Buying a new computer?

sketch3d.de · 22 Mar 2013, 13:59

@tmilton2010 said:

...thoughts on monitors.

IPS or PVA panels only, TN panels are faster and thus good for gaming but often do have bad viewing angles and faint colors.

you may want check the following ones all w/ IPS panels:

24"
• HP ZR2440W
• Dell UltraSharp U2412M best-bang-for-the-buck

23"
• Eizo EV2335W
• LG IPS235P

hth,
Norbert

Dave R · 26 Mar 2013, 13:32

Well, it arrived yesterday. I added a 27" Samsung LED display and a Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse. I don't like the keyboard and mouse, though, so when I get the computer set up I'll switch my USB devices over to the new machine.

The computer is very quiet and so far seems to be fast. It boots quickly which is nice. I haven't really had a chance to do anything useful with it. There's a lot of software to install and set up. I am pleased that there isn't all that crap demo software loaded onto the machine like an off the shelf computer.

hellnbak · 26 Mar 2013, 13:45

Give it to me and I'll break it in for you. Free of charge.

solo · 26 Mar 2013, 13:50

@dave r said:

Well, it arrived yesterday. I added a 27" Samsung LED display and a Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse. I don't like the keyboard and mouse, though, so when I get the computer set up I'll switch my USB devices over to the new machine.

The computer is very quiet and so far seems to be fast. It boots quickly which is nice. I haven't really had a chance to do anything useful with it. There's a lot of software to install and set up. I am pleased that there isn't all that crap demo software loaded onto the machine like an off the shelf computer.

So does it look like the picture?

Dave R · 26 Mar 2013, 15:53

Yep. It does look like the picture.

ely862me · 26 Mar 2013, 16:07

@solo said:

Whoah! that looks awesome, nice water cooling, dual fans one pull the other push. What did you have them clock it to? I see the SSD, which did you get the 2nd option?
Nice clean work, I cannot wait until I can get mine (still short of the magic number needed).

I can only see a regular rig with no water cooling !

I still need a good video card, a ssd and a better power supply and I might compete with you !

Long live your new achievements !

solo · 26 Mar 2013, 16:27

ely862me · 26 Mar 2013, 17:14

That's not water cooling, it's a normal CPU cooler . The heat goes up trough the pipes(which are filled with an inert gas) and dissipates trough out the fins helped by the fan.

Water cooling needs outside radiator, fans,water tank,pipes and an electric pump .

Dave R · 26 Mar 2013, 17:17

It doesn't matter to me. There's plenty of cooling capacity for me.

solo · 26 Mar 2013, 17:18

Oh, shows what I know about air cooling.

I recently bought this:

This is a water cooler, just had a Doh! moment as I assumed those copper pipes carried water.

solo · 26 Mar 2013, 17:28

@ely862me said:

With my i7,not overclocked , 100% loaded, my temperature is at 60 degrees celsius with an asus cooler.

In idle and low processes won't get over 30 degrees.
If it won't get over 70 degrees I will let it like this because is no problem !

So is that air?

What i7 do you have? and what have you clocked it to?

What are your overclocking settings?

ely862me · 26 Mar 2013, 17:29

With my i7,not overclocked , 100% loaded, my temperature is at 60 degrees celsius with an asus cooler.

In idle and low processes won't get over 30 degrees.
If it won't get over 70 degrees I will let it like this because is no problem !

Btw, how much did that water cooling unit costs and how cold it keeps your cpu ?

ely862me · 26 Mar 2013, 17:33

Yes, it is air(the fan it's hidden inside).
I have an i7 3770K with no overclocking so far as I don't feel the need.
This cooler was supposed to drop more heat but it doesn't work as specified.

fcborik · 27 Mar 2013, 03:10

I got my computer today and it was kind of a downer. First, it came sans power cord (although JNCS provided all of the ancillary cables they didn't use that came with the individual parts -- not sure exactly what I will do with this other than toss them). So I had to go to Radio Shack to get a power cord so I could turn the computer on. Since this is the first time that I bought a custom built rig, maybe I had unrealistic expectations about the power cord. Sort of like buying a printer and expecting it to come with a cable (not).

So I finally turn the machine on, and after fiddling with the monitor connection, (the DP connection didn't work so I had to switch it out with DVI), I get the start screen. Now I'm having problems with the new wireless mouse and keyboard that I bought, so I hook up a USB mouse and keyboard just to keep plowing through in hope that I can get to the Internet and start getting the drivers that I need. However, when I try to get the wirelss to work to connect to the Internet, I find that the machine doesn't appear to be wireless capable. Either that, or I am extremely stupid and can't find it no matter where I look in the hardware setup. I also get a hint that there is no wireless because the connection wizard does not offer a choice for a wireless device (it says "hook up an Ethernet cable"). Plus, it might explain why the wireless mouse isn't working. So I guess I'm going to have to get a USB wireless adapter.

I was seriously hoping I could say what a great machine this is, but for the moment, it's a brick.

fcborik · 27 Mar 2013, 05:39

OK, I've made great progress but at a cost, primarily of my time and patience. Here's the run-down:

I seemed to remember when I ordered the computer that it was wireless capable, so I checked out all of the components ahead of time(i.e., the motherboard) and remember that the Intel site said that the DX79SR had a bluetooth and wireless module included. Fortunately, JCNS packed all of those "ancillary wires" in the original package for the motherboard, so there it was right on the front: "Bluetooth/Wi-Fi module included. Hmmmm.... I wondered if this module was included in this bag of parts. I looked it up on the Interned (fortunately I still had my "old" computer up and running), and located the technical manual on the Intel site. Sure enough, there was this funny looking thing that looked like the Bluetooth/Wi-Fi module in the picture, and upon closer inspection, I saw that it had MAC addresses printed on it, so I was making headway. But I also needed a cable to hook it up. Fortunately, there were lots of cables in my now handy bag of parts, so after some easter egging, I found what i neeed. Good thing I didn't toss the parts as I had originally planned! So with all parts in hand, a screwdriver, and the factory installation instructions at the ready, I was all set.

I unhooked the computer, hauled it out, and took off the top. Well, it's a good thing I did because, lo and behold, the HDD and hard drive had completely come loose from the chassis and were banging around in the bottom of the cabinet! I thought that I heard something rattling around when I first pulled out the computer from the packaging, but I attributed it to the DVD-ROM drive. The hardware was so banged up that the mounting frame holding the SDD was bent. Since I had previously started up the computer, I figured there was no actual damage to the hardware, but I couldn't get the SDD off of its mounting frame (they used some kind of stick-um, probably for heat dissipation purposes). So I had to bend the mounting frame back into shape, and after a fashion, I was able to get it to lock down.

With that straghtened out, the installation of the wireless module was fairly straightforward. Just peel off the backing from the double sided tape, stick the module onto an empty slot at the back, and plug in the USB wire to an unused USB plug on the motherboard. I put the computer all back together, fired it up, and looked to see if I now had a wireless. It was a no go, but the I realized that I didn't have the driver. Duh-oh! So, back to the Intel website to grab the driver and get it installed. Now things are working fine. My wireless keyboard and mouse are OK, and I can get on the Internet (I'm writing this from the new rig right now).

So, if you get your rig in the state mine was in, I highly suggest that you open it up to check it out, and don't be surprised if you have to do your own wireless module installation with all the trimmings (hunt for the parts in the parts "bag" that you'll get, look up the instructions, and download the driver from Intel on to a USB stick). Better have a second computer up and on the Internet so you can get everything you need. And if you aren't comfortable working on the inside of a computer, then you may be in for trouble!

I guess I'm going to have to send JCNS a nasty gram telling them that their quality control sucks and that they owe me $11.87 for the power cord that I had to buy separately. Just to show them what a nice guy I am, I won't charge them for the 5 hours of labor that I wasted doing their job and transforming my newly purchased $2700 computer from the brick they sent me into a workable device.

I'd definetely be interested if anybody else has these kinds of problems.

Thanks for listening.

Frank.

Dave R · 27 Mar 2013, 08:35

Wow! That's not at all my experience. In my case everything was very neatly packaged. It did come with a whole lot of extra parts and a draw string bag of extra cables for the power supply. The Euro-style power cord was still tied up like new. those extra parts weren't a surprise to me after having built several machines myself. There's always extra stuff that looks too good to through away but it never gets used for anything.

The wireless fired up right away and I was off to the races.

I've had nice conversations with several of the guys there. I'm sure they'll help you if you don't get nasty with them.

fcborik · 27 Mar 2013, 11:26

Hi Dave,

Glad you didn't have the problems I had. I found that I probably didn't need to go online to get the drivers as the package came with CDs for the motherboard, graphics card, and the SSD.

I'm wondering how JNCS is going to make this "good"? I'm up and running, so I don' think that I need any more help. What I'm contemplating is (a) a cash refund for the $11.98 power cord and a one year extension on the warranty (for a total of 2 years).

I'll let you know what they say.

Frank

Dave R · 27 Mar 2013, 11:31

Too bad you aren't closer to me. I'm looking at a pile of about 250 hospital grade Euro-style power cords here.

sonder · 27 Mar 2013, 16:00

Ouch - those parts are pretty stout though. I'm sure all is good. I'm sure they'll do something for you.

That is one thing I do have to say about Origin. They pack the crap out of the machine. The inside is packed with a form fitting piece of plastic wrapped foam and they ship it in a bomber wooden crate........of course I paid $900 more.

Dave R · 27 Mar 2013, 16:02

Mine was packed in a very large cardboard box with foam inside. I looked over the box when it arrived and it was in excellent condition.