The PC is doing a good Job since 2010.

Damn, that's a lucky find! Even in its base configuration it's still a somewhat beefy build.

I suspect on that you could play the latest PC games pretty well at your monitors native reselution too. Even an old PC can be a good all rounder these days with a few upgrades here and there.

This was my PC at work in 2011:

Processor: Core i3 2120 3.3GHz
Ram: 8GB DDR3 1333MHz
GPU: Sapphire HD 6450 512MB
Hard Drive: 500gb Western Digital 7200rpm
Screen: 24" Samsung S24A450BW 1080p

It's had a few upgrades over the years and is now:

Processor: Core i7-3770 @ 3.40ghz
Ram: 16GB DDR3 1333MHz
GPU: GeForce GT 1030 2gb
SSD: Samsing Evo 850 250gb
Monitor: 27" LG 27UD59P IPS 4K

Granted the processor and motherboard are pretty old these days, however more of those upgrades were pretty cheap with the exception of the 4K monitor which was about £300.

However the PC is still really fast for anything I do on a day to day basis at work and the 4K screen is really nice to look at all day. I do want to get a 4K monitor at home, however i'd want a GPU capcable of playing games at 4K then which would get expensive, so i'm holding out at 1080p for now!

Thank you for reading.

From games I like (Tomb Raider series,F1 series,Far Cry series,Euro Truck Simulator 2 up to date,Resident Evil 2 + 7....).
They run all perfect on that resolution with maximal settings.And that is enough for me and makes great fun.
For Video recoding (i don´t REALLY need resolutions beyond "good and evil"..) with the GPU support fast enough for me.It is not evertime necessary to buy a new PC.
Even at all, if the purse is small.

Even though I find 1280x720 just way too small for my needs (I always used 1360x768 my entire life), I'm pretty sure it's more than enough for gaming. Unless the game is good because of the graphics (as in, slightly downgraded graphics would make the game unplayable and unenjoyable), I don't think anything above 1920x1080 matters.

However, if you plan on using it for something else, depending on your workflow you might want to invest in a non-flickering (preferably CCFL-backlit) 1280x1024 screen for word processing (once found some on the benches in a playground in Wien), or a low-DPI (as in, somewhat big, so you can read the text without squinting or having to sit too close) 1920x1080 screen for stuff like video editing.

The truth is: i need new spectacles.
The Resolution 1280x720 is good for me to read everything,higher ones are very difficult.In some Games its impossible for me to use higer resolutions.
Thats a"life" thing,everywhere is a little money rest but you save on yourself.

Alex, nice blog! Keep it up!

I have several PC's here at home, Some dating back as far as 2000. They all work without trouble. Being a hobbyist I have recovered a lot of PC's from the junk piles and I enjoyed the process of cleaning them from the inside to the outside, resulting in a brand new look at the finish of most of the PC's I've recovered. After all, the oldest PC I have boots as fast as my newest build (15 - 20 seconds on windows XP) which is stunning Any PC can do their job as long as the job is fitting within the boundaries of the specs. So even if your PC is running slow, There's likely a solution to make it faster. Not by purchasing those so called PC-Booster programs (which are usually scams) it is likely the updates that slow your PC down. I use on all my PC's the factory installed Windows and turn off update features immediately before I decide to connect them to my network. I'm talking about my experience with Windows updates. It might be helpful to some who have a good PC that somehow is getting slower in performance. I tested several versions of Windows on multiple PC's. I noticed that Windows 8.1 turns out to be the fastest of all the Windows installations I've tested on all my PC's. Even my newest gaming PC slowed down after I installed Windows 10. The boot time results were from 5 seconds on Windows 8.1 to 2 minutes on Windows 10... The PC has an Intel I7 7700K CPU, MSI 1060 VGA, MSI Gaming PRO Carbon Z270 Motherboard, 600W PSU, 256GB SSD for OS installation. It's weird how things can slow down. I didn't suspect this PC to be slower after upgrading from 8.1 to 10, but the test proved it did. So to those who have an interest in PC's this info might be helpful getting the best out of every PC you own. I hope this was useful to some, this is all just by my own testing experience. As a hobbyist, I just love to test everything to get a view of how things work and operate. That counts for OS, Software, and Hardware as well.

Have a nice weekend all and happy gaming!

Kind regards.

@UVB-76 in my experience 8.0 is even faster than 8.1, but considering how difficult it is to hunt down a 8.0 iso, I'd say 8.1 if 8.0 is not possible to find.

But yeah, in my experience XP is slower than 8.0 (assuming the hardware is capable of running anything past XP). I accidently made the mistake of not disabling wuauserv ASAP after logging in, so it overheated and thermal cutoff for like 20mins. Another problem is the lack of graphics drivers, so graphics stuff and video playback is a no-go (but considering that they ran XP, the performance difference is unnoticable).

As for lose10 being awfully slow, in my testing older versions are the fastest ones. I try LTSB 1607 on my HDD, it boots in like 3mins, but games run much, MUCH better on it than on Home 1709.

Also, was the boot time 5s on 8.1 from SSD or HDD? My old AMD PC boots fully updated 8.0 in 4s from HDD, so I'm pretty sure that 5s sounds a bit off for that configuration.

@Sono Yeah maybe Windows 8.0 might be faster, I can test it out as I know how to get all ISO files directly from Microsoft using one of their tools. I have a bunch of ISO files from Microsoft downloaded by their own tool to create an install medium. So if you don't know how to get an ISO file, Try their media creation tool (If it still works) and do some research on it. For me it worked like a charm through 2018. I tested all Pro versions of Windows only. My tests are not being done by any other version than Pro. The lack of drivers may be because Windows XP you installed was either x86 or x64. These terms make huge huge difference depending on your hardware, as x86 runs only max 4GB RAM as I can remember. x64 however, supports up to 32GB and even more. That might be a case of less performance because most older hardware was only ment to run on max 4GB of RAM. So if you put lets say, 8GB of RAM in your PC running a version of windows x86 it only uses 4GB of the 8 and leaves the rest off. I had in the beginning of my hobby also the problem of finding drivers for hardware I got (especially from the junk pile, Flea markets, etc. as no CD was sold with it. Sometimes I was able to find the drivers on the site of the company who made the hardware, but other times I had to search on other sources for them. My tip is to never install drivers through Windows update as they might be incorrect sometimes due to lack of support for old hardware and might result in lagg, crash, or even damage due to overheating as the driver isn't the right one. Better get drivers from their original source, and disable Windows update after fresh install. I also made a lot of changes in the settings of Windows, Like disabling some services that I don't need which may also speed up your pc from boot to operating performance. For example, if you don't have a printer, turn of printer service from service center (Accessible from Task Manager under the tab services (all the way to the right side above in the tab list).

Another thing I highly recommend is to clean your PC from the inside as it gets really dusty over time. I do this 2 times a year while leaving the PC on 24/7. When dust gets trapped inside, things get hotter as the cooling / airflow gets blocked by it. Resulting in lower performance and more heat / hardware failures over time. Just make sure everything is clean from the inside out over time so your hardware doesn't suffer. A small soft brush and some compressed air might do the job. Just be sure to plug the PC off the wall and turn it on 5 times while it isn't connected to the wall socket so the electric current depletes. If you don't do this, you might likely get a electric shock or damage some components while cleaning or replacing parts inside the PC.

My best tip after the one above is to touch a water line to ground static electricity that's already on your body and clothes before even touching anything inside your PC. Even the smallest spark might damage something if you don't touch a grounded line and keeping static current on yourself.

I hope this might help those who need it! I don't know if this is the right place to post tips etc as this is not my own blog. If so, Just PM for questions afterwards as I don't want to be a spammer on someone else's blog.

Kind regards.

@UVB-76 I actually slightly disagree with what you said about the RAM limit with 32bit and 64bit, but I'm too lazy to get into the technical limits.
The reason the drivers didn't work is because the drivers are actually for Win2k, and the drivers are simply just not compatible with anything past that, not even on Vista (which the case advertises as "Vista capable"). Btw, it's GMA950 (Pentium M, Intel Centrino chipset).

I however agree with the "don't install drivers from Windows Update", and it holds itself even stronger with the release of lose10. I never had a driver installed by Windows Update on lose10 which wasn't broken, malfunctioning, or just straight up shit. That's how I almost lost my hearing due to audio driver issues, and Windows Update battling against me trying to replace the broken shitty audio driver with proper Realtek ones...

I actuall can't accumulate dust in that laptop anymore because the metal did a clean break, so I can't put it together anymore. However I did clean out the fan, and it barely had anything in it.

@Sono Yeah my knowledge about the different architecture x86 and x64 is very limited as I only read through some basic stuff especially linked to some programs I use. That's why I kinda mentioned it above. But indeed as far as support for drivers it is difficult to get old hardware sometimes to work on new OS. For that very reason I build a few PC's dedicated to nostalgia for cd rom games etc. Running them on Windows XP with these legacy VGA cards in it to have a decent PC for playing old games and running old programs on. Also for me, Windows XP had something in it that I enjoyed for years that now is nowhere to be found in newer versions of Windows. 3D Pinball!

I once cleaned my laptop and I noticed also that there wasn't much dust in it at all. Maybe the cause to this is the compact design and less room for dust to build up. So (most) laptops do not need regular cleaning after all.

PC's attracking the most amount of dust for sure, as my experience in maintaining them did show clearly.

Just take the info for what it is. If something has a better solution then I always will be glad to learn from the past. That's what makes it a hobby for me to have fun with during my spare time

I know that there's much more to learn for sure. I'm no expert at all. I'm just a guy who likes to experiment and test things to make a log book of the results from it and to share some experiences I have made during this funny project. Electronics are nice things to play with, especially when it comes to the hardware and what the possibilities are in modifying things for better outcomes!

Kind regards.

Tea and biscuits complacent,gentlemen ?

Thank you for your animated and very factual conversation.

The PC is also a "friend" of this hot summer.Out there are peak values up to 38° this summer (I think in the blazing sun a little more).
Stays on ~35° overall/Graphics ~29°/CPU ~36° on normal use.
(Internet/watching Music/Film/Videos).

The only cooling measure I made was changing from the original CPU Stock Fan to an ARCTIC Freezer 7 Pro.Good price/good cooling capacity.

I think of suggesting it to "probably the most temperated thing" in my accomodation.
After the fridge,a bootle of well chilled natural water and the Shadow on the balcony.

Hello.

The PC is working well and reliable.
But for the TP Link Router I think it was too hot the last weeks.

- sometimes looses conection
- sometimes did not recognized the 3G Modem
- and on the devices surface it was really warm....

Sadly again someting for the growing electronics junk heap.
Since a year I had an NETGEAR DGN2200M from Amazon (~17 Euro).

This may continue since yesterday the work of its predecessor.
Actual all is good.

Thank you.

Weird, I never had a problem with my ancient TPLink router other than it being ancient as hell, and thus it being slow even on localhost. Other than that it's been more reliable than the junk the ISP got.
However I noticed that these latest TPLink routers are indeed junk. Mine is from like 2009, and works really well.

On the other hand, I still kept my ZyXEL modem/router combo, as it still has been the most reliable device I ever got. Again, same speed problem due to its age, but due to how stable it is, I think it's a worthy compromise.

Hello.

The Netgear Router makes a good job.The 3G USB modem looses "sometimes" connection but after a few seconds all is ok again.It is better than with the TP Link.If that happens,I have to reset/reboot the Router manually.
Wireless connection over Network is also better and stable.

- a little much more Homebrew for the Wii/PSP/& DSi actual.

Click to expand...

That complete Video Game/Device related stuff is now on an seperate "Video game device" PC assembled from collected,free and used components:

Intel Pentium D 3,40 Ghz LGA 775 / Boxed Cooler
ASUSTek P5ND2-SLI with NVIDIA® nForce™ 4 SLI - Intel® Edition Chipset
4 GB DDR2 RAM (2x1 GB Kingston/2x1GB Kingmax)
Point of View Nvidia GeForce 9800 GT / 1 GB DDR RAM
Dual Gigabit LAN Intel 82540EM
(....1.000s of connectors,this must be a great Mainboard as it was actual..... )
160 GB SATA Hitachi HTS 7250 Notebook HDD (I really do not remember from where I get that
DVD Reader/Writer 16x OEM
Chinese W-Lan USB Adaptor with Realtek RTL8811AU Chip
Windows 7 Pro 32-bit

Thank you for reading.

Another good Job from the 9 year old PC.

Yesterday I got F1 2019 and it runs very well.
1920x1080 on maximal Details.The game is ok,you may read about my experience if you like.

https://gbatemp.net/threads/f1-2019-release-and-news.534940/#post-8746062

The Processor "sweats a bit" on full load maximal 60°,but it is summer.
The Graphics Card is "cool" like ever on maximal 40°.

It was the only game on this computer lately.Currently I have fun with the Wii and PlayStation 2.

Thank you for Reading.

Hello.

Today is a day of changes.
Today I have to go and register my Mobile Prepaid Internet SIM Card.

This "small stuff" works for me since 2013 very well and reliable.
After I get home on my PC I put the USB Modem with the SIM Card back in the Router and.......guess what ? Yes,it is no longer working.
First thought: Conspiracy, they tapped / destroyed / blocked my SIM card ... whatever...

But no,we stay factual.The Modem is broken.
Coincidence, providence ....... I do not know, does not matter,fact is, it is broken.

Back in the big City in an Shop for mobile phones and internet,I want to get a new one.

And from today on I am a "proud" owner of a new mobile W-Lan Router Modell ZTE MF920V.
My old SIM Card works also and as Bonus,the Internet is also faster (from 3G to LTE.)

A nice "feature" too: My wife is also "satisfied"......what does a man want more ?
All works fine.I am happy today with this "changes".
And the plastic garbage is not really burdened thanks to the broken but very compact and small USB modem.

Thank you for reading,my fellow PC Blog Readers.

The "security things" not only apply to that, but also apply to banking and other stuff.

Also speaking of modems, I wonder, what kind of modem was which broke?

Also, LTE is faster because they don't bottleneck it as much. My Hungarian 3G in Austria is faster than Austrian LTE in Austria (which is surprising), but the most surprising is that for some reason some network providers (cough Drei cough) limit 3G extremely, and then tell bullshit reasons just to scare the computer-illiterate users away (or into buying LTE modems), including people who know how it works, because they were trained so that they spew bullshit until the people just give up.

some network providers (cough Drei cough) limit 3G extremely

Click to expand...

Thank you.

Yes that is quite true.I often "limit" the bandwith on downloads and when I cancel the restricition in 99 percent the next download starts with ~4.8 MB (instead of 1.8 MB) and then drops slowly down to the normal Speed.

But I was very satisfied with the 3net here where I live.A1 was very poor in the last years maybe now a liitle better since they expanded this year.And T-Mobile/Magenta: simply NO.
Why i keep it ? My 7 year old prepaid flat rate is the cheapest and I can still use it now.