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Another new build advice thread
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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3. March 2008 @ 10:09 |
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It's not exactly a good reason, but given how jawdroppingly abysmal the P5N-E SLI is, the P5N32 is a bit too close for comfort IMO.
If you're building a top end PC, Asus and Gigabyte are both worth considering. If you're on a limiting budget though, I'd veer away from Asus because their cheap offerings. Well suffice to say I would have been better off using ECS...
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AfterDawn Addict
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3. March 2008 @ 20:00 |
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Originally posted by sammorris:
It's not exactly a good reason, but given how jawdroppingly abysmal the P5N-E SLI is, the P5N32 is a bit too close for comfort IMO.
If you're building a top end PC, Asus and Gigabyte are both worth considering. If you're on a limiting budget though, I'd veer away from Asus because their cheap offerings. Quote:
Well suffice to say I would have been better off using ECS...
NOW that's funny right there!!! lol. Sam please tell me you were j/k.... I know that ASUS has a tendency to not support (hearsay) their lower end mobos but it's still an ASUS and they make good mobos most of the time. lol.
LOCO I've missed a lot in the last couple of days on this thread. ;) I'm sure that one of us will point you in the right direction, BUT which one. hehehe. :P
good luck....
...gm
add: I'll hang around a bit and see what kind of dirt I can stir up.... :P
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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3. March 2008 @ 20:35 |
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Well, I was only half joking really. My A8N-SLI SE broke within 9 months, my P5N-E SLI broke within 9 months, and my A8R-MVP reboots itself about six times before actually posting.
Quite a few ECS boards at least make it to the year mark.
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PacMan777
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4. March 2008 @ 09:32 |
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Originally posted by sammorris:
Well, I was only half joking really. My A8N-SLI SE broke within 9 months, my P5N-E SLI broke within 9 months, and my A8R-MVP reboots itself about six times before actually posting.
Quite a few ECS boards at least make it to the year mark.
How large a hammer are you using on those boards? LOL In one of my PCs I've an A8N32 SLI board that's been running nearly 24/7 for the past couple of years with a hefty OC. I've pushed it to the limit on more than one occasion calling for backing off the OC settings. So far it's been a trouble free board.
LOCO
Note the 32 in the model names. The 32 boards are usually the more heavy duty offerings in an ASUS series of mobos. In my case the A8N32 is beefier than the other A8N(s).
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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4. March 2008 @ 10:28 |
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This is the point I often make about Asus boards. The top end ones are usually pretty solid, but the standard P5N-E board was a known troublemaker, so it doesn't surprise me too much about the others. I don't think Asus is such a good option for midrange (below $150 or below £80) boards.
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PacMan777
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5. March 2008 @ 04:58 |
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Originally posted by sammorris:
This is the point I often make about Asus boards. The top end ones are usually pretty solid, but the standard P5N-E board was a known troublemaker, so it doesn't surprise me too much about the others. I don't think Asus is such a good option for midrange (below $150 or below £80) boards.
Not everyone is trying to OC their systems, or want to. The less expensive boards aren't built for it. However, most of the boards are good for normal applications. As the old saying goes, "there's no free lunch". That usually applies when buying PC components. The exception is when there's a good sale. So... we often get what we pay for. If the builder anticipates the need for heavier loads, they should opt for an upscale board to build with. I've had good luck with the less expensive ASUS boards. I simply make it a point to use then with stock settings and not for overclocking experiments.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 5. March 2008 @ 05:00
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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5. March 2008 @ 05:02 |
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The A8N-SLI SE was never overclocked, and neither is the A8R-MVP...
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PacMan777
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5. March 2008 @ 14:58 |
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Originally posted by sammorris:
The A8N-SLI SE was never overclocked, and neither is the A8R-MVP...
Then it sounds as though you're the true "bad luck kid". I've known others who've used the A8N and overclocked them with good success and no problems. If your situation was common, Asus wouldn't enjoy the fine reputation for quality they've garnered in the enthusiast market.
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Moderator
1 product review
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5. March 2008 @ 15:34 |
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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5. March 2008 @ 15:39 |
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Pacman: Maybe so, but the P5N-E was a known bad egg, and if something does go wrong, Asus' tech support isn't exactly great.
Loco: To be honest, I would have spent the extra $40 and bought a new one from newegg, but each to their own.
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1 product review
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5. March 2008 @ 16:59 |
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Quote:
Loco: To be honest, I would have spent the extra $40 and bought a new one from newegg, but each to their own.
From the description this one is new other than testing to make sure it's not DOA and I would have thrown out the stock HSF anyway.
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AfterDawn Addict
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5. March 2008 @ 17:08 |
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Originally posted by sammyboy:
Loco: To be honest, I would have spent the extra $40 and bought a new one from newegg, but each to their own.
Sam we're NOT all made of money like you are.....hehehe. j/k mate...
Originally posted by LOCO:
From the description this one is new other than testing to make sure it's not DOA and I would have thrown out the stock HSF anyway.
NOW why would you want to thro out a perfectly good hsf?? They do the job and if you don't have the extra $30 or so for a decent hsf they will work until that time comes. IF you don't OC then the stock cooler will suffice. BUT with that said I'm changing mine out this evening. :P... :P
btw I love DO-SI-DOS!!!! Yummmmmmmmmy!!!!!
....gm
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AfterDawn Addict
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5. March 2008 @ 17:08 |
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True. I've bought a few things off ebay in that manner, including my 30" Monitor, which I love!
Greensman: I've not used a stock cooler for years, since decent aftermarket ones are so inexpensive now there's no reason not to.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 5. March 2008 @ 17:11
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Moderator
1 product review
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5. March 2008 @ 17:22 |
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Quote:
btw I love DO-SI-DOS!!!! Yummmmmmmmmy!!!!!
Are you having a box as we speak?
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AfterDawn Addict
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5. March 2008 @ 17:33 |
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Originally posted by LOCOENG:
Quote:
btw I love DO-SI-DOS!!!! Yummmmmmmmmy!!!!!
Are you having a box as we speak?
NOT having... HAD!!!! Uummmmmmmmmmmmm.....
Congrats on the recent purchases LOCO. Looks like you're getting ever closer to the final goal.... the build process............
.....gm
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5. March 2008 @ 17:36 |
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The easy part is behind me, it's an uphill battle from here....
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AfterDawn Addict
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5. March 2008 @ 19:36 |
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Originally posted by LOCOENG:
The easy part is behind me, it's an uphill battle from here....
LOCO building is easy. Getting all the parts to like each other is the difficult part. hehehe. You'll do just fine and if you need some help there are plenty of helpers in the this thread or you can brave a few posts in the PC build thread. :D
If I can do this stuff then anyone can. TRUST me. :D
.....gm
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PacMan777
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6. March 2008 @ 03:40 |
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Originally posted by greensman:
LOCO building is easy.
True. The innards are much like putting together a small erector set. The "magic" is done at the factory when the chips are made. Buying compatible, good quality components is the only talent really necessary as far as foresight goes. It's the horrible gremlins that get us in the end. Figuring out what went wrong when a problem crops up shows what a builder is made of. Some of us have a horror story or 2 to tell.
Understanding the BIOS and how it controls the system helps a lot. The rest of the skills needed are mostly diagnostics for hardware and software. When "firing up" the first time, a DOA or intermittantly flawed part can leave even the best builder scratching his head. Even the best manufacturers send out the occasional "bad" part. Who'd need a warranty if they didn't? LOL I wouldn't wish a mobo with an intermittant problem on anyone but my worst enemy. ;)
LOCO
Check out the forums at Tomshardware and some of the other like tech forums for some of their hardware reviews. Don't take any one as the gospel though. Get a good look at the "lay of the land". You have to remember some of those guys have their biases. Some folks doing reviews have as much credibility as we do. LOL Greensman made a good point. If you're not going to OC, stock parts do a good job. Some of the older stock HSFs were throwaway items, but the newer ones used with both Intel and AMD do a decent job. Some of those old processors needed a refrigeration unit. ;) You're selecting from 2 of the leaders in mobo manufacturing. So, you appear to have already done most of your research. Pulling the lever on that final "perfect" part is always the hard part. My Washingtons never leave home without a fight.
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6. March 2008 @ 08:48 |
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Indeed, PC knowledge and PC building is easy as pie, hence why i don't do PC's (or Windows for that matter) for a living, everyone and his wife is a PC Specialist or is an MCSE, it's beyond me how they get paid enough what with half the planet being so-called PC or Windows specialists :)
Main PC ~ Intel C2Q Q6600 (G0 Stepping)/Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3/2GB Crucial Ballistix PC2-8500/Zalman CNPS9700/Antec 900/Corsair HX 620W
Network ~ DD-WRT ~ 2node WDS-WPA2/AES ~ Buffalo WHR-G54S. 3node WPA2/AES ~ WRT54GS v6 (inc. WEP BSSID), WRT54G v2, WRT54G2 v1. *** Forum Rules *** |
Moderator
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6. March 2008 @ 08:53 |
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Originally posted by creaky:
Indeed, PC knowledge and PC building is easy as pie, hence why i don't do PC's (or Windows for that matter) for a living, everyone and his wife is a PC Specialist or is an MCSE, it's beyond me how they get paid enough what with half the planet being so-called PC or Windows specialists :)
What are you on about old bean...we need to petition to have your nic changed to "grumpy" :)
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PacMan777
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6. March 2008 @ 10:16 |
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Originally posted by creaky:
Indeed, PC knowledge and PC building is easy as pie, hence why i don't do PC's (or Windows for that matter) for a living, everyone and his wife is a PC Specialist or is an MCSE, it's beyond me how they get paid enough what with half the planet being so-called PC or Windows specialists :)
Creaky
There's still enough people not inclined to open a PC case to see what's in there. So, there should be enough work for the techs. For those of us who have built our own PCs and know a bit about the software, we think some of the prices charged for repairs border on robbery. Some of the repairs can be done so quickly the shops are actually charging about $100 an hour. Also, I've seen some supposed pros make mistakes as well. A friend took his PC to the shop and they told him his processor was going bad. It was an older PC and simply didn't have the resources to multitask the way my friend expected. Instead of replacing the processor I added more RAM. His kids are still using the PC. It's not the main PC in the house, but it's not a throwaway model either. Cost of repair, about $50 for the RAM. It cost more for the bad diagnosis.
A good AV program and reg cleaner would cost the techs more business than most of the enthusiast builders. ;)
I don't advertise my advice in public and have only 2 friends outside the family that seek me out to help with PC problems.
I don't consider myself a specialist, but I know where the parts go and how to troubleshoot problems. I may not be as fast as the pros or have their tools, but I get the job done on my equipment. I suspect there's quite a few who have learned the same, who don't claim professional skills either. There's a lot that can be picked up on the forums as well. It's just a matter of sifting through the material. Like anything else, there's those who get people mixed up and those who lend credible advice.
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6. March 2008 @ 10:41 |
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yeah, i hear you; i guess my lack of respect for the PC world in general kind of leaked out there :)
Anyways, not much i can add to the Asus discussions, have never used one; plus since my recent Quad core build i'm all built out. Since then i've replaced most of my old P3 machines with Dell Core Duo machines so no more self builds for, well, a few years now i imagine. The MSI P35 Platinum i have in the Quad Core is doing it's thing well, it's just about fully loaded, upon startup it tends to reboot once, then starts fine; weird, but consistent so i pay it no heed, the 620watt PSU is handling the 5 WD hard drives and 3 opticals nicely, plus 5 USB connected WD drives, oh and 2 USB opticals too :)
Main PC ~ Intel C2Q Q6600 (G0 Stepping)/Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3/2GB Crucial Ballistix PC2-8500/Zalman CNPS9700/Antec 900/Corsair HX 620W
Network ~ DD-WRT ~ 2node WDS-WPA2/AES ~ Buffalo WHR-G54S. 3node WPA2/AES ~ WRT54GS v6 (inc. WEP BSSID), WRT54G v2, WRT54G2 v1. *** Forum Rules ***
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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6. March 2008 @ 12:47 |
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Pacman777: I agree wholeheartedly with that last paragraph. I'm one of those that will always happily help someone out if they ask for help, but don't go around bragging about it. It would be nice to be able to make a living out of what I do, but I don't have the heart to rip people off as much as some.
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AfterDawn Addict
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6. March 2008 @ 17:22 |
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Originally posted by grumpy:
the 620watt PSU is handling the 5 WD hard drives and 3 opticals nicely, plus 5 USB connected WD drives, oh and 2 USB opticals too :)
Good grief what are you running a massive server or half of England??? hehehe. I'm impressed creaky. I can't remember what kind of storage you're talking about but it's like 3TB isn't it?? Geez that's a lot of PRON!!!!! hehehee. :P
creaks what kind of enclosure are you using with the HDD's?? I have a Galaxy and like it but I think I may need another one soon, any preferences?? tia.....
....gm
Oh and the next person that says I'm excessive should L@@K at what creaky just wrote.... :P (I only had 3 internal HDD's and 5 internal ODD's plus 1 USB HDD.....lol)
see LOCO it's easy, just ask any of us!!!! hahaha......
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6. March 2008 @ 17:38 |
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LOL @grumpy
my main pc (the sexy Quad core) has 5 internal 500GB drives (WD5000AAKS's). It had 6 but i ran out of controllers so the 6th is now in an eSATA controller that came with the wrong eSATA cable, no biggie as it's USB connected now, it's just a general work area drive
Internal hard drives -
1/ Boot disc and general work area
2/ MP3 drive - all my music lives on here
3/ Music video drive (not concerts, just many years of music videos)
4/ AVI dumping ground
5/ DVD's converted and burnt, stuff eventually gets deleted off this one to make room for more
I swear by these for my 4 500GB (WD5000AAKB) USB drives -
1/ exact copy of the internal MP3 drive (no way do i want to spend months re-ripping from 20yrs of music cd's!)
2/ exact copy of music vid drive (overkill really but they've taken donkey's years to accumulate)
3/ Concert DVD's
4/ overflow area for DVD's burnt
edit- another drive added, a WD 250GB in a cheap USB2.0 enclosure for a general work area.
and i swear by these for various optical drives -
1/ LG DVD-Rom drive
2/ Benq DW1650
a couple more of those enclosures are on another pc
3 internal opticals -
1/ Benq DW1650 on the IDE channel
2/ LG L66BAL or whatever it's called (SATA)
3/ same as above
I've spent too many years using crappy old & storage-starved machines so when the Quad Core came it had to be the business.
Plus a few old xboxes running XBMC (Xbox Media Centre) where i generally access the various music & film drives as everything's nicely networked now. The main xbox has a 500GB (you guessed it, WK5000AAKB) just for all my games, it's virtually full now. The other xboxes have their stock hard drives in as they just play dvd games or dvd films or watch movies across the network.
Here's the latest pic -
Main PC ~ Intel C2Q Q6600 (G0 Stepping)/Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3/2GB Crucial Ballistix PC2-8500/Zalman CNPS9700/Antec 900/Corsair HX 620W
Network ~ DD-WRT ~ 2node WDS-WPA2/AES ~ Buffalo WHR-G54S. 3node WPA2/AES ~ WRT54GS v6 (inc. WEP BSSID), WRT54G v2, WRT54G2 v1. *** Forum Rules ***
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 11. March 2008 @ 08:44
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