One computer, lots of doubts...

[fluffy_little_something]

As I am building my new computer, I notice that all brands seem to get good and bad reviews. So, what are currently the best brands for:

- motherboards
- RAM
- hard drives
- power supplies?

For the first three categories there don't seem to be no-brand products, still some have a better reputation than others.

Is it true that one should not mix an AMD-based computer with a Nvidia graphics card, nor likewise an Intel-based computer with AMD graphics?

Can I use an older passively cooled graphics card like this:
https://www.cnet.com/products/sapphire- ... -gb/specs/
in a very modern Ryzen-based computer?

That graphics card is way more capable than my current on-board graphics solution, which is already enough for my needs (no video gaming whatsoever, nor image manipulation such as Photoshop). The only thing that moves on my monitor is the occasional YT video and ad banners

[fluffy_little_something]

Gee, why do so many motherboards have built-in light shows these days?! Makers should spend the extra money on better components rather than silly LED gimmicks

[chk071]

I think mixing Intel and AMD is not an issue. At least i wouldn't really have doubts to put a AMD graphics card with an Intel processor. Not that i'd really consider AMD though.

[jdnz]

I've used one of those radeon 6450 passives in a machine at work - performance wise they're no better (and possibly worse) than the onboard graphics of any modern intel board, save your money or go up to something like the passive 7750 (which at least has enough 2d/3d performance to beat the obgfx)

[tehlord]

Go to Scan, see what they use, buy that.

Or buy from Scan.

[fluffy_little_something]

What's Scan?

[tehlord]

scan.co.uk

Specifically the 3XS Pro Audio systems.

[fluffy_little_something]

Thanks, they seem to be focused on Intel systems...

I think I already found my motherboard:
http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/Fatal1ty%2 ... /index.asp

Very good reviews across different sites

Now I have to study the compatible memory list...
It has all become so complicated, single this, double that

ASrock have come a long way, their boards seem to be the best, at least for the new AMD platform. A decade ago they made mostly mediocre stuff. Their site is also useful.

[fluffy_little_something]

So, have SSD already replaced conventional hard drives by now?

Could I use this thing here:
http://www.samsung.com/us/computing/mem ... -7ke256bw/
like a normal hard drive, i.e. as the only drive? After 7 or 8 years I am only using 85GB of my 1TB hard drive, so 256GB should be more than enough for the 10-year life of that SSD.
Do such drives also need a fan for cooling?

[jdnz]

So, have SSD already replaced conventional hard drives by now?

Could I use this thing here:
http://www.samsung.com/us/computing/mem ... -7ke256bw/
like a normal hard drive, i.e. as the only drive? After 7 or 8 years I am only using 85GB of my 1TB hard drive, so 256GB should be more than enough for the 10-year life of that SSD.
Do such drives also need a fan for cooling?

absolutely - only market for HDDs is either for really BIG amounts of storage where speed doesn't matter, or at the absolute bottom end of the price range.

Any modern motherboard should have a m.2/nvme socket - in which case you'd be better of getting a samsung 900 series (m2 format) - not any dearer, and much much faster (and in 2000mb/s vs 400mb/s), also leaves a 3.5" drive bay spare for if you ever need to add a HDD for storing bulky sample/audio files.

longevity on SSDs is directly related to number of write cycles, so since it sounds like you really don't use your hard drive much I'd expect an ssd to last a crazy long time (outlasting a hdd which is generally spinning the whole time your PC is on and hence slowly wearing out)

[fluffy_little_something]

Never had an SSD drive so far, except maybe in the form of a USB pen drive. No conventional hard drive has ever died on me, but several USB pen drives have, which has so far kept me from using an SSD drive.

[chk071]

Nowadays SSD's will outlive your computer, especially when you opt for the longer lasting variants, like MLC or SLC.

[Kaine]

Gee, why do so many motherboards have built-in light shows these days?! Makers should spend the extra money on better components rather than silly LED gimmicks

Gamers, just get a business edition board, those are more likely to be fine for audio.

Thanks, they seem to be focused on Intel systems...

Yes, and this is why : http://www.scanproaudio.info/2017/03/02 ... for-audio/

Whilst they've not really improved since for audio, I'm at least confident that the performance hole is a constant and that it isn't going to get any worse. I'll probably expand out with a few systems in the future now I'm more confident, it's on the to do list anyhow.

Now I have to study the compatible memory list...
It has all become so complicated, single this, double that

It's also out of date before they even print the manual!

Nowadays SSD's will outlive your computer, especially when you opt for the longer lasting variants, like MLC or SLC.

Yes indeed, pendrives and SSD's are two very different beasts.

[bazwillrun]

Gee, why do so many motherboards have built-in light shows these days?! Makers should spend the extra money on better components rather than silly LED gimmicks

for gamers and modders who like to see the innards...exactly whats the frikken point of that

[Steve Bolivar]

For power supplies this one is pretty solid:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B010HWDO ... UTF8&psc=1