Gill01's Corner

The Genius HS-G600 Mordax will get the job done just fine...

I've been rocking the Medusa NX for a few years now. They're from $67 and honestly, the sound quality is on par with those AKG K 512 MKII headphones—phenomenal. The bass is actually even better. They just released the 7.1 Medus XE, which is supposedly the flagship of the Medusa line. Based on the reviews I've read, and considering how much I love my trusty old Medusa NX, I'm thinking this one will be a total winner too. Having 7.1 surround sound is a massive plus, obviously. 🍿 I was thinking about picking them up, but they connect via USB, and since I usually use my headset for music from my phone, that wouldn't really work for me. Does anyone have other headset recommendations for both gaming and music? It's important that they aren't huge—nothing bigger than the Medusa NX, for example—and if the mic is detachable, that would be ideal. :klap:

I'm dealing with an ASRock Z87 Pro3 that just quit on me. After poking around, I realized what happened—and no, it wasn't a lightning strike or some dramatic power surge; the PSU seems perfectly fine. I've already sent it off for a warranty claim, but I'm sitting here wondering: what are the actual odds they'll approve this? 😁

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? 😁

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. 🍿

It wasn't just a mechanical failure; it actually ended up frying my other card (GTX 1080) too, though I haven't had any issues with that one since I swap out the thermal paste myself. Now I'm just sitting here wanting to bash my head against a wall.

Did you happen to rip any stickers off while you were swapping out the thermal paste? If not, I guess you should be fine with the warranty without any issues.

The sticker on the screw holding the fridge in place has burned out. I just need to track down a replacement online and have it sent over to the warranty department. 😁

PS: Here are some photos showing what happened to it. 🐔

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. 🐔

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.

The card has already been sent in for repair through the retailer. I’m hopeful they’ll honor the warranty because this wasn't caused by any user error on my part—it was clearly a failure from the power supply. Regardless, we'll see what happens.
As for the GPU, if I get the chance, I might have a buddy ship it in under his own name. That way, the manufacturer won't be able to link the issue back to me, giving me a bit more leverage to talk my way through the situation regarding who actually fried what. 😁
Since the 8-pin motherboard connector and the two extra GPU power leads were all pulling from the same rail, there's a real possibility the PSU took out both components simultaneously (that old Corsair GS800 is a relic I don't even use anymore!) 🤷

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?

They didn't even get it sent out until Friday, and it wasn't officially filed until Monday morning, so we're still stuck in limbo...

Today's Update
Service Description:
Sent over to an authorized service center.

Work Order Status:
DIAGNOSTICS COMPLETE

So, my RAM slot just bit the dust. I took the board into a repair shop, and they told me some wire snapped off near the power supply or something, and apparently, they "can't" solder it back on. Now I’m sitting here wondering if they’re actually telling the truth or if they’re just playing me for a fool so they can upsell me on a brand-new motherboard.

Hey, do you happen to have another RAM slot available to pop some more memory in? Also—just curious—which motherboard are we actually working with here?

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

Brian Campbell36 said:Changed my mind on the R9 290 OC. By the time I went to grab one, all the discounted cards were already spoken for.

They promised to ship my graphics in a couple of days, but only if I pay the higher exchange rate. 🙂

I'm thinking about picking up this R9 290, but it isn't the OC version. 🤔So, does that model actually work? Anyone got real experience with it?

Check out this link. It’s basically the same thing as looking at a catalog from an electronics retailer like Best Buy to see what's available.

Check this out. Looks like a decent setup if you know what you're looking for.

You got this card? $33 Something cheaper with a higher core clock. Basically, I want something that outpaces the ASUS model without the markup.

The R9 290 OC 4G TXOC is a decent little card if you can find it at a good price. It’s basically like buying a used Ford F-150—it gets the job done, but don't expect it to win any races against the newer models.

It’s cheaper here.

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) 🤔

Brian Campbell36 said:Will this GPU actually fit in my rig? 🤔

http://www.coolermaster.com/case/mid-tower/haf-xm/

Lengthwise, it looks like plenty of room. Besides, I can't find a single soul willing to buy my two Sapphire 7770 OC Editions with Vapor-X dual fans ($150 units) 🤔

It fits. The card is 304mm. Your case handles up to 354mm if the drive cage is in, or 463mm without it.

Brian Campbell36 said:Will that GPU actually fit in my case? 🤔

http://www.coolermaster.com/case/mid-tower/haf-xm/

It looks like there's plenty of length, but honestly, I can't find anyone interested in buying my two NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti OC edition cards with the vapor x dual fan setup ($150 units total) 🤔

I'd personally ask for $167 per card, but if you just want them gone right now, maybe give them away for $400.