Dreams of a new computer dashed!

So after my computer was playing up due to overheating I was seriously contemplating a new computer.  I had opened it recently and cleaned out the big fans, but the CPU had been taken out of its slot to be checked so maybe it just needed more heat sink grease stuff (thermal interface material or whatever you call it) to make sure it had good contact with the heat sink.  So I begged HK to get me some from his work - handy to have people in IT people around.

Anyway my GPU was still running hot so I didn't know what to do about that and so I thought maybe it was time for a new one.  And hell, if I'm going to buy a new GPU I might as well go the whole hog right?

I have always been envious of Sev having a 5k gaming rig.  I have never spent that much on a computer, so I thought ok that's it, I want to spend a ridiculous amount of money on my computer too just so I can just say that I did and everyone would just think I was crazy. But hey, I'm the one enjoying it so I might as well, right?  And it's tax deductible... yes I know I'm not in IT but I do use my computer to do things for work, so it's tax deductible.  Geez, I have colleagues who have apparently claimed their $10k watches as tax deductions because we need them to check a patient's pulse... now that's dodgy.

Anyway, so then I decided what is the best of what's best out there right now...

Nvidia Ge-Force GTX980

Now this was released recently.  Look at this thing, it's gorgeous.  Oh I suppose I could get two GTX970s SLI which might save me a bit of money but it will make my case crowded.  And it's pricey.  I like the Gigabyte one, a shame it hasn't got a heat sink on the bottom. Not as cheap as the EVGA card, but I've always liked Gigabyte.  And it says this card may be a little quieter than other cards... not sure how three fans is quiet...

However, I don't really play any of those heavy 3D games like Tomb Raider or Thief on ultra settings so perhaps this card is a little wasted on me. I just play WoW and I do video editing and run 2 24" monitors so that's about all I do.  Though I am tempted to get one of those 4k monitors...

Besides, I am running a GTX590 and that's way out of date, so I think it's time for an upgrade :)

Intel i7-5960x vs i7-5930k

This recent CPU has got eight cores to process info with - that's a hell of a lot of multitasking (is there even a word for octacore, gosh who remembers when dual core was exciting)!  As a woman I totally approve of this - more things done but it's a bit of overkill.  Most reviews say it's aimed at servers rather than gaming rigs (taken from PC Gamer and Tom's Hardware).  I'm sure that the i7-5930k with its 6 cores (LOL hexacore - these words don't sound as cool as quad core even though it's better) would be just fine for my needs, I mean I have a i7-3930k now and that had been really good. Plus it is $400+ cheaper.

But buying this new chip means I have to get a new motherboard too!  So Now I have to get an X-99 motherboard (and I'll probably go get a Gigabyte one) since I need a 2011-3 socket.  Which also means new memory too!  Blah!

Anyway, after I had all these dreams of a shiny new beast to play with, HK went to look at my GPU to see what was wrong with it.  And... well.  I have to tell you I have never dismantled a GPU to clean it before but this is what he found when he opened it up...


Ok holy crap that is a lot of dust in there.  NO WONDER MY THING WAS OVERHEATING can't get any airflow to the heatsink WHOOPSIES.

How embarrassing.

Anyway, he cleaned it up for me and now "both things are purring along like kittens."  And yes way better, my fans are no longer blowing at full blast trying to work at cooling something and not getting anywhere, so my computer is purring along nicely.  Saved me from a big expenditure... but boy was I looking forward to forking out the dough on a new shiny toy :D

Edit 27 September: OK, I went and bought it anyway.  There is no DDR4 RAM to be found in Sydney at the moment so I now have a GPU (ended up buying the standard Gigabyte GTX980), CPU (5630k) and X-99 Gigabyte motherboard.  Hopefully next weekend will have a new computer up and running - and coincidentally Zeirah got a new comp as well!

Comments

  1. get a Mac! I heard sev wants one.
    Xyn.

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    Replies
    1. Sev wants a Mac like he wants to Demonology Offspec.

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    2. Once you go mac you never go back.... :)

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    3. Chris,I have to have some non Apple things in the house! Variety is the spice of life :D

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  2. I'm about performance per dollar when upgrading. You can then afford to upgrade twice as often.
    If you want to splash out on something now, buy a case with great filters. Because it's almost always dust :P

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    Replies
    1. When I feel lousy or grumpy I splurge. So it's not about performance per dollar it's about how much I can spend. And besides I can only upgrade every 3 years since I am depreciating.

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  3. I do a yearly overhall of my rig (power down, suction out loose debris, compressed air blasting, suction out again, re-seat Video card, reseat ram, reseat HDD Power/Data cables)

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    Replies
    1. I should do that. Yearly you say? Ugh another chore to stick on the list!

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  4. I'm seriously in love with that graphics card, but I know I could never afford it.

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  5. Yay grats on getting the upgrades. I can't wait for my new system to be here, I"ll post about it then. The 980 is lovely and is so on my list of dream upgrades. My new gpu isn't as fancy as yours but its miles ahead of what I have (my current gpu isn't even listed as a gaming quality card lol) so it's going to be amazing anyway :)

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    Replies
    1. A new Shiny computer is always cause for celebration! Yay Z!

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