Jabo

Re: GPU - If it's a single card and you've mounted the mobo the right way up then 99.99 times out of a hundred it'll be the top slot you want (it's usually x16 whereas the others might be x8). Check the instructions for the liquid cooler - don't forget that your key driver is to blow the coolest air you can through the rad so if the fans on the top are exhaust fans (as most are) then your rad needs to go somewhere else - my rig has two intake fans at the back either side of the rad in a sort of pushmepullyou arrangement. Here's what that looks like out of the case (ignore the dust please - it'll be cleaned before it goes back in).

Personally I think it's poor form, but mainly it's a waste of ammunition on the attacker's part. You'll find that when you're flying 'full switch' with limited ammo, people will generally break off an attack when they think their target is done. Doesn't apply to everyone though.

Brad Pitt?

That's pretty much how I set my rig up Arthur although I went a step further - SSD split into 2 partitions - OS in one, games in the other. I also move the Users folder to a separate HDD using the Windows Sysprep utility so I can reinstall the OS without needing to additionally back up my data/games first. Of course, all of the above presupposes a working rig in the first place which is eluding me at present.

So the theme for 2019's Legends is... Any guesses?

Count me in Christof - finding a cheaper alternative to the holiday inn has appeal (I have booked a room with free cancellation though - just in case)

Board has gone back to Scan - now to wait for a replacement (drums fingers)

Yep, you probably should...

In a further update, I have (at FT's suggestion) stripped out everything connected to the mobo in the PC except the processor and 1 stick of memory. I then created a bootable copy of ubuntu and tried to boot the machine with that. It did - first time, no problem. So I though it might be a problem with the SSD. So I connected that back up and tried to boot off the stick again. Ubuntu failed to start. Problem with the SSD perhaps? Disconnected the SSD and tried to boot again. Nada. Tried another four times, and it failed every time. I don't see that there's much more I can do with this now so I'm going to strip out the mobo and take off the processor so it's ready to post back to Scan as soon as I have an RMA number. So much for getting some serious fliegening done over the Christmas hols. Oh well...

Yep, although the machine posts I cannot get into Windows without the machine bluescreening, I also cannot get the machine to start up from the installation media without repeated BSODs. So once Scan are back from their Chrimbo break I'll RMA the mainboard and we'll have another crack at this one. Hey ho.

What OS are you using Foto?

So it turns out that I’ve bought the wrong mobo. Back to the drawing board...

Not going at all Kev

So some definition of the word fun I wasn’t previously aware of...

Oooo. Shiny PC bits have arrived!

I went for a Z370 board simply to keep the cost down, there was no way I could afford to spend £150 more on the 9900K so the Z390 didn't seem to offer enough to offset the price although I get your point. I'm not considering anything more than a very light overclock once I'm happy that everything is good, so a solid, reliable board was all that was important. You've got a great setup there with that board and processor Kev!

Interesting, I hadn't realised we'd gone for the same CPU - what mainboard chipset did you go for? Z370 or Z390? I don't think I have a problem with reconfiguring the sims, as they are all installed in folders off my system drive. I should be able to install windows, add the shortcuts back in and Robert is your mother's brother. It won't work like that of course - I suspect I'll be installing the bloody lot, but hey ho. I'm just debating at the moment when I shall do the work - I have a fortnight off at Chrimbo so that would be best but the stuff is due on Tuesday so...

I've got OS installation withdrawal symptoms Arthur. Windows 10 has been super reliable so I haven't felt the need - so a major upgrade seems to be the sensible time. It'll be fun...

I have - just pushed the button on a 9700K, mobo and some odds and ends. RAM is courtesy of Sid so there's an upgrade there too.

Isn’t it. You’d fall over else

I'm not sure there's much I can't do right now, the 980GTX is still going strong (just as well, I'm still paying for it), but the i5-2500K is getting a bit long in the tooth so maybe time for a change - I'm not considering VR at the moment so I'm not maxing the graphics at this point. If Sid still has the memory available, I'd save a few quid and buy the bits separately - I have a compatible water cooler so don't require the big air.

I'm considering an upgrade to this (assuming my Christmas bonus comes in) - worth the money? https://www.scan.co.uk/products/3xs-z370-overclocked-bundle-intel-core-i7-8700k-coffee-lake-asus-tuf-z370-plus-16gb-ddr4-be-quiet!-d