PC gaming hardware thread.
Takes down the torture rack.
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Hello Hearthly! Where have you been?
page break makes me sound like a mad person.
Findus Fop wrote:
Hello Hearthly! Where have you been?


Good afternoon Mr Fop, primarily lurking these days, I do still partake of forums but mainly over at Desert Island Fruits (fruit machine emulation) and Casinomeister (online slots).

In terms of videogames I'm pretty much Legends of Runeterra and Final Fantasy 14, which AFAIK no one here plays.

Oh yes I made another Gambling Low Ebbs video, I'll link that one in the fruit machine emulation thread.
Hearthly wrote:
TheVision wrote:
Can anyone tell me about NVME SSD hard drives? I have a slot on my motherboard for one and they look like they could be useful for storing videos on while I edit them.

Has anyone got or used one? Anything I should be aware of before I buy one?


They're mega-fast, and when working with large video files you'll notice a massive difference over traditional hard drives, and even over SATA SSDs. (In simple terms SATA SSDs max out at about 600MB/s depending on what they're doing, NVMe SSDs can do about 3000-3500MB/s - both have very similar seek times.)

I had a dabble editing 4K videos together and using an NVMe SSD for that was nicer than using a SATA SSD.

Just be aware that M2 is a form factor and NVMe is the type of drive, it's possible to get SATA SSDs in the M2 form factor (M2 is the socket on your motherboard), so make sure you're getting an NVMe M2 drive.

Don't shell out extra for a PCIe4 NVMe drive, the PCIe3 NVMe drives are more than capable of maxing out the rest of your system. (i.e. Other things in your PC will bottleneck a PCIe3 drive, let alone a PCIe4 drive which can cost quite a bit more.)


That's really useful! Thank you Hearthly. I know what to look out for now and it seems like it'll be a worthwhile investment for what I need.
Is there anyone looking for a new GPU for their PC that would be interested in buying my old MSI GeForce GTX 980?

It's 4GB, has never been used for any cryptocurrency mining or anything like that (or even any particularly strenuous gaming tbh!), and they still seem to be going for about £150 on fleaBay, so would be willing to take in the region of £120 for it from a BeExer?
I think I bought your old one off you :)
GazChap wrote:
Is there anyone looking for a new GPU for their PC that would be interested in buying my old MSI GeForce GTX 980?

It's 4GB, has never been used for any cryptocurrency mining or anything like that (or even any particularly strenuous gaming tbh!), and they still seem to be going for about £150 on fleaBay, so would be willing to take in the region of £120 for it from a BeExer?


@GazChap - if you've still got this, I'd be happy to take it off your hands.
I do indeed, I'll shoot you a PM :)
Life changes.

I have two big PCs at home. I had another monstrosity at my mother's. The one at mum's was a temp build until I brought over one from my flat. Because of Covid. It's incredibly heavy and I needed someone to move it professionally. This was supposed to be coming to mum's, at which point I was going to break down the temp PC and flog it in bits.

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It has a 1920x Threadripper, with 32gb RAM and a 2080Ti Aorus Xtreme I bought from a panic seller. I paid £480 for the Ti, with the block already fitted and the air cooler in the box. However, a few things were pushing me away from this. Firstly there isn't much room here. 2.5m x 3m room, with bed, drawers etc etc. I was tired of sitting down and feeling trapped by electronics, see pic.

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The Alienware is no smaller. It's enormous. I also had flashbacks to when I moved and even though I wrapped up the Alienware with 5" of bubble wrap they still managed to damage the front panel. So I had a think. "What do I do with my PC now?". Listen to music, go on forums, play PUBG. That's it. I play PUBG 4-5 nights a week for 3-4 hours. Which, in the end, was what helped me come to a decision. At home I have this PC.

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Which I now refer to as "Big Me". It has a 3950x, 32gb 4133 RAM running at 3650, and a 2080Ti Kingpin. The issue I was having was that when I got here to mum's the game felt very different. I had a 2070 Super here, with a 1920x. However, since I had a big leak over Xmas I had to remove one of the rads meaning the 1920x was running stock. It could have been down to that, but I also felt a huge difference in GPU power. This was annoying, as PUBG relies heavily on reflexes and muscle memory. It's really rather jarring stepping from one PC to the other continually, and requires brain training every time. I was kinda sick of that, and I knew that even if the Alienware made the trip alive it still wouldn't offer the same performance as "big me". So, I decided to build "mini me".

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It has a Ryzen 3600 with 16gb Dominator 3200 CL15 and the 2080Ti Aorus Xtreme, now put back on air with huge dramas trying to figure out the correct thermal pad thickness as Gigabyte keep it top secret.

Whilst I was at it I bought a bunch of Razer stuffs on Prime Day. At home I have the Huntsman Elite, but those are £200 now. So I got the Huntsman TE on sale for £78, a Goliathus XXL Chroma mat and Viper Mini for cheap.

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Much better. It also practically matches the other PC too, so now shouldn't be so jarring. I have ordered a new wrist pad as I don't think my yellow one will look good.

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I currently have a Radeon HD 7800 graphics card (Gaz's old old one), it outputs 1 HDMI and 2 DVI. I run 2 monitors of it (1 HDMI, 1 DVI). The DVI monitor is a works provided ( I switch between mine and my works laptop) and is to be replaced as it has started glitching. The new monitors we can buy don't have DVI, mostly HDMI and Display port.

What is a good budget graphics card these days? The 7800 is running fine, but it need at least 2 HDMI or 1 HDMI & 1 Display port.


Cheers
DVI to HDMI adapter
Yeah they're very good.
DavPaz wrote:
DVI to HDMI adapter


of course.. That will save a fortune
JohnCoffey wrote:
. It's incredibly heavy and I needed someone to move it professionally.


Cor, how big and heavy is it? I've not used removalists for a long time (last time was when mum moved house in maybe 2006, something like that) and I don't recall them being particularly careful.
Sir Taxalot wrote:
JohnCoffey wrote:
. It's incredibly heavy and I needed someone to move it professionally.


Cor, how big and heavy is it? I've not used removalists for a long time (last time was when mum moved house in maybe 2006, something like that) and I don't recall them being particularly careful.


I would say full over 50kg. The problem is it has a steel core and a 1" alu shell. I packed it as best I could, then requested two of them pick it up via the steel legs underneath. Instead one boasted "Oh I can carry this alone !" and then ogged it up 104 steps with the front of it pressing into his chest. The front is V shaped alu, and by the time he was done it was flat. I did manage to pull it out, but it got scratched in the process.
My new screen has finally arrived yay. HP 27Zq G3 Screen

It works well with my Works laptop on 2 Display port although it won't go above 1980 x 1200 (can go to 2560x1440, but I guess that is the primary) but as a second screen it is ok. My main runs at 3440x1440.

My own PC has Radeon 7800 (1 HDMI and 2 DVI) The HDMi goes to my main screen. I got a DVI to DP adaptor, with the screen and it does not work.... boo!!

So... to fix it, should I get a https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00YOSA85Q? ... yp_imgToDp HDMI to DVI bidirectional, so see if it works.

or

Can I use the HDMI on my motherboard to power the second screen. Will that cause issues?
TLDR.... can I use a HDMI on graphics card and motherboard.

or DVI to HDMI & HDMI, both on Graphics card.
That seems really unlikely. Even if the cpu has built in graphics, I'd have thought you're either using one or the other.

I just tried to Google this, and now I just have no idea.

First question I guess is does your cpu have integrated graphics?
I got a new monitor. I wasn't going to, then this showed up on Ebay "refurb" for half price. I didn't want it for my flat, but mum's. I was still running my old 32" HP 60hz here.

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I was pretty scared. It terrifies me at the best of times buying monitors, and the fact that JL delivered the first of the 32" HPs smashed didn't fill me with hope. It also said "Brown box no accessories or power cable" which really ate at me. It uses a power supply, and without it it's a bit of a paper weight. So imagine my joy when I got a brand new sealed one.

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So yeah, billy bargain.
Joans wrote:
That seems really unlikely. Even if the cpu has built in graphics, I'd have thought you're either using one or the other.

I just tried to Google this, and now I just have no idea.

First question I guess is does your cpu have integrated graphics?


I googled it too. It was mixed from yes it will, to now it won’t.

Yes the motherboard has integrated graphics (never used it before),

Plugged in a cable and it just worked. Just wondering if it advised
Other than some possibly wonky displays, I'd have thought there's little risk in just plugging things into display sockets and seeing if it works.

I personally baulk at the idea of using different sized and resolution screens next to each other, but I'm an asshole about things.
[quote="Sir Taxalot"]Other than some possibly wonky displays, I'd have thought there's little risk in just plugging things into display sockets and seeing if it works.

I personally baulk at the idea of using different sized and resolution screens next to each other, but I'm an asshole about things.[/quote

I turn the lesser one in portrait it is dread for documents etc. ]
Sir Taxalot wrote:
Other than some possibly wonky displays, I'd have thought there's little risk in just plugging things into display sockets and seeing if it works.

I personally baulk at the idea of using different sized and resolution screens next to each other, but I'm an asshole about things.
ha! Left to right I've got a 24" 1440p portrait, a 30" 2160p and 13" 1080p. Luckily their colour profiles aren't too dissimilar and at 100% scaling fonts are very closely sized.

The second 1440p is one too many. I should take it back to the office really.
KovacsC wrote:
That is a lot of screen!


Ignore the cables. They will be tided today.
Can you turn your bank card over? I can't see the CVC.
markg wrote:
Can you turn your bank card over? I can't see the CVC.



oops ...
New cable arrived, screen now works at 1900 x 1200, so still not at full resolution but it is ok.

It was the cable and adapter combo.
BikNorton wrote:
Sir Taxalot wrote:
ha! Left to right I've got a 24" 1440p portrait, a 30" 2160p and 13" 1080p. Luckily their colour profiles aren't too dissimilar and at 100% scaling fonts are very closely sized.

The second 1440p is one too many. I should take it back to the office really.


:'( :'( :'(

:spew:


Kov, I like the rainbow Lego figures, where'd you get them from?
@kovacsC you really need to retake that picture without your credit card details in
Am I missing something? Does everyone have CSI ENHANCE tech? I can see his card beneath his monitor but I'll be buggered if I could read the digits on it.
Bright side, Kov has just bought me a new laptop - He doesn't know it yet but.... :D
Findus Fop wrote:
Am I missing something? Does everyone have CSI ENHANCE tech? I can see his card beneath his monitor but I'll be buggered if I could read the digits on it.


Clicking on the picture itself opens up a higher res version of it , and if you then click onto that in the browser it will zoom even more , one or two digits are not obvious but you can work them out (especially if your on a big screen)
I've just been buying loads of ultra day glo running shoes so as not to arouse any suspicions.
I bought a bunch of scottish bikes
Grim... wrote:
@kovacsC you really need to retake that picture without your credit card details in


Yup, I had closed the account, hence it was on my desk not my wallet... I am an idiot though.
markg wrote:
I've just been buying loads of ultra day glo running shoes so as not to arouse any suspicions.



:P
Sir Taxalot wrote:
BikNorton wrote:
Sir Taxalot wrote:
ha! Left to right I've got a 24" 1440p portrait, a 30" 2160p and 13" 1080p. Luckily their colour profiles aren't too dissimilar and at 100% scaling fonts are very closely sized.

The second 1440p is one too many. I should take it back to the office really.


:'( :'( :'(

:spew:


Kov, I like the rainbow Lego figures, where'd you get them from?


https://www.lego.com/en-us/page/everyone-is-awesome

I can't see, in a quick shufti, whether it's still for sale on the Lego site, though Amazon have it at £48.
Sir Taxalot wrote:
BikNorton wrote:
Sir Taxalot wrote:
ha! Left to right I've got a 24" 1440p portrait, a 30" 2160p and 13" 1080p. Luckily their colour profiles aren't too dissimilar and at 100% scaling fonts are very closely sized.

The second 1440p is one too many. I should take it back to the office really.


:'( :'( :'(

:spew:


Kov, I like the rainbow Lego figures, where'd you get them from?


I got mine direct from Lego.
I have a massive 110Gb SSD in my PC (it was huge a few years ago) :)

It keeps filling up, I have done what I can by putting profiles on my D: drive. Clearing out temp folders etc.

I have noticed larger SSD have dropped in price 480GB for £30 for example.


I have googled and there seems to be a lot of apps that will allow me to clone old c: drive to new c: drive.
Is there one you recommend, or can windows do it natively. I don't really want to rebuild the PC.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compari ... g_software

I know you know this already Kov, but with sort of software, you should be careful. This is prime territory for ransomeware shenanigans.

I would recommend a clean install every time and keeping data separate from OS
DavPaz wrote:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_disk_cloning_software

I know you know this already Kov, but with sort of software, you should be careful. This is prime territory for ransomeware shenanigans.

I would recommend a clean install every time and keeping data separate from OS



I have my data separate from my OS. I did that last rebuild.

I am worried about ransom Ware, I don’t want to risk my system.

I was hoping there was an easy, non dodgy way to clone the drive :)
Clonezilla has worked fine for me in the past
KovacsC wrote:
DavPaz wrote:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_disk_cloning_software

I know you know this already Kov, but with sort of software, you should be careful. This is prime territory for ransomeware shenanigans.

I would recommend a clean install every time and keeping data separate from OS



I have my data separate from my OS. I did that last rebuild.

I am worried about ransom Ware, I don’t want to risk my system.

I was hoping there was an easy, non dodgy way to clone the drive :)


Add it as a mirror to the original drive. Once that’s complete, remove the original drive, then expand into the free space.
Dr Zoidberg wrote:
KovacsC wrote:
DavPaz wrote:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_disk_cloning_software

I know you know this already Kov, but with sort of software, you should be careful. This is prime territory for ransomeware shenanigans.

I would recommend a clean install every time and keeping data separate from OS



I have my data separate from my OS. I did that last rebuild.

I am worried about ransom Ware, I don’t want to risk my system.

I was hoping there was an easy, non dodgy way to clone the drive :)


Add it as a mirror to the original drive. Once that’s complete, remove the original drive, then expand into the free space.


Cheers.. I will see if my PC supports that..
I have gone for the WB Blue 500GB and only £45. It comes with cloning software.
The software I need to use to clone my system drive as my system drive is running pout of room and i have got a larger one. Will not install as there is not enough available space.. :facepalm:
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