As part of my self imposed Star Wars break-up (we’ll get back together eventually, I’m just a fickle woman) I decided to finally take the plunge and invest in a new computer. A couple paychecks, some sore fingers, lots of boxes, and a nap later, I finally have a rig that matches my Hardcore-ness. My Toaster, as we so lovingly refer to it, has served me faithfully and given me a lot of SWTOR memories. On the second day of launch I remember Gorband from Suckafish on my living room floor helping me put in my new video card and power supply. It’s what I raided on for progression, and I wouldn’t be the player I am today without it. Truthfully, I’m a better player because my computer was absolute shit. Dread Guards in TFB was the shining example of that, avoiding puddles you can’t see is always fun. Since then, it’s been a slow decline for my computer. Graphics card dying, jamming a pencil into my CPU fan to hold it in place, and the saddest sounding case fan ever. With where it is now, and the recent increase in graphical effects in PvE, playing has been tortuous. Just turning my character is rough, and Load Lifters don’t show up at all. Oh, and this really cool thing where Revivication wont cast where I click… I knew I wanted to build my new computer myself. I feel like it’s legit geekness to be able to say, “Ya, I built my computer” and I wanted the street cred. I also figured building it myself would make upgrades and replacements easier in the future. But, I had no idea where to start or what to buy. Thankfully I had a really good resource, my TOROCast hosts. Throughout the whole process, Miner, Snave, and Road answered every noobie question I had from compatibility and wattage to whether it would all fit in the case. It took Miner all of 2 minutes to whip me up a list on PCpartpicker. That was really cool because it gave me a basic idea where to start and also showed prices for the same parts on different sites. I ordered most the parts from Newegg, though Amazon Prime has been really handy for that two day shipping for smaller things like the SSD mount and HDMI cable. On Friday it was build day and Miner had graciously agreed to help me. He walked me step by step through it, answered my questions, and dealt with my constant swearing and complaining. He even helped me get Windows downloaded and burnt to a disk so I could use the key I had on my old computer on my new. Miraculously, it turned on the first time. Well, after I plugged the power supply in. Oh, and after, after I turned the power supply switch to on. While I waited for Windows to download, I took a quick nap. Then it was time to take my optical drive and graphics card out of the old PC and put it in the new. I had originally wanted to get a new graphics card, but I decided to wait so I could get a more expensive and better one. Also, mine isn’t dead just yet. Getting the optical drive out was easy, but the graphics card was a nightmare. It took me longer to take it out and put it back in than everything else combined. It also prompted the only tantrum I threw, and the only time I broke something. Well, somethings. I broke the retention clip on the motherboard taking it out, and the mounting clip on the case putting it on. In true Mae form, I jammed it back into place. Holding steady. After a mild panic because I couldn’t connect to the internet (this genius didn’t run the motherboard drivers disc) it was done. Last night was the first night in over a year I’ve been able to leave my computer on overnight (to download SWTOR of course). I can’t wait to get some PvP time in tonight and see if I can stream. I’m so glad I finally went through with the build, I feel more geeky. Thank you Miner, Snave, Road, and Chyms for dealing with me. I’d have hung myself with power supply cables if it wasn’t for you.
1 Comment
Anoy
2/1/2015 11:30:50 am
why only 8gb on the ram and why didnt u upgrade your shit vid card? and why dont u know how to all that already? and why are u still doing torocast when u dont have a active sub with swtor?
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