Posts by Alex Harris32

Jason Harris5 said:In my experience, Corsair has never once let me down, whether we are talking about build quality or actual internal clearance. (rondo ( Links
If I were forced to spend that specific amount of money, I would personally opt for that Corsair unit simply because it actually provides room for a fan in the drive cage, even if the aesthetics are somewhat questionable. And look, you can hate me for saying this, but you could just go for the $143 Dragon series, which offers significantly more breathing room.

I have been running THIS setup for five years now, featuring a dual-processor board (equipped with two Spire socket A coolers), three 80mm fans in the drive cage, one 120mm exhaust, and a single 92mm intake. It remains remarkably quiet... and despite being packed with cards, there is still plenty of room to move around inside.

Corsair has my 👍

Haha, don't worry, I won't hold that against you. 😂

However, I must admit that none of these options really align with my personal taste; I would honestly sooner pick an NZXT, even if I find their designs rather unappealing.
I am certain that Corsair produces solid, high-quality chassis, but quite frankly, none of their current lineup appeals to me.
Furthermore, a heatsink definitely wouldn't fit in that penultimate option, as it barely fits in my Cooler Master 332, and this one is 180mm.

Regardless, thanks for the recommendation. 😉

I did happen to watch a review for the Corsair H series, and it seems quite capable; component temperatures actually run a few degrees cooler compared to the Corsair V3 be.
However, I find the aesthetic utterly repulsive, so I would much rather steer clear of it altogether.😁

To provide some context, I previously used an NZXT H series where I tried to fit a Cooler Master Hyper 212+ inside. It was a tight squeeze—the cooler was actually touching the side panel, leaving absolutely zero clearance, which I found rather irritating.

What about the fans?
My primary concern remains keeping those temperatures low. I wouldn't mind cramming six fans into the chassis if it meant superior airflow, provided the case stays sealed enough to keep the dust at bay.

By the way, in my previous builds, the power supply was mounted at the top, which meant the 12cm fan was blowing directly into the guts of the machine—downward.
All the models I've mentioned here feature bottom-mounted power supplies. In those setups, does that fan face inward toward the components or outward toward the "floor" of the case?
It seems more logical to point it inward, but since there are ventilation holes at the bottom—and I've even seen people orienting them toward the floor—I find myself somewhat perplexed by the variety of approaches.

I am listening to your recommendations, but I find myself wondering which option would truly be the superior choice up to $133?
My focus isn't merely on aesthetics; I am quite concerned with airflow efficiency, build quality, and similar technical merits.
One critical factor for me is the chassis width—it must be wide enough to accommodate this beast, the CM 212+, while still allowing the side panel to close properly.
Furthermore, it needs to be black 🙄

I have narrowed my search down to these three, though I am feeling rather indecisive about which path to take:
Corsair V3 Black edition -> this seems to be the most likely candidate for my purchase.
Corsair V4 Black edition -> honestly, this is probably the one I'd least prefer, as the design doesn't really appeal to me.
NZXT H series -> this is actually the most attractive option to me. The trouble is, I can't find it anywhere in New York City; apparently, AT&T has stock in San Diego, but when I gave them a call, they informed me it was currently unavailable.

Please feel free to offer other suggestions or insights for me to weigh 😉
And just to be clear, up to $133, I have absolutely no interest in hearing suggestions like "but there is this one available for $155..."

Thank you 😁

urbanmoose10 said:Alright, so will this setup actually handle Black Opsa on MEDIUM settings?

Anyone hanging out in the tech subforums who spends their time suggesting builds generally knows their stuff.
What I am trying to get at is that nobody here is looking to pull a fast one on you or peddle some overpriced junk.
If these guys have laid out a specific configuration for you, it means it’s solid, and in 99% of cases, you won't find a better value for that price point anywhere else.

As for the build they suggested and its ability to run Black Opsa, it will certainly handle MEDIUM without breaking a sweat.

urbanmoose10 said:http://www.ve-mil.com/product_details.aspx?product_id=1011345 so that includes the extra motherboard and the new RAM you mentioned

It’s a decent processor, I suppose, but it’s frankly outdated and far too expensive for what you actually get out of it.

Why make things more complicated than they need to be?

The builds we suggested featuring AMD components—complete with the motherboard and 2GB of RAM—cost about the same as this single processor alone.

And just a small word of advice from someone who has been around the block: stay away from Ve-Mil... seriously, never shop there.

slysurfer14 said:The monitor is barely a month old, so please don't suggest I should have opted for something with a 1280x1024 resolution—finding anything decent like that these days is nearly impossible anyway. Besides, this PC is three or four years old and isn't even my primary gaming rig; it just sits there for the occasional session when the kids are busy on their own computers...
For what it's worth, I work as an electrician, so you really don't need to lecture me on power supplies. I have a decent grasp of how this hardware functions.

I wasn't trying to be condescending, I was simply stating a fact.👍

Anthony Ramos6 As I have observed through many years of watching this industry spiral, one cannot help but feel a certain sense of weary resignation when reading such statements. It reminds me of an old colleague of mine from my days working in Chicago who used to insist that things would eventually stabilize, only to be proven wrong by every subsequent market crash. There is a profound, almost exhausting predictability to these cycles of hype and disappointment.
I find myself wondering about the current market value of the GTX 295, though I suspect the answer might be more elusive than one would hope in this volatile economy. It seems like just yesterday we were all navigating the complexities of hardware upgrades, yet here we are again, staring at price tags that feel increasingly arbitrary. One can't help but recall those long afternoons spent scouring enthusiast forums, hoping to find a decent deal before the prices spiked once more. Does anyone actually have a reliable figure on what it's going for these days?
Below. $1000 I suspect that isn't the case, is it?

When all is said and done, the GTX 470 stands out as the more pragmatic choice—it’s simply the better value for your money.

GTX 295 -> $1067 MagazinRS GTX470
I find myself once again staring at the technical specifications for the GTX 470, wondering if we are truly making progress or simply running in circles. It feels remarkably similar to those long afternoons I spent back in Chicago, waiting for outdated software patches that promised much but delivered very little. One begins to question whether the incremental leaps in hardware actually justify the inevitable descent into obsolescence. $767 MagazinRS GTX470

Mark Brooks72 said:I have a quick question for the group:

Is the GTX 295 actually more powerful than the GTX 470 or the 460 1GB?

The GTX 295 holds its own against the GTX 460

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/168?vs=180

As for the GTX 470, the GTX 295 still maintains a slight edge according to the data here.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/168?vs=160

slysurfer14 said:You experts always seem to find a way to criticize what I have before you actually bother giving an answer...
My PC has been running reliably for about three or four years now, and my question was quite simple: recommend a graphics card better than a GeForce 8500 GT for a reasonable amount of money so this machine lasts another two or three years without my kid complaining about lag while he plays his games...
Right now, he’s playing World of Warcraft, and he can't afford any frame drops because the graphics stutter when he's trying to position his units...
So, to put it plainly: what is a budget-friendly card that beats the 8500 GT?

Fair enough; we might critique a user's suggestion occasionally, but it's usually because we intend to provide a significantly superior solution.
If you had consulted anyone when you originally bought the computer, you likely would have had a much smoother experience. 😉

The issue is glaringly obvious from one specific detail: pairing a FullHD monitor with an 8500GT.
Who on earth would actually do that? 🙄
I assume the monitor was an upgrade purchased long after the PC was built, but honestly, you should have stuck to a lower resolution given your current hardware specs.

But fine, let's say we just blindly suggest an XFX HD4870 1GB, which is currently a $350 (best buy) at Protis, without even asking what kind of power supply you are running.
You go out, buy it, and plug it into your existing power supply.
The potential outcomes are predictable:
1. The computer won't even boot.
2. It might boot, only for something to fry because the power supply is low quality.
3. It might actually run well enough to play for a bit, until it constantly crashes due to insufficient wattage.
4. You eventually return to this forum to ask why any of the above happened...

That is precisely why having a high-quality power supply is non-negotiable; more powerful cards demand it.

I am inclined to agree with cosmicfox31's suggestion. 👍

slysurfer14 said:The power supply is 400W, but I'm not sure about the motherboard specs, and I'm running at 1920x1080 resolution.

Where might I be able to find the specific details regarding my motherboard?

http://www.piriform.com/speccy

You should be able to pull the motherboard information from there, or perhaps via CPU-Z if you already have that installed on your system.

You mentioned a 400W power supply. Who is the manufacturer?
If it’s some off-brand unit you picked up at a local discount shop, I highly doubt it will handle even a moderately powerful graphics card without buckling.
To be perfectly honest, the processor and memory you're looking at aren't really up to par for anything approaching $333.

It would likely be more sensible to put together a used configuration—something featuring a processor up to $167 paired with an $167.

Jeremy Richardson8 said:In the end, I pulled the trigger on this one... and honestly, it’s decent. What do you all think? xD
http://uk.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID...Sgb&templete=2

You really are a stubborn one, aren't you...

I suppose the question remains: is the shopkeeper going to play the game on it, or are you?

Neither of these cards was ever truly intended to handle modern gaming, but if you find yourself absolutely forced to choose between them, I would suggest going with the Radeon HD 4650 👍

As far as compatibility goes, you really shouldn't have anything to worry about.

The only legitimate concern I can see would be whether your hardware can actually handle the load—specifically your RAM, because if you want to play this smoothly without everything grinding to a halt, you’re going to need at least 2GB to enjoy it properly.

Morgan Moore37 said:Is that really all there is? I was under the impression that I would receive a more substantial array of suggestions, critiques, or even just a few thoughtful responses to the question I posed at the end of my message.

Honestly, what more is there to say? 🙂

The EVGA 4850 is essentially the same as any other 4850 on the market; if you take a moment to browse through some online reviews, you will see that its reputation is quite solid among enthusiasts.

If you are still feeling uncertain, you could always turn to YouTube to watch some gameplay footage and see how it actually handles modern titles.

EVGA 4850

Jason Lopez2 said:Hello there. I have a quick question...

I am currently torn between these two graphics cards:

1.)Sapphire Radeon HD4890 2 GB Vapor-X ($400)
2.)ATI Sapphire Radeon HD5770 ($300)

Just tell me, which store on earth did you manage to find that 4890 2GB—especially the Sapphire Vapor-X model—for only $400? 😲

I was scouring the shops just yesterday and could only find a single 1GB version priced at $250 or even more.

Fine, you guys can keep acting like experts, but I’ve never had any faith in those power supplies myself. 😁

Regarding the CPU, I still suspect it’s just too weak to really push that 4890 to its limits. Personally, everything runs smoothly on my 4870 now that I’ve bumped it up to 3.4GHz; back when I was sitting at 2.8GHz with the multiplier at x3, it didn't exactly perform like it was supposed to, and I actually had to dial back my settings—things like AA and AF—just to keep things stable.
The other issue is that if someone actually intends to overclock, then fine, but the real question is whether they actually have the technical know-how to pull it off without breaking something. 🙂

I notice you're working with a high-resolution monitor, which inevitably demands a significant amount of graphical muscle if you actually intend to play anything.

While Fortron produces quite decent power supplies, for cards of this caliber—especially the 4890—it is generally recommended to have at least 500W on hand -> http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon...review-test/11

Another issue that might make you hesitate regarding the 4890 2GB is your processor; frankly, I find it hard to believe it would be capable of extracting the absolute maximum performance from such a card.

My suggestion would be to opt for the 5770 1GB instead; it sits right in the same tier as the 4870, which means it is more than capable and won't leave you struggling during gameplay 👍

With those extra $100 dollars, you wouldn't be able to afford a better power supply anyway, but I still strongly advise addressing it, because no one can give you a definitive guarantee as to whether a 400 W unit will actually suffice or simply fail under load.

If you do decide to pick up a new power supply, just grab a reliable brand name unit (like Fortron or OCZ...) rated at 500W MINIMUM.

The Radeon 4850 is a remarkably capable card, and you’ll certainly notice a significant leap in performance compared to the 8800 GTS 320 MB, provided you aren't bottlenecking it with an underwhelming processor.

bluehawk3 said:Lately, I've been dealing with these constant blue screens on my Windows 7 machine that just force a full system reboot. It seems to trigger whenever I'm downloading files through uTorrent; after a little while of active downloading, the crash happens. The error message mentions NETIO.SYS and some sort of driver issue, though I can never quite catch the specifics before the screen goes dark... does anyone have any insight into what might be causing this?

thanks

I went through the exact same headache a while back. Honestly, even a clean reinstall of the OS didn't seem to touch the problem.
In my experience, the fix usually comes down to staying current with your Windows updates; ever since I made sure everything was fully patched, those crashes stopped entirely.

If you haven't installed the American English grammar tools within Microsoft Office, you’re essentially flying blind without any way to fix those errors.

Your best bet is to head over to the Microsoft website and download the English Language pack.