Kajper's Info Corner

Yeah, 3.5... I just converted it to inches to measure the gap properly. 😁
Link Here's another shot at it.
Thanks so much, looks like I'm good to order this then. 🙂

That's it. The F-22 Raptor configuration that Flintstone put together is an excellent choice for the purpose mentioned in the original post. 🙂

Alright, I asked for the final quote and I think that’s pretty much it. Fingers crossed they actually have that reader in stock.
Guys, thanks everyone...🙂

Quick edit. 😉
I'm looking at some photos of those CPU coolers on Google... and looking at how they're mounted, I'm sitting here wondering where the actual processor is supposed to be in these pictures.
It looks like it's just attached to the motherboard. Then I realized—is the processor actually just this tiny little thing tucked inside the graphics card?
Did I totally miss the mark there?

Computer hardware Parts and Components

It really doesn't get any simpler than this.

Thanks, thanks... my English isn't exactly great... but these photos are pretty cool. 😁
Actually, I just sort of realized all this other stuff on the fly... it is what it is, wherever it lands. But that CPU or whatever processor is hiding somewhere. 🤣

Rachel Jones8 said:Thanks, thanks... my English isn't great... but the photos look interesting. 😁
Though, I just kind of realized everything else along the way... it is what it is, wherever it lands. But the CPU—that processor—is hiding somewhere. 🤣

In this case, you've got the CPU and the graphics on the same chip, an APU.

And about that cooler! It’s a solid unit, but it is massive overkill for your setup 😁 (overkill means you don't need anything like that unless you're planning on overclocking, then maybe something like:
http://www.newegg.com/p/n/N82E16832116123 )
It's only about two bucks more than the Thermaltake option.

Rachel Jones8 said:Thanks, really... my English isn't exactly my strongest suit, but these photos are quite interesting. 😁
Though, I suppose I just stumbled upon all this somewhat randomly... it is what it is, where it stands. But it seems the CPU—that actual processor—is hiding somewhere. 🤣

Underneath that massive heatsink lies a "beast" that runs quite hot, which explains why it needs such serious cooling. You'll see for yourself once you go in to replace the thermal paste. While you're at it, you might want to give the old computer a thorough cleaning too; looking at the pictures, it's definitely seen some dust. Since you're ordering all those parts anyway, grab a can of compressed air so you can give everything a nice, clean wipe-down.

So, is it officially ordered?

I guess what I was trying to get at is that if you aren't planning on overclocking anything, you might be better off just grabbing an x4 5500/6500 instead. They have a lower TDP, so you probably wouldn't even need to bother with an extra heatsink.

If gaming isn't really on the table, an i3 would likely be the smartest move. You get lower power consumption, a quieter cooler, and better single-thread performance, while the multi-threaded side of things stays pretty much neck-and-neck with the AMD x4.

Rachel Jones8 said:This is getting ridiculous... we might just have to say goodbye and stop talking altogether...
So, guys suggest a setup, I buy it... and I end up with a piece of junk because of what they suggested—who was it?

I have to weigh in here, because:
a) I’m not okay with this kind of forced, one-sided shutdown of communication;
b) even George W. Bush and his secretary had the right to present a defense;
c) this is a public forum, and I can't just be banned by certain people (your "personal corner" is actually a public topic)

Look, my post was just a generalization and a bit of a joke, just like this whole thread you've ended up with. If you want proof, look at how we've spent four whole pages obsessing over one low-end build. Just scroll through other similar threads and you'll see—there are no similarities, only differences (like the patience of a century-old turtle versus these super blunt, short responses)

Nobody is asking you, or expecting you to be an electronics expert—you even admitted that yourself. From the start, everyone has been showing massive amounts of patience, often explaining things unnecessarily. I mean, if you actually knew all this and really cared, you wouldn't be asking these kinds of questions on a forum like this. You’re arguing every single point I make, comparing a heatpipe or water cooling to a water heater or a boiler (check post #67), and focusing on pictures and prices (same post, by the way—do you actually look at the photos, or just the price tag?) etc.
Oh, of course I read the thread from the beginning, back when you were torn between getting an all-in-one computer for $800 or investing about $333 instead. Now where are we exactly? 🤷, maybe around $350-$$1.00. So much for consistency—claiming looks don't matter when that's clearly what matters....

Let's get to it:
Case:
Ever since the Zalman Z9 era, Robert Rodriguez2 was the first one to bring us back to reality by suggesting the Zalman ZM-T2.
We've debated a lot here, but here's a little challenge: once you finally get your PC, open it up and take a look inside: the motherboard, power supply, drive, maybe an optical drive, and a whole lot of empty space.
For this kind of build, especially for someone who isn't an enthusiast and won't spend all day tinkering with it, a Micro-tower is the perfect fit. Mesh panels, windows, 5 fans? That's all totally unnecessary.
One thing nobody mentioned: cases with mesh fronts are way noisier than fully enclosed ones. Cheap cases, specifically, have such flimsy construction and thin metal that they easily hit resonance frequencies. Cooling isn't even the critical issue in these setups, and it's nothing compared to old configurations that used to pump out twice as much heat and noise per component. You can get both silence and good cooling with a higher-quality, closed-type case, but yeah, the price jumps up by $75+.

Processor:
The Intel vs. AMD debate is basically like searching for the Holy Grail among experts: everyone has their preference. The fact is, an Intel chip with 2 physical cores and HT can easily hold its own against an AMD chip with 4 physical cores, which aren't even truly "equal cores" to begin with. On the flip side, AMD packs in decent graphics, which is where they shine, but that tends to make things run a bit hotter. It's a trade-off.
If silence and cool temps are the priority, then why go with the AMD 5600 k, which hits 100W?
Why not the A8 6500? It's slightly slower, has slightly better graphics, and runs at only 65W.
crimsonstag84 actually has the most solid solution: the Caverry 7600 at 45W...
I think a lot of the heat (and noise) issues could be solved just by picking a smarter processor, allowing you to save that extra cash instead of trying to cool everything down later...

Motherboard:
It all comes down to that unlucky AsRock board (which I personally don't love, but hey, it gets the job done—it's cheap, and you can't get any cheaper than that).
Shoot, it’s an mATX standard, so I'm heading back to the case choice. You don't really need anything bigger than a Micro-tower since there isn't much else you can pack in there anyway.

Memory:
A single 4 GB 1600 stick is probably fine for what you need.
Nobody ever mentions this, even though there's a general consensus regarding AMD—these APUs work okay with just one "stick," but they really only hit their stride with dual-channel memory, like a 2x2 GB setup. But that’s no good here because the board only has two slots, which basically ties your hands for any future upgrades. Just another little snag.
So, we're looking at 1x4 GB 1600 MHz, though I am wondering about grabbing a second stick later. Software seems to bloat faster than weeds in a garden; it'll probably happen sooner than we think.

Power Supply:
Your budget is going to stop you from going overboard with those super quiet, high-end units, so whatever gets suggested is likely more than okay.

Hard Drive:
Personally, I’d love to see at least some kind of SSHD in a new build, if not a full SSD+HDD combo. Based on how you usually do things, I think a 500 GB SSHD would be plenty, but those are mostly laptop versions. A 1 TB drive might blow the budget, so a classic 1 TB HDD is the move, with a strong recommendation to grab a dedicated system SSD down the road and let the HDD just handle storage. That's where you actually feel the performance jump these days. You could also play around with Power Management settings so the classic drive sleeps more often to keep things quiet.

Other stuff:
Optical drives, card readers—doesn't matter. There aren't many quality ones left; it's all disposable junk now. Honestly, I could live without an optical drive since I barely use one anymore.
A card reader?
As tempting as it looks, I wouldn't bother. Everything is wireless nowadays anyway, and I can't be bothered pulling cards out of my phone, plugging them in, popping them out... I'd rather just go wireless and stare at the sun while it does its thing.
Basically, there's a real trend (not just a fad, but actually useful) where the router/AP becomes the central hub of the house. Everything new talks wirelessly: PC, laptop, TV, phone, NAS, Net...

Quote : Anyway, that last configuration from Robert Rodriguez2 was probably the best-thought-out option for an AMD APU, though I personally think you should aim for a newer APU with a lower TDP. Not only are you catching up to more recent processor generations (let's be real, they aren't revolutionary leaps and haven't exactly reinvented the wheel), but you get better manufacturing, lower power draw, and more graphical muscle (BTW, what monitor are you actually using? What resolution and requirements are we talking about?)
If your main goal is a quiet and cool PC, I think you should look at the root of the problem, which in this case is just the processor. Any aftermarket cooler is going to have an easier time with a 65W chip than a 100W one, so you won't need a million mesh screens, fans, or complex speed controls. A cooler processor puts less strain on the heatsink, the fan doesn't have to scream, and it's a virtuous cycle.
Finally, you can get nice, steady airflow without the noise by using two larger fans in a push-pull setup (front-to-back) running at 7V. Lower speeds mean less noise, and larger fans are more efficient. You won't deal with extreme pressure issues (which helps with dust, though it's inevitable), and there's no need for special regulation.

Since this is turning into quite the saga, and sagas are defined by being long-winded, can we do one more four-page round of pros and cons in episode
"Let's build the ultimate silent and cool budget PC," keeping everything mentioned above in mind?
Edit: My bad, I'm late to the party...

+1

Jason Harris5 tried to break down what you actually need to look for when picking out a cooler—specifically those socket labels.

Jason Harris5 said:The big thing to remember when you're shopping for a cooler is the CPU socket it’s meant for. For Intel, you'll see numbers like 775, 1366, 1156, 1155, 2011, or 1150, whereas with AMD, it's usually letters like AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, FM1, FM2, or FM2+.

Robert Rodriguez2 said:As for the cooler! It's a great one, but honestly, it's total overkill for your build. 😁 (Overkill means you don't really need something that beefy; that's more for overclocking, which isn't your plan. Maybe try something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/p/product-info/9986 )
It's about $2 more than the Thermaltake option.

The processor suggested here only lists an FM designation.
AMD Trinity A8-Series x4 5600 k 3.60GHz 4cores, FM2
So shouldn't the fan mention somewhere that it fits FM?
But it doesn't... it just says:
ZALMAN ZM-T2 bistriti, socket 775/1155/1156/AM2/AM2+/AM3
No mention of FM. 😕
(I was looking for AM3+ earlier because I was checking the wrong chip by mistake)
I'm not even sure which coolers are options since most of them don't even list those specific labels.

http://www.zalman.com/eng/product/Pr...ad.php?Idx=450

It's got an FM2 socket 😉

Rachel Jones8 said:Jason Harris5 tried explaining what matters when picking a cooler—specifically those socket labels.

The processor being suggested and picked only lists an FM label.
AMD Trinity A8-Series x4 5600 k 3.60GHz 4cores, FM2
So shouldn't the fan mention somewhere that it fits FM?
But it doesn't... it just says:
ZALMAN ZM-T2 bistriti, socket 775/1155/1156/AM2/AM2/AM3
No FM listed. 😕
(I was looking for AM3+ earlier because I was checking the wrong CPU)
I'm lost on which coolers even work, since most don't even list these designations.

If it works with FM1, it works with FM2. The mounting holes are identical.

It's the exact same deal as AM2, AM2+, AM3, and AM3+. 🙂 (That's how it works with AMD.)

With Intel, it's a different story. 😉

Quote : Anyway

Michael Jackson10 said:Just gotta let you guys know, because:
I’m just not okay with this kind of blunt, one-sided shutdown in a conversation. Is that really how we're doing things now?
Both George W. Bush and his secretary had every right to present their defense.
Look, this is a public forum, isn't it? It's an open conversation where only specific people actually have the power to ban me. At the end of the day, "your little corner" is really just a public discussion.

So what's the point of even talking if you're going to be like this? I'm really not feeling your vibe right now.
So, you're getting defensive? Why's that? You think you did something wrong? I didn't say anything out of line, just that you were being rude. No need to get all worked up... it's just my opinion, nothing more.
So what? It's a public thread... write as much as you want. Why would anyone even ban you? 🤷
Quote : Anyway

Look, my post was just a generalization—basically just messing around, much like this entire thread you ended up in. If you think I'm wrong, just look at the fact that we're already four pages deep debating some low-end build. Go ahead, scroll through other similar threads and see if you can find any similarities. You won't. The only difference is between someone with the patience of a century-old turtle and people who just want quick, blunt answers.

Here we go again... what's the big deal? Did I force anyone to give me advice or help? If nobody wanted to chime in... well, fine. I'll just head down to Best Buy and buy something pre-built. $833 Hey there.
Yeah, other people are just way less high-maintenance and nitpicky. Some find it easier to pick what they want—maybe because they actually have a clue what they’re looking for? Anyway, I guess I did end up dragging this out over five pages... and didn't you mention before that this is basically a public forum? It's a public conversation, after all.
People jumped in to help, answered my questions, and really schooled me... just because they wanted to. It’s not that they aren't decent, they're actually just genuinely good people.
Quote : Anyway

Look, nobody’s asking you for an engineering degree here—you’ve already admitted you're not an expert. Everyone's being super patient, too. Honestly, they're over-explaining things just because if you actually knew your stuff or were serious about it, you wouldn't be asking these kinds of questions on a forum like this anyway, right?

😕
Look, if I actually knew the answer, would I even be asking? Obviously not. But I don't.
Quote : Anyway

You’re arguing with every single thing I say. Seriously? You're comparing a basic heatpipe or liquid cooling to a water heater or a boiler (post #67)? And you're just staring at pictures and price tags—I mean, looking at those shots, what else are you even seeing if not the actual build quality?

I wasn't really trying to compare them; I just let Jason Harris5 take the lead so he could break down the system clearly. I was just adding my two cents since it’s pretty much the same thing anyway... right?
I can see the price in the pictures. 😉
Or do you really think I can just become an expert overnight and suddenly know which of two processors—or anything else with a $50 difference—is actually better?
Besides checking out the photos, I spent some time scrolling through other forums too, just seeing what everyone else thinks and catching up on the chatter...
Quote : Anyway

Of course I went back to the very beginning of the thread. You were totally torn between grabbing that $850 all-in-one or just putting that cash toward building your own rig, right? $333So, where exactly are we now? 🤷 , 2.500-$1.00Consistency matters more than looks, right?

Man, you're a handful.
Where did I even say I wanted to invest? $333?
Since this is the first post in the thread, let's get things rolling.

Quote : Anyway

Rachel Jones8 said:A buddy's offering me a new one. Samsung? The Samsung ATIV One 5 DP500A2D.
Since that's a bit too much love for me, I was wondering—can I actually take my old case, which I'm pretty sure has nothing useful left in it, and upgrade it to something better? What’s up for the CCA? $667 Just the tower itself—no keyboard, mouse, monitor, or disc drives included.
So, what kind of build are we looking at for this one? $667 Plus some stuff for the hands.(Since I honestly have no clue how to put this together myself.)
Just basic stuff—office work, some light browsing, music, video... nothing crazy.
Is that even doable for that kind of cash?

I don't get why everyone's making such a big deal out of this. Honestly, I just found a middle ground that works for me. I never really planned on dropping serious cash on anything, but since the deal was better than what you'd find at Best Buy, I had to wonder if it was worth the splurge. Even though my bank account is looking a little thin right now. Turns out, it wasn't. People left some pretty solid, logical comments, so I decided against blowing too much money—especially if it meant getting into debt or taking out a loan.
Od $2,000 plus whatever else you can grab. Who's actually gonna build this for me? I had such big plans for my setup, thinking I’d get way more out of it than this... Keep the cases and the DVDs. Yeah, they work... I ended up hitting the $2,500–$3,000 mark because I have to grab a case and a DVD drive too. Plus, they told me $2,000 was cutting it too close, but at $2,500, things should run way smoother.

Quote : Anyway

Michael Jackson10 said:Let's go:
Case:
Ever since we moved on from the Zalman Z9, Robert Rodriguez2 was actually the first one to step up and bring the Zalman ZM-T2 into the mix.
A lot has been going on here lately, but here’s a little challenge for you: when you finally get that PC, open it up and actually look inside. Check out the motherboard, the power supply, the drive, maybe an optical drive... and then notice all that massive empty space. Ever wonder why?
If you're just looking for a standard PC and aren't some hardcore enthusiast who spends all day tinkering with parts, a Micro-tower is the sweet spot. Why bother with mesh panels, side windows, and five different fans? It’s all just extra stuff you don't need.

There aren't 5 fans, just 3. Honestly, that window is totally unnecessary—I’d much rather skip it entirely. And just to be clear, I didn't pick it, nor did I go for the mesh paneling.

Quote : Anyway

One thing nobody seems to be mentioning: cases with mesh fronts are way louder than the solid ones.Cheap cases are just junk—thin metal and flimsy builds that start rattling like crazy the second they hit a certain resonance. Honestly, cooling isn't even the main issue with these modern setups; they don't run nearly as hot or loud as those old rigs used to. If you actually want both silence and decent airflow, you’ve gotta go with a high-quality closed chassis, but man, that’ll set you back at least $50 or $60.

Why not? Why didn't you? All that stuff you wrote ended up being totally useless.

I mean... I wonder, why go with the mesh design? Front teeth?Wait, this T3 model has vents on the side and top too. Why is everyone so obsessed with the front panel? Mine doesn't even have side vents, and it works just fine. Isn't that what matters most?

So now you're suggesting a build in the $2,500 range?$1000 Should I really drop over $600 on a case? 😕
Yeah, I actually really dig that setup of yours, especially if it came in black. It looks sleek and contained—gives off a solid, high-quality vibe. Don't you think?
I really love that it has doors... (that’s what I was hunting for, though I only found one option with tiny little top doors, and nobody really gave me their take on it). But honestly? Aside from the price, having the doors on the left side running the full height just doesn't work for me. With where my case is sitting right now, there's no way I could even open them.
Quote : Anyway

CPU: The whole Intel vs. AMD debate is basically like searching for the Holy Grail—everyone’s got their own side. Honestly, an Intel chip with 2 physical cores and HT can easily hold its own against those AMD 4 core setups that aren't even truly "equal" cores to begin with. On the flip side, AMD gives you great integrated graphics, which is a win, but you end up dealing with more heat. It's a bit of a catch-22, isn't it? If cooling and silence are dealbreakers for you, then why even bother with an AMD 5600 k that pulls up to 100W? Why not go with the A8 6500? It's only slightly slower, but you get better graphics and it's just 65W. Seems like a fair trade, right? crimsonstag84 basically has the best setup here: a Kaveri 7600 running at 45W... I honestly feel like a lot of the heat and noise issues could be solved just by picking a smarter CPU from the jump. Why waste extra cash trying to cool down a hot chip when you could just save that money instead?

I honestly don't get the point of what you're even writing here. Is this just to show off how much you know? Why not actually build something so everyone else can weigh in?
How should I know why someone would pick a 5600 over a 6500? Honestly, I haven't the slightest clue what we're even talking about.

Quote : Anyway

Motherboard: Everything keeps circling back to that unlucky AsRock board. Personally, I’m not a huge fan, but hey, it gets the job done. It's cheap, you can't really beat that price point, right? Damn, it's an mATX standard, so I'm sticking with my current case. You really don't need anything bigger than a Micro-tower when there's nothing else to pack inside, right?

Alright, we're done here. No need to keep going. Done.
Nah, would having extra empty space actually mess with how a computer runs?
If nothing else, this one’s a beast at about 15 lbs, while the micro is only like 6.5. 😁 At least that's what it says on their official spec sheets... but I still need something to keep the desk steady under my monitor and keyboard. 🙂
Quote : Anyway

Memory: Going with a single 4GB 1600 stick—just enough to get by for now. Nobody seems to be bringing this up, even though there’s a general consensus regarding AMD; those APUs work fine with one stick, but you don't actually see the real performance until you hit dual-channel mode, like a 2x2 GB setup. The problem? This board only has two slots, so you're basically locking yourself in for the future. There's always a catch, right?

You clearly know your stuff, so it's a shame you didn't jump into the conversation earlier. Honestly, I have no clue what you're talking about. If I did, someone would've suggested something along those lines by now. Or maybe you could've.

Power Supply:
Budget constraints are holding you back from going crazy with super quiet, high-end units, so anything recommended here is more than good enough.

Great. At least one thing is sorted out.

Hard Drive:
Personally, I'd love to see at least an SSHD in a new build, if not a full SSD+HDD combo. Based on how you usually do things, a 500 GB SSHD would probably do the trick, but since we're looking at laptop options, a 1 TB drive is out of reach. So, a standard 1 TB drive it is, with a strong recommendation to grab a system SSD later on and just use the HDD for storage. That's where you really feel the speed boost these days. You could also play around with Power Management settings to make the old-school drive spin down more often to keep things quiet.

I’d love to see all sorts of upgrades too (not just for PCs), but only if I actually understand what they do and why they matter. As it stands... I'm not sure. If it costs $200 and I don't see the point... and I can always buy it later... then I guess it's fine.
I'm not really the type to mess with Power Management settings. Maybe I'll figure that out one of these days...

To be continued... check it out below 😁

Other stuff:
Optical drives, card readers—doesn't matter, nothing is high quality anymore; it's all just disposable junk. Honestly, I could live without an optical drive since I barely touch one these days.

Good for you.

A card reader?
No matter how cool it looks, I wouldn't bother. Everything is wireless nowadays anyway, and I really don't feel like constantly swapping cards from my phone. I'll just go wireless and head outside to stare at the sun while it does its thing.
Basically, there's this real trend—not just a fad, but actually useful—where the router/AP becomes the central hub of the house. Everything new talks wirelessly: PCs, laptops, TVs, phones, NAS, the Net...

Okay, look at you being all trendy... should we talk more about you or move on to your car?

Quote : Anyway, Robert Rodriguez2's last build seems like the best setup for an AMD APU, though I think it would be better to go with a newer APU with a lower TDP. Not only are you catching up to more recent processor generations (let's be real, they aren't revolutionary or anything), but you get better manufacturing, lower power draw, and a decent boost in graphics performance. (By the way, what monitor are you using? What resolution and specs are we aiming for?)

Wait, was that post meant for me? Are you actually talking to me?
Haven't you realized by now that I have zero clue what you're talking about... what even is an APU or TDP?
Or are you just trying to say once again that women are clueless when it comes to computers?

If the main goals are a quiet and cool PC, you really need to look at the source of the problem, which is just the processor here. Any aftermarket cooler will handle a 65W chip much easier than a 100W one, which eliminates the need for endless mesh, fans, and speed regulation. A cooler processor puts less strain on the heatsink, so the fan doesn't have to scream, and it's a virtuous cycle.

I'm wondering again... instead of that massive post trashing women, why not write something constructive?
Something others can comment on that might explain to me why it would be a good idea, or why not.
And what are these 65W or 100W numbers you're talking about? I have no idea. I didn't suggest them; some forum users who apparently know what they're doing did.

Finally, you can get nice, steady airflow without the noise by using two larger fans in a push-pull configuration (front-to-back) running at 7V. Lower speeds mean less noise, and since the fans are larger, they're more efficient. You won't deal with positive or negative pressure issues (which helps with dust, though some is inevitable), and you won't need special regulation.

Well, I do have them. Both front and rear. 120mm fans (and one on top, if I remember right). If it's too much, I can ask someone to unplug it. Then I'll just use a tablet on the PC.
And if smaller speeds mean less noise—which makes total sense—then shouldn't you be able to get exactly that just by using a controller to dial back the speed?

Since this whole thing is basically a saga—and sagas cover a long time by definition—can we get one more round of pros and cons for episode
"Building the ultimate silent and cool budget PC for cheap," given everything we've talked about so far?
Edit: My bad, I'm late...

You did. But why?
And honestly, I doubt those guys actually put in that much effort. They're the only ones you can really bounce ideas off of regarding whether a 5600 or a 6500 would be better...

If you have any suggestions for swapping parts—keeping the total price exactly where it is, nothing higher—then maybe write it out? If someone else agrees it's a killer idea...
...I haven't paid for anything yet.
But I probably will soon, either tomorrow or Monday. Because if after this five-page saga... and all that patience... nobody has come up with a better way... other than suggesting I just grab an Intel i5... which costs twice as much (which I respect, and yeah, it's likely the better choice, but it's just too pricey for me right now), then I guess I don't have many options left.
Either that, or I just head down to Best Buy and pick up something for $250...$1000, like

or

or whatever else is sitting on the shelf.
Now... if one of those pre-builts is actually better than this custom build, then it's my own fault for being naive and believing the hype... that you can always build something better than a store-bought PC by picking individual components... and thinking I could pull it off with help from a forum since I'm clueless.
My bad. Just a silly girl.
👋

Quote : Anyway

crimsonstag84 said:Check this out: http://www.zalman.com/eng/product/Pr...ad.php?Idx=450 imati FM2

Idx = 450 imati FM2 😉

I was just scrolling through the AMD pages. Since that's such a huge piece of the puzzle, I figured everything else would be laid out right there.

Quote : Anyway

Robert Rodriguez2 said:If it works with FM1, it’ll work with FM2. The mounting holes are identical, right?

It's exactly the same situation you see with AM2, AM2+, AM3, and AM3+. 🙂 That's basically the whole story with AMD.

Things work a bit differently over at Intel. 😉

I didn't realize that. I honestly thought it had to be FM—like, if it just says FM, or if it specifies AMD 3+, then that's all you can use. Right?
There's no way for him to know... I mean, if they tell you to check which socket it is, there’s only one option right there.
Ugh... what now? Should I even bother with that difference? $33 Should I hit them up again for a new quote? Honestly, I'm starting to get sick of my own emails... imagine how they feel.
If I go with that pricier one... will it actually run cooler and quieter than the one you suggested? What if I just grab it? $33 Maybe I could squeeze out a tiny bit more performance here, or should I just leave it exactly as it is?
Just asking myself here... but if anyone else still has the energy for this... 😉

Michael Jackson10 mentioned something about some... Dual-channel memory?.
You were the one who made that first suggestion.
2 x Kingston DDR3 2GB, 1600MHz, Value series. Simple enough?
Does that have anything to do with it? If it was such a better option, why did you end up switching later on?

Quote : Anyway

David Sanders4 said:There’s a total beast hiding under that massive heatsink. It gets way too hot, so you really need some serious cooling. You'll see what I mean once you go in to swap out the thermal paste—maybe just tackle both at once? Just overhaul the whole thing on the old PC.Looking at those photos, it’s pretty clear there's some dust buildup in there. Since you're already ordering all that gear, why not grab a can of compressed air too? It'll make cleaning everything out a whole lot easier.

Can you see all that dust? 😂 You really should've checked before I started vacuuming. 😁
All you could see was dust.
Time to swap out that thermal paste? 😕 Where, when, why, how...
I know I'm gonna regret this—this thing's been sitting in the dust for nearly 10 years without any paste, spray, or anything...
Btw, why would I even bother doing that (even if I knew how) on an old rig if I'm buying a new one anyway?
(But thanks for the tip... obviously I'll look into what to do with that paste once the time comes...)

I’m just not feeling it right now. Maybe down the road I'll drop a "blast from the past" kind of post—something for the folks out there who still can't tell the difference between a processor and a coprocessor. You know, things like confusing TDP with PWM, or thinking a gigabyte is the same thing as a gigahertz.

It’s probably not going to help the original poster make her decision, but hey, maybe it'll be useful for someone actually interested in how tech evolves (and disappears), or how you actually go about building a PC. Or maybe it'll just bring a tear to the eye of some old-timer who remembers being told, "Hey Mirko, you're typing on a rubber band!" (or whatever the local equivalent was). Who knows? It might even send them spinning off into some distant Galaxies... assuming the Eagles carry them there.

It’s such a shame that stuff doesn't get recorded anymore, before everything just turned into endless debates over whether Intel or AMD is better (remember Cyrix? Or does anyone even remember VIA?).

I'm heading out for a bit to go ☕ bother my four-legged (and two-legged) beasts... 👋

Quote : Anyway

Jason Harris5 said:I’m just not feeling it right now. Maybe one of these days I’ll drop a "blast from the past" post for everyone out there who still can't tell a processor from a coprocessor. You know, like confusing TDP with PWM or a gigabyte with a gigahertz.

Look, I get it—you just don't feel like doing it. Honestly, if someone actually cares enough to look for answers, they can probably just find what they need in a book or via a quick Google search anyway, right?
Ever wonder how stuff actually works? Like, the mechanics behind your PC, water heater, washer, fridge, vacuum, dishwasher, AC, or even your car... there's always some manual or guide out there explaining it.
But look... it’s not like everyone needs to care about that stuff, right? It's not necessary for everyone to know exactly how everything works or which specific parts are better than others.
At the end of the day, people just want a machine that actually does what it's supposed to do. Isn't that the whole point?
Quote : Anyway

It might not help the OP pick her parts, but this could be cool for anyone actually interested in how tech evolves—or just how we used to build PCs back in the day. Maybe it’ll even bring a tear to someone's eye when they remember those old-school stories about typing on rubber bands. Who knows? Might just launch you straight into the Galaxy... assuming the Eagles carry you there.

Oh yeah. It'll definitely be useful.
Look, I’m not trying to turn into some kind of tech wizard who can build a custom rig from scratch and wire up every single component myself... but I wouldn't mind picking up some basic info, written in plain English. The real issue is that people who actually know their stuff seem to forget that not everyone else does. Isn't that where the communication breakdown usually happens?
So, here's the deal: I'm thinking about calling a tech guy to help me "clean up" my PC. I told him I've got a ton of programs cluttering things up, and while some definitely need to go, I have no clue what half of them actually do. I'm terrified of accidentally deleting something vital. I mean, I'd totally handle the uninstalling myself if I just knew which ones were safe to ditch without breaking the whole system... you know? Only the stuff I recognize as useless gets the axe.
He suggested I ditch Windows XP for Windows 7 since it’s supposedly better. I was like, fine, if you guys think it's an upgrade, let's do it—as long as I don't lose any of my files. I can get used to a new look, right?
I'm asking him:
Everything. So, what am I actually going to be left with once this service is done? He says: That's everything.No worries, it's all good. Don't worry, I'll get everything sorted and back where it belongs. It'll be just like it was before.
He brought over my computer, fixed the connection, and suddenly the internet works—but at what cost? Everything else is gone. I’m looking at this thing and it’s like a total wipeout. All my programs? Vanished. Even my Sims collection, which took forever to build up with all those custom expansions and cheat codes... just wiped clean. How am I supposed to get back online now? Seriously...
So I was venting to a friend about it, and he just goes, "Well, yeah... what did you expect?" Apparently, it only saved her documents and didn't back up any of her programs. Who knew?
Most people are just going to think the same thing—what an idiot, she had it coming.
Man, I ended up losing my whole program because I actually believed what he told me he'd do for me. Seriously? Everything. Can we just bring back the ability to undo things without deleting all our essential apps and games? Why does it always have to ask permission before removing something we actually need?
Of course I wouldn't just agree to that. My guy should've actually explained what that entails. He really needed to... he should've realized I wasn't in the loop and talked to me like an adult, instead of assuming I knew everything. Because when he says "it's all set," I know deep down it's definitely not "all set."
So... I ended up paying him to remove stuff I actually wanted to keep. And now I can't get them back.

Jason Harris5 said:Based on what you picked, if you're going with AMD, that Arctic Cooling option is out since it isn't made for an AMD socket.

That's interesting, considering it was suggested in the same build as the AMD setup.
It’s honestly hard to keep track of all this. Maybe I should've just bought a pre-built? Will this be better or not... who knows, but I'm hoping it beats my old one.
Which, by the way... is even worth anything? Does anyone actually want this old junk, or can I flip it for a few bucks?

It's a shame we don't record this stuff—back when we used to argue about whether Intel or AMD was king (remember those Cyrix or VIA debates?).

I'm gonna head out ☕ and go hang with my four-legged (and two-legged) beasts... 👋

Go ahead, go relax. 😉

Thanks for the effort, the simple breakdown, the clear language, and all the info...

So, what did you end up deciding?

Larry Ortiz5 said:So, what did you end up deciding?

Jump off a balcony. 😁 Or just stick with the old rig...
Just kidding, I'll go with the last one featuring AMD.
It’ll probably be plenty for what I need. Would an Intel i3 or i5 have been better? Maybe, but nobody actually suggested those—just a bunch of Celerons and Pentiums:
Here’s the list:
Intel Celeron G1820 $97
Intel Celeron G1610 $77
Intel Celeron G1610 $77
Intel Pentium G3220, 3.00GHz,512KB,3MB, Haswell $136
AMD Trinity A8-Series x4 5600K 3.60GHz 4cores, FM2 $222
AMD A8 x4 5600K 639,70
AMD Trinity A8-Series x4 5600K 3.60GHz 4cores, FM2 639,70

I went with the most expensive option. (Mind you, they didn't send a fresh quote yet since I wasn't checking over the weekend). I know, "pick the priciest" isn't always the smartest move, but sometimes when you don't have many options, you just assume something more expensive is $233 better than the $250 version.
Only at the very end did people start mentioning i3s or (way too pricey) i5s because Intel is supposedly the better choice. But that would mean rebuilding an entire build from scratch with all the parts... which I can't even compare price-wise right now. We were just debating Intel vs. AMD. I don't want to dive into that because I honestly don't know which is better or why. For my needs, anything is probably fine.
Anyway, it feels silly to start from square one and dump a hundred more questions on you guys. I feel like I've already used up everyone's patience. Better to just grab this and let you all get back to your lives. 😉