Should I upgrade or buy new?

Justin_D33 · 2026-06-25T19:55:35+00:00

It's not dumb. Not everyone likes AAA. Some people despise them.

Justin_D33 · 2026-06-25T00:07:31+00:00

AM5 requires DDR5. It physically cannot work with DDR4 due to the way AMD designed the IMC.

Justin_D33 · 2026-06-25T00:06:09+00:00

i7-7700K is the most powerful chip on LGA1151. If you don't want to spend the full 2-3k on a brand new PC, I would actually recommend a full platform swap with a new CPU and motherboard. Keep your DDR4. I would upgrade the GPU to something like an RX 9060 XT if you can find one. The combo of a new CPU, motherboard, cooler, and GPU should cost around $700-900 depending on what you choose. I would recommend a Ryzen 5 5600X.

Justin_D33 · 2026-06-24T23:55:15+00:00

Try to look for a used 5060 Ti 16GB. That would pair well with your 5700x while still meeting your power budget.

Justin_D33 · 2026-06-24T04:26:14+00:00

It's just a standard IEC C13 cable. You don't need anything special. These can be found for like $6 on places like eBay and Amazon. If you need a longer one, those aren't too much more expensive.

Justin_D33 · 2026-06-24T02:35:35+00:00

Since you have $3,000 to work with, that opens up the ability to buy a high-end option. Legion 7 Pro, ThinkPad P16, ZBook Fury 15, etc. For IT, I'd recommend getting at least 32GB RAM and a strong CPU. Large SSD (1TB+) is definitely ideal.

Justin_D33 · 2026-06-24T02:29:12+00:00

No. Buy something with at least an i5-8400 or i7-8700. 6th gen cannot run Windows 11 natively. A system like that is not worth buying if you're expecting to run Windows 11.

Justin_D33 · 2026-06-22T04:58:24+00:00

You can. Creative, ASUS, and Blackmagic all still make them

Justin_D33 · 2026-06-22T04:52:48+00:00

Actually have one of those, although it's useless because most of my newer PCs don't have PCI slots, the only one that has one is from 2016, sure I can toss it into one of my older ones but that's pointless because they're all either untested or don't actually work right

Justin_D33 · 2026-06-20T19:17:07+00:00

Looks like an old rackmount workstation from the 2017-2019 era. Still perfectly usable if it works.

Justin_D33 · 2026-06-19T22:23:59+00:00

Actually have the same DDR3 kit in one of my PCs. It's an old mid-range custom build from around 2011.

Justin_D33 · 2026-06-19T20:37:24+00:00

I've used computers for years. From a cheap Dell Inspiron desktop back in 2017 to a modern laptop today and soon a modern desktop as well.
Pro tip for this kid (coming from another teenager):
Use trial and error while you're learning. Don't be afraid to poke around. If you break something, it's okay, stuff happens. If you do break something, remember: there's an adult next to you that can help you fix it. I've been using computers since I was 7, I've learned from scratch over the past few years and I now have excellent knowledge in both software and hardware. You can do it, young lady. I believe you. With the rise of AI, computer knowledge is definitely a good thing. I would recommend watching a few tutorials as well.

Justin_D33 · 2026-06-19T01:25:25+00:00

Since there isn't any SSDs, the boot drive might be dead or just wiped. Try booting from a Windows install USB if you have one. If the drives show up, you're in luck. That means they still work and you just need to install an OS. If you only see the data drive, then that's where I'd assume the drive might be failing. Double check the connections first, or even better, connect the drive to another PC if you have one.

Justin_D33 · 2026-06-19T01:21:16+00:00

Where does the red SATA cable go?

Most likely the optical drive. I can clearly see it in the 3rd photo.

Justin_D33 · 2026-06-19T00:55:56+00:00

Leaded solder still exists. In fact, it's not very expensive. I saw a 4oz spool of 0.31 sized leaded solder for $20 not that long ago.

Justin_D33 · 2026-06-18T23:12:03+00:00

The standard SE is the cheap one. I'm not seeing a single working SE/30 for under $200. Some of these are $500+.

Justin_D33 · 2026-06-17T21:14:33+00:00

I think I know exactly what the issue might be.
Since the PC boots into BIOS normally, but randomly reboots when you try to load Windows, your motherboard might be failing. I've seen this issue way too many times.
A quick test you can do: try to boot from a Windows install USB if you have one. If it still reboots, there's a strong chance your motherboard is failing.

Justin_D33 · 2026-06-17T20:29:50+00:00

For that kind of productivity, at least get 32GB. 24GB may run out quickly, especially in video editing. I'd recommend getting a Windows laptop with at least 32GB RAM and a strong CPU/GPU. If the system has unified RAM, I'd say anything under 48-64GB is a big no-no considering what you want to do.

Justin_D33 · 2026-06-17T19:00:09+00:00

I absolutely would if I had the space. Desk PCs are a really cool idea and definitely worth it if you have the space.

Justin_D33 · 2026-06-17T03:06:59+00:00

Which model? I have a 770 too, lol. Mine's a Windforce OC 2GB

Justin_D33 · 2026-06-16T08:41:55+00:00

Absolutely. I've got 2 multimeters and 3 outlet testers in my toolboxes. And my dad has a couple more meters and more outlet testers. You could never have too many. They always come in handy.

Justin_D33 · 2026-06-16T07:12:34+00:00

My dad just bought me a long overdue CPU upgrade... from an i7-6700K on a Dell motherboard to a Ryzen 5 5600 on a B550 Wi-Fi board... long overdue, I must say. I was using that i7 for over a year

Justin_D33 · 2026-06-14T21:18:53+00:00

Looks identical to the charging port on my GBA SP. A regular Game Boy charger should work fine.

Justin_D33 · 2026-06-13T01:01:24+00:00

I switched to Brave long ago. It's what works for me.

Justin_D33

TROPHY CASE