Posts by Brian Campbell36

I wanted to reach out and ask you all something. I’ve heard from administration that an MBO delivery is scheduled for tomorrow, which would be wonderful news in theory, but there is a significant complication: none of us will be home until after 3:00 PM.

If this shipment arrives during the morning hours, there simply won't be anyone available to receive it. This leads me to a specific inquiry: if the courier fails to make contact, does the MBO service return the package to the local branch office, the main USPS facility, or directly to the City Express headquarters?

Where exactly would it be possible to pick up this parcel? As I have already established, neither I nor anyone else in my household will be present tomorrow morning to accept an MBO delivery should it arrive prematurely.🤔

Larry Ortiz5 said:I haven't been following this thread from its inception, so I may be lacking the full context—please correct me if my understanding of the situation is flawed. However, if you are planning on swapping out your motherboard for a new one, wouldn't it be prudent to perform a clean installation of Windows? Given that any new motherboard you acquire will likely feature a different chipset, a fresh install would be the most logical course of action to ensure stability.

You ought to consult the motherboard manual to identify which specific SATA ports support SATA 3 or 6Gb/s speeds; doing so ensures you achieve the maximum possible throughput for your SSD. Furthermore, you must ensure that AHCI mode is enabled within the BIOS settings. It shouldn't matter if there is a traditional hard drive sharing that same controller.

Regarding the registry tweak, I attempted something similar several years ago when I mistakenly configured an IDE controller instead of AHCI, and I found myself unable to reinstall Windows entirely. This is precisely why I suggested earlier that a clean installation is the superior path—whether it is due to the hardware shift of a new motherboard or the potential failure of this registry modification.

And what, precisely, is the intended outcome of changing the Windows registry value for an SSD from 0 to 3?

Does this specific adjustment actually yield any measurable increase in the performance or speed of the SSD? 🤔

Larry Ortiz5 said:You aren't entirely wrong, my friend; before installing Windows on an SSD, one absolutely must configure the BIOS to AHCI mode. An SSD simply isn't designed to operate under IDE, and forcing it to do so prematurely wears down its lifespan. While a standard hard drive might function regardless, the distinction is vital when dealing with an SSD.

Hold on—is Windows 7 actually capable of communicating between an SSD and an HDD if they are set differently (as you suggest, with the SSD in AHCI mode and the HDD in IDE mode)? 🤔

Based on what I am gathering from the discussions here:

1. Plug the SSD into a SATA 3 port on the motherboard (to utilize the 6 Gbps bandwidth rather than the older SATA II 3 Gbps limit).
2. Switch the SSD configuration from IDE to AHCI mode.
3. Manually modify the Windows registry value from 0 to 3.
4. Install the most recent drivers specifically for the SSD.

It is quite remarkable that such an expensive piece of hardware requires such a convoluted series of adjustments just to perform its basic functions reliably. 😁

I simply want my motherboard to function correctly, without facing missing pins or other hardware anomalies.

Timothy Kim60 said:Look, you could find horror stories about ASUS Sabertooth boards or Formula series motherboards just as easily. There are simply no universal rules here. While the odds of finding bent pins on a motherboard straight out of the box are incredibly slim, if you go searching on Google, you'll see it happens to everyone—even with high-end boards from Gigabyte, ASUS, and the rest of them.

As for that SSD, your friend is clearly just green with envy.😁

He’s just rambling on about how the SSD needs to run in AHCI mode while the HDD stays in IDE mode, implying that using an SSD will lead to nothing but trouble.

Sean Garcia3 said:I honestly can't wait for that motherboard to arrive at your place so you can finally see for yourself that everything is perfectly fine and stop nitpicking over nothing.

If the board turns out to be flawless, I’ll gladly admit that my colleague was right to grill me about the SSD, though it seems everyone is obsessed with upgrading their storage lately anyway.🤔

Alexander Moore67 said:http://www.hardocp.com/article/2013/...board_review/6
Check out some US tech outlets instead; if you read the full reviews there, you'll find they tend to be much more objective.

I follow your logic, but I fail to see how manufacturers can simply decide a socket lacks pins and then attempt to sell motherboards with a built-in handicap? Why would they price them at $33 instead of closer to $333, especially when just two years ago, the cost was roughly $433 🤔
?
Is it not precisely because of these inconsistencies that ASUS released various versions like the Extreme series—the Extreme 3, 4, 6, and so on?

Sean Garcia3 said:If you look online, you will find someone complaining about every single component ever made, but does that mean every single unit is flawed? Not necessarily. You keep bringing up those ASUS boards and their gold-plated traces, yet you seem to have had issues with one of their own boards from $567—an item where one would least expect failure given the premium price point. And yet, there you go, facing another malfunction.
Naturally, every industry has its share of bad actors, so don't let that get to you; there is plenty of positive feedback regarding those boards out there if you look. I will leave you with a bit of wisdom: "Don't judge a book by its cover." You should wait until you have actually used a board before passing judgment; why conclude anything prematurely?

I understand your point, but while a component from $1667 might occasionally cause a user grief, discovering a missing pin in the socket is unequivocally a manufacturing defect, not user error.

I have waited forty days just for the opportunity to finally build this PC, and now it appears I am already hunting for my next motherboard.

Furthermore, we are dealing with hardware here, not some abstract digital concept.

A motherboard from $333 simply shouldn't be constructed from such fragile materials that they snap like sugar glass.

I am currently diving deeper into the technical specifics regarding this EVGA Z77 Extreme 4 motherboard.

Users are reporting significant issues, which is the last thing I need right now;

"I ran Windows 7 x64 without any trouble, but once I installed Service Pack 1, neither the BIOS nor the motherboard would recognize my hard drive.
I tried reseating all the cables, and while they were recognized again, the system refused to boot, throwing a REGISTRY_CORRUPT error instead."

"EVGA boards seem to suffer from USB instability, sluggish performance, and occasional spontaneous reboots where the screen just stays black... I'm not entirely sure what the root cause is yet."

"The Z77 Extreme 4 features inferior power regulation compared to its competitors; despite claims, it functions more like a 4+1 phase setup rather than 8+2, and uses an analog rather than a digital regulation system. Furthermore, it relies on D-PAK Mosfet components which are outdated and prone to higher temperatures than modern alternatives."

"I bought this board brand new from a local retailer. It worked fine for about six months using the stock cooler. However, the moment I swapped it out for a Cooler Master Grand Kamma Cross, everything went south.
The system became completely unusable. I tested the cooler, took it back for a warranty claim, dealt with endless headaches, scoured forums for advice, and searched through Google, but found nothing helpful. I suspected the cooler was at fault, but in the end, this piece of junk motherboard was the culprit.
There were no visible contact issues under the board or anything like that. The team over at Cooler Master even sent me a Cooler Master Universal Retention kit at their own expense, but it didn't fix a thing.
Once I finally pulled off the cooler and the CPU, I saw the real issue: there is a missing pin in the socket."

It is particularly shocking to me that a missing pin in the socket was the underlying issue. 🙂

I really should have just gone with that reliable ASUS P8Z77-V LK instead of ending up with a dead socket. 🍿

I can already see that this situation is going to be an absolute disaster.

Robert Rodriguez2 said:I didn't say it wasn't; a Samsung drive is undeniably fast, but for the average user, does that really matter? In my estimation, the difference isn't even palpable.

And then there is the matter of the warranty. Five years is five years, after all—that is nearly double what Samsung offers, wouldn't you agree?🙂

I am leaning toward Samsung, because when I am stuck waiting two months for a warranty claim to be resolved and my hardware fails, I can simply swap in a new SSD and get back to business without delay.🍿

Looking at these boards, it seems the EVGA Z77 Extreme 6 is a step above the EVGA Extreme 4.

However, it appears to be out of stock. From what I have gathered in various reviews, the EVGA Extreme 4 is actually quite excellent for overclocking and similar pursuits—reaching RAM speeds of 2800+—whereas people seem to run into significant issues with that MSI Z77 G43 I almost purchased.

Regardless, I will be selling this 7770 soon to upgrade to a more powerful single card, though I certainly refuse to drop any serious $1167 on a GPU like a GTX 970 or its equivalents.

Robert Rodriguez2 said:Regardless of what you have already placed in your cart, you can still modify the order; as for shipping, it should arrive the very next day (unless you happen to be out on some remote island, in which case it might take a bit longer), and a courier will deliver it directly to your door.

You simply pay the courier upon arrival and that settles the matter. 🙂

I went ahead and updated my shipping preferences, paused the processing at Micro Center, and decided to follow your advice by opting for the EVGA instead. 😁

My primary concern is ensuring I won't run into any technical headaches; I have always relied on ASUS motherboards in the past, so I can only hope that this new board doesn't start emitting white smoke once I have everything wired up and powered on.

The shipment is scheduled to arrive via FedEx this Tuesday, and I am planning to pick up a Samsung SSD to complete the build.

Sean Garcia3 said:Isn't a PC build supposed to be about gaming performance?
Why are you making things difficult? I have been telling you from the very beginning not to swap out that processor. Fine, if a friend gave you a power supply, then I certainly wish I had friends like that. 😁
From our initial discussion, since you were considering moving to a new CPU and motherboard, my advice was to forgo that route entirely. Instead of wasting capital on a new processor, why not pivot those funds toward a more powerful dedicated graphics card and sell off your current two? In my estimation, investing in a superior GPU yields far better returns than chasing a new CPU.
I fail to see why there is such hesitation regarding the motherboard; simply order it alongside the SSD from Micro Center, just as we previously recommended. and the SSD

Fine, I will proceed with that, assuming they notify me by Monday if the MSI board is out of stock.
How long does shipping typically take? Since I am paying cash on delivery, will a courier deliver directly to my door, or am I expected to pick it up at the local post office?

Sean Garcia3 said:If I am being completely honest with you, your entire build is fundamentally unoptimized. You have paired a high-end motherboard from $567 with a standard i5 processor that lacks even basic overclocking capabilities. Furthermore, you are running a 1000W Gold power supply—which is such extreme overkill that it borders on absurdity—likely at a price point nearly identical to the CPU itself. Then there is the matter of having only 16GB of RAM in what is supposed to be a gaming rig, coupled with two bottom-tier HD 7770 graphics cards which, quite frankly, represent the weakest link in this entire assembly. When you aggregate all these choices, the total cost reveals a configuration that would make anyone's head spin; had you actually built this according to proper logic, you could have had a much better machine, but instead, half of your budget is wasted on overpriced components that serve no meaningful purpose. 🤷

Come off with that, please. A "gaming configuration"? If you truly consider this setup capable of gaming, then 🙏

I am perfectly satisfied with these two 7770s; they perform adequately when working in tandem, and why on earth would I spend more $1167 on a graphics card?
As for the power supply, a friend of mine provided it to me; he opted for a different unit for his own needs.
Let’s be realistic: this processor handles all the recent hits for Next Game without any struggle, and I am certainly not foolish enough to drop massive amounts of $1000 on an Intel Core i7.

It appears that neither hardware nor software manufacturers are providing much support for this s.1155 socket anymore.

My final option is to order through an online retailer like Amazon; once I resolve the motherboard issue, I intend to pick up a 120GB SSD. Beyond that, I have no further requirements—I certainly don't need any high-end rigs costing upwards of $5000

David Sanders4 said:If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't...

It's officially ordered. It features CF support and the motherboard looks perfect; $283 shipping is set, and since a buddy of mine uses MSI and is quite happy with it, I felt confident moving forward. Now, the waiting game begins as I wait a few days for the courier to deliver it right to my door.

Thanks to everyone for the advice!

David Sanders4 said:If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't...

It's officially ordered. It features CF support, the board looks perfect, $283 and shipping is all set. A colleague of mine uses an MSI build and he's quite satisfied with it; now, I simply have to wait a few days for the courier to deliver it directly to my door.

Thanks to everyone for the advice!

Robert Rodriguez2 said:your processor is actually on the CPU support list here 🙂
http://www.msi.com/support/mb/Z77A-G43.html#support-cpu

I am about to pull the trigger and order it; it seems quite reliable, offers a 36-month warranty, and includes SLI support—what are your thoughts?

crimsonstag84 said:Without even touching an overclock, you could run an i7 (you would still be able to utilize the max Turbo multiplier):
1 x Intel Core i7-4790 Processor (3.60GHz, 1MB, 8MB, 84W, 1150) Box
1 x MSI Z97-G45 Gaming, S1150, Intel Z97 Chipset, 4xDDR3 1066-3000

$1113 AMD

Alternatively, you could go for a full-throttle overclock with an i5, though you should certainly expect to need a high-end cooler if one isn't already in your possession:

1 x Intel Core i5-4690K Processor (3.50GHz, 1MB, 6MB, 88 W, 1150) Box
1 x ASUS ROG Maximus, 1150, Intel Z97, DDR3, 4 Slots

$1106 AMD

That being said, wouldn't the most cost-effective route be picking up the NVIDIA GTX 970 + Z77 Extreme4 if gaming is your primary objective? Or did you mention that wasn't strictly necessary...?

I would have grabbed this motherboard, but it appears my Intel Core i5-2320 isn't supported; the description explicitly states it only supports 3rd generation Intel processors. 🤔

mellowtiger83 said:If I understand correctly, forty-five days have passed, which means you ought to receive a motherboard of equivalent value to the one that failed immediately, or they must issue a full refund right away. I work at Micro Center and I know how this goes; neither they nor you should be forced to wait indefinitely. If they offer a cheaper model, they are obligated to compensate you for the difference, either through a cash refund or by providing an additional component. Remember, since you are the one demanding your money back in hand, they are legally bound to provide it; whether you choose to accept a different part as compensation instead is entirely up to your own discretion.

So, I visited Best Buy today, and I finally managed to secure my funds. Apparently, the representative had to call them a thousand times because the manufacturer's service center had to give the green light before Best Buy could actually release my money.

Now, gentlemen, what would you suggest;

Should I opt for this MSI board;

Or should I move on to a newer LGA 1150 socket setup? I have already scouted out these potential components as my future build:

Or perhaps

Is there a better way to allocate this budget?

My plan is to allocate up to $667 for the processor and up to $433 for the motherboard.

I am requesting your counsel; I find myself leaning toward ASUS, though I see this Gigabyte option isn't half bad either.🤔

Robert Rodriguez2 said:Why don't you just walk straight into their store and threaten them with a visit from the Department of Labor? Let's see how they handle that.

Since the Department of Labor has merged with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and they're all operating under the same roof now... why not just file your complaint directly with them if these people decide to stop playing fair? 😛

That is precisely how it will play out. You attempt to reach them by phone, and they simply toy with you; then, the moment things become even slightly uncomfortable, they abruptly slam the receiver down.

I went down to the store in person to handle this myself, but they are acting like they couldn't care less. Right now, I am stuck waiting for the repair center and Best Buy to finally reach an agreement between themselves—it's either a full refund or a brand-new replacement motherboard. And what happens next? I get to sit around for another month while they bicker over how to resolve it. Two whole months without a computer? It is enough to drive a person absolutely insane; honestly, I feel like walking back in there and losing my temper with the lot of them. 🍿

First, I will be the one to reach out and visit them again personally. I'll need to make some inquiries to determine exactly where the Department of Labor is located in Pittsburgh, assuming they even maintain an office there.

Which SSD should I go with if my budget is capped at 120 GB?

http://www.amazon.com/example-ssd-link-1

Or perhaps

http://www.amazon.com/example-ssd-link-2

My intention is simply to host the Windows 7 64 operating system and a handful of essential programs on the drive itself.🤔

Sean Garcia3 said:From what I understand, the company is legally obligated to issue a full refund if they cannot provide an adequate replacement for your component; alternatively, they might offer credit toward other parts equivalent to the value of your product. I was just reviewing the warranty terms from AMD where I purchased my rig, and it explicitly states that they are bound by law to return the funds if a new or comparable replacement isn't provided within 45 days.

But have you actually seen what they are proposing as an "adequate" replacement? I called them yesterday, and they flatly stated that they cannot offer anything better than that ASUS ROG Maximus.

My primary concern is that I should hold the advantage here; they are required to provide either the exact same motherboard or the cash equivalent, given that the MSRP is roughly $333, whereas I actually paid $567 🤔
.
In my estimation, the most logical outcome would be a complete refund, which would allow me to purchase both a modern motherboard and a new 120 GB SSD.