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Posts by Adam Reyes64

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GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post) in Desktops · Jul 18, 2020

Just checking in for a moment.

Ever since I installed those drivers mentioned above, the issues with my graphics card and the monitor shutting off have completely vanished. Honestly, the card is fantastic—both in terms of sheer performance and value. I’ve spent quite a bit of time trying to push this thing to its breaking point by running demanding games, attempting to induce freezes or tank the frame rates, but so far? Nothing. It hasn't budged. And let’s be real: buying something more powerful would have been an expensive mistake and total overkill for this specific build, given there wouldn't have been any noticeable performance gain (thanks for the guidance on that!). This thing handles everything I throw at it on high settings without breaking a sweat.

Well, take note! I have a nearly identical setup, and after seeing how well this works, I finally caved—I ended up picking one up for myself too.😁

GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post) in Desktops · Jul 7, 2020

I have finished analyzing the data from HWinfo. There were absolutely no deviations from the expected references. However, I believe I have finally stumbled upon the root of the issue.

To be precise, I noticed in Device Manager that both the PCIe controller and an 'unknown device' were missing. This occurred following a DDU uninstallation of the drivers, but since everything seemed to be functioning perfectly fine, I assumed no action was required. After all, what is a couple of small yellow exclamation marks? I see them constantly.

Neither incantations nor magic could force the installation of this PCIe component or the unknown device. I performed yet another clean installation of the latest Nvidia drivers along with GeForce Experience. Everything proceeded without incident, yet the drivers still failed to appear in Device Manager. Even after updating Winsi, the system failed to locate the drivers, even after attempting to search for and uninstall them manually.

I attempted to use the drivers provided by the motherboard manufacturer, but they simply reported that they could not be installed for a specific device—the usual "unknown/unable to find" nonsense.

I set out to investigate the identity of that unknown entity, and lo and behold, I found it! They are the Nvidia drivers for USB and USB-C. It appears Nvidia neglected to include these specific drivers in their standard installation package.
We are talking about the "Fresco Logic xHCI (USB3) Controller" and the "Nvidia USB Type-C Port Policy Controller." I downloaded the former manually, but even that proved futile, as there is no recognized device for them to attach to.
In the meantime, my monitor began shutting off again, displaying that infuriating "HDMI Power Saving" message. While Winsi continues to run in the background, the screen remains black and refuses to wake up. The only remedy is a hard reboot.

And so, to conclude how I eventually resolved this mess:
I installed Driver Booster 7, which updated several drivers to newer revisions, though it did nothing to address the two primary issues. I then tried the same approach with Driver Easy. I spent time scouring the internet, searching through the endless void of "PCIe missing, failed, unknown, solved, download..." until I finally encountered Driver Updater. Upon scanning, it immediately identified the missing PCIe and the second 'unknown' device. It asked if I wished to install them; I said yes, of course, and—presto!—the yellow exclamation marks vanished. 😁 Or rather, they moved under USB controllers. They are technically installed now, but given the nature of the OS and the HW, they cannot actually be utilized, so it makes no difference. I have no intention of deleting them.
The Nvidia audio drivers were also installed; I don't need them since I use Realtek, but I shall leave them be. One wouldn't want to delete something only to realize later it was necessary for some obscure reason. 🙄

There you have it. Perhaps this experience will prove useful to someone else struggling with an Nvidia card. BTW, for the last two days, the computer (or rather, the monitor) hasn't shut down once. It has been running 24/7 under constant, intense gaming loads. In other words, I am actively provoking it to fail.

Here is how they were renamed and finally appeared in Device Manager:
(image)[/IMG]

GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post) in Desktops · Jul 5, 2020

urbanheron4 said:Well, I am glad you are satisfied. However, I fail to see why you wouldn't just move to Windows 10. You would gain a bit more FPS and finally get access to DX12. Besides, support for Windows 7 was officially discontinued at the start of this year, which means security patches have dried up. If you do decide to switch to Windows 10, do yourself a favor and perform a clean install rather than an upgrade.
I haven't played Verdun myself, but word on the street is the optimization is abysmal; the community is constantly complaining about bugs. There is some strange workaround floating around for the pixelated graphics, so perhaps give that a shot.

https://www.reddit.com/r/VerdunGame/...t_look_blurry/

It was "designed" to run on Windows 7, apparently. ☕ btw, some games simply don't support DX12, so...
Verdun has been downloaded and promptly forgotten. It wasn't quite intense enough to serve as a proper stress test for the GPU. A failed attempt.😁

btw, here is the issue, though I am unsure if it pertains to the GPU. I am not trolling, but perhaps it has something to do with the graphics card output. A friend mentioned he is getting that "HDMI Power Saving" error again. He was trying to hack something, and then the game froze solid. Alt+Tab, Alt+F4, or Win + d. won't do a thing. The only solution is to force the PC off using the power button, and once it restarts, the Winsi come back up. If this happens again, I might actually have to buy the computer from him and pay him the difference.🙂

If anyone has any insight into what is going on, please let me know. 🙏

GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post) in Desktops · Jul 4, 2020

Mission accomplished! 👍

Yesterday, I wiped all my drivers using DDU—smooth sailing so far. I restarted the PC, shut it down, swapped out the old card for the new one, plugged in the 1m HDMI cable I’d just bought, and thought, "That's it." But knowing my luck, I had a feeling it wouldn't be that simple. I power up the computer, but the monitor remains dead. It just sits there in standby mode, refusing to pick up any signal. I can't even get into the BIOS to check if some "energy-saving" or "sleep" setting is causing the headache. I scoured the internet for answers, but found nothing useful. So, I tried the classic trick: unplugged both the PC and the monitor, waited a few minutes, and hit the power button before unplugging to drain any residual voltage.

I started tinkering with everything. The HDMI cable was brand new, included with the graphics card. Part of me thought it would be wise to test a different cable, but I really didn't feel like unplugging the home theater system or the TV. Then, inspiration struck! While I was out buying the card this morning, my wife had the cable technician over because we had an appointment to swap out our modem and TV box. I remembered there was an HDMI cable sitting right there in the box. 🎉
Alright, let's see if I can rule out this theory. I plug in the cable from the box and—presto—everything works perfectly! I have absolutely no clue what the issue actually was, but it works. To be fair, the new one is much nicer: braided, short, and gold-plated. That plain black one was ugly, basic, and far too long. Still, it goes to show: "all that glitters is not gold." 😁 One shouldn't rush to grab the diagnostic tools, call tech support, or summon friends and forums at the first sign of trouble.

Now, I'm installing the drivers I downloaded last night. Everything is running beautifully on Windows 7—Arma, Far Cry, MFS... they all run great. The only outlier is the graphics in Verdun. It looks terrible—blurry, pixelated, as if anti-aliasing doesn't even exist—even though the frame rate is steady. Well, whatever, I'm not about to hack the code. Uninstalled.

Had I been the one choosing, I probably would have gone for the "Ti" version, but based on your comments, that would have been total overkill. I agree.
The Control Panel works fine; the setup is intuitive, and personally, I find it much better organized than the AMD/Radeon software. The card is quiet and gets a solid 5/5 from me!

A warning to the younger generation!
The bottom part of the card is encased in plastic that might cause issues of a reproductive nature: "as stated in the text." 🤣 Essentially, it's like a printer without paper. The device functions, but it won't produce copies, if you catch my drift! D 🎉 Not that it matters to me; I've already become a grandfather several times over. 🧐
HINT: read the text on the back of the box

Thanks to everyone for the helpful advice and recommendations! If you're in the neighborhood, stop by for a BBQ and some beer. 🙏 🙂

GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post) in Desktops · Jul 2, 2020

Adam Moore3 said:Use DDU to wipe everything old, then just download the fresh drivers. It’s as simple as that. 🎉

Thanks!
I haven't personally used that software before, but I’ve downloaded it and gone through the instructions. Fine. I will disconnect from the internet, use DDU to completely uninstall and scrub those old drivers away.

Jonathan Barrett said:Just make sure you grab the standard drivers instead of the DCH version.

Thanks! I've already grabbed these

GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post) in Desktops · Jul 2, 2020

urbanheron4 said:Don't touch that first option for that kind of money; it isn't even the premium version, which means it uses slower GDDR5 memory. It’s just sluggish.
I have no idea where you are shopping, but that Gainward card from Best Buy that analogtiger19 mentioned is a decent enough deal. In my estimation, you should either grab that one or the Gigabyte model I suggested to you. It costs a bit more, but it comes factory overclocked right out of the box, which isn't a bad thing.

Fine, that settles it.
I just reserved it at Best Buy. I'm picking up "your" Gigabyte GTX 1660 Super OC tomorrow morning. That Ghost model (no. 47) is excellent too, but since the price difference is negligible, I'll go this route.

On another note, I spent today driving around, behind, in front of, above, and below the Best Buy 😁 There wasn't a single damn parking spot to be found. They had chains stretched out both in front of the store and across their own lot. To make matters worse, there were grocery vendors scattered all over the place. Just as I was about to pull up in front of the service center, I was suddenly confronted by a parking enforcement officer. It was an immediate N>D>gasss 😁 Perhaps I would have picked up my graphics card today, but in the end, I gave up on the whole ordeal of circling the block. I've been a customer at Best Buy since they were nothing more than a small shop in a garage. I even have their loyalty card for discounts, so... luck clearly wasn't on my side regarding parking.🙄

BTW, once I uninstall all my current drivers, is simply downloading the latest ones from the web sufficient for this GTX card? Is there any other complicated nonsense I need to worry about?

I will report back with the results.
Thanks everyone!

GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post) in Desktops · Jul 2, 2020

Thanks for all the advice and guidance, everyone! I'm heading out for some shopping tomorrow morning. 😛
The PC build is complete and everything is functioning perfectly, though I've currently got an old GPU slapped in there just to run stability tests. I managed to pick up two Molex-to-3-pin adapters to power those two extra case fans. Honestly, I was already prepared to suffer without them. ☕ Since the motherboard only features a single 4-pin header, this was definitely 🙄
.
Here is my shortlist. If you don't get back to me by morning, I might just end up making a very questionable decision. 😁

Gainward GTX 1660 Ghost OC 6GB - GDDR5 = $650
Gigabyte GTX 1660 Super OC 6GB - GDDR6 = $710
Gainward GTX 1660 SUPER Ghost OC 6GB - GDDR6 = $733
ASUS Dual RX 5600 XT, 6GB - GDDR6 = $757

GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post) in Desktops · Jun 30, 2020

urbanheron4 said:Given the price point and your current setup, the GTX 1660 Super is quite clearly the ideal choice. Should you encounter any significant bottlenecking? I highly doubt it. At this resolution, even with everything cranked up to maximum settings, you should easily be pushing at least 60 FPS.
I suspect you won't be needing any more of this, will you?

Is there truly any point in browsing through these listings if one isn't prepared for the inevitable disappointment? I find myself staring at this product page on the Adm website, wondering why we even bother looking for deals that seem just out of reach. Does anyone actually believe they can find a bargain in this market without feeling a sense of profound exhaustion? It’s all just endless scrolling through specs and prices that never quite align with reality.

Unless you're prepared to shell out an extra couple hundred bucks for a superior cooler, you aren't getting much more. Is a better thermal solution really worth that kind of premium?
If you simply add another 8 GB of RAM and migrate over to Windows 10, can you really say you're set? In my estimation, that should keep this machine functional and reliable for at least another five or six years. Is it enough? Perhaps. But it’s certainly better than doing nothing.

Well, that finally took long enough—I actually needed a specific model and some actual data! Thanks !! But honestly, why did you have to jump straight to the most expensive option? 😁
I was just browsing their website, looking over that link you sent me, when suddenly a Storm popped up right in my face. Isn't that just typical?
I am truly saddened to have to ask this, but what exactly is the difference between "your OC" model and the Palit GTX 1660 Ti StormX with 6GB of GDDR6? Is there anything beyond that? $33Is it actually worth the investment? $33 What is the actual difference when using this Storm model? Are we just talking about minor nuances in benchmark scores and perhaps some negligible 0.5% margin, or is there some actual logic behind that price gap? Honestly, this question has been driving me absolutely insane for days.

Look at this. I am staring at two identical graphics cards, and frankly, it’s enough to drive a person mad. How can they be exactly the same? Is anyone actually paying attention anymore? To Adm. I am at a loss. What exactly are you attempting to communicate? LinksSo, tell me—is there actually a measurable difference here? Or am I just chasing ghosts? Do you truly understand the sheer frustration gnawing at me right now? 🎉

GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post) in Desktops · Jun 30, 2020

Hello everyone,

I fear I might actually lose my mind and hurl this entire machine out the window before I finish building it! 😵

Here is the situation. I am assembling a PC and I am down to the final step: installing the GPU. This is where everything has fallen apart. I look at these cards and I can make absolutely no sense of the endless sea of names, models, and versions. Just when I think I have found one, I stumble upon a review that tells me, "Absolutely not!" Instead, they suggest a "Ti" model. Then I find another one where they swear by God that the "Ti" version is a mistake and I should just stick to a standard OC model.
Trying to navigate online comparisons has become a total nightmare. Instead of dreaming about anything pleasant, I spend my nights haunted by a chaotic mess of XFX, OC, Ghost, Ti, Palit, Zotac, Storm, Pulse, TX, Super Twin, 5500 GTX, Pegasus... it never ends. 😁

In short, I need a graphics card that can actually handle modern games decently. I don't need
extreme overclocking capabilities, nor do I need to crank every setting to Ultra—but I certainly won't settle for Low or Medium settings just to get a playable frame rate. I want something that doesn't stutter, has reliable drivers, and is whisper-quiet; I don't want it sounding like a neighbor using a leaf blower next door. Aside from gaming, I will also be doing some light video editing.

** Current specs:

An OC 750W power supply with a 6+2 pin connector for the GPU if necessary.
Processor is an i7-4790K (stock, not overclocked).
Motherboard is an ASUS H81-Plus.
RAM is G.Skill DDR3, 2x4 GB (dual channel).
Case is a Corsair Crystal Series Case.
Windows 10 64-bit.
Intel SSD 250GB + Seagate HDD 500GB.
Dell UltraSharp (1920x1080)—likely with DVI or HDMI input.

For now, I have an old Radeon R7 200 with 1GB of RAM sitting in a drawer, but I can't use it because I am building this machine specifically to perform well under pressure until we can get it delivered safely. 😁
My absolute maximum budget is $767, though that is only if it is the only way to ensure this configuration runs like a dream. Anything less than that would be a massive win. As they say, "less is more." 🤣 For example, somewhere between $xy and $1600. $567 I would prefer GDDR6 memory, and if 8GB isn't strictly necessary, 6GB is fine, or even 4GB if needed. The most critical constraint is the length; it must be no longer than 27 cm to fit in the case without a struggle. There isn't room for anything else in there—not even dust!

(!!) I need this ready for shipment by 2:00 PM this Friday. I don't have a specific brand preference, but I refuse to put some bottom-tier, junk manufacturer inside this build. Oh, and the card must come with a warranty. As for everything else, I'll take responsibility myself; if it doesn't work, so be it. 🙂

Can anyone please help me?

Just testing things out in Forum Help! · Jul 4, 2006

I suppose I should offer my "congratulations" as well...

Bravo, Amy Taylor74... Sit down! A solid five out of five for commitment!

Just testing things out in Forum Help! · Jul 3, 2006

Sophia Castillo35 said:🙂

Lol... thanks for the smile, I guess, but where exactly did I go wrong here? Wasn't that asterisk supposed to indicate a mandatory field on your end, or did I just completely misconfigure something?

Regardless... with the asterisk or without it... IT WORKS.

F**a unknown

unknown🙏

Just testing things out in Forum Help! · Jul 3, 2006

Daniel Chase83 said:Sure, but look at what she actually wrote—she said to remove the asterisk 👍

Wait... hold on... this is exactly how she phrased it in her post:

...So I'll just write the code and insert an asterisk * into it....

Really?

(Let me see if I can actually remember this...)

So, on the webpage, it's explained like this...

(LOL... IT WORKS... UGH... HAHAHA... what a total stupidon

Just testing things out in Forum Help! · Jul 3, 2006

http://www.google.com

Page - this is yours....

now mine...
google

ISSUE.... THANK GOD..!!! (and thanks to you too, Daniel Chase83... lol)

BTW... I thought there was an icon for "insert link," where you type the "link name" and then another window pops up for you to paste the actual URL.. But whatever..
As you can see, sometimes saying things a hundred times is just common sense.... lolol

Just testing things out in Forum Help! · Jul 3, 2006

Daniel Chase83 said:Is this what you meant?
HTML Code:
Website

You end up with this: Website

..thanks..oh yeah!...that...But dammit...back in the day (I don't know, maybe back when we were using the "old forum," I think there was an icon for this...I'm not entirely certain...but let me give it a shot...)

[*URL="http://www.google.com";]SEARCH UNTIL YOU'RE BLUE IN THE FACE[/URL] - clearly not like this...

How about this..?
[*url=http://www.website.com]Website Name[/url]
[*url=http://www.google.com]SEARCH UNTIL YOU'RE BLUE IN THE FACE[/url]

This is how "Desire" explained it—but it just doesn't work for me.

Just testing things out in Forum Help! · Jul 3, 2006

I can certainly include a standard URL—you know, the one starting with http... but I've completely blanked on the syntax. How does one format it so the post just displays "Saint Peter," yet clicking the text redirects you straight to the site? Essentially, I want to hide the raw link within the text.

How on earth did I forget such a basic thing? 😠

Why is this moving at a snail's pace? in Forum Help! · Mar 24, 2006

ilbestione said:🙏 🙏 🙏

Man, seriously? 🙏

.... and the Midwest ..!!...
😬

Why is this moving at a snail's pace? in Forum Help! · Mar 21, 2006

gentlecanyon92 said:I took a quick look through your account settings, and I think everything should be running smoothly now 😉

😬 ... bravo..!... IT WORKS...!

The next round of drinks is on me!

Why is this moving at a snail's pace? in Forum Help! · Mar 18, 2006

Walter Fowler53 said:Just let him be; you can tell his forum is lagging🤣 🤣

Seriously... are you just posting nonsense here to prove you exist? Or do you actually have a coherent response to what I asked? What kind of ridiculous excuse is "my forum is slow"?

It isn't my "forum" that's slow—it's the page loading speeds!!!

Try thinking before you post... This isn't some instant messaging chat where you feel obligated to chime in on every single comment with your own little observations...

X for the advice and the deep philosophical debate regarding "forum loading times"...😬 😬

(Yeah, right!!)

Why is this moving at a snail's pace? in Forum Help! · Mar 18, 2006

Nancy Moore3 said:What do you mean you turned off your post count a long time ago? 🤣

Really, what do you mean "what kind of counter"... I am talking about the one that tracks your total post count since the day you registered. Honestly... just go into your account settings and look! I disabled mine ages ago... but whatever!!

Why is this moving at a snail's pace? in Forum Help! · Mar 14, 2006

** gentlecanyon92... honestly, do you just live to lecture others? I have significantly more posts than you anyway, even if I did disable my post counter ages ago. So, please, let's not pretend this is about volume...!

whatever....Thanks for the "insightful" debate..😕

🙂