[roamer012]

Originally Posted by navin

My son's rationale for getting a bigger GPU was that he wanted a machine that does not become obsolete in 4-5 years as he adds new games to his list.

I am sure, this would have been discussed between you and your son, however in case if it was not then here it goes:

1. Thin and light laptop - Dell XPS / Razer Blade Stealth series. Both are good for some casual gaming at medium to low settings.
If you want to go crazy ultra light then there are certain models from Acer / LG (Gram series) and yesterday launch from Samsung (~1kg weight)

2. Gaming at Dorm / Home without worrying much about in transit damage - Play Station or Xbox paired with a decent 32 inch monitor / TV and Nintendo Switch just for those in transit gaming urges. The said system can easily be paired with great sound system while remaining well under budget.

EDIT: In case if you are still interested in pre-built PCs or may be assembling one - do watch this channel on YouTube - Linus Tech Tips.

[navin]

Originally Posted by tbppjpr

3070 is the right choice if availability and price is not an issue.

avoid the big brands like Asus, Dell ... I searched top customized PC companies in USA and landed up on this link:
https://techguided.com/best-custom-pc-builders/

I even found a small form compact size cabinet on Origin PC site. Though I found that future upgradability is pretty limited, which is obvious. For eg only 750W power supply was available, you can't install second GPU at later stage if you want to improve the performance further.

Motherboard
For the AMD builds, x570 MB is the right choice currently.

CPU
the 3700x CPU is from the previous generation. 5700X is also launched though availability might be a concern right now.

Cooling
Even an entry-level air cooler like Cooler Master 410R does wonders. I am using Corsair H100i liquid cooler and Cooler Master 410R on two of my computers.

RAM
Ensure that you get the RAM with the highest possible FSB speed fitting in your budget. I will say to stick with 16GB 3000 FSB for now in dual channel configuration (8+8GB).

Power Supply
850W Gold is more than enough for single GPU configuration

Monitor
Tech is constantly evolving in the monitors and panels. 144hz has become the current standard for gaming and QHD is enough and pretty much getable with the IPS panel in the above budget.

Keyboard
Keyboard and mouse are most important components

Mouse
I have Logitech G402 and Redragon M610 mouse with me.

Thanks. Your posts have given me some confidence. I might trouble you again. My son and I are 39 years apart so the generation gap is quite significant. BTW what microphone do you use for gaming? My son is using some rather expensive condenser microphones (from Rode and Sennheiser) borrowed from my friend's studio but he will need one in college (as I have to return these microphones). Unlike me, he does not like the microphones that are attached to headphones (I use an Audeze Mobius for my Zoom calls).

Based on the above I am breaking this into 4 parts (it's easier for a non-techie like me to digest).

1. CPU+GPU+Motherbaord
2. RAM and Storage
3. Case, Cooling and Power Supply
4. Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, Interface, Headphones and Microphone

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 [b]3700X, 5600X, 5700X OR 5800X[b]
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB
Motherboard: X570 Chipset | AMD

RAM: 32GB DDR4 Dual Channel 3200MHz
Storage: 1TB NVMe M.2 + 2TB HDD

CM 410R or MasterLiquid ML240L + 4x CM MasterFans
RGB Cooler Master TD500 RGB $99
850W ATX 80 Plus Gold $149

Monitor: 144Hz QHD/WQHD 27" ASUS, Dell, Benq, Acer or LG
Keyboard: Logitech G613 (current use)
Mouse: Logitech G502 Hero (current use)
Headphones: AKG 712Pro and Sennheiser 560s (both in current use)
Audio Interface: Solid State Logic SSL2+, IK Multimedia AXE, Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6 Mk2, or Audient iD14 MKII (current use is Steinberg UR44)

The advantage of using an Audio Interface instead of a Headphone Amp like the Fiio K5Pro or iFi Audio Zen DAC is that the Audio Interface can be used to record musical instruments like Guitars and Keyboards as well as vocals.

I am surprised to not see ReDux in the list below:
1. Origin PC
2. Xidax
3. MainGear
4. CyberPowerPC
5. iBuyPower
6. Digital Storm
7. Falcon Northwest
8. BLD (by NZXT)
9. AVADirect

Let me check all of the above and get back with even more questions.

Originally Posted by roamer012

I am sure, this would have been discussed between you and your son, however in case if it was not then here it goes:

1. Thin and light laptop - Dell XPS / Razer Blade Stealth series.

2. Gaming at Dorm / Home without worrying much about in transit damage - Play Station or Xbox paired with a decent 32 inch monitor.

EDIT: In case if you are still interested in pre-built PCs or may be assembling one - do watch this channel on YouTube - Linus Tech Tips.

Thanks for the suggestion about the Razer Blade. How does the Asus ExpertBook B9 compare with the Dell XPS 13 and Razer Blade?

My son gave up on console gaming after the PS3. He complained that the number of games available on consoles are limited and it is more expensive to buy console games than games on his PC. He gets a lot of games for free on the PC (don't know how).

He also told me he did check the Flow 13 system when it was released but it has "severe limitations".

[roamer012]

Originally Posted by navin

Thanks for the suggestion about the Razer Blade. How does the Asus ExpertBook B9 compare with the Dell XPS 13 and Razer Blade?

My son gave up on console gaming after the PS3. He complained that the number of games available on consoles are limited and it is more expensive to buy console games than games on his PC. He gets a lot of games for free on the PC (don't know how).

He also told me he did check the Flow 13 system when it was released but it has "severe limitations".

Money no bar, for thin and light machines, my choice will be between XPS and Razer. Being in US, Microsoft also has good customer support so Surface laptops (not the surface pro) will also be under consideration. Or MacBook air if macOS is under consideration. Do note that 512 gb of ssd should be more than ok and can easily be supplemented by 1tb external usb-c SSD. Upgrade the ram though at the time of configuration since it is mostly soldered stuff these days.

One part I missed in my prior reply, e-GPU (external GPUs) never really took off considering their price to performance ratio so you can safely ditch that option.

While going for desktop configuration, just keep in mind that due to current scenario you will be paying a heavy premium for top of the line components and still might not be getting what you need / want. That is why my suggestion was for Console gaming. Considering you opt for a desktop in the range of 3 grands, a console + tv + sound setup will still leave you with a grand and then some to spare which will easily cover difference in prices of games.

In normal times (Whenever they might come), a solid desktop and a solid laptop will be my preference. But the kind of hardware choices you have shared so far point towards you spending close to 5 grands if not less for a no compromise set up (All thanks to the bugger called COVID-19).

[Mortis]

Originally Posted by navin

Actually, a machine that has an outboard GPU makes a lot of sense. This way he has a thin and light 13" laptop to carry to class and can plug the same laptop into an outboard GPU and monitor/keyboard/mouse and game.

The ROG Flow series I think has been discontinued. But the idea of having an external GPU is a valid one.

Hi. The Flow hasn't been discontinued actually it's was a fresh launch this year. The mobile 3080 is pretty much in the same ballpark as the desktop 3070.

[navin]

Originally Posted by roamer012

Money no bar, for thin and light machines, my choice will be between XPS and Razer.

While going for desktop configuration, just keep in mind that due to current scenario you will be paying a heavy premium for top of the line components and still might not be getting what you need / want....Considering you opt for a desktop in the range of 3 grands, a console + tv + sound setup

In normal times (Whenever they might come), a solid desktop and a solid laptop will be my preference.

Thanks. I asked my son to check the Razer options as well. His response. Razer limits the SSD to 512GB and for the same price, he gets a brighter screen (500 nits vs 387 nits) and 2TB from Dell. The Asus ExpertBook has the least bright screen at 272 nits (which is find for indoors but not for outdoor work). Besides both the Dell and Razer are 4K while the Asus is only FHD (at the same price). In his view Dell XPS13 > Razerbook 13 > Asus Expertbook

From what I have learned, it is mostly the Bitcoin/Etherium mining that has caused the GPU shortage. Covid might have helped too by curtailing production (due to supply-side shortages). However, companies like Acer and Dell as well as big system integrators listed on the link below (shared earlier by tbppjpr) might still get their supplies direct from Nvidia/AMD (although they too would be tempted to scalp). https://techguided.com/best-custom-pc-builders/

My son's dorm (he has opted to stay in a substance-free dorm with no loud partying or noises allowed) will not permit a sound system and maybe even PC monitors might be frowned upon. He will be largely restricted to using headphones even for his music practice.

The other use for this "maximum PC" could be for his school work. His studies are in an area that requires some serious computing power (one of the reasons he is now forced to get to campus). A desktop could also function as a music studio (with an audio interface such as the SSL 2+ because it is SSL, the Audient ID14mk2 with its Class A microphone preamps or the guitar-oriented IK AXE I/O).

Originally Posted by Mortis

Hi. The Flow hasn't been discontinued actually it's was a fresh launch this year. The mobile 3080 is pretty much in the same ballpark as the desktop 3070.

It was not available on any site. Maybe it is because of 3080 GPU card shortages or maybe Asus found a bug and are upgrading it. Either way, if it not available, it's hardly an option (we have till July/August).

[rkv_2401]

Originally Posted by rkv_2401

In the meantime, I discovered my uncle's old Inspiron 1564 from 2010. This one is equipped with an i5-430M, 4GB of RAM and a 7200RPM hard drive. The last time I checked, it was awfully slow and couldn't even open Word documents in a meaningful amount of time.

If I can get this laptop to work reasonably well, I can hold off on purchasing a new laptop for 6-8 months and get one equipped with a RTX 3060/3070 abroad.

I patched this computer up with my set of software tools after swapping the hard drive for an SSD from my dead laptop.

First step was to disable turbo boost in the BIOS, that brought down the idle temps from 93c to 70-80c by itself, and it wasn't thermal throttling down to 800Mhz anymore. Then I used ThrottleStop (v6.00 for Intel CPUs earlier than Haswell) to lower the clock frequency to 1.87Ghz, which keeps it pretty snappy whilst also preventing the thermal system from getting overloaded.

At 1.87Ghz and with an SSD, it's more than capable of snappy multi-tasking, temps stay below 75c, and the fans are quiet + battery life is extended. It boots within 10 seconds and documents, files and web pages are all opened instantly. I think this is much better than what I expected out of this project, and the best thing is I didn't even have to get hands on with it or risk exposing myself by taking it to a shop!

[ChiragBasu]

Gentlemen, I need some suggestions from the computer geeks in this forum. I have an Acer E5-575G, which I have been using for the last four years very happily. However, off late I have noticed significant heating issues and would like to invest in a Cooling Pad. Can any of you give me some suggestions? Just to clarify, I am not interested in ventilated laptop stands, but legitimate Laptop Cooling Pads.

Thanks in advance.

[Akshay6988]

Originally Posted by Akshay6988

I've the usual question that most of us are seeking answers for in this thread - how to make laptop perform faster !
I've a Lenovo Ideapad 320 laptop (4gb DDR4 RAM, 1TB HDD Intel I3 processor ). It has become very slow in all the aspects, be it booting up or browsing, opening any applications. My sister will need a laptop for her new job as HR, so I think it would not run any heavy applications (code editors or games as such ) Browsing and mails would be majority of the tasks performed on the laptop. So what should I update , RAM or SSD or both ? Will 128gb SSD suffice, as it already has 1TB of HDD

Guys I'm thinking of getting the SSD installed in this. Also the laptop crashes frequently (Blue Screen Of Death ) and error code is memory management. Should I install more RAM as well?

[diyguy]

Originally Posted by Akshay6988

Also the laptop crashes frequently (Blue Screen Of Death ) and error code is memory management.

BSOD due to memory may indicate a bad RAM module. Try to swap the old one(s) out with newer ones to see if the problem persists.

[distiller]

Dear All,
I’m planning to replace my 10 year old Acer Aspire laptop, even though I’m able to use it but recently I’m facing issues with performance & simple tasks like moving files.
My typical usage comprises of internet browsing and routine tasks using MS excel & word. I’ll say fairly undemanding tasks.
I tried finding out the best for myself in a budget of around Rs 65-70K. But got completely lost in the plethora of options & technicalities. I today narrowed down on Acer Swift 5 ( SF514-55TA-58NY ) i5 10th Generation processor. It cost is Rs. 65k on Acer website & comes with Windows 10 Home.
I’m seeking the experts suggestions & comments before taking the plunge. Also I’m open to try other brands like Thinkpad.
Thank you!

[mvadg]

Originally Posted by ChiragBasu

Gentlemen, I need some suggestions from the computer geeks in this forum. I have an Acer E5-575G, which I have been using for the last four years very happily. However, off late I have noticed significant heating issues and would like to invest in a Cooling Pad. Can any of you give me some suggestions? Just to clarify, I am not interested in ventilated laptop stands, but legitimate Laptop Cooling Pads.

Thanks in advance.

Clean out the air vents. You should be able to find DIY instructions on youtube. If you open up the laptop, you should be able to clean the fan also.

[tbppjpr]

Originally Posted by navin

Thanks. Your posts have given me some confidence. I might trouble you again. My son and I are 39 years apart so the generation gap is quite significant. BTW what microphone do you use for gaming? My son is using some rather expensive condenser microphones (from Rode and Sennheiser) borrowed from my friend's studio but he will need one in college (as I have to return these microphones). Unlike me, he does not like the microphones that are attached to headphones (I use an Audeze Mobius for my Zoom calls).

Currently using Corsair headset with detachable mic.

Not much knowledge about mics, rather I am also looking for an external mic since I like to play the games on my surround speaker setup instead of using the headphone.

You will know better about audio related equipments than anyone else so if you do some research and find any entry level budget friendly mic then please let me know, also share what to look when searching the mics.

Originally Posted by distiller

My typical usage comprises of internet browsing and routine tasks using MS excel & word. I’ll say fairly undemanding tasks.

Why don't you give a try to Linux OS and give a new life to this old laptop and save money for something else? Linux on this laptop will be more than enough for tasks you mentioned above.

I tried finding out the best for myself in a budget of around Rs 65-70K. But got completely lost in the plethora of options & technicalities. I today narrowed down on Acer Swift 5 ( SF514-55TA-58NY ) i5 10th Generation processor. It cost is Rs. 65k on Acer website & comes with Windows 10 Home.

Consider Asus Zenbook as well, they come with some nifty features like touchpad doubles up as numpad which a handy in small for laptops. You should be able to find i5 Zenbook with Windows 10 and MS Office well under 75K.

Also I’m open to try other brands like Thinkpad.

Avoid Lenovo at any cost. They don't know how to make laptops, they even destroyed the IBM Thinkpad series after procuring them. I have first hand experience with one of their top end i7 Ideapad. They can't even implement any effective cooling mechanism in most of their laptops. And more onto that the Lenovo laptops come with tons of bloatware, mine even came with spyware which used to activate while browsing the banking websites.

Have developed the habit of performing full format including partition deletion after that incident. Now whenever I get new laptop, I would delete the factory partitions, will install the Windows downloaded from Microsoft website which activates itself using the system embed key. I advise same to my relatives and friends who buy the new laptops.

Avoid Chinese origin laptops, mobiles, smart TVs or any device which connects to internet at any cost, you just can't trust them.

You can consider other brands like Asus, Dell and HP instead.

[Amien]

Originally Posted by distiller

budget of around Rs 65-70K., My typical usage comprises of internet browsing and routine tasks using MS excel & word. I’ll say fairly undemanding tasks.
I’m open to try other brands like Thinkpad

You don't need to spend anywhere close to the budget for the sort of usage you have in mind but we can get some additional performance or functionality if you share a few preferences;-

Will the laptop also be used for entertainment? Is portability/weight of particular importance to you? Anything else that might be relevant?

Thinkpads remain some of the most reliable options available and still retain a fair bit of their IBM DNA under Lenovo.

[distiller]

Avoid Chinese origin laptops, mobiles, smart TVs or any device which connects to internet at any cost, you just can't trust them.

You can consider other brands like Asus, Dell and HP instead.[/quote]

Thanks for your response.

I’m not sure about Linux OS & thus doesn’t feel comfortable leaving the MS ecosystem.

And aren’t most of the electronic products being shipped from China. Also being a noob in the field it’s very difficult to find out or know what’s happening with our system. Although will try to your recommendations once I plan my purchase.

[distiller]

Originally Posted by Amien

You don't need to spend anywhere close to the budget for the sort of usage you have in mind but we can get some additional performance or functionality if you share a few preferences;-

Will the laptop also be used for entertainment? Is portability/weight of particular importance to you? Anything else that might be relevant?

Thinkpads remain some of the most reliable options available and still retain a fair bit of their IBM DNA under Lenovo.

Thanks Amien for your response.

No the laptop won’t be used for entertainment purpose. And regarding weight I think it would be good to have it on lesser side

Much of my tasks will be confined to Excel, Word & PowerPoint, browsing internet, net banking. And I don’t think any of my tasks will be too demanding. I’m looking for a machine which can give me trouble free service for a longer period & hence my willingness to go for a good machine. Also I’m not clear whether I should opt for office 365 subscription or go for one time purchase. For non ITians buying a laptop is a complex task which gets further complicated by the plethora of options in the market.