New Gaming Rig Advice..

Compressed air (well compressed liquid gases which isn't air at all) is perfectly safe if used correctly.

Always, make sure the device your cleaning hasn't got power going into it (unplugged), spray upright if you can (should be easy with a gfx card) but in reality it's not a problem if any of the liquid hits your card. I spray the inside of my computer a couple of times a year - and not upright half the time - we all do on this forum. But i do short bursts and clean the end of the nozzle with paper towel in between bursts.

It's usually a refrigerant (flurocarbon - the stuff that's making a hole above the poles) and should evaporate very quickly on contact.

Spray it on a bit of cooper pipe (that same radiator we put the nail polish on) and you'll see what i mean.

Note: it's always wise to shake well and to a test spray first if you haven't used it for while.
 
Great thanks for that Plec, good to know it can't damage anything.

I've made my mind up on what I'm going to do I think. I'm just going to keep my current system and buy a second hand motherboard, there's no point upgrading until I have to and like you have said, overclocking the 3570 should do me the world of good.

What I'm going to do I think is sell my 7970 to my brother, set him up in my current case as his current one is some old AlienWare tin thing. I'll buy myself the s340, move everything to there and get myself a decent cooler.

What do you think?
 
OK, I'm probably going to short circuit your frontal lobe with indecision - apologies in advance:

BeadyRoller said:
I've made my mind up on what I'm going to do I think. I'm just going to keep my current system and buy a second hand motherboard, there's no point upgrading until I have to and like you have said, overclocking the 3570 should do me the world of good.

What I'm going to do I think is sell my 7970 to my brother, set him up in my current case as his current one is some old AlienWare tin thing. I'll buy myself the s340, move everything to there and get myself a decent cooler.

What do you think?
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I totally agree, as in theory your rig, clocked, should last you another couple of years paired with the GTX 1070 (although the S340 would be a luxury item if funds are short).

However, I was thinking about the pros and cons list, that i haven't typed up yet :p, and the only thing that i keep coming back to is that you're a stickler for stuttering and this was the original reason for your post, way back when.

Now i'm hesitant at expanding on my next bit as it's the one 'Possible' pro for Ryzen that may push you to spending unnecessary money (in my opinion).

Firstly, i believe your stuttering issues can be sorted with a combination of software tweaks, game settings coupled with the clock and new gfx. However, the one thing that is impossible for me to gauge is how fussy you are about stutter - as it's relative to each individual user. What is acceptable/indiscernible stuttering for one player could be rage inducing, Ryzen contemplation, for another. So i can't guarantee the stuttering will be gone/reduced to a level you'll be happy with...

Now for the bit i don't really want to mention as it's review/forum banter - but i've seen it posted by members who i wouldn't expect to exaggerate - which forum members can do (unintentionally) when caught up with the excitement of a new build/tech.

OK...

*cough* Ryzen users (and some reviewers) have a tendency to report that although their FPS may not have gone up dramatically (coming from an already good build) their overall gaming experience is noticeably smoother. *cough*

/clears throat

This has probably put your brain into a tail spin - but I feel it's something you should look into for yourself as i would feel awful if you buy another board, HS, clock your CPU and still experience the stuttering that's driving you nuts.

But, and it's a big BUT, the flip side to this is that you could spend a fortune on the Ryzen build and still have the same problem too...

Have i FUBAR'ed your Sunday yet... ;)
 
Oh Plec I was 99% sure on going the route I said but you've made some good point there.

The thing is, you make a good point on how stutter effects different people, my stutter isn't the worst on most games, what happens typically is it will be smooth then for a split second drop 30 or 40 frames making the game stutter then it will shoot back up to smooth gameplay. The main culprits are games that are in Alpha like Rust (definitely the worst stutter), and Arms 3, it bothers me because I see other players with no stuttering so I know it must be something my end. I'm not bothered about having the highest FPS, I just want it smooth, that's the most important thing to me.

The thing is on the other hand when I played Ghost Recon: Wildlands, it ran flawlessly and that was installed on my HDD so I gave it the best opportunity to stutter but it was perfect.

It may be a case of a setting with these Alpha games that will change everything, that AHCI mode may work for me, worked for a few others so it's all guess work until I try different methods.

Ryzen would be a great upgrade I'm sure but do I really need it, well that depends on if my brother does want to buy my current build or not, he still hasn't given me a definitive answer so I'm struggling a bit, if he buys it then the option is using the money to get Ryzen, if he doesn't then the option is buying a motherboard and keeping what I have and buying a new case and cooler.

There are 2 motherboards that are ending today that I currently have my eye on, the one we first discussed which is 72 quid and the MSI z77 which is at 50 at the moment but the seller says the bios is modded, don't know if that matters or not? Case of just restoring to defaults?

So yeah, I don't think it's going to be a relaxing Sunday at all :D
 
In a DIY center will answer your post later but:

Yes, I noticed that MB and that the BIOS has been modded.

It will be a concern if it can't be reversed or updated. Will look when I get home - but a modded BIOS is not ideal - as it's basically being sold as 'buyer beware'.
 
Yep, i would be wary of the MSI modded motherboard.

I've used modded BIOSs in the past - for supposedly better clocks (eons ago when i had time play) - but had i been selling the board on i would have reverted the BIOS back to latest official BIOS as people would naturally, and quite rightly, be wary of a modded BIOS .

Doesn't make sense (to me) why the guy selling didn't revert back to the official BIOS before stripping down his rig. He's effectively alienated more than half his potential buyers as an official BIOS will always be more appealing to any buyer - it reeks of 'buyer beware!' (but i'm sceptical by nature).

If you could snipe that Gigabyte board for under £80 - that's looking like a good buy as these boards are selling for nuts money second hand on the bay...
 
I
Plec said:
Yep, i would be wary of the MSI modded motherboard.

I've used modded BIOSs in the past - for supposedly better clocks (eons ago when i had time play) - but had i been selling the board on i would have reverted the BIOS back to latest official BIOS as people would naturally, and quite rightly, be wary of a modded BIOS .

Doesn't make sense (to me) why the guy selling didn't revert back to the official BIOS before stripping down his rig. He's effectively alienated more than half his potential buyers as an official BIOS will always be more appealing to any buyer - it reeks of 'buyer beware!' (but i'm sceptical by nature).

If you could snipe that Gigabyte board for under £80 - that's looking like a good buy as these boards are selling for nuts money second hand on the bay...
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I share your skeptisim. That Gigabyte board I'm sure will have quite a few more bids yet, a lot of people watching it. What should I go up to? Bid below £100 a good buy?
 
BeadyRoller said:
I share your skeptisim. That Gigabyte board I'm sure will have quite a few more bids yet, a lot of people watching it. What should I go up to? Bid below £100 a good buy?
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That's a tough one.

For example your board sold recently on the MM for £50 and this bundle: i7 2600K, Asus P8Z77-V LX, and 32GB Ballistix Sport DDR3-1600 (4x8GB) sold for £180 (wish i had bought that) :eek:

Basically, that board is worth what your prepared to pay for it and what it could potentially save you (if that makes sense).

It's a superior board to yours - not that you'll use any more of its features (although potential clock may be better) - and it's from a trusted seller and all boxed and tidy (which really means nothing - but buyers like it). But the background setting, from the photos, does look clean which at least shows common sense...

So, yes below £100 - but that's top dollar - ideally £80 - £90 (If it had been on MM possibly £70 - £80).
 
BeadyRoller said:
OThe main culprits are games that are in Alpha like Rust (definitely the worst stutter), and Arms 3, it bothers me because I see other players with no stuttering so I know it must be something my end. I'm not bothered about having the highest FPS, I just want it smooth, that's the most important thing to me.
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Yes, you will have to completely discount 'Early Access Games' from the group as they will not have been optimised yet - and are notoriously buggy. As mentioned previously i'm not a fan of this type of release - but appreciate it helps with funding etc - but i do feel some developers abuse it to the nth degree.

For example I bought my son Space Engineers as small treat in the Steam Sale - and all i can say is - Jesus Christ! :/ But he's happy with it...

BeadyRoller said:
It's a shame I don't have a few more posts :(
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You need to search out a a poster with a 'firm belief in what they're saying' in Speakers Corner and take an opposing, but valid, viewpoint - prepare for abuse and but watch your post count soar :)

Never post there myself, or General Discussion - i like the quiet life - there's always someone waiting to skew someones comments or take things too personally...
 
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I see a lot of people who have no stutter playing them games, that's why it bothers me so much. They tend to be the same games I play the most unfortunately.

Haha, I may take that tip on board, or you know I could just keep pestering you and do it that way :D

Keeping my eyes on the motherboard, still at 72, 3 hours to go...
 
Sorry, i'm lost a bit - so many boards. :)

Do you mean compared to the other z68 or the one you lost out on?

EDIT: Name the boards your considering in full so there's no confusion.
 
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So im putting my brother's PC together and got stuck on screwing the screws in to the standoffs, they just seem to go round and round, can't get them to lock in place and screw properly.
 
BeadyRoller said:
I'm having to tighten with pliers as don't have the appropriate tool. Shall I just tighten them until they can't anymore?
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Pliers are fine - and yes tighten so that they're securely fitted.

BeadyRoller said:
Done it :D
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Great! Pick a sticker :D

The boards screws should tighten in easily now - unless you have done that too?

Make absolutely sure that you've accounted for all the risers and that the number tallies up to that of the screws supporting the MB.

A rogue riser under the motherboard can cause shorting.
 
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