Help Me Spend Money !!!

[operadude]

@BitterTruth Thank you SO much

Fortunately, I am a backup freak, and so, the first thing I did after purchasing this MOBO (Sept., 2017-- dug-up the old box & found the receipt) was to visit the Gigabyte website, and download EVERYTHING. So, yes, I do have the latest BIOS (F8), and very fortunately, there are 2 forms-- one, a .exe file , but the other is a Binary file named "H270HD3.F8". Also, by design, Gigabyte has on their boards a utility called Q-Flash (as you say, maybe they call it something else now). I have Q-Flash on my board (I see it at the startup screen-- press the "End" key to enter Q-Flash), and all I need to do is to copy that binary on to a FAT32 flash drive, and I'm good to go

Gigabyte says that they have a "patented BIOS backup" with their "Dual BIOS" modules (chips) on board. BUT...I have heard horror stories from some (AdamantIT) that these "Backup BIOSes" sometimes DO NOT WORK So, IIRC, one of the first things I did with the board was to use the Q-Flash function to make a copy of the BIOS on board (F5), and I have that on a flash drive, just-in-case. I know, that might not work in the end, but better safe than sorry.

Like you said, with the new CPU, I might be forced to use the new BIOS (F8), anyway.

I will keep you apprised of the situation

[operadude]

@Stevo Thank You

This is what I get when I run that command:

Code: Select all

opera-dude@GA-H270-HD3:~
$ apt show intel-microcode
Package: intel-microcode
Version: 3.20250512.1~deb12u1
Priority: standard
Section: non-free-firmware/admin
Maintainer: Henrique de Moraes Holschuh <hmh@debian.org>
Installed-Size: 19.7 MB
Depends: iucode-tool (>= 1.0)
Recommends: initramfs-tools (>= 0.113~)
Conflicts: microcode.ctl (<< 0.18~0)
Homepage: https://github.com/intel/Intel-Linux-Processor-Microcode-Data-Files
Download-Size: 11.1 MB
APT-Manual-Installed: yes
APT-Sources: http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm/non-free-firmware amd64 Packages
Description: Processor microcode firmware for Intel CPUs
 This package contains updated system processor microcode for
 Intel i686 and Intel X86-64 processors.  Intel releases microcode
 updates to correct processor behavior as documented in the
 respective processor specification updates.
 .
 For AMD processors, please refer to the amd64-microcode package.

So, are you saying that I DO NOT NEED TO FLASH MY BIOS ???

That would be good

I know that you and the other Devs are extremely busy now, but...when you can:

Please let me know

[operadude]

@AVLinux Thank you for The Cautionary Tale

Yeah, not going AMD MOBO/CPU.

Sticking with current MOBO & an Intel CPU (not necessarily the current one, i3).

Yes, I thought similarly that the GPU will be key for this MOBO, especially since I want to dip my toe into VMs.

I have already used the current GPU (2GB RAM) and CPU (i3) for some AI work, and it takes a while to build the CNNs, RNNs, GANs; do the "pooling", "masking", etc.; using RL techniques/tools; etc., etc., etc..

That's where my "Axiom(s) of Choice(s)" come in to play. See: viewtopic.php?p=831198#p831198

As per @CharlesV's recommendation, I will keep looking, esp. for Nvidia cards...

As for the CPU, I could keep my i3, but I think that will severely limit any VM stuff I get into. And, I'm assuming that the i3 will dampen the AI stuff, too.

The ALGO on which CPU/GPU/(PSU) to go with is what I am mainly concerned with. In other words, I would most welcome the Decision Trees that folks come-up with that determine their conclusions.

In a nutshell, to all, please see and consider the aforementioned link (Post #10 of this thread).

Or...Not

Trying to keep it light and easy here...

[operadude]

So...given some of the responses above about criticality of GPU, I am considering going Nvidia, and a named-brand (MSI), versus a no-named-brand I previously considered. Here's the new model I am considering:

MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3050 8GB GDRR6 Boost Clock: 1807 MHz 128-Bit HDMI/DP PCIe 4 Torx Twin Fans Ampere OC Graphics Card (RTX 3050 Ventus 2X XS 8G OC)

The PCIe 4.0 is backwards compatible with my rig (PCIe 3.0). Twice the price as no-name-brand, but I do value the brand-name-- inferring that the item might be more reliable (?)

@CharlesV

[siamhie]

So...given some of the responses above about criticality of GPU, I am considering going Nvidia, and a named-brand (MSI), versus a no-named-brand I previously considered. Here's the new model I am considering:

MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3050 8GB GDRR6 Boost Clock: 1807 MHz 128-Bit HDMI/DP PCIe 4 Torx Twin Fans Ampere OC Graphics Card (RTX 3050 Ventus 2X XS 8G OC)

You might want to look at the 3060 model. It is a PCIe 4.0 x16 card compared to the PCIe 4.0 x8 card. Both cards are 8GB GDDR6.

MSI RTX 3050 VENTUS 2X XS OC specs https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/m ... -oc.b10100
MSI RTX 3060 VENTUS 2X OC 8 GB specs https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/m ... 8-gb.b9818

[operadude]

@siamhie

Awesome Catch.

Thank You

My MOBO has x16 architecture, and I'm sure that I would benefit from that

EDIT/ADDENDUM:

$65 more than the x8 version. (EDIT: This is for a "Renewed" model !!!)

Probably worth it !!! (EDIT: Will keep checking the price; may be a lot more for new !!!)

[operadude]

Yep...the 3060 is almost $150 more than what I found for the 3050.

Both priced as new...

[CharlesV]

When I went shopping for my latest build, the RTX 2060 had quite a bit better rating than the 3050 in everything except power consumption. And while that card I think would be just fine, I chose the 2060 over it because of that.
https://tech4gamers.com/rtx-3050-vs-2060/

I also have an aversion to MSI I'm afraid. While I do recognize they have gotten better over the years... I cannot count the MSI mobo's I ripped out of service because of weird issues or completely failing.. so I no longer will buy MSI stuff. I have have very good luck with Asus products and so I typicallly head that direction on Video cards.

And this is where I have ask a big question ... how many monitors are you planning on running?
Because if the answer is two or less ... then personally ... I would opt to buy the mobo ( Gigabyte Z790 AERO G ) and spend the $ there to kick you rig into high gear. Headed for big fast video card is great if your going to game or want 3~5 monitors.. but if yours staying under 3 then that Gigabyte board has VERY good graphics and personally the kick up to a faster CPU is more my preference. ( I do NOT like slower, so .. for me its CPU over GPU if I am on a budget - but then I dont game, and have four monitors ;-p .. so... )

[siamhie]

When I went shopping for my latest build, the RTX 2060 had quite a bit better rating than the 3050 in everything except power consumption. And while that card I think would be just fine, I chose the 2060 over it because of that.
https://tech4gamers.com/rtx-3050-vs-2060/

I was going to suggest the MSI GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER VENTUS XS
https://us.msi.com/Graphics-Card/GeForc ... -VENTUS-XS

[operadude]

@CharlesV

Thanks for the info on MSI and the 2060 v. 3050

For personal reasons, MOBO is non-negotiable (sticking with current MOBO).

I see the 2060 for $25 more, and it is pcie 3.0, with x16 architecture, which matches my MOBO. Here's the Amazon description of the item:

RTX 2060 Super 8GB Graphics Card 256Bit GDDR6 Video Card with Ray Tracing, Dual Fans, PCI Express x 16 3.0 HDMI Display Port DVI, Supports Up to 8K for Office Creative Work PC Gaming

Only thing is...it's a no-name brand, and sold by "GPVHOSO".

Lists as shipping from "Amazon".

I just don't want to get "hosed" by "GPVHOSO"

Oh...and monitors...One (1); though, I sometimes switch back and forth (channels) between my main rig, and my testing rig. Both rigs are on either side of my desk, and hooked-up to my one monitor (large, 42", I think).

Any thoughts on possible unwanted hosing by "GPVHOSO"

???