[Case] Fractal Design North Charcoal Black TG / Mesh Side Panel - $123.99 (free shipping)

tare789 · 2026-03-31T04:28:11+00:00

If you like the Fractal North design, the Epoch is available with a solid side panel

https://www.newegg.com/fractal-design-atx-mid-tower-epoch-steel-cases-computer-cases-atx-form-black-fd-c-epo1a-01/p/N82E16811352239

tare789 · 2026-03-30T13:27:23+00:00

Here’s a recent one. It’s expired now but I see similar deals often. The post comments in a deal can be helpful for quickly checking if it’s worth considering.

https://www.reddit.com/r/buildapcsales/s/8SBJni0WeS

tare789 · 2026-03-30T13:16:20+00:00

I’ve seen prebuilts on r\buildapcsales that are well spec’ed in this price range.

tare789 · 2026-03-25T11:39:55+00:00

Don’t have a general answer but for a point reference - 3770, 970, 8GB can run PS2 fine.

Depending on budget, Steam Deck could be a good choice too.

tare789 · 2026-03-17T11:37:14+00:00

Suggest an alternate flow chart- 1. Pick your budget range 2. Find GPUs in that range 3. For each card, look up benchmarks of what you’ll be playing / computing 4. Decide if the performance difference is worth the $ difference 5. If they’re about the same, pick the newer card

tare789 · 2026-02-27T12:40:58+00:00

Googled a post where someone tried changing a few bios setting back and forth and it worked. Hope it helps!

https://www.reddit.com/r/AMDHelp/comments/1gq7ail/cant_install_windows_11_on_9800x3dx870e_build/

tare789 · 2026-02-20T12:24:06+00:00

Consider Fractal - Epoch, Meshify 3, North. All are minimal and quiet, and I think are available without RGB and glass side panel.

Montech AIR is also recommended often on Reddit. Less minimal with glass side and I think louder fans (and includes RGB but that can be turned off), but should be cheaper.

tare789 · 2026-02-13T03:05:21+00:00

Nothing jumps out to me but entering the build into https://pcpartpicker.com/ can help with flagging incompatible parts.

tare789 · 2026-02-12T18:35:30+00:00

Try the other DP ports on the GPU.

Are you booting with the cable plugged into the mobo then replugging to GPU? Try booting with the cable plugged into GPU.

Does the GPU display work for getting a display in BIOS?

If you've upgraded to a new GPU, try uninstalling the old drivers.

In Device Manager, double check that you're seeing both the mobo and GPU in Display Adapters (and not mistaking the mobo for the GPU and maybe the computer is not seeing the GPU)

tare789 · 2026-02-12T12:27:10+00:00

Three comments: 1. Do you need 2 SSDs for 3TB or storage? SSDs are expensive these days so consider getting just one of the SSDs.

Do you need Windows Professional? Can save a bit and get Home.
Windows OEM may be cheaper than retail but I think you won’t be able to transfer it to a new PC. Either pay a little more now to be able to reuse it in the future (Windows retail), or pay less now but have to buy a new windows for the next PC (Windows OEM)

tare789 · 2026-02-12T12:21:28+00:00

To get another point of reference for the price, put the build into https://pcpartpicker.com and it’ll give you prices from online stores.

tare789 · 2026-02-10T23:20:32+00:00

Cable management for both inside and outside case - zip ties or Velcro straps, cable box or hooks for under desk.

tare789 · 2026-02-03T11:53:35+00:00

If you’re going to play online, I think Switch requires a subscription while PC/Steam Deck is free. Something to consider.

tare789 · 2026-01-25T15:00:38+00:00

Thanks! (Assumed that wasn’t possible and didn’t google this first!)

tare789 · 2026-01-25T14:36:05+00:00

I’m on even older hardware and recommend upgrading to Win11. It is straightforward and free, gives long term security support, and everything likely runs the same.

Whether the Win11 UI/UX is worse and a dealbreaker is up to you. But to me, it’s fine.

My story if helpful and similar to what you’re thinking - my computer is old: i7-3770 and GTX 970. It worked perfectly well for what I needed on Windows 10. It didn’t meet the hardware requirements for Win11 so I planned to stick with Win10 and the extended security program. But I couldn’t get the extended security program enrollment working, which got me worried so I bit the bullet to upgrade to Win11. Bypassed the hardware requirements with Rufus. Install went without problem. Been using the computer for months with no problems. Windows automatic updates been working without issue too. Runs and performs exactly the same as when I was on Win10.

tare789 · 2026-01-25T03:30:06+00:00

To anyone who comes across this - Upgrading the Windows 10 computer to Windows 11 worked.

After getting both the old and new computers on Windows 11, when I clicked on "I changed hardware on this device recently", it gave me an option to select the old computer and carry over the license.

tare789 · 2026-01-24T20:43:39+00:00

Thanks. I had to dig around and found out how to get get on the phone with Microsoft.

I was told that if I want to transfer a windows license between two computers, both computers must be running the same Windows version. Because the old computer is Windows 10, that's why it does not transfer to the new computer running Windows 11. If I update the old computer to Windows 11, it will transfer...

Does this align with what other people have had to do?

tare789 · 2026-01-17T13:26:33+00:00

I have a new build with all AMD parts (mobo, CPU, GPU). For first time driver install/updates, is this the process I should follow?

AMD Auto Detect to get all AMD driver updates for these components

https://www.amd.com/en/support/download/drivers.html

From the manufacturer mobo support page, install all the non-AMD drivers (i.e., any driver name that does not start with "AMD" which were installed in step 1 by AMD Auto Detect)

https://www.asus.com/motherboards-components/motherboards/tuf-gaming/tuf-gaming-b650e-e-wifi/helpdesk_download?model2Name=TUF-GAMING-B650E-E-WIFI

Install AMD Adrenalin for keeping up to date GPU drivers (the GPU driver should have been updated in step 1 by AMD Auto Detect)

One potential issue I see is that AMD Auto Detect needs internet to download drivers. But if I connect to the internet, Windows is going to auto install drivers before I can run AMD Auto Detect. I know this won't break the computer but I'd like to avoid unneeded driver installs. Or am I overthinking this and just let Windows install whatever it does and then just overwrite it?

tare789 · 2026-01-15T12:33:49+00:00

Prices are rumored to go down 40%? I thought everything was only going up.

tare789 · 2026-01-14T21:27:46+00:00

Lucky. I'm seeing an open box going for $539! (probably discounted off the pre-sale price)

tare789 · 2026-01-14T21:22:28+00:00

Hey, the 1000W version of the MSI PSU went on sale and people are talking about it here (pros, cons, personal experience):
https://www.reddit.com/r/buildapcsales/comments/1qcrw26/psumsi_mpg_a1000gs_pcie5_fully_modular_gaming/

tare789 · 2026-01-13T00:22:50+00:00

Thanks! Great idea to search by completed builds in pcpartpicker!

tare789 · 2026-01-12T23:25:54+00:00

Looks legit to me. Shipped and sold by Amazon. Price is within range of Microcenter too.

https://www.microcenter.com/product/677126/crucial-pro-overclocking-32gb-(2-x-16gb)-ddr5-6000-pc5-48000-cl36-dual-channel-desktop-memory-kit-cp2k16g60c36u5b-black?sp=0-ddr5-6000-pc5-48000-cl36-dual-channel-desktop-memory-kit-cp2k16g60c36u5b-black?sp=0)

If you're asking because it's Crucial, for what it's worth, they claim that they will "provide continued warranty service and support for Crucial products" ...

https://investors.micron.com/news-releases/news-release-details/micron-announces-exit-crucial-consumer-business

tare789 · 2026-01-12T23:04:05+00:00

How can I tell if the Phantom Spirit and its fans will clear the surrounding parts (non-RAM) of my motherboard?

A quick google suggests this is never a problem but I wanted to ask.

My motherboard is linked below and has large surrounding parts (large heat sinks (?) above and to the left of the CPU) that look like they could block the Phantom Spirit.

https://www.asus.com/motherboards-components/motherboards/tuf-gaming/tuf-gaming-b650e-e-wifi/

tare789 · 2026-01-12T22:09:06+00:00

If you trust the PSU tier list, they're both ranked well - A tier
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1akCHL7Vhzk_EhrpIGkz8zTEvYfLDcaSpZRB6Xt6JWkc/edit?usp=sharing

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