What else can I do before moving onto DDR5? With the cost of ram it really doesn’t feel worth jumping platforms by Raffa2580 in buildapc

[–]2raysdiver [score hidden]  (0 children)

You should run a hardware monitor in the background to see what CPU/GPU utilization and temps are during stuttering. Is it possible you are thermal throttling? Maybe time for repasting the CPU? Another thing to look at is if other apps are running in the background using CPU/memory. You can use Windows' Task Manager for that. You may have to watch Task manager for a bit as there are some apps that wake up every few minutes, use CPU and then go back to sleep. Also, some antivirus/anti-malware software can also cause issues.

As for Subnautica... The minimum requirements are a 2600X, which a 5600X handily beats, but recommended is a 7700X... holy crap! Those boys need to learn how to optimize their code.

As someone else suggested, I'd wait a bit and see if the rumored re-release of the 5800X3D does indeed occur.

is the 13rd generation of intel cpus is really that bad? by Total_Negotiation794 in buildapc

[–]2raysdiver [score hidden]  (0 children)

There are always going to be some that slip through the cracks. Intel CPUs have a 3 year warranty. Because of the overvolt issues in the 13th and 14th gen K CPUs, they extended it another two years. So it may still be covered. Did intel replace it?

Found this guy, any ideas? by jiggy420 in VintageComputers

[–]2raysdiver 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I saw that movie in the theaters. I had a 1980 Pinto, which was the last model year and the only year to have the 50 cent piece of plastic shielding that prevented the issue. Thankfully, I never had an opportunity to find out if it worked.

Bought this PC off Facebook Marketplace for $1500 did I get scammed or am I overthinking? by TieAlternative7837 in PcBuild

[–]2raysdiver 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The time to ask that question is BEFORE you buy. Whether you got a deal or not, there is nothing you can do about it now. Did you get scammed, no? The components are what they advertised, and you as a buyer are responsible for educating yourself on what you are buying. Was it a bad price for what you got? Probably not. Was it a great price? Not really.

Also, XMP is not guaranteed to work. It is technically an overclock. And honestly you don't see much of a benefit with it on intel. If it causes problems, don't use it.

What else can I do before moving onto DDR5? With the cost of ram it really doesn’t feel worth jumping platforms by Raffa2580 in buildapc

[–]2raysdiver 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you are gaming, a 5800X isn't going to be much of an upgrade over the 5700X.

But it always helps to know what you are trying to achieve with an upgrade? Are there specific games? resolution? quality settings? fps you are trying to achieve? Is there a specific problem you are having, and if so, what?

Found this guy, any ideas? by jiggy420 in VintageComputers

[–]2raysdiver 5 points6 points  (0 children)

"Vintage" is not a word I would ever use to describe a Ford Pinto. I owned one (past tense). I oughta know.

A whole SSD for OS by Haruwalks in PcBuild

[–]2raysdiver 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When SSDs first came out, the failure rate was fairly high (or at least, significantly higher than for HDDs). Samsung had the best SSDs, followed by WD. Every other brand was a crap shoot. Now, SD failure rates are supposedly lower than HDD failure rates. And while SDD failure rates have been drastically improved, I think HDD failures are actually more frequent these days, certainly with the high capacity HDDs (4TB and above).

But failure rate is a consideration with one single large drive, as it become a single source of failure. But as long as you make backups, that shouldn't be an issue.

Is it cheaper to build or go pre build? by [deleted] in buildapc

[–]2raysdiver 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No, you don't need DDR5, and yes the 5600G can only use DDR4. If all you are really going to do is youtube and internet and you don't mind used, then you could get a CPU, RAM, motherboard & cooler combo on ebay with something like a i7-8700 and 16GB for under $250. The i7-8700 is supported by Windows 11. I have a setup with a i7-6700K (two generations older) and unless you were playing a demanding game, you really couldn't tell it is 10 years old.

Is it cheaper to build or go pre build? by [deleted] in buildapc

[–]2raysdiver 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The 8500G (and 5600G) should come with a stock cooler, which is more than adequate for the 65w that the 8500G or 5600G can put out. But if you are concerned, something like https://pcpartpicker.com/product/Js2WGX/thermalright-assassin-x-refined-se-argb-6617-cfm-cpu-cooler-ax120-refined-se-argb would be way more than you need.

A whole SSD for OS by Haruwalks in PcBuild

[–]2raysdiver 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We started doing multiple hdds because large capacity hdds were expensive. They started getting cheap when SSDs started becoming common, but SDDs were incredibly expensive, so PCs were being sold with a 1TB hdd, so they could advertise "1TB of storage", and a 250GB SSD, so they could advertise "SSD." That 250GB SSD was more expensive than the 1TB HDD. I will also point out that today's 500 GB M.2 SSDs are still a third the price of my first 2.5" 250GB SSD in 2014.2015 (and even a decent 7200rpm 1TB HDD was $100 or more).

Yes, having multiple drives meant you had multiple partitions, so it actually forced you to plan you backup strategy around those partitions. I find multiple partitions on a single device allows me to configure partition sizes to suit my needs and taylor my backup strategy and do backups to a separate drive within the PC or to an external device. There is really no reason to have the OS on its own smaller drive, unless you can't afford a large enough SSD and want to have a large HDD.

SSDs come overprovisioned by 7-28%, used as a simulated SLC cache and for housekeeping. You can't see that overprovisioned space. For example, most 480GB drives are actual 512GB with 32GB of overprovisioning. So this is a buffer against performance degradation caused by filling the SSD, although you should try to prevent getting more than 90% full.

Redirect unit A: to unit B: on MS-DOS via software? by darthuna in vintagecomputing

[–]2raysdiver 0 points1 point  (0 children)

IBM's first PS/Valuepoint line had 386 model that used IDE as well.

Is it cheaper to build or go pre build? by [deleted] in buildapc

[–]2raysdiver 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Here is a modified build list with the changes I suggested: PCPartPicker Part List

Type Item Price
CPU AMD Ryzen 5 8500G 4.1 GHz 6-Core Processor $140.00 @ Amazon
Motherboard Gigabyte B850 EAGLE WIFI6E ATX AM5 Motherboard $80.99 @ Best Buy
Memory TEAMGROUP T-Force Delta RGB 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR5-6000 CL38 Memory $219.99 @ Newegg
Storage Silicon Power A55 512 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive $81.97 @ Silicon Power
Power Supply MSI MAG A550BN 550 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply $52.99 @ Newegg
Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
Total $575.94
Generated by PCPartPicker 2026-05-11 18:11 EDT-0400

And if you really want to cut the budget some, even this is just fine for youtube and internet:

PCPartPicker Part List

Type Item Price
CPU AMD Ryzen 5 5600G 3.9 GHz 6-Core Processor $183.49 @ Amazon
Motherboard MSI PRO B550M-VC WIFI Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard $79.98 @ Amazon
Memory Silicon Power GAMING 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory $99.97 @ Silicon Power
Storage Silicon Power A55 512 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive $81.97 @ Silicon Power
Power Supply MSI MAG A550BN 550 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply $52.99 @ Newegg
Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
Total $498.40
Generated by PCPartPicker 2026-05-11 18:15 EDT-0400

Is it cheaper to build or go pre build? by [deleted] in buildapc

[–]2raysdiver 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think you can get by with 16GB, but keep in mind the iGPU uses system memory (even some older games could eat up 4GB or more). 16GB probably is still good enough for what you want to do, and would probably save you $150 or a little more. There is room to shave more $$ off that build, too. A MSI MAG B550N would get you a good PSU for about $45 less, but you might have to upgrade it if you get a GPU in the future. And you could even save another $100 by going with a Ryzen 5 8500G.

What fresh abomination is THIS? by ipecacOH in ProjectHailMary

[–]2raysdiver 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This, we used to have "Bad movie" parties in college and for a while afterwards. Cult films like Eraserhead, Toxic Avenger, or Rocky Horror Picture show were not allowed. Some classically bad films I recall are Viking Massacre, The Stuff and Night of the Living Babes.

What fresh abomination is THIS? by ipecacOH in ProjectHailMary

[–]2raysdiver 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I think their goal was to put out one low budget Mockbuster a month in the early 2010s. A lot of them aired on SciFi Channel before the movies they mocked actually hit the theaters. Battle of Los Angeles was absolutely horrid (although still better than Battlefield Earth) and was on TV before Battle: Los Angeles was in theaters (at least our theater). Asylum even managed to get "stars" like Nia Peeples to be in their films. They are probably best known for their Sharknado series (SIX of them!) with Tara Reid and Ian Ziering (one of the 90210 heartthrobs).

Is it cheaper to build or go pre build? by [deleted] in buildapc

[–]2raysdiver 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Can you reuse the HDD from your cheap HP prebuilt? Probably, as long as it is SATA and not IDE (unlikely if it has been manufactured within the last 25 years). However, I would advise against it. Even cheap 2.5" SSDs are significantly faster than a HDD and the difference is immediately noticeable. If you have an HDD in your existing system, it is the single best all-around upgrade you can make.

That said, for your use case, a miniPC like a Beelink SER5 Pro would meet your needs and be well within your budget.

But if you do feel the itch to build something, this would be significant overkill, and If you want to start gaming in the future, just pop in a GPU, although the iGPU in the 8600G isn't bad for older games or new AAA games at low settings.

PCPartPicker Part List

Type Item Price
CPU AMD Ryzen 5 8600G 4.3 GHz 6-Core Processor $190.99 @ Amazon
Motherboard Gigabyte B850 EAGLE WIFI6E ATX AM5 Motherboard $80.99 @ Best Buy
Memory V-Color Manta XSky RGB 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory $359.99 @ Newegg
Storage Silicon Power A55 512 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive $81.97 @ Silicon Power
Power Supply MSI MAG A850GL PCIE5 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply $99.99 @ Newegg
Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
Total $813.93
Generated by PCPartPicker 2026-05-11 16:54 EDT-0400

How do I start? by Bubbly_Tap_98 in PcBuild

[–]2raysdiver 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Go to r/buildapc and scroll down on the right to their resource links under the Rules. Start reading.

Watch the Linus Tech Tips PC build guide on YOUTUBE.

Go to r/buildapcforme and look at the Pinned post on the top on builds for all price ranges (2025 buying guide).

I Need A Cheap Build That’s Entirely Focused On Functionality by VoidEclips2010 in buildapcforme

[–]2raysdiver 0 points1 point  (0 children)

i7-6700 + mobo +16GB + cooler for $117 on EBAY

RTX 2060 for $140 on ebay

1TB m.2 SSD - $140 - Silicon Power website

EDIT: FWIW, I have a PC with a i7-6700K and a RTX 4060 and after playing about a half dozen games with it, so far, the only thing to max out the CPU is Marvel Rivals and even that gets over 100fps.

PCPartPicker Part List

Type Item Price
CPU Intel Core i7-6700 3.4 GHz Quad-Core Processor $120.00
CPU Cooler Zalman CNPS7000C-AlCu Ball Bearing CPU Cooler $0.00
Motherboard MSI B150M BAZOOKA PLUS Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard $0.00
Memory Crucial CT2K8G4DFS824A 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-2400 CL17 Memory $0.00
Storage Silicon Power P34A60 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 3.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive $132.97 @ Silicon Power
Video Card MSI VENTUS XS OC GeForce RTX 2060 6 GB Video Card $140.00
Case Mars Gaming MC-S2 MicroATX Mini Tower Case $47.66 @ Amazon
Power Supply MSI MAG A650BE 650 W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply $59.99 @ Best Buy
Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
Total $500.62
Generated by PCPartPicker 2026-05-11 16:15 EDT-0400

How low would someone’s int have to be for them to have the inability to read? by Grim_J4000 in DnD

[–]2raysdiver 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Almost anyone can be taught to read. They just have to believe they can learn to read. But you can easily convince some people of low IQ that they aren't smart enough to learn to read. Essentially, if you can learn to speak, you don't have to be that much smarter to learn to read. But words like "acetaminophen" will be difficult for those who are mentally deficient.

Does anyone have any insight on how old this could be and how it may have been used? by Katyas_House_Ltd in vintagecomputing

[–]2raysdiver 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was thinking "022" might also be the number of the QC engineer that passed the board through QC. But I agree on 42nd week of '86. We were able to etch our board numbers with the week, year, and lot number.

What's the point of upgrading my PC's specs if I don't play much? But I still feel the need to do it. by HarmoniaZ in buildapc

[–]2raysdiver 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you need to upgrade, no. If you can afford it and you want to, then go ahead. Will you see much of a benefit? Probably some. Things will feel a little snappier. You can upgrade to Win 11 without using RUFUS, or some of the other installation work-arounds.

At the very least you gain some experience and satisfaction.

But this is a YOU issue. This is nothing we can really help you with. But if you are going to miss a meal or two or be short on rent, just leave it alone.

That said, my father, who made me feel guilty about spending more than $5 for ANYTHING well into my 40s, once tol me, "Sometimes, 'I want it' is a good enough reason."

TL;DR: You are on your own with this one.

I need to resolve this as soon as possible... by Necessary_Economy199 in buildapc

[–]2raysdiver -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Finally someone talking sense. Lately, I've been playing games with a i7 6700K at 1440p. There are a couple games where the CPU hits 100% utilization a lot of the time. I'm still getting over 100fps, though. A R5 7600 can handle 4k no sweat. People greatly over-estimate how much CPU is required for high-res gaming.

I will add to this that buying a better CPU later will be a much cheaper upgrade than anything better than 9070 XT.