What are some of your PC building pet peeves?

[dirtyferret]

I'm not talking about when a RAM stick comes DOA or the fan makes a bad clicking sound but when everything works accordingly and still just seems to piss you off?

Here are two of mine;

CPU fan clips - I don't know why but they just scream glorified paper clip to me. Plus they suck when you need to remove them off the heatsink. I know cooler master uses plastic fan holders, why can't more brands use them? I just spent $50-60 on a CPU cooler and my fan is held on by a paper clip, just seems weird.

No attachment clip on the 4+4 CPU power cable - This one is recent but on some new PSU, OEMs removed the clip that keeps the two 4pin power cables together for 8 pin CPU power ports on the mobo. Now I need to reach all the way into the corner of the case to place not once but twice to plug in the damn CPU power. I could understand if the clip was removed on the latest Acbell or Huntkey $20 special but it's missing on the Seasonic Focus Plus 550 & 650 and EVGA G3 550w (superflower oem) while their higher powered brethren have them.

 

[MercJ]

Case / cable grommets that are *just* big enough to push a connector through - or any grommet that falls out when passing cables through...

Routing that 4-8 pin CPU AUX cable behind the motherboard tray and trying to fit it through the (usually far too small) opening in the top left corner of most cases' motherboard trays...especially if there's a fan/radiator mount on the top panel.

Also, can we standardize front panel headers already? I realize not every case has a reset button or power/HDD LED, but that doesn't mean the motherboard arrangement has to change from board to board...

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

Having one screw left over.

 

[jboydgolfer]

i hate the current state of header plugs on motherboards. even the good ones are a total Pain in the A$$. when will they make an easy system, that DOESNT involve tiny little plugs?

 

[dorsetknob]

i hate the current state of header plugs on motherboards. even the good ones are a total Pain in the A$$.

Asus quick connect is OK

 

[Deleted member 67555]

So basically I hate knowing what every TIM I have ever used tastes like.
BTW
I don't like the taste of newer thermal compound formulas as much as the older stuff.

 

[Sasqui]

That for most computer cases, you have to remove both side covers to add/remove hard drives

 

[Mussels]

standoff screws that unscrew from the case, but stick to the motherboard

 

[theFOoL]

Having the leftover zip ties from my case

 

[jboydgolfer]

is OK

yea, ive seen those. the issue is im a big guy, and my hands/fingers are big too, those plugs are WAY too tiny..
& on my beautiful black mobo those plugs no look so good

the way i see it is Every Case has pwr/rst/HDD activity, lets make them one larger plug.....etc, rinse & repeat

 

[StrayKAT]

Upside down graphics cards.

 

[Deleted member 67555]

standoff screws that unscrew from the case, but stick to the motherboard

I literally use new screws and stand offs every single time I remove them along with the fiber washer....
One day I'll go back through the once used screws but that'll be at least 10 builds away..... eBay bulk buy from China

 

[thebluebumblebee]

The little "fingers" on the I/O shield, that always bend the wrong way, that I don't discover until I've screwed in all 9 motherboard screws.

 

[sneekypeet]

the way i see it is Every Case has pwr/rst/HDD activity, lets make them one larger plug.....etc, rinse & repeat

But not all do. Also on the flip side, not all motherboard makers use the same layout either If they developed a standard for both ends, sure. Coming from a guy who has built many cases on many boards, I don't have many issues outside of specs promising things that in real life are limited in some way.

 

[Norton]

yea, ive seen those. the issue is im a big guy, and my hands/fingers are big too, those plugs are WAY too tiny..

Same here- I have a nice pair of small needlenose pliers for some of those small finger tasks

That for most computer cases, you have to remove both side covers to add/remove hard drives

That's one of my pet peeves- drives should be accessible from the motherboard side of the case. I usually avoid cases that need to have the opposite panel removed for a HDD change.

I even added a Fractal Design drive cage to my Thermaltake P3 open case because Tt put the drive bays under the motherboard

 

[Sasqui]

That's one of my pet peeves- drives should be accessible from the motherboard side of the case. I usually avoid cases that need to have the opposite panel removed for a HDD change.

I even added a Fractal Design drive cage to my Thermaltake P3 open case because Tt put the drive bays under the motherboard

I have one of these 3x 3.5" HDD SATA Hot Swap to 2x 5.25 internal drive bay enclosures. They rock! and I have a 2.5" 3.5" cage converter for lappy drives

Problem is, I only have 1 of these and 3 computers lol

 

[natr0n]

I don't know honestly.

If shit doesn't work I get bothered somewhat. Like finding some old motherboards, cleaning them like new and none work.

 

[Mussels]

i've been wondering a long time why high end cases dont come with built in HDD docks, one molex/sata power cable, and hidden away extensions for the sata cables themselves

 

[sneekypeet]

i've been wondering a long time why high end cases dont come with built in HDD docks, one molex/sata power cable, and hidden away extensions for the sata cables themselves

Was a hot trend in cases a couple of years ago, but seems to have gotten axed for tempered glass and RGB lighting.

 

[jboydgolfer]

Same here- I have a nice pair of small needlenose pliers for some of those small finger tasks

I think its something that requires (or atleast helps) a bigger person to understand fully, I know you're very similar size to me so you know the struggle. needle nose sounds like a good idea, i might need to try that on the next build

 

[sneekypeet]

I think its something that requires (or atleast helps) a bigger person to understand fully, I know you're very similar size to me so you know the struggle. needle nose sounds like a good idea, i might need to try that on the next build

Just be gentle on your grip. I have to do it a lot in Mini-ITX cases, but it is easy to crush those thin connectors. I got my hands on some long tweezers when I got stitches. They tend to work better as the handles of pliers can get in the way, and its hard to create enough pressure to crush the black plastic ends.

 

[jboydgolfer]

it is easy to crush those thin connectors.

oh yea it is. i havent as of yet , hope i continue that record. theyre mostly just hard to hold, or get a hold of, plus my eyes are beginning to show their age too

 

[sneekypeet]

my eyes are beginning to show their age too

Get yourself some cheater glasses or a set of hobby magnifying lenses

 

[jboydgolfer]

what about those damn USB3.0 cables?? when are those gonna be a standard right angle/90degree connector?? they are close to the stiffest material known to man, and often need to be bent into submission so you dont have a Baboon a$$ blue cable pointing straight up off your MoBo which is otherwise beautiful

im pretty sure they DO make some right angle, but not standard

 

[sneekypeet]

what about those damn USB3.0 cables?? when are those gonna be a standard right angle/90degree connector?? they are close to the stiffest material known to man, and often need to be bent into submission so you dont have a Baboon a$$ blue cable pointing straight up off your MoBo which is otherwise beautiful

im pretty sure they DO make some right angle, but not standard

Again, it is on the motherboard makers. I had many motherboards with connections facing the side panel (perpendicular to the motherboard) and some of my newer boards have connections facing the front of the chassis (parallel with the board). I have had a single chassis with USB 3 Type C, and that connection was a ninety degree plug!