Join me in a (rant) journey of my falling out of love for custom computer tech, and even just computer hardware in general.
I've had a custom rig since I was 18, and that was nearly 11 years ago. I've been knee deep into the custom computer market since then and have since built several other computers between then and now. I firmly held fast in the argument that if something goes wrong, you can just replace that part and be on your way, and that's the best way to enjoy having a computer if you're going to go PC. You get higher quality components for your money, the ability to repair and replace is ideal, and when it works together it's great.
Nowadays? I swear it's a bigger pain in the ass than most stuff I've had to do on any level, especially recently. Computer hardware hasn't always been my friend, despite my best efforts to get the best quality stuff I can find and afford. My old motherboard crapped out on me, and it was a 7th gen Intel product, so I had to get a new processor on top of the motherboard. I did a ton of research of what brand and model was the right choice for my budget, got it, put my entire system back together (for what feels like the 20th time between troubleshooting and part upgrading since I made it maybe 4 years ago)... and there's an audio problem. Is it software related? Didn't seem like it after loads of troubleshooting. Is it hardware related? Seemed likely. So I returned it and got a replacement (once again tearing the whole thing apart and rebuilding it again). Seemed to work fine for a few months... and then I started hearing an odd high pitched sound occasionally. Ignoring it, I kept using my computer for a few more months as the sound sometimes got worse, but then sometimes got better. I then purchased Forza Horizon 4 to play with a friend, and it was the first time I stressed this new processor and motherboard in a big way.
Oh my god, the coil whine was obnoxious. THAT'S what the noise was before... After I spent hours searching for what caused the issue, weeks going back and forth between Asus and Intel, it was determined to be, you guessed it, the motherboard. But, it's also entirely possible it was the power supply as well. How can I find that part out, seeing as I don't have a spare one lying around (like Asus customer service hoped I'd just conveniently have)? Well, I'd just have to go and buy a power supply, plug it all in, test it, box up the power supply and return it if it's not the issue or go through EVGA's RMA process if it is and OH MY GOD I don't wanna rebuild this damn thing again AAAAAAAA-
Once there was a time I was fine building and tweaking and troubleshooting, and now I find myself wishing this stuff would just work. And to its credit, it does most of the time. But despite my best research... digging through the web of PC hardware companies, the huge disparity in quality of components, the difficulties between hardware and software, all of the different warranties and RMA processes, and sheer difference in the level of customer support between them (FUCK Gigabyte in that regard by the way, absolutely useless the lot of them)... And I don't think I can reliably consider a pre-built either just cause I know what I know regarding them, or expect a laptop to pick up the slack for a desktop setup. I'm seriously getting fed up with the whole experience overall.
I feel like I've gotten old...
I've had a custom rig since I was 18, and that was nearly 11 years ago. I've been knee deep into the custom computer market since then and have since built several other computers between then and now. I firmly held fast in the argument that if something goes wrong, you can just replace that part and be on your way, and that's the best way to enjoy having a computer if you're going to go PC. You get higher quality components for your money, the ability to repair and replace is ideal, and when it works together it's great.
Nowadays? I swear it's a bigger pain in the ass than most stuff I've had to do on any level, especially recently. Computer hardware hasn't always been my friend, despite my best efforts to get the best quality stuff I can find and afford. My old motherboard crapped out on me, and it was a 7th gen Intel product, so I had to get a new processor on top of the motherboard. I did a ton of research of what brand and model was the right choice for my budget, got it, put my entire system back together (for what feels like the 20th time between troubleshooting and part upgrading since I made it maybe 4 years ago)... and there's an audio problem. Is it software related? Didn't seem like it after loads of troubleshooting. Is it hardware related? Seemed likely. So I returned it and got a replacement (once again tearing the whole thing apart and rebuilding it again). Seemed to work fine for a few months... and then I started hearing an odd high pitched sound occasionally. Ignoring it, I kept using my computer for a few more months as the sound sometimes got worse, but then sometimes got better. I then purchased Forza Horizon 4 to play with a friend, and it was the first time I stressed this new processor and motherboard in a big way.
Oh my god, the coil whine was obnoxious. THAT'S what the noise was before... After I spent hours searching for what caused the issue, weeks going back and forth between Asus and Intel, it was determined to be, you guessed it, the motherboard. But, it's also entirely possible it was the power supply as well. How can I find that part out, seeing as I don't have a spare one lying around (like Asus customer service hoped I'd just conveniently have)? Well, I'd just have to go and buy a power supply, plug it all in, test it, box up the power supply and return it if it's not the issue or go through EVGA's RMA process if it is and OH MY GOD I don't wanna rebuild this damn thing again AAAAAAAA-
Once there was a time I was fine building and tweaking and troubleshooting, and now I find myself wishing this stuff would just work. And to its credit, it does most of the time. But despite my best research... digging through the web of PC hardware companies, the huge disparity in quality of components, the difficulties between hardware and software, all of the different warranties and RMA processes, and sheer difference in the level of customer support between them (FUCK Gigabyte in that regard by the way, absolutely useless the lot of them)... And I don't think I can reliably consider a pre-built either just cause I know what I know regarding them, or expect a laptop to pick up the slack for a desktop setup. I'm seriously getting fed up with the whole experience overall.
I feel like I've gotten old...