New Owner Questions

TubigLung
TubigLung ✭
First Comment Name Dropper
in PowerSpec

I recently purchased a Powerspec B737 to replace a 2011 Dell PC. After about a month of usage, I had some general questions:

  • Noticed that while browsing or using MS Office (otherwise minimal multi-tasking), the fans ramp up and down quickly (probably no more than 5s at the most) every now and then. The ramp ups don't seem to coincide with any particular increase in activity on my end. Is this normal behavior? Have heard this might be something with AMD processors?
  • In the Gigabyte Control Center, it lists several updates (including things like Norton antivirus). Any recommendations on if, or which, items I should prioritize updating? I know sometimes newer isn't necessary better as updates can introduce their own set of issues.
  • Trying to figure out what the below mesh-like material is. It's towards the front of the tower and runs pretty much from the top (behind the fan in the picture) to the bottom (blue outline). If it's some sort of dust cover/filter, is there an easy way to remove it for cleaning? 20250521_154227.jpg
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Best Answers

  • PowerSpec_MikeW
    PowerSpec_MikeW PowerSpec Engineer
    Sixth Anniversary 2500 Comments 100 Answers 250 Likes
    Answer ✓

    @TubigLung

    • It's typical with background usage. Temp increases will cause this, the fan curves can be adjusted in the BIOS or GCC.
    • You don't need to touch the updates, it's just part of GCC. We push the drivers out automatically via Windows Update.
    • If you grip at the bottom front, you can pull the front bezel off entirely. The dust filter is under there. It's magnetic
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  • PowerSpec_MikeW
    PowerSpec_MikeW PowerSpec Engineer
    Sixth Anniversary 2500 Comments 100 Answers 250 Likes
    Answer ✓

    @TubigLung

    Only if the noise is annoying to you. You can flatten it out a bit.

    Yes, if you stick your hand under there, there's basically a hand hold you can grip. Just pull it towards the front and it'll pop off. They're plastic clips, it does require some force.

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  • PowerSpec_MikeW
    PowerSpec_MikeW PowerSpec Engineer
    Sixth Anniversary 2500 Comments 100 Answers 250 Likes
    Answer ✓

    @TubigLung

    Don't worry a bout optimizing the OS for the SSD. This is all automatic, it's not going to beat up your SSD by defragging it like you used to have to worry about. Defragging rearranged data to decrease response times for HDD's. Response times for SSD's are near instant, it has no real value.

    For TBW. Not worried about it on a TLC drive. QLC I wouldn't authorize for a main OS drive. It's fine for a data drive.

    Regarding warning, quite the opposite. HDD's tended to fail suddenly. With SSD's the flash cells degrade over time with user. Causes the performance of the drive to degrade with age and use with telegraphs the state of the drive. While it can still fail, I feel it's a warning or an indicator to replace that you don't get with SSD's.

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Answers

  • TubigLung
    TubigLung ✭
    First Comment Name Dropper

    Thanks @PowerSpec_MikeW! Glad to hear the drivers are pushed automatically — one less thing to worry about.

    For a normal user, is there anything with the fan curves I would need to consider adjusting?

    By bottom front, I'm assuming you're referring to the small opening that's sort of behind the PowerSpec logo at the bottom front of the tower? Is that front bezel held in place via clips (just wondering how much force I would need to exert) or does it slide right off?

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  • TubigLung
    TubigLung ✭
    First Comment Name Dropper

    How do I get into BIOS? I tried pressing DEL when the PowerSpec splash screen loads up but it just goes straight into booting up Windows.

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  • PowerSpec_MikeW
    PowerSpec_MikeW PowerSpec Engineer
    Sixth Anniversary 2500 Comments 100 Answers 250 Likes

    @TubigLung

    That's the correct key. It may not be detecting your keyboard quick enough. From Windows:

    1. Right click start, select Terminal (Admin)
    2. Hit 'Yes' in the UAC box.
    3. Type: shutdown /r /fw /t 00
    4. If you see an error type the same command again.

    That will reboot and automatically enter the BIOS.

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  • TubigLung
    TubigLung ✭
    First Comment Name Dropper

    I gave it a few more tries and think I might have gotten it to work via the DEL key. I was pressing it when I saw the PowerSpec splash screen but every time I did that, it would just boot up to Windows. The one time it worked was when I started pressing the DEL key before I even saw the splash screen; once that screen came up, it blinked and brought me into BIOS.

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  • PowerSpec_MikeW
    PowerSpec_MikeW PowerSpec Engineer
    Sixth Anniversary 2500 Comments 100 Answers 250 Likes

    @TubigLung

    Yes, I would always spam the key after I turn the system on. There may be enough of a delay with the monitor to have missed the window by the time you see the splash.

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  • TubigLung
    TubigLung ✭
    First Comment Name Dropper
    edited June 7

    I'm new to SSDs and and have been coming across varying perspectives on practices/tweaks (i.e., turning off Window's auto defrag) for maintaining one's SSD in "good health". And it seems that compared to HDDs, SSDs don't give much warning before they fail. Are concerns about reaching a SSD's TBW under normal use (not for work purposes) overblown?

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  • TubigLung
    TubigLung ✭
    First Comment Name Dropper

    Recently, I've been noticing that when I put the computer into sleep mode, it comes out of it within 2 min. Ran powercfg -lastwake in CMD and received the following:

    Wake History Count - 1
    Wake History [0]
      Wake Source Count - 1
      Wake Source [0]
        Type: Device
        Instance Path: PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8168&SUBSYS_E0001458&REV_15\01000000684CE00000
        Friendly Name: Realtek PCIe GbE Family Controller
        Description: Realtek PCIe GbE Family Controller
        Manufacturer: Realtek

    I went into my device manager, located the component and initially unchecked the "Allow computer to turn off device to save power". That seemed to work fine for one week. Then the following week when I put the computer into sleep mode it came out of right pretty much right away. Same issue and it appeared that my unchecking the selection didn't stick. Moving to this weekend, it happened again, except this time I noticed that the only thing checked initially was "Allow this device to wake the computer". Unchecked it, put it into sleep mode, computer woke up within a minute, ran the command and culprit was Realtek again as the checkmark was back on "Allow this device to wake up computer". Finally decided to check all 3 and was able to keep it in sleep mode.

    Any thoughts or other suggestions to make this more permanent (stopping the computer from waking up after putting it in sleep mode)?

    image.png
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  • PowerSpec_MikeW
    PowerSpec_MikeW PowerSpec Engineer
    Sixth Anniversary 2500 Comments 100 Answers 250 Likes

    @TubigLung

    Very strange. Lets see if there's something timed.

    1. Search for Edit Power Plan.
    2. Change Advanced Power Settings.
    3. Expand Sleep.
    4. Allow Wake Timer = Disabled.
    5. Apply and exit.

    Let me know if that stops it.

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  • TubigLung
    TubigLung ✭
    First Comment Name Dropper

    I'll give that a shot. Should I reset any of the settings for the Realtek Family Controller? Currently all are checked but previously was not.

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  • PowerSpec_MikeW
    PowerSpec_MikeW PowerSpec Engineer
    Sixth Anniversary 2500 Comments 100 Answers 250 Likes

    @TubigLung

    Leave it that way for now. If that works, we'll re-enable and sort through any tasks that might be waking the PC.

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  • clivden1
    clivden1 ✭
    First Comment

    my brand new out of the box machine does not power on. Power cord is connected. Power source is good. what am I missing? Could i have bought a defective machine?

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