so my dad wants to buy a desktop PC from me this is my chance to get a new CPU and MB

[crashtech]

I've had a couple of those GA-H81M-HD2 boards, I didn't like the fact that they skimped on on internal USB 3.0 header. Otherwise they are OK.

 

[Cerb]

I've had a couple of those GA-H81M-HD2 boards, I didn't like the fact that they skimped on on internal USB 3.0 header. Otherwise they are OK.

That's my main beef with H81, as well. It has 2 USB 3.0 ports, where B85 has 4, and the others have 6.

 

[crashtech]

That's my main beef with H81, as well. It has 2 USB 3.0 ports, where B85 has 4, and the others have 6.

Yeah, like an idiot I tried to pair one with a case that had front panel USB 3.0. Had to order an add-on card to finish the build.

Actually the boards I bought were both the H81M-DS2V as part of the G3258 blowouts Newegg was pushing. But I think they are almost the same.

 

[tential]

I don't think I'm even using a single USB 3.0 slot on my mobo. Everything I have just doesn't work/cuts out with USB 3.0.
2 USB slots for 3.0 may be enough for some people you should make sure you actually need the USB 3.0 slots first. Right now I'm only using my 2.0 slots.

That said, I still have a Z87 mobo. Only thing I've used is the sata ports. Maybe I'll OC one day though.

 

[Cerb]

I've already transitioned to a USB 3.0 SATA dock, and using USB 3.0 thumb drives. One of these days, I'll surely go to a USB 3.0 ODD (long story, but it's inside my PC, and I lost the bay cover in the mean time, so for now, it's staying ). So far, between Intel, Asmedia, and Renesas controllers, Virtualbox has been the only issue for 3.0 ports, both at home and work.

 

[john5220]

Guys if I was using back my same SSD with windows 7 thats currently on it will I need to format and reinstall when I put in this new board?

Mine is currently a ECS 1150 mainboard with Pentium G3220

If I just put in the new board with the i3 and load up windows like normal would that work? and just install the new drivers?

Or formatting from scratch would be better and I would also get better performance?

 

[escrow4]

I don't think I'm even using a single USB 3.0 slot on my mobo. Everything I have just doesn't work/cuts out with USB 3.0.
2 USB slots for 3.0 may be enough for some people you should make sure you actually need the USB 3.0 slots first. Right now I'm only using my 2.0 slots.

That said, I still have a Z87 mobo. Only thing I've used is the sata ports. Maybe I'll OC one day though.

4 USB 3 ports at the front, and 6 on the back. Just about covers it here. :awe:

 

[escrow4]

Guys if I was using back my same SSD with windows 7 thats currently on it will I need to format and reinstall when I put in this new board?

Mine is currently a ECS 1150 mainboard with Pentium G3220

If I just put in the new board with the i3 and load up windows like normal would that work? and just install the new drivers?

Or formatting from scratch would be better and I would also get better performance?

Fresh format with all new up to date drivers.

 

[Yuriman]

Might work, but you're likely to encounter random problems down the road. Much safer to start over.

 

[Spawne32]

You have to run sysprep before you install the new hardware, that is all. There never has been a reason for a fresh format of windows installing a new motherboard or cpu, don't know why that myth is still around. It was true of windows 95.

 

[Cerb]

Just uninstalling the video card driver, as a cautious measure, and making sure the drive controllers are similar enough (AHCI to AHCI, IDE to IDE, Intel RAID to Intel RAID, etc.), usually does the trick. Then, if it fails, boot it in the old system and do more work, like maybe sysprep . Then, re-activate. That, of course, is sidestepping any and all licensing issues.

 

[john5220]

Just one small problem now guys i got some of my parts most importantly the video card its a used 7850 but there are problems of which I am not sure if its the video card or the power supply

can you all have a read in my thread that I posted with the issues?

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2409008&page=2

and also I will put the images of my PSU here its a cooler master 460 watts elite PSU a cheap one which runs my HD 4870 fine which uses dual 6 PIN PCIE power connectors yet a single 6 pin 7850 causes it to just trip and shut down

I opened it and checked for dust here are 2 pics I took

I did put in a generic newish trash 700W PSU that costs $15 that I had lying around and sure enough it can run battlefield 3 for 2 hours before just tripping. I am a bit confused

 

[escrow4]

Just one small problem now guys i got some of my parts most importantly the video card its a used 7850 but there are problems of which I am not sure if its the video card or the power supply

can you all have a read in my thread that I posted with the issues?

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2409008&page=2

and also I will put the images of my PSU here its a cooler master 460 watts elite PSU a cheap one which runs my HD 4870 fine which uses dual 6 PIN PCIE power connectors yet a single 6 pin 7850 causes it to just trip and shut down

I opened it and checked for dust here are 2 pics I took

I did put in a generic newish trash 700W PSU that costs $15 that I had lying around and sure enough it can run battlefield 3 for 2 hours before just tripping. I am a bit confused

Get a quality PSU not a $15 firecracker.

 

[john5220]

yeah I know but I am surprised my Cooler Master can't power the card when it powers a more power hungry HD 4870 with dual PCIE 6 pin connectors

or is it a case if dual 6 pin pulls from both rails so its easier since the PSU is a dual rail?

this cooler master at the time cost me $40 US

well I just finished cleaning it looks like new now gonna try it to see

 

[john5220]

guys it seems its still tripping and I cleaned it very proper, I don't trust cooler master anymore neither. So i went ahead and bought this PSU based on recommendation from this forum

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

its some sort of Rosewill brand but apparently its 100% Japanese capacitors.

i wanted the Cooler Master 550V but its too expensive $85 and not to mention this rosewill scored just as high and its only $59 and 750Watts

I want to believe I am set for life now with this new PSU just have to hope its a good one and not a doa.

What you guys think its a good buy for $59? its single rail with massive power it seems

 

[crashtech]

It's good.

 

[john5220]

ok nice to know man

 

[Burpo]

My old Rosewill Performance 550 has been pushing a 4.3ghz Xeon hex core & GTX 570 for awhile now.. Never an issue..

 

[john5220]

^ sweet I would have bought the 550 or even the 650

Problem was the 750 was cheaper than everything else. Somehow.....

 

[Cerb]

So i went ahead and bought this PSU based on recommendation from this forum

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

its some sort of Rosewill brand but apparently its 100% Japanese capacitors.

It's a rebrand of the Super Flower Golden Green. Super Flower is a good Chinese PSU maker, with very little Western retail presence at all, and none in North America. Rosewill sells some junkers, too, but the Capstones are not among those.

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story5&reid=250

 

[john5220]

Aah well this makes me feel very confident about my purchase. I am not looking for the best, infact my garbage cooler master elite 460W if it didn't start tripping like this I would not mind running it for many more years to come.

Those junk cooler masters did actually work for me so I am going to assume this capstone 750w will be more than perfect for my needs.
I mean 100% japanese capacitors and golden 80 plus for $60 at 750W what better deal could there possibly be.

this is the first time I have spent this much money on a PSU. I think what made me buy this was the deal amazon currently has for $60 you cannot beat that the 750W is cheaper than the 650 etc

 

[Cerb]

Cooler Master may be loose with their ratings on cheap PSUs, but to their credit, unlike quite a few other brands, I've never seen PC components taken out by a failing Cooler Master PSU. They seem to at least design or spec that portion of the design well, even on the cheapies.

 

[cytg111]

hmm I just canceled the order because

I could get a $50 mainboard haswell on amazon and

And the 3.6GHZ i3 is $122

So this means this setup is costing just $10 more than FX 6300 AMD

So it seems to make more sense to order the intel

Good friggin call

 

[Ryanrenesis]

Thank god! You make the right decision going Intel.

 

[escrow4]

Aah well this makes me feel very confident about my purchase. I am not looking for the best, infact my garbage cooler master elite 460W if it didn't start tripping like this I would not mind running it for many more years to come.

Those junk cooler masters did actually work for me so I am going to assume this capstone 750w will be more than perfect for my needs.
I mean 100% japanese capacitors and golden 80 plus for $60 at 750W what better deal could there possibly be.

this is the first time I have spent this much money on a PSU. I think what made me buy this was the deal amazon currently has for $60 you cannot beat that the 750W is cheaper than the 650 etc

You should never cheap out on PSUs, they run the whole system. I've never gotten a cheapo in all my years of building. Its never worth it. Ever.