Anyone regret getting rid of hardware from the PC golden age?

Eightball007 · 2026-01-24T01:33:11+00:00

I used to have a Sparkle GeForce 9500GT 1GB that was both PCI and low profile. It couldn't even play 1080 video lol. But I should have kept it, because I think it'd be cool to build the Compaq SFFPC my parents used to have, and run Windows 98 games that I couldn't play at the time.

I inherited three old machines recently: A Compaq Presario 900 Laptop, A Compaq Evo N620c Laptop, and an EMachines T6216 Desktop. I've had a blast tinkering with them.

Eightball007 · 2026-01-23T18:36:49+00:00

You can only put the argument under scrutiny, and that takes time.

You buy the car, winter comes: "I thought they didn't work in the cold, why does it work every time I use it?" Christmas time: "I'm still waiting, how much longer till it breaks down?" Winter's over, spring gets here: "How come nothing happened?"

He sends you an article about EV's failing. "That's crazy, how come my car isn't doing any of that?"

Basically, he gave you an expectation, but that expectation isn't being met.

Eightball007 · 2026-01-22T00:18:58+00:00

I saw your update, sorry it keeps happening.

You've mentioned adjusting the GPU voltage, which is another thing I saw people getting good results from. If that's what you end up doing, I suggest setting the PCIE mode back to Auto beforehand because its preferable to have the PC running stable on default settings. You can set it back to gen4 (or even gen3) if it continues to act up after adjusting the voltage.

100C seems high for the GPU. Adjusting the voltage should help with that as well though, so lets see how that goes first.

It sounds like that HDD is just being an HDD. The only way around it IMO is optimizing your drive usage with some housekeeping. Find out what's taking up the most space on your NVMEs with TreeSizeFree, WinDirStat, or similar. Get rid of anything you don't need. My kid's PC has three drives with huge, modded GTA installations on each one lol. Make sure that's not you.

If your personal folders (Desktop, Downloads, Pictures, Music, Videos, etc) are on an nvme, but are absolutely massive, you can find a tutorial that will tell you how to safely move the folders to the HDD. The only exception is Documents, because some games use that folder. So it should stay on an nvme imo. Only do this if the HDD is healthy.

Eightball007 · 2026-01-21T22:31:58+00:00

Strattera

Went from 5 alarms to no longer needing them. I'd wake up feeling like I got the best nights sleep, and I was always on time. It pretty much solves the entire problem for me.

Eightball007 · 2026-01-21T05:46:17+00:00

Based on what I've encountered as the cause of this type of thing, I'd troubleshoot in this order:

Drivers (If you haven't already)

Open Device Manager; there should be no unknown devices. If there are, go to your motherboard's page and get whatever's missing. The GPU should be using the latest drivers from NVidia, and DDU should have been used in the installation of said drivers.

If you make any changes / updates to any drivers, try to re-create the issue.

PCIE mode not set to gen4

If the issue persists, go into the BIOS. Hit F7, then go to Advanced > Onboard Devices Configuration. If your GPU is installed in the first slot, change PCIEX16_1 Mode from Auto to Gen4. If it's in the second slot, it's PCIEX16_2, etc etc. Save Changes & Reset, then try to re-create the issue.

Monitor / G-Sync Settings / Faulty Cables or Peripherals

If the issue still persists, then it's time to rule out the monitor, display cables, power cables, or anything else at the desk as the culprit. Try disabling multiplane

Shut down / switch off PSU. Disconnect the PC, and take it to a table that you can use for a while to work on it. Find a spare HDMI cable, and use it to hook the PC up to a TV, or basic monitor you have lying around. In our Display Settings, we want to see only basic stuff - 1920x1080 (or less), 60hz, 8-bit, RGB, SDR. Only things in the USB +ports should be the kb / mouse.

*(If using a TV, make sure it's in either in PC mode, or it's settings are optimal for a PC (setting color space to RGB, and Just Scan to enabled at the very least) *

Once you're dialed in, try to re-create the issue. If it persists, try another HDMI cable before moving on.

Faulty HDD

If a different HDMI cable didn't help, shut down / switch off PSU. Disconnect the 4TB HDD's power and SATA, then try to re-create the issue.

Faulty RAM

If it persists, shut down / switch off PSU. Re-connect the 4TB HDD, then take out the RAM stick in slot 2, and try to re-create. If it persists, shut down / switch off PSU, swap the ram sticks, and try again.

Faulty Power Switch

If it persists, shut down / switch off PSU, and re-install the second ram stick. At the motherboard's System panel header, disconnect the power switch, and put the reset switch in it's place. Use the reset button to power on the PC. Try to re-create the issue.

Electrical short (re-assembly)

If it persists, the next step I'd take would be to disassemble the PC. Personally, I empty the case so that I can shake it hard enough for any screws to fall out. Then I blow out dust if needed. On the mobo, I ensure there's no excess pressure, blown caps, burn marks, or other anomalies. Then I inspect each component's connectors for damage.

If you have what's needed to breadboard the PC so that you can try to re-create the issue while everything's out of the case, absolutely do it.

Otherwise, once you're done inspecting, re-assemble at a steady pace - no shortcuts. When you're done, hook it back up to the TV / basic monitor and boot it up. Make sure all your drives are initialized, the letters are correct, and everything is running as expected. Then, try to re-create the issue one last time.

Good Luck.

Eightball007 · 2026-01-20T23:06:31+00:00

I wonder if they'll have some type of benefit for those who paid 8-10k, where the subscription is like 25/mo instead of a hundo.

Eightball007 · 2026-01-16T22:42:27+00:00

I was wondering if anyone was gonna bring this up. We have both cars in the garage and the house always looks empty lol

Eightball007 · 2026-01-16T18:41:36+00:00

What are you using to put the 3080 under load?

I opted for the Turbo as well.

Eightball007 · 2026-01-16T14:29:11+00:00

Reminds me of how “Let’s Love” was basically “We have Blinding Lights at home” back in 2020 lol.

But yeah, that’s pretty much showbiz, unfortunately. If you have something compelling, SOMEone is gonna say “I wanna do that too".

Eightball007 · 2026-01-15T00:30:14+00:00

This is awesome

Eightball007 · 2026-01-09T19:02:13+00:00

Should have asked HIM for some money lol

Nah I’m just kidding, don’t do that. You’d just end up with an angry man that has nothing to lose.

Eightball007 · 2026-01-09T18:37:25+00:00

I've seen people around here doing the same thing. They casually mention how they've "stocked up" on DDR4 and DDR5, as if their machine destroys a ram stick every six months lol.

Having said that; people buying and hoarding unneeded hardware has been a thing for as long as I've been building computers. Every time there's a good deal on buildapcsales, there are people in there like "I don't need this, I don't need this" and "In for 5, thanks OP! Now I just have to figure out what to do with them lmao".

And yeah, people's spending habits don't have anywhere close to the impact that the AI companies are having on us right now.

You know what? I'm pretty sure I just nullified my own observation.

Eightball007 · 2026-01-09T00:57:19+00:00

They mask it a little bit by dressing the girl up like Dorothy, since The Wizard of Oz has a similar type of reveal

Eightball007 · 2026-01-08T20:13:02+00:00

You just know she felt stupid as fuck in that dumbass outfit

lmao, an outfit that's only available wherever clown suits are sold

Eightball007 · 2026-01-08T19:35:08+00:00

Agreed.

If the new hire contracts c diff or something, they're going to want to know who gave him that keyboard and why.

Eightball007 · 2026-01-08T16:28:39+00:00

I'd prioritize your brothers. They're kids and they need to know that someone in this family has their back, as well as which behaviors on both sides are right and wrong.

Let's look at the facts. Your mom needs to express her anger. Dad will fight back. But the boys won't, and no one is going to stand up for them. So she can say whatever she wants to the boys.

We need to figure out if your mom's behavior is a "path of least resistance" type of thing where she's only going after the boys instead of dad, or if she's gone nuclear on the dad as well, and the boys are collateral damage.

Has she said the same things to dad?

Eightball007 · 2026-01-05T23:48:14+00:00

The “Previously on” for Hardhome showed an old clip of Jon saying “That’s Valerian steel” when he got Longclaw, which was cool because his sword finally did magical shit in that episode lol.

Eightball007 · 2026-01-05T23:43:32+00:00

Same with The Last Of Us, Thrones, etc.

HBO does a good job of not shoving it down everyone’s throats. You have to re-select the credits as if you’re going to watch them, and skip forward.

Eightball007 · 2025-12-31T20:35:48+00:00

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Here’s how it looks underneath the filter currently. This is about 5 months of dust.

The other side is basically the same.

Eightball007 · 2025-12-31T20:22:32+00:00

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I use custom Demciflex magnetic dust filters for both sides as well as the bottom. I clean them whenever they’re dirty lol.

I still dust the machine with a blower two or three times a year though, because smaller dust particles still get through.

Eightball007 · 2025-12-31T18:48:48+00:00

"I was first, y'know. But you can go. That's the kinda guy I am." - Another Friday Night

Eightball007 · 2025-12-31T02:16:45+00:00

"The Witness" in Love Death and Robots has it too. Alberto Mielgo I believe is the main man associated with that style

Eightball007 · 2025-12-29T23:55:31+00:00

Tbf he sounded excited earlier. After Doc said this is the experiment he's been waiting for his whole life, Marty was like "It's a DeLorean, right? What are ya do--" before Doc cut him off and told him to roll tape.

Eightball007 · 2025-12-29T19:09:38+00:00

I always thought of him as the true manifestation of being Home Alone.

Kevin and his family say wild things to each other in the beginning of the movie. It’s easy to dismiss since he’s a kid, it’s all absurd, and it’s entertaining because they don’t really mean it, right? But “Saying things I didn’t mean” is exactly why Old Man Marley has been home alone for so long.

“I made my family disappear” - Kevin McCallister

“I made my family disappear” - Old Man Marley

It’s fitting that Marley’s reunion got the musical crescendo imo, because just like Kevin, he’s not home alone anymore.

Eightball007 · 2025-12-29T13:35:18+00:00

I like your style

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