Help A Geek Out - CPU woes

[darksydeavenger]

I've had a lengthy love / hate relationship with my computer, and I believe it is finally in the throes of comitting computer suicide. It already ate my feature length movie and destroyed the only copy of some other film stuff I've done. Also, it won't let me play my computer games for too long without locking up.

So yeah, while pitying me, what are some suggestions for getting a new PC? I'm looking to build it from scratch, getting all the parts I want, instead of buying it pre-built. Any assistance would be much appreciated. Kthxbye! :(

[masherscf]

That sounds painfull. I guess you're the poster child for backing-up data.

It sounds to me like you might have a cooling problem. Have you cleaned out your box lately? Have you checked your fans to see if they're still alive?

I hear that MACs are good for making videos.

What's your budget for this new monstrosity?

[darksydeavenger]

how much is cooling an issue? just asking out of curiosity...or for "cleaning out" for that matter?

[masherscf]

how much is cooling an issue? just asking out of curiosity...

If you're losing files, the damage might be done or it might be something else. In my experience, when you computer crashes randomily while you are playing games it might be overheating. You really need to clean out your computer occassionally and replace the cooling fans if they die. I wouldn't do it unless you know for certain that's the problem.

[diela]

If you're losing files, the damage might be done or it might be something else. In my experience, when you computer crashes randomily while you are playing games it might be overheating. You really need to clean out your computer occassionally and replace the cooling fans if they die. I wouldn't do it unless you know for certain that's the problem.

And by cleaning out, he means getting rid of the dust bunnies inside that are large enough to be named. Household dust acts like blown-in insulation for houses... keeps all the heat in parts where it shouldn't be.

Like he said, check your processor fan... although a good motherboard should shut itself down if that ever stops working... and any extra case fans.

[masherscf]

Like he said, check your processor fan... although a good motherboard should shut itself down if that ever stops working... and any extra case fans.

Good idea. You have a good point. The CPU is usally monitored for heat on modern motherboads. I'm really concerned about his video card cooling.

Does it have an integrated fan?
Is the video card crowded?

An overheating video card would just act wonky, the MB might not pick it up. Although, I'm not sure how that would lead to currupt data files. Unless, the random cashes do that.

[jdhore]

darksydeavenger: as you said before, you current PC is on the way out...if you tell use some of the things you're looking to do with the system, we can maybe tell you what to buy...example: if you're going a lot of high-end gaming, get a AMD :(...if you're going to be doing a lot of video editing, get an Intel...that was just an example, so like i said, if you tell us what you're looking for and a vague price range, maybe we can help you...you can't just say to someone: i want to build a new computer. help me. kthxbye...sorry, but we're not that good and we're not mind-readers

[darksydeavenger]

well damn, man. I was thinkin' you guys would be THAT good. :D

If and when I do get a new PC, it's going to have to do pretty much everything. Video editing, gaming, the works. I'm thinking perhaps not the highest end parts available, but stuff that would allow me to upgrade in the future.

If that helps any. I'd type more, but I honestly can't read the text. My monitor is that dark. I'm hoping it doesn't go out before I get the money I need to replace the monitor. :eek:

[sugarsickness]

Please atleast attempt to use file recovery software. When something is deleted, it is still there on the computer. The space that it used up is marked as 'free' and the operating system knows that it can use that area for new data, etc. File recovery software can allow you to loook through the space marked as 'free' for complete files still intact and recover them. I believe their was a free one listed in the "Useful apps under 2 meg" thread in the windows forum but i dont remember.

I've had windows eat up and corrupt video files and have had recovery software save a lot of it.

[briangilmore]

how much is cooling an issue? just asking out of curiosity...or for "cleaning out" for that matter?

for mac laptops, at least, cooling is a HUGE issue. My friend has a 12-inch powerbook, and their old hard-drive burned out and died b/c of how hot it got, etc. So yeah, cool that shit, mofo, iss a huge deal. A lot of the time, it feels like mine do that soon as well...maybe i should make it happen before the warranty runs out, cause 3 years is comin up and i don't wanna be left in the wata.

[phatlip12]

This thread falls under the topic of hardware so Im going to move it to the hardware forum. You will probably get some better answers there. :)

[toastmstrgeneral]

A week later, no new responses.................that's why it was posted in the geekdrome section.

[wyrmwood]

Any assistance would be much appreciated. Kthxbye! :(

Ok - gaming AND video editing AND redundancy...

Let's start with a good solid mobo - The ASUS A8N-SLI Premium (now supports x2 athlons)

Now plop in a dual core AMD - Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Windsor (good bang for the buck - $180 or so), You've got your dual core for video, your A64 for gaming, and much cheaper than the intels.

Next, grab 2GB of RAM - CORSAIR ValueSelect DDR400 (2 x 1GB) - about 150 bux... No reason to go 1GB anymore, and DDR2 is still a bit pricey...

Boot Drive - Go with 2 Western Digital 74's in RAID 0 for your boot/proggy drive, the speed is just plain painful.

Game/Video Drive - A nice, simple Seagate Barracuda 320GB SATA 3Gb/s should do the trick, just make separate partitions for games and video since audio/video rendering creates more fragments than you can imagine.

Video Card - I'm a BFG/Nvidia fanboy. Best bang for the buck right now is the BFG 7950GT 512MB pcix-16... Wait a month and it'll be down to 200 bux.

As for the case - you want some nice airflow, I'd say go with the Thermaltake VA8000BWS (it's a beast). Just don't use the included PS.

Now then, the POWER SUPPLY. This is painfully important (especially once you put in your 10krpm raptors) - the Thermaltake ToughPower 700W.

Backup/Redundancy - Personally, I don't bother with redundant drives, I just use a firewire external drive (I personally use a Lacie). There's a cool new one out there, the Seagate Pushbutton Backup 500GB - uses USB2 or firewire. Then just get used to backing up, make it a habit just like defragging - or get a nice backup scheduler.

And finally - COOOOOOOOOOOOLING... Whether or not you overclock, you want a good CPU fan and heatsink (thermaltake again is great), some heat spreaders for your RAM, a dual fan card (fits into a pci slot) for the GeForce, identical intake/outtake airflow, and possibly a Hard Drive bay fan.

Also make sure you get a ROUND cable for your DVDRW, and lots of tie wraps to tie up all of the sata,ata,power,fan and case wires.

As far as monitor, keys, mice, dvd, etc etc - no opinion there...

Ah! And a final note - Tweak XP once you've got it loaded, here's the best guide on the web:

http://www.tweakguides.com/TGTC.html

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I've been drooling at newegg lately looking for a new system, otherwise this wouldve been a much more short winded message...

[ArmpitOfDeath]

Intel Core 2 Duo is where it's at. I think AMD is a false economy at this point in time. I've updated a couple of my lower-end X2 Socket 939 machines to upper-mid Socket AM2's and it actually drags noticeably over (sure, it's a little more expensive) my C2D's. I'd say there's more life in the Intel way.

I'd say an E6600 (although some say the one-model-below can overclock better) and a P5NSLI or a Premium. You'll need the faster memory of course, but these mobo's support a wide range according to your budget.

Apart from that, the above recommendations don't seem too bad.

[bird603568]

why do you need 700W? im willing to bet it wont even draw 500W

[striker1211]

I had a thermaltake and it was a POS, said 400w and it was always dragging ass on the +12v rail at 200. Anywho, always best to have more power than you need than the bare minimum. You never know what you may want to get in the future. The price difference should be marginal. Better than buying a whole new psu for 100 watts more power down the line.