He's Dead Jim - Computer advise

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
08/09/2017 at 19:11 • Filed to: None

So I tried to hook up a monitor today from my old custom build pc, DVI to HDMI, I hooked up the HDMI first to the monitor and when I went to plug it into the DVI port on my card...ZAP! Huge arc of electricity. Computer was still on but this happened.

The hell? HDMI shouldn’t be carrying a lot of power...

machine kept arcing anytime I tried to connect anything, even the cable that was in there prior. So I turned off the machine and got back to work on my remote workstation from work. I just tried to turn it on and I tripped the surge protector. I took out the graphics card and tried again and tripped a breaker. There is a good chance that the power supply is dead, or the graphics or both...or everything! Normally I would just buy a new power supply and rebuilt the case but I have always hated this machine. Really unreliable and the case was huge. So Im in the market and looking for love help.

Looking for good advice on a replacement:

Budget - ~$700

Not a laptop, or all-in-one.

Must haves:

Dedicated graphics card that can drive 2 monitors on DVI or displayport, Ideally GTX level.

16gb ram as a minimum

All the USB 3 ports

built in Ethernet and wifi

Mid level or better processor.

optical disc drive.

Nice to haves

Ideally a motherboard with a decent North Bridge or at least something with a little more robustness in its design.

serviceability - I need to be able to replace a hard drive with relative ease. None of this tiny drive buried deep nonsense.

upgradability. room in the case for bigger cards or a 2nd drive down the road. I have cards and drives, but I don’t NEED them internal right now.

Anyone have any advice on where to start the hunt? If I had my way I would just try and buy my old workstation from the company, but they wont sell it to me directly.

Open to building again, but only if I can do it without researching my entire life. I need a relatively simply build with proven component pairings.

DISCUSSION (14)

HammerheadFistpunch > HammerheadFistpunch
08/09/2017 at 19:20

something like this maybe?

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=9SIA65E59F7606

CB > HammerheadFistpunch
08/09/2017 at 19:23

The issue with building right now is that graphics card prices are nuts for the time being. A prebuilt Dell or HP or whatever would probably suit your needs, because it’d have a solid warranty, no worries about parts compatibility, and since it’s back to school, the prices will be lower.

As much as I love building computers (my favourite expensive puzzle!), prebuilt is the way to go in your case.

CB > HammerheadFistpunch
08/09/2017 at 19:25

I’d probably go for a 1060 model and not a GT 730.

Chariotoflove > CB
08/09/2017 at 19:25

Exactly. If you want to get back to work.

HammerheadFistpunch > CB
08/09/2017 at 19:27

I was kinda hoping PC prices would have come down more since I last looked

CB > HammerheadFistpunch
08/09/2017 at 19:29

To counter my previous post, there’s a YouTuber I follow ( Paul’s Hardware ) that built a $700 PC, so this parts list might work for you. Granted, there’s only 8 gb of memory and it only has an SSD, but if you upgrade those, you should have a solid build.

CB > HammerheadFistpunch
08/09/2017 at 19:30

Nope. Cryptocurrency mining has jacked up GPU prices.

cmill189 - sans Volvo > HammerheadFistpunch
08/09/2017 at 19:31

Power supply issues suck. Building yourself is definitely cheaper. Video card prices are sort of coming down..sort of. You can put together a compatible system on pcpartpicker rather easily. CB’s advice of a prebuilt might the way to go for now to get a decent car though.

You have any info on that case? Looks like e-ATX and many many 3.5 bays. I kinda want something bigger for my NAS. I have a Fractal R4 and it’s limited to 8 drives.

Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ > HammerheadFistpunch
08/09/2017 at 19:47

You should say screw the budget and build this: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/CGkbPs

Nick Has an Exocet > CB
08/09/2017 at 19:57

Screw all these crypo people for messing up graphics card prices. I’d like to find someone updating their crypto farm and get a used card at a great price.

NojustNo > HammerheadFistpunch
08/09/2017 at 20:00

Dang that at motherboard looks tiny in that huuuuuuge box...I like it.

Happen to know make and model of the case? I may buy it

Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition > CB
08/09/2017 at 20:02

Not only that, there is a worldwide NAND. shortage.

MINIGTI > HammerheadFistpunch
08/09/2017 at 23:41

Any chance the outlets are wired wrong? A hot-neutral reverse with missing earth could cause Something like that.

HammerheadFistpunch > MINIGTI
08/09/2017 at 23:58

nothing changed in the outlets, the only change was trying to plug in a different monitor.