Zorin 16 as daily driver anybody?

Chat about Zorin
21

@Ponce-De-Leon @wsmather @wesoliv429

I wanted to inform you all, that you convinced me. I went back and did some searching, and realized why I was failing to find a machine for a realistic cost, I was looking at top of the line machines with Nvidia 5090's. :roll_eyes: No matter what generation it is, never wise to go for a card that is like 4K out the box. So, I did some more realistic researching, and I came up with a list of specs.

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9900X 12-Cores 24-Threads
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 16GB
RAM: 32GB DDR5 6000MHZ
Storage: 2TB NVME
Cooling: 360mm AIO liquid cooled CPU
Connectivity: Gigabit Ethernet & WIFI 7

I have a machine picked out, I can get it with tax for under 4K, which makes it a little more expensive then my 2021 notebook was. I had Gemini do some performance comparisons, between my 2021 notebook, and this desktop from 2026, and it said, with my plans to operate in 4K on my Dell 4K 32" 144HZ monitor, its massively GPU bound, and will yield an 80% performance improvement.

I haven't owned/operated a desktop since 2005, but I remember they are heavy, and require more maintenance, to keep em clean from dust. I have a powerful air duster, so thats no problem. Also, my first AIO cooler, so I know that will complicate cleaning a tad bit more, but I have OCD, it aint clean until I say it is lol. I believe the case comes with a magnetic filter, so that should help. Plenty of fans for cooling as well.

I filled the online loan application with my bank, their closed on weekends obviously, so I am hoping to hear from them on Monday. If I get it, I will be able to have enough money to buy the computer, as well as a tablet and accessories for a family member. The great thing about a PC, I won't have to make game sacrifices.

Worry not, I will expand the storage at a later date as well, 2TB is enough for now though. Once I buy the PC, I will share a stock photo for you folks. I'm actually kind of excited to have a desktop again, its been so long! It will look pretty in my room too, cause of the gamer RGB aesthetic. :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

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22

as long as you get the fans to do positive air flow...dust wont be a major problem
and the 12 core speeds will be thrilling to what your used to as well. That cpu will need those 360 fans....mine is a 105 watt ...that ones 120 watt..abit hotter but those bigger fans should keep it at idle around 32c to 35 c

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So, this is a complete PC, yes? Not the seperate Parts and You built it by Yourself?

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Sounds like a fully built desktop computer...If i read that correctly

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Correct, going the easy rout, just as Aravisian did. I did weigh the costs between a notebook and a desktop, and the results are the desktop is cheaper, and easier to get the specs I need. Notebooks have become difficult these days. Also, desktops perform better, have higher power limits, better cooling and all that.

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You could buy the Parts seperately. Then You could select more individually each Part. For Example: When You don't want Watercooling, You can take an Air Cooler. Of Course, this only would be an Option when You are able to built a PC.

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Well @Ponce-De-Leon the apu she listed is required to use a watercooler just like mine is..is maufarture suggested for best results..mine uses 105 watts of power one she is looking at has 120 watts they tend to run much hotter under air cooling vs watercooling. AIO's are not a bad choice they tend not to leak ..of course nothing is flawless. I have never had any troubles with an AIO watercooler keeps running temps much lower which heat in a cpu/apu is the big enemy of cpu failue and longevity

here is idle temps on mine with twin 120mm fans on AIO running at 4.0 GHZ a slight overclock

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normal clock speed is 3.6 GHZ

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With a Dual-Tower Air Cooler that could work. Sure, You need the Space in the Case for it. If that isn't there, an AIO would be the only Optin that can handle it, yes.

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Thats true @Ponce-De-Leon but there is a draw back more fans will mean more noise..if thats not a problem then fine. Most folks like the system to run abit quieter. but it does come down to preference. me i prefer watercooling in past i have air cooled..and found the machine sorta noisey overall.. again this is just me..it as always...is up to the user.... :grin:

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Honestly... I am still on the 3.8GHz and the Nvidia 3060 - and Most of my steam titles are being run on Max Quality.

I would NOT buy a Nvidia 50-- anything.
I am not even eager for Nvidia at all - and when I buy my next computer or assemble one, I will use AMD.

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You might wonder why I am going with an AMD CPU, its because it doesn't degrade like Intel. How that was legal for Intel to pass onto the customer, I shall never know. I completely agree with you, a 12-core 24-thread CPU, will always heat up more then an 8-core 16-thread CPU.

Sustaining a 4GHZ workload with only 32C, is to be commended Wes! I believe the 9900X is supposed to turbo up to 5.6GHZ, which with the cores and threads, is a considerable upgrade, from my notebook 8-core 16-thread CPU. And yes, it will generate considerably more heat, so 360mm AIO, yes please!

True, if one has a full/mega tower case, you could buy the largest Noctua D15 tower cooler, and that might cool a 9900X enough, as long as no overclocking is going on. I think their usually fairly quiet as well, unless the CPU fan ramps to 100%.

What I like about the computer I picked out is, it has a full 360mm AIO cooler for the CPU, with 3 fans on it, then its got 3 fans on front, and a rear fan as well. With that much cooling, I don't expect to heat soak the CPU, GPU, RAM, or VRM's.

You both make solid points IMO. When it comes to fans, I prefer hydro dynamic bearing fans, over that of sleeved bearing. That was the upgrade I did on my old desktop, nothing more annoying then 80mm tiny fans making grinding bearing noises, cause the sleeves wore out. Hydro Dynamic Bearing, far better.

Now, I don't know the quality of the computers fans, being were in 2026, I'd hope they went with HDB. I do know that AIO's are like professional liquid coolers, that don't leak, as opposed to custom water cooling jobs, that do. I've watched enough Jays 2 Cents to know, how easy a custom liquid cooling job, can turn one of your greatest successes, into one of your most crushing defeats.

Dude, thats so awesome, I am glad your 3.8GHZ CPU and your Nvidia 3060, are still smashing the accelerator. Get it, GPU's were originally known as graphics accelerators. :grin:

When it came to AMD GPU's, I learned that their mid tier only, and do not remotely compete with top Nvidia offerings, so the choice was simple. No, I am not happy about it, I don't like Jensen Wong at all! There are some games that need Nvidia 5080 GPU's, and even then, will only produce 50FPS, but with DLSS or Frame Generation turned on, could yield the 144 FPS my monitor likes. It all depends on the game of course.

Plus keep in mind, my old notebook, while great hardware for the time, is lower power limit hardware, which can't even compare to their desktop versions. My old notebook was capped at 150 watts max, and that was for the whole computer, everything pooled from. My new desktop will cap at 400 watts.

I respect and defend your right to go AMD GPU for your next build. This will be my last computer purchase for a very long time, as I will be going into debt to get it. Which means I take my decisions seriously, which also includes the fact, I want it to last me 10-years. As Japanese like to say, I'll do my best. :slightly_smiling_face:

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The Radeon RX 7900 XTX is not mid tier and the RX 9070 XT competes with Nvidia at a much more affordable price.

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But then, an Air Coller is better. When You take even a Dual Tower Cooler, You would have only 2 Fans maximum. Would be neccessary to check if one would be enough but let's say 2. On a 360 AIO, You have 3 Fans plus the Pump.

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Now that I've ordered the computer, I can show you all what I picked out.

MSI Aegis ZS Gaming Desktop

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CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9900X 12-Cores 24-Threads
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 16GB
RAM: 32GB DDR5 6000MHZ
Storage: 2TB NVME
Cooling: 360mm AIO liquid cooled CPU
Connectivity: Gigabit Ethernet & WIFI 7 & Bluetooth

Rear IO

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Nice glass side panel...helps with cooling and gaining entry to motherboard area

Nice even has a brace for the vid card...even wifi!!!

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What Mainboard and Power Supply is in there?

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I am glad you noticed that too. I know how much these new GPU cards weigh, last thing I want, is for them to break out of the port their in. Using supports is basic building engineering, so I love to see it. Yep, she's got WIFI 7, so if I absolutely have to use it, its as fast as gigabit.

The motherboard is MSI, as it is an MSI machine afterall. The power supply I'm not sure, its probably your typical pre-built stock of 850 watt power supply.

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But You don't know what exactly Motherboard?

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B650

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Wow, a real racing beast !

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