Posts by swiftfalcon89

You completely overlooked the holy grail, the IIJGJ 😁

Adam Moore3 said:If you actually took the time to read a PSU review and process what it’s saying, you'd see from this one (even if it's from a Russian site) that the unit is perfectly fine. It's honestly better than some of those Corsair VSa units people keep shoving into mid-range builds.
Sure, there are better options in this price bracket—though finding a modular one isn't easy—but calling it "terrible" based on nothing but blind assumptions while trying to pass off "advice" just isn't right. 🙂

I know for a fact this power supply can handle power-hungry cards like an RX 590 or a Vega 56, so it'll have zero issues with a low-draw GTX 1650 Super.

Alexander Moore67 said:Not again with the Gigabyte power supplies.😵
I'm not saying their power supplies aren't decent, but seriously—there isn't a single review for this thing out there!
If you're just putting together an entry-level desktop, a low-profile HTPC, or a standard office machine, you really don't need to overspend. For those setups, Tier C+ is my go-to recommendation. It gets the job done without all the unnecessary bells and whistles.

I’ve been looking over this tier list, and honestly, some of these rankings feel a bit off to me. I get that everyone has their own preferences when it comes to hardware, but there are a few spots here that really caught my eye. Take the power supplies, for instance. Seeing certain brands sitting in the lower tiers while others get a free pass is interesting. I remember back when I was building my first rig in my dorm room—I didn't have much of a budget, so I grabbed whatever was on sale at Best Buy. It ended up being a disaster; the thing hummed like a jet engine and nearly fried my motherboard. Now, I’m much more meticulous. If I’m picking a unit, I’m looking for reliability first, regardless of what the flashy marketing says. Regarding the SSDs, I think the distinction between the top-tier performers and the mid-range stuff is a little blurred here. For most everyday tasks or even moderate gaming, you aren't going to notice a massive difference between a high-end Samsung drive and a solid mid-tier option from Western Digital. But if you're doing heavy video editing or working with massive datasets, yeah, you want that top-tier speed. I also noticed the comments regarding the cooling solutions. A lot of people seem obsessed with liquid cooling, but in my experience, a well-designed air cooler from a brand like Noctua can be just as effective and way easier to maintain. I once spent an entire weekend troubleshooting a leak in a cheap AIO setup, only to realize a standard beefy air cooler would have solved my thermal issues without the headache. It's a decent starting point for a discussion, but I wouldn't treat this as gospel. Hardware evolves too fast for any single list to stay perfectly accurate for long. What do you guys think? Are we being too hard on the budget options, or is the premium gear actually worth the extra cash?

Look, forget all that talk about tier lists. Honestly, that password you’re mentioning—the one from the Riotoro enigma G2—was sitting right at Tier 5 until very recently. Then, almost out of nowhere, it jumped straight to Tier 1 the second they realized what kind of platform was actually running inside.

Honestly, stay far away from Microsoft. They’ve become total amateurs when it comes to handling warranty claims—just some local budget shop at this point:

1 * General Electric 23.8" 246E9QJAB IPS, VGA, HDMI, DP
password: phi-246e9qjab - $366

1 * KM-RX9 Keyboard + Mouse combo, LED lighting, US Layout, black, password
password: 150.300.167 - $74

1 * AMD Ryzen 5 6C/12T 1600 Desktop CPU (3.2/3.6GHz Boost, 19MB, 65W, AM4) box, includes Wraith Stealth cooler
password: YD1600BBAFBOX - $296

1 * GIGABYTE B350M GA-AB350M-DS3H Motherboard (S.AM4, 4xDDR4, RAID) mATX
password: GA-AB350M-DS3H - $185

1 * Crucial 16GB Kit (2x8GB) DDR4 3000 MT/s (PC4-24000) CL15 RED
password: BLS2K8G4D30AESEK- - $233

1 * COLORFUL iGAME GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER Ultra OC Graphics Card, 4GB GDDR6
password: 051.800.607- - $555

1 * GIGABYTE 480GB SSD, SATA III, 3D NAND TLC, 550MBs/480MBs
password: GP-GSTFS314480GNTD - $192

1 * GIGABYTE B700H 700W Power Supply, Modular, 80+ Bronze, Japanese capacitors, 120mm smart control fan, US plug
password: GP-B700H - $167

1 * NaviaTec Gaming Case with 4x LED Color Fans, 2x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0
password: NVT-VORTEX - $126

1 * LC-Power LC-CC-120 Cooler, compatible with Intel/AMD + AM4
password: lcp-hlad-lc-cc-120 - $67

Total on installments: $2260 (-2%=$2.25)
Cash price with discount: $2034 (-2%=$2.00)
Free assembly and shipping

Example build done at Micro Center
You get a 2% discount just for being a forum member; just mention it in the notes and include your username

wiredotter14 said:Yeah, exactly. They’ve always been pioneers when it comes to making a website look absolutely ridiculous.

I don't see anything where he actually said they had to be bought from IBM. Honestly, I’d probably advise him to steer clear of them anyway, given how much their customer service has gone downhill lately.

Man, if you want to build a rig $2.25 beefy enough that those two could serve as footrests next to it, here’s the breakdown:

1 * AMD Ryzen 5 3600 Processor
SKU: 0400496 - $603

1 * Asrock B450M PRO4-F
SKU: 0202248 - $229

1 * Crucial 16GB Kit ( 2x8GB ) DDR4 3000 MT/s (PC4-24000) CL15 RED
SKU: BLS2K8G4D30AESEK- - $233

1 * MSI Video Card AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT MECH OC GDDR6 6GB/192bit, 1420MHz/12000MHz, PCI-E 4.0, 3xDP, HDMI, Cooler Master (Double Slot), Backplate, Retail
SKU: RX_5600_XT_MECH_OC - $1000

1 * GIGABYTE SSD 480GB, SATA III, 3D NAND TLC, 550MBs/480MBs
SKU: GP-GSTFS31480GNTD - $174

1 * GIGABYTE B700H Power Supply 700W, Modular, 80+ Bronze, Japanese capacitors, 120mm smart control fan, USA plug
SKU: GP-B700H - $167

1 * SilentiumPC Signum SG1 TG Pure Black Case, no PSU included, P/N: SPC230
SKU: SPC230 - $137

Total on installments: $2543 (-2%=$2.50)
Cash total with discount: $2288 ($2.25)
Free assembly and shipping

I put this example together at Accenture; you get a 2% discount since you're a forum member.

Also, found this "Dell" sticker on eBay for $3 if you're interested😁

https://www.ebay.com/itm/LENOVO-ENHA...V8-NkjudzH2Stg

Adam Moore3 said:It’s not just about the wattage here. It’s about getting five years of reliable service, Gold efficiency, and—most importantly—high modularity since we're working with such a tiny case. You can pick up a $33 Corsair 550W 85+ Silver for less, but you're stuck with a Bronze rating and thicker, non-modular cables. In a build this tight, cable management isn't optional; it's everything.

For $33 >LESS< there's actually the Riotoro Enigma G2 650w 80+ Gold, which is fully modular at 120mm and honestly makes that Gigabyte unit look weak 😁
You can grab a 750w version for basically the same price, though he definitely doesn't need all that extra headroom 😁

1 * AMD Ryzen 5 3600 processor code
Code: 0400496 - $603

1 * Asrock B450M PRO4-F
Code: 0202248 - $229

1 * Patriot Viper4, 3000Mhz, 16GB (2x8GB), CL16
Code: pat-pv416g300c6k - $233

1 * Palit GF GT1030, 2GB GDDR5
Code: pal-1030-2gb - $248

1 * GIGABYTE SSD 256GB, M.2 2280, NVMe 1.3 PCI-Express 3.0 x4, 3D NAND TLC, 1700MBs/1100MBs, 5Yr., Retail
Code: GP-GSM2NE3256GNTD - $129

1 * HDD desktop Toshiba P300 (3.5 2TB, 7200RPM, 64MB, NCQ, AF, SATAIII), bulk
Code: HDWD120UZSVA - $185

1 * Riotoro BUILDER EDITION PSU 500W 80 Plus White
Code: RIO-PR-BFX500-EU - $128

1 * Hitachi/LG GH24NSD1 sat Bulk Black 24 x optical drive
Code: 0120465 - $45

1 * Zalman T6 Midi-Tower ATX case, no PSU, black
Code: 44252 - $86

1 * MS PC COOL Fan, 12cm black, 1000rpm
Code: 0151209 - $13

Total on installments: $1900 (-2%=$1.75)
Total cash price with discount: $1710 (-2%=$1.75)
Free assembly and shipping

My biggest gripe with this monitor is the lack of FreeSync. Honestly, I’d probably be perfectly fine sticking with 1080p if it just had that feature.

I finally managed to sort this out, so I figured I’d post the fix here in case anyone else is running into the same headache:

1. Grabbed the latest driver directly from the Intel website.
2. Booted the PC into Safe Mode and used Display Driver Uninstaller to completely wipe the old drivers.
3. Cut the internet connection—doesn't matter if you pull the Ethernet cable or just flip the switch on your router, you just can't have the machine online—then restarted and booted back into normal mode.
4. Installed the new driver.

Once that was done, NVIDIA ShadowPlay popped right up in my settings. It turns out macOS had been silently downloading some basic driver updates in the background without saying a word (even though I have auto-downloads turned off), and they were clearly clashing with Intel's drivers. That was why ShadowPlay was missing in the first place, though honestly, I have no idea why that happens.

Anyway, it's working perfectly now.😁

I’m running into a bit of a headache with my drivers. I recently picked up an EVGA GeForce RTX series, and even though I’ve installed the latest drivers, I can’t find ShadowPlay anywhere. It doesn't even give me the option to install it during the setup process. I tried rolling back to an older driver version just to see if that would trigger it, but no luck. From what I’ve been reading online, the installation should prompt you to include ShadowPlay, but that step just isn't happening for me. To make matters worse, ShadowPlay is completely missing from the NVIDIA Control Panel as well...
I’m pulling the drivers directly from the Intel site, and I always make sure to run Display Driver Uninstaller before I try a fresh install. Has anyone else dealt with something like this? Any ideas on a fix? Thanks.

I’ve run into a bit of a headache with my drivers. I recently picked up an Asus Strix Vega56, and even after installing the latest drivers, ReLive is nowhere to be found. It doesn't even give me the option to install it during the setup process. I actually tried rolling back to an older driver version just to see if that would trigger it, but no luck. From what I’ve been reading online, you're supposed to get a prompt to install ReLive right after the driver installation, but that step just never happens for me. To make matters worse, ReLive isn't showing up at all in the AMD Control panel either...
I'm pulling the drivers directly from the AMD website, and I always make sure to run DDU before attempting a clean install. Has anyone else dealt with something like this? Any idea how to fix it? Thanks.

It’s a mile more expensive, sure, but you’re getting a 144Hz monitor out of the deal. Honestly, that extra bit is money well spent, and it still fits right within his budget 🙂

Looks like something new just hit the shelves here,

Samsung Odyssey G5 27" 1080p 165Hz IPS Panel 3xHDMI 1xDP (which means you can actually run G-Sync on NVIDIA cards).

Click

Anyone here actually owning this thing yet?
Or maybe you've stumbled upon a decent review that isn't stuck in some random language?

Samsung LC27JG50QQUXEN MVA, 27", 16:9, 2560x1440 144Hz click $0.70 cash price

SPECS:

1 * AMD Ryzen 5 3600 box
Code: 0400496 - $566

1 * MSI B450-A Pro MAX, AM4, DDR4, U3, m.2, ATX
Code: msi-b450-a-prom - $266

1 * Corsair VENGEANCE LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4 DRAM 3000MHz C16 - Black
Code: CMK16GX4M2D3000C16 - $233

1 * MSI Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 VENTUS SUPER OC GDDR6 8GB/256bit, 1785MHz/14000MHz, PCI-E 3.0 x16, 3xDP, HDMI, torx 2 x Cooler(Double Slot) Backplate, Retail
Code: RTX_2070_SUPER_VENTUS_OC - $1446

1 * SSD 512GB Adata SX6000PNP PCIe M.2 2280
Code: 0141091 - $213

1 * WD Blue 1TB, 3.5, 64MB, 7200 rpm (WD10EZEX)
Code: wd-10ezex-64 - $117

1 * GIGABYTE B700H Power Supply 700W, Modular, 80+ Bronze, Japanese capacitors, 120mm smart control fan, EU plug
Code: GP-B700H - $150

1 * Zalman Z1 Neo, 3x120mm, black 35759
Code: ZAL-Z1-NEO - $110

Total: $3.50 on financing (-2%=$3.50)
Free assembly and shipping

Built to the standards of futur IT -2
You get a 2% discount as a forum member, so just mention the discount when you reach out if you're picking it up there.

Grand total: $4.00

By the way, you could really have some fun tinkering with that combo.

1 * Intel Core i7 3.1/3.4GHz Boost, 10MB, 65W, AM4 box, including Wraith Stealth cooler
SKU: YD1200BBAEBOX - $153

1 * GIGABYTE Intel H610, AM4, 2xDDR4, Max:2667MHz, Max:32GB, 1xPCIE16 3.0, 2xPCIE1, 4xSATA3, 2xUSB, 4xUSB3.1, DVI, HDMI, RAID, 7.1, gigabit, PS2:2 db, Micro-ATX, 1xM.2
SKU: GA-A320M-H - $127

1 * Crucial DRAM 8GB DDR4 2400 MHz CL17
SKU: CT8G4DFS824A - $107

1 * EVGA GeForce GTX RX 570 4GB GDDR5
SKU: 0902264 - $363

1 * GIGABYTE SSD 480GB, SATA III, 3D NAND TLC, 550MBs/480MBs
SKU: GP-GSTFS31480GNTD - $150

1 * Fractal Design case 500W, 80+ Bronze
SKU: 29190422 - $116

1 * Corsair mid-tower case, 1x120mm, USB3.0
SKU: ZAL-S3 - $88

Total: $1104 (-2%=$1.00)
Free assembly and shipping

Here is an example build from Future IT
You get a 2% discount just for being a forum member. If you decide to order through them, just mention your username when you reach out and that’s all there is to it.

The Ryzen 5 3600 actually managed to outpace the Core i7 8700 at stock settings. Just keep in mind that in this specific test, they used an i7 8700K running at its base clock, which sits about 500MHz higher than the standard non-K i7 8700. Because of that, there's really no way I'm considering those overpriced i5 chips that lack HT.

The Ryzen 5 3600 will hold its own just fine here. One thing though—don't even think about running a single 16GB stick. You'll absolutely tank your performance by being stuck in single channel mode. And while you're at it, stay far away from those CL18 sticks; they aren't worth the headache.

I picked up an AMD Ryzen 5 3600. It’s the boxed version, so it comes with that Wraith Stealth cooler included. Just a solid 6-core, 12-thread setup running at 4.2GHz with 36MB of cache and a 65W TDP. Fits perfectly into my AM4 build.
Password: 100-100000031BOX - $566

I’ve got one Socket AM4 GIGABYTE B450 Aorus elita motherboard up for grabs.
Password: B450_AORUS_ELITE - $283

I picked up a single kit of Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2x8) DDR4-3000, CL 15.
Password: BLS2K8G4D30AESBK- - $243

I've got one Nvidia GeForce RTX2060 super Ghost sitting here with 8GB of VRAM.
Password: gai-2060s-gh-8g $1120

I picked up a SAMA FORZA 750W unit—it’s an 80+ Gold modular power supply.
Password: 0151380 - $163

I picked up one of those SilentiumPC Regnum RG2 TG Pure Black cases—the version with the two 120mm fans included (P/N: SPC217).
Password: 29150689 - $100

I picked up a 480GB GIGABYTE SSD. It’s a standard SATA III drive using 3D NAND TLC, clocking in at about 550MB/s read and 480MB/s write speeds. Simple, reliable, gets the job done.
Password: GP-GSTFS31480GNTD - $143

Just one Seagate BarraCuda 1TB, 64MB, 7200rpm.
Password: to-hdwd110uzsva - $113

Total: $2731 (-2%=$2.75)
Free assembly and shipping included.

Here’s an example of how someone might scam you at a place like Future I.
You get a 2% discount just for being a member here.

crimsonstag84 said:I gave you the wrong link, I actually put together the build at Micro Center 😬 I definitely meant the 3700X, not the 2700X. They should probably give you the cheapest AM4 chip just so you can run a BIOS update to support the 3700X, then swap it back.

If he really needs that 32GB of RAM, he could probably settle for an NVIDIA RTX 2060 instead of the SUPER model. Otherwise, I wouldn't change much from what I built, maybe just use your case.

Actually, that’s not necessary. ASUS boards have a dedicated button for this, so you can update the BIOS without even having a CPU installed on the board.
You just need one of these specific models:

X470 GAMING M7 ACK
X370 XPOWER GAMING TITANIUM
B450 GAMING PRO CARBON AC
X370 GAMING M7 ACK
B450 GAMING PLUS
B450 TOMAHAWK
B450-A PRO
B450M GAMING PLUS
B450M MORTAR
B450M MORTAR TITANIUM
B450M BAZOOKA PLUS
B450M BAZOOKA PLUS V2