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new desktop

Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2020 4:51 pm
by TheCatt
Building it today. This used to be my server, so it's attached to an ANCIENT 19" screen (like 19" LCDs were a new hot thing when I got it).

What monitor setup do people here use? Does anyone use ultrawide or curved screens? I use a 2x27" for work, but if this one is more gaming/fun, a single screen would be desired.

new desktop

Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2020 7:35 pm
by TheCatt
OMG, the new PC is so quiet. I used a Corsair HX750 PSU with a Fractal Design Define R6 USB-C case.

I mean, it only has 2 SSDs in it, and is barely doing anything, but it's so much quieter than my super tower 8 drive RAID configuration was. Same old MoBo, CPU, and GPU.

I even managed to wire it up to the mobo and PSU first try.

I know I swore off building a new PC again, but it was pretty fun and brought back nice memories doing it.

new desktop

Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2020 7:45 pm
by GORDON
I think it may be easier to build a PC, than it used to be. I didn't have to set a single jumper last time.

new desktop

Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2020 7:48 pm
by TheCatt
GORDON wrote: I think it may be easier to build a PC, than it used to be. I didn't have to set a single jumper last time.
Hah! Or worry about bending a pin on each memory chip.

It's still a little annoying to plug in the connectors (power switch, etc). But that was probably the hardest part.

new desktop

Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2020 7:52 pm
by GORDON
I'm the most paranoid about the screwdriver slipping and scratching the mobo, when putting in those little screws. I've done that before and killed the mobo.

new desktop

Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2020 7:52 pm
by GORDON
I like that the newer power supplies have a "only plug in cables that you need" configuration. Keeps everything cleaner.

new desktop

Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2020 7:53 pm
by TheCatt
GORDON wrote: I like that the newer power supplies have a "only plug in cables that you need" configuration. Keeps everything cleaner.
Yes, the one I bought is that, and I left half the cables out of the PC entirely, which is awesome. Not toooo great if I ever do need to plug them in, but there's room in the case. It's a mid-tower.

new desktop

Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2020 7:57 pm
by GORDON
WIth the M.2 storage device, the only reason I needed to plug in a SATA power cable at all was because the case fans required it.

Was a little weird that the case has zero slots in case I planned to install an optical disk drive.

new desktop

Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2020 7:59 pm
by TheCatt
GORDON wrote: WIth the M.2 storage device, the only reason I needed to plug in a SATA power cable at all was because the case fans required it.
The SATA -> Fan thing was nice. This one had a hub where you could plug in about 6 fans, then do a single SATA to power them.
GORDON wrote: Was a little weird that the case has zero slots in case I planned to install an optical disk drive.
A lot of cases don't have optical disk drives now. This one does, but I don't plan to put one in there.

new desktop

Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2020 8:04 pm
by GORDON
I was slightly worried about that, but with the Win10 USB drive install, no biggie. Figured if I needed one, I'd have a $20 external from amazon in 2 days.

new desktop

Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2020 1:17 pm
by TheCatt
My CPU is from late 2015. My GPU is from 2013. Hmmmm. Might have to upgrade something.

new desktop

Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2020 1:26 pm
by TheCatt
TheCatt wrote: My CPU is from late 2015. My GPU is from 2013. Hmmmm. Might have to upgrade something.
Crap. I looked into stealing something from my wife, but her desktop is from 2012.

new desktop

Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2020 1:38 pm
by TheCatt
Anyone built a machine lately? Looks like AMD has taken over desktop performance?

new desktop

Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2020 2:15 pm
by GORDON
I just did an I7. My kid did all the research and that's what he wanted for gaming.

new desktop

Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2020 2:26 pm
by TheCatt
GORDON wrote: I just did an I7. My kid did all the research and that's what he wanted for gaming.
Gotcha. Safe choice. Choice to try out the Ryzen 7 3700x. This is for my wife who mostly does Photoshop, so I based it on price-performance for Photoshop/Lightroom only. $1,200 for parts. We'll see how it goes.

new desktop

Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2020 2:32 pm
by GORDON
Mine was also 1200 parts

Hard part was finding an instock mobo for the I7 at the good price point. Didn't want to wait weeks for a drop ship from China.

new desktop

Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2020 2:35 pm
by TheCatt
GORDON wrote: Mine was also 1200 parts

Hard part was finding an instock mobo for the I7 at the good price point. Didn't want to wait weeks for a drop ship from China.
Yeah, I had to pick/choose a few things to get it from Amazon faster (and make sure it was solid directly from Amazon, not a 3rd party), but everything should be here next week.

new desktop

Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2020 3:07 pm
by TheCatt
I priced out a similarly specced PC from a customer builder and they priced theirs around $3,000. Theirs was a $150 more CPU and $150 more GPU, but smaller SSD ($50). That's a lot of $$ to build the PC. Oh, and Windows license which I don't need.

new desktop

Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2020 4:23 pm
by GORDON
I was surprised how many different damn specs there are for the Intel CPU chipsets. There's the I7, but then you have to get the mobo that works on a specific generation, and there's at least 4 of them out there. Then a diff set of specs for the I5. And a different set for the I9. So if my kid wants to make a small upgrade to his CPU in a year or two, he also needs a new Mobo, guaranteed. Crazy.

new desktop

Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2020 9:53 pm
by TheCatt
GORDON wrote: There's the I7, but then you have to get the mobo that works on a specific generation, and there's at least 4 of them out there. Then a diff set of specs for the I5. And a different set for the I9. So if my kid wants to make a small upgrade to his CPU in a year or two, he also needs a new Mobo, guaranteed. Crazy.
The AMD stuff didn't REQUIRE an upgrade like that, but if you wanted whatever full capabilities, you COULD upgrade.