That new computer smell… uh oh
I've been MIA a few days because I've been putting together a new computer system. After doing a bit of consulting work, I took some of the money I made and bought myself a new system. Ah, then the fun started.
See, I'm mostly a software geek. I can make a computer do amazing things with a few lines of code. However, I'm mostly cursed when it comes to hardware.
I bought the components to my new system at a local computer show. I picked up a few more bits on eBay, then got a friend to get me a slightly discounted video card. I get mostly top-end stuff, not wanting to worry about failure and all that. Well, once I get the system together, it starts without too many problems. But, then Windows is complaining about corrupted OS files every so often when I start up. Grr.
After a colossal fight, I got the computer running and staying on for the most part. Now I tried to play a recent game to test out my new system. After a few minutes: hard crash. Ouch. I updated the antivirus, I flashed a new BIOS in there, and now things are finally seeming to work. Played the same game again for a few hours this time. So, now things look like they're working, but I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop.
What does this have to do with game development? This is one reason why PC games are dying. Good god, I'm a tech geek and I'm struggling with things. To take a break from wresting with my new PC I went out and played the PS2 for a bit. No drivers, no BIOS updates, none of that. Just stick in the game and go. Sure, I could have gotten a pre-built system, but I get less computer for my money if I did that. Plus, it's hard to get a custom setup so that I can re-use some of my old hardware.
It's the same old story as we've been telling for years. It's just hard to ignore it when it's sitting at your feet in pieces, not working.
Anyway, this was typed up on my new system, so it seems to be working acceptably for now. Need to transfer over the endless stream of files for development, then fiddle with all the settings, then I might actually be ready to go again! Hooray!
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The other shoe dropped. Now the computer won't even boot up, or if it does I get a bluescreen. Time to get some RMAs and send back suspect hardware.
*sigh*
Comment by Psychochild — 18 April, 2005 @ 3:35 PM
I alternate between buying boxes and building them. My last self-brewed box was such a frustrating experience that I finally buckled and bought a high-end Alienware box, which I've been supremely happy with.
Invariably when I build a box myself, one of the components is bad (I seem particularly cursed as far as motherboards are concerned). Needless to say, I don't have the equipment to tell me which part's failing when something goes wrong. Not having to go through that process is worth hard cash to me, IMHO.
Comment by Damion Schubert — 19 April, 2005 @ 9:09 AM
Yeah, I was thinking about that. The problem is that you pay a lot more for that, and it's sometimes hard to get what you really want from some of the places. I was going to get a pre-built machine, but a friend that was going to get me a discount dropped the ball. I just decided to just buy my own at that point.
Looking at one site, I basically saved $500 by building my own. That'll get me a new, decent LCD monitor. Of course, the week of downtime has probably cost me more than $500 in raw business terms.
Thankfully one of my good friends is a good hardware support person, so he's been helping me with his experience. I'd be more lost without his help, and that's one of the reasons I even consider building my own system.
Still, PCs suck. There's a reason why PCs are losing to consoles in a big way in the gaming industry.
Comment by Psychochild — 19 April, 2005 @ 11:56 AM
"PCs suck"
Blasphemer!
Sorry to hear you're having problems. I've built my own rigs for a long time, just for the simple fact that most pre-fabs gouge you for inferior components usually (well, not so much inferior on high ends like Alienware, still gouging though). Plus, I've always had more trouble with package deals than custom set-ups.
But, to me, the ability to build your own system is why PC games will always have a market, although it may shrink. It's hard to take pride in your killer XBox that you bought off the shelf, but I take great pride building my own rig, OCing it as much as I can and then modding it out. Plus, for many genres the controller will always be inferior to the mouse/keyboard interface.
As far as hardware goes though, you can't beat newegg. Killer prices, great customer and RMA services and delivery is always on time, sometimes early.
Comment by Xyntar — 19 April, 2005 @ 7:40 PM
Nuke it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure...
Don't listen to me, I'm just bitter because I'll NEVER be able to afford a new comp, and the only games I can get this POS to run are games that need something like Dx 1.0 or so...
Comment by kwip — 22 April, 2005 @ 8:35 PM
I haven't bought a box in forever, but the more I look into it lately, the more it seems like the companies are beating out us "hot rodders"... more speed for less money. They can get the cheaper parts, so my next box will probably come from dell or gateway.. at least I can still mod the case.
Comment by Patrick "Norin" Rogers — 1 May, 2005 @ 9:51 PM
Well, it was a bad hard drive. Sent it back a week ago to the place I bought it from, no response. :/
Can't wait to get the drive back and get back to normal. I'll update more once things are back on track.
BTW, you can still run the old renderer on M59 Kwip. :) Hope things are going well for ya.
Comment by Psychochild — 1 May, 2005 @ 9:54 PM
"sent it back a week ago... no response"
yeah, they're keepin that and you're SOL... pwnd! =)
Comment by Patrick "Norin" Rogers — 5 May, 2005 @ 1:33 AM
I finally called them back and they offered a refund.
Bought two larger hard drives on newegg.com. Ah, well, no LCD screen for me. :/
Hopefully I'll be back online soon! Expect new entries then! :)
Comment by Psychochild — 5 May, 2005 @ 11:51 PM
True to form...
Something else is wrong now. :/ An SATA connector on the motherboard broke off (!!!), but I have another to use. Plus I think there's a problem with the video card. *sigh* More testing to see what's wrong.
*cry*
I just want my computer to work, damn it!
Comment by Psychochild — 8 May, 2005 @ 7:40 PM
Sorry to hear about all the terrible problems. Been building my own rigs forever (never owned a prebuilt) and I've found one of the most important things is to go with good high quality brands. Especially the power supply these days. I'm generally a fan of A-Bit and MSI mobos, BFG video cards and Corsair memory with a solid ANTEC power supply. Hear good things about Kingmax and Enermax for memory and power respectively. I'll never regret anything as much as I regret getting some no-name brand motherboard for my Pentium 3 and a stock 300W psu that came with my case. I saved a little money, but in no time flat the integrated network failed, and not long after that the PSU blew out killing an HD and frying an IDE connector on the mobo. And not 6 months ago my brother got 512 of DDR400 ram on sale. Some no-name brand, sure enough, when next I came home from college, he was having constant crashes and illegal ops, and a short memtest later it turns out his new ram was spitting back all sorts of bad values.
Comment by Namrok — 2 June, 2005 @ 7:28 AM
Sadly, this was all name-brand components. ASUS motherboard, Western Digital HD (which I've had great experiences with before), a video card bought straight from an employee at NVIDIA, etc.
Ah, well. Hopefully soon I'll have my system together and going.
Comment by Psychochild — 2 June, 2005 @ 11:42 AM
WHAAAAAAAAAAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA that man is crazy hahahah. just kidding, it was me :D
Comment by JtotheOrisagain — 11 July, 2005 @ 3:51 AM
maybe you should leave the pc in your backyard, cause when the shit hits the vain, well you know what i mean. Just trying to say that any cow could be loved and yeah, a tiger is not very dangerous. As we say in holland, "eindhoven de gekste", which means something like; if you dont know anything bout computers, dont bother building one or even talk about it.
nothing but a g thang... :D
Comment by JtotheOris — 11 July, 2005 @ 3:49 AM
I think I can help you with your Problem, excuse weird English, I'm from Germany
Let's have a look, you build your own Hard Disk with all of its Data and Windows XP into this new constructed Computer...
this happens to be bad because of missing files for mainboard drivers, it's fixable, but not as perfect as setting the system up whole new
try doing a repair installation with your windows xp cd, by inserting it before boot and booting from it, and pressing 'r' the second time it's displayed
your system files will be renewed, nothings lost in the best case, few programs could stop to work but reinstalling these should help with that
now after rebooting your computer should work
Good Luck
Comment by Santa — 21 July, 2006 @ 9:22 AM