FollowTheLaser

I've just had another shut down - driver conflicts were not the problem. I suspect it's either the PSU on the way out, or the fact that the PC is plugged into an extension lead - not my choice, nothing I could really do to avoid having to do it. Either way, the situation is not good.

I've just uninstalled all Radeon drivers with DDU - will monitor the situation and see if it's done the trick.

I have recently been experiencing apparently random restarts - approximately once a day - when using my PC after upgrading from an RX 470 to a second hand GTX 980. It has only happened a couple of times, but I want to make sure it doesn't happen again and is not indicative of a larger problem. I'm using the latest GPU drivers, and according to several PSU calculators my system is well within the rating of my PSU. I have observed no unusual thermals and the system was not under heavy load when the restarts occurred. Obligatory stuff: OS: Windows 10 64-bit Specs: CPU: Ryzen 7 3700X RAM: 2x8GB DDR4 3200MHz GPU: ASUS ROG Strix 980 - specific model unknown PSU: Corsair CX500M 500W MoBo: MSI B450m Mortar MAX Storage: 128GB SATA SSD, 2x 1TB SATA HDD I'm pretty sure that I have the latest BIOS, and the software running when crashes occur has been different each time. The restart is a sudden cut of power to the system followed by a reboot. This started recently - the first crash was a few days ago, but I fitted the GPU a little under two weeks ago. I'm at a loss for what to do. Any suggestions?

I don't think you read what I said - my motherboard's onboard audio is causing issues. That's why I need a sound card.

So my motherboard's onboard audio is causing some issues; I've fully troubleshot the issue and as best I can tell, that's the problem. That in mind, I want the best value sound card I can get which uses PCIe. They'll be driving a pair of Sennheiser 559s. I play CSGO, so the quality of positional audio is a priority. What do you suggest?

I recently bought a new pair of headphones (Sennheiser HD559) with a separate microphone, but whenever I plug a mic into my rig I get some really hideous static which seems to get louder over time. If any audio is playing through the headphones, the signal seems to be picked up by the mic and distorted. I've tried two microphones (VMODA BoomPro and Zalman ZMMic 1) and both have had the issue. The mic connects via 3.5mm mic jack, so if I were to guess at the problem, I'd guess my motherboard's audio was screwed up. That's not a surprise - the motherboard's pretty old at this point. Has anyone had this issue? What is it and what causes it? What's the cheapest way I can fix it?

I'm not using a power strip.

I recently bought a new pair of headphones with a separate microphone, but whenever I plug a mic into my rig I get some really hideous static which seems to get louder over time. If any audio is playing through the headphones, the signal seems to be picked up by the mic and distorted. I've tried two microphones and both have had the issue. The mic connects via 3.5mm mic jack, so if I were to guess at the problem, I'd guess my motherboard's audio was jacked up. That's not a surprise - the motherboard's pretty old at this point. Has anyone had this issue? What is it and what causes it? What's the cheapest way I can fix it?

I'm looking for a new pair of headphones - primarily for games - but also for rap, metal, rock, and electronic music. I don't really care whether they're open or closed-back, but I think I'm leaning more to closed since it's possible that I'll need them to block out noise - especially at LAN parties. I'll mostly be using these at home, but it's not guaranteed that I'll have any control over the ambient noise at home since I'm still having to live with flatmates for the foreseeable future. It is essential that the cable be removable, and the budget isn't totally set in stone - if significant improvements can be had for slightly more, I am open to increasing the spend. They can't require an amp to use, since they're likely to be moved around a fair amount and that's space I don't want to be taken up in my suitcase - and speaking of which, they should be durable if possible too since I may have to transport them. I have been recommended the Superlux HD668B, the HD681EVO and the Monoprice 8323, and have recently seen the Massdrop x AKG M220 but if there is an option I haven't seen yet then I'd love to hear it. If not, then a recommendation for one of the above sets would be great.

Does anyone know whether or not we'll see any YouTube coverage of LTX? It sounds really cool, but I won't be able to attend it.

@deXxterlab97 Thanks!

I am about to buy a MoBo from a friend, but it doesn't fit in with my eventual end-goal for my build in terms of the theme. How much, if any of it, could I paint? I'm particularly looking to either neutralise or repaint the blue sections. Image attached.

Sounds to me like the PSU. It shouldn't have failed after only a year, but it seems like it has.

The motherboard is super cheap; an MSI H81M-P33. Overclocking capable, but entry-level. Would want a new one, but can't afford it. I want to spend as little as possible while still getting four cores, since I'm currently running a Pentium G3258 @ 4.2GHz. @Cracklingice @Squibbies18

I need a new CPU for my rig, which currently uses a motherboard on the LGA1150 platform, but budget is super limited. Where could I get one very cheaply in the UK? I tried eBay, but the cheap ones were all auctions and the Buy It Now units were way overpriced. Any help would be appreciated.

If somehow, a processor were to have a dead core, would it still work? I ask because I've found a processor on eBay insanely cheap for what it is, sold as working, but I'm wondering what exactly 'working' means. Is it likely to have gimped thermals? Is it likely that there will be dead components or old thermal paste that would need to be replaced?

Full Spec: MoBo: MSI H81M-P33 CPU: Pentium G3258, @ 4.2 GHz cooled with a Corsair H100i (A gift from a friend's old build) RAM: Corsair Vengeance 2x4GB GPU: AMD Radeon RX470 PSU: Corsair CX500 Storage: 1TB HDD @nerdslayer1

So I am currently running a Pentium G3258, overclocked to the maximum my motherboard would allow at 4.2GHz. What's the next logical budget step-up in terms of performance? In other words, which upgrade would be best value for money from what I have? My main system bottleneck seems to be the CPU, and while the bottleneck only is noticeable for me in certain games - Planetside 2 and GTA V - I'm sure it's only a matter of time before this list grows.