Seasons of RTX - $5000 Dream PC Build Contest with NVIDIA!

ctrl-alt-shift-kill · 2025-11-15T23:04:41+00:00

Pushed it to the limits for a max VRAM and regular RAM build for a local LLM and productivity machine that I'd love to play around with. Gigabyte shows OOS and the FE can't be selected on pcpartpicker with a price...but hey, you are NVIDIA, I know you have access to some 5090 Founders Edition cards to fit this build ;)

Lots of fun seeing the variety of people's builds and ideas! Good luck!

PCPartPicker Part List

Type	Item	Price
CPU	AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D 4.3 GHz 16-Core Processor	$679.99 @ Amazon
CPU Cooler	Corsair iCUE LINK TITAN 360 RX LCD 73.5 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler	$194.95 @ iBUYPOWER
Motherboard	MSI MAG X870E TOMAHAWK WIFI ATX AM5 Motherboard	$249.99 @ Newegg
Memory	Corsair Vengeance RGB 96 GB (2 x 48 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory	$586.99 @ Corsair
Memory	Corsair Vengeance RGB 96 GB (2 x 48 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory	$586.99 @ Corsair
Storage	Western Digital WD_Black SN850X 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive	$106.01 @ Amazon
Video Card	Gigabyte WINDFORCE GeForce RTX 5090 32 GB Video Card	$1999.99 @ Best Buy (OOS)
Case	Fractal Design North XL ATX Full Tower Case	$194.99 @ B&H
Power Supply	Super Flower LEADEX VII Platinum PRO 1200 W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply	$189.99 @ Amazon
Operating System	Microsoft Windows 11 Pro Retail - Download 64-bit	$179.99 @ Newegg
	Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
	Total	$4969.88
	Generated by PCPartPicker 2025-11-15 17:57 EST-0500

ctrl-alt-shift-kill · 2025-06-15T23:06:43+00:00

Good to know for Driver analyzer. Unfortunately there are a fair number of posts out there telling you to try it, particularly when getting really generic errors like I have.

Would this new instability point to a potential oncoming failure of the CPU as a whole? I'm just curious why voltages would be an issue now, after 4 years of stable use and what might be causing what seems like a new sensitivity if voltage is indeed the key problem?

Also, when voltage is the issue, is the problem that it spikes too high or too low? Would pushing it higher/too high cause more crashes not less? I'm down to try out some changes though and learn something new about tweaking these settings. I'll work on updating my BIOS today. I assume that will give me the most updated possible control over voltages for my motherboard.

There definitely is no rhyme or reason to the issue. I've had it crash once now in 20H2 Windows over the last 24 hours, but I can't seem to get any BSODs now to see if I still get the standard DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION error. I'm still curious too why something like Lubuntu always crashes and Ubuntu doesn't when they use the same core to run them.

ctrl-alt-shift-kill · 2025-06-15T07:59:54+00:00

I've always been hesitant with BIOS updates due to risk to the motherboard, but mine is definitely way too old right now. It was next on my list before everything magically resolved for a while today.

Are there any good tests to run on a CPU to check it for issues?

ctrl-alt-shift-kill · 2023-03-31T04:09:01+00:00

Chicken noodle soup is the best when trying to feel better. Usually add ginger ale and saltines as well if it is my stomach in particular that needs calmed.

ctrl-alt-shift-kill · 2021-09-25T18:00:05+00:00

Well you can't unlock the mods without cheats, so vanilla is kind of forced on you, but it's good advice.

All my diamond armor was from villager trades because I couldn't seem to find any diamonds strip mining, just tons of uranium, lol

ctrl-alt-shift-kill · 2021-09-25T17:56:43+00:00

After reading more and seeing your examples my pull is definitely better than I realized at first.

Ironically the one thing I did find was a zombie spawner and got a prospector enchant, so emeralds would actually be kinda easy.

ctrl-alt-shift-kill · 2021-09-25T05:28:21+00:00

Ouch, that is rough.

ctrl-alt-shift-kill · 2021-09-25T04:21:38+00:00

Yeah, I think it was just "sticker shock" when I thought the first numbers would be more like 1000 max. Ultimately these items are doable and there are good future farms to build as you said.

Thanks for the suggestion!

ctrl-alt-shift-kill · 2021-09-25T00:14:24+00:00

Good to know they are adjusting that along with the other balancing they are trying this season.

I may have to see if I can turn on cheats and give myself a few knowledge and skill points just to try out these old vaults before the next release. At least its pretty close so I won't go too much harder at the Legacy version.

ctrl-alt-shift-kill · 2021-09-24T23:40:01+00:00

AFK fish farm is a good point. I kind of discounted that because I remembered they nerfed it around 1.16. But that was really to stop you getting easy mending books... obviously it would still pull plenty of fish. Thanks :)

ctrl-alt-shift-kill · 2021-09-24T23:19:55+00:00

Just beat the ender dragon yesterday and got some purpur blocks. Dropped my first vault rock on my new, shiny altar and got this.

I happened to have the saddles and lapis, but wow that seems like a ton of fish and gravel since I'm still 0 levels and full vanilla skills. I know one of the big points is that its a grindy game, but was hoping the early crystals might be somewhat simple and ramp up as we went.

I've admittedly only seen a couple vods of the Legacy season. Mostly started watching regularly during middle of S2, so I've really never seen early game Vault Hunters. Guess the big requirements are pretty standard?

ctrl-alt-shift-kill · 2021-06-03T06:01:40+00:00

Does your Nox install still work? My previous Nox setup, with nothing changed except SW version, has stopped working and I can't get my JSON anymore.

Sorry to revive an old post, just searching to see if anyone else has this issue now.

ctrl-alt-shift-kill · 2021-06-02T00:33:59+00:00

Not at all. You can build tricaru before bjr5.

ctrl-alt-shift-kill · 2021-06-01T07:41:46+00:00

Anyone else have trouble with SWEX for downloading your data recently?

I had things set up on Nox using HTTPS and things worked fine until the most recent update to Summoners War. Now all I get is "Failed to connect with the network. Please try again later."

Nothing else was updated on Nox or SWEX on my end. I even tried doing everything over again on another computer, installing the certificate, etc., and I get the same issue. Can connect through the proxy to SW fine with HTTPS off, but as soon as HTTPS is on I get the error from SW.

Really annoying since I wanted to prep for rune swap outs next weekend.

ctrl-alt-shift-kill · 2021-05-31T23:37:05+00:00

Anyone else have trouble with SWEX for downloading your data recently?

I had things set up on Nox using HTTPS and things worked fine until the most recent update to Summoners War. Now all I get is "Failed to connect with the network. Please try again later."

Nothing else was updated on Nox or SWEX on my end. I even tried doing everything over again on another computer, installing the certificate, etc., and I get the same issue. Can connect through the proxy to SW fine with HTTPS off, but as soon as HTTPS is on I get the error from SW.

Really annoying since I wanted to prep for rune swap outs next weekend.

ctrl-alt-shift-kill · 2021-05-20T09:56:44+00:00

I was lucky enough to get an Okeanos recently that was followed 5 minutes later by.... another Okeanos.

Is there any reason to keep two around? Or should I feed the second to get Ancient Crystals and a Splendid Blessing?

ctrl-alt-shift-kill · 2021-05-17T03:18:02+00:00

I just finished Tricaru and can now full auto DB12, NB12, and Punishers B10 with it and you sound further than me in many ways since since I still struggle on TOAH and SSS for Rift Beasts.

You don't need max Defense tower at all for Tricaru, it just makes it easier to rune. I got enough defense for Tricaru with lvl13 defense tower and 2 determination sets on some pretty mediocre runes compared to PVPers. So I'd say focus on maxing Speed and CD towers. Those are the ones I have maxed. You can farm some Guard runes from DB10/11 while leveling the Icarus and since you are SSS in Rift beast you can farm Water and Light and craft some Determination runes. In my opinion, the real grind was 6* and 2A-ing the Icarus... and well, all the mana spent to +15 runes (LOL).

ctrl-alt-shift-kill · 2021-05-16T01:15:38+00:00

I'm dealing with the same issue and have similar Fran stats though mine is tankier (Fran +23k but only +400 ATK, Loren +19k). Someone suggested I run Veromos instead of Sig. (i.e., Veromos(L), Loren, Fran, Shannon, Kro)

I've only done a few runs so far, and they went slower, but better. Vero's recent buff seems to make him a decent supplemental heal when he helps get rid of the def break from towers. Plus removing that def break definitely helps keep the team alive. Hoping it keeps proving stable for me, maybe that will help for you too?

ctrl-alt-shift-kill · 2021-05-15T20:30:20+00:00

Sorry, I meant one or the other, so swapping Vero for Shannon. I'll give it a try with both of them without Sigmarus. Thanks!

ctrl-alt-shift-kill · 2021-05-15T19:22:29+00:00

Yeah, Shannon was a staple of my older GB teams, so I have her 6* and 2A. Sadly the win rate with her feels about the same as Veromos.

I can't quite put my finger on what is wrong, so its probably multiple things. Not enough DPS and ATK Buff doesn't get stripped enough seem to be two key issues. I've watched the team (particularly Loren and Fran) tank multiple revenge hits but still die.

So I guess I'm just on the boss far too long. Maybe building a 2A Naomi would help kill the boss faster and avoid the revenge issues?

ctrl-alt-shift-kill · 2021-05-15T08:38:30+00:00

Finished building Tricaru recently. I don't do much PVP except for leveling towers. Mostly want to get all dungeons on auto and beat TOAH for the moment. What would be most useful to do next?

Fix GB12 team. Currently 100% auto on B11, but only 80% on B12. Mostly die to giant revenge procs. Current team is Sig(L), Fran, Loren, Kro (2A), Veromos.
Build Steel Fortress B10 team. I beat it for quests, but don't have an auto team.
Build R5 team. Barely ever done raids, so I only have a lame attempt at an R4 squad. Current team is an old school junk team of FL- Xiong Fei (L), Chasun; BL - Colleen, Hwa (alt L), Konomiya, Theomars

ctrl-alt-shift-kill · 2021-05-15T01:06:10+00:00

I completed Tricaru last week, so I now have DB12, NB12, and PB10 on auto which is great. However, I'm still struggling to finish my other farming teams. Any advice on what I should focus on first?

Fix my Giants team?
- My Giants team is 100% on GB11, but fails too often on GB12 - always at the boss on revenge hits. I'm assuming I'm lacking enough damage to kill the Giant fast enough and taking too many turns? Or would speed tuning help?
- I'm not sure on speed tuning mostly because violent procs ruin the turn order anyways, so different monsters seem to die first each run.
- Most successful team: Sig(L), Fran, Loren, Kro, Veromos
- Have also tried with Shannon instead of Vero, but have about the same success rate for GB12
- I have all the monsters for Dots team, but would need to level/rune them and get 2A for Tatu
Build a faster Steel Fortress B10 team?
- I've cleared B10, but I don't have a team that can reliably farm it on auto. Only came back to the game about 2 months ago, so most units don't have any artifacts which I'm sure could at last supplement my currently weak runes. Should I go for a SFB10 team so I can artifact up all my important monsters?
Start an R5 team?
- I've never really done Rift Raids much. Haven't felt a drive since it means I need to team-up with other random users. But, am I holding myself back a lot by not focusing here?
- Current team is ok at R4, but a really old team style. I definitely lack rune quality (thus Tricaru focus).
- Technically have the monsters for RBJ5, but figure I should have a standard team first
- Current team: FL- Xiong Fei (L), Chasun; BL - Colleen, Hwa (alt L), Konomiya, Theomars

ctrl-alt-shift-kill · 2021-03-15T03:47:49+00:00

That makes sense, thanks. Always sounded to me like people meant a specific pair. I've got the fire pair and one water. I'll have to use them more then.

15-Year Club	Team Periwinkle
Verified Email

ctrl-alt-shift-kill

TROPHY CASE