Any PC Builders Out There?

That sucks, hope they take care of you.

You'll find fanboys on both sides of the fence here. I'm a fence hopper, lol, and I worked at AMD when the original Athlon was released. I was an AMD fanboy for a time until VIA had their chipset issue, and then I needed a new computer at a time when a new generation was just being released and couldn't find anything that was stable (I was an independent software developer at the time, so having a working, stable computer fed my family). I swapped to Intel, even paid double for an Intel-branded motherboard, and I didn't look back for a long time. My all-Intel builds for me and my kids were always super stable, even if not the fastest thing you could buy.

Since that time, AMD took over designing their own chipsets like Intel does, and stability improved. The 3rd-party board makers have also improved, although new product launches are always a bit risky to jump on early. Most go fine, but the recent 7950X issue is an example of what can go wrong. But, I don't shoot for the high-end anymore, and AMD provides a stable mainstream platform with great value. All my family boxes are AMD now.

 

I find the SuperMicro boards to be trouble-free and worth the extra expense.
The glow of a cheap price is far overshadowed by problems with cheap gear.

I remember the Athlon well, and placed it in many client builds.
Then came the endless VIA chipset hassles... then the AMD video driver grief... so never, never again for me.
Any money I made by using VIA, etc, was long gone when I lost my ass in call-backs.

 

I had a 7600K flat out fail on me. It happens.

 

Note to future PC builders:

When building your PC, take every little bitty screw that comes with your motherboard, and install them in their dedicated space, even if they're not being utilized at the time, for future needs. Went to install a 2nd SSD in my PC and wife's PC for some extra game storage, and didn't have any screws to secure them down. Out of all of the teeny tiny screws I kept for literally everything else in the PC, in a nicely organized and labeled small tackle box, I had everything except that size screw. Well, technically I had that size in multiple lengths, but not with the proper and large enough head to capture the SSD. I ended up just buying a kit off Amazon, so now I have 100+ other micro/teeny tiny screws that will serve no other purpose lol. Lesson learned I guess! I'm positive I threw those screws away thinking I'd never need any more storage.. I was wrong.

 

Those kits are the best. Not just for PC's but all sort of small electronics. Never fun to drop and screw in the abyss and be stuck lol

 

I definitely believe that! Because I took apart nearly every junk electronic/remote/etc I had laying around the house scavenging for the right sized screw before buying the kit lol. I ended up having some teeny torx screws the perfect size holding on a pocket clip on a pocket knife, but figured I better just buy the kit and do it right, and not leave my favorite knife without a pocket clip lol.

 

I still have my small PC parts bins that have been filling since we started building 486s. Historically both sides of my family were rural people who didn’t throw away anything useful and in my grandfather’s words, “never throw out chain or fasteners because you can’t make either”.

Father made me help take apart broken appliances and electronics so that I could see how they worked and to learn how to repair them if possible. When my son turned five I bought him a tool bag with a small assortment of screwdrivers in it. Every birthday, report card with approves grades, and Yule nets him more tools for his bag. Anything that needed work in the house that required the tools he had involved him learning how to do the repair or install. If it’s broken by repair then he takes it apart to learn how it went together. He’s fourteen now and services and builds 2-stroke dirt bike engines for himself and as a side hustle. Right now he has a few VW Type 1 air cooled engines that he’s learning how to work on. When the parts for his first PC arrive he’ll be part of that assembly too.

 

I just unlocked a new expensive hobby (like I didn't have enough of those..)


Keychron q1 knob with some banana switches and their keycaps. First time building a keyboard, pretty fun experience. I havea a 10 key coming soon too thats also hotswappable and VIA programmable that I plan on turning into a macro or editing pad for video stuff.

 

I really thought about building out a keychron fullsize for work.. then I remembered how stupid that would be, since I spend more of my week working outside my office than in, and also considering it'd probably grow legs being in a shared space. I still may just buy a cheaper off the shelf board, but would love to build one out one day.

 

Ive ended up buying all sort of "kits" off Amazon over the years. Its nice having all the small little screws you could ever need. Doesnt help either that theres nowhere close to me to get anything under M3/4 size stuff. And even the M3/4 stuff they have is very limited

 

Very true. Called my local hardware store and the guy must've thought I was high when I asked if he had any M2 screws in-store. I'd say the kit has pretty much already paid for itself; it allowed me to install my SSD, wife's SSD, and now brother needs a screw for his new SSD lol. I didn't think I'd ever need to keep any of the "extras" I didn't use when I built my PC, but I guess when it comes time to build my 2nd PC one day, I'll remember the little things like this (I hope!).

 

ACE Hardware stocks M2

 

Lol I kept all the extra screws over the years from stuff. Problem is I tossed them in a ziplock bag so it's quite annoying to actually find the one you need.

Mine doesnt

 

They can order them for you. You can also order from McMaster-Carr or try a local Fastenal store. My Fastenal guy likes it when I call or come in because he knows I’m going to after odd-ball stuff.

 

Every machine I get as a customer-throwaway is cannibalized for spare parts and hardware.
HP machines use a proprietary torx type screw head with their aluminum screws... annoying.
The only screws I find devilishly hard to come by, are the disk cage mounts for hot-swap server bays.
Otherwise, I have them all organized in Harbor Freight parts boxes for easy access and inventory.

I can only imagine the shipping expense from McMaster and the other vendors.
Check into the e-waste places as a casual source for hardware.

 

Here we go…

 

A 4090 sure would be nice

 

The last PC I built was with me for eight years before I gave it to a mate. I’ll spend a little on this one with the hopes of getting the same or greater service life. My son isn’t fond of my decision to omit the strip club lights.

 

My 6700k build was with me a good 6-7 years but I also had 1080TI's in SLI

Light CAD work and 2K gaming tells me my 13600k with RTX3080 will net me another 6-7 years or maybe more

Strip club lights are pretty much standard