Have to rebuild my computer. - Page 2

Rockin Robbins · 10-30-17, 10:10 AM

Quote:

One of the main reasons now that I stick with AMD/ATI cards is that they are supported "out-of-the-box" on Linux, as the "official" AMD driver is in the kernel.

That's what picked the MSI/AMD combination for the motherboard: Linux compatibility. Nvidia is just a matter of habit and perfect Linux compatibility so far.

It's a fun time to be building a computer, except that the RAM prices are crazy right now. I started looking at 16GB of RAM for $157.00 and now it's $174.99 on NewEgg, over $190 on Amazon. We're getting hard by some Thanksgiving, black Friday, Cyber-Monday, Christmas season specials so I'm holding my fire as I miss the ability to run Silent Hunter 4.

I really look forward to seeing what I want to do with Ubuntu. I think the wiser choice is to go for LTS editions rather than having sometimes wonky upgrade paths every six months. If cool stuff comes out I can usually integrate them into the LTS edition anyway.

My really great USB wireless card, (ALFA AWUS036HN with directional 7db antenna) freaks out with the random MAC address "security feature" of Ubuntu 17.04 and above. There's a hack but it still didn't fix Steam last I knew. I haven't been able to play with it, which is missing a lot of fun.

I really want to know who thought that random MAC addresses were a great security thing. From a network administrator perspective, a MAC whitelist is a feature that enhances my security. Linux high muckey-mucks, overthinking the problem, think crooks will sit in my driveway, sniff packets for a few hours, clone a MAC address and get on my network. That's plain silly!

Real crooks work from the security of their underground bunker in Bali-Bali, working in their underwear and don't need my MAC address. In the meantime, my MAC address whitelist keeps everyone I don't want off my wireless network very well, thank you.

Gerald · 10-30-17, 10:18 AM

YOU MUST BE A CAUTION GENERAL WHEN IT COMES, TO COMPUTERS BECOME A DECISION ON IT.

Rockin Robbins · 11-23-17, 07:00 PM

Ordered CPU, $99.99, $20 off. And Motherboard 99.99, $30 off. Memory is sitting at $195.00 and they can rot in Onkel Neal's basement dungeon before I spend that. Time is on my side......

Stuck the memory in the cart at Amazon and Newegg, then abandoned the carts with the memory still in them. Sometimes you'll get an e-mail offering a deal when you do that. We'll see.

Cyborg322 · 11-24-17, 03:51 PM

Memory prices crazy HyperX FURY 8 GB DDR4 2666 £131 US 174.68 Amazon

Paid £55 US 73.31 for the same thing same spec DDR4 Skylake 2666 Amazon DEC 2016 12 Months ago

Everything out of stock sellers taking advantage so prices unrealistic after Christmas and stocks replenish back to sanity

Rockin Robbins · 12-21-17, 04:24 PM

Fired up the new machine last night. My video card is shot. Somehow, I must have taken a voltage spike through my UPS that wiped out the old motherboard, plus the video card. Yikes. Ordered MSI GTX 1050 Ti card and waiting.....again.

Saved $50 on the card, but why does it seem like I'm spending more money?

Skybird · 12-22-17, 09:28 AM

Did you re-use your old PSU in your new rig? was it really old? I wouldn't reuse old PSUs. PSUs are like batteries, they have a life cycle, their longevity is limited.

Rockin Robbins · 12-22-17, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybird

Did you re-use your old PSU in your new rig? was it really old? I wouldn't reuse old PSUs. PSUs are like batteries, they have a life cycle, their longevity is limited.

My PSU is only a couple of years old, EVGA 550W and my new setup needs a lot less than that. I could go with 350W and still be fine. These new CPUs and video cards are amazing.

Skybird · 12-22-17, 10:41 AM

"a couple of years"? That could be too many years, depending on the quality of components used in the PSU, and the total working hours it has logged already. PSUs loose maximum capacity safeties with the passing of life, and enduring heat. They may lose the ability to maintain stable power levels.

Just repüeating what I was told by a guy I kinew who really knew it better than I do. He ran very expensive rigs himself, and security-critical rigs for a company. He replaced PSUs every two years - prophylactically.

It may have been a spike that killed your mobo and GPU, maybe during the startup when you hit the on-button. Could be. If the PSu was too detoriated, it may have created an intiial starting spike too strong for the hardware to digest. There always is such a spike initially when switching on the power, but a PSU that is in good order should keep it below critical treshholds.

Also, the maximum output possible may suffer - maybe even signficantly - with growing age of a PSU. Its a wearing part. And many people underestimate the need fopr gpopod quality in tzheir PSU and stable power distribution.

All I mean to say is: it must not have been the PSU, but it could have been the PSU. If it has several years in its record already, I would not re-use it in a new system, its just a risk.

10-30-17, 10:18 AM	#17
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	YOU MUST BE A CAUTION GENERAL WHEN IT COMES, TO COMPUTERS BECOME A DECISION ON IT. __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

11-23-17, 07:00 PM	#18
Rockin Robbins Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: DeLand, FL Posts: 8,900 Downloads: 135 Uploads: 52	Ordered CPU, $99.99, $20 off. And Motherboard 99.99, $30 off. Memory is sitting at $195.00 and they can rot in Onkel Neal's basement dungeon before I spend that. Time is on my side...... Stuck the memory in the cart at Amazon and Newegg, then abandoned the carts with the memory still in them. Sometimes you'll get an e-mail offering a deal when you do that. We'll see. __________________ Sub Skipper's Bag of Tricks, Slightly Subnuclear Mk 14 & Cutie, Slightly Subnuclear Deck Gun, EZPlot 2.0, TMOPlot, TMOKeys, SH4CMS

11-24-17, 03:51 PM	#19
Cyborg322 Scurvy Dog of the Deep Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Manchester England Posts: 1,125 Downloads: 390 Uploads: 0	Memory prices crazy HyperX FURY 8 GB DDR4 2666 £131 US 174.68 Amazon Paid £55 US 73.31 for the same thing same spec DDR4 Skylake 2666 Amazon DEC 2016 12 Months ago Everything out of stock sellers taking advantage so prices unrealistic after Christmas and stocks replenish back to sanity __________________

12-21-17, 04:24 PM	#20
Rockin Robbins Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: DeLand, FL Posts: 8,900 Downloads: 135 Uploads: 52	Fired up the new machine last night. My video card is shot. Somehow, I must have taken a voltage spike through my UPS that wiped out the old motherboard, plus the video card. Yikes. Ordered MSI GTX 1050 Ti card and waiting.....again. Saved $50 on the card, but why does it seem like I'm spending more money? __________________ Sub Skipper's Bag of Tricks, Slightly Subnuclear Mk 14 & Cutie, Slightly Subnuclear Deck Gun, EZPlot 2.0, TMOPlot, TMOKeys, SH4CMS

12-22-17, 09:28 AM	#21
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,784 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Did you re-use your old PSU in your new rig? was it really old? I wouldn't reuse old PSUs. PSUs are like batteries, they have a life cycle, their longevity is limited. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

12-22-17, 10:41 AM	#23
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,784 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	"a couple of years"? That could be too many years, depending on the quality of components used in the PSU, and the total working hours it has logged already. PSUs loose maximum capacity safeties with the passing of life, and enduring heat. They may lose the ability to maintain stable power levels. Just repüeating what I was told by a guy I kinew who really knew it better than I do. He ran very expensive rigs himself, and security-critical rigs for a company. He replaced PSUs every two years - prophylactically. It may have been a spike that killed your mobo and GPU, maybe during the startup when you hit the on-button. Could be. If the PSu was too detoriated, it may have created an intiial starting spike too strong for the hardware to digest. There always is such a spike initially when switching on the power, but a PSU that is in good order should keep it below critical treshholds. Also, the maximum output possible may suffer - maybe even signficantly - with growing age of a PSU. Its a wearing part. And many people underestimate the need fopr gpopod quality in tzheir PSU and stable power distribution. All I mean to say is: it must not have been the PSU, but it could have been the PSU. If it has several years in its record already, I would not re-use it in a new system, its just a risk. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.