Comic Strips

The Verge's $2000 PC Build Reaction Supercut

https://youtu.be/M-2Scfj4FZk

USB-C cable has entered the chat.

In theory, this is how it should work, but is often not the case.

If you just buy interoperable components without taking into consideration if they're compatible, you're running a risk of things not fitting.

What immediately comes to mind is GPU clearance to the case, as well as to the CPU cooling solution. The CPU cooler may not also fit the MOBO you want to use, protrude too much in the case, or have clearance problems with RAM. RAM could fit, but may need to be low profile accommodate the CPU cooler. Power supplies nowadays aren't as straight forward in compatibility as they used to, since some GPUs may require a special plug(s).

Once that's sorted, you can assemble like a Lego set, until something doesn't work. You're your own support person, so you need to know how to troubleshoot correctly. Did you switch the power supply on? Are the components seated properly? What do the debug LEDs say?

I'm no beginner PC builder, but my current build (first AM5 system) was a nightmare. Everything worked beautifully until I seated the GPU, which was the last item to arrive. MOBO debug LED said VGA issue and no output. Long story short, and two AM5 builds instead of one, it turned out to be a faulty CPU (9800X3D).

Had I gone with what the Internet forums suggested, and with no other AM5 system available to verify, I would have sent the GPU back and still have the issue. Luckily AMD RMA process is pretty straight forward (don't throw away your boxes until some time after you're done with the build!) The new CPU worked as expected, but that was the first time I've ever had an issue with a CPU. It worked fine via on-board HDMI, but no GPU in any possible configuration with the faulty CPU using two PCs worth of components would provide output. Everything is good now, and a family member made out with a decent 7800X3D system as a present :)

This isn't building a PC, this is plugging one in.

I’ve always described it as just playing with expensive legos.

The round peg goes in the...that's right! It goes in the square hole

Psu cable goes in psu :-D

turns on

finds out that cable was in fact not from that psu

The complexity lies in the when and why, not the where, what, or how.

Yeahhhh.... It's suuuuper easy!

Nothing can possibli go wrong....

There was a glorious time in the 90s when PC building had enough stuff going on and not yet enough safeguards that I could actually put things in wrong and start a small fire.

Those were exciting days. And sometimes expensive.

I call it "assembling" a PC instead of "building" because I feel like I'm lying otherwise...

I built my first PC at about 12 years old, while watching a youtube tutorial, with no prior knowledge or experience whatsoever. So I think I can safely say it is pretty easy and straightforward.

USB cables fit into Ethernet ports. They will also go into HDMI ports if you force them. Source: Family

USB cable goes into the USB hole (doesn't work turn it around).....USB cable goes into the USB hole (still doesn't want to work you just didn't want to fiddle enough the first time).....while I'm quite proficient at building computers (haven't bought an off the shelf one in a few decades) saying it looks like it goes where it says it does doesn't always work for beginners. Also the colours were for the end user not the builder, green being the speaker output? Not the sound card installation.

Sorry for spoiling the joke but that's gotta be what this comic was meant for. There's no coloured indicators on the inside are there? Maybe I overlooked them cause I just know where they go, cause I never wanted to fry a new board.

But I thought this was a slot for X?

In the 90's: "Sorry you set the CPU voltage jumpers wrong and you've fried it. No refunds."

Kids these days don’t know the horrors of wrangling IDE ribbon cables and fiddling with jumpers.

It's opening the hood where I start sweating behind the knees.

RAM goes into debt hole

Bending pins is quite easy, too.

The physical act of assembling the computer isn't the hard part. Picking out components that will work well together is the tough part.

I had a job that was just plugging in new checkout lanes for a grocery store chain and not one of my fellow co-workers could understand the simple, color-coded plugs. The red cable goes in the red hole, the green cable in the green hole, etc.

I'd be finished installing my lanes in like 15-20 minutes and then I'd spend the rest of the time helping the network dudes make cables and setup the network, since I was the only other person on the team with actual IT knowledge and, at that time I was also still CISCO and A+ certified.

Since it was not an hourly position (at least, not for my contracted ass), it didn't make any sense to stall for hours. The faster I get done, the faster I can leave and I get paid the same either eay.