LazyDragon

Sure, sorry for not including all this in the original post, I wrote it in a hurry. Currently running: CPU: i7-9700k RAM: 16 GB DDR4 MB: MSI PRO Z390-A PRO and Windows is running on an SSD: Samsung 860 Evo 500GB Previously running: CPU: i5-4590 RAM: 8 GB DDR3 (don't know the motherboard make, it was a prebuilt system that i put an SSD in, which is still the SSD I'm using now) I haven't tried cleaning the drive and reinstalling windows.

A few specific programs (my main concern is scrivener, but I have the exact problem with other programs) are having an issue where they will start normally if opened immediately after the computer boots, but after that will only ever open as a background task in the task manager. They will also only open normally once - if closed and reopened, they will only open as background tasks. I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling the programs in question, updating drivers, and repairing system files. The problem persists even after moving from old hardware to very new hardware. This is the strangest problem I've ever had, I'd appreciate any insight.

My mom would really like a MacBook or something that's at least running macOS. Here are the problems... The Hackintosh route looks unfeasible, seeing as I'm a few thousand klicks away from her right now. Macs are a little too expensive for her new - not to mention they still have the butterfly keyboard. Old Macs are old (anything since 2015 has the butterfly keyboard) and a gamble - not to mention still surprisingly pricey. I'm kind of stuck on how to help her. Even if my cousin in her area could help with a Hackintosh setup, it seems that macOS only likes Apple-approved wifi/bluetooth chips. If anyone can at least help me figure out a reasonable price to shoot for while buying used, that'd be much appreciated.

It's a non-k CPU.

Ah, ok, I was unclear. The SODIMM RAM is not the RAM that's already in the PC. I got it from a friend. I also have the 8 GB (2x 4 GB) of DIMM already in the PC.

I recently acquired a PC that I plan to make my long-term project. It's a humble little thing. i5-4590, 8 GB DDR3, 500 GB HDD, no graphics card or even wifi/bluetooth. I figured I could add some RAM and a graphics card I had lying around (crummy, but still better than integrated). I opened the thing up, and was pleasantly surprised at just how modular it was. I'm so used to opening up laptops that this was a treat. Unfortunately, however, I also found that my my mobo isn't exactly up to snuff... only two DIMM slots and no space for the graphics card (not because there wasn't a slot, my case won't fit it). Unfortunately, being the noob that I am, I didn't understand that there are different types of RAM beyond the DDR versions. So the DDR3 RAM I had was SODIMM. To compound problems, this RAM is second-hand and untested, making selling more complicated. So now I have options. 1. I can try to find a new motherboard, which doesn't solve the RAM problem except for allowing me to install 32+ GB at some point. My current mobo has 1 PCIe 16x slot and a 1x slot. A new board could provide more slots. 2. Use these and run a system with 16 GB of RAM 3. Again use these to test the RAM, then sell and get some better DIMM 4. Sell the SODIMM untested for a lower price I'm leaning towards 2 or 3, but let me know what you think.

I browse Ebay a fair bit, looking for good prices and then never buying anything. (It's complicated, ok?) Just today I found some pre-built desktops that are priced... low. $55 USD, $70 CAD. This catches my eye. Then I notice that one of them has an i7-2600, and an NVIDIA 710, along with 8 GB of RAM and a 1 TB HDD. So, this is fishy. It gets better though, because you'll never guess where these are shipping from. Hong Kong. Better still, both of these were posted by sellers with meaningless names -- long strings of characters, both different. However, they are priced exactly the same and both ship from Hong Kong, so I kind of assume they're related in some way. It's so, so sketchy, but it's still so tempting. What is one to do?

Ok, gotcha.

Thanks to you too... I think. But now I have two conflicting views.

Perfect. That's what I was expecting, but I wanted to be sure. Thanks!

This is likely a dumb question, but I have (what appears to be, because I got this from a friend and the sticker is incredibly cryptic,) 4 sticks of Corsair 8GB DDR3 1066 RAM. Only thing is, this is labelled "MacMemory". Is there any reason why this wouldn't be compatible with any other system I build, as long as the chip supports 8-gig DDR3 1066? Are there other factors? Or is this just how it was labelled?

Maybe if I wanted a C2D or a compute stick. No thanks.

I'd like to build a desktop PC for around $200 CAD, preferably even slightly lower. I'm not afraid to buy second hand (even if I should be). I'd like a PC I can use for basically everything. I'd like to be able to run everything from my basic word editor to atom with a crap-ton of packages, to light games, to my editing/modelling software. It would be helpful to know whether this is even possible in my price range. I'd like to know what kind of processor and graphics card I should look for. I've found stuff like a thinkcentre with an i5-2400 for $110, but I'm new to this and don't know what exactly will run what I need.