Random Hardware topics

[Brian Boru]

Place for tidbits probably not worth a separate thread.

The computer errors from outer space

No, not a B movie, a BBC article.

 

[Colif]

I had a quote for computers bought by a local college in 1990

Scary how much some of it all cost:

Quotation of PC’s from 1989 for local college

20 x 286 systems @ $2895 each
• 16 bit 286 CPU @ 12.5 mhz
• 1mb ram expandable to 5mb
• Ems 4.09 supplied and supported
• Real time clock
• 40mb HDD
• 1 3.5 inch 1.44mb floppy
• 1 5.25 inch 360k drive floppy drive
• Serial port
• Parallel port
• 80287-8 maths co processor
• 16 bit vga card and tystar vga high res monitor
• 1 optical mouse

Special features
BMS 386 sx CPU module at 16 mhz with socket for 80387sx. Price = $495
BMS i486 CPU module at 25 mhz available March 1990

Standard upgrades
From 1mb to 1.5mb = $145
From 1mb to 2mb = $290
From 1mb to 3mb = $495
From 1mb to 4mb = $990

Replace 5.25 360k drives with 5.25 1.2mb drives = $35 per drive
Upgrade from 40mb to 80mb hdd = $495.00

Ethernet card
8 bit Ethernet card = $235
16 bit Ethernet card = $255

Software
MS Dos 4.0 = $110
MS Word Education pack of 10 users = $625
MS Windows 2.11 Education pack of 10 users = $388
MS Works Education pack of 10 users = $405


you would struggle to get a lot of that now.

 

[Kaamos_Llama]

Intel Core i5 13600K

Intel's mid-range Core i5 is far mightier than it sounds.

www.pcgamer.com

Intel Core i5-13600K Review - Best Gaming CPU

Core i5-13600K is a gamer's dream! The new processor achieves gaming numbers that match the best AMD Zen 4 offerings, at a much more competitive $320 price point. Our review also shows that 13600K can shine in applications, beating the much higher positioned Core i7-12700K.

www.techpowerup.com

AMD already struggling to sell 7000 series, now reviews are out and confirm Intel back in the lead. Depending on pricing of the whole build including mobo and RAM, AMD behind once more for gaming.

 

[Colif]

does it really matter, every 6m months it changes.

Just buy best you can afford and ignore hardware rest of time, works for me.

 

[Kaamos_Llama]

AMD been behind for a little while again, even if Intel using monstrous amounts of power to do it.

Full AMD setup here, had Nvidia/Intel for years before that. Just interesting to follow hardware, recommending stuff is just an excuse to use that otherwise completely useless knowledge

 

[Brian Boru]

ignore hardware rest of time, works for me

Me too, for last 5 years—and going to be at least 6!

otherwise completely useless knowledge

No, no, don't think like that—you'll be very useful to me if and when I'm back in the build market

 

[Why_Me]

January can't come soon enough. That's when Intel's 13 gen locked cpu's and B760 boards are due for release. Meanwhile the peeps with more money than brains are purchasing 7950's and 13900K's atm for gaming builds.

 

[Kaamos_Llama]

z790 motherboard pricing is madness €300 for an Asus Prime -P here. . They've moved HEDT pricing to the Z series.

Part of it must be component prices, and part manufacturers having to accommodate the 300 watt chips. Even the 13600KF using nearly 200 watts so they cant even really cheap out on the low end without frying stuff.

 

[Colif]

AMD been behind for a little while again, even if Intel using monstrous amounts of power to do it.

the x3d variety of the AMD CPU might help a little.

I don't care, its the same every year. little incremental increases to get fan boys excited. More free advertising.
Maybe I am too old and been watching same game now for 20 years. Hardware almost as bad as cars now, change color scheme and charge people more. Burnt out.

 

[Kaamos_Llama]

the x3d variety of the AMD CPU might help a little.

Yes the 5800X3d is already not far off the current gen, so if they do announce/release 7000 series X3d next year as the rumours say they'll catch up again. Theyre still way ahead in power and for MT in a lot of pro applications, so that probably means they will do well for business use.

Its mostly academic for games true, if youre at 1440p or above the differences between the latest Intel and AMD is average about 5% and less at 4k even if you have a 4090. Still good to know what is fastest and what offers the best value. The tech is just interesting to follow.

For about 10 years from 2007 we had quad cores as the fastest gaming chips, now we have 8 cores for the same price, Ryzen has been progressing things in the last few years. Who knew that 'make more cores' would eventually prove to be the right move.

 

[Colif]

i want them to release the 7800x3d if only so that the 5800x3d will be cheaper and I can save money buying it. Currently price only dropped $20

 

[Kaamos_Llama]

So expensive to buy a new CPU, DDR5 and X670 board, why do that when you can just buy an 5800X3d and almost get the same gaming performance. I don't think the price will go down for 5800X3d, if anything it will go up once they end production, if they haven't already.

Would be nice to be wrong.

 

[Colif]

You might be right, I hadn't thought about them not making them any more.
I have to decide if I want that more than the GPU right away. My plans change every week though what I want doesn't.

• 6800xt or 7800xt
• 5800x3d
• 3 x noctua 140mm fans (this easy part, I just add onto order)

I could get all 3 at once but it depends on price of GPU.
Or just get CPU and fans and get GPU later. that might let me get cooling system right before I put a GPU in.
if I did that I could buy it all now...

GPU lets me run screen at full speed in games, and lets me use resizable bar.

So I don't know which is more useful...

I can't decide what to do... hence I just keep waiting.
I hate being indecisive

 

[Kaamos_Llama]

Yea I'm excited for the new AMD GPU's as well. When they release I'll know whats next for me. Hope the RT is up a notch, and the prices down one or two.

I'll probably give the 5800X3d a miss this time around although it is tempting, would be better off putting more towards GPU for what I need.

 

[Colif]

Since posting I have decided to get 5800X3d & 3 Noctua fans next week. Shame its Saturday morning (here) so no point doing anything until Monday. I have the money for that much now, the GPU was questionable.

Only as its unknown, it was going to be less than a 4070 but as they not out here yet, I don't know. The 4090 costs $3500+ here. So guesstimate would be around 2k. Sapphire 6800xt still cost 1500 here but its best make/model you can get. So 7800xt prices?

They won't release cards much before Xmas, so I just look at them then and not rush into it.
Get CPU now and make sure cooling works before Summer (which starts for me in 5 weeks).

edit: since posting this I looked into CPU and the performance benefit I would get from CPU on current GPU doesn't make it worth it, so back to waiting for 3 November announcements.

 

[Brian Boru]

next week

Don't you guys 🙃 have Black Friday & Cyber Monday days? Those would surely be worth waiting for in case there's a great deal—if not, then soon after as companies try to shift product during the shopping season.

 

[Kaamos_Llama]

Don't you guys 🙃 have Black Friday & Cyber Monday days? Those would surely be worth waiting for in case there's a great deal—if not, then soon after as companies try to shift product during the shopping season.

We do, and I'll be looking then. Thing is the 2 main online PC parts stores here dont have deals in the same way a Newegg does. I'll be keeping an eye out then for sure though.

 

[Brian Boru]

We do

I was actually talking to the upside-down people—but thank you for reporting from the top of the world also

 

[Kaamos_Llama]

I was actually talking to the upside-down people—but thank you for reporting from the top of the world also

Oops, well now you know anyway.

 

[Colif]

I believe I wasn't born to be a consumer so I generally just ignore sales and only buy things when I need/want them. Yes, I miss out on bargains but I also don't see advertising so it cancels itself out. People always buying things means they believe their job is to buy crap and keep the economy of crap alive.

Black Friday is an import from USA and well, like Halloween, I don't celebrate imports.

the top of the world is just arbitrary, map designers thought it made sense that way. They were all biased.

 

[Ryzengang]

Maybe it's because I have already have a Ryzen 5800X and I have no need for an upgrade, but the 7000 series and 13th gen launches have felt pretty uninteresting to me. The 7000 series has the issue of high platform cost, and 13th gen is super power hungry and not dramatically better than existing parts.

 

[Colif]

Maybe it's because I have already have a Ryzen 5800X and I have no need for an upgrade, but the 7000 series and 13th gen launches have felt pretty uninteresting to me. The 7000 series has the issue of high platform cost, and 13th gen is super power hungry and not dramatically better than existing parts.

That does seem to be a problem for most people. The cost is a little steep, and for AMD people we used to being able to use old parts. Its all new and the boards are expensive as well.

I don't need a new PC for a few more years, happy to make this one better instead.

 

[Kaamos_Llama]

Maybe it's because I have already have a Ryzen 5800X and I have no need for an upgrade, but the 7000 series and 13th gen launches have felt pretty uninteresting to me. The 7000 series has the issue of high platform cost, and 13th gen is super power hungry and not dramatically better than existing parts.

Yea I'm definitely not going to change platforms based on these chips. Especially with the RAM and mobo costs

 

[Why_Me]

This January could be a game changer when the less expensive and less power hungry locked 13 gen cpu's are released along with the B760 boards.

 

[Brian Boru]

JayzTwoCents just put out a 20m video titled "Too many choices! How to choose the right PC parts", aimed at people who've been out of the hardware loop for years and are now looking at upgrading after say 5 or more years since their last build or purchase.

A bit beyond my knowledge level—tho I still found it interesting—but maybe of interest to our hardware experts here.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ308X5_xn4