Which Hardware Defines PC the most?

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

Read the original post. This question is clearly framed in the Personal Computer perspective, not things like Raspberry Pis, smartphones, video game consoles, automotive entertainment systems or ICBM warhead guidance packages.

Let's stay with the inquirer's original train of thought in this discussion thread.

Fair enough I said all I need to Asus or Gtfo, I jest , I build for others so I build with all the main brand's in reality.

 

[AlwaysHope]

Its an interesting question once you bring the case into it. It is the most visible after all.. but it all starts with the motherboard.. or does it??

Gosh, you sound like Hamlet from his Shakespearean play ...

 

[freeagent]

Gosh, you sound like Hamlet from his Shakespearean play ...

Whoops, pardon me

It appears I was having a moment

 

[theFOoL]

Mine I call it "775 Build" bc it is a 775 build on WIN11

 

[svenge]

I would maintain that the motherboard chipset (e.g. AMD B550, Intel Z690, etc.) is the most meaningful piece of identification as that pretty much determines everything else including the CPU brand/socket.

 

[Lei]

I'd say nothing. It's a DIY PC.


When you buy a Samsung laptop, it's an intel cpu, western digital hard drive, Samsung ssd and nVidia gpu.

It's a PC. No hardware prevails.

You can say you have an Asus pc, if most parts are from asus : monitor, gpu, motherboard, psu

 

[theFOoL]

DIY = Custom Build "Do it yourself" I know

 

[lexluthermiester]

In a custom built system, which part do you think defines system the most? For example If I have an Asus case, MSI gpu, Corsair PSU and a Gigabyte motherboard, which brand could be considered as the system brand?

No one part completely defines a system. It is the sum of all parts together that create the total experience. However, where appearances are concerned, the case has the largest influence.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[mouacyk]

Yes. But honestly it's the performance.

 

[Hyderz]

i guess its the part that makes your wallet bleed the most, in my case its the RTX 3090

 

[Lei]

i guess its the part that makes your wallet bleed the most, in my case its the RTX 3090

My monitor costs neck to neck. Although it's just 60hz, but it comes with a pen. A Wacom would annihilate the wallet.

 

[Calenhad]

If you have built your own computer it is not a brand computer in my mind. If you want a brand computer you buy a pre-built.

If you stick as many components, from the same vendor, as possible into your computer. You could stick their brand on it I guess. E.g. it is possible to use Corsair products for every part except CPU, motherboard and GPU. Including peripherals.

But for me a home built computer is just that.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Your opinion is not changing mine, sound as patronising as you want it's not working.

Ah - and personal criticisms of others when they take a different position from yours is such a professional, mature manner to take, right?

FTR, it has nothing to do with my opinion. It is just the way it is. Everything centers around and/or is attached to the motherboard and that includes the CPU.

You believe it to be the CPU because it forms the "lynchpin" that "allows so many applications and different interconnect scenarios". Sorry but no it doesn't. Those are actually primary functions of the OS; to run applications and facilitate communications between the various hardware components. And again, it is the motherboard that allowed you to use that particular CPU. And again, if you want to change that CPU, you can and still use those same applications and interconnect scenarios.

HOWEVER, when I build a PC for me, I first typically choose the CPU family I want, then the specific CPU. But then I select a motherboard to support it.

However, where appearances are concerned, the case has the largest influence.

Yeah, when it comes to appearances, I agree 100%. There's one big caveat to that though. You can take everything out of the case and put it all back in a different case and all the computer functions would be exactly the same. In fact, if the case was hidden from the user's view, the user would not even notice any difference - because what "appears" on the monitor(s) would be exactly the same, so would system performance (assuming fan noise, heat and cooling are not issues).

Everyone has and will always refer to their builds as their AMD rig or Intel rig.

"Everyone"? Ummm, sorry but not even. You might and that's perfectly fine if that is what works for you. But lots of people have more than one computer where more than one may be AMD or Intel. I have 5 computers here right now. If they were referred to as the AMD or Intel rig, no one would know which computer was which.

For me, I have my "main" computer (this one). My secondary or "test" computer. I have my "backup" computer (for backups and NAS), my "shop" computer and my "laptop". The 4 PCs are custom built. The laptop is an MSI.

Back to the OP's question:

For example If I have an Asus case, MSI gpu, Corsair PSU and a Gigabyte motherboard, which brand could be considered as the system brand?

I agree the motherboard is the main part for PCs but he asked "which brand could be considered as the system brand"

I agree but think the OPs question errant, his discretion is essentially what brand fanboy am I.

Okay - @dirtyferret and @TheoneandonlyMrK. Those are fair points. So here's my answer.

This, my main computer is a custom built computer that consists of a EVGA PSU, Gigabyte motherboard, Intel CPU, Corsair RAM, Samsung SSDs, EVGA GeForce graphics card (replaced a MSI Radeon card), assembled in a Fractal Design case, and attached to Samsung monitors, a MS keyboard, and Logitech mouse and Logitech surround sound THX speakers.

The "brand" is "BWS" which stand for the initials of my company. And if you think about it, this makes sense. It is a "custom" PC assembled with a bunch of OEM parts from other companies. Sound familiar? That is EXACTLY what Dell, HP, Acer, and Lenovo do. They buy ASUS or Foxconn boards, Micron or Samsung RAM, WD drives, yadda yadda and put them in some OEM case then slap their logo and brand name on it.

So I say, if you build a custom PC, be loud and proud and call it "YOUR BRAND" name. In fact, if you regularly build PCs for yourself and others, go one step further and put your own custom case badge on it. That's what I do for all our builds here.

 

[P4-630]

In a custom built system, which part do you think defines system the most?

The stickers you stick on your case and the name of your PC.....

 

[Kapone33]

Everyone has and will always refer to their builds as their AMD rig or Intel rig. Can't say that I've ever heard someone say, Yeah I'm going start my MSI build tomorrow.
To each their own of course. Saying one easily replaceable component is more important than another is simply opinion. There is no wrong answer quite frankly.
Like I said, call it whichever company you happen to get a case badge from. Or, better yet, have your favorite companies logo cut out of some thexy, sexy vinyl and slap those badass stickers all over your case!

The stickers you stick on your case and the name of your PC.....

But that is so 90s as much as we still get stickers in most MBs.

 

[cvaldes]

HOWEVER, when I build a PC for me, I first typically choose the CPU family I want, then the specific CPU. But then I select a motherboard to support it.

I usually consider a range of CPUs (like 6-8 core or 8 cores+) and how those CPUs might be paired with a motherboard. When dealing with SFF builds, thermals become a significant consideration. I have built systems with both AMD and Intel CPUs over the years and I'm not a fanboy of either CPU brand, I just pick what fits better with a specific build's primary usage case.

For recent SFF builds though, I have heavily favored Ryzen CPUs for better performance per watt. The Intel parts generate ghastly amounts of heat in recent years. I have an Intel CPU in my Mac mini 2018 and own an Intel-powered notebook PC so there's plenty of Team Blue representation in my house.

Yeah, when it comes to appearances, I agree 100%. There's one big caveat to that though. You can take everything out of the case and put it all back in a different case and all the computer functions would be exactly the same. In fact, if the case was hidden from the user's view, the user would not even notice any difference - because what "appears" on the monitor(s) would be exactly the same, so would system performance (assuming fan noise, heat and cooling are not issues).

This is correct. I have a couple of SFF/mini-ITX cases and I have flip flopped the internals between them. They remain the same systems functionally even if their appearance is different.

Amusingly both are under my desk and out of view. I know which system resides in which case but if someone visited and used both computers right after I made the case swap, they would have no idea that I made the change.

"Everyone"? Ummm, sorry but not even. You might and that's perfectly fine if that is what works for you. But lots of people have more than one computer where more than one may be AMD or Intel. I have 5 computers here right now. If they were referred to as the AMD or Intel rig, no one would know which computer was which.

For me, I have my "main" computer (this one). My secondary or "test" computer. I have my "backup" computer (for backups and NAS), my "shop" computer and my "laptop". The 4 PCs are custom built. The laptop is an MSI.

I too have more than one computer.

Three of the motherboards have AMD B550 chipsets so I can't even call them "the AMD B550" build.

So I tend to refer to my computers by their primary usage case: 1.) primary/4K gaming computer, 2.) backup/1440p gaming computer, 3.) daily driver desktop PC, 4.) notebook PC, 5.) Mac (now that I only have one since I retired my MacBook), and 6.) experimental SFF build. Sometimes I think of them by their cases but the important thing is what's inside.

This, my main computer is a custom built computer that consists of a EVGA PSU, Gigabyte motherboard, Intel CPU, Corsair RAM, Samsung SSDs, EVGA GeForce graphics card (replaced a MSI Radeon card), assembled in a Fractal Design case, and attached to Samsung monitors, a MS keyboard, and Logitech mouse and Logitech surround sound THX speakers.

The "brand" is "BWS" which stand for the initials of my company. And if you think about it, this makes sense. It is a "custom" PC assembled with a bunch of OEM parts from other companies. Sound familiar? That is EXACTLY what Dell, HP, Acer, and Lenovo do. They buy ASUS or Foxconn boards, Micron or Samsung RAM, WD drives, yadda yadda and put them in some OEM case then slap their logo and brand name on it.

So I say, if you build a custom PC, be loud and proud and call it "YOUR BRAND" name. In fact, if you regularly build PCs for yourself and others, go one step further and put your own custom case badge on it. That's what I do for all our builds here.

In a way, the best description might be "my gaming PC" rather than associating with a company's brand since I'm the one that chose the components and put them together, just like Dell markets Latitudes and HP markets Pavilions.

As mentioned earlier in this discussion, software companies frequently use the motherboard serial number as the system identifier and will tie software licensing to that number. This includes Windows.

Let's not forget what an operating system is: it's a big complicated piece of software that lets other big complicated pieces of software co-exist peacefully (hopefully) on the same system. If you change CPUs, GPUs, cases, RAM, PSUs, storage devices, etc. your Windows license key remains valid.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

Ah - and personal criticisms of others when they take a different position from yours is such a professional, mature manner to take, right?

FTR, it has nothing to do with my opinion. It is just the way it is. Everything centers around and/or is attached to the motherboard and that includes the CPU.

You believe it to be the CPU because it forms the "lynchpin" that "allows so many applications and different interconnect scenarios". Sorry but no it doesn't. Those are actually primary functions of the OS; to run applications and facilitate communications between the various hardware components. And again, it is the motherboard that allowed you to use that particular CPU. And again, if you want to change that CPU, you can and still use those same applications and interconnect scenarios.

HOWEVER, when I build a PC for me, I first typically choose the CPU family I want, then the specific CPU. But then I select a motherboard to support it.


Yeah, when it comes to appearances, I agree 100%. There's one big caveat to that though. You can take everything out of the case and put it all back in a different case and all the computer functions would be exactly the same. In fact, if the case was hidden from the user's view, the user would not even notice any difference - because what "appears" on the monitor(s) would be exactly the same, so would system performance (assuming fan noise, heat and cooling are not issues).


"Everyone"? Ummm, sorry but not even. You might and that's perfectly fine if that is what works for you. But lots of people have more than one computer where more than one may be AMD or Intel. I have 5 computers here right now. If they were referred to as the AMD or Intel rig, no one would know which computer was which.

For me, I have my "main" computer (this one). My secondary or "test" computer. I have my "backup" computer (for backups and NAS), my "shop" computer and my "laptop". The 4 PCs are custom built. The laptop is an MSI.

Back to the OP's question:





Okay - @dirtyferret and @TheoneandonlyMrK. Those are fair points. So here's my answer.

This, my main computer is a custom built computer that consists of a EVGA PSU, Gigabyte motherboard, Intel CPU, Corsair RAM, Samsung SSDs, EVGA GeForce graphics card (replaced a MSI Radeon card), assembled in a Fractal Design case, and attached to Samsung monitors, a MS keyboard, and Logitech mouse and Logitech surround sound THX speakers.

The "brand" is "BWS" which stand for the initials of my company. And if you think about it, this makes sense. It is a "custom" PC assembled with a bunch of OEM parts from other companies. Sound familiar? That is EXACTLY what Dell, HP, Acer, and Lenovo do. They buy ASUS or Foxconn boards, Micron or Samsung RAM, WD drives, yadda yadda and put them in some OEM case then slap their logo and brand name on it.

So I say, if you build a custom PC, be loud and proud and call it "YOUR BRAND" name. In fact, if you regularly build PCs for yourself and others, go one step further and put your own custom case badge on it. That's what I do for all our builds here.

Double down for the win.

Keep trying your not having much luck with your weak ass points but I'm out, your off topic, I was but I read the room and was out, but go you.

Oh and have the last word I'll still be out, so Know that I still disagree, and strive to deal with it.

 

[Vayra86]

The heart of my PC is the best brand / part at the best price for my taste. Can be any brand.

 

[Deleted member 185158]

In a custom built system, which part do you think defines system the most? For example If I have an Asus case, MSI gpu, Corsair PSU and a Gigabyte motherboard, which brand could be considered as the system brand?

PC stands for

PERSONAL COMPUTER

It doesn't matter what it's made of.

As long as it computes and it's MINE.

I guess that's what passwords are for. To keep it personal. Like your phone..... the mobile PC in your life.

lol

/end

 

[Bill_Bright]

I have built systems with both AMD and Intel CPUs over the years and I'm not a fanboy of either CPU brand

^^^This^^^. Same with GPUs. AMD or NVIDIA - doesn't matter.

That said, I think it naive and/or misguided to choose (or dismiss) a CPU (or GPU, or motherboard, or [fill in the blank]) because it is brand X or brand Y. Both CPU makers make a wide range of quality, reliable CPUs that help make excellent platforms and foundations for excellent computers. And neither brand is tops in all rating criteria, categories and certainly price points. For this reason, IMO, decision choices should be made by comparing specific models, not brand names. If everything else is equal (or not important), then by all means, go by your brand of choice. I like Gigabyte boards and Intel CPUs, but I have a computer here with an ASUS board and AMD processor - and both meet or exceed my needs and expectations.

 

[dirtyferret]

The "brand" is "BWS" which stand for the initials of my company. And if you think about it, this makes sense.

That's fair, the brand of your PC is up to you on DIY PCs. Like I stated before, in my experience most people tend to call their PCs by their CPU, CPU/GPU and/or CPU platform and I do it as well but there is no right or wrong answer. I do you like the personal case badges!

 

[Deleted member 185158]

 

[SomeOne99h]

IT is the fatherboard!

 

[Jacky_BEL]

In a custom built system, which part do you think defines system the most? For example If I have an Asus case, MSI gpu, Corsair PSU and a Gigabyte motherboard, which brand could be considered as the system brand?

The hardware part that defines the system the most , depends on the tasks that the system is going to be used for , should that task require some specific hardware , then that part will define the system.
A server will most likely not be highly dependend on a high end GPU , so GPU will not define it, whereas in a gaming PC the GPU is a very necessary component , so to differentiate between multiple gaming systems I would choose GPU , but name of GPU, not brandname.

 

[Deleted member 185158]

IT is the fatherboard!

Yes, the parent of all peripherals plugged into the social pipeline.