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Do you actually enjoy working on your PC?

Skunkworks

Skunkworks

Skunkworks

Soldato
Joined
3 Jun 2005
Posts
7,658
I have a new MB, memory, and CPU arriving soon. I’m looking forward to a significant upgrade, but all I can think about is what a total ball ache it’s going to be to tear down the whole PC and install the new parts. It’s going to take the best part of a day if everything goes perfectly.

I have to drain 2 loops. I’m also going to take the opportunity to take out all the rads, res, pumps, and fans for cleaning. Then put it all back together and do a fresh install of Windows, then reinstall all the software I need.

There was a time when I enjoyed the process, but now it’s just a chore. Must be getting old!
 
Same - I had a Q6600 with a custom water cooling setup and used to enjoy the process of working on it - these days I just can't be bothered.
 
I'm 52. I build the PC, turn it on and play. I didn't even put Afterburner back on after the last windows reinstall. I'm beyond all this undervolting, overclocking and monitoring.
 
Used to enjoy it. Now it's a not something I like doing for fear of damaging something accidentally. The price of components is just too high these days.
 
Not any more, there is nothing interesting about computer hardware anymore. Modding hasn't actually been modding for years and water cooling lost all appeal to me a long time ago as well, i'm from the car radiator, eheim pump and dangerden blocks era.
 
The thing I hate is troubleshooting issues after building them, the actual building is the easy bit

Custom loops are a pain though, and it stresses me out having water so close to expensive electronics.
 
Skunkworks said:
I have a new MB, memory, and CPU arriving soon. I’m looking forward to a significant upgrade, but all I can think about is what a total ball ache it’s going to be to tear down the whole PC and install the new parts. It’s going to take the best part of a day if everything goes perfectly.

I have to drain 2 loops. I’m also going to take the opportunity to take out all the rads, res, pumps, and fans for cleaning. Then put it all back together and do a fresh install of Windows, then reinstall all the software I need.

There was a time when I enjoyed the process, but now it’s just a chore. Must be getting old!
Click to expand...
I don't mind putting them back together but then I don't watercool. Don't personally seen the need, especially not nowadays.

If I fancied doing that I'd get a fish tank, I can see why that would be a pain to do.
 
Exact reason I didn’t bother with WC. Completely overkill for all but extreme cases. I use two AIOs and playing quite happily for years now with no faff.
 
I really love working on my PC. It gets completely dismantled and rebuilt two or three times a year and I take my time with it.
That said, I'm avoiding custom loops, as attractive as they may be. I've heard it said more than once that they turn the hobby into a chore.
 
I would say I do but I am 3 years overdue on maintenance and have noticed measurably higher temps recently which I'd rather not have to deal with.

I don't regret watercooling though, it's such a quiet system and has been for over a decade. Plus it's more unique and special to me personally. It also added intertia to the upgrade progress so I skipped a few generations where I really didn't need to upgrade.
 
Not these days, moved away from custom loops as like you say it's not just slap new hardware in it's the extra hours doing a new loop and then testing it, stick to air and AIO for 'ease' of swapping other parts around when I buy them.
 
I dismantled my PC 4 years ago and still haven't put it back together. I just come up with excuses not to do it. So much so I recently spent £2700 on a new laptop to replace the one I was using instead of my main rig, so I can put it off indefinitely now lol.
 
I do, right up until the first leak. Then the second after I fix the first... And yes, I'm very much thinking of moving to AIO the next time a major custom loop component fails. I was replacing the fluid a few weeks ago and had endless issues with leaks.
 
For this exact reason I use QDCs. They are ugly but when you can't see the inside of your case like with mine even if it's once a year type event.
 
I used to look forward tinkering with my build.
Nowadays not so much, just want it to "just work".

With dismantling and rebuilding constantly, also risks damaging the parts (albeit the risk is low, it's not zero risk either)...and parts are expensive nowadays, so, makes more sense to leave it the eff alone...
 
No not really. I like what I can do with the systems I build but the actual act of building is just the means to get to that point. I enjoy hacking hardware sometimes.
 
I've only used custom water cooling once, it wasn't an awful experience but it was too much faffing around for me. Everyone is different though, I enjoy tweaking after building a system which can be fun, it can also be very frustrating. But once it's configured to my satisfaction, I might not enter the bios or change anything for many years.

Had much worse experiences with AIO coolers over the years, I don't trust them anymore. :eek:
 
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Nope, I can never be bothered. I went back to air cooling the last time I built a new PC (2024 I think) because I can't be bothered with the faff anymore.
 
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