Rage Set

I have had plenty of clients change their minds on custom builds before signing my agreement, but once they've signed, I have a nonnegotiable, nonrefundable 10% build fee. I never had anyone threaten to harm me over that fee, but I am a large man that carries a very large defensive metal "stick".

It's not a shortage anymore, it's inflation, he will state. No matter what, we will not win this war unless the majority of people stop buying.

I am going to really consider the Level 20 @Mr. Fox suggested, as it looks to be the successor to the Thermaltake Core X5 that I have now. I have removed all of the side and top panels for a while now, essentially turning it into a testbench. I would have loved the 1000D, but it appears to be sold out everywhere. I also need to buy two to three ATX cases to build rigs out of all of these PC components I have, since I missed the boat selling my 3090's individually.

I think I am going to settle for the Meshify 2 XL, if I keep the Zenith Extreme II Alpha. I will have tons of room for storage. Unless someone else has an idea for a full tower with storage being a strong feature. I need at least space for 6 HDDs.

I have a decision to make. Asus sent out my replacement Zenith Extreme II Alpha mobo and I wonder if I should cut my losses. Now I have been investigating the Memory 00 - Memory Test error to see if I am doing something wrong in the operation of the motherboard. Comparing what I've had installed when the first board went bad versus what I had installed now. The only three parts that are consistent between the two builds, the CPU, PSU and case. I only had one TRX40 board, so I can't test the CPU, but I am positive it works. I've tested the PSU in two other computers, it works perfectly. The case is an old Thermaltake, like an all metal version of the Core Level 20 (they don't make my chassis any longer). I think it is the case, shorting out the mobo. The case was the common component in all of my TR40 and TRX40 builds. Also looking at other users with the same Q-code error, I see a pattern with cases: https://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?117210-Trx40-Zenith-Extreme-II-Alpha-Memory-code-00/page3 None of my other Asus mobos have had this memory error because none of them were ever placed in this case. Perhaps I owe Asus an apology on this.

It is treating me quite well. The tech behind the IceGiant really does give you comparable temps to a custom loop with a single 360 rad with a push/pull config. Now, I am not saying the IceGiant can compete that that custom loop in terms of overclocking headroom, but it highly capable of handling a 4.0 allcore workload on my 3960X. IceGiant doesn't make a version for smaller CPU's like Intel's 11 gen or older. In that case, they can't justify the price compared to the cheaper air coolers out there but they do now offer socket 1700 support with a $5.00 optional bracket. The only real issue I have with this cooler is that it blocks certain RAM modules and in the case of my Asus Zenith Extreme II Alpha, the Asus DIMM m.2 module from being used.

While custom water cooling will always be my first option, I am now considering air coolers for any system that I won't be overclocking more than 10 to 15%. I have been using an IceGiant ProSiphon Elite on my TRX40 system (I removed my custom water loop from that system last spring) and it was one of the only air coolers that could keep up with my custom loop (360 rad, push/pull) with the fans set to 1200RPM. Nice looking build but most importantly, functional.

Asus just got my board and I am nervous. Who would expect to spend this much money on a mobo or any device and be afraid they would get their warranty rejected based off a scratch? I don't really want to sell the mobo/cpu because I love how many PCIe lanes it has, but I may be forced to do it.

Yeah, when I saw this, that was the immediate end of me wanting the 7000 series. Changing the PPT's on AMD cards was one of their saving graces. I didn't need any HW mods on my 6800 XT or 6900 XT, as cooling was the only limiting factor...not power or voltage. One of AMD's secret weapons, now disabled.

If he's right...Intel is going to pull another Rocket Lake on everyone. Sooooo, it looks like Intel's HEDT is to the rescue. I don't get Intel's moves here though. They concede HEDT to AMD for several generations but combats them in the mainstream. Now with AMD on the ropes, they are going to concede the mainstream market while reentering the HEDT market, where if rumors are correct, will be able to stand toe to toe with Threadripper. Ever since they were caught with their pants down with the recycling of 4 core processors, they really haven't been the same.

I have had MSI graphic cards but I never gave them a second thought on motherboards. I, like a lot of PC users, will be loyal to brand...to a fault. The problem now is that all of these TRX40 boards are sold out at normal retailers. There are only third party sellers. I was thinking of buying a cheap TRX40 board on eBay, but with how bad some of these boards are (checking reviews), I don't want to chance it. The only thing I can do is wait until after Asus tells me its decision on the board. Something definitely changed with Asus. I still have their first Zenith Extreme board and it works perfectly, so does the X299 Rampage I have....even the X99 Rampage I got all those years ago...works. They are really resting on their laurels now and their brand is suffering.

I think I am cursed. I swear I am. The TRX40 platform has been nothing but trouble for me. My Asus Zenith Extreme II Alpha has died....and this was the replacement mobo for the original that died on me. So in two years, I went through the original Zenith Extreme II, replaced that and sold it. Purchased the Zenith Extreme II Alpha, died and got that replaced. Now this one is suffering from the same Memory 00 - Memory Test error. I don't understand. I am not overclocking the CPU nor the GPU. The RAM is set at 3600 which is perfectly fine for this platform. Now I have to worry about if Asus is going to replace it, because I don't know if it is under warranty or not. I'm going to send it to them on Friday and wait. I am done with high end consumer PC products.

The local gamestreaming tech is great. They are getting rid of it so you can pay them for the privilege now. Luckily for me, Steam Link is better.

Apparently, the different variants of the AmScope SM-4NT with the double-arm boom stand, "can" suffer from pitting of the arm due to the ball bearings used. I see that AmScope has a five year warranty and that may be enough to sway me to buy them. The last thing I am researching is whether the Simul-Focal feature is something I really need or not. It not like I am going to need the ability to look through both eyepieces while recording through the trinocular port all the time, like Louis Rossmann.

As long as it gets the job done and works for you, that is all that matters. I am going to be doing a lot of board repair, some of it for the schools I am working for and others for clients. I have my soldering irons and hot air station, but I want a microscope that will last me several years. Those youtube videos you posted, pushed me to get my s%%t together, lol. I got into soldering/reballing in high school, follow by working for a small PC repair business where I did a lot of that then...then going on my own after that. I remember when $250 could get you something like the $700 AmScope...

I was going that route initially. My eyes aren't bad (yet) but I do want something that I grow with. Thank you for your suggestion, bro. You're the third person to point me to AmScope. Thank you for telling me it is still working, because some of the user reviews about the boom arm was concerning. I may end up with a AmScope. Thank you for your suggestion, bro.

I am not surprised. EVGA saw this and other things Nvidia is doing, the writing was on the wall.

Question for the guys that do a lot of SM soldering. What microscope do you guys recommend? I am looking at two (appear to be made at the same factory), Vision Scientific VS-5FZ-IFR07 Simul-Focal Trinocular Zoom and the AmScope - SM-4NTP 7X-45X Simul-Focal. If you guys have other suggestions, please let me know. I am not a beginner in soldering. I have lots of experience but I usually just use my eyes or a magnifying glass.

After all of these years, you'd think that Jay would know a little more about overclocking reference cards. It is obvious that reference cards are extremely powerlimited and while the results are novel (instead of crashing, the card steals power from the VRAM when overclocking the core), he didn't have the same issues with the PowerColor Red Devil AIB card. However, if you read the title of the video, you'd think it affects all AMD XTX cards. There are some issues with the XTX that AMD NEEDS to correct via drivers and I am going to remain on the sideline until they solved, but I can't help but think that all of this crap is because people wanted the 7900 XTX to beat the 4090 at $600 less. I blame AMD for their announcement bullcrap and the tech media.

I am looking at any AIB XTX that will have a decent waterblock available. While AMD may try to deny a warranty if you overclock an AMD Reference card purchased from them, they can't be said about AIB's. Plus, the burden will always be on the manufacturer to prove that an end user damaged the card from overclocking. A lot of clocks that are being power limited. Unlike Nvidia (and unless it has changed this generation), AMD GPU overclockers have apps that allow us to go beyond the defined power limits. MorePowerTools and Red BIOS Editor. My 6900 XT performs better than a 6950 XT (they have the same upgraded XTXH chip) due to these tools.

The 7900 XTX AIB cards are hitting 3.2Ghz (and these aren't even the best AIB cards). Apparently, AMD left A LOT of performance on the table, in the name of being "energy efficient". These cards with waterblocks are going to shine....crossing my fingers if we can use the MorePowerTool I am almost sold on the 7900 XTX once I see some waterblocks for AIB cards.

I think that you guys should consider creating a YT channel or video podcast together and talk "shop" about overclocking and other things. If buildzoid can spend three hours talking about the same stick of RAM and gain over 150K subscribers, I sure you guys can do the same. It might even reignite your passions and get you guys a door in.

Bought all of these 8TB and 4TB NVMe drives during "Black Friday" and they are all about 50 to 100 cheaper now. Newegg nor Amazon will price match their own prices, so I have to return everything. Newegg would, but as store credit only. Luckily, I didn't open anything yet. I am loving my A770. It's fun trying to learn how to extract more performance from a new GPU maker's card. I wish someone would release a MorePowerToo appl like AMD has for the A770 though.

@electrosoft Does your ARC Control panel have manual fan control? Apparently, Intel took out manual fan control but they are still displaying images of the software with fan control on their website. I tried MSI Afterburner but that allows zero control of ARC. Maybe I am missing something.

I find this article and other continued chip shortages news articles as misleading. As a moderate conservative, I am all for companies making profit, but if these companies think I am going to continue to let them use chip shortages as means for them to continue pad their fat wallets, they have another thing coming. It's like the car manufacturers are completely blind to how other industries are taking hit after hit in revenue. The smart companies are building products that are affordable in today's market conditions, taking small hits to high profit margins in order survive this recession.