Personal computing discussed

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by DarkMikaru
Mon Dec 14, 2015 10:17 am
Forum: Processors
Topic: AMD FX Appreciation Thread
Replies: 163
Views: 16118

Re: AMD FX Appreciation Thread

Sorry guys, I meant to say "Really AMD you are still manufacturing a chipset design that is four or five years old?" In some cases, much older than that. Many budget AM3+ boards are still being produced with the 760G. Yes, you can still buy new motherboards with a Radeon HD 3000 IGP! Now,...
by DarkMikaru
Thu Dec 10, 2015 12:15 pm
Forum: Processors
Topic: AMD FX Appreciation Thread
Replies: 163
Views: 16118

Re: AMD FX Appreciation Thread

MDBT wrote: Now don't get me wrong, I'd still choose a 3.5+ ghz i3 over the FX6350 but not because of the chipset; it'd be because of the single threaded/IPC advantages. I would do it for a current chipset as well. I mean really, still using a chipset that is four or five years old? But here is the...
by DarkMikaru
Thu Dec 10, 2015 11:52 am
Forum: Processors
Topic: AMD FX Appreciation Thread
Replies: 163
Views: 16118

Re: AMD FX Appreciation Thread

Oh, hey... not specifically relevant to the FX, but still in the vein of AMD appreciation: my first web server build (and one of my early experiments with Linux) was on a K6-III+, all the way back in 2003. Details of the original $2 web server project here . I guess I never updated that page when t...
by DarkMikaru
Wed Dec 09, 2015 1:35 am
Forum: Processors
Topic: AMD FX Appreciation Thread
Replies: 163
Views: 16118

Re: AMD FX Appreciation Thread

@DarkMikaru Oh I perfectly understand that AMD CPUs are good enough for basic uses and you have to work within people's budgets. Like I said that isn't a bad price for a basic build. I'm also giving thought that a cheap Linux based gaming system based around AMD's 860X CPU and Nvidia's 750 Ti would...
by DarkMikaru
Tue Dec 08, 2015 9:06 pm
Forum: General Hardware
Topic: Mother-in-law's old laptop
Replies: 62
Views: 5284

Re: Mother-in-law's old laptop

Be sure to run some boot up tests on the standard drive to just give us a general sense of performance. Some friends of mine are in the same boat. They purchased a Toshiba C655-S5082 with a Celeron 900, 3GB DDR3 on an Intel GL40 Chipset (4GB Max) setup. So sad. We are hoping that a new SSD will brea...
by DarkMikaru
Tue Dec 08, 2015 8:09 pm
Forum: Processors
Topic: AMD FX Appreciation Thread
Replies: 163
Views: 16118

Re: AMD FX Appreciation Thread

@Kretschmer As for not recommending FX CPU's for gaming I do partly agree. But you have to take peoples budgets and needs into consideration. Dude, i3s are faster and cheaper than an FX 8350 (both sticker price and through PSU sizing, power consumption, cooling needs, et cetera). HXX Intel boards a...
by DarkMikaru
Tue Dec 08, 2015 7:38 pm
Forum: Processors
Topic: AMD FX Appreciation Thread
Replies: 163
Views: 16118

Re: AMD FX Appreciation Thread

My Fry's Black Friday/Cyber Monday boards both arrived today. Note that I picked up the MSI 970 G43 for $20 AR, but when the MSI 970 Gamer showed up on Monday for $30 AR, I simply had to go with that instead. Here's the hardware being added/repurposed: AMD FX-6300 - bought used for $70 (includes an...
by DarkMikaru
Tue Dec 08, 2015 3:14 pm
Forum: Processors
Topic: AMD FX Appreciation Thread
Replies: 163
Views: 16118

Re: AMD FX Appreciation Thread

@whm1974 I've been building machines since the Socket A (462) days with Biostar boards and can't say I've ever had a single one of them die. Not a one! Even recently I threw a machine together for a friend in need and dug out an old Biostar board I had lying around, threw an old Phenom II 550 Dual C...
by DarkMikaru
Mon Dec 07, 2015 2:25 pm
Forum: Processors
Topic: AMD FX Appreciation Thread
Replies: 163
Views: 16118

Re: AMD FX Appreciation Thread

Cool thread! I agree that our beloved FX's don't get the respect they deserve. I'm still finding it hard to justify my new i5-6600k build given that my FX-8350 w/ 32GB DDR3 1866 ram has been more than enough horse power for what I do. I was just curious mainly. I'll hold on to my 8350 until it dies!...
by DarkMikaru
Tue Nov 24, 2015 9:45 am
Forum: System Builders Anonymous
Topic: Another reason to build you own.
Replies: 15
Views: 2522

Re: Another reason to build you own.

You know, I forget to mention this fact to friends & family on building your own. But this is an excellent reminder. I remember buying my beloved Acer 5536 Laptop back in 09 and spending HOURS removing the bloatware on the darn thing. I was hoping just uninstalling would actually be faster than ...
by DarkMikaru
Wed Jan 28, 2015 12:29 pm
Forum: General Hardware
Topic: Tigerdirect and the transformer
Replies: 23
Views: 3810

Re: Tigerdirect and the transformer

@ Just Brew It First, sharp eyes there man. I just now noticed the "Circuit City is now TigerDirect" logo at the top of the page! Again, I had totally forgotten about CC. But what always amused me was even when CC was around, after the acquisition CC's layout was pretty much a carbon copy ...
by DarkMikaru
Sat Jan 24, 2015 8:03 pm
Forum: General Hardware
Topic: Tigerdirect and the transformer
Replies: 23
Views: 3810

Re: Tigerdirect and the transformer

Just Brew It - You know what? I had totally forgotten about that merger so long ago. Matter of fact, the Capital Blvd. store did the exact same thing. I remember the logo on the front changing to CompUSA then maybe 6months to a year later noticing the store was TigerDirect again. That's probably aft...
by DarkMikaru
Sat Jan 24, 2015 7:02 pm
Forum: System Builders Anonymous
Topic: Need help choosing upgrade components for son's PC
Replies: 56
Views: 7327

Re: Need help choosing upgrade components for son's PC

Has anyone suggested just ditching the motherboard and starting over with something new? All the parts you have now, just spend 60 on a new board and call it a day. Test the RAM if you are using it from the previous rig as well. Otherwise I'd say you just have a bad board and replacing it will solv...
by DarkMikaru
Fri Jan 23, 2015 11:30 pm
Forum: General Hardware
Topic: Tigerdirect and the transformer
Replies: 23
Views: 3810

Re: Tigerdirect and the transformer

Bif... +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 man!! What you said.... exactly my problem with them. Well, one of many. First of all, I live in Raleigh, NC and where there used to be 3 TD stores only one remains, on good ole Capital Blvd. I know there was one in Durham and another was Greensboro I think but they both closed...
by DarkMikaru
Fri Jan 23, 2015 2:33 pm
Forum: System Builders Anonymous
Topic: Need help choosing upgrade components for son's PC
Replies: 56
Views: 7327

Re: Need help choosing upgrade components for son's PC

Has anyone suggested just ditching the motherboard and starting over with something new? All the parts you have now, just spend 60 on a new board and call it a day. Test the RAM if you are using it from the previous rig as well. Otherwise I'd say you just have a bad board and replacing it will solve...
by DarkMikaru
Sun Jan 18, 2015 10:48 am
Forum: Windows
Topic: Windows won't install on SSD
Replies: 23
Views: 7149

Re: Windows won't install on SSD

Good Morning Pete, 1) I came across something similar to this recently while putting together a new Intel Pentium G3258 based system for a friend. We went with a 64GB SSD and it gave me the same BS about it couldn't install to the disk. How I fixed it, which seem totally crazy to me was that I took ...
by DarkMikaru
Fri Jul 18, 2014 1:59 pm
Forum: Storage
Topic: Another spectacular Seagate failure.....
Replies: 57
Views: 9565

Re: Another spectacular Seagate failure.....

Wow, that is crazy. Recently though, I had a 2TB WD Green drive kick the bucket on me after 2 months of use. Smart data revealed 10 days of actual powered on use. Since I travel for work quite often I'm never home and I just keep the computer turned off. So most of the time, even while on these driv...
by DarkMikaru
Wed Jul 16, 2014 7:35 pm
Forum: Storage
Topic: Another spectacular Seagate failure.....
Replies: 57
Views: 9565

Re: Another spectacular Seagate failure.....

Poor Seagate. They really are terrible these days. :(
by DarkMikaru
Wed Jul 16, 2014 1:02 pm
Forum: Motherboards, Chipsets, & RAM
Topic: Your motherboard that had the most CPU upgrades
Replies: 77
Views: 16852

Re: Your motherboard that had the most CPU upgrades

Hmmm... I'd have to say that my old Biostar TForce 550 for Socket AM2 back in the day. Let's see if I can remember this correctly... I think I upgraded to the X2 3800+ 2.0Ghz from my Athlon XP 1800+ lol The Biostar saw the following... Athlon64 X2 3800+ 2.0Ghz 89w Windsor Athlon64 X2 4200+ 2.2Ghz 89...
by DarkMikaru
Mon Mar 31, 2014 3:39 pm
Forum: System Builders Anonymous
Topic: Building new pc - personal office
Replies: 34
Views: 4838

Re: Building new pc - personal office

Hey guys, first, thanks for being so kind to a gerbil such as myself. :) Having said that, I respectfully disagree with you guys regarding the A4-4020. Agreed, nothing wrong with budgeting for more horsepower. My point though, with it being an "office" machine, why double the money when th...
by DarkMikaru
Mon Mar 31, 2014 12:38 pm
Forum: System Builders Anonymous
Topic: Building new pc - personal office
Replies: 34
Views: 4838

Re: Building new pc - personal office

Honestly, for a simple Office or Home Use type PC I'd go AMD. My Office PC I built has been flawless and boasts an AMD A6-3500 Triple Core, MSI A55M-P33 Mobo, G.Skill 8GB Ram & Samsung 64GB SSD and everything works perfectly. Best part, this build cost less than 300 bucks and does everything I n...
by DarkMikaru
Mon Apr 15, 2013 6:41 pm
Forum: Storage
Topic: Recommend me a SSD
Replies: 46
Views: 12537

Re: Recommend me a SSD

Samsung all the way bro! I'm on my 4th one, and loving em. 2 64GB 830s, 1 256GB 830 (in my desktop I'm using now) & a 840 128GB for my work laptop. They've all been rock solid, no problems and the migration software works like a charm. Spend the money and just get a 128GB 840 for 99 bones shippe...
by DarkMikaru
Tue Jan 29, 2013 9:49 pm
Forum: Processors
Topic: Trouble with AMD FX-4170
Replies: 32
Views: 12129

Re: Trouble with AMD FX-4170

Yeah, I can vouch or the 4170. As I built a machine for a friend and her husband 8 months ago upgrading them from an Athlon x2 1.9Ghz Brisbane. It's been running flawlessly. Plus the 4170 runs at 4.2Ghz, so seeing only 1.3Ghz isn't doing any favors. I agree with the others, you have bigger problems ...
by DarkMikaru
Mon Dec 10, 2012 2:38 am
Forum: System Builders Anonymous
Topic: File Server and HTPC (Separate Builds)
Replies: 26
Views: 9246

Re: File Server and HTPC (Separate Builds)

For SSD... Samsung all the way my friend!! I own several 830's and wouldn't trade them for the world. Super fast & reliable. Samsung 830 64GB 79.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147133 Samsung 840 120GB 99.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147...
by DarkMikaru
Mon Dec 10, 2012 2:33 am
Forum: System Builders Anonymous
Topic: File Server and HTPC (Separate Builds)
Replies: 26
Views: 9246

Re: File Server and HTPC (Separate Builds)

Hey Carl, just wanted to drop in my 2 cents. My home file server is currently an old AMD Athlon 2650e 1.6Ghz CPU (15w TDP, 6w Idle), Biostar N68S+ AM2+ Motherboard w/ 2GB DDR2 ram with 6x WD Green drives and idles at 38w at the wall according my P3 Meter. I'm running Windows 7 Home on it and its act...
by DarkMikaru
Wed Oct 17, 2012 9:46 pm
Forum: System Builders Anonymous
Topic: Advice on building cheap cheap linux storage server
Replies: 16
Views: 5739

Re: Advice on building cheap cheap linux storage server

Interesting. I looked at the 270u and a few other alternatives and just cant find any compelling reason to move from my AMD Athlon 2650e / Biostar N68S+ based machine. With everything my system has in it, it idles at only 51watts. I plan to migrate to fewer larger drives in the future, down from the...
by DarkMikaru
Wed May 30, 2012 1:03 pm
Forum: Hot Deals
Topic: Samsung 830 256GB, $219 @ Newegg
Replies: 11
Views: 3465

Re: Samsung 830 256GB, $219 @ Newegg

That's a good deal. I picked up another Samsung 830 64GB drive last night off newegg for 64.99!! Told my cousin last night and by the time he got around to ordering they were sold out. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147162 Not even sure what I am going to use it for but at ...
by DarkMikaru
Wed May 16, 2012 7:11 pm
Forum: Storage
Topic: Are multiple disk partitions worthwhile?
Replies: 19
Views: 5363

Re: Are multiple disk partitions worthwhile?

First of all, I find this kinda funny that someone found my post and created a new thread about it. Maybe I should be flattered? Only reason I found this is because I was doing a search for an old newegg review on the old sempron 140 CPU's. "I strongly disagree with partitioning your hard-drive...
by DarkMikaru
Tue Mar 29, 2011 11:22 pm
Forum: Linux, Unix, and Assorted Madness
Topic: Ubuntu install failure
Replies: 15
Views: 4370

Re: Ubuntu install failure

You know what's funny is that everyone I talked to who really knows Linux thought I was crazy when I told them my problem. Its almost exactly like yours and the reason why I went back to Windows 100% and no more dual booting. I would have thought they had fixed the "who are you again" logi...
by DarkMikaru
Sat Feb 19, 2011 11:27 am
Forum: System Builders Anonymous
Topic: My new AMD build (first time builder)
Replies: 29
Views: 4177

Re: My new AMD build (first time builder)

Flip Mode Squad beat me to the punch, as I agree with 80% of what he suggests. It is just great to have so many options these days. I am a huge fan of getting the best bang for your buck and AMD has always been able to deliver on that in spades. As Flip Mode was saying, I think he is 100% right on j...
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