Gaming Hardware Needs to Grow Up

[D4rkn3ss]

But it's got LEDtrolytes and they indicate plebformance. I always look inside the case to determine the performance

lol yeah, me too! hehe

 

[Darunion]

i lost all faith in humanity when i saw they were putting rgb leds in ram

There might have been a few turning points for me other than LED's...

 

[Merc1138]

I love this generation of RGB, it's a very subtle rainbow effect. Very calming and nicer than looking at just black or white all day. I even got philips hue lightbulbs in my room that do the same thing. I love making my room look like something of a 90s arcade.

If the current crop of RGB LED laden products is "subtle", I'd have to assume your idea of slightly understated must pose a hazard to those with epilepsy.

 

[Saturn_V]

i lost all faith in humanity when i saw they were putting rgb leds in ram

LEDs on RAM ain't new. Corsair had sticks with "activity LEDs" over ten years ago.

That was probably the same time I last had a windowed case too.

 

[D4rkn3ss]

There might have been a few turning points for me other than LED's...

well it was the icing on the cake then

 

[NickJames]

If the current crop of RGB LED laden products is "subtle", I'd have to assume your idea of slightly understated must pose a hazard to those with epilepsy.

Going from

To

Yes it's much more subtle. Have you seen the TridentZ RGB in action? The gradient transition is very smooth and not jarring like LEDs back in the early 2000s.

 

[Zarathustra[H]]

Going from

To

Yes it's much more subtle. Have you seen the TridentZ RGB in action? The gradient transition is very smooth and not jarring like LEDs back in the early 2000s.

You can make it even more subtle by putting a solid, non-windowed door on it

 

[NickJames]

You can make it even more subtle by putting a solid, non-windowed door on it

Eh, call me a child but I love seeing my internal components. I spent $2K on what's inside, why not lighten it up a little and show it off? I wouldn't drive a Honda Accord with a Mustang engine.

Some of us are enthusiasts not sleepers.
https://www.million-dollar-pc.com/

 

[Merc1138]

To

Yes it's much more subtle. Have you seen the TridentZ RGB in action? The gradient transition is very smooth and not jarring like LEDs back in the early 2000s.

There's nothing subtle about that whatsoever. If anything, it's worse lol. Yeah, the green was a crappy obnoxious bright mess, but you traded that for a PC that looks like it's getting ready for the local pride parade. At least LEDs on RAM are optional(for now) so people aren't stuck paying for it if they don't want it.

 

[NickJames]

There's nothing subtle about that whatsoever. If anything, it's worse lol. Yeah, the green was a crappy obnoxious bright mess, but you traded that for a PC that looks like it's getting ready for the local pride parade. At least LEDs on RAM are optional(for now) so people aren't stuck paying for it if they don't want it.

To each his own, I love the rainbow of colors. As far as I know all these lights are optional so I don't see what the big deal is. Even Logitech mice lights are optional. And what's wrong with pride? Those aren't my computers just examples.

 

[tempertantrum]

Same here. I actually quite liked the aesthetics of my old G500:

When it came time to replace it though, I couldn't find anything I quite liked. The Steelseries Rival looked nice and subtle (you can always turn off the LED) but had some significant tracking issues for me. I eventually wound up with an evil starship in the G502 Proteus Core, and I'm not a huge fan.

I had the M518, then then G500. I miss the three mouse buttons from the G500 immensely. But I have to say, you can easily turn off the G502 lights if you want, and the Proteus fits my hand *perfectly.* I don't care about what it looks like, I care how it performs, which I think is the primary point of gaming equipment. I do have an all glass case with 7 RGB fans, but I can turn all of them off when I'm not showing it off - which, when you put as much effort into a computer as many of us do, it's nice to do sometimes.

 

[Merc1138]

To each his own, I love the rainbow of colors. As far as I know all these lights are optional so I don't see what the big deal is. Even Logitech mice lights are optional. And what's wrong with pride? Those aren't my computers just examples.

I didn't say there was anything wrong with pride, did I? Nope. I just said that it looked like that computer was getting ready to attend a pride parade, nothing wrong with that at all... other than I wouldn't want a rainbow lightshow in my computer.

And no, not all RGB LED crap is optional. RGB headers on a motherboard? Generally not optional. Higher end gaming board with RGB lights all over it? Not optional. Logitech mice with LED lights built in... definitely not optional. Being able to turn something off that you don't want to pay for, does not mean it's "optional".

 

[IcePickFreak]

 

[Ur_Mom]

There's nothing subtle about that whatsoever. If anything, it's worse lol. Yeah, the green was a crappy obnoxious bright mess, but you traded that for a PC that looks like it's getting ready for the local pride parade. At least LEDs on RAM are optional(for now) so people aren't stuck paying for it if they don't want it.

I like the look of it. As long as there is a switch to turn it off (could get annoying after a while). But, it's done in a nice way. Not over the top, not super bright and out there.

 

[NickJames]

I didn't say there was anything wrong with pride, did I? Nope. I just said that it looked like that computer was getting ready to attend a pride parade, nothing wrong with that at all... other than I wouldn't want a rainbow lightshow in my computer.

And no, not all RGB LED crap is optional. RGB headers on a motherboard? Generally not optional. Higher end gaming board with RGB lights all over it? Not optional. Logitech mice with LED lights built in... definitely not optional. Being able to turn something off that you don't want to pay for, does not mean it's "optional".

The difference between having and LEDs and not having is negligible. I picked up my Logitech gaming mouse for $40, previously my G9X was $60. My ASUS Strix Z270i $170, paid I believe $200 for my Rampage Gene. Trident Z RGB $150, Trident Z $130. Like I said, if you don't like them, turn it off. I can turn off the LEDs on everything in my case so it's not a big deal IMO.

 

[Merc1138]

The difference between having and LEDs and not having is negligible. I picked up my Logitech gaming mouse for $40, previously my G9X was $60. My ASUS Strix Z270i $170, paid I believe $200 for my Rampage Gene. Trident Z RGB $150, Trident Z $130. Like I said, if you don't like them, turn it off. I can turn off the LEDs on everything in my case so it's not a big deal IMO.

Again, not the same thing. Off is not the same as "not included because I don't want to pay the 10 cents for components I'm not interested in".

You guys also seem to be really focusing on the LEDs, when it's not the only complaint about modern gaming hardware.

I don't care what someone else wants their computer to look like.

However, other than cases it's pretty difficult to get well... "grown up" looking hardware sometimes without either paying out the ass or being extremely limited in options to have a mouse with a decent sensor in it that also doesn't have an angry looking logo, the profile of an F-117, and enough lights to setup a disco dance floor in a hamster cage. And then if you do want a case with a window so you can see your components... it looks like someone vomited legos and christmas lights into the thing unless you turn them all off(which brings up a possible cost concern, because why pay for something you don't want?), and then a bunch of modding(yes, I know this is hardocp, but hear me out) that not everyone is interested in doing(painting, replacing heatsinks, etc.) just so the thing doesn't look garish but still be buying top end components(since "go" matters more than "show" to some).

 

[NickJames]

Again, not the same thing. Off is not the same as "not included because I don't want to pay the 10 cents for components I'm not interested in".

You guys also seem to be really focusing on the LEDs, when it's not the only complaint about modern gaming hardware.

Because manufacturers don't see a point in creating a whole seperate line of products LED free when the average consumer can just turn them off. It's cheaper for them to make one standard model than to modify the production line because of a minority of people who can't stand having an unlit diode in their device.

As for aesthetics, there's plenty of simple designs out there. The Logitech Pro Gamer mouse is as simple as it gets and has what's considered the best optical sensor ever designed. Corsair has plenty of windowless minimalistic designed chassis not to mention people are kickstarting their own aka the Ncase and DANS Case. Just seems like you're complaining for the sake of complaining.

 

[Merc1138]

Because manufacturers don't see a point in creating a whole seperate line of products LED free when the average consumer can just turn them off. It's cheaper for them to make one standard model than to modify the production line because of a minority of people who can't stand having an unlit diode in their device.

As for aesthetics, there's plenty of simple designs out there. The Logitech Pro Gamer mouse is as simple as it gets and has what's considered the best optical sensor ever designed. Corsair has plenty of windowless minimalistic designed chassis not to mention people are kickstarting their own aka the Ncase and DANS Case. Just seems like you're complaining for the sake of complaining.

And just because someone doesn't want to see a ridiculous looking motherboard, videocard, etc. doesn't mean they don't want to see their components. Wanting options is not a bad thing.

 

[Darunion]

And just because someone doesn't want to see a ridiculous looking motherboard, videocard, etc. doesn't mean they don't want to see their components. Wanting options is not a bad thing.

I agree but as said it really comes down to cost. It is cheaper to produce all of them with LEDs than it is to have new molds made and a separate PCB with drivers and leds not populated as well as different firmware, just for the sake of a niche group, which I am part of. That is where other companies come in with 'back to basics' approach for hardware. This is why the 'off' switch will be the route moving forward, since flashy lights sells.

 

[NickJames]

And just because someone doesn't want to see a ridiculous looking motherboard, videocard, etc. doesn't mean they don't want to see their components. Wanting options is not a bad thing.

I feel like this generation of components has been the best looking yet. The STRIX motherboards are primarily silver and black. Turn off those LEDs and you got a simple looking board.

The Nvidia reference shrouds are great.

RAM is still a bit too much for my taste with all the fins and such but the stainless steel looks great.

This is basically my setup, turn off the LEDs and you go from Quakecon 2008 to Samsung Chef Collection.

 

[Zarathustra[H]]

I had the M518, then then G500. I miss the three mouse buttons from the G500 immensely. But I have to say, you can easily turn off the G502 lights if you want, and the Proteus fits my hand *perfectly.* I don't care about what it looks like, I care how it performs, which I think is the primary point of gaming equipment. I do have an all glass case with 7 RGB fans, but I can turn all of them off when I'm not showing it off - which, when you put as much effort into a computer as many of us do, it's nice to do sometimes.

Ditto. Performance trumps looks, which is why I have a G502 Proteus Core despite hating its looks.

The 502 fits better in my hands than it looks like it will, but I have rather large hands, and it does feel a bit small. The G500 was perfect for me.

I don't "ride" the mouse either. My palm rests on my mouse pad, mouse is grasped between thumb and ring finger, with index and middle finder on top of the right and left buttons. Th epinky just kind of drags a long the mouse pad.

 

[Flogger23m]

There are a lot of us who want quality and performance, but don't want to pay for lights and crap like that. Take the EVGA GPUs. If you want their best cooling optional available, you also have to pay to get LED lights and other crap. All I care about is the GPU speed, cooling/noise levels and of course quality/stability. The price jump was around $50-60 if I recall.

Speaking of GPUs specifically, I think manufacturers need to limit the number of variants:

- A basic blower style for SLI/Crossfire and a standard for modding.
- The best air cooled option they can produce (within reason) which comes pre-OCed.
- A water cooled version for those that want to go that route.

Done. Right now we have blower style coolers, low end two fan coolers, higher end 2/3 fan coolers, multiple clock levels for each, optional back plate variants, water cooler ready, "higher end" LED models and more. EVGA has around 10-12 GTX 1070s last time I checked.

RAM wise, I just want a good heat spreader. This is primarily for handling. Makes it easier to grip them. Lower profile so they don't get in the way. I am sure adding on LEDs will raise the price of a $1-2 heat spreader to $3-5, which I don't want to pay for.

 

[Susquehannock]

Regarding optional ..... asked on the MSI support forum if it was possible to turn off the lighting on my rx480 without having to run the MSI Gaming APP in the background.

Response from Tech was basically - " Why would you want to ?"

 

[Merc1138]

I feel like this generation of components has been the best looking yet. The STRIX motherboards are primarily silver and black. Turn off those LEDs and you got a simple looking board.

The Nvidia reference shrouds are great.

RAM is still a bit too much for my taste with all the fins and such but the stainless steel looks great.


This is basically my setup, turn off the LEDs and you go from Quakecon 2008 to Samsung Chef Collection.

I still see a giant angry looking gamer brand logo(in this instance it's supposed to be a mask, other companies will use a bird, some just use a crazy font, etc.), and while the heatsinks themselves on the motherboard aren't a big deal, sometimes the crappy molded plastic covering isn't offering any benefit either than to just make it look like the batmobile.

 

[Zarathustra[H]]

Regarding optional ..... asked on the MSI support forum if it was possible to turn off the lighting on my rx480 without having to run the MSI Gaming APP in the background.

Response from Tech was basically - " Why would you want to ?"

Usually the LED light cable attaches to the board separately from the fan cable. Depending on the model, you ought to just be able to disconnect it, by pulling it straight out of the socket. Should be fully reversible if you want to reattach it to sell it or something like that.

At least that's how my EVGA 980ti ACX2.0+ boards were designed.

 

[NickJames]

I still see a giant angry looking gamer brand logo(in this instance it's supposed to be a mask, other companies will use a bird, some just use a crazy font, etc.), and while the heatsinks themselves on the motherboard aren't a big deal, sometimes the crappy molded plastic covering isn't offering any benefit either than to just make it look like the batmobile.

I kind of prefer a simple logo to the entire companies name written on it. A step from http://images.bit-tech.net/content_...te-890fx-880g-motherboards/ga-890fx-ud7-3.jpg in my opinion.