captaincranky
Posts: 20,416 +9,386
I still miss the old Antec "Earthwatts" green series, especially the "D" suffix models. (Delta build). I did have a 380D finally crap out on me, after 12 or 13 years of admirable service. Do you remember when an entire PC would run easily on a 380 watt PSU, not just the CPU by itself?
As for Thermaltake, they don't have the same brand recognition as say Corsair. When I suggested that particular PSU, I was comparing its value to that of Corsair's offering of similar relative value. You add $10.00 for the brand name, $10.00 (maybe more) for >semi< modular wiring, and another dime note for the "flashing lights", and you're at maybe $90.00 for the same quality components and specs. I usually bag the limit on the SATA ports, and never seem to wind up with more than one or two cables left over anyway.
Here's a link to what I imagine is Corsair's equivalent to the TT It's $90.00 and still no flashing lights https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...ir_cp_9020221_na_cx_m_series_cx650m_650w.html So,
One piece of advice I've always given myself is, "shop smarter, not harder", and always start working one your next build as soon as you've completed your last one, perhaps even before that. If you should hit on a good sale for a primary component, grab it. The same holds true for noobs, suffer with that console until you formulate a plan, read ads until your eyes bleed, and when you see a deal, jump on it. You'll find your budget grows quite a bit if you spread it out over a year, instead of having to have your rig built, "the day before yesterday". Ostensibly, you should be learning as you shop. Which goes with what, that goes with which, and so forth.
Sadly, tragically, but mostly annoyingly, the current financial climate doesn't lend itself to any of these tactics. We've arrived at a, "buy it today, because it will likely have its price jacked up, maybe as soon as next week", paradigm.
Some observations on your article:
A real quick search at Ebay turned up a Pentium E-6600 for $39,95 (allegedly) new in box. The reality is that it's probably only worth about $10.00, considering that Amazon is dishing out the i3-12100F is $68.00 (!!) Inexplicably, the i3-12100 (w/IGP) going for $120.00. Assuming, you have any old graphics card laying around to tide you over, that's a $52.00 saving...!!! The i3-12100 has been reviewed as being "game ready". Granted, you need to be prepared to steel yourself against the derision, scorn, insults, criticism, and stigma that will surely envelope you from the kidz in the AMD gang. This, from simply having the blatant arrogance to do an Intel build.
As for cases: What's wrong with acrylic windows, besides not currently being "en vogue"? Maybe I've just gotten used to plastic, after going through an Antec 900, and two Cooler Master "Storm Scouts",
These will probably get written off as "disposable", but I'm on my third Fractal Focus G. Everybody's out of the pretty colored ones. So now, like the venerable model T Ford was credited to good old Henry himself as having said , "you can get them in any color you want, as long as it's black". But they do have 5 1/4" drive mounts. "So what", you say? Nobody uses DVD any more. Here's the thing, you can put 5 1/4 to 3 1/2" adapter PANELS in the mounts, and handily stuff in two HDD storage drives. Or, docking adapters for USB, card readers, or whatever, as opposed to having docking ports and their cables eating up space ON your desk.
FWIW, both Newegg and Amazon have these at $55.00. However, Newegg wants $10.00 to ship one, while Amazon's, "free shipping on orders over $35.00 when shipped by Amazon", still attaches. Don't knock it, that's ten extra bucks toward that 5090 you're drooling over. The almighty VGA that causes, "great weeping and gnashing of credit cards", as it were. Yeah, I'm paraphrasing the bible, but wouldn't owning a 5090 be practically a religious experience for many of you?
EDIT, I must bought Amazon's last one a couple of weeks ago. B&H Photo still has them in stock, but at $60,00 https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...MI-7avlZGAjwMVjkn_AR2Y5Rq4EAQYASABEgKPKfD_BwE
As far as having an SSD, (SATA or NVme) for the OS, they've become obligatory, not optional. It's fascinating how much they can improve performance, even on old machines that only have the 300 MBs SATA II buss. I have these old clunkers laying around. (ATM I'm using one). Cross my heart and hope to fart, I get boot times from the push of the on button to a clear desktop, somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 seconds..!
I do have two of the Gigabyte boards you recommend, a 660 and a 760. A fine choice if I do say so yourself. The 760 however, will be getting a 12th gen part, instead of a 13th or 14th. I figure any hiccups that might have been in the 660's BIOS will have been rectified, and I won't have to do any updates myself.
Next to final Rant: After somewhat unwittingly getting myself involved with Quora, and by extension, the wannabe PC gamers there, I've unfortunately allowed any empathy I once might had have for, "these krazy kidz today", to slip away. (I didn't have a lot to lose to begin with). Now the, "oh you poor baby gauge's needle pointer", is below empty.
Final Rant: (I expect)you're probably thinking "oh thank heaven") These kidz today, are too damned lazy to even bother googling for an answer. They think the only thing a PC is good for is playing games. Then the self entitled little snots expect you to write a term paper for them on how to build a PC. To cap it off, they're too damned lazy, ignorant, self entitled, or illiterate, to even try to, or bother with, reading the directions. (I anyone can force themself to care about my metal state, I feel better now, thanks).
For anyone who's possessed the mental stamina, patience, will, and endurance, to get this far, I salute you, and a big thanks for reading... Cheers
