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Posts by Brian Campbell36

633 posts shown.

Gill01's Corner in Desktops ·
mellowskipper91 said:There are two straightforward reasons and one rather complicated one 😁
1. I paid full price for my motherboard $350 (EVGA-$267, ASUS-$366)
2. I require the available PCI slots
3. Since we are dealing with OSX, an EVGA board simply won't cut it

Now, I am merely waiting for the board to arrive so I can verify if my processor is still functional (i7 4770); if it isn't, we will head to the repair shop and attempt to secure at least a K-series version instead.😬

Is the processor still operational, or is it time to upgrade to a newer generation? 🍿

Are you satisfied with the motherboard they sent you, and have you managed to get everything configured properly regarding the hardware components?
Gill01's Corner in Desktops ·
Robert Rodriguez2 said:There is a significant possibility that the processor itself has failed.
It is arguably the most resilient component in the entire system, making it highly probable that every other part will succumb to failure well before the CPU does.

Is it not more likely that the new motherboard will fail before the processor even gives up the ghost?😁
Gill01's Corner in Desktops ·
mellowskipper91 said:There are two simple reasons and one slightly more complex one at play here. 😁
1. I paid full price for my motherboard, specifically choosing between an $350 (MSI Z97M Pro4, $267, or ASUS-$366)
2. I have a strict requirement for available PCI slots.
3. Since I am running OSX, the EVGA option simply isn't compatible with my needs.

Now, I am merely waiting for the board to arrive so I can verify if my processor (i7 4770) is actually functional. If it isn't, we will be heading straight to the repair shop to request at least a K-series version instead.😬

In my own experience, I invested in an ASUS motherboard $567, but after receiving a refund from Verizon (since the service center couldn't provide a compatible replacement), I ended up purchasing an EVGA board from $317!

Just as the community advised me earlier in this thread, there are times when a cheaper motherboard actually proves to be the more durable choice in the long run.🍿
Gill01's Corner in Desktops ·
mellowskipper91 said:Warranty approved. They’re offering me an MSI Z97M Pro4 as a replacement, but since I’d much rather have the ASUS Z97-K, I inquired if that was an option. If not, I’ll just take the MSI.

Update—they're actually sending the ASUS Z97-K. I'm happy as a clam. 🙂

Well, there's no way around it; you deleted the service thread. 🍿

But tell me, why didn't you just settle for an EVGA motherboard in the first place instead of fighting them to get the ASUS one?

If you want my opinion, I haven't had a single issue with EVGA boards so far, whereas my experience with ASUS motherboards has been nothing but constant battles—and frankly, I've lost every single one of them.😁
Gill01's Corner in Desktops ·
Alexander Moore67 said:First, I would suggest looking for $167 for each individual unit; however, if your primary objective is an immediate sale, you might consider simply giving them away for $400 apiece.

Is it actually worth $167?

The Intel vapor x dual fan model carries a warranty valid until October 2015, whereas the NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti OC edition is officially out of warranty (though a fellow expert applied new thermal paste to the GPU chip, and it is currently performing flawlessly)

I have no intention of giving these away for free; I firmly believe they are in excellent condition and possess the longevity to remain fully functional for another five years without issue🍿
How to sign up for Medicare in Business, Accounting & Taxes ·
ruggedmaker2 said:It’s been 8 days now 😲
And they seriously can't manage to put a simple notice on their own website? I guess that's just too much high-level rocket science for them. 👎
Total nightmare! I’ve been sitting here losing my mind, thinking I was the one messing something up. 🙂

Honestly, these government agencies... zero accountability, zero common sense.

In my experience, when I handle an enrollment or a termination through the online portal, the system processes everything automatically; within a day or two, I receive a confirmation via email from Medicare in a PDF format.
Gill01's Corner in Desktops ·
Robert Rodriguez2 said:Do you actually possess this card? $33 Is there truly any reason to pay that premium for an ASUS card when we could find something more budget-friendly that actually boasts a higher core clock? Wouldn't a slightly faster clock speed offer better value than simply paying for a brand name?

Is there any point in even discussing the value proposition of this specific graphics card anymore? One has to wonder if the market has simply lost its collective mind, or if we are all merely being swept along by the tide of fleeting hardware trends. Looking at the specifications for this R9 290 4G TOP version, does it truly stand up to the rigorous demands of modern computing, or is it nothing more than a relic of a bygone era attempting to masquerade as contemporary power? When one examines the build quality and the thermal management strategies employed here, can we honestly say that this level of engineering remains relevant in an age dominated by much more efficient architectures? It seems to me that we are constantly chasing benchmarks that shift like desert sands, leaving us to question whether such investments ever yield a genuine return for the discerning enthusiast. Are we buying performance, or are we merely buying the illusion of progress?

Is it not evident that the price point here remains significantly more competitive?

Will that graphics card actually fit inside my case? 🤔

Is there any point in even discussing the merits of mid-tower chassis design when one considers the sheer, unadulterated utility offered by the HAF XM? One must wonder if modern manufacturers have become too enamored with sleek, minimalist aesthetics at the expense of actual, functional cooling capacity. Does a case truly serve its purpose if it cannot facilitate the movement of air required to sustain high-performance components under heavy load? The HAF XM stands as a testament to a more pragmatic era of PC building. It eschews the superficial trends that plague so many contemporary designs, opting instead for an architecture that prioritizes thermal management above all else. When we examine the layout, can we not see the deliberate intention behind the ventilation patterns? Is it not obvious that this chassis was engineered for those who view their hardware not merely as a decorative centerpiece, but as a tool requiring rigorous environmental control? One might argue that the "High Air Flow" designation is little more than marketing jargon, yet upon closer inspection of the mesh density and fan placement, does the evidence not suggest otherwise? It provides a level of accessibility that most boutique cases simply refuse to offer, allowing for a degree of customization that feels both intuitive and necessary. If one seeks to build a machine capable of sustained productivity without the constant specter of thermal throttling, is it not logical to gravitate toward such a focused design?

It seems to me that its length is more than sufficient for any reasonable purpose; otherwise, I fear no one will ever show any interest in purchasing my two Sapphire 7770 OC Edition cards equipped with the Vapor-X dual fan cooling system.$150 komad) 🤔
Gill01's Corner in Desktops ·
Brian Campbell36 said:I just picked up a Dell GTX 980 OC, and now I’m looking to pair it with some decent headphones by $100 (maybe $17 if they're a good deal), preferably from Best Buy

Does anyone have any recommendations? 🤔

Update: I actually had to cancel my order for the Dell GTX 980 OC because all the cards priced at that discounted dollar rate were already spoken for.

They promised me delivery within a few days, but only if I paid at the higher exchange rate 🙂

I am considering picking up this GTX 980 instead, though it isn't the OC version 🤔. Is this specific model reliable? Does anyone here have hands-on experience with it?

http://www.newegg.com/product_info.php?c...ducts_id=14397
Gill01's Corner in Desktops ·
mellowskipper91 said:The motherboard has already been sent off for repair through the retailer; I am sincerely hoping they honor the warranty, as the damage was absolutely not caused by my own hand, but rather originated from the power supply. Regardless, we shall see how it unfolds.
As for the graphics card, if circumstances permit, I might have a friend submit the claim under their own name to avoid any direct link to me, allowing us to navigate the conversation more freely regarding which component actually failed. 😁
Since the 8-pin connector for the motherboard and the two additional power connectors for the GPU were all drawing from the same rail, isn't it entirely plausible that a failure in the power supply took out both components simultaneously? (I’ve since retired that old EVGA 850W unit!) 🤷

What is the consensus here—do you think the service center will actually approve the warranty claim?
Gill01's Corner in Desktops ·
mellowskipper91 said:The sticker on the screw holding the heatsink is torn. Your best bet would be to find an identical one online and mail it over to them for warranty purposes. 😁

PS: Here are some photos showing exactly what happened. 🐔
image

That is not going to work. Knowing how Best Buy’s service department operates, they will simply claim you tampered with the motherboard, which somehow caused the GPU to fail.
Gill01's Corner in Desktops ·
mellowskipper91 said:It's an ASRock Z87 Pro3; the computer just stopped working entirely. After looking it over, I've realized it wasn't some lightning strike or anything dramatic—the power supply is still functioning perfectly fine. I've already sent it off for warranty service, but what are the actual odds that they'll honor it? 😁

image

If the unit is still under warranty, and provided this failure isn't the result of user error or physical damage caused by you, they ought to honor the claim.

The only issue is that you’re likely looking at a significant wait time since you probably sent it to Best Buy instead of going directly to the manufacturer.
Expect to wait roughly two weeks just for them to perform the initial diagnostic, and then perhaps another week while they decide whether or not to approve the warranty claim.

In my estimation, they should accept the warranty, though you will inevitably be waiting about a month before it's resolved. 🍿
IRS and Tax Filing Issues in Business, Accounting & Taxes ·
Matthew said:I need to renew my certificates, but every time I attempt to log in, I am met with this persistent error: "Crypto device support is not ready. Please verify that the installed crypto device support is correct." How on earth does one resolve this?

The solution is actually quite straightforward.

I encountered the exact same issue myself, yet if you look closely at the top right corner of your screen, you will see that Chrome has blocked the page. Simply click on that blocked extension icon, select the option to "Always allow," then close out of Chrome entirely and relaunch it. Once you do that, you should find yourself granted access to the certificate reissue program without further complication.
Gill01's Corner in Desktops ·
I have recently acquired an R9 390 XFX (ASUS), and now I find myself contemplating the addition of a new headset by $100 (though I would certainly lean toward $17 if they truly represent a best buy), ideally sourced from Best Buy
.
Does anyone have any thoughtful recommendations to offer? 🤔
Gill01's Corner in Desktops ·
Larry Ortiz5 said:Are you people being serious right now? For heaven's sake, if you intend to play at resolutions higher than Full HD, don't even bother looking at a gtx 970. If your plan is to stick to 1080p, then by all means, go ahead and grab it.

My setup runs at a standard 1920x1080 resolution, ☕

And frankly, I have no intention of upgrading to anything superior at this stage. Is it not reasonable to assume that the R9 290, equipped with 4 GB of VRAM, possesses sufficient power to handle modern titles, particularly something like GTA V or Witcher 3?
Gill01's Corner in Desktops ·
Sean Garcia3 said:Personally, I was considering picking up a gtx 970 recently, but I ultimately decided against it due to those VRAM issues and the dreaded Coil whine. Besides, my current card—a gtx 760—is still quite capable, allowing me to run almost everything on maximum settings. Consequently, I’ve chosen to hold off for the upcoming AMD series, likely within the next six months or perhaps even sooner. Given that AMD typically offers better value and superior raw performance compared to NVIDIA, I find the wait perfectly acceptable. Until then, I will simply make do with these few older titles I have left on my gtx 970, and by this summer, I plan to hunt down a true beast that costs upwards of three grand. 😬

What exactly constitutes coil whine?

What is your take on whether I should invest in the R9 290 OC right now, or would it be more prudent to await the AMD 300 series? At present, I am in a position where my dual cf 7770 setup renders it impossible to play anything without dropping all graphical settings to the absolute minimum.
Gill01's Corner in Desktops ·
Sean Garcia3 said:And when exactly were we offering you advice to pick up a more budget-friendly card back when prices were actually reasonable, only to sell off a couple of older GPUs to bridge the gap? $500 Did you not listen to me when I discussed the gtx 970? I believe I was quite explicit in stating that I had no intention of purchasing graphics cards from that particular manufacturer. $833It seems you have finally pivoted your perspective, and now you can see for yourself that such an approach isn't actually a bad move.
It isn't as if dx 12 is going to become a mandatory requirement overnight, but one must admit that possessing a graphics card capable of supporting it is certainly a wise move. Why rush into such things? It will likely take some time before it truly becomes an essential standard. $200 If you are truly struggling with that gtx 970, why not simply ensure you have proper dx 12 support? Or, perhaps more effectively, why not act quickly and secure this r9 290 while it is still available? I would venture to bet that within the next forty-eight hours, the price will either climb or the card will be sold out entirely.

It appears to me that... $967 Is anyone else considering putting a Gigabyte gtx 970 into a futur build? If you are currently scouring the market for a decent graphics card, you might find yourself looking at this specific Gigabyte gtx 970. It is an interesting piece of hardware, but one must ask: does it truly hold up under modern scrutiny? When we examine the specifications provided by retailers like Newegg, we have to look beyond just the raw numbers on the box. Is the cooling solution sufficient for sustained loads, or will you be plagued by constant Coil whine once you start pushing the limits? One must consider whether the performance delta between this and a slightly older gtx 760 is actually worth the investment in today's landscape. While it remains a capable option for titles like GTA V or even a modest playthrough of Witcher 3, a discerning enthusiast should weigh the power draw against the actual frame delivery. Does the architecture justify the price tag, or are we simply paying for a legacy name?

🤣

What kind of talk is this regarding a gtx 970? The R9 290 OC is my primary choice, period. Do they really think the green camp can win me over with that ridiculous architecture where they split 4 GB into two separate segments—3.5 GB plus 512 MB? It simply won't happen. ☕
Gill01's Corner in Desktops ·
crimsonstag84 said:Then everything is set 😛


Everything is ready to go. My expectation for this card is that it will run GTA V on at least high settings 😁

There is a significant amount of money on the line here, and I am hoping this investment buys me some peace of mind for the next three years. My only real concern, however, is the possibility that within just a year, developers will be releasing titles built entirely around dx 12 🤔
Gill01's Corner in Desktops ·
crimsonstag84 said:It is unlikely that you will encounter a significant bottleneck; perhaps the GPU won't be fully utilized in certain titles, though I cannot say for certain. To address that, you have the Turbo multiplier available, which allows you to perform some overclocking by an additional 300 MHz 😬

The clock speed has been manually set to 3.7 GHz 😁

The RAM is running at 1600 MHz, whereas on my previous motherboard, the RAM was limited to 1333 MHz
Gill01's Corner in Desktops ·
crimsonstag84 said:It would be wise to move quickly if you intend to purchase this, as we are looking at old stock here; finding an R9 290 for anything less than $867 is becoming increasingly difficult.

Furthermore, will the I5 2320 act as a bottleneck in this configuration, or will the processor be capable of keeping pace with the GPU?🤔
Gill01's Corner in Desktops ·
Timothy Kim60 said:I suppose you believe your friend handed over more than three hundred bucks for that card back then, but I suggest you take a moment to face reality.

The very next generation saw the release of the GTX 780 vs HD 7970.

You can find used 280X cards going for around $100—$400 (and that includes a warranty).

Does it actually make sense to purchase what this fellow recommended;

EVGA GeForce GTX, NVIDIA GeForce, GTX 780, PCIe 3.0, 4096 MB

http://www.bestbuy.com/product_info.php?c...ducts_id=15922