Simple Questions - April 18, 2026

Posted by AutoModerator@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 27 comments

This thread is for simple questions that don't warrant their own thread (although we strongly suggest checking the sidebar and the wiki before posting!). Please don't post involved questions that are better suited to a [Build Help], [Build Ready] or [Build Complete] post.
Examples of questions suitable for here:

Is this RAM compatible with my motherboard?
I'm thinking of getting a ≤$300 graphics card. Which one should I get?
I'm on a very tight budget and I'm looking for a case ≤$50

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To easily find previous simple questions posts, use this link.

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ProStar-Ghost@reddit

I would like to know if 3x Phanteks T30-140 [Performance] case fans will be safe on a 1A SYS_FAN2 header.

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Vloxalion@reddit

Most likely a no.

see bottom paragraphs of this page and the charts here on this one

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ProStar-Ghost@reddit

I looked at those two specific locations you mention. Very useful information. Thanks for sharing those pages.

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ProStar-Ghost@reddit

fair enough - i have a spare 3A PUMP header available, i’m thinking that might be safe. key word = “thinking”

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Jordn100@reddit

Aussie here - Any advice, I'm looking for a $100 AUD ($70 USD) or less SATA SSD for a 200-500gb primary/windows storage on my desktop.

Just getting a bit lost between the allure of cheaper Chinese brands and trying to find a cheap option from an established brand. There's some fanxiang, idiloca, Silicone Power as well as Ali Express options but I don't have experience of those to know what I can trust. If I Could get a 1TB NVME for$150 I might consider that but cheaper is better right now.

Some context:

Budget: under $100 ($70USD).

Use: windows install + a few games at a time. I can live with 200gb until I get a larger storage later.

Motherboard : Asrock B550M ITX

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5600G

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Vloxalion@reddit

r/NewMaxx has some info, his discord is searchable and more active.

i assume you already have an nvme and are running linux, but want to play anticheat games. can't remember what the special steps to do in linux for being compatible with turning secure boot and tpm on, if you had turned them off for being less troublesome, and anti-microsoft reasons. keep your linux drive disconnected when you install windows and you can update your bootloader to grab the entry after you get windows installed.

for windows, update your mobo bios, update chipset drivers from amd website(or from within adrenalin drivers). https://www.amd.com/en/support/downloads/drivers.html/

here is an excellent script for windows debloating / telemetry + ai removal / update disruption pausing , highly recommend. run after feature updates because microsoft adds back in the ai and other junk.

popular amd optimization post mostly for windows.

isthereanydeal.com, r/FreeGameFindings , eneba for getting games. pcgamingwiki.com for game by game optimizations/info and nexusmods pretty good site for mods.

framelimiting based on monitor refresh rate for low latency tearing mitigation.

framesync labs has some nice vids on how bios/windows settings affects game performance, he tests each one mentioned but his vid thumbnails look like generic clickbait. mostly nvidia for gpu.

ssd buying advice start here ---> if you don't have any drive, nvme are usually the same price or a little more and would be the way to go instead. you have cezanne cpu so while zen3 it has half the cache to accommodate the igpu and is limited to gen3 pcie, but the fclock and thus ram speeds can often go higher than vermeer. ddr4 overclocking guide

aside from a smattering of models, sata ssds are more likely to get whatever flash/controller hardware swaps. techpowerup ssd database has a lot of model information, but not comprehensive on percentage of models out there. as ssds fill up they become slower, especially for qlc.

the cost of a used drive is often lower, but if there's illegal stuff on there then you're accountable for it, and just formatting isn't enough to get rid of the data because the files are still there just unavailable, a couple secure erases from bios perhaps?

on pcpp, i see netac nv3000 256gb for 75aud, and 480gb is 117 for a patriot p310... for sata i see msi s270 240/480gb for 69/99.

ebay au... they're all from outside the country but have better selection. aliexpress... seeing a better variety for cheaper than retail like nv3000 512gb for 88 minus the current coupon promotion. you know your fbmarketplace.

if wanting a dedicated gpu, low cost ones in increasing price should be rx580, 5500xt/5600xt, rx5700xt/2060super, 6700xt/2080ti? install nvidia drivers with nvcleanstall, and oc/uv. undervolt+overclock for more performance at same/less power (nvidia) - vid comments have good info, guide methodology applies to other nvidia gpus. ancientgameplays and imwateringpsus have guides for amd. for example, around 240-280w instead of default 330w 3080 can pull. use ddu before installing drivers for new card even when going nvidia to nvidia or amd to amd. relative strength of gpus gpu content creation charts. this chart made 6 months earlier but has more 40/30 series, aaa games charts within latest gpu review, also here's bf6 scaling. current gen non-highest end cards and non highest cpu fps/esports games charts you can bring 40/50 series features to the 30 series with https://github.com/xHybred/NvidiaProfileInspectorRevamped/releases , this is ancientgameplays' recent vid on the non-fork of it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_L1OpYvaTxM

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Jordn100@reddit

Thank you so much. Youve given me a lot to re read and digest so while I wont respond to it all Im thankful for it all.

In fact I actually had my Crucial nvme 1tb die for no apparent reason after 6 months and the whole machine has sat dormant for 2 years. I decided to get the desktop running again, and actually I do want to dabble in Linux once its running so I appreciate all the linux info/links.

Im hopeful I can ressurect my nvme once the desktop is back in action. I just use a macbook and I have no nvme enclosure to attempt anything atm. So keeping nvme slot clear, might fill it if pricesever fome down or my 1tb comes to life.

Is there noticeable benefit from integrated graphics when using nvme that you know of? Also Im probably buying a SATA kingston k600 250~gb for $75 aud to keep my nvme slot available.

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Vloxalion@reddit

if it died... does it show up in bios? could the partition table be corrupted? you could perhaps recover the partition table with testdisk. however ssds use trapped electrons to store data so without power for a long time they escape and data dissappears/corrupts, 2years might be too long? or was it 1 year or 3+ years cant remember. try a live usb with linux (reccommend cachyos for most performance with some helper tools for newbies(its arch), bazzite(atomic fedora) or fedorakde for relative ease but not that much easier). and install testdisk, there's instructions around. when you install windows it overwrites linux bootloaders, thats why the linux drive needs to be removed to avoid the hassle. if you want to play anticheat games then keep secure boot and tpm on and don't turn them off. update bios before all this, tune ram or just enable xmp after.

an external usb enclosure for nvme needs a drive with dram to work properly, and the enclosure needs certain chipsets to also work properly, can't remember which ones. otherwise there's write amplification which rapidly lowers lifespan going on i think?

cachyos is better than windows when using an amd gpu. nvidia design is closed source so performance is garbage in comparison to windows.

load times and latency are better with nvme, but the difference isn't as stark as it is with satassd and satahdd. ram/fclock speed is what matters for igpu, not the storage.

kc600 decent sata, should have tlc+dram. was out of stock at that price on pcpp. storage still more expensive right now due to ai, especially new sadly.

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PitiRR@reddit

Can someone help me find a WiFi antenna compatible with MSI EZ proprietary connector? On Amazon I see products advertised to work with plenty of MSI MoBo models, but mine PRO B850-P WiFi is not listed. The only product I found:

* https://amzn.eu/d/01jZ2cNE

For example one motherboard listed is PRO B850-VC WIFI and the official manual (https://download-2.msi.com/archive/mnu_exe/mb/PROB850-VCWIFI_English.pdf) shows EZ Antenna. I make the natural assumption that it's the same EZ connector, thus my mobo would be compatible, too.

But I'd like to ask the community first. I already returned 2 products due to incompatibility...

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TemptedTemplar@reddit

The Pro B850-p uses normal micro RF connectors, not the MSI EZ connector.

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/PRO-B850-P-WIFI/Gallery#lg=1&slide=4

Does your IO panel, NOT look like this?

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PitiRR@reddit

Yeah, the backplate is the same. How did you find the connector type? I can't find any wifi antenna with micro rf as the keyword

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TemptedTemplar@reddit

Thats not the actual name, but the general term for small coax connections.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_RF_connector_types

Theres a LOT of dumb technical names for them.

The Wifi antenna will probably use SMA or RP-SMA, example;

https://www.newegg.com/p/0XK-04TD-00302?item=9SIC2V8KTE0606

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PitiRR@reddit

I can attest that SMA and RP-SMA don’t fit :/ I had to return antennas with these connected

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questioningcreature@reddit

I am confused about the logical increments site, and how to utilize it effectively. Should I just find a tier that works for my budget and just research the parts that they recommend and choose from there? Do I just use it as a benchmark, I have a decent budget and am not asking for it to be built I just don't want to buy trash and waste money if there is a more effective usage of the site.

Thank you.

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Vloxalion@reddit

logical instruments is updated manually, so pricing is out of date and the part selection is also smaller. the go to site around here is pcpartpicker.com

if you give budget and country, and if going for specific size/look, and if it includes peripherals like mouse keyboard monitor(give resoluton) headphones, and what you're looking to use it for, i'll whip you up one.

going used for certain parts is a must at certain price points for value too, like a 3080 instead of 5060.

reference the spl psu tier list for psu choice, and hwbusters.com and cybenetics, for non-exploders

gamersnexus/hardwareunboxed and youtube have info for how cpus and gpus perform, gamersnexus has cases, gamersnexus and hardwarecanuks have coolers

techspot has some mobo roundups and there's google sheets of mobo specs

see r/keyboards r/MechanicalKeyboards r/MouseReview r/MousepadReview r/HeadphoneAdvice r/headphones r/monitoreview pcmonitors.info displayninja monitorsunboxed rtings imartz/chinesebluesnowmanguy r/Controller for peripheral recs

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questioningcreature@reddit

Thank you for the answer as well as the offer. I would like to attempt to make a pc by myself though. Have a good day

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Gorkat31@reddit

The concept of the page is that there are multiple tiers so you can get something for every budget. The tiers are designed to be fully compatible within. Parts from difefrent tiers are not guaranteed to be compatible. The lower tiers are often not very optimal currently because of RAM prices. The higher tiers (\~$1200 and up) are pretty balanced though. Note that the builds are optimized for general use and not only for gaming. You can also optimize each component more than just using the linked parts.

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Goble4@reddit

What precautions are needed when installing the CPU if you are erring on the side of caution? Do you need gloves to prevent corrosive fingerprints, or avoid using cotton swabs to avoid debris?

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FamishedHippopotamus@reddit

No need for gloves. I would make sure your hands are clean before handling any PC parts, but that's probably not strictly necessary. I don't think fingerprints will corrode the IHS/shell of the CPU, I don't feel like gloves are necessary and can't really imagine a situation where they'd make sense, besides handling side panels or something glass/see-through where you don't want fingerprints.

You can use cotton swabs, paper towels, etc., visually inspect both the IHS (on the CPU) and the cooling block on your cooler for dust and stuff. Doesn't need to be sterile, just needs to be as clean as reasonable for the best results. The cooling blocks will usually have a plastic sticker protecting the bottom of it, it's easier if you don't take this off until you're mounting the cooler.

There's a little triangle in one corner of the CPU (bottom right usually, I think?) that will have a corresponding triangle on the socket that it slots into. Align the triangles. Gently drop it in, then close the latch on the retention tab thing. Don't force the CPU down, it should just slot in once aligned properly. If you need to use force, you're probably misaligned or in the wrong orientation. Some motherboards have sockets rotated 90 degrees, so that's another reason to pay attention to the triangles.

If you have to lift the cooling block off of the CPU for any reason, you gotta redo the thermal paste to avoid air bubbles forming in the thermal paste.

That's about all I can think of at the moment.

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