[Princess Garnet]

To me:

Custom-built PC > Mac > prebuilt PCs > Overclocked PCs.

In terms of price/value/stability. And before anyone says you've got a 4GHz quad sitting on that desk, tell me if it's still surviving... 5 years from now.

That's a huge generalization right there. My overclock needs very little voltage (1.2V). It won't damage the chip anytime soon, not even if five years I'd think (if it does, then it wouldn't had lasted any longer either way). My CPU is "only" overclocked 20% (although I did have it 33% overclocked at 4.5GHz for a while).

As Cid Highwind said, what I worry about most is the MCH temperatures. Mine has always run hot, right from day one. I even did the modification of removing the heatpipe and reapplying the stock paste with Arctic Silver 5, a method that was claimed to almost for sure lower temperatures by ~10C because ASUS uses paste that bad, but my temperatures... pretty much didn't move. I should had RMAd it from the start, but it wasn't terribly high, not just as low as others got, so that's not really a valid reason to.

As of late though, the MCH temperatures are up even more (used to be 45C to 50C, then 50C-55C, and now it's 55C, will go to ~60C load), as is almost my whole system basically (not counting the CPU, which ironically runs cooler than everything else in my system, save maybe any of the HDDs which it may be tied with), and I'm not quite sure why. The voltage is 1.39V (stock is 1.25, but it does not run stably at that even at stock frequency, it needs ~1.35V, so a .1V increase). It looks like I'll have to add that passive fan afterall, as well as putting that side door for my case with the fans back on (odd how it never raised temperatures after taking it off, but they're up now, so I wonder if it'll even help).

 

[Princess Garnet]

Newegg.com - XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - CPU Fans & Heatsinks

That's not exactly super expensive considering my CPU is basically the coolest component in my PC, although I agree paying over ~$50 for just a cooler (air) is a bit much.

 

[Princess Garnet]

Did you miss the following three things?

1. I'm running 8GB, four modules, of RAM, which puts more strain on the Northbridge.

2. I couldn't get the supposed listed "stock" 1.25V value for this chipset to work even with 4GB at stock frequencies (not sure why), so I'd need ~1.3V anyway, meaning I'm only ~0.1V (.092 actually since it's 1.392V) over that. At "stock" frequencies, the "Auto" setting put it ~1.4V anyway, which is where I have it with 8GB at 1600MHz effective (the chipset is rated for 1333MHz, but could obviously easily do 1600MHz, as the X48 does and it's really just a tweaked X38 with official 1600MHz support).

3. The chipset has ran hot from day one. It's idling at 54C right now, which is warm, but Intel lists it up to 95C for the X38 and 85C for the X48 (I honestly doubt it to go high safely, but hey, that's what they say).

4. Here's a fourth. Also notice how I said my entire system temperatures are up as of recent, yet I've had it overclocked from day one. I'm not quite sure what the issue is. It's not overtly dusty, but maybe it's time to clean it out real good, reapply thermal paste, and add those fans. I'd also wager ambient temperatures are up and playing their role, since that's the number one thing for a system wide increase. Either way, the overclock has always been there, and the temperatures were always pretty low (not extremely low), and only now are they "warm", but again, not overly so, so I don't think they're directly or solely linked.

I don't think my overclock is doing any real damage, and I've never seen a hardware related crash outside when I was actually applying and testing my tweaks (I have yet to see a BSOD or anything in Windows 7, which I've been using for many months now).

Obviously, all else being the same, yes, one PC tweaked for low voltages and temperatures versus any overclocked one, even that same one overclocked and tweaked, the one that isn't overclocked would be considered stable. You're just stating the obvious, but you're making a huge generalization and painting the picture wrong the categorize them as unstable overall. I could care less if I shave a few years off the lifespan, if that. It'll be old and slow (or at least fast enough for a prime PC) five or more years from now.

 

[Princess Garnet]

So what you're saying is, prebuilt PCs are more about being no frills and needing less direct involvement from the end user, and most non-enthusaists don't put as much money into OEMs as enthusiasts put into custom built PCs? That's kind of stating the obvious.

You seem to be painting them as more of a "waste" per se, and that I don't fully agree with. Everyone has hobbies where they put more money into something than someone else who just wants enough to get by. If it wasn't PCs, it'd be something else.

Also, as for point number two, so far as I know, most (maybe all) OEMs won't void your warranty if you simply open the case, or replace or add parts. They won't cover the part you added obviously (it's own warranty will), or any possible damage done by you in the process (if they find out, which is the key part), but most are pretty lenient in that regard.

 

[Princess Garnet]

But isn't that the truth now? You did admit it's "obvious", right?

That's exactly my point. You're making a big point about the extremely obvious. Most of here know that, yet we're still enthusiasts, so I'd say we don't care. "Reality" is a subjective thing. We (at least, I, but I assume most of us) don't care if some non-enthusiast calls what we do a waste. What do I care if "the real world" outside of my "real world" thinks this or that? Seriously? That is what is just a waste. A hobby is a hobby, and anyone not in that hobby will see it as more of a waste. Maybe it bothers you a little, but whatever floats your boat. It'd be the same story no matter what the hobby was. I do what I enjoy and get with others who enjoy it. Nothing else matters. I know there are people less into the subject who don't go as far into things with it, but telling us the obvious about it seems pointless, no?

If you ask me personally as an enthusiast, I'd always say that the performance and stability of a "properly" overclocked platform is well worth every penny spent, and every drop of sweat shed. But... like you said, that's my hobby. I have to admit it when people around me who are less knowledgeable say that I'm wasting too much money... That's just reality. Like... do you think someone collecting stamps is wasting his time? That's what it is. You can brag about having the best computer in the world that has like... quad-SLI and a 8-core i7 running at 5GHz with RAM enough to make a ram drive and store 10 years worth of pr0n... but when asked what the system is for, what are you going to say?

When it comes to my family, who aren't enthusiasts, I just say it's a really powerful PC (even though it's not very top of the line anymore), such as, gaming, and most of them acknowledge it, even if they aren't "into" it, although they are impressed that I can help them with most things PC related. They like hearing about the next OS, or cheaper places to get RAM than Best Buy, or that you can add more hard drives, or online games, or internet packages/speed/details, or whatever.

My girlfriend has the same view I just explained to you about the matter (not about PCs specifically, but about "doing excessive things that may be waste"). It's my hobby, and she accepts that it's my thing. She therefore doesn't think it's "pointless" or a "waste". She's not super into it, but she does enjoy it quite a bit.

For any random person, I could care less? As I said, they're entitled to their opinion.

Others thinking it's "pointless" isn't going to make me doubt or shame on myself for it. I don't know why you seem to imply that you feel even a bit that way. I think the real issue here is that you're doubting yourself because of what others think about the matter, but, I don't really have room to speak there from lack of information on you and the situation. I'm just going on the doubt you seem to be expressing here.