Help Me Build My PC Catch-All

psoplayer wrote:
avggeek wrote:
Citizen86 wrote:

Can I also mention that these automatic shortcodes on gamerswithjobs are freakin' annoying? Capital I does not mean I want to make italics! It means I want a capital I!!!!

Hit Ctrl+I again to reset - it's a bug in the forum code that's unlikely to be fixed until we move to the new version..

When you use a keyboard shortcut like Ctrl+T or Ctrl+Tab then the GWJ page looses focus and doesn't get to detect that the Ctrl key was ever released. Just tap Ctrl once and it will fix it.

So that's what has been going on. I just thought my left Ctrl key switch was going out. Phew!

tuffalobuffalo wrote:
psoplayer wrote:
avggeek wrote:
Citizen86 wrote:

Can I also mention that these automatic shortcodes on gamerswithjobs are freakin' annoying? Capital I does not mean I want to make italics! It means I want a capital I!!!!

Hit Ctrl+I again to reset - it's a bug in the forum code that's unlikely to be fixed until we move to the new version..

When you use a keyboard shortcut like Ctrl+T or Ctrl+Tab then the GWJ page looses focus and doesn't get to detect that the Ctrl key was ever released. Just tap Ctrl once and it will fix it.

So that's what has been going on. I just thought my left Ctrl key switch was going out. Phew!

I don't seem to experience this issue. Then again, I don't tend to switch windows using keyboard shortcuts while I'm posting things either.

Dakuna wrote:

I don't seem to experience this issue. Then again, I don't tend to switch windows using keyboard shortcuts while I'm posting things either.

That would be why, then. It's when you press Ctrl+Tab or Ctrl+something that it gets stuck thinking that Ctrl is still pressed.

Tested and Lloyd Case did a new PC build vid for those who might have never built before:

That case looks like its going to overheat that video card with the card fan being so close to the side panel.

On a unrelated note I recently bought a new fan because I wanted something without pushpins. I just realized that I'm going to have to completely disassemble my PC because I can't access the back of my motherboard without removing it (Antec 902 V2 case). In the future when I'm buying a case I just found a new must have feature: access to the back of the CPU socket.

EvilDead wrote:

That case looks like its going to overheat that video card with the card fan being so close to the side panel.

That's a Titan, correct? Those things run awfully cool, so it probably won't be an issue. Also, it looks like the heatsink extends to the front of the card, so air will be drawn in from the front and the top. I haven't watched the video. There may be an opening in the side panel, too.

MannishBoy wrote:

Tested and Lloyd Case did a new PC build vid for those who might have never built before

And the companion article which includes the specs, and some alternatives for various budget points. Edit: Yes, the side of the case is open for ventilation:
IMAGE(http://files.tested.com/photos/2013/03/13/55-45856-pcbuild1-1363142570.jpg)

EvilDead wrote:

In the future when I'm buying a case I just found a new must have feature: access to the back of the CPU socket.

Yeah, that's become a standard feature in the past couple of years and I really missed it when the old plastic mounting bracket on my Athlon CPU broke several years ago. My next case will definitely have that + cable routing behind the mobo as well.

psoplayer wrote:

Yeah, that's become a standard feature in the past couple of years and I really missed it when the old plastic mounting bracket on my Athlon CPU broke several years ago. My next case will definitely have that + cable routing behind the mobo as well.

My current has has the opening, but the MB doesn't line up with it exactly, so I'd have to disassemble anyway.

MannishBoy wrote:
psoplayer wrote:

Yeah, that's become a standard feature in the past couple of years and I really missed it when the old plastic mounting bracket on my Athlon CPU broke several years ago. My next case will definitely have that + cable routing behind the mobo as well.

My current has has the opening, but the MB doesn't line up with it exactly, so I'd have to disassemble anyway. :(

Some case makers are fixing this problem by making that opening as big as it can possibly be without interfering with motherboard standoff positions.

Also, that's a pretty slick case in that Tested video.

Really don't like that case. It's terrible for teaching new PC builder how to build. Its way too cramped and the orientations are odd.

Oh god Loyd reminded me of the old AMD CPU cooler retention brackets. There was one time where my screwdriver slipped and stabbed the motherboard. Needles to say I had a heart attack.

I played around with an ITX build for the rig that I still have to purchase everything for.

I decided to skip on it because while I was saving on overall space, it wasn't saving me any money. At this point, money is more important to me than space :/

There's a handful of really kick-ass ITX cases, and I was personally taken by the Bitfenix Prodigy as well.

TempestBlayze wrote:

Oh god Loyd reminded me of the old AMD CPU cooler retention brackets. There was one time where my screwdriver slipped and stabbed the motherboard. Needles to say I had a heart attack.

I did that once but I got away with a minor laceration. Those clips were the worst ever.

Hey guys! I've been wanting to upgrade my rig for a few months now, because well, let's face it, it's old, and I want something shiny and new (even though I keep telling my husband that it's getting slow and just too damn old - which is true, I got the parts in 2008). So this is what I have:

  • CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0GHz Dual-Core
  • Mobo: ASUSTeK P5K SE/EPU (Intel P35 Express) - ATX
  • GPU: "Noname" NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 PLUS - 896 Mb DDR3 - PCI Express 2.0
  • RAM: Corsair XMS2 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2-800 (I think, not 100% because I didn't order it online and don't have any records for it in my e-mail account)

I can't even run Dishonored, according to CanYouRunIt, for crying out loud!

This is what I'm looking at:

  • CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core
  • Mobo: Gigabyte GA-Z77-D3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard
  • GPU: MSI GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card
  • RAM: Kingston Black 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory

The rest would stay the same, although I have my doubts about my PSU (only 500W and faithfully powering the PC since 2009). Now while I'm not really in need of any enabling (because I really, really want to upgrade), I thought I'd ask you experts' opinion. While not exactly a novice (built my first rig 7 years ago with a friend, and haven't looked back), I'm always nervous about making the "right" choice. PC Parts Picker seems to be telling me that the only issue is that I don't have any USB 3 ports on my case (and I'm gonna change it just because of that), so hopefully it won't explode in my face.

Sorry to bug you guys, but I just want to make sure I wouldn't fry anything.

Eleima wrote:

This is what I'm looking at:

Thumbs up from me.

If you are worried about the PSU, grab a decent but cheaper one for $50-100. Any of the Corsairs are good, and you can get a 500-600W for right around $50

What's the native resolution of the monitor?

About the PSU, I figure I can get away with a few extra months at the very least. Worst case scenario, I'll just go out and get one, I saw a 550W Fortron that was priced at 55€.
About the monitor, yeah, that's where it kinda falls apart, it's a few years old, a Samsung 22" with a 1680 x 1050 resolution. So it's a shame I won't be able to make the most of the GPU and run in 1920 x 1050, but I can't upgrade all at once, lest my darling husband keel over from a heart attack when I show him the bill.

Eleima wrote:

I can't upgrade all at once, lest my darling husband keel over from a heart attack when I show him the bill. :D

Why show the bill?

WizKid wrote:
Eleima wrote:

I can't upgrade all at once, lest my darling husband keel over from a heart attack when I show him the bill. :D

Why show the bill? ;)

+2

That still sounds like a decent resolution. As much as I like 1080p on my 15" laptop, I still sort of miss the 16:10 resolutions.

Citizen86 wrote:

That still sounds like a decent resolution. As much as I like 1080p on my 15" laptop, I still sort of miss the 16:10 resolutions.

It's decent because I swapped my old 19" Belinea which had a 128*1024 resolution with my husband's 22" Samsung. Yeah, he got the short end of that stick!

Dakuna wrote:
WizKid wrote:

Why show the bill? ;)

+2

Is this why I should've kept my personal account?

Thanks for the go ahead guys, at least I know this wont' kaplode on me. Will probably wait a bit to pull the trigger, until we have someone coming over to visit, the shipping costs are horrendous out here (I'm talking an arm and a leg, 30% of the cost of the part!). Thanks again.

If you are needing a cheap power supply and need 550w, do NOT get this.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004MU...

Apparently it runs at much lower than 550 even though it can peak out at 550. Found this out when I got it installed today and wouldn't boot the gpu. It'll be back on its way to amazon shortly.

Went with this instead.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0092M...

Uh, yeah, a 550w PSU for under $30?

No way is that not a total piece of crap.

Up to a certain point, PSU's are very much an item where you get what you pay for.

Thanks for the heads up! I don't think I'll be switching out the PSU just yet, think I'll see how far it can go before it putters out. From my estimation, I should be pulling about 440-460W, so it'll be a cutting close, but it should still run. Probably best if I spread out the expenses over a few months, you know? If (and probably when) I do spring for a new PSU though, it'll definitely be either a Corsair, or a Seasonic. Or maybe a Coolermaster. I don't know, I'll probably shop around and see what's available (we can't always be too picky lost out here in the Indian Ocean).

That 600W Corsair looks really nice, though, I wish they'd ship out here!!
Edit: Huh. Well, imagine that. They'll ship the huge PSU and albeit smaller RAM, but not a Mobo, GPU and CPU. It's not much cheaper though, the conversion rates balances out the shipping and import costs. And the question remains, do I want this shipped halfway across the world and jostled into oblivion?...

I think I posted this article here or a similar thread before. In case you needed any convincing not to get a generic PSU, this is it.

Not only does it deliver just half its rated power before blowing out, but the quality of that power is much worse as well, causing system instability and I imagine accelerated wear too.

"Friends don't let Friends buy Cheap PSU's"

Do I need to give you my screwdriver until morning when I've sobered up?

Haswell performance preview. Depending what you're doing, looks like there's a few cases where it's a little ahead of the 15-20% expected generational improvement.

Thin_J wrote:

Uh, yeah, a 550w PSU for under $30?

No way is that not a total piece of crap.

Up to a certain point, PSU's are very much an item where you get what you pay for.

Figured I'd take a shot.