2017 Hardware Thread

sygnus21 said:

Well I suppose we need to define some PC user roles....

Average PC user - One who mostly uses their PC for home or work. They're the ones who buy the store PC's and aren't interested in technical details outside of basics of understanding what they’re buying. For them they just need the PC to do the most menial of tasks such as email, net browsing, online shopping and maybe some lite gaming.

PC enthusiast - one who enjoys tinkering with and building PCs. They're highly knowledgeable, technically proficient, and usually hold jobs in the IT world. They're the ones who are usually first in line to try out new software/hardware as they look to increase the performance and efficiency of their PC's. They also tend to beta test new OS releases.

Gamers/Benchmarkers - basically a step above the enthusiast in that they crave performance. For them they are looking to get the most out of their PC's, especially where gaming and benchmarking is concerned. They look forward to new hardware releases, especially where the CPU and GPU, is concerned in hopes of gaining even better performance. They do however tend to be cautious with new OS upgrades fearing loss of performance. That said, like the enthusiasts, many do beta test new OS's. Lastly, this is usually the group hardware vendors market to since they’re the ones most likely to purchase those expensive high-performance parts.

With that, I surmise it is more likely the gamer/benchmarker who'd be willing to pay 1000+ for a CPU, 800+ for GPU, and 600+ for a MB. This however, doesn’t exclude the enthusiast world. And no, the average user wouldn't pay those prices.

BTW I consider myself a middle of the road person between enthusiast and gamer. That while I don't mind paying a premium for high end parts where performance is concerned, there's a limit to which I'd go. Thousand-dollar CPU's, $800 GPU's, and $600 motherboards are a bit too rich for my blood. However, I don't knock those that do because I understand that passion as I too buy some overly priced toys

My two cents.

Well spent 2 cents.

@sygnus21

Nice one, but you forgot one category between Average Users and Enthusiasts. The ones that look at the most balanced solutions available. Need to be fast hardware but not at the cost of overly priced hardware. This is also the category where most companies who upgrade their hardware belong.

slicendice said:

@sygnus21

Nice one, but you forgot one category between Average Users and Enthusiasts. The ones that look at the most balanced solutions available. Need to be fast hardware but not at the cost of overly priced hardware. This is also the category where most companies who upgrade their hardware belong.

There are also "buyers but not users". I get asked all the time as which computer to buy but cheap as "It's only for kids to play games" The look on their faces when I tell them that it needs to be much more powerful and expensive than a computer for their serious work at the office.

Oh yes, those who has no idea what is going on. I can recognize those too. :) Nice addition @CountMike

sygnus21 said:

Well I suppose we need to define some PC user roles....

Average PC user - One who mostly uses their PC for home or work. They're the ones who buy the store PC's and aren't interested in technical details outside of basics of understanding what they’re buying. For them they just need the PC to do the most menial of tasks such as email, net browsing, online shopping and maybe some lite gaming.

PC enthusiast - one who enjoys tinkering with and building PCs. They're highly knowledgeable, technically proficient, and usually hold jobs in the IT world. They're the ones who are usually first in line to try out new software/hardware as they look to increase the performance and efficiency of their PC's. They also tend to beta test new OS releases.

Gamers/Benchmarkers - basically a step above the enthusiast in that they crave performance. For them they are looking to get the most out of their PC's, especially where gaming and benchmarking is concerned. They look forward to new hardware releases, especially where the CPU and GPU, is concerned in hopes of gaining even better performance. They do however tend to be cautious with new OS upgrades fearing loss of performance. That said, like the enthusiasts, many do beta test new OS's. Lastly, this is usually the group hardware vendors market to since they’re the ones most likely to purchase those expensive high-performance parts.

With that, I surmise it is more likely the gamer/benchmarker who'd be willing to pay 1000+ for a CPU, 800+ for GPU, and 600+ for a MB. This however, doesn’t exclude the enthusiast world. And no, the average user wouldn't pay those prices.

BTW I consider myself a middle of the road person between enthusiast and gamer. That while I don't mind paying a premium for high end parts where performance is concerned, there's a limit to which I'd go. Thousand-dollar CPU's, $800 GPU's, and $600 motherboards are a bit too rich for my blood. However, I don't knock those that do because I understand that passion as I too buy some overly priced toys

My two cents.

I wanted to rep you for the definitions Drew, but sadly I need to spread some more, before I can.
Great post and explanation anyhow


We need to add those to the Geektionary

I think Sygnus got the categories exactly right. Like most things in life, you cannot put any group of people in a pigeon hole. There are always the exceptions and those who fall somewhere in between. As Sygnus said about himself, he falls somewhere in between 2 of them. As I was reading his list I got to enthusiast and thought, that's me. Then I read the Gamer/Benchmarker and said that's me too. I guess I'm both. I think most of us are that way, a little of a couple of things.

I'm looking for a new laptop for my Wife. She falls pretty much in the Average user. She has no idea about how much ram or which CPU. She shops online and does email and browsing stuff. But, I know she won't be happy unless it is pretty fast for a laptop. So, I'm looking for one with a little higher specs to satisfy that, but I'm not going to spend a lot of money. That puts me just slightly outside the Average user category but not even close to the enthusiast category, just as an example. I'll probably end up with a newer generation i5 and a 1080 screen. Most of the rest doesn't matter. I'll change the ram and put an SSD in it. But, I'm not going to pay an OEM for more ram and an SSD.

If you tried to make categories to fit everyone it would be about as large as Webster's Dictionary, for those who remember what a dictionary looks like.

essenbe said:

If you tried to make categories to fit everyone it would be about as large as Webster's Dictionary, for those who remember what a dictionary looks like.

Yeah, I remember, a bunch of CDs in a book cover with "Encyclopedia Britannica" on it.

CountMike said:

Yeah, I remember, a bunch of CDs in a book cover with "Encyclopedia Britannica" on it.

Well Mike, that's an encyclopedia not a dictionary. I had to have both when I was in school. Only one problem. When I went to school there was no such thing as a CD.

essenbe said:

Well Mike, that's an encyclopedia not a dictionary. I had to have both when I was in school. Only one problem. When I went to school there was no such thing as a CD.

It was a joke, when I was in school, at least few first grades there were scarcely any books over here. Just after the war and everything was in pieces.

I knew you were joking.