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[Computer Build Thread] - The thread is going down! Abandon thread, abandon thread!

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Posts

  • nindustrialnindustrial Word Typer Los AngelesRegistered User regular
    Hey folks, I have a quick question. I've built all my desktops but one in the last 10-15 years; three system builds and some tinkering, including my current rig. While I understand how to install memory, I have never upgraded memory. I am fully aware of the benefits of buying matched sets of RAM when plugging them into a dual channel setup. However, I'm wondering if, when upgrading, it's better to replace a current 2-stick setup with 2 new matched sticks of higher RAM, or if I can add a second matched set of identical RAM (and I understand what constitutes identical) into the other two available slots.

    Essentially, I have 2x4GB G.Skill Ripjaws sticks (matched) and I'm considering bumping up to a total 16GB. My mboard has four slots, and can take 16GB max. If I go buy an identical matching set, 2x4GB ripjaws, it will clearly be cheaper than buying a 2x8GB set. Is this an alright idea? Or should I just keep with a two stick setup (in which case, I probably won't bother shelling out that much for a not very necessary upgrade)? Thanks in advance.

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  • Day of the BearDay of the Bear The Qun demandsRegistered User regular
    should be no problem if you get another of the same exact kit.

    I've even run mismatched kits(and sizes) before without trouble so another of the same exact kit should do perfectly.

    m6eoUgQ.jpg
  • FoomyFoomy Registered User regular
    edited March 2013
    you can just get another 2x4gb if you really want more ram.

    But I also have to ask if your actually bumping up against your 8gb limit? gaming isn't going to use even 4gb, so you have to be doing things like video, photo, or music editing, running virtual machines, math programs, to even make use of another 8gb in your system.

    I know dd3 is really cheap atm, but no need to spend on an upgrade that serves no purpose.

    Foomy on
    Steam Profile: FoomyFooms
  • EriktheVikingGamerEriktheVikingGamer Registered User regular
    edited March 2013
    I'm looking to start trying to take streaming and producing video content seriously and my rig, while fully capable of playing content is a little bit behind as far as power for creating content. As it stands now I have:

    CPU/PROCESSOR - i5 2500K Intel
    MOTHERBOARD - ASUS P8P67 PRO
    GRAPHICS CARD - nVidia GeForce 560ti
    MEMORY/RAM - 8GB(2X4GB) DDR3
    POWER SUPPLY - 750W


    What is the most important thing to upgrade to be able to put out higher quality content? (Besides being able to create quality content in the first place naturally. ;) )

    Thank you for you help in this, threadgoers. :D

    EriktheVikingGamer on
    Steam - DailyFatigueBar
    FFXIV - Milliardo Beoulve/Sargatanas
  • HamurabiHamurabi MiamiRegistered User regular
    That seems like a fine setup, honestly. I don't know how much video-editing actually benefits from more RAM, but if the relation is significant, maybe just invest in 8GB more? Otherwise it looks fine from an encoding speed POV. Only other concern might be storage.

    EriktheVikingGamer
  • FoomyFoomy Registered User regular
    I'm looking to start trying to take streaming and producing video content seriously and my rig, while fully capable of playing content is a little bit behind as far as power for creating content. As it stands now I have:

    CPU/PROCESSOR - i5 2500K Intel
    MOTHERBOARD - ASUS P8P67 PRO
    GRAPHICS CARD - nVidia GeForce 560ti
    MEMORY/RAM - 8GB(2X4GB) DDR3
    POWER SUPPLY - 750W


    What is the most important thing to upgrade to be able to put out higher quality content? (Besides being able to create quality content in the first place naturally. ;) )

    Thank you for you help in this, threadgoers. :D

    Nothing really, you have a pretty modern great rig there.

    Maybe up the ram to 16gb if your doing a lot of video editing of longer content, but that would be it.

    Steam Profile: FoomyFooms
  • EriktheVikingGamerEriktheVikingGamer Registered User regular
    I've got 1.7TB worth of storage left and that's after having no less than 10 AAA games + 3 MMOs on here. Storage I have, and thank you for the quick response!

    Steam - DailyFatigueBar
    FFXIV - Milliardo Beoulve/Sargatanas
  • Day of the BearDay of the Bear The Qun demandsRegistered User regular
    edited March 2013
    Some editing stuff really likes ram, other stuff doesn't need it too badly.

    Storage is the big one, especially if by creating content you mean you will be locally recording stuff while playing(not sure if you're talking game stuff here or recording/shooting content elsewhere and then importing)

    My pick for improving a system to do video work would be at least one SSD, two if you can manage so that you can run apps off one while writing to the other(render outputs, game capture, whatever)

    Any more specific advice would depend on exactly what software you're using, and what you plan to do with it as well as the resolutions you will be working in

    Day of the Bear on
    m6eoUgQ.jpg
  • EriktheVikingGamerEriktheVikingGamer Registered User regular
    edited March 2013
    Some editing stuff really likes ram, other stuff doesn't need it too badly.

    Storage is the big one, especially if by creating content you mean you will be locally recording stuff while playing(not sure if you're talking game stuff here or recording/shooting content elsewhere and then importing)

    My pick for improving a system to do video work would be at least one SSD, two if you can manage so that you can run apps off one while writing to the other(render outputs, game capture, whatever)

    Any more specific advice would depend on exactly what software you're using, and what you plan to do with it as well as the resolutions you will be working in

    FRAPS, Windows Movie Maker, Open Broadcasting Software(OBS), Logitech c525 WebCam, 1280x720p, 1920x1080p.

    I tend to do gameplay commentary, live streaming, and basic web blogging.

    EriktheVikingGamer on
    Steam - DailyFatigueBar
    FFXIV - Milliardo Beoulve/Sargatanas
  • nindustrialnindustrial Word Typer Los AngelesRegistered User regular
    edited March 2013
    should be no problem if you get another of the same exact kit.

    I've even run mismatched kits(and sizes) before without trouble so another of the same exact kit should do perfectly.

    Great, thanks for the input.
    Foomy wrote: »
    you can just get another 2x4gb if you really want more ram.

    But I also have to ask if your actually bumping up against your 8gb limit? gaming isn't going to use even 4gb, so you have to be doing things like video, photo, or music editing, running virtual machines, math programs, to even make use of another 8gb in your system.

    I know dd3 is really cheap atm, but no need to spend on an upgrade that serves no purpose.

    Yeah, in all honesty it's mostly on the basis of the RAM being cheap and I'm going to be upgrading my videocard and having to go into the guts anyway. I do some photo and music editing, but you're correct, I may not actually need it. Thanks for the feedback!

    Unrelated question, does anyone have an opinion on the best Radeon HD 7970 card (non-GHz edition)? Crazy good bundle deal on some cards netting you Crysis 3 & Bioshock Infinite. EDIT: I'm thinking about this Sapphire card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202008

    nindustrial on
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  • Day of the BearDay of the Bear The Qun demandsRegistered User regular
    the 7970 is a super great card, the more so because of the bundles right now.

    I've been running a pair for a little over a year now and i love them

    m6eoUgQ.jpg
  • nindustrialnindustrial Word Typer Los AngelesRegistered User regular
    the 7970 is a super great card, the more so because of the bundles right now.

    I've been running a pair for a little over a year now and i love them

    Nice, what brand? And do you do any overclocking? Sadly, I can't really do crossfire because my second pci-e slot only runs at x4 instead of x16, and presumably it wouldn't be worth it. (Anyone can feel free to correct me if I'm wrong).

    chstreamsig.jpg
  • CormacCormac Registered User regular
    That Sapphire and the HIS cards are the two best ones to get right now because they are among the few that aren't voltage locked which from what I've read is pretty important if you plan on doing any overclocking. I'm debating spending a bit more for a Sapphire Ghz edition, this one http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=AT-7970GHZ, for a slightly better cooler and the better binned chip for overclocking. Granted nearly all 7970's will overclock to Ghz speeds and higher but for $30 more I figure I'll just get a Ghz edition.

    Steam: Gridlynk | PSN: Gridlynk | FFXIV: Jarvellis Mika
  • Day of the BearDay of the Bear The Qun demandsRegistered User regular
    edited March 2013
    the 7970 is a super great card, the more so because of the bundles right now.

    I've been running a pair for a little over a year now and i love them

    Nice, what brand? And do you do any overclocking? Sadly, I can't really do crossfire because my second pci-e slot only runs at x4 instead of x16, and presumably it wouldn't be worth it. (Anyone can feel free to correct me if I'm wrong).

    I got a sapphire and an MSI on release, both reference boards.

    I've had them as high as 1125mhz core but right now they're down at 1075 since far cry was giving me grief

    I'm sure i could push them further but i haven't felt the need to up the voltage on them yet so they haven't really been stressed that much.

    Day of the Bear on
    m6eoUgQ.jpg
  • nindustrialnindustrial Word Typer Los AngelesRegistered User regular
    Cool, thanks to both of you. I think I'll pull the trigger on the Sapphire in this case.

    chstreamsig.jpg
  • HamurabiHamurabi MiamiRegistered User regular
    You know, sometimes I think PC gaming (and the attendant spending on hardware) is needlessly expensive... but then I think of other people's hobbies like fixing up their ricer-mobiles or traveling or whatever, and realize that it's not really that expensive. An enthusiast might spend, what, $400 or so on a bleeding-edge new card every 1-2 years? Maybe $200-300 on a new CPU ever 2-3 years? Seems bad upfront, but there're much more expensive hobbies out there.

  • Day of the BearDay of the Bear The Qun demandsRegistered User regular
    if you stay sane with your builds it can actually work out cheaper than console gaming when you factor in how many dirt cheap but still pretty new steam games you can snag.

    The key is to not go overboard(do as i say not as i do)

    m6eoUgQ.jpg
    emp123
  • VeganVegan Registered User regular
    People get SUPER OFFENDED if you go around saying that PC gaming is actually cheaper, though. Usually people who are actually mad at themselves for spending extra money on a laptop that isn't powerful enough to run any games from this century.

    steam_sig.png
  • HamurabiHamurabi MiamiRegistered User regular
    Well I dunno which actually winds up being cheaper -- and I think it says a lot about you two that you instantly jumped to the PC vs. console gaming thing from that post. :P

    Are used PC games a real thing? I feel like I don't see them as much, and probably even less so now with DRM all over the place, making games a one-time-only install that gets locked to an account. I think the dirt-cheap used games racket adds a lot of value to console gaming.

  • Day of the BearDay of the Bear The Qun demandsRegistered User regular
    PC GAMING SUPREMACY

    but i agree that there are a ton of more expensive hobbies, even if you start going to the higher end with things.

    m6eoUgQ.jpg
    Donovan Puppyfucker
  • BarcardiBarcardi All the Wizards Under A Rock: AfganistanRegistered User regular
    Um, potentially dumb question. Are pentium i5/i7 chipsets 32 bit or 64 bit or ?

    Asking because I think I just want to go with windows 7 for my new computer and there is the 32/64 choice. Need to know because I will be using AutoCAD/Revit/3D Max all those programs are, or were, broken up into 32/64 versions. So i need to make that choice now.

  • AlectharAlecthar Alan Shore We're not territorial about that sort of thing, are we?Registered User regular
    Hamurabi wrote: »
    Well I dunno which actually winds up being cheaper -- and I think it says a lot about you two that you instantly jumped to the PC vs. console gaming thing from that post. :P

    Are used PC games a real thing? I feel like I don't see them as much, and probably even less so now with DRM all over the place, making games a one-time-only install that gets locked to an account. I think the dirt-cheap used games racket adds a lot of value to console gaming.

    I do often feel very "glorious PC gaming master race," especially given that I've built mine myself, but your point is well taken. Digital Distribution has basically killed the used PC gaming scene in general (at least in my experience).

    That said, consoles and game-makers are both trying to murder used game sales anyway. Additional fees for online play, pre-order bonuses and DLC, console-based digital distribution channels, and the threat of one-time registration for console games all bode ill for a healthy used marketplace. But really, f I'm going to have a digital distribution system, I'm going with Steam every day. From what I've been reading, users are experiencing issues trying to get their Wii digitally downloaded titles over to the Wii U because Nintendo doesn't allow for re-downloading old titles to new hardware. You have to manually move the titles over on physical media, and can only use certain approved products to do so. And, because of the hardware architecture change, the PS4 is likely to be largely (if not entirely) incompatible with the games users have downloaded from PSN. As far as I know, Sony hasn't indicate what the resolution is on that. By contrast, I carted my Steam folder over from my old SSD, no problem.

    I think that a big strength of consoles, and a big selling point for them, is that they're beginning to function as an HTPC that can play games, for significantly less than you can usually accomplish that with a PC. Now you have the option to stream movies, or even play content stored on your home network. Granted, they don't do those HTPC tasks as well as a dedicated PC (or even some media player boxes) does but if the aim is to make one box to rule them all, they are making strides.

    The question for me is pricing on newer console hardware. You can build a pretty capable Steam Box for a relatively reasonable amount these days, and if the new high-end consoles are clocking in at $600ish bucks, then the pricing advantage for them is very minimal at best. A custom-built Steam Box becomes a very compelling alternative at that point, especially given how much more versatile it is.

  • FoomyFoomy Registered User regular
    edited March 2013
    Barcardi wrote: »
    Um, potentially dumb question. Are pentium i5/i7 chipsets 32 bit or 64 bit or ?

    Asking because I think I just want to go with windows 7 for my new computer and there is the 32/64 choice. Need to know because I will be using AutoCAD/Revit/3D Max all those programs are, or were, broken up into 32/64 versions. So i need to make that choice now.

    every chip intel makes is 64-bit, and has been since the core 2 release in 2007

    Foomy on
    Steam Profile: FoomyFooms
    Day of the Bear
  • BarcardiBarcardi All the Wizards Under A Rock: AfganistanRegistered User regular
    See, obvious answer. Thanks for the prompt response.

    The last system i built was with a core 2, so i was kinda lost back then too.

  • Day of the BearDay of the Bear The Qun demandsRegistered User regular
    obvious answers aren't always obvious if you aren't entrenched in this stuff already.

    Thats partly why we have this thread!

    m6eoUgQ.jpg
  • FoomyFoomy Registered User regular
    edited March 2013
    Barcardi wrote: »
    See, obvious answer. Thanks for the prompt response.

    The last system i built was with a core 2, so i was kinda lost back then too.

    Ya it's a little weird that a 32-bit version of win7 exists, seeing as I don't think you can even buy an x86 32bit cpu new anymore. I guess you could maybe still get such a thing back in '09, but even then it was rare unless you were on real old hardware.

    Then again I guess they made a 32bit x86 version of win8 for some weird reason as well, I really can't see much of a demand for it.

    Foomy on
    Steam Profile: FoomyFooms
  • Day of the BearDay of the Bear The Qun demandsRegistered User regular
    Hey i had win7 installed on my old athlon xp machine for a while

    m6eoUgQ.jpg
    Donovan Puppyfucker
  • Big DookieBig Dookie Smells great! Houston, TXRegistered User regular
    So I added a second fan to my CPU cooler so it's now in a push/pull configuration, and I'm now overclocking at a stable 4.5 GHz. Burn test (high stress) and Prime95 top out at 90C, which is supposed to be "optimal" temperature for Ivy Bridge, so I'm going to stick with this for a while and see how it goes. Might do a little more tweaking to offset and turbo voltage to see if I can bring them down a bit more.

    I just couldn't help myself.

    Steam | Twitch
    Oculus: TheBigDookie | XBL: Dook | NNID: BigDookie
    Donovan Puppyfucker
  • BarcardiBarcardi All the Wizards Under A Rock: AfganistanRegistered User regular
    Foomy wrote: »
    Barcardi wrote: »
    See, obvious answer. Thanks for the prompt response.

    The last system i built was with a core 2, so i was kinda lost back then too.

    Ya it's a little weird that a 32-bit version of win7 exists, seeing as I don't think you can even buy an x86 32bit cpu new anymore. I guess you could maybe still get such a thing back in '09, but even then it was rare unless you were on real old hardware.

    Then again I guess they made a 32bit x86 version of win8 for some weird reason as well, I really can't see much of a demand for it.

    Yeah this is what threw me off.

    Got my hard drives, random sound card, blueray player, and OS now at least. Now just for the real major parts.

  • curly haired boycurly haired boy Your Friendly Neighborhood Torgue Dealer Registered User regular
    so fellas, got a question:

    my always-on rig has developed a habit of completely shutting down at random. sometimes it restarts automatically, or tries to, and then shuts down again.

    i've opened the case and wiggled the 6 pin motherboard cable and that usually starts it right up again. so i guess my question is whether i have a bad connector, a bad motherboard, or a bad power supply

    RxI0N.png
    Registered just for the Mass Effect threads | Steam: click ^^^ | Origin: curlyhairedboy
  • bowenbowen How you doin'? Registered User regular
    If I wanted to rip say... 200 DVDs and BluRays (assorted) how much space am I looking at needing realistically?

    I could probably compromise the blurays to 720p tbh.

    not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
  • HamurabiHamurabi MiamiRegistered User regular
    It really just depends on how you compress them (ie. what quality-to-filesize ratio you're comfortable with), but I've seen full-length 720p movies at <1GB.

  • ElbasunuElbasunu Registered User regular
    edited March 2013
    Newegg has a "door buster" deal on a 500gb samsung SSD for $279. That is GROSS.

    Elbasunu on
    g1xfUKU.png?10zfegkyoor3b.png
    Steam ID: Obos Vent: Obos
    bowen
  • bowenbowen How you doin'? Registered User regular
    Hamurabi wrote: »
    It really just depends on how you compress them (ie. what quality-to-filesize ratio you're comfortable with), but I've seen full-length 720p movies at <1GB.

    So, probably about 500GB roughly? If I shot for 4TB I'd be safe for a while?

    not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
  • AlectharAlecthar Alan Shore We're not territorial about that sort of thing, are we?Registered User regular
    edited March 2013
    Foomy wrote: »
    Barcardi wrote: »
    See, obvious answer. Thanks for the prompt response.

    The last system i built was with a core 2, so i was kinda lost back then too.

    Ya it's a little weird that a 32-bit version of win7 exists, seeing as I don't think you can even buy an x86 32bit cpu new anymore. I guess you could maybe still get such a thing back in '09, but even then it was rare unless you were on real old hardware.

    Then again I guess they made a 32bit x86 version of win8 for some weird reason as well, I really can't see much of a demand for it.

    I'd say they're still compiling 32-bit versions to keep business customers happy. Obviously, in most cases the compatibility modes and stuff available in Win 7/8 can have 32-bit software running no problem, but in a business environment, tech support is something you're paying for along with the software, and a lot of that software is still 32-bit, so you could run into problems requesting support for your stuff if you aren't running it on the "correct" version of the OS.

    And, given that they're still burning time making a 32-bit version, they may as well include it in the package for retail, just in case.

    Alecthar on
  • SporkAndrewSporkAndrew Registered User, ClubPA regular
    bowen wrote: »
    If I wanted to rip say... 200 DVDs and BluRays (assorted) how much space am I looking at needing realistically?

    I could probably compromise the blurays to 720p tbh.

    Blu-rays remuxed to main-movie only with two audio options and English subtitles run at about 35GB / piece. DVDs ripped to AUDIO_TS / VIDEO_TS folders for the main movie only come out at about 2/3 GB depending on the length. Obviously there's tons of space you could save by converting them to something else but I'm lazy, and storage is cheap. Clearly I'm lazy because I spent a few days ripping my movie collection to save me having to cross the room to the shelving unit to grab something to watch when Netflix doesn't cut it.

    4TB curently holds ~200 films, with me sitting at about ~65% disc space used.

    The one about the fucking space hairdresser and the cowboy. He's got a tinfoil pal and a pedal bin
    bowen
  • StormwatcherStormwatcher Blegh BlughRegistered User regular
    Alecthar wrote: »
    Hamurabi wrote: »
    Well I dunno which actually winds up being cheaper -- and I think it says a lot about you two that you instantly jumped to the PC vs. console gaming thing from that post. :P

    Are used PC games a real thing? I feel like I don't see them as much, and probably even less so now with DRM all over the place, making games a one-time-only install that gets locked to an account. I think the dirt-cheap used games racket adds a lot of value to console gaming.

    I do often feel very "glorious PC gaming master race," especially given that I've built mine myself, but your point is well taken. Digital Distribution has basically killed the used PC gaming scene in general (at least in my experience).

    That said, consoles and game-makers are both trying to murder used game sales anyway. Additional fees for online play, pre-order bonuses and DLC, console-based digital distribution channels, and the threat of one-time registration for console games all bode ill for a healthy used marketplace. But really, f I'm going to have a digital distribution system, I'm going with Steam every day. From what I've been reading, users are experiencing issues trying to get their Wii digitally downloaded titles over to the Wii U because Nintendo doesn't allow for re-downloading old titles to new hardware. You have to manually move the titles over on physical media, and can only use certain approved products to do so. And, because of the hardware architecture change, the PS4 is likely to be largely (if not entirely) incompatible with the games users have downloaded from PSN. As far as I know, Sony hasn't indicate what the resolution is on that. By contrast, I carted my Steam folder over from my old SSD, no problem.

    I think that a big strength of consoles, and a big selling point for them, is that they're beginning to function as an HTPC that can play games, for significantly less than you can usually accomplish that with a PC. Now you have the option to stream movies, or even play content stored on your home network. Granted, they don't do those HTPC tasks as well as a dedicated PC (or even some media player boxes) does but if the aim is to make one box to rule them all, they are making strides.

    The question for me is pricing on newer console hardware. You can build a pretty capable Steam Box for a relatively reasonable amount these days, and if the new high-end consoles are clocking in at $600ish bucks, then the pricing advantage for them is very minimal at best. A custom-built Steam Box becomes a very compelling alternative at that point, especially given how much more versatile it is.

    PC gaming is still cheaper because Steam has all kinds of sales and lower prices. We don't really need an used game market when new games are so ridiculously inexpensive.

    Steam: Stormwatcher | PSN: Stormwatcher33 | Switch: 5961-4777-3491
    camo_sig2.png
  • mightyjongyomightyjongyo Sour Crrm East Bay, CaliforniaRegistered User regular
    With the exception of AAA titles on release day, anyways...

  • bowenbowen How you doin'? Registered User regular
    bowen wrote: »
    If I wanted to rip say... 200 DVDs and BluRays (assorted) how much space am I looking at needing realistically?

    I could probably compromise the blurays to 720p tbh.

    Blu-rays remuxed to main-movie only with two audio options and English subtitles run at about 35GB / piece. DVDs ripped to AUDIO_TS / VIDEO_TS folders for the main movie only come out at about 2/3 GB depending on the length. Obviously there's tons of space you could save by converting them to something else but I'm lazy, and storage is cheap. Clearly I'm lazy because I spent a few days ripping my movie collection to save me having to cross the room to the shelving unit to grab something to watch when Netflix doesn't cut it.

    4TB curently holds ~200 films, with me sitting at about ~65% disc space used.

    35GB seems like raw bluray too, eh?

    not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
  • acidlacedpenguinacidlacedpenguin Institutionalized Safe in jail.Registered User regular
    edited March 2013
    Foomy wrote: »
    Barcardi wrote: »
    See, obvious answer. Thanks for the prompt response.

    The last system i built was with a core 2, so i was kinda lost back then too.

    Ya it's a little weird that a 32-bit version of win7 exists, seeing as I don't think you can even buy an x86 32bit cpu new anymore. I guess you could maybe still get such a thing back in '09, but even then it was rare unless you were on real old hardware.

    Then again I guess they made a 32bit x86 version of win8 for some weird reason as well, I really can't see much of a demand for it.

    how else are you going to upsell your ignorant customers to more expensive OS options? "your laptop comes with 32bit Windows, but for $50 you can switch to 64bit! That's DOUBLE the bits!!!"
    With the exception of AAA titles on release day, anyways...

    which are still $10 cheaper than their console equivalents.

    acidlacedpenguin on
    GT: Acidboogie PSNid: AcidLacedPenguiN
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