#ryzen 5 desktop

[ms-demeanor]

So You Need To Buy A Computer But You Don't Know What Specs Are Good These Days

Hi.

This is literally my job.

Lots of people are buying computers for school right now or are replacing computers as their five-year-old college laptop craps out so here's the standard specs you should be looking for in a (windows) computer purchase in August 2023.

PROCESSOR

Intel i5 (no older than 10th Gen)

Ryzen 7

You can get away with a Ryzen 5 but an intel i3 should be an absolute last resort. You want at least an intel i5 or a Ryzen 7 processor. The current generation of intel processors is 13, but anything 10 or newer is perfectly fine. DO NOT get a higher performance line with an older generation; a 13th gen i5 is better than an 8th gen i7. (Unfortunately I don't know enough about ryzens to tell you which generation is the earliest you should get, but staying within 3 generations is a good rule of thumb)

RAM

8GB absolute minimum

If you don't have at least 8GB RAM on a modern computer it's going to be very, very slow. Ideally you want a computer with at least 16GB, and it's a good idea to get a computer that will let you add or swap RAM down the line (nearly all desktops will let you do this, for laptops you need to check the specs for Memory and see how many slots there are and how many slots are available; laptops with soldered RAM cannot have the memory upgraded - this is common in very slim laptops)

STORAGE

256GB SSD

Computers mostly come with SSDs these days; SSDs are faster than HDDs but typically have lower storage for the same price. That being said: SSDs are coming down in price and if you're installing your own drive you can easily upgrade the size for a low cost. Unfortunately that doesn't do anything for you for the initial purchase.

A lot of cheaper laptops will have a 128GB SSD and, because a lot of stuff is stored in the cloud these days, that can be functional. I still recommend getting a bit more storage than that because it's nice if you can store your music and documents and photos on your device instead of on the cloud. You want to be able to access your files even if you don't have internet access.

But don't get a computer with a big HDD instead of getting a computer with a small SSD. The difference in speed is noticeable.

SCREEN (laptop specific)

Personally I find that touchscreens have a negative impact on battery life and are easier to fuck up than standard screens. They are also harder to replace if they get broken. I do not recommend getting a touch screen unless you absolutely have to.

A lot of college students especially tend to look for the biggest laptop screen possible; don't do that. It's a pain in the ass to carry a 17" laptop around campus and with the way that everything is so thin these days it's easier to damage a 17" screen than a 14" screen.

On the other end of that: laptops with 13" screens tend to be very slim devices that are glued shut and impossible to work on or upgrade.

Your best bet (for both functionality and price) is either a 14" or a 15.6" screen. If you absolutely positively need to have a 10-key keyboard on your laptop, get the 15.6". If you need something portable more than you need 10-key, get a 14"

FORM FACTOR (desktop specific)

If you purchase an all-in-one desktop computer I will begin manifesting in your house physically. All-in-ones take away every advantage desktops have in terms of upgradeability and maintenance; they are expensive and difficult to repair and usually not worth the cost of disassembling to upgrade.

There are about four standard sizes of desktop PC: All-in-One (the size of a monitor with no other footprint), Tower (Big! probably at least two feet long in two directions), Small Form Factor Tower (Very moderate - about the size of a large shoebox), and Mini/Micro/Tiny (Small! about the size of a small hardcover book).

If you are concerned about space you are much better off getting a MicroPC and a bracket to put it on your monitor than you are getting an all-in-one. This will be about a million percent easier to work on than an all-in-one and this way if your monitor dies your computer is still functional.

Small form factor towers and towers are the easiest to work on and upgrade; if you need a burly graphics card you need to get a full size tower, but for everything else a small form factor tower will be fine. Most of our business sales are SFF towers and MicroPCs, the only time we get something larger is if we have to put a $700 graphics card in it. SFF towers will accept small graphics cards and can handle upgrades to the power supply; MicroPCs can only have the RAM and SSD upgraded and don't have room for any other components or their own internal power supply.

WARRANTY

Most desktops come with either a 1 or 3 year warranty; either of these is fine and if you want to upgrade a 1 year to a 3 year that is also fine. I've generally found that if something is going to do a warranty failure on desktop it's going to do it the first year, so you don't get a hell of a lot of added mileage out of an extended warranty but it doesn't hurt and sometimes pays off to do a 3-year.

Laptops are a different story. Laptops mostly come with a 1-year warranty and what I recommend everyone does for every laptop that will allow it is to upgrade that to the longest warranty you can get with added drop/damage protection. The most common question our customers have about laptops is if we can replace a screen and the answer is usually "yes, but it's going to be expensive." If you're purchasing a low-end laptop, the parts and labor for replacing a screen can easily cost more than half the price of a new laptop. HOWEVER, the way that most screens get broken is by getting dropped. So if you have a warranty with drop protection, you just send that sucker back to the factory and they fix it for you.

So, if it is at all possible, check if the manufacturer of a laptop you're looking at has a warranty option with drop protection. Then, within 30 days (though ideally on the first day you get it) of owning your laptop, go to the manufacturer site, register your serial number, and upgrade the warranty. If you can't afford a 3-year upgrade at once set a reminder for yourself to annually renew. But get that drop protection, especially if you are a college student or if you've got kids.

And never, ever put pens or pencils on your laptop keyboard. I've seen people ruin thousand dollar, brand-new laptops that they can't afford to fix because they closed the screen on a ten cent pencil. Keep liquids away from them too.

LIFESPAN

There's a reasonable chance that any computer you buy today will still be able to turn on and run a program or two in ten years. That does not mean that it is "functional."

At my office we estimate that the functional lifespan of desktops is 5-7 years and the functional lifespan of laptops is 3-5 years. Laptops get more wear and tear than desktops and desktops are easier to upgrade to keep them running. At 5 years for desktops and 3 years for laptops you should look at upgrading the RAM in the device and possibly consider replacing the SSD with a new (possibly larger) model, because SSDs and HDDs don't last forever.

COST

This means that you should think of your computers as an annual investment rather than as a one-time purchase. It is more worthwhile to pay $700 for a laptop that will work well for five years than it is to pay $300 for a laptop that will be outdated and slow in one year (which is what will happen if you get an 8th gen i3 with 8GB RAM). If you are going to get a $300 laptop try to get specs as close as possible to the minimums I've laid out here.

If you have to compromise on these specs, the one that is least fixable is the processor. If you get a laptop with an i3 processor you aren't going to be able to upgrade it even if you can add more RAM or a bigger SSD. If you have to get lower specs in order to afford the device put your money into the processor and make sure that the computer has available slots for upgrade and that neither the RAM nor the SSD is soldered to the motherboard. (one easy way to check this is to search "[computer model] RAM upgrade" on youtube and see if anyone has made a video showing what the inside of the laptop looks like and how much effort it takes to replace parts)

Computers are expensive right now. This is frustrating, because historically consumer computer prices have been on a downward trend but since 2020 that trend has been all over the place. Desktop computers are quite expensive at the moment (August 2023) and decent laptops are extremely variably priced.

If you are looking for a decent, upgradeable laptop that will last you a few years, here are a couple of options that you can purchase in August 2023 that have good prices for their specs:

14" Lenovo - $670 - 11th-gen i5, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD

15.6" HP - $540 - 11th-gen i5, 16GB RAM, and 256GB SSD

14" Dell - $710 - 12th-gen i5, 16GB RAM, and 256GB SSD

If you are looking for a decent, affordable desktop that will last you a few years, here are a couple of options that you can purchase in August 2023 that have good prices for their specs:

SFF HP - $620 - 10th-gen i5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD

SFF Lenovo - $560 - Ryzen 7 5000 series, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD

Dell Tower - $800 - 10th-gen i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD

If I were going to buy any of these I'd probably get the HP laptop or the Dell Tower. The HP Laptop is actually a really good price for what it is.

Anyway happy computering.

[scyaxe]

ugh i need a new computer, but they're so expensive and porting over all the files i want from my old computer sounds like a hassle.

[parks009]

The Alliance Ryzen 5 "Home/Office" Desktop is an outstanding foundation for your general purpose computing. Whether youre typing documents in Microsoft Word, surfing the web in Microsoft Edge, emailing business clients or catching up on YouTube, the Alliance Ryzen 5 "Home/Office" Desktop is a reliable, introductory computer platform.

BUY NOW

[esotheria-sims]

Hi!

I really like your creations and good looking game. May I ask how you managed to made it so "perfect"? Which computer do you use with wich OS and gpu?

Hi! Gosh, thank you so much!

I wouldn't know about my game being "perfect", but I'd say I've managed to accumulate a well-curated mix of cc and mods that work well together!

(Long reply under the cut!)

The secret is to constantly be on the lookout for cool cc (old or new) that fits your game, and to keep testing and trying until you've found the perfect balance.

You gotta have a general idea about the kinda aesthetic you're going for and start from there. Are you playing a modern hood with a touch of magic? Get the right cc. A medieval fantasy world? Get the right cc. A grungy desert dystopia? Get… well, you catch the drift. Want to play all of the above? Multiple dedicated cc folders are a thing, too! But as with everything else, you gotta Get The Right CC.

There are tons of posts, videos, blogs, and even sites dedicated to themed or general cc recommendations, so I won't make this long post even longer by listing them. But one general piece of advice I can give you is to comb through your favorite simmers' blogs/channels/pages/discords/etc. and see what they recommend. Some simmers have a Masterpost where they list all the mods & cc they use in their game. Most people have a WCIF tag on their blogs (here's mine!)

Also, remember to thoroughly comb through all the big cc sites and forums such as MTS, Garden of Shadows, PlumbBob Keep, SimPearls, HellHasSpoken, etc. I probably sound like a broken record on this one, but old sites and forums contain TONS of cc (some of it pretty iconic!) and it'd be a real waste to skip out on them.

As for my own PC, it's pretty mid-tier by today's standards. It's a Win10 desktop with an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 CPU, 2x16GB RAM kit, NVidia GeForce GTX 750 Ti, and 120GB SSD + 1TB HDD. Funnily enough, I remember a similar ask from a while ago wondering about the same thing, and lemme tell ya, my specs back then were… nothing to write home about. 😅

Which brings me to my next point: you don't actually need a high-end PC to play The Sims 2! This is a fussy old game, and from what I've seen in the community, how well it'll run on a given computer is… kinda random. At this point, I feel like the game relies on voodoo and spite more than any particular hardware configuration. Which is actually good news, because it means you can have a pretty game (and take pretty pics!) even if you don't have a beast of a computer!

[gaythreadrunner]

me booting up roblox with bloxstrap on my ryzen 5 5600 + rx 7600 gaming desktop with a 144hz MSI monitor and razer mouse to play hyperlaser phighting and repeatedly headshot 11 year olds in math class playing on iphones with cracked screens

[sealrock]

now that the game is in maintenance, I'll let it be known that I will not post any spoilers once dawntrail is live. I will not discuss or reblog anything dealing with dawntrail here on tumblr. my queue is filled with non-dawntrail stuff and will continue to run, and I will respond to non-dawntrail tag and ask games as normal

another thing I want to address is that I may or may not be able to play dawntrail with my current desktop. my prebuilt is roughly 6 years old with outdated parts (ryzen 5 1400 cpu, rx 560 2GB vram gpu, HDD, most likely one stick of 8GB ram). the benchmark didn't inspire confidence in me that my computer will play the expansion smoothly, but I'm holding out hope that as long as I turn down some settings it'll be manageable

if I see that I can't run the game to point things turn into a slideshow I will let it be known, but I hope this isn't the case. I've been gathering components for a new pc this year but it'll most likely not be done until christmas, so if I can't play alongside the rest of you I'll have to spend the next 6 months on the sidelines

[chahleybros]

Switching to Linux 🐧

Over the past couple years Windows 10 has been giving me progressively more asinine problems to deal with, from desktop issues and bloatware, to automatically installing out of date drivers to replace the ones I've manually installed.

Before you ask, I attempted using Windows 11 when it came out and I refuse to acknowledge its existence after the hell it put me through.

Most recently Windows 10 has seemingly made a point of making ASIO and all audio devices and software I use functionally useless, causing ridiculous amounts of crackling audio. No rollbacks fixed it, no re-installs fixed it, not even Reloading Windows fixed it. The reason for using ASIO is that Windows default audio protocol, WDM, has too much latency for live real-time use. This issue not only makes things like live-streaming basically impossible but it also outright made my Digital Audio Workstation and Video Editing Software incapable of processing audio for longer than a second without hanging. Both Mixcraft and DaVinci Resolve became useless on Windows 10, and OBS was barely holding it together. When I tell you I did everything to resolve this, I mean I spent an entire Month troubleshooting this. The only solution I could find was to abandon Windows all together.

I've been meaning to switch my Setup to Mint Cinnamon for a while as I've been testing it out in Virtual box for a year or so, and after this nonsense I got a new NMVe basically immediately to run Mint on, and after switching properly I have to say I'm likely to never use Windows as my Host OS again. And yes I tested Windows on the NMVe. The issue persisted there aswell. And testing Mint via Virtual Box on Windows with Hardware Exposed via PAE and AMD-V showed the issue was entirely on Windows.

For reference this is my current rig: Everything is the same as when using Windows 10

GPU: Nvidia RTX a4500 20gb

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600g

Ram: 16GB 3200mhz

DAC: PreSonus Audiobox iTwo

Capture Card: AverMedia HD Mini GC311

The Results:

Not only does Mint Cinnamon not have any of the issues I've had with Windows over the past Decade, which still persist to this day, but literally every single device I have just works.

Basically everything is Plug-n-Play with <20ms of latency on the Capture Card, which on Windows had a minimum of 600ms delay using drivers required for the card to even be detected. My Audio interface also works even better than before, with neither my DAC or Capture Card requiring manual driver installs, as their protocols are Native to the Linux Kernel.

Proton lets you play any Windows game on Steam that doesn't have explicit Linux Support, with Wine available for desktop applications. Both run better than a Native Windows install due to Mints lack of Bloatware.

Windows 10 has so much built-in Overhead that Mint can Emulate it through Virtual Box faster than if Win10 were the Host OS.

In Short: Fuck Windows. :) Also this is how my desktop looks currently:

You can make custom start menus. :)

[woohoojuicesimoleons2]

So I’ve tried everything from a clean reinstall, to fresh folders, factory reset all that, and no matter what I do. My save will not load under DX11 on my desktop, while it will load my game fine on DX9. Runs beautifully on my laptop tho. Here are a few key differences between the computers that I’ve noticed:

*Like I mentioned before, my laptop uses an AMD Ryzen 7000 series (5). My desktop uses an Nvidia 3060 RTX 12GB dedicated.

*My laptop save has the same CC installed as I have on my desktop, but there are NO mods installed on my laptop save at all. No default replacements, either. Also, my laptop save has never been ran with script and nonscript mods before.

I’m thinking DX11 not loading my save has something to do with my mods. But I am far too over it to sit and try and figure that out and just reverted back to DX9 for the time being.

Also, I’m getting a new gaming monitor today too so that kinda softens the blow of STILL not being able to use DX11

[the-pickle-jar]

decided to make a pinned post :3

https://a-pickle-jar.neocities.org

do not interact:

terfs: you will be boiled in the kettle

nazis: arent punk

bigots: you will be shredded and ground into a fine powder

do interact:

fellow jerma fans

original doom enjoyers

linux users

queers and furries of all flavors

my computers:

1: my main desktop

OS: Arch Linux + Windows 10

DE: KDE

CPU: Ryzen 5 3600 @ 3.6GHz

GPU: GTX 1650

RAM: 16 GB DDR4

Storage: 1 TB + 300 GB

2: Dell Latitude 3520

Got this feller in a pack with 4 other laptops for $7, and it runs like new :3 she's become my main laptop bc she can actually run stuff quite well, im probably going to add another 8gb of ram sometime soon.

OS: Arch Linux

DE: KDE

CPU: Core i5-1135G7 @ 2.4GHz

GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics

RAM: 8 GB DDR4

Storage: 240 GB

3: the "craptop"

Lenovo Chromebook 100e Gen2 AMD running a modified coreboot BIOS so i can run proper linux on it. Probably my most personality filled computer.

OS: Linux Mint 21.2

DE: Cinnamon

CPU: AMD A4-9120C 2 Cores @ 1.6GHz

GPU: AMD ATI Radeon R4 Graphics

RAM: 4 GB DDR4

Storage: 32 GB + 32 GB

4: HP Stream 11-R014wm

My guinea pig laptop. I test various lightweight operating systems and super lightweight games designed for linux on it.

OS: Arch Linux

DE: KDE

CPU: Intel Celeron N3050 2 Cores @ 1.6GHz

GPU: Intel HD Graphics

RAM: 2 GB DDR3L

Storage: 32 GB

[raerocheart]

Forget it. Anyways im building a PC.

Parts so far:

ATX PC Case,5 PWM ARGB Fans Pre-Installed,360MM RAD Support,Type-C Gaming 270°

MSI B550 Gaming GEN3 Gaming Motherboard (AMD AM4, DDR4, PCIe 3.0, SATA 6Gb/s, M.2, USB 3.2 Gen 1, HDMI, ATX, AMD Ryzen 5000/4000 Series Processors)

AMD Ryzen™ 5 5500 6-Core, 12-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor with Wraith Stealth Cooler

32 GB DDR4 RAM

1TB P600 M.2 SSD NVMe PCle Gen3.0X4 Solid State Drive

750W Power Supply

Somebody suggest a graphic card thats preferably white.

[govindhtech]

ACEMAGIC AMR5 AMD Ryzen 7 mini pc with Radeon graphics

ACEMAGIC AMR5 AMD Ryzen

ACEMAGIC AMR5 AMD Ryzen 7 Mini PC An extremely small PC with the Ace Magic AMR5 based on an AMD Ryzen 7 5700U is available from Mini pc Union. The AMR 5 differs from the typical design of most Mini PCs in that it has a more desktop PC-like appearance. See what this little PC can do in our in-depth study by reading on.

The ACEMAGIC AMR5 Mini PC, the Most Versatile Mini PC, transforms any desk into a productive workstation. To initiate creation, code, and collaborate, all you need is a monitor, keyboard, mouse, or trackpad.

AMD Radeon Graphics accelerates games without sacrificing visual quality. Increase the resolution and settings to have an even better visual experience. Triple 4K@60Hz displays with simultaneous display to meet all of your task needs.

ACEMAGIC AMR5 AMD Ryzen 7 5700U Mini PC Particular Features of the ACEMAGIC AMR5 Mini Computer In search of further information? These are what they are! The ACEMAGIC AMR5 has an amazing list of features:

AMD Ryzen 7 5700U chip: This Gaming Mini PC offers unmatched gaming and multitasking performance by using the power of Ryzen’s state-of-the-art chip. Memory and Storage Options: Packed with either a mammoth 16GB DDR RAM paired with a massive 1TB SSD and Wi-Fi 6, or a blazing fast 512GB SSD with WiFi 5.2, this device ensures lightning-quick data access and flawless communication. An abundance of connectivity Experience the ease of Dual Gigabit Ethernet, which guarantees dependable and fast internet connections for seamless work or gaming. Dual Screen 4K Display: Take in breathtaking images and improve your gaming or work setup with support for two 4K screens. Effective Heat Dissipation: The magnetically removable case design of the ACEMAGIC AMR5 AMD Ryzen 7 Mini PC provides effective heat dissipation, which keeps the system cool even during long gaming sessions. Entire USB All-in-One 4.0 Construct Your Own with Upgradable Architecture Innovative Design for Heat Dissipation

Comprehensive Specification Information

Graphics and Processor The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U CPU, a wonder of modern technology that bursts performance and efficiency barriers, is the engine that powers the Pre Built Mini Gaming PC. This CPU unleashes a speed symphony, igniting every command with lightning-fast speed and sending your gaming adventures to new heights. But the enchantment doesn’t end there.

AMD Radeon Graphics

Enhanced by the Ryzen UHD Graphics, this dynamic pair creates an immersive spectacle in which brilliant colors bring every pixel to life, transporting you to a realm where game and reality coexist together. Get ready for an encounter when the gaming Mini PC’s accuracy and power collide.

Storage and Memory For the ACEMAGIC AMR5 AMD Ryzen 7 Mini PC, choose from two excellent options, each designed to improve your experience. Select the 16GB DDR RAM and large 512GB SSD with WiFi 5.2, which offers lightning-fast speed and flawless connection while supporting all of your gaming needs. Instead, treat yourself to the 32GB DDR RAM and a large 512GB SSD, together with the state-of-the-art WiFi 6 for unmatched storage and improved connection.

Depending on your needs, you can choose between two configurations for the Mini Gaming PC with Graphics Card that will revolutionize your gaming experience and perfectly meet your needs for either large storage or state-of-the-art networking.

Interaction With the smooth connection and unmatched performance that this Best Gaming Mini PC offers, celebrate the new year! Equipped with two Gigabit Ethernet connections and cutting-edge WiFi technologies, it is designed to surpass limits in terms of communication. You may fully immerse yourself in game environments without experiencing any delays or interruptions.

Free Shipping From US Warehouse: ACEMAGIC makes this offer even more alluring by providing free shipping wherever in the globe, regardless of where you are.

Presentation and Style With support for two 4K screens, the ACEMAGIC Pre Built Mini Gaming PC completely transforms your visual experience and increases immersion to never-before-seen heights. There’s more to this miracle, however. Accept the cutting-edge magnetic detachable case design, which guarantees effective heat dissipation in addition to adding a stylish touch.

This architecture prevents the device from overheating, even during the most strenuous gaming sessions. Take advantage of the opportunity to improve your visual adventures while taking advantage of a bargain that inspires creativity and delight in every pixel.

Read more on Govindhtech.com

[boringblogxtreme]

Boring Blog Episode 2

Hello ladies and gentlemen. So this unexciting blog continues my never ending waffling about computers that no-one really gives a flying fuck about.

So as I mentioned last issue. I bought a new Dell Inspiron 3525 laptop before Christmas. I ran Linux on it for two weeks and then I returned it to windows 11 which its where it is currently.

A friend asked me was I annoyed at Windows yet and to be honest I really don’t have any major issues. Do I miss Linux well lets just admit I can’t say I miss at all.

So what nonsense have I been messing with. Well as the Macintosh 128k was 40 I was going to do something Mac based. So I could have downloaded Basilisk II/Sheepshaver but nope. Mini Vmac would be appropriate given the Mac in question, once again no.

I was playing with VirtualBox trying to get it to run Mac OS 12.0 (Monterey) I was following various guides and after 5 hours of playing about I still couldn’t get it beyond the EFI boot kept failing.

I had tried many different fixes and it really wasn’t working. I then moved to VMWare Player. Originally I went to version 15 but upon changing the vmx file to apply the fix it crashed the player and refused to let it go on.

I found WMware Player could be updated to version 17 which I did and the fix allowed the installer to work. It then took forever to install. Then I let it upgrade to 12.7.3 which took another 2 hours.

This was a project I intended to be an hour ended up being over 9 hours playing with various virtual machines.

Now I have managed to install WriteRoom 3.21 on it also now considering this is a Ryzen 7 5700U system. It runs Monterey about the speed of a Pentium. You can literally type and watch the delay as the buffer updates.

So 9 hours for the slowest VM in history. That’s with it set at 8GB Ram and using 4 processor cores. Ridiculous.

Also while I was playing with emulators. I have been playing with PCSX2 (Playstation 2) emulator and have been playing most of the Burnout franchise.

It works fine but when I tried using EPSXE (PlayStation 1) what a nightmare as half of the plug-ins just refused to work.

I did try Xemu(Xbox emulator) I did try running Project Gotham 3 Racing but it wouldn’t even get above 15 frames per second making the game unplayable.

Given this is a Ryzen 7 I was thinking what the hell does it need to get it working better. My suspicion is the Vega 8 graphics card is just not up to snuff. Once again potato graphics cards used in laptops.

I was going to try Xenia (XBOX 360 emu) but given how bad the Xbox emu was I thought against it.

So one day I will get a decent desktop and run a decent video card but I am sure that’s going to be a cold day in hell before that.

Any way that’s enough waffle for now until next time … Take care

[blackknight95857669]

"Finished" PC Build

Backstory: Starting 2023 I was still running a cobbled together mess of a PC, the heart of which was a Dell Studio XPS desktop from 2010. Yes, THIRTEEN YEARS old. I got 2 of them from a gaming company in 2012 for the price of a tank of gas, thanks to knowing someone working there that had been tasked with E-wasting all the Windows PCs. Company was switching to iOS dev.

Anyway, at its heart was the Dell Mobo, which featured a 1st Gen i5-920. By this point, the OG GPU was long gone and I had "upgraded" with a 1050TI. 16gigs of DDR3 RAM. This basic as hell setup had served me admirably for a decade, for a couple reasons.

I run Linux.

I have never been a HEAVY PC GAMER. Sure, I have gamed on PC since I first got one in 2005 (yeah, kinda late to the game, considering I was almost 30, lol), but I mostly used my PC for World of Warcraft, other similar MMOs, and what are now called Indie games on Steam. I've had consoles from like 6yrs old, and I tend to prefer them as they are the cheap option for gaming. I appreciate what a modern PC can do (esp lately with RT etc) but like, more often than not PC gaming can be as much of a chore as it can be fun.

Now, starting around March 2023, that old PC began having strange errors with the RAM, which would cause Firefox to crash tabs/completely, among other things. Eventually it broke my Linux Mint OS badly enough it just stopped allowing me to login. Finally figured out the HDD I had was failing and got an SSD. Installed Garuda on it and pretty quickly realized I had Mobo issues as the RAM was still reporting less DIMMs than it had, half the time.

At this point, a friend that was aware of the issues offered to mail me an i5-6400, to build a "new" system around. Naturally I accepted and bought a Fractal Meshify 2, some new DDR4 RAM, DeepCool Gammax, and a used MSI Krait Gaming Mobo. Stuck the new parts in the new case, and moved over storage/GPU from old PC. Booted and updated the OS, then launched WoW. Still getting 10fps in Valdrakken. Shit. Guess I need to upgrade this GPU.

So I bought an RX 6800. Stuck it in the case and booted. Updated the OS, which brought the Mesa drivers on board. Launched WoW again. 10fps again. What the fuck. Thought maybe swapping from Nvidia to AMD might have left over some driver mess, so I fresh installed Garuda and got all set up. Logged WoW Main again. STILL 10fps. WTF. Took my Main to SW, stood in front of the bank, then logged an alt with NO UI. Holy shit, there's a 35fps difference between them. My UI was broken, lol. Spent a day fixing that. Now I get 20fps in Valdrakken, but 55ish everywhere else. This is good.. but... What if I upgraded the core to something current gen, say AM5?

Finally we arrive at the part the title of this post suggested, building the "new" PC. I went to Newegg and picked out a Ryzen 5 7600X, MSI Mag B650 Tomahawk WIFI Mobo, G.SKILL FlareX5 32g RAM kit, and a TFORCE 2TB M.2 SSD. I also got a "free" 1TB Sata SSD with the CPU, it was also a TFORCE. The following are the pics of the "build" process. There will also be an aside for a complication. ProTip: be real fucking sure everything you want to put into a PC is absolutely compatible. Some things say they are when they aren't. You'll see what I mean.

Here's the parts laid out and ready to be installed.

This Mobo has a ton of IO.

The iFixit "Pro Tech" toolkit. I got it on sale for I wanna say 80 bucks a few months ago, as of today it's listed for $75, and I think it's definitely worth the money.

Here we see the 3 M.2 slots. 2 of them have included heat sinks. Nice.

ProTip: Remember to peel the fucking plastic off these thermal pads, cause they don't really work with it on there.

Like a glove.

ProTip: it's real damn important to make sure you put the RAM in the proper dual channel config on an AMD system. On this motherboard there is a little diagram pointing out that the slots the sticks are in clearly say "first" on them, which is a nice touch. If you look closely, you can barely make out the very fuzzy diagram printed just above the heat sink bracket on the right hand side of the CPU.

Storage in place with the little "carder heat sink" strip in place. This SSD came with its own heat sink but I'm going to use the one that came with the board.

Like so.

And here's the board, ready to go into the case for further assembly.. however, it was at this point that i realized that the EVGA 650w PSU I had didn't have two 8pin(4x4) CPU cables. I got it open box, no manuals etc, and could have sworn it had 2 cables but I was wrong. Makes sense, really, 650 watts would be cutting it too close with this build. Bummer.

Ok, well I can at least move over my DeepCool Gammax heat sink. I looked at the listing from when I bought it and it says "AM5 compatible". I watched a vid that said "hey as long as your cooler doesn't use a back plate, it should work with AM5"

LIES, BOTH OF THEM. I tried to get the DeepCool on there but the brackets didn't quite line up, and then even if I could kinda fudge it a little to make that work, the screws were threaded differently. Fuck. So at this point, in the middle of a somewhat heavy storm, I had to make a run to Best Buy and hope the store really did have the things the website said it did. Thankfully, it did (and I guess yay for living in a decent area or something? cause I've heard stories about BBs having like 3 PSUs from one brand, so "my" store having 19 from 6 brands is luxury, it seems. I miss Fry's). Picked up an EVGA GT 850w 80+ Gold with auto Eco Mode and a Cooler Master Hyper 212 Halo, which was extremely lucky as it was the only one in the store.

That out of the way, the build can continue.

Coming along nicely. Sorry about the quality of some of these pics btw, I'm getting old so the eyes ain't what they were plus I had been dealing with this for several hours by now so I was also cranky and kinda rushing through the pics part. They looked good on the phone, less so once I moved them to the PC, heh.

Oh thank fuck, it posts. Ignore the slightly dirty desk, I been busy damn it.

That's looking clean as fuck. Yeah that old USB IO thing is old and kinda looks stupid but like, never can have enough ports, right?

I really do like this Fractal Meshify 2 case. It's laid out super well and is a breeze to build in. I mean just look at that cable routing, yo. And I was kinda rushing and not really being that finicky about it lol.

And it's home. Yeah, yeah, I know I need to clean up the cable situation on the left, there. I'll get to it. Also yes, there's some rust on that standing desk pole. I got it for free and it had been sitting outside. I've meant to clean that up but just haven't gotten to it, heh. Living in an RV as a not small dude (6ft1 240lbs or so) makes doing things like this just kinda suck, honestly. Add another person to the mix and yeah things can get tight. A 28ftx8ft box to live in just ain't the best time in the world, lol. We make do, though.

Finally, I figure I can give one nod to the RGB fans, so here you go. The Halo's fan in all its glory. I have since installed OpenRGB and managed, even on Linux, to gain access to the RGB controller and set the brightness to minimum.

I have run some benchmarks with Phoronix. I guess at least one person who might read this may be interested, especially Linux fans? So here's links to those:

GLmark2

Unigine Valley

Blender - this is an all tests, best of 3 run. Took a couple hours, which meant it was a great stress test for the CPU. I had no problems, which is impressive as the CPU sat at what I understand to be the throttle point temp of 95C. Yeah. I'm going to be looking into a better cooling solution or at least add another fan to the heat sink and see if that helps.

There's also 3 tests from when I was running the i5-6400 with the RX 6800.... if you wanna see what happens to a GPU when you severely bottleneck it, lol. If anyone actually reading this is interested you can just click "System Logs" on any of the links above, then "Show System Information" which will take you to a list of all benchmarks I've done so far.

Well, I guess that's it. Hope this was interesting and/or amusing to whoever reads this. Thanks for taking the time.

Edit*******

Oh and by the way, I launched WoW again after I finished, despite it being late and I was sore and tired. But I just had to see. I am now unable to get less than 35-40fps in Valdrakken, and I'm averaging nearly 100 anywhere else. I actually saw 130fps a few times. I'm not sure I've ever seen that high a number even when I flew as high as is allowed and looked straight up, lol.

In other words: yes, it was worth it. Especially if I can manage to baby this thing well enough it lasts me at least a few years before I "have" to think about upgrading it. Again.

[bowsandarrowsandacorns]

Hey, Have you entered this competition to win Win Any One of These Three Different Items!! yet? If you refer friends you get more chances to win :) https://wn.nr/XLQ6Qq

[okay-computer]

How do you feel about mini computers? I honestly only need this desktop for browsing the web, remote accounting work, Microsoft office programs, printing, etc. I think the most intense thing i might need to do is maybe connecting remotely to another desktop using gotoassist or using a VPN.

Please forgive the link to the worst company ever:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09HC73GHS/ref=cm_cr_arp_mb_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8

Is this a fair option for what i need? I’d buy something larger, but it will mostly sit unused.

Mini computers are often fine, and this is an almost-okay option, but I think you might get frustrated with the processor on that earlier than you would want to; I know that the new celeron line is supposed to be powerful and efficient but performance benchmarks on that one put it about on-par with an i3; I'd say if you like this particular brand of mini computer but still want to save over an i5, think about getting it with a Ryzen 5 processor. I know this adds pretty significantly to the cost, but the computer I'm linking here also has a larger SSD and you'll be able to add more RAM in the future if you want to - the Celeron tops out at 16GB.

[manahgiftcard]

Acer Aspire 5 A515-46-R3UB | 15.6" Full HD IPS Display | AMD Ryzen 3 3350U Quad-Core Mobile Processor | 4GB DDR4 | 128GB NVMe SSD 

Powerful Productivity: AMD Ryzen 3 3350U delivers desktop-class performance and amazing battery life in a slim notebook. With Precision Boost, get up to 3.5GHz for your high-demand applications

Maximized Visuals: See even more on the stunning 15.6" Full HD display with 82.58% screen-to-body, 16:9 aspect ratio and narrow bezels

More Info. : Click here