General Computer Thread

[Santaman]

Hmm.. if your case is narrow, then this one will do the trick, it is 13.6cm tall only and with a 92x92mm fan it will be less noisy than the stock cooler and perform quite a bit better.
http://www.coolermaster.com/cooling/cpu-air-cooler/hyper-tx3-evo/

If your casing can handle a 15.9cm tall tower cooler then this one is unbeatable in price/performance, 120mm fan so cools even better and will make even less noise, will be able to handle that 6300 perfectly.
http://www.coolermaster.com/cooling/cpu-air-cooler/hyper-212-evo/

 

[think]

Is it true that if you "rule" or monopolize the market you need not try to improve your product?

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Is it true that if you "rule" or monopolize the market you need not try to improve your product?

The bean counters in such a company would probably like to sack all R&D staff if they could, and, with no competitors, they could also winnow down sales and marketing. Thankfully, in the real world of commerce, potential rivals always seems to appear. I can't think of a globally applicable counter example, although it does seem that Internet providers have effectively carved out local monopolies in most of the US -- which isn't the case in the UK, where competition is fierce.

 

[Santaman]

As seen with Intel, having a monopoly makes a company lazy, arrogant and their products expensive, flawed and unsafe, it wasn't after AMD came out with Ryzen that Intel had to get of its arse to bring out CPU's with more cores as well, innovation ends when one company has a monopoly, if Intel would have had their way we still would be on Pentium 4 32 bit and those CPU's would have been very expensive.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

I don't overclock. I'm happy using stock settings with CPU's or such.

Still going OK with an AMD 6300, 32gig RAM, and my R9 380 4gig GPU. I don't think I'll have to upgrade for a while now as this machine seems to be doing ok still. Occasional Windows hiccups but nothing I have not been able to fix myself.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Something is hogging my resources, where my cpu clocks 100 when ever I try to watch an mp4.

I deleted and reinstalled a few obvious programs that face wear and tear, it got a little better, but still not perfect, so I got out my installation flashdrives, and the stupid flashdrive labeled windows seven, was fricking Vista.

Frakk.

Still haven't reinstalled my chrome book with Elementary, but it looks like this queue jumping lap top is after a facelift first.

Chromebook will not play anything with the ac3 audio codec which is a fare chunk of my movies on file.

"sigh"

I'm not reinstalling my chromebook till I buy a 64 gb sd card which is a low priority buy at the moment.

 

[RunningValkyrie]

I have an old MacBook Pro mid 2012 that I use as backup when I need an extra computer. I have bought new ram and a new ssd drive that I want to upgrade this old Mac with. I have watched some video tutorials on how to replace both ram and ssd drive and it doesn’t seem hard to do. The tricky part is probably putting in the os on the new ssd. Does anyone of you have experience with this? I was thinking about following this guide and would like to know if the guide seem like it’s any good: https://www.upgradeable.com.au/pages/macbook-pro-ssd-upgrade-guide#macos-install

 

[Tom Hendricks]

I have an old MacBook Pro mid 2012 that I use as backup when I need an extra computer. I have bought new ram and a new ssd drive that I want to upgrade this old Mac with. I have watched some video tutorials on how to replace both ram and ssd drive and it doesn’t seem hard to do. The tricky part is probably putting in the os on the new ssd. Does anyone of you have experience with this? I was thinking about following this guide and would like to know if the guide seem like it’s any good: https://www.upgradeable.com.au/pages/macbook-pro-ssd-upgrade-guide#macos-install

Upgrading both is easy. I have found the easiest way to do this is to purchase an external hard disk enclosure, then you copy the drive onto the new SSD. Then replaces the old spinning drive with the new SSD. It makes it really easy, the Drive Enclosures are usually pretty cheap, $25-25 dollars here in the USA. Then plus you can use the old spinning drive in the External Enclosure as a back up drive or other storage.

 

[RunningValkyrie]

^ Sounds like a good idea! The spinning drive would then be like an external hard drive if I understand you correctly?

 

[Tom Hendricks]

^ Sounds like a good idea! The spinning drive would then be like an external hard drive if I understand you correctly?

Yes

 

[Amaris]

You know, the AMD FX-6300 gets a lot of flack, especially compared to the Ryzen line of processors, but I think it's a powerful CPU that gives the user a lot of strength and flexibility on a budget. I mean, you go on Youtube, and all these reviewers just don't understand that most people don't have the $1,000 required for their idea of a "budget" Ryzen PC. One youtuber insisted that FX-6300s were terrible at everything. I responded in the comments that the CPUs were more than capable for the average user, and could meet the needs of most power users as well, including high demand applications like HD video authoring, Virtual Reality systems, and a lot more without falling short. I mean, right now they're so inexpensive I can't help but recommend them to anyone who is trying to build a sub-$500 gaming PC.

 

[Santaman]

I build a FM2+ Athlon 860K machine for a friend, he had a graphics card which was still up to spec, GTX 670 I believe, so that chip is a quad core, it runs at 3.7Ghz with 4.2Ghz boost, 8Gb RAM and he had a few 1TB drives still left from his old machine, new casing and some other bits and pieces and the machine at that time cost him 270 euros, those chips get the same blah blah and nagging, too slow, blah blah no good, blah blah blaaaaaah.
Back to reality, his previous machine was a Core2Duo at 2.4Ghz with 3Gb RAM.. now with that FM2 chip and that graphics card he can do everything he did before but imagine the speed also his kids can play games, he can play games, everyone is really happy with that machine.

Another friend needed a computer because his old one stopped working properly, he didn't have a graphics card at all so I built him an FM2+ machine as well, same specs as my other friend but replaced the Athlon 860K with an APU the A10 7850k which also runs at 3,7Ghz and a 4Ghz boost, it came in at just a bit less than 400 Euros and even that one can do everything and the on chip graphics can handle older games so his kids are happy too.

At the moment I use an AM1 Athlon 5350 which is an APU but it runs at only 2.05Ghz and uses 25watts, I am planning to upgrade and I will probably use the Athlon 200GE which is a 60 Euro chip, it is Ryzen based and dual core with SMT so 4 threads uses 35 watts so again quite low budget might up it to a Ryzen 2200G which is still low budget but a real quad core, both chips have Vega graphics on board.

So yeah, budget machines can get you a long way, the reviewers and youtubers make it seem that everything below a Threadripper or i9 is worthless but I have to agree with you the 6300 is quite okay still, and so are all other lower budget chips.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

Well I was using a FX 4300 but changing to the 6300 was a noticeable change after a while. I'm happy I did that. Almost 12 months now.

 

[Marc]

So yeah, budget machines can get you a long way, the reviewers and youtubers make it seem that everything below a Threadripper or i9 is worthless but I have to agree with you the 6300 is quite okay still, and so are all other lower budget chips.

gah youtubers.

Though the prices are getting quite extrordinary. Intel's top of the range I9 with 18c/36t tickles the wallet at $US1950 add the motherboard for $350 and DDR4 is still quite expensive so you're looking at $3k just for the cpu/MB/ram.

The suckers are listed with a TDP of 165W but Intel's been struggling there were claimed figures being a lot lower than than reality.

Threadripper offers more cores/threads not quite the same performance for loads that don't scale and a 250W TDP but AMD's more on spec there but it's $200 cheaper.

But these gamers gotta have it all.

 

[Amaris]

gah youtubers.

Though the prices are getting quite extrordinary. Intel's top of the range I9 with 18c/36t tickles the wallet at $US1950 add the motherboard for $350 and DDR4 is still quite expensive so you're looking at $3k just for the cpu/MB/ram.

The suckers are listed with a TDP of 165W but Intel's been struggling there were claimed figures being a lot lower than than reality.

Threadripper offers more cores/threads not quite the same performance for loads that don't scale and a 250W TDP but AMD's more on spec there but it's $200 cheaper.

But these gamers gotta have it all.

Your gaming rig can only display frames at five times the speed of what most people consider fluid motion?! Ha!
Min/Maxers in every field drive me nuts sometimes. Believe me, I love to get the most bang for my buck, but there is a point where it's just diminishing returns. I do get a kick out of the guy on Youtube who's probably 19 years old talking about how he managed to build a cheap gaming build for $1500, and I'm just sitting here shaking my head looking at my $350 future build (I call it future build because it will last me well into the future with its ability for expansion). I've probably listed them before, but here are my current specs:

CPU: AMD FX-6300 Hexacore Processor (3.5Ghz)
MOTHERBOARD: Gigabyte LMT-78-USB3 R2 (version 760G)
MEMORY: 24 GB DDR3 1333
STORAGE: 2 TB 7200 RPM Hitachi HDD
OPTICAL: 24x DVD-RW External Slim Drive
VIDEO: Gigabyte Nvidia GeForce 1050 (2 GB VRAM)
DISPLAY: Sceptre 24" 75hz Ultra-slim LED Monitor
POWER SUPPLY: EVGA 450w 80+ Bronze Series
OS: Windows 10 Professional (64 bit)
INPUT: Topolek wireless keyboard and mouse combo

Some of that was given to me by friends, but the grand total is still less than $600, and it can handle VR without issues. I'm starting to think I should start a Youtube channel, and not one where someone says "I build a $75 computer," because what they did was find a bunch of parts in the trash, and a guy who sold them a processor on eBay for $7, and put it together. That's not a $75 computer that people can duplicate with any reliability.

Sorry, now I'm ranting.

 

[Santaman]

^^ I bought a pile of IBM PS/2 parts like that ages ago.. was 2 Euros only.. build a complete yet mismatched IBM PS/2 machine out of it.. same with a IBM AT, had all the parts except the casing and PSU so now it is fitted inside a Aopen mid tower, had to be creative here and there
I have been given complete working machines as well.. my brother had some extreme luck, he was given a IBM PS/2 MCA SCSI machine 486 DX2 66 Mhz almost, brand new, it didn't seem to work but it turned out that there's a switch inside that you have to reset when you put on the lid, it wasn't set to the right position so he got that machine for nothing, we found out about that switch and tadaa working machine.

 

[Marc]

MCA

Begone you foul creature

For once IBM came up with an idea that didn't hamstring the person computer but then put on such a high price target it was pretty much dead on arrival.

We could have broken the shackles of ISA long before PCI came along.

 

[Amaris]

^^ I bought a pile of IBM PS/2 parts like that ages ago.. was 2 Euros only.. build a complete yet mismatched IBM PS/2 machine out of it.. same with a IBM AT, had all the parts except the casing and PSU so now it is fitted inside a Aopen mid tower, had to be creative here and there
I have been given complete working machines as well.. my brother had some extreme luck, he was given a IBM PS/2 MCA SCSI machine 486 DX2 66 Mhz almost, brand new, it didn't seem to work but it turned out that there's a switch inside that you have to reset when you put on the lid, it wasn't set to the right position so he got that machine for nothing, we found out about that switch and tadaa working machine.

Exactly. You lucked out and had some great windfalls. I'm kind of hoping to do something where I can show people where they can reliably procure the best hardware for the best price, and on a real budget, not a fake "I'm an amateur philosopher, my husband is a curator of celebrity shaped beef jerky instagram photos, and we only have $5000" budget.

 

[Marc]

Exactly. You lucked out and had some great windfalls. I'm kind of hoping to do something where I can show people where they can reliably procure the best hardware for the best price, and on a real budget, not a fake "I'm an amateur philosopher, my husband is a curator of celebrity shaped beef jerky instagram photos, and we only have $5000" budget.

but it's not just a matter of the budget but also what is going to suit their needs so you need to go get below the surface

A frankly with the better part of 2 decades worth of IT sales and support experince the conclusion is that building a PC is mugs game. You get screwed six ways to sunday and it's not worth the headaches.

Either sell them a complete system built by some-one else or tell them to buy direct from Dell/HP/Acer/whoever and then make the money from setting it up and supporting them.

Just make sure you're a legit reseller. the former IT support person for the municipality where my in-laws live was buying in Dells and then re-selling the the council which I don't think was exactly kosher and could have caused major issues when it came to warranties.

 

[Amaris]

but it's not just a matter of the budget but also what is going to suit their needs so you need to go get below the surface

A frankly with the better part of 2 decades worth of IT sales and support experince the conclusion is that building a PC is mugs game. You get screwed six ways to sunday and it's not worth the headaches.

Either sell them a complete system built by some-one else or tell them to buy direct from Dell/HP/Acer/whoever and then make the money from setting it up and supporting them.

Just make sure you're a legit reseller. the former IT support person for the municipality where my in-laws live was buying in Dells and then re-selling the the council which I don't think was exactly kosher and could have caused major issues when it came to warranties.

I love building computers, and building my current system reminded me what happens when you stay out of the game for a decade.
I often recommend pre-built for people, because building is something I enjoy, and they probably just want something out of a box and ready to go. I understand that, but there are still savings in building it yourself, as long as you know what you're doing.