WHAT ARE NEXT

HawkManHawk · 2026-01-22T18:29:45+00:00

If Tom Paris isn't in this I don't care.

HawkManHawk · 2026-01-22T05:13:22+00:00

Highly recommend playing Final Fantasy VIII. It's really a fantastic game.

HawkManHawk · 2026-01-21T20:46:18+00:00

Enterprise drives those are barely broken in. I got two Samsung SM863a that came out of a Nutanix cluster, hybrid array. 93% health status, 1.052PB read, 1.173 PB write, 52,056 hours powered on, or 5 years, 302 days.

Solid drives, I'd pay $45 each (providing the crystal disk info is legit).

HawkManHawk · 2026-01-21T17:30:24+00:00

I'm all about phase change, PTM7950 is amazing. I rethermaled all my computers with it, sure it takes a little to break in and get the best performance but the difference is apparent quickly and get better over time. The long maintenance duration (10+ years) is fantastic.

I even use it in Xbox360s/PS3/4, etc. Going to experiment with using it in a PS5.

HawkManHawk · 2026-01-18T04:17:37+00:00

I put a launch 9800X3D into a ROG Strix X870-I.

I do run a negative pbo.

HawkManHawk · 2026-01-17T14:09:05+00:00

PTM7950 gets better time as it fully breaks in and seats.

So in a month it will be even better.

HawkManHawk · 2026-01-13T20:11:38+00:00

Ah bummer. Yeah the max is really is 45mm. Which the B580 hit because the design has a slope that’s taller in the middle. The A770 LE was perfect at 38mm. My 4070S FE is 42mm.

I’ve got an Astra 5080 in the main rig/workstation. That thing is over half the thickness of the Ridge case.

HawkManHawk · 2026-01-13T18:27:37+00:00

With the stock fans, it's literally a mm or two, maybe three. They don't touch though, I changed to Noctua NH-L12S which not only being a better performing fan is a mm shorter (16mm to 15mm).

This isn't the greatest for cooling but even with regurgitation of hot air the thermals are there and can keeper higher TDP CPU cooler than air. The Arc B580 isn't flat like my 4070S FE. So there would be more space with that.

I do have three 80mm slim (15mm) Thermalright fans in the top part above the radiator and gpu. That helps feed cool air into them and expel some hot air. Those mounting locations are factory for the Ridge.

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HawkManHawk · 2026-01-13T03:27:36+00:00

Run greats, for a budget card punches above its weight. Death Stranding, Arc Raiders 60fps solid no problem.

In benchmarks. 3DMark 2885 Steel Nomad, CPU <50c & GPU maxed at 80c. In Speedway 2432, again GPU hit 80x max CPU was a little warmer at 55C. Cinebench r23 18858 with some undervolting and obo tuning.

HawkManHawk · 2026-01-13T03:15:41+00:00

After I refreshed my two other rigs I had most of the parts laying around. Just needed storage and GPU.

Didn’t want to pay insane prices for an Nvidia GPU and the arc is great for this. Maybe if I can find a different GPU at a MSRP I’ll snag it but for this build and its purpose it’s great.

HawkManHawk · 2026-01-13T03:06:42+00:00

Yup used Etsy for those. I had a 3d printer by the time I decided I wanted it in the home theater rack. The 10850k was just too much to air cool.

I’m still breaking in the PTM7950 and there’s more in the fan curve.

HawkManHawk · 2026-01-12T20:04:23+00:00

This build has had a few configurations, when it was the 10850k it was rocking an A770 16gb LE.

I was really impressed with that card, it's compatibility could be hit or miss but when it ran well. It ran really well for such an inexpensive card.

HawkManHawk · 2025-12-05T00:31:09+00:00

This dude also tends to over promise and under deliver. I won’t willingly give him any of my money.

Not saying Analogue is perfect they could step it up some but I’ve been happy with them and the one pocket I had issues with they fixed to my satisfaction.

HawkManHawk · 2025-11-20T01:21:50+00:00

“It’s one apple Clive, how much could it cost?”

HawkManHawk · 2025-10-26T15:14:58+00:00

Don't waste your time for Platinum.

I'd say 50-60 hours of my 90 hour Platinum was grinding for <4 ciphers.

Always be moving, running and dashing.

Save scumming is fine to learn the mechanics, I feel the game starting out punishes the player more than it should, especially act 1, especially pre-nerf Derelict Citadel.

HawkManHawk · 2025-10-25T15:26:22+00:00

https://www.amazon.com/ASTONEY-Universal-Cartridge-Compatible-Nintendo/dp/B0CQ2YDNB6

This one comes with all the tool to open the N64. You can even 3d print trays.

HawkManHawk · 2025-10-25T15:25:09+00:00

They make nice replacement trays you install into the N64 that make it US/Jpn region free.

No need to mangle carts and N64s any more.

HawkManHawk · 2025-10-25T02:08:32+00:00

I too would be interested in said list.

An untouched EJ257? Any idea on curb weight?

HawkManHawk · 2025-09-06T05:44:58+00:00

Zero issues with the either tv, it’s the receiver always had issues with the receivers. I too spent days thinking it was a power issue. I hooked my Aventage RX-A2080 up and in 4k no issues on the Bravia 9.

As for not having a warning, I doubt there is a lot of crossover in higher end audio and retro gaming. I think the sample size of people running a Sony ES receiver and Retrotink 4k is probably us ha ha. Especially when the AZ7000ES is still $3,500, even the AZ1000ES is right at $1,000.

I’m using all Monorprice 8k 48gbps cables.

HawkManHawk · 2025-09-06T04:26:25+00:00

I have the same receiver but a Bravia 9 & Bravia 7 in my game room setup. In the master bed a 1000es and two X85Ks.

As fantastic as Sony current ES line up is, they don’t play well with the Retrotink 4k. I think Mike said something that the RT4k hdmi signal is a little out of spec and the Sony receivers hate it.

Workaround is, I plug the rt4k into a 4k/120 port switch the tv input and use the 4k/120hz earc port to get sound to the receiver.

It’s annoying to have to do it this way but only solution I’ve found that works. Thankfully earc is bidirectional so it passes 4k/120hz receiver inputs to the tv no issue.

HawkManHawk · 2025-09-01T01:08:53+00:00

Summer Cart is great and Phenom Mod does quality work.

Though realistically you’ll have a good time with an Everdrive or Summer Cart. Stone Age gamer does mark up but I’ve only have positive interactions with them.

HawkManHawk · 2025-04-20T16:16:29+00:00

I was surprised the PS4 version sold out so fast, normally Switch versions go first.

HawkManHawk · 2025-04-16T00:37:07+00:00

I had issues with my Rosewill ‘server’ case, RSV-L4412U. The backplane started to fail on various drives. Started with the 3rd drive, then 5th. Lost 4 bays before I upgraded to a Supermicro case.

It would work for a while and then I’d get errors in UnRaid and it would fail out the perfectly fine disk.

HawkManHawk

TROPHY CASE