[MEGATHREAD] Personal Computer - Updated builds thanks to Logical Increments

[Pentium]

Here's a better build. I'll explain my decisions for each change
Motherboard: ECS B85 microATX board
Case/PSU Apevia Qboii w/ 500W PSU

I know the guy is trying to save money, but for the love of god do NOT tell him to cheap out on the power supply. It's literally the most important component in a computer, as a crap PSU can and will fry the entire system. PSU's that come bundled with cases are always built as cheaply as possible in order to keep the price of the case down, and this one is so ludicrously underbuilt it's a fire hazard - I mean, just look at these reviews:

Pros: Cheap, nice case.

Cons: Worthless power supply.

Other Thoughts: Well, after 3 months of ok usage, this weak power supply just fried my processor and hard drive. I read the reviews. I didn't heed their warnings. I paid the price. There goes $400 down the drain.

Pros: Small, takes up less space (in the dumpster)

Cons: Power supply dead on arrival

Other Thoughts: Buying 2 of these cases was a big mistake, a $133.00 dollar mistake. Thanks for nothing Newegg When people spend money, they expect to actually purchase goods with it, not Bads

Pros: N/A

Cons: Off/On switch on PSU broke with in One hour of use. Wouldn't be surprised if they included it to boost sales of the product. Always use caution when buying PSU that is included with the case.

Pros: Insanely cheap with the rebate... assuming it comes. Not very cramped, unless you need the extra drives, but loud.

Cons: Power supply isn't just a joke, it's a fire hazard. Trying to run more than 200W through it is likely to cause it to burn out, and at any wattage it's liable to destroy the rest of the system components through flux. Plus it just wastes a ton of heat. Also, zero airflow to upper case area.

Other Thoughts: Order a real power supply when you get this case. Don't use it in a quiet environment. Never pair it with in-case venting hot GPU, always use one that vents out of the second slot or runs cool. Wouldn't have supported a known PSU liar if I'd known. Make sure you get a motherboard designed around the drive cage.

Pros: I actually really like the case, easy access side panel w/ built in 120mm fan, nice black finish, front usb/audio etc.

Cons: DO NOT BUY THIS FOR THE POWER SUPPLY UNIT! Hardware secrets has exposed this model series.

Other Thoughts: Burnt out within 1 hour due most likely to over capacity, I'd place actual wattage at 290 watts max. Also beware that the 500watt claim on this unit is actually its model name, not an actual specification. 2 Eggs because the case is really nice, and I do like it, however, I bought this case mainly because it had a PSU included.

While I couldn't find any professional reviews of this particular model, I did find one for the 450W model: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Apevia-Turbolink-ATX-TL450W-BK-Power-Supply-Review/1212/1
In short, don't buy that combo unless your parents have a good home insurance. There's a Corsair CS450M for $50 /w rebates if you're interested: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cs450m

Oh and don't tell him to buy ECS, either; they have had a reputation for building cheap and unstable motherboards for at least a decade. MSI may not be the best manufactuer out there, but they're not THIS bad.

[Ad Bot]

[Teneksi]

My brother's computer isn't turning on. The power button on the front of the computer doesn't work, and the motherboard does not have its own power button. The room's lights dim slightly when the computer is plugged in and the PSU is switched on, so it seems to be drawing power.

This happened after my brother vacuumed around (not in) the computer, which sits slightly raised from the floor.

We're on a painful budget regarding any new parts, so we really need to isolate the problem so we don't buy anything unnecessary. Any help with troubleshooting this would be appreciated.


If it helps at all, this is his computer:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883229330

[Plexious]

My brother's computer isn't turning on. The power button on the front of the computer doesn't work, and the motherboard does not have its own power button. The room's lights dim slightly when the computer is plugged in and the PSU is switched on, so it seems to be drawing power.

This happened after my brother vacuumed around (not in) the computer, which sits slightly raised from the floor.

We're on a painful budget regarding any new parts, so we really need to isolate the problem so we don't buy anything unnecessary. Any help with troubleshooting this would be appreciated.


If it helps at all, this is his computer:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883229330

1) Shutdown and unplug power to the computer
2) Remove the graphics card from the chassis
3) If you have a spare power supply laying around, swap it out for the current one.
4) Plug it back in and see if it boots

[Treynolds416]

I know the guy is trying to save money, but for the love of god do NOT tell him to cheap out on the power supply. It's literally the most important component in a computer, as a crap PSU can and will fry the entire system. PSU's that come bundled with cases are always built as cheaply as possible in order to keep the price of the case down, and this one is so ludicrously underbuilt it's a fire hazard - I mean, just look at these reviews:While I couldn't find any professional reviews of this particular model, I did find one for the 450W model: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Apevia-Turbolink-ATX-TL450W-BK-Power-Supply-Review/1212/1
In short, don't buy that combo unless your parents have a good home insurance. There's a Corsair CS450M for $50 /w rebates if you're interested: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cs450m

Oh and don't tell him to buy ECS, either; they have had a reputation for building cheap and unstable motherboards for at least a decade. MSI may not be the best manufactuer out there, but they're not THIS bad.

You're probably right about the psu. The positive reviews far outweigh the negative ones, but for a $700 build a nicer psu is definitely doable. However, I disagree with you about MSI vs ECS motherboards. ECS builds cheap motherboards, not unstable ones. MSI builds more premium motherboards, and they are unstable. There have been numerous bios issues in the past year or so I've seen when populating all of the ram slots causes BSOD's, constant crashing during driver setup, and other issues. The actual board may be manufactured with better components, but that doesn't mean anything if you can't use the board. From what I've seen MSI has sub-par customer service, with a lot of RMA's taking forever to complete or not at all. ECS seems to have pretty good customer service, and there haven't been many DOA boards at all.

If you think ECS isn't that great of a brand I don't fault you, but MSI is worse imo. There are cheap H81 gigabyte boards to be had, if you don't want ECS I would go with those.

[Clear Glass]

Are you also allowed to bring your own laptop? Cause otherwise that would suck big time. Chromebooks are clearly not intended for serious things.

Erm, for school I feel Chromebooks would be a pretty good option.

[Watt-son]

I'm using an Alienware X51

its p good

[Swat 3]

Are you also allowed to bring your own laptop? Cause otherwise that would suck big time. Chromebooks are clearly not intended for serious things.

Yes, you are, but I haven't seen anyone do it. Also, the internet for the laptop that you bring is more restricted, and they require you to install their security program on your laptop so they can see what you are doing while you are at school (and probably at home).

[awesomebread]

I have an old desktop computer with windows xp, and when I turned it on it said "operating system failure" and a bunch of numbers. Now whenever i turn it on, nothing shows up on the monitor. I'm assuming that windows is broken. I have a windows 98 on a cd that I want to put on there. How would I do this?

[KoopaScooper]

I have an old desktop computer with windows xp, and when I turned it on it said "operating system failure" and a bunch of numbers. Now whenever i turn it on, nothing shows up on the monitor. I'm assuming that windows is broken. I have a windows 98 on a cd that I want to put on there. How would I do this?

The same way you'd install any other operating system.

[awesomebread]

The same way you'd install any other operating system.

i am computer illiterate

[Bisjac]

i kinda want a surface.
but the "good" ones cost way way to much vs the hardware they have.
i like the netbook style of being a tablet, but it should not be the price of a full on laptop.

[Adivora]

The same way you'd install any other operating system.

"how do i install an operating system"

"the same way you install any os, duh!!!"

[Tokthree]

"how do i install an operating system"

"the same way you install any os, duh!!!"

Yes, that is the essence of what that exchange involved.

[ABlockOfCheese]

THANK YOU FOR THE TITTIES

[Treynolds416]

i kinda want a surface.
but the "good" ones cost way way to much vs the hardware they have.
i like the netbook style of being a tablet, but it should not be the price of a full on laptop.

I've got one, with the i5 and 256gb ssd. Gotta say, I really do like it. But if you don't need the pen input (which is pretty much the main reason I got it) it's much more affordable to go for a thicker more traditional laptop. The i5 can run rock of ages at the full native resolution on lowest detail settings at a playable framerate, which was better than I expected, but the right side of the chassis does heat up.

It is overpriced just compared to the hardware, but when you consider other similar ultrabooks like the mac air it's cheaper for better specs. Also I got a 10% student discount, so that helped. Add me on steam if you have any questions, I've been trying to help a friend pick out a light laptop for school as well.