes, but nothing quite qualifies as exciting.....I want a chorus of trumpets to commemorate my increased computing power or something.




I am with you, but this was a big enough jump that I am not getting that feeling this time. So far, I tried Battletech (notoriously slow to load for me, and moved from medium to ultra graphics) and the speed jump not to mention the graphics jump was amazing. Then I loaded Pathfinder, that used to take a good 2-4 minutes just to load. It literally was at the menu screen immediately. Amazing.


Right now I am downloading Madden 20. I couldn't even play Madden 19 on my old computer (the processor was so old it didn't have a required hook to even run it), and since I have EA access I get it as part of the service early. Madden hasn't been good in a decade, but still it will give me a little football gaming, and I should be able to run it. :)

[thesloppy]

Excellent!

[Edward64]

I started looking at pcpartpicker and seriously considering building my own.

Made the decision and ordered my parts. I seriously considered buying a microcenter PowerSpec but when I added it all up, I figured I could get a better deal building it myself (cheapest PowerSpec with 9800x3d is $2k). My estimate is about $300 savings for like but better quality items. pcpartpicker was great ...

Just a moment... (https://pcpartpicker.com/list/HN9d2x)

Comes out to about $1,170 but subtract approx $150 because I got a bundle deal from microcenter. So about $1,020 except for GPU and monitor.

9800x3d is a top gaming CPU. The AM5 870E motherboard theoretically will let me plug in a better CPU released up through 2027. I don't envision ever needing more than the 850watt PSU. And 32GB RAM should be good until 64GB start becoming the norm in 4-6 years (?). Everything I read said air cooler should be sufficient for the 9800x3d. I've never installed an AIO before but maybe later.

Haven't bought GPU yet. Want to build it first then get a 16GB card. A 7600xt is the minimum I'll get. I see some fair pricing for a 9060xt but also wouldn't mind a 5060ti, so budgeting up to $350-$600.

My 27" monitor has a lower refresh rate so also looking to replace it with a better 27" or even 32". Need to do more research if I'll like a 32" flat or curved panel. Don't know yet but budgeting $300

For Windows 11, thinking about the gray market for < $30 or just living with the free version w/watermarks.

So total price of about $1,700 to $2,000. I hope this future proofs me pretty well.

[Edward64]

Had fun today. Built my desktop, installed Win11 and downloaded updates. Next step is to download Steam games and copy stuff over. I've installed HWInfo so will be monitoring temps to make sure I got the paste & air cooler done right.

Still have to get a GPU and monitor. I've pretty much decided on the 5060ti 16GB, prob about $30-40 over MSRP. Still debating between a 34" OLED or regular VA/IPS monitor, so that could be from $300-$750. I could wait for Labor Day sales but no idea what will happen with tariffs, figure prices can go up just as easily as go down.

Hope it'll all be done by mid-late next week.


It's been a while since I've built a desktop. Couple things that were new to me (1) cable management, trying to make things look neat because I had a transparent cover and (2) PSU fan faced inside the case vs blowing outside and (3) had fun shining a flashlight on the motherboard to read the small labels on where connectors went.

[Edward64]

GPU installed, really enjoying new 34" monitor. Finished transferring old files & favorites. Have Civ 6 and X-Com 2 WOTC running.

Only nit remaining is case fans. I've got 2 case fans, 2 CPU cooler fans, and 3 GPU fans. There was an erratic droning (?) noise that's been bugging me (I can handle steady). Went through the process of elimination and its the case fans. So will visit MicroCenter soon and get me some "be quiet Shadow Wings 2" and hope that solves the problem.


For those that don't already know, check out below useful free apps ...

Monitors what's going on with your system. You can add stuff to your task bar (e.g. CPU temp, GPU temp, fan speed etc.)

Just a moment... (https://www.hwinfo.com/)

Helps with Windows & Edge configuration

Winaero Tweaker (https://winaerotweaker.com/)

Helps with controlling fans, their "curve". Couldn't control my case fans, but works with my CPU cooler and GPU fans.

Fan Control - A highly focused fan controlling software for Windows (https://getfancontrol.com/)


Also, this guy helped refreshed my memory and taught me some new stuff in building a desktop

https://www.youtube.com/c/jayztwocents




AMD has said they will support AM5 motherboard until 2027. There is supposed to be one more big upgrade with the "Medusa" CPU before then. So, figure I'll upgrade my CPU with that last AM5 CPU in 2027 or 2028.

YT gamers tell me 32GB is good enough for now. But may do a +32GB upgrade same time as CPU.

The big unknown is how long the 5060 ti GPU will last (but then heavily dependent on the games I play). Two GPU years is a long time but I specifically bought from MicroCenter because they have a trade-in program. No idea how good it is but will find out in 2-4 years time.

[RainMaker]

Cheap case fans are always the culprit. I just did a new build and it came with pretty lights that I'll likely never use.

Imgur: The magic of the Internet (https://imgur.com/VJZwF3o)
https://imgur.com/VJZwF3o

[Edward64]

Only nit remaining is case fans. I've got 2 case fans, 2 CPU cooler fans, and 3 GPU fans. There was an erratic droning (?) noise that's been bugging me (I can handle steady). Went through the process of elimination and its the case fans. So will visit MicroCenter soon and get me some "be quiet Shadow Wings 2" and hope that solves the problem.

Replaced the orig case fans and new fans are really quiet. I can recommend Shadow Wings 2. Also, see below study on fans which had recommended it.

BeQuiet! Shadow Wings 2 (BL085): A cheaper option - HWCooling.net (https://www.hwcooling.net/en/bequiet-shadow-wings-2-bl085-a-cheaper-option/)

I've also played a little Skyrim SE and just bought Ghost of Tsushima. The Skyrim graphics are just ... dated. Have to play GoT more but from what I've seen ... eye candy. It's pretty darn good so far.

I've got a 1TB nvme lying around. Amazon will deliver a heat sink tomorrow so I'll put that into the 2nd (of 3) slots available.

I did go over budget with the 34" OLED monitor but I don't think I can go back to a regular VA/IPS panel, it really is that good. If your GPU can handle it, I highly recommend you save up your pennies and get one on BF.

[Edward64]

Got the heatsink and now 2+1TB, so plenty of storage.

I've been pleasantly surprised at how well older games scale to 3440x1440. I was expecting black borders with my older games but have only encountered one that did not scale well. I was also worried if I could get used to the curve. No problems, it's a gentle curve. However, because it's so wide, I find myself having to move my head/eyes left-right more like on Civ 6 games.

Was also worried a little about glare on the monitor because it's facing the window. No direct sunlight but enough light comes through. Other than when the screen is black (e.g. when booting up), no problems with glare with regular use.

I have been getting BSOD once a day or so. The dmp file hinted at not being able to get some status. I really don't think its hardware. My guess right now is ... I have Nvidia, CPU Fan and HWInfo checking on temps & fan RPMs and think there may be some conflict. I'll go through the process of elimination and have disabled CPU Fan (and am using Bios to control the fan curve).

I've been reading that room temps will rise when gaming. Haven't experience that yet but I typically have office door open and air con blowing. But will watch out for it.

[Edward64]

My desktop build is done. But I'll be looking at nice-to-haves on sale.

Because of how well the Silent Wings 2 fans worked out, I may get a couple more and replace the fans in the Peerless Assassin.

I've got 10+ year old Logitech speakers connected and because of where the desktop is, height of speakers, and length they are not in the optimal position. I want budget < $50, low profile speakers that can fit under the monitor.

I'm looking for a 65" TV for the office (already have a rolling stand) so I can be on the desktop and watching football or casting to it. Looking at BB open box TVs and target is < $300. May wait till BF sales.

[GrantDawg]

I have two monitors, and I watch football on the second one while gaming. My GPU was beefy for the time (3080 ti) and handles that with no problem. It may not work with your desk setup, though.

[Edward64]

I have two monitors, and I watch football on the second one while gaming. My GPU was beefy for the time (3080 ti) and handles that with no problem. It may not work with your desk setup, though.

I did think about a 2nd monitor but my eyes are definitely going bad. So figured a 65" on a rolling stand would be better ... and wife bought off on it :)

[Passacaglia]

My kids went to a thing at the library where they learned how to build a gaming PC, at my wife's suggestion. Even though we got the new laptop not long ago, we may end up getting a desktop after all, too.

[Edward64]

My kids went to a thing at the library where they learned how to build a gaming PC, at my wife's suggestion. Even though we got the new laptop not long ago, we may end up getting a desktop after all, too.

It's a great skill.

My son watched me do my old build (I want to say like 10+ years ago) and he's seen me open and upgrade parts. He recently built his own desktop and only let us know after he was done. Surprised me a little.

Also, it'll teach them the value of money and budgeting. Come up with a budget, go to pcpartpicker and have fun negotiating/rationalizing between good-better-best parts.

Have fun!

[Passacaglia]

I like the idea of coming up with a budget to give us something to guide us. What kind of budget gets us something that's worthwhile but reasonable?

[Edward64]

I like the idea of coming up with a budget to give us something to guide us. What kind of budget gets us something that's worthwhile but reasonable?

Reasonable is relative but ...

(1) How old are the kids (2) what type of games do they play, and (3) do you have a MicroCenter close by? Microcenter is not the cheapest but they have real savings (and good warranty/returns) with their bundles for CPU, motherboard & RAM.

Just a swag for a middling gaming desktop + GPU is $800-$1000 (monitor is extra).

Check out the below sites for some build ideas (IMO stick with AMD, do not go Intel)

https://www.youtube.com/@Jayztwocents
https://www.youtube.com/@PCBuilderChannel
PC Builds and Custom PC Set-Ups | Tom's Hardware (https://www.tomshardware.com/desktops/pc-building)


But let us know what your budget is. I'm sure there's a couple of us here that will be glad to help you put one together with

Just a moment... (https://pcpartpicker.com/list/)

[Edward64]

I have been getting BSOD once a day or so. The dmp file hinted at not being able to get some status. I really don't think its hardware. My guess right now is ... I have Nvidia, CPU Fan and HWInfo checking on temps & fan RPMs and think there may be some conflict. I'll go through the process of elimination and have disabled CPU Fan (and am using Bios to control the fan curve).

I've been getting BSOD when I wake up my desktop from an overnight sleep. I wakes up and then <10 min later, I get the BSOD.

Over the past several days, I've turned off Nvidia, CPU Fan and HWInfo monitoring software but still got the BSOD. There was an article that suggested disabling "fast startup" and that didn't solve it either.

So did more research on the windows\minidump file using windbg. It led me to below article

#1

How to fix "DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE (9f) A driver has failed to complete a power IRP within a specific time." - Microsoft Q&A (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/3963643/how-to-fix-driver-power-state-failure-(9f)-a-drive?forum=windows-all&referrer=answers), specifically "4. Check the power management settings" which I did for my network card.

#2

There was also another article specific to my MSI motherboard that said update the "wifi drivers" which I did using

Access Denied (https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/PRO-X870E-P-WIFI/support#driver)

No BSOD waking up this morning. No BSOD when I woke up desktop later in the morning. Not sure which one fixed it (my guess is #2), but thought to share my (hopefully) solution.

I did update the MSI motherboard bios previously and I was current with Windows Update. I knew this but a reminder that Windows Update isn't all that great and you really need to go to manufacturer website for the latest & greatest drivers.

[Passacaglia]

Reasonable is relative but ...

(1) How old are the kids (2) what type of games do they play, and (3) do you have a MicroCenter close by? Microcenter is not the cheapest but they have real savings (and good warranty/returns) with their bundles for CPU, motherboard & RAM.

Just a swag for a middling gaming desktop + GPU is $800-$1000 (monitor is extra).

Check out the below sites for some build ideas (IMO stick with AMD, do not go Intel)

https://www.youtube.com/@Jayztwocents
https://www.youtube.com/@PCBuilderChannel
PC Builds and Custom PC Set-Ups | Tom's Hardware (https://www.tomshardware.com/desktops/pc-building)


But let us know what your budget is. I'm sure there's a couple of us here that will be glad to help you put one together with

Just a moment... (https://pcpartpicker.com/list/)

1. 13, 13, 15
2. Currently playing the crap out of Jurassic Word Rebirth 2 -- or some kind of Jurassic World building game. I think there's a 3 coming out that they'll want to play. When they see me playing Civilization sometimes they'll remember it exists and start playing it. They say they want to do some video editing too, but I assume they'll get bored with that very fast.
3. Yes, two Micro Centers are about 20 minutes away.

I asked ChatGPT what a good budget is, based on pretty much all the stuff I've said in this thread, and it recommended 1200-1500, plus $200-300 more for peripherals if I don't have them. I probably have one of everything somewhere though.

I'd rather have the budget in mind first, then start looking at ideas once we have that set. Just curious if that makes sense, or is way too low or high.

[Edward64]

I looked up min requirements for Jurassic World and seems a current, lower end GPU will work. I played Civ 6 on my old 1060ti just fine. So bottom line, you won't need a top tier GPU.

With that said, my current build without GPU is below.

Just a moment... (https://pcpartpicker.com/list/HN9d2x)

Register on pcpartpicker and create your own list. Remove my CPU-motherboard-RAM and everything else comes to $415.


1) For Desktop

I got the MicroCenter CPU 9800x3d bundle which was, until recently, AMDs top gaming CPU. I also upgraded the motherboard for a MicroCenter bundle cost of $650 for the CPU-motherboard-RAM.

Go to MicroCenter website and check out the CPU-motherboard-RAM bundles below.

https://www.microcenter.com/site/content/bundle-and-save.aspx


They have a 9600x-motherboard-32GB RAM bundle for $290 (basic)
They have a 7600x3d-motherboard-32GB RAM bundle for $400 (x3d version is geared towards games)
They have a 7800x3d-motherboard-32GB RAM bundle for $549 (much better x3d)

Therefore


$415 + $290 = $705 for a basic CPU desktop
$415 + $400 = $815 for a budget gaming CPU desktop
$415 + $550 = $965 for a pretty good gaming CPU desktop


2) For GPU

I got a mid-tier Nvidia 5060ti 16GB GPU for $470. There is an AMD 9060xt 16GB that is almost as good but for $390 nowadays. Both have a cheaper 8GB version.

The 16GB does provide some future proofing but for your games now, the 8GB version will work. The 5060ti 8GB goes for $360, the 9060xt 8GB goes for $300.

Therefore


$415 + $290 = $705 for a budget CPU desktop + 9060xt 8GB $300 = $1,005
$415 + $400 = $815 for a budget gaming CPU desktop + 9060xt 16GB $390 = $1,205
$415 + $550 = $965 for a pretty good gaming CPU desktop + 5060ti 16GB $470 = $1,435


3) Other possible savings

From my $415 desktop build above, you can probably shave off another $80-$100


My build includes an 850watt PSU for $135. You can probably live with a 600-750watt PSU for $30-$40 cheaper.
My case is a NZXT H5 Flow for $85. You can find cheaper cases for < $50.
Intel has current GPUs that are cheaper and should work. But I haven't researched them much. Search "Arc B580" for about $260



Hope this helps

[flere-imsaho]

Check out Logical Increments (https://www.logicalincrements.com/) as a good starting point. They'll show you example builds for particular games and the frame rates you'd get at different resolutions. It's a good starting point.

Do you have a monitor purchased, or in mind? There's a good difference in overall cost between a 1080 monitor, 1440, and 4K.

[sovereignstar v2]

I can't really recommend people be looking at 4k monitors for gaming unless they gave an RTX 4090 or 5090. Unless you are playing games like Football Manager or WoW and not AAA's. I have one along with a 4090 and I end up using DLSS @1440p just so I get playable frame rates with decent graphic settings.

[GrantDawg]

I can't really recommend people be looking at 4k monitors for gaming unless they gave an RTX 4090 or 5090. Unless you are playing games like Football Manager or WoW and not AAA's. I have one along with a 4090 and I end up using DLSS @1440p just so I get playable frame rates with decent graphic settings.
I have no problem running 4k with good frame rates on my 3080ti, even using DLSS (for most games as long as they are optimized well). My problem is my monitor is nowhere near big enough. I think you need a large monitor to really appreciate 4k, because everything is just way too small for me on my screen. I think it 28'. My guess is you really need 40'+. I have ended up with a big, beefy computer running everything at HD for my eye comfort.

[sovereignstar v2]

I probably made that sound a little too black and white of a thing. A 3080ti is no slouch and of course we might have different ideas of what playable FPS is. I just know that you will not get 60+ FPS in many AAA games unless you are tweaking settings quite a bit.

[Edward64]

I was perfectly happy with my AW3425DW 1440p and now you guys ruined it.

Still within my 30 day return period with Dell but ... nah. I'll wait a couple years to hand it down to wife and then get me a 2160p (and a new GPU 7060ti 32GB).

[sovereignstar v2]

Sorry, it wasn't my intention to dissuade you from your purchase. I don't think that a lot of casual gamers understand the big difference between the jump from 1080p or 1440p/2k to 4k - from 2k to 4k is over a 2x pixel bump. I don't know all of your gaming habits, but games like Civilization should run fine. Cyberpunk would probably bring your system to its knees though.

[Edward64]

Happy to say on this 3rd morning, no BSOD after waking from a deep sleep. So pretty sure I've fixed that problem.


I've been copying large backup dir/files from USB-A jump drive to desktop, and it's "timing out" and dropping connection. My desktop has several USB-A (and 3 USB-C) and same thing. What's weird is I have a USB-A HD and it works fine copying over the same dir/files. My keyboard and mouse are also plugged into USB-A and they work fine also. It's just the copying of large dir/files from USB-A drive. The MSI motherboard has the latest bios update.

Have to go through process of elimination again, but best guess is there's something about the USB-A jump drive and not the motherboard/USB.


Also, my desktop is on the desk where I can look through the tempered glass. I have 2 PSU connectors cable options that I can use to power my GPU. One is split into 2x8-pin, and the other is a single cable with an 8-pin + another 8-pin as the "pigtail". Basically, neither cable is "neat" to look at because of the extra 8-pin flopping around.

I will have to look for just a single 8-pin cable that doesn't have the pigtail. They say use the cables that come with the PSU and not mix-and-match different brands. But I've seen some YT say cablemod is legit. So another nice to have during sale season

Products – CableMod (https://cablemod.com/products/)

[sovereignstar v2]

CableMod is legit and rather huge at this point. I have used their custom cables several times when i was using tempered glass. Now i just use a big black box with giant fans lol

[Edward64]

Thanks for the vote of confidence.

I did price a nice 8-pin GPU cable (red for some flair) for about $22.

[Edward64]

I priced out the above cablemod GPU cable for a PSU Pure Power 12 M. Cablemod did not have my exact Pure Power 13 M in their dropdown. I sent message asking if 12 was compatible with 13, and they told me to hold off until they get a chance to confirm. I appreciate their diligence, I was just expecting a "sure, it'll work". So, no fancy single, red 8-pin GPU cable for now.

I did fix another issue. My CPU temperature was running in the 55-65 degree range when just browsing and doing simple stuff, and that seemed off to me (its now at 42-45 degrees just browsing). The CPU fans would come on & off because I set one of the bios levels/tiers to increase fan speed at 60 degrees.

I realized that I screwed up the mounting of the new be quiet case fans where the back/exhaust fan was blowing into the case and not out. As a reminder to anyone building own desktop ... with fans, the open faced (back side) takes in air, the semi-covered (front side) blows out air.


@Passacaglia. MicroCenter has my NZXT Flow H5 for $30, a pretty good discount over the $85 I paid for it. However, I got the black one and the sale is for white. So, if you don't mind white, I can recommend this if still thinking about building your own. No idea how long the sale will last.

https://www.microcenter.com/product/683253/nzxt-h5-flow-(2024)-tempered-glass-atx-mid-tower-computer-case-white

[Edward64]

I did think about a 2nd monitor but my eyes are definitely going bad. So figured a 65" on a rolling stand would be better ... and wife bought off on it :)

Bought a used 65" from Best Buy and have set it up in the office; the 65" is perfect size for the room.

I was a little worried about buying used from BB but it was a good deal. Figured worse case was inconvenience of having to package it up and return it, but it's working pretty well. Ready for college football now while playing Civ or X-Com.

The only ding I have is TCL does NOT support Windows Miracast, meaning I cannot duplicate/extend my PC screen without using something like Chromecast. I just assumed it would, so I have to spend another $50.

[Edward64]

Ended up getting below to cast/extend my desktop to the 65"

https://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Transmitter-Receiver-Streaming-Projector/dp/B0F4RBBMHC/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2CZIWKCIPIDA&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.q9aUAMzk7z3yFIbTRssERvAJ75mYD628GnT7edcTjO9ZnDZV46bWWLHGniulPjI8_ijjWuCSgE7MuQYrMz3JlWPkRL9Qw5vEXWldoJjzR2nXS2hNTXiSnk3BJbdrhP1YBYM4tOJrdE_3aQvl50Bha12dcRbvxz2Bk7YAWWChl3Kqkyxv3oFEMT8jt_zyTlhf2Jf6QiHRVi45NJ4WHwfGyaAbXZFPorTGbU2SS5Jp0js.Cwze1vI_aEzkYsHgpVraMM5k7C2FAYuX51ddjF7oh7w&dib_tag=se&keywords=hdmi%2Bdongle&qid=1756086157&sprefix=%2Caps%2C92&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

Works okay for what I want but there is definitely a noticeable lag. I wasn't going to play games on the 65" but going to use it as secondary as I played games on the desktop.

Couple notes ...

It does get hot (per the reviews) and unsure about quality & how long it'll last. But right now, works pretty well for me. Also, the 65" noticeable increases heat in the office. First world problems, I'll just lower the temp and get the air going.

I check MicroCenter couple times a week and you'd think with all the uncertainty with tariffs, Taiwan etc. that component prices would be jacked up. But prices have maintained the same and GPUs have gone down. I've seen inflation on groceries but not really on PC stuff. Maybe it's MicroCenter and her buying power?

*****

I've watched YT videos on budget $600-$700 builds. So, I'm getting the itch to build a budget desktop. I'll have to convince the missus that it's needed and I'll only buy discounted parts over the next 6-8 months when I see a really good sale. I'm not convinced she'll buy that though ...

[Honolulu_Blue]

Back in April I decided I wanted to switch from a laptop to a desktop after a good 15 year run of "gaming laptops". My gaming setup changed and I barely used the portability of the laptop anymore. So, I ordered a customized one from CyberPower.

It arrived in May and worked really well until late August when I was playing a game and the game crashed and the PC rebooted. I thought it was a one off, but it happened again, but this time when the PC rebooted nothing was showing up on the monitor. It would start, but that's it.

Luckily, I had spent extra for the premium warranty, so I shipped it back. They replaced the CPU and RAM and sent it back. That whole process took about a month.

Less than a week later, I was playing a game, the game crashed and the PC rebooted. This happened several times in a row. So, I sent it back yet again.

Fast forward a month, the PC is finally on its way back to me with - a new motherboard, no graphics card, new CPU, and new case. Essentially, a fully new machine.

I am hoping third time's the charm!

[Thomkal]

Man that's horrible HB-computer crashes like that just scare me no end. Hope its not three strikes you're out :)

[Honolulu_Blue]

Man that's horrible HB-computer crashes like that just scare me no end. Hope its not three strikes you're out :)

Thanks, Thom! It’s been a bit of a nightmare. I’ll be honest, even when it comes back and is pretty much an entirely new machine, I’ll be waiting for something to happen for a while.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Man that's horrible HB-computer crashes like that just scare me no end. Hope its not three strikes you're out :)

Thanks, Thom! It’s been a bit of a nightmare. I’ll be honest, even when it comes back and is pretty much an entirely new machine, I’ll be waiting for something to happen for a while.

[GrantDawg]

I'm kicking around getting myself a gaming laptop for Christmas. I considered getting a Steamdeck, but I just don't think the small screen will work with my bad eyesight. Hoping to get the best I can get under $1k. Advice or suggestions?

[GrantDawg]

I ended spending a little more for a true gaming laptop. I got a Acer Predator Helios Neo 16. It was on sale at Best Buy. I was looking at the cheaper model, but for a few hundred dollars more I get the 5070ti with 12gb dedicated memory and the full TB SSD.

[SirFozzie]

So, who's buying a GabeCube? (Also currently known as the Steam Machine)

[NobodyHere]

*Gasp* was the sound I made when seeing the current price of RAM. 32 GBs of DDR5 is 3.8 times the price I paid for it back in July.

Thanks Trump!

[dubb93]

*Gasp* was the sound I made when seeing the current price of RAM. 32 GBs of DDR5 is 3.8 times the price I paid for it back in July.

Thanks Trump!

Basically all the current gen desktop CPUs and MOBOs are dead until further notice. They all require DDR5 and DDR 5 costs as much a full build did a year ago. I’m not sure how we progress consumer computer technology from here in the short term. Maybe I’m being too pessimistic but I don’t see the demand for more data centers going down in the next three years atleast.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Back in April I decided I wanted to switch from a laptop to a desktop after a good 15 year run of "gaming laptops". My gaming setup changed and I barely used the portability of the laptop anymore. So, I ordered a customized one from CyberPower.

It arrived in May and worked really well until late August when I was playing a game and the game crashed and the PC rebooted. I thought it was a one off, but it happened again, but this time when the PC rebooted nothing was showing up on the monitor. It would start, but that's it.

Luckily, I had spent extra for the premium warranty, so I shipped it back. They replaced the CPU and RAM and sent it back. That whole process took about a month.

Less than a week later, I was playing a game, the game crashed and the PC rebooted. This happened several times in a row. So, I sent it back yet again.

Fast forward a month, the PC is finally on its way back to me with - a new motherboard, no graphics card, new CPU, and new case. Essentially, a fully new machine.

I am hoping third time's the charm!

Update on this.

I got my PC back about a month ago or so now. They replaced the mother board, PCU, and video card. So, it was essentially an entirely new machine. So far, so good! Running great. Hopefully it keeps it up.

Lazarus!