PC Gaming Rig Build - New toys.

[ysu]

shit, Exar, that's blasphemy! You need to play a bit of AC, at least !

[Exar Kun]

Moving house in a couple of weeks so I'm hoping I can get it all set up again in the new place. Very much looking forward to giving AC a proper run. It's a bit far down on the list of priorities at the moment though.

[wobblysauce]

And that is why you are 'Sensible Mick'.

[Woodee]

I think someone mentioned this a while back and I think it is something I want to try.

Once the PC is all setup on the SSD and running ok, you make a backup of the partition so it can be restored easily? I would like to do this when I get my SSD sorted, it has to be a FREE solution as I have no money left.

[ysu]

There are a number of tools to take an "image" of the drive or a partition, some are even free.
I've used cloneZilla (it's free) for this, and while it's very capable and works well, it's not for the faint hearted (i.e not the most user-friendly)

[r8response]

I don't bother making a backup.


The SSD is fast enough that doing a reinstall off a USB only takes a good 10 minutes.

[Shonky]

10 minutes for the OS, but what about all your apps and games?

I use the free version of Macrium Reflect, easy enough to use and seems pretty reliable.

[r8response]

10 minutes for the OS, but what about all your apps and games?

I use the free version of Macrium Reflect, easy enough to use and seems pretty reliable.

Games and other important programs are on another HDD. My Documents are also on another HDD separate to the games HDD.

[ysu]

Don't take backups?!?
OS, installed programs, all sorts of configs... it takes a good day or two for an average user to get back to near where they were - only near! I used to find missing crap for days, sometimes weeks after a new computer install.
Yes, take backups, take them often and take separate ones, if you can afford the storage. It can save heaps of headaches.

In fact I'm still hunting for a good program to do all this - even a paying one. A good automatic image backup that is.

The only scenario where you won't benefit much is if you use your pc on a totally default win install and only use it for gaming. But a as a general advice it's horrible in my opinion.

[r8response]

My most recent format was about a month ago.

From start (formatting the SDD) to finish (gaming etc) it took around an hour and a half. I have all the latest drivers I need. The longest I had to wait was 10mins for windows to download Windows Update 1


If it takes you a day or two to get back to near where you were, then that's and issue for you to resolve. I don't image and I barely ever back anything up. Haven't lost anything of note even when my SSD lost it's MBR because of a firmware issue.

[ysu]

If it takes you a day or two to get back to near where you were, then that's and issue for you to resolve.

That's an extremely short-sighted view IMHO. Most people will have a lot of things installed for work (not just me, pretty much everyone I know has/had this pain of reinstalling).
Anyway, I'm not going to try to educate you on this matter, just don't say "do no backups" please, it's really poor advice.

[r8response]

just don't say "do no backups" please, it's really poor advice.

At no point did I advocate that Woodee or anyone else not backup. Please don't put words in my mouth.

[ysu]

just don't say "do no backups" please, it's really poor advice.

At no point did I advocate that Woodee or anyone else not backup. Please don't put words in my mouth.

Apologies, I read the "I don't bother" as "dont' bother" - sorry!

[richo]

Drive or Partition for Windows only is what I have been using for years .

Everything of value on multiple drives and all gaming stuff which these days is Steam or Wow all run without having to be reinstalled anyways .

I actually like doing clean installs as it makes a world of difference in usability , I image drives for work but I can't see the point of imaging 3 yr old installs of WIndows to me it's shit in shit out..

[richo]

Edit: I'm impatient ..

[wobblysauce]

Even posts are the same.

[Woodee]

New Win 7 x64 install with a new SSD and GFX card. It keeps freezing....any ideas?

[KNAPPO]

I wanted a bit more ambient light when gaming at night, there is enough off the 3 screens for keyboard and button box use but access to pretty much anything else was a exercise in being blind.
I dabbled with desk lams but it was either way too bright or too much of a pain as the kids would have access...

Solution, light up that case window!
The result is perfect. Just enough light spill to see what im doing at night and no accessible light. 1st pic looks waaaay to dark on my phone..

[ysu]

I usually put a simple desk lamp turned towards the wall (I've one with leds so it does not require much power). Your solution is a tad more extravagant

[pixelboy]

And looks Awesome!

[Woodee]

I like those power cables going towards your graphics cards.

[wobblysauce]

Can only do some much tidy with front facing power.

[Shonky]

Looks awesome Knappo, you can gauge how awesome it is by how much shit your missus gives you for being so nerdy.........or is that just my own house.

[KNAPPO]

Scored some free curtains from work so ive finally been able to finish off the bay window in my gaming room and put the rig in its final resting place.

[Shaun]

Looks like it's just meant to be there. Awesome setup man