Computer General Discussion Thread

[Minoa]

Plus, the prices of graphics cards are so messed up by Bitcoin that Nvidia has asked firms to restrict sales of graphics cards. When will this cryptocurrency madness end, so that I can get a decent graphics card at a decent price, on the next time that I build another computer?

Pictured: first world privilege.

A warehouse full of high-power computing equipment to generate money.

I doubt the creators of Bitcoin had that in mind, but then there are people trying to game the system.

You could simulate the whole of Île de France at full scale with that, if Cities Skylines allowed it.

[Saiwania]

Plus, the prices of graphics cards are so messed up by Bitcoin that Nvidia has asked firms to restrict sales of graphics cards. When will this cryptocurrency madness end, so that I can get a decent graphics card at a decent price, on the next time that I build another computer?

The free market shills will tell you that paying the inflated price will allow the GPU manufacturers to supply more of it than before. If there is less supply of it at the moment, then it goes to the highest bidder being that they must want it the most and are able to make the most economic sacrifice in order to get it delivered to them.

The prices will fall back down to normal, whenever enough people across the board; simply quit buying dedicated graphics cards. Pre-built machines are rumored to not be affected by the price increases at the moment, because those major companies only pay the wholesale price for components as opposed to the retail price.

https://www.pcworld.com/article/3251504 ... ng-pc.html

[Salandriagado]

Looks like a good build to me - looks to be exactly the same sort of spec as the one I was throwing together, just swapping out Intel/AMD for AMD/Nvidia.

I am confused tho as to why the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 is exactly as powerful as the Intel i5-6500 yet is basically 70% of the price, especially since the Ryzen is two years newer.

Because it's newer. This happens with every generation leap: the new low-end options are comparable to the old mid-end options, and everything else slides on down a slot. Also, the 6500 is out of production, IIRC, and prices always go weird after things leave production.

[Sugrastan]

Looks like a good build to me - looks to be exactly the same sort of spec as the one I was throwing together, just swapping out Intel/AMD for AMD/Nvidia.

I am confused tho as to why the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 is exactly as powerful as the Intel i5-6500 yet is basically 70% of the price, especially since the Ryzen is two years newer.

Because it's newer. This happens with every generation leap: the new low-end options are comparable to the old mid-end options, and everything else slides on down a slot. Also, the 6500 is out of production, IIRC, and prices always go weird after things leave production.

AMD's new competition is also a pretty big reason for the new low-end being comparable to last-gen's mid-end.

[Wintertooth]

ATTN Phanteks Evolv Shift builders: where does this case fall on the difficulty scale for building? Is cable management a serious chore?

[Sugrastan]

ATTN Phanteks Evolv Shift builders: where does this case fall on the difficulty scale for building? Is cable management a serious chore?

While I haven't built in the case myself, from the vidoes I've seen of people building in it, the cable management doesn't seem too hard. Can you give examples of what you'd classify as a 1 in difficulty and a 10?

[Wintertooth]

ATTN Phanteks Evolv Shift builders: where does this case fall on the difficulty scale for building? Is cable management a serious chore?

While I haven't built in the case myself, from the vidoes I've seen of people building in it, the cable management doesn't seem too hard. Can you give examples of what you'd classify as a 1 in difficulty and a 10?

I see. A 1 would be a clean, compartmentalised case build while a 10 would be a Silverstone HTPC nightmare.

[Sugrastan]

While I haven't built in the case myself, from the vidoes I've seen of people building in it, the cable management doesn't seem too hard. Can you give examples of what you'd classify as a 1 in difficulty and a 10?

I see. A 1 would be a clean, compartmentalised case build while a 10 would be a Silverstone HTPC nightmare.

I see aswell. I think it'd possibly be a 6-8/10, but you can obviously look online for build videos in the case and decide for yourself. HardwareCanucks and BitWit have decent videos of builds in that case, so maybe check them out?

[Minoa]

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-42858406

The case for using ad-blockers remain live and well: instead of drive-by file encrypting ransomware, we are facing both drive-by file encrypting ransomware and crypto-coin-mining adverts.

Any site who tries to force people to turn off ad-blockers are gambling on the illusion that their ads will never be infected, when I think the problem is serious.

Since DoubleClick is heavily used by publishers, less than two hours is still enough to affect a few computers.

What are your thoughts on this?

[Imperializt Russia]

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-42858406

The case for using ad-blockers remain live and well: instead of drive-by file encrypting ransomware, we are facing both drive-by file encrypting ransomware and crypto-coin-mining adverts.

Any site who tries to force people to turn off ad-blockers are gambling on the illusion that their ads will never be infected, when I think the problem is serious.

Since DoubleClick is heavily used by publishers, less than two hours is still enough to affect a few computers.

What are your thoughts on this?

I despise turning adblock off.

Not because of some ideological issue with advertising, but because of the abysmally low quality of advertising.
It drains all of my computer's processing power. No idea how or why with that shitty bitrate, but that's what it does.
It is literally painful to have unblocked ads running. And they're all ads for shit, and/or shady.

[Imperializt Russia]

Looks like a good build to me - looks to be exactly the same sort of spec as the one I was throwing together, just swapping out Intel/AMD for AMD/Nvidia.

I am confused tho as to why the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 is exactly as powerful as the Intel i5-6500 yet is basically 70% of the price, especially since the Ryzen is two years newer.

Because it's newer. This happens with every generation leap: the new low-end options are comparable to the old mid-end options, and everything else slides on down a slot. Also, the 6500 is out of production, IIRC, and prices always go weird after things leave production.

Hmm.

So going for a new AMD CPU with the same power as an older Intel CPU (assuming all other parts are compatible) would be a good cost-cutting measure?

[Salandriagado]

Because it's newer. This happens with every generation leap: the new low-end options are comparable to the old mid-end options, and everything else slides on down a slot. Also, the 6500 is out of production, IIRC, and prices always go weird after things leave production.

Hmm.

So going for a new AMD CPU with the same power as an older Intel CPU (assuming all other parts are compatible) would be a good cost-cutting measure?

Yeah, depending on pricing when you buy it.

[Sugrastan]

Because it's newer. This happens with every generation leap: the new low-end options are comparable to the old mid-end options, and everything else slides on down a slot. Also, the 6500 is out of production, IIRC, and prices always go weird after things leave production.

Hmm.

So going for a new AMD CPU with the same power as an older Intel CPU (assuming all other parts are compatible) would be a good cost-cutting measure?

Well, yes. I saved almost 100€ by going with a Ryzen 3 1200 instead of a Sky/Kaby Lake i5. AMD also has B350, which is a chipset that allows overclocking with any Ryzen CPU while being way cheaper than what Intel requires for OC, which are a K or X CPU and a Z or X chipset.

[Lord Tothe]

Having a problem with my new computer build. ASUS Crosshair VI Hero Wi-fi AC mobo, AMD Ryzen 1800X CPU, ASUS GTX1080TI GPU. System won't even boot to POST, much less BIOS. The error codes on the mobo display haven't led to beneficial troubleshooting either.

[Minoa]

Having a problem with my new computer build. ASUS Crosshair VI Hero Wi-fi AC mobo, AMD Ryzen 1800X CPU, ASUS GTX1080TI GPU. System won't even boot to POST, much less BIOS. The error codes on the mobo display haven't led to beneficial troubleshooting either.

What are the error codes?

Also, if you are not aware yet, you need to use the motherboard stand-offs (usually brass) and washers (usually red or pink rings) so that there is no short circuit risk.

[Soldati Senza Confini]

Having a problem with my new computer build. ASUS Crosshair VI Hero Wi-fi AC mobo, AMD Ryzen 1800X CPU, ASUS GTX1080TI GPU. System won't even boot to POST, much less BIOS. The error codes on the mobo display haven't led to beneficial troubleshooting either.

Take out the GPU, start the computer with just the CPU and RAM memory to see if you can POST successfully at all with a barebones motherboard.

[Lord Tothe]

Take out the GPU, start the computer with just the CPU and RAM memory to see if you can POST successfully at all with a barebones motherboard.

Not an option. No onboard GPU. I did dig up an old bare-bones GPU to try though. We will see what happens.

What are the error codes?

A9 and 0d

EDIT
I got impatient, and decided to disconnect and reconnect everything all at once instead of testing through system by system and cable by cable. I now have Windows 10 installed, drivers updated, and Avast installed. Of course, I also have Steam installed as well. Re-dwnloading games will take a while though...

[Imperializt Russia]

Hmm.

So going for a new AMD CPU with the same power as an older Intel CPU (assuming all other parts are compatible) would be a good cost-cutting measure?

Well, yes. I saved almost 100€ by going with a Ryzen 3 1200 instead of a Sky/Kaby Lake i5. AMD also has B350, which is a chipset that allows overclocking with any Ryzen CPU while being way cheaper than what Intel requires for OC, which are a K or X CPU and a Z or X chipset.

You've no idea how close I now am to pulling the trigger on a Ryzen 1200 and B350.

[Sugrastan]

Well, yes. I saved almost 100€ by going with a Ryzen 3 1200 instead of a Sky/Kaby Lake i5. AMD also has B350, which is a chipset that allows overclocking with any Ryzen CPU while being way cheaper than what Intel requires for OC, which are a K or X CPU and a Z or X chipset.

You've no idea how close I now am to pulling the trigger on a Ryzen 1200 and B350.

What CPU are you currently using?

[Imperializt Russia]

You've no idea how close I now am to pulling the trigger on a Ryzen 1200 and B350.

What CPU are you currently using?

Intel i3-380M

(I'm a PC gaming newbie)

[Soldati Senza Confini]

What CPU are you currently using?

Intel i3-380M

(I'm a PC gaming newbie)

That's okay, I am using an Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600.

[Immoren]

I'll probably keep on AMD line, if I ever get to point I can/need get new computer.

[Sugrastan]

What CPU are you currently using?

Intel i3-380M

(I'm a PC gaming newbie)

I'd totally recommend the upgrade. The Ryzen 3 at stock clocks is already a bit over 2x as powerful in everything.

[Imperializt Russia]

Intel i3-380M

(I'm a PC gaming newbie)

I'd totally recommend the upgrade. The Ryzen 3 at stock clocks is already a bit over 2x as powerful in everything.

Looking at the 3-1300X and the 5-1400, the 3-1200 is barely less capable and substantially better value anyway.

[Lord Tothe]

My new machine is a beast, especially compared to what it replaces.

Second-hand Cooler Master HAF case, EVGA Supernova 850 G3 power supply, ASUS Crosshair VI Hero motherboard, AMD Ryzen 7 1800X CPU, ASUS NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080Ti Strix Gaming graphics card,16GB G.Skill Trident Z DDR4-3200 RAM, & XSPC Ion water cooling kit. This is an experiment for me. I have never used water cooling in a computer before.