Now before I begin, I want to say that there's a difference between being a terrible PC Builder and being an expert PC Builder. I would honestly consider myself an expert as I've developed the tricks of the trade at this point, can navigate my way in and around a PC and its BIOS, I've installed closed liquid cooling loops, peripherals, large and small heatsinks, almost everything at this point. There's not much more left besides custom liquid cooling loops for me to learn, so at this point I would consider myself an expert at PC Building. That doesn't mean I'm good at it though...
Let's go over some of the things that make me a terrible PC Builder so that you can feel better about your own skill as PC Builders yourself.
1. I have no regard for ESD (Electro-Static Discharge).
At all. Yes, I know they destroy boards. Yes, I know the dangers of ESD. However, the chances of ESD frying a board, especially nowadays where most boards now even have ESD protection, is next to nothing. In general, I just don't want to deal with it. I bought an anti-static wrist strap a while back, but I HATE using it. It's one of the most restrictive things I've ever used. Plus, if you're building a PC for a friend then they end up obtaining a fear of ESD, thus not being able to work on the PC alongside myself. Just screw it, I don't care. Any and all electrostatic can be discharged by holding the computer case itself. Maybe I should invest in an anti-static mat, but then I'm restricted to working in a singular place. My setup DOES NOT allow for that. In conclusion, I just don't even bother.
2. No workspace.
As I just said, my setup doesn't allow for an anti-static mat. Mostly because I don't actually have a setup. I have no actual place to work on computers whatsoever. Any and all work that needs to be done is getting done on the ground, right up next to the carpet with all that electrostatic buildup ready for me to touch components with. Relax, relax, I discharge myself by touching the case for like 10 seconds before working, I'm not THAT ignorant. But it does leave room for more buildup as I'm sitting on the ground working. I do have another setup, using my old computer desk to do quick things inside my PCs but there's almost no space there for anything. I really don't have any means of storage either besides a box I keep near my general "workspace". I don't even have any sort of light close to my workspace. It's dark as hell where I work on computers. I'm honestly at this point considering getting a giant yellow construction zone worklight off of Amazon so I can see what I'm doing. Most of the time I'm just using my phone's flashlight and that's it. I've amassed a good amount of tools and hardware over the years, but that's really it. Overall I have no area to do whatever I need to which kinda sucks.
3. My overall "ghettoness".
Well, you can already tell by my workspace and lack of ESD care that I'm what they would call a "ghetto" PC Builder, if that even exists anywhere besides me, but the fun doesn't stop with just that. To clarify, the term "ghetto" is a sort-of loose term to describe something being done in the most dirt-cheap, quick way possible without any regard to long-term side effects of the actions in question. I've posted many of my "ghetto" actions on my twitter but some of them I've never mentioned before. So I'm gonna make a quick list of my ghetto actions. Over the years, I've:
-Installed motherboards with only 4 screws
-Installed graphics cards without any screws
-Used painter's tape to mount an SSD into a case
-Overclocked a graphics card 500mhz over its initial clock and almost destroyed it
-Installed a liquid cooling radiator with its fans only mounted with 2 screws each (4 screws total vs proper 8)
-Have done the worst cable management job in history on a $2000 Titan Build
My most recent "ghetto" action was putting my old graphics card in my friend's computer. It wouldn't fit in the ITX case so I bought a PCI-e extender cable and was supposed to mount it outside the case, but the cable was so short I literally grabbed a piece of plastic similar to a hard drive cage from the case (it's supposed to prevent people from doing things to computers but can be taken out) and plopped it on it upside down and called it a day. I have pictures if you don't believe me.
Overall, I just wanted to give you a little insight into how I do things. I'm just a typical PC Enthusiast, nothing more. I don't have more, nor really ask for a lot, but what I do have is a lot of experience dealing in the dead-end problems of computers, the likes of which almost no one has heard of, and troubleshooting is something I deal with more than any sane human should. Remember, this is my hobby. NOT my job. I don't build computers for a living. Anything and everything I do is for fun or to help out others. So now that you know a little more about how I function as a PC Builder, after that atrociously-awesome piece of art photographed above, all I gotta say is this:
Welcome to PCBuilderProbs.
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