Posts by Kimberly Gomez34

Exactly

You might also want to run some diagnostics on your hard drive using tools like CrystalDiskInfo or HD Tune. Additionally, running MemTest is a great way to check your RAM integrity.

What exactly was fixed, and how did you go about it?

Did you do a fresh Windows reinstall after swapping out the motherboard?

Uninstall the ASUS Suite first. If that doesn't fix the issue, try performing a CMOS reset.

It’s impossible to draw any meaningful conclusions from that screenshot; everything looks perfectly standard for stock settings.

By the way, you're running an 8320, though it's essentially the same thing—unless you overpaid for an AMD FX-8350.😬

If you're looking at an AMD card—just grab the AMD Radeon R9 290 for $2500$867, honestly, don't waste your money paying extra for an X model😁

If you aren't in an absolute rush—since the AMD FX-8300 shouldn't suddenly vanish from shelves—I’d suggest holding off just a bit. We are practically days away from new AMD graphics hitting the market, and if you're eyeing the NVIDIA GTX 970, there's a good chance prices might dip slightly then too. I caught wind of a rumor that stores are running low on the NVIDIA GTX 960 because domestic distributors are waiting to bundle everything, including NVIDIA cards, in one big shipment once the new AMD stuff arrives. If that turns out to be true, even if prices don't drop, you'll have much better availability for the NVIDIA GTX 970 (for instance, there was a Gigabyte NVIDIA GTX 970 listed at Best Buy for just over $967 a few days ago)

Did you realize that, if we set aside the sticky threads, this is actually the most active discussion in the entire desktop PC subforum? 😬

Take a look at the other photo above. Since the Tahiti chip is essentially the same architecture used in the 7950 and 7970, they likely just swapped in the cooler and fans from those models for this XFX dual-fan 7870 version. Either way, more cooling surface area is always a win.

edit:

http://linustechtips.com/main/galler...0-xttahiti-le/

As far as I recall, back here in the States, XFX and Sapphire offered those Tahiti 7870 cards with just a single fan for a very brief window.

XFX used to run different cooling setups back then—you had the single fan models, the dual fan versions, and then the Black Edition series. Yours looks exactly like one of those Black Editions.🤷

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/463...iew/index.html

http://i.nextmedia.com.au/Galleries/...xfx-7950-3.jpg

Robert Rodriguez2 said:1 x Dell Monitor 23", IPS panel, resolution : 1920x1080, diagonal
1 x CoolerMaster Devastator keyboard+ mouse, US layout, RED LED
1 x Gigabyte 970A-DS3P, AM3+, AMD 970 SB950, 4x DDR3 2000(O.C.)/1866
2 x DDR3 4GB (1x4GB) Crucial, 1600MHz CL11
1 x EVGA Graphics Card, Double Dissipation Edition GeForce GTX Series 933M
1 x HDD Seagate 1TB, Serial ATA III, 7200 rpm, ST1000DM003
1 x Zalman Z3 mid tower case. 192(W)x465(H)x430(D)mm. MB standard
1 x Power Supply FORTRON 550W Raider, RA550, 12cm fan
1 x Processor AMD FX-Series X8 8300 3.3GHz,16MB,125W,AM3+, FD8300WMHK
1 x Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo,2011,1366/1156/775/AM3/ 626g,13-32dB

$2222
www.newegg.com
They also stocked those FX 8300s, and they're actually cheaper than at the local shop downtown. I went ahead and spec'd out a beefier cooler for you; if you decide to overclock later, you won't have to go through the hassle of swapping it out.

👍

If you want to shave a few bucks off the cooler, you could just go with the Hyper T4. However, if you're planning on overclocking, it might be worth adding a little extra for a Scythe Ninja 3 or a Mugen Max.

It isn't just about those problematic single-threaded games (StarCraft II, World of Tanks, Total War...). For those titles, it honestly doesn't matter which CPU you pick because they'll absolutely crush them regardless—they are incredibly low-demand. Honestly, if that’s your only concern, you don't even need a high-end rig like this like

I’ve told you before, trying to grab everything in one go at a single local shop like Best Buy is going to be a headache because they almost always have something out of stock. Your only real options are to pay a premium elsewhere or hunt through various retailers to piece it together yourself.

What kind of games are you planning to run?

It’s doable, but it might get pricey—you’d likely need to compromise on either the GPU or the case if you want to fit a Micro ATX Zalman setup.

For instance, you could look at an Intel Core i5 4460 paired with an H81m-hds or a B85m-dgs (over at Micro Center), or maybe a B85m-hds. Or, if you don't care about having a USB 3.0 header on the front of your case, go with the MSI H81M-P33. Just make sure you pick a motherboard with a 3-year warranty, since most of them cost nearly the same anyway.

Two of these

$17Regarding the drive, check this link - Seagate is definitely the better pick, though this one does come with a longer warranty. As for everything else, I wouldn't touch them (CPU, motherboard, cooler). They don't even carry those motherboards... I'm honestly not sure if you'll even be able to find all that stuff in stock there.

Where did you pick that up? Just asking because I'm looking at a similar deal myself.

It’s a solid setup overall, though if it were my money, I’d probably swap in a Zalman ZM-Z1 instead—it isn't much more expensive and offers better features. I might also look for some cheaper RAM if the performance holds up, and perhaps go with an XFX 550W.

A more budget-friendly option:

Edit—even cheaper:

It’s just lower FPS and some stuttering—standard behavior when your hardware isn't quite beefy enough to handle specific settings or high-end gameplay. Nothing out of the ordinary. If I recall correctly, back when Watch Dogs launched, the requirements suggested you needed at least 3GB of VRAM to even touch the Ultra settings. I can't remember if it actually let you toggle them on or just recommended it, but honestly? Just dial the settings down and call it a day. If you're running a standard 1080p monitor, there's really no reason to stress about it sucking up all your resources.

You can certainly push 4GB of VRAM into 4K gaming if you have the overhead, but let’s be clear: having more memory doesn't necessarily guarantee better performance when comparing a 4GB card to an 8GB card.

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum...-tested-2.html

Comparing the 290X at 4GB versus 8GB in 4K shows negligible differences, except in a handful of specific titles.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...gb,3977-3.html

If you aren't even running a 4K monitor, those extra 4 gigs are essentially useless to you.

Bradley Lewis59 said:You make a fair point—there’s really no reason to pay that much extra. But if you had your heart set on something like an R9 295X2, you could have snagged one there for $333 less than you’d find at any retailer in the US.

I recall Uzi picking up an HD7990 for about $1000 cheaper than the next best option available in the States.🤣

Besides, shopping there is basically like ordering from Germany (since we don't have local importers, everything comes in from Italy, France, or Germany anyway). The prices are nearly identical; the main difference is just that our sales tax is higher than theirs. Plus, if you need to file a warranty claim, you deal with Uzi instead of shipping stuff across Europe.

X-Plosiv

On top of that, everyone I know who has used that shop has had nothing but great experiences. You aren't alone in thinking highly of them. I haven't pulled the trigger on a purchase there myself yet, though.

I’d honestly rather pay $33 a bit more at Micro Center (honestly, $2,800 is $33 peanuts) just to get that two-year warranty. It saves you the headache of dealing with Best Buy if something breaks, plus you aren't stuck paying $20-$30 for shipping
.

Why wouldn't someone with a 4K monitor and GTA V count as an average user?

A 4K monitor? No way that's an average user. Besides, if you look at the reviews for the 290 x, it's clear that even at 4K, there's basically no difference between the 4GB and 8GB versions in most games; in some smaller

Wanna buy me a brick for $1667? 😬

https://www.newegg.com/amd-ati-gpu/3...hics-card.html (this item is currently sold out 😕 )

It honestly surprises me that Gigabyte opted for a dual fan setup on a card like this instead of going with their 3x Windforce design. 🤷

http://www.bestbuy.com/detalji_prover...94CE92CCB.aspx

Best Buy posted it online, but it won't be in stock for a few days. crimsonstag84 is spot on—prices are always inflated right at launch. This could hit $900 pretty quickly, or who knows, maybe even $2,500 in a few months... Though, let's be real, those 8GB aren't doing much good for the average user anyway.