Bleeding Edge Technology

[Tweakin]

After a long time away from AT Forums, I see that the same questions are being asked over and over again, "why doesn't this work with that" and "how come when I do this that happens?"

I'm a perfect example of an overaged kid who wants the latest and greatest toy to play with, yet I have been in this industry for over 15 years and still haven't learned the most basic principle:

Bleeding edge technology comes at a price

As I sit here typing this, on my work computer during lunch, I know that when I get home I'm going to have to pull out my mobo and prepare it for RMA, shipt off another video card (2 in the last week) and patiently wait for the technician on the other side of the rainbow to bless me with a working system. I know that the latest technology comes with responsabilities, such as waiting for mature drivers, bios updates and compatability issues to get worked out, yet I scream and cuss everytime something isn't "just right!"

I now find myself asking the question, "why didn't I just order a mature product..." This is the million dollar question, for all of us know that we really don't need the latest and greatest, yet we still order them and then complain when things don't go right. For 99% of us, an Intel P3 or AMD K7, combined with a nice ATI or Nvidia card would be more then enough for all of our computing needs, yet we push ourselves to justify the need for that last 3 FPS. This requires a new PS which doesn't fit in out old case, and then there is the new memory since the FSB is now higher then the speed of my older cpu. Of course my new cpu needs the latest $70 cooler, don't want a meltdown while I'm surfing the Internet. Better upgrade my hard drive too, I don't think 200GB is large enough to fit all my synthetic bench programs that I need to determine if the system is running faster then everyone elses simular system. The questions, SATA, PCI-E, SLI, NCQ, Dual Memory Channel or Single...etc.etc.

I'm rambling on here, and I'm depressed that my online schooling has gone to s$$$ due to the majority of my waking hours being spent talking to technicians to get RMA's, preparing my goods for shipping, tending to the Forums to see if anyone else is in as bad of shape as I am. New Technolocy requires patience and a responsible owner to treat it correctly. I also know that 2 weeks or so after I get this system running, I will forget this thread, laugh at those who are still having problems, and dream of the next latest and greatest venture in the computing world...Some of us just don't learn.

 

[nick1985]

my E-penis is bigger than yours

 

[NTB]

So-called "mature" products aren't always better 🙂 I recently built myself a newer system consisting of an NForce250-based MB, Athlon64 3000+ (754 pin), and an ATI Radeon 9800Pro video card. One of the PC3200 RAM sticks I bought died after about 2 weeks, then the video card started to crap out - turned out to be a flaky power connector. I have recieved replacements for both pieces, and the system is working beautifully.

Nate

 

[Tweakin]

Originally posted by: nick1985
my E-penis is bigger than yours

Nope...I just downloaded this little utility that increases my system resources by ........

 

[Tweakin]

Originally posted by: NTB
So-called "mature" products aren't always better 🙂 I recently built myself a newer system consisting of an NForce250-based MB, Athlon64 3000+ (754 pin), and an ATI Radeon 9800Pro video card. One of the PC3200 RAM sticks I bought died after about 2 weeks, then the video card started to crap out - turned out to be a flaky power connector. I have recieved replacements for both pieces, and the system is working beautifully.

Nate

This is different, the RAM died probalby due to ESD...just didn't show up until now. This happens with all electronics, we just have to deal with it. And the video card, well that was just shabby workmanship on ATI's fault...some tired assy line worker trying to get home early to watch a reality show or something.

All things electrical or mechanical can and will fail, but I'm talking about our inability to stay away from products that we know are going to have problems due to the recent availability for the general consumer. Just look at how fast the NForce 4 questions have popped up...they have only been out for a couple of months at best, and the SLI questions. It's the same s$$$ over and over again, just different life cycles of technology.

 

[ahurtt]

Very well put, Tweakin. I echo your sentiments exactly. And as I sit here typing this, I have just built a new system with all those things you mentioned. . .PCI express, SLI, SATA w/ NCQ, Dual channel RAM, Socket 939, nForce 4, Overclocked and everything. And yes, it was frustrating and I ran into some hitches along the way but what's cool is in the end, it did come together and it does ROCK! And I learned a lot of new stuff in the process and now it's something I can look at and say, "I did it. I conquered the unknown and I built that machine and it is good." And that, to me, is what makes it worth it. And as for some of us just not learning. . .I would argue the opposite. Some of us just can't learn enough! 🙂

 

[Tweakin]

Originally posted by: ahurtt
And as for some of us just not learning. . .I would argue the opposite. Some of us just can't learn enough! 🙂

There are some that can't learn enough, and there are some that just can't learn.....

If you venture into this with the knowledge that certain things are going to require "Teakin," then it is good and all will cheer, and when problems arise, specific resources are used to resolve these problems, and this is good. But when one ventures into this thinking all is easy, without the basic understanding of how things work and/or why, then this is bad. Bad leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to war, war leads to RMA's, RMA's lead to new systems and the cycle begins all over again.

Am I talking out my a$$ or what......I need some valium and a nap.

 

[rbV5]

The 9600XT isn't exactly cutting edge however, your next 20 builds could go without a hitch..its just the luck of the draw, and you got bad luck with your Vcard(and apparentlyyour Mobo?) this time around.