Off Topic Thread V2.0

Digital Solitude · 12-05-2016 03:49PM

L wrote: »

I didn't expect that example to be taken literally DS.

*woooosh*

I never pick up on stuff like that

Wasn't taking it literally, you get my meaning though

12-05-2016 03:59PM

Digital Solitude wrote: »

*woooosh*

I never pick up on stuff like that

Wasn't taking it literally, you get my meaning though

Absolutely. If it's something like an MMO or a strategy game, the CPU'll bind hard long before the GPU. And in reverse, something like an FPS is probably GPU bound.

Serephucus · 12-05-2016 05:39PM

Quick question lads:

Ordering from MindFactory, what goes in the "reference" field for bank transfer?

The two likely candidates from the email I got are "shop ID" and "Operation number"

jayo26 · 12-05-2016 07:06PM

Serephucus wrote: »

Quick question lads:

Ordering from MindFactory, what goes in the "reference" field for bank transfer?

The two likely candidates from the email I got are "shop ID" and "Operation number"

Operation number is your order number its just lost in translation with Google so id imagine thats what they are looking for its what I quote them when I sent an email to change my order.

Serephucus · 12-05-2016 07:07PM

jayo26 wrote: »

Operation number is your order number its just lost in translation with Google so id imagine thats what they are looking for its what I quote them when I sent an email to change my order.

Cheers!

Calibos · 13-05-2016 08:59AM

Quick Question lads.

You know the way the PCI-e slot nearest to the CPU is generally the x16 slot. However IIRC some mobo's will say their board has 3 or 4 x16 slots so one would think that meant that if you were only using a single card that any of the slots would deliver x16 lanes. Reason I ask is I want to go air for CPU and I also want to mod that CPU cooler. I've some aesthetically pleasing ideas for it and the GPU. However, it won't look as good with the CPU and GPU crammed so close together. Is there anyway I can put the GPU in the second PCI-e slot which puts a bit of space between it and the GPU cooler but still get x16 lanes for the GPU in that second slot?

Cuddlesworth · 13-05-2016 10:02AM

Calibos wrote: »

Quick Question lads.

You know the way the PCI-e slot nearest to the CPU is generally the x16 slot. However IIRC some mobo's will say their board has 3 or 4 x16 slots so one would think that meant that if you were only using a single card that any of the slots would deliver x16 lanes. Reason I ask is I want to go air for CPU and I also want to mod that CPU cooler. I've some aesthetically pleasing ideas for it and the GPU. However, it won't look as good with the CPU and GPU crammed so close together. Is there anyway I can put the GPU in the second PCI-e slot which puts a bit of space between it and the GPU cooler but still get x16 lanes for the GPU in that second slot?

Usually, if you have 3 pci-ex x16 slots and a single gfx card, then it doesn't matter what slot you use. The issue with pci-ex lanes arises when using more than the available amount of lanes in a system, then they usually tend to divide them out by slot number in a specific sequence. I think these M2 drives, with are usually pci-ex*4 are confusing things.

Calibos · 13-05-2016 11:33AM

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

Usually, if you have 3 pci-ex x16 slots and a single gfx card, then it doesn't matter what slot you use. The issue with pci-ex lanes arises when using more than the available amount of lanes in a system, then they usually tend to divide them out by slot number in a specific sequence. I think these M2 drives, with are usually pci-ex*4 are confusing things.

OK thats excellent news. Thanks Cuddlesworth. Its just I'd never seen a photo with a single card in the second PCI-e slot with the first one empty. I guess in a standard tower on a desk at desk height and with most GPU's with a bare 'ugly' back pcb, the lower the slot you put the GPU the more you actually hide the 'interesting' side of the card (with the fancy fans and shrouds) ie. even those that already know they could put a single GPU in a lower slot and still get x16 still don't do it for the reason above.

In my case I am going to use my Corsair Air540 on its side with the solid PSU side 'side' panel now being the bottom of the case and with the perspex side panel now being the top. Mobo is now in the horizontal orientation ie. flat on its back with the CPU cooler and GPU now standing up vertical if you get me. One now looks 'down' through the perspex 'top' panel at the components and the Fan shroud side of the GPU will be facing away into the corner anyway. The case colour theme will be black and white. Going to plastidip the bulk of the outside of my black air540 white, getting a Z170 Sabertooth Mark 1 with thermal armour and painting that white also. I'd already planned some edge lit rings for the case fans and then when I saw the 'ugly' Zotac 1080 I realised that with some black vinyl on the perspex I could turn them into something like the XSPC black and edge lit back plates for their GPU WC blocks. Then I got to thinking of bending/shaping perspex for a decorative shroud for the CPU Twin Tower air cooler. Again ordering some black vinyl with the Text/logo of my choice lasercut out and a 'Floor' light panel where the HDD's usually go. This 'Floor is now actually the left side of the mobo area. TBH, the Zotac 1080 was the seed of the idea or a reminder of having seen that effect before. Might just make my own perspex GPU backplate though and be able to choose my own preferred 1080. Also means I could transfer to a 1080ti when I swap out the 1080 for one of them next year.

Anyway, to cut a long story short (or TLDR in modern parlance

) I wanted to be able to spread out the GPU and CPU cooler a bit rather than have them crowded to one side of the case so one can appreciate the aesthetics better. Determined to go full air cooling with this build. No interest in AIO or water cooling at this time. Can't hurt from a cooling POV either.

(Do plan a Fully watercooled rig when SLI in VR is 'a thing' and I build a newer VR PC into the eaves storage space wall in the attic bedroom. Going to have a big 9x120mm fan radiator hidden inside and ducted to the Chimney roof tile)

However for this build (which will eventually go to a brother when the rig above is built) I'm going for serious positive pressure with 5-6 intake fans and one extracting (CPU). Should feed an aftermarket air-cooled 1080 with plenty of fresh air and push all that internally vented hot air from the GPU straight out the back grille over the PCI slots via positive pressure.

Haha! My TLDR's always end up being overlong too

Going to start work on a sketchup model and render.

Serephucus · 13-05-2016 11:40AM

I have mine done this way at the moment, IIRC, simply to give everything a bit more room (D15 cooling CPU, so massive) as everything is passively cooled most of the time.

Calibos · 13-05-2016 12:13PM

Serephucus wrote: »

I have mine done this way at the moment, IIRC, simply to give everything a bit more room (D15 cooling CPU, so massive) as everything is passively cooled most of the time.

Excellent. Its always good to get extra confirmation.

At least this time, my plans for this particular case with this build won't turn out to be vapourware like my renders for the previous plans (27bay Media Server) turned out to be. I am actually about to start building the internals of that server too though. All those 3x Hotswap HDD bays wont go to waste. However, I just going to build a simple frame to hold the bays and the modo and PSU and it'll be hidden away in the eaves storage space of the attic bedroom along side my switch and router.

I'll be ordering the parts for the server at the same time as the parts for this VR build. Gonna be an expensive month. Skylake/GTX1080 VR build and Server build, Oculus Rift arriving in a couple of weeks needing to be paid for....oh and my car needs a service, new tyres and my Motor Tax is also due at the end of the month. Arrggghhhh!!!

TheDoc · 13-05-2016 12:18PM

Trying to separate a bit of fact and fiction.

Is the hooha surrounding Freesync and gsync, actually legitimate? I'm wondering are the users providing feedback, users who went from 60hz to 144hz, or people already operating at 144hz, then got Gsync/Freesync

I'm currently looking to try evaluate if a step into the world of 144hz monitors is feasible with my current setup(R9 290) and if it's worthwhile. And while Freesync and Gsync frequently comes into the conversation, as I've dug deeper, I've started to gain a vibe that Gsync and Freesync actually arn't all that important, its the jump to 60hz to 144hz thats the winner (I've found some posts and threads around the web where people already on 144 that then got Gsync or Freesync, weren't overly impressed and struggled to indicate a tangible difference)

Coming to that time of year (bonus time) where I take a look at my Pc for changes. I'm buying new Headphones, but was looking at my monitors thinking "Wonder if I should dip into 144hz". I play mostly World of Warcraft, Battlefield and a few sporadic games every now and then or flavour of the months.

Cuddlesworth · 13-05-2016 12:31PM

Calibos wrote: »

getting a Z170 Sabertooth Mark 1 with thermal armour and painting that white also.

2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8)
1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (max at x4 mode) *1 Thats the one on the bottom.
3 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x1

I don't think there is a card out there capable of maxing out pcie 2.0 bandwidth in x8 anyway, so its a bit of a moot point.

Cuddlesworth · 13-05-2016 12:38PM

TheDoc wrote: »

Trying to separate a bit of fact and fiction.

Is the hooha surrounding Freesync and gsync, actually legitimate? I'm wondering are the users providing feedback, users who went from 60hz to 144hz, or people already operating at 144hz, then got Gsync/Freesync

I'm currently looking to try evaluate if a step into the world of 144hz monitors is feasible with my current setup(R9 290) and if it's worthwhile. And while Freesync and Gsync frequently comes into the conversation, as I've dug deeper, I've started to gain a vibe that Gsync and Freesync actually arn't all that important, its the jump to 60hz to 144hz thats the winner (I've found some posts and threads around the web where people already on 144 that then got Gsync or Freesync, weren't overly impressed and struggled to indicate a tangible difference)

Coming to that time of year (bonus time) where I take a look at my Pc for changes. I'm buying new Headphones, but was looking at my monitors thinking "Wonder if I should dip into 144hz". I play mostly World of Warcraft, Battlefield and a few sporadic games every now and then or flavour of the months.

The sync protcols simply time frame generation with LCD display refreshes. I don't think they really add anything to visual performance. They do reduce the feel of input lag, if you play a lot of twitch shooters you might notice the difference.

dog_pig · 13-05-2016 01:13PM

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

The sync protcols simply time frame generation with LCD display refreshes. I don't think they really add anything to visual performance. They do reduce the feel of input lag, if you play a lot of twitch shooters you might notice the difference.

It works well at reducing screen tearing but it won't reduce input lag, if anything it will increase it.

Cuddlesworth · 13-05-2016 01:43PM

dog_pig wrote: »

It works well at reducing screen tearing but it won't reduce input lag, if anything it will increase it.

Screen tearing that only happens if you turn vsync on. Which I never understand why people do.

Serephucus · 13-05-2016 01:50PM

I do it as a way to limit GPU load. Keeps my rig quite a bit quieter that way.

dog_pig · 13-05-2016 02:02PM

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

Screen tearing that only happens if you turn vsync on. Which I never understand why people do.

Tearing can occur with or without vsync enabled, but vsync is generally used to reduce tearing.

Sonics2k · 13-05-2016 04:09PM

Minor rant incoming.

A few weeks back I purchased the LightPack lighting set after reading some brilliant reviews of it. That was going on 8 weeks ago, and it cost a pretty penny.

After about 2 weeks I got onto them, and they were, to their credit, really helpful and apologised for the delays. No problem, it's a fairly recent start up and they do warn of delays in shipping. Now here we are after 8 weeks, and they say it was delivered about 3 weeks ago. I got onto the delivery company who at first were unable to confirm it was delivered here, but after a few more days claimed it was delivered to my address.
I pointed out I was home every single day, because I lost my job not long after ordering the damn thing. I know for a fact my neighbour didn't claim it, for one because he doesn't even have a computer, and I go to his place quite often as my kids are friends with his kids.

Lightpack are saying there is nothing they can do, which is understandable but bloody infuriating. So now I'm out about €120 which I no longer have to spare.

Balls.

Lu Tze · 13-05-2016 04:30PM

Sonics2k wrote: »

Minor rant incoming.

A few weeks back I purchased the LightPack lighting set after reading some brilliant reviews of it. That was going on 8 weeks ago, and it cost a pretty penny.

After about 2 weeks I got onto them, and they were, to their credit, really helpful and apologised for the delays. No problem, it's a fairly recent start up and they do warn of delays in shipping. Now here we are after 8 weeks, and they say it was delivered about 3 weeks ago. I got onto the delivery company who at first were unable to confirm it was delivered here, but after a few more days claimed it was delivered to my address.
I pointed out I was home every single day, because I lost my job not long after ordering the damn thing. I know for a fact my neighbour didn't claim it, for one because he doesn't even have a computer, and I go to his place quite often as my kids are friends with his kids.

Lightpack are saying there is nothing they can do, which is understandable but bloody infuriating. So now I'm out about €120 which I no longer have to spare.

Balls.

Ask for proof of delivery off light pack. They should follow it up with the courier (you have no contract with the couriers) somebody must have signed for it, see what comes back

TheDoc · 13-05-2016 04:31PM

Sonics2k wrote: »

Minor rant incoming.

A few weeks back I purchased the LightPack lighting set after reading some brilliant reviews of it. That was going on 8 weeks ago, and it cost a pretty penny.

After about 2 weeks I got onto them, and they were, to their credit, really helpful and apologised for the delays. No problem, it's a fairly recent start up and they do warn of delays in shipping. Now here we are after 8 weeks, and they say it was delivered about 3 weeks ago. I got onto the delivery company who at first were unable to confirm it was delivered here, but after a few more days claimed it was delivered to my address.
I pointed out I was home every single day, because I lost my job not long after ordering the damn thing. I know for a fact my neighbour didn't claim it, for one because he doesn't even have a computer, and I go to his place quite often as my kids are friends with his kids.

Lightpack are saying there is nothing they can do, which is understandable but bloody infuriating. So now I'm out about €120 which I no longer have to spare.

Balls.

a) There is a Paypal payment method on the site, so you can go through paypal to initiate a refund
b) If you went through using a Credit Card or Debit Card, you have protection for this, and can initiate a refund
c) If you paid a bank transfer, enquire with your bank if it was made through SEPA. The company looks American, but might receive payments in the EU. If so, its most likely SEPA, where you can initiate a no questions asked refund, up to 8 weeks after payment
d) What possessed you to buy that? I have something similar in my TV, and it was bought for €36 in IKEA. I did some reading about ambient TV lighting, and it kept coming back to "yeah these things are cool, but you can get them in IKEA to do the exact same thing for much cheaper"

If IKEA LED lighting behind my TV, and around my PC desk and monitors. Granted this point is mute overall to your issue, but maybe you weren't aware of them

Finally, delivery company sounds a a courier. They require signatures for packages in most instances (you ordered an item that likely couriers would have put through customs as its shipped from outside EU) as not only do they pretty much all take signatures, you likley would have been liable for some VAT/Custom charges.

So I'd also be asking the courier company for a copy of the docket with your signature, as you dont believe the item was delivered.

Lightpack should also be more interested, considering they likely have a client account with the courier(otherwise theyd ship through USPS or HK post, which then comes to you via An Post) as a bad courier can lead to a bad rep, and they would and should refund you or provide replacement, and then initiate an lost parcel claim with the courier.

I wouldn't let it sit if I was you, and I guess lesson for the future is when things go past expected shipping date, absolutely lamp couriers and companies out of it daily until its resolved.

I order a fair bit from Hong Kong at times, and considering the speed things arrive, your normally tight when it comes to lodging refunds/complaints or chargebacks.

Hope it gets sorted.

Sonics2k · 13-05-2016 04:38PM

TheDoc wrote: »

a) There is a Paypal payment method on the site, so you can go through paypal to initiate a refund
b) If you went through using a Credit Card or Debit Card, you have protection for this, and can initiate a refund
c) If you paid a bank transfer, enquire with your bank if it was made through SEPA. The company looks American, but might receive payments in the EU. If so, its most likely SEPA, where you can initiate a no questions asked refund, up to 8 weeks after payment
d) What possessed you to buy that? I have something similar in my TV, and it was bought for €36 in IKEA. I did some reading about ambient TV lighting, and it kept coming back to "yeah these things are cool, but you can get them in IKEA to do the exact same thing for much cheaper"

Paid for it through Debit Card and already followed up with the delivery company, who I won't name and shame as I've used them a few times and they've always been fine. Bank are looking into reversing the charges but they apparently will need time to do it as the courier claims it was delivered.

I live in an area of apartments, so I've a bad feeling some random claimed he was me, or maybe I was out walking the dogs or something.

To be honest I went with it as two very close friends have bought it and absolutely love it, and their set ups looks really clean.

I'll check out the Ikea ones though!

Bazzo · 13-05-2016 05:55PM

Definitely don't let that be. Whatever about the vendor not being at fault, you are 100% definitely not at fault, and they're in a much better position to bring up issues with the courier than you are. I'd be hassling them for a refund or replacement, and allow them to sort it out with the courier. Anything else is really bad customer service on their part tbh.

papu · 13-05-2016 06:43PM

same thing has happened me with a phone , delivery man self signed the parcels and left them at a building down the road. They've gone into the wind from there and i've been trying to get them back the last two weeks. Its a hassle now
a) trying to track down the parcel
b) lodging complaint with delivery company
c) starting an insurance claim with the retailer...

fml

glynf · 13-05-2016 07:17PM

TheDoc wrote: »

Trying to separate a bit of fact and fiction.

Is the hooha surrounding Freesync and gsync, actually legitimate? I'm wondering are the users providing feedback, users who went from 60hz to 144hz, or people already operating at 144hz, then got Gsync/Freesync

I'm currently looking to try evaluate if a step into the world of 144hz monitors is feasible with my current setup(R9 290) and if it's worthwhile. And while Freesync and Gsync frequently comes into the conversation, as I've dug deeper, I've started to gain a vibe that Gsync and Freesync actually arn't all that important, its the jump to 60hz to 144hz thats the winner (I've found some posts and threads around the web where people already on 144 that then got Gsync or Freesync, weren't overly impressed and struggled to indicate a tangible difference)

Coming to that time of year (bonus time) where I take a look at my Pc for changes. I'm buying new Headphones, but was looking at my monitors thinking "Wonder if I should dip into 144hz". I play mostly World of Warcraft, Battlefield and a few sporadic games every now and then or flavour of the months.

Anything over 90fps on a 120/144hz monitor is a marked improvement over 60hz monitor. Been running surround 120hz for the last 3+ years for gaming, never used vsync since, and no tearing. IMO once you are over 90fps with vsync off, its ideal. However, if my fps drops in game due to certain particle effects, or things getting busy-say from 90+ to <50 fps-its noticeable. Ways around this is to drop a few settings to up the average framerate.

I've only used a Gsync for 30mins at a in-laws in the UK last year, I'm a lefitie so couldn’t stick a poxy right handed mouse any longer. :P From what I saw of it, Gsync massively reduces this by syncing the monitor to exactly what the GPU is outputting.

It’s also worth mentioning I have gotten tearing at 120hz when the fps is ridiculously high on older games, for example L4D2-I still love that game.. is a bitch for this. Afterburner & precision have frame linmiters/frame rate targets which solve this.

My advice is go for a 144hz, there are huge advantages without any sync tech. If you are sticking AMD and it’s in budget, from what I see freesync is viable; Gsync is ridiculously expensive compared to it.

dreamers75 · 13-05-2016 10:38PM

Bazzo wrote: »

Definitely don't let that be. Whatever about the vendor not being at fault, you are 100% definitely not at fault, and they're in a much better position to bring up issues with the courier than you are. I'd be hassling them for a refund or replacement, and allow them to sort it out with the courier. Anything else is really bad customer service on their part tbh.

Its not the couriers responsibility to verify the person signing, they will have a signature and tracking software that proves they were at that exact address.

If they dont now.......they will when asked for one.

This is why I get all my **** sent to my job.

.G. · 14-05-2016 08:40AM

TheDoc wrote:

a) There is a Paypal payment method on the site, so you can go through paypal to initiate a refund b) If you went through using a Credit Card or Debit Card, you have protection for this, and can initiate a refund c) If you paid a bank transfer, enquire with your bank if it was made through SEPA. The company looks American, but might receive payments in the EU. If so, its most likely SEPA, where you can initiate a no questions asked refund, up to 8 weeks after payment d) What possessed you to buy that? I have something similar in my TV, and it was bought for â‚¬36 in IKEA. I did some reading about ambient TV lighting, and it kept coming back to "yeah these things are cool, but you can get them in IKEA to do the exact same thing for much cheaper"

Presumably your ikea stuff doesn't automatically react to the colours displayed on the screen. That's what I want to have set up when I buy my new monitor. Is there a way of doing this that's cheaper then lightpack?

TheDoc · 14-05-2016 09:35AM

superg wrote: »

Presumably your ikea stuff doesn't automatically react to the colours displayed on the screen. That's what I want to have set up when I buy my new monitor. Is there a way of doing this that's cheaper then lightpack?

Well s a personal preference, I decided not to go with something that changed dynamically, as I felt it might be distracting.

On my TV I just bought white LEDs which were cheap in IKEA, and they provide a nice white ambient when viewing so I don't have a main light on in the room and yet my eyes dont get wrecked.

For my Desk and monitors I have the LEDs that you can set the colours. You can set them manually, or have them change on a preset timer, but I have them set to purple.

Bazzo · 14-05-2016 11:22AM

dreamers75 wrote: »

Its not the couriers responsibility to verify the person signing, they will have a signature and tracking software that proves they were at that exact address.

If they dont now.......they will when asked for one.

This is why I get all my **** sent to my job.

That's all good and well but OP said he was at home. Unless somebody actually answered the door to his apartment and signed a signature matching the deliveree's name then I don't see how anybody except for the courier could be responsible for the blame here(besides the person who stole the package obviously). Their job is getting the parcel to the correct person at the correct address, and they failed to do that.

SterlingArcher · 14-05-2016 05:01PM

Sonics2k wrote: »

Paid for it through Debit Card and already followed up with the delivery company, who I won't name and shame as I've used them a few times and they've always been fine. Bank are looking into reversing the charges but they apparently will need time to do it as the courier claims it was delivered.

I live in an area of apartments, so I've a bad feeling some random claimed he was me, or maybe I was out walking the dogs or something.

To be honest I went with it as two very close friends have bought it and absolutely love it, and their set ups looks really clean.

I'll check out the Ikea ones though!

Twice this has happened to me. Twice two different delivery companies. It was The driver not bothered to deliver so signed it himself. Yep. Only after a formal complaint and being pissed off enough to take it way further. did my stuff magically appear.

Sonics2k · 16-05-2016 08:42AM

Good news. I happen to know a girl who works for the delivery company, but in a different office, so she's going to have a look into it for me.

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