📣Introducing the mega workstation build for Code Four! This marks my second high-end system for them, all thanks to a referral. A few months ago, they were considering an upgrade, and their decision to wait for the Intel Xeon w9-3495x has definitely paid off. Their previous build, featuring the AMD Threadripper 3990x with PBO, outperformed the TR Pro 5995wx. Considering this, I believed that the Intel Sapphire Rapids w9-3495x would be a worthwhile upgrade once overclocked, and it indeed delivered on that expectation. This happens to be the most expensive system I've worked on, and since Code Four is just one state away, I thought it would be fantastic to personally deliver it. Visiting their amazing office was a delight! The conference room, with its glass table supported by helicopter rotor blades, was truly impressive. It literally stopped me in my tracks. Witnessing the team members' reactions to the build was an enjoyable experience. Here are the incredible specs of the workstation: -Case: Fractal Design Meshify 2 XL -Processor: Intel Xeon w9-3495x 56core/112 thread (OC) -Motherboard: Asus Pro WS W790-Ace -Graphics Card: Nvidia RTX 6000 Ada 48GB -Cooling: 360mm EK Custom Loop with Phanteks T30 Fans -Storage: 4TB Kingston Fury Renegade (qty 2) -Power Supply: Seasonic 1600w Platinum -Chassis Fans: Noctua Redux PWM (qty 4) -RGB Lighting: Razer RGB Light Controller -Operating System: Windows 11 Pro Thank you to all of my clients, referrals are what account for most of my work! 🚀✨

Ok, I just saw the best reason to get a Tesla 🤣 The ability to make an espresso while driving. Man, what was that car show? Would be cool to have that built into the vehicle haha

Last month, one of my clients received their new desktop systems and sent me one of the nicest emails I've ever received in a while. I have to share it: "We opened those bad boys up today. They are a work of art! We almost want to get the clear case to show off the workmanship." Comments like this are why I personally build every desktop that leaves my shop. From a business perspective, it might make more sense to outsource assembly, but with my name on the business, every system feels personal. I take a lot of pride in knowing exactly how each workstation was built, tested, and prepared before it reaches a client. My goal is to keep it that way for as long as I can. One day, passing the business on to my twin boys. This summer I'll be introducing one of them to overclocking, stress testing, and quality control so he can start learning the process. He has a great eye for detail and is already very technical. When he's finally big enough to build desktops, I have a feeling his cable management will look a lot like mine. 😁 #smallbusiness #AEC #Architecture #Construction #BIM #Revit #ArchViz #CivilEngineering #GIS #RealityCapture #Workstation #custompc

And just like that, the last open work order has shipped! This workstation left the shop 2.5 weeks after payment, right within the 2–3 week lead time I strive to maintain. What makes this build especially rewarding is that it went to a new client who was referred by an employee at one of my existing clients. How cool is that? I am incredibly thankful for referrals like this. After 11 years in business, most of my work still comes from referrals. That trust allows me to do what I love, provide for my family, and keep up with my two boys hockey adventures... and if you're familiar with youth hockey, you'll know that having a goalie isn't exactly the budget friendly option 😵‍💫😁 Built for demanding design, visualization, and reality capture workflows: • @intel Ultra 9 285K • @pnytechgaming RTX 5090 32GB • 192GB @CORSAIR DDR5 Memory • 2TB 8TB NVMe Storage • @ASUS ProArt Z890 Motherboard • Corsair HX1500i Power Supply • @fractalofficial Meshify 2 Case • Corsair 360mm AIO Liquid Cooler • @Noctua_at A12x25 G2 120mm Fans • Noctua Redux 140mm Fans • Windows 11 Pro #AEC #Architecture #Construction #BIM #Revit #ArchViz #CivilEngineering #GIS #RealityCapture #Workstation

Thinking it may be time to revisit overclocking workstations again.........

PC Motherboard Sales Face Sharp 25% Decline Amid Weak Demand tpu.me/mhqj

Wow time flies, this commercial electrical contractor first started purchasing systems from us in 2022, and now they have quite a few systems deployed on site. Shipped two of these systems to them this week. This year they added two more laptops and two more desktop workstations to the fleet. Really appreciate the continued trust and support over the years! Key Specs: • Case: Fractal Define 7 Compact • CPU: Intel 285K • Memory: 128GB RAM • Storage: 2TB 2TB NVMe SSDs • Graphics: RTX 5070ti 16GB GPU

Okay....replacement PSU is here. Let’s give this another go! Another 12VHPWR issue… or is it? The original power supply had a very slightly bent male pin that ended up damaging one of the 12VHPWR connectors. And when I say slightly bent, I mean it. I’m very methodical with connector installs, especially with the 12vhpwr connectors. If I feel resistance, I stop immediately and inspect. That’s exactly how I caught it. Unfortunately, that was enough to damage the female side of the 12VHPWR connector as well. Given the nature and size of these connectors and the potential risk involved, this meant a new power supply must be ordered. After 20 years working professionally with electronics, from being a Mercedes-Benz technician to running my own computer business (hundreds of builds), this is the first time I’ve run into something like this. It honestly makes me think, carrying up to 600W (50A) on a connector with pins this small feels like we’re pushing the limits of physical design more than I’m comfortable with. With AMD now using the connector though, I guess we are stuck with it. Curious what others think, have you run into anything similar with 12VHPWR? #rtx5070ti #rtx5080 #rtx5090

Shipped this workstation in April, and it’s already leading to new opportunities! This client’s progression has been great to see: • 2024 Desktop • 2025 Laptop • April 2026 This desktop Yesterday, I received a quote request from someone they referred to me. Referrals like this are always meaningful and a strong indicator that the system and overall experience delivered value. Nearly every build I do came from a referral, thank you all again! Even more encouraging, I came in over 30% below their anticipated budget, which positions this as a strong potential new client. Hopefully they approve the build. This is the kind of growth I focus on: delivering reliable systems, building long term relationships, and earning referrals through results. Key specs of this build: • Intel 285K • 192GB DDR5 • RTX 5070 Ti 16GB • 2TB 8TB NVMe storage #BIM #AEC #Archicad #Revit #Solidworks #GameDev #Vray #Enscape #D5render #Lumion #SurveyLife #LandSurveying #coding #rendering #3Dvisualization #archviz #architecture #interiordesign #landscapedesign #custompc #workstation #workstations #aialasvegas

This one was a challenge! A 6 year old AMD 3990x Threadripper system came in for what was supposed to be a simple pump replacement after it stopped working. But once I opened it up, it was clear this was anything but routine. Coolant had leaked throughout the system, and the fluid had degraded badly. By the end of the process, it went from a soggy mess to a like new system (filters included). What happened: Oddly enough, the system initially passed pressure testing… until I moved the hoses. That’s when the real issue showed itself, 2 out of 3 EKWB 45° rotary fittings began leaking under movement. At that point, the job turned into a full teardown, deep cleaning, rebuild, and retest, with a new pump and fittings. The entire loop was disassembled: • Block and pump housing were taken apart and cleaned • Radiator and fittings were flushed using specialized fluids The setback: We did lose 4 out of 8 RAM sticks in the process. They were thoroughly cleaned with electrical cleaner and air dried for about 3 days, but it’s likely coolant was retained in the heatsinks. This also made troubleshooting more time consuming since isolating the working modules is a little slow with 8 sticks. Final outcome: The client opted to move forward with 128GB of RAM, with the option to expand later if needed. After a BIOS update and full system stress testing, the system was shipped back in like-new condition. I decided to stick to my original labor charge despite this curveball.

Intel’s Xeon 6 is interesting!! I was just talking to a client this week who specifically needed a feature from the Intel platform and I brought up the Xeon 6 696x to them over a previous generation. With perfect timing, @Level1Techs Wendell drops a video right on time! youtu.be/SDSZb0xwlRk?si=zVXN… What stood out to me is how strong Intel looks in memory performance on some workloads, while AMD’s Threadripper / Threadripper Pro still has a strong lead in core heavy performance workloads. It is always important to look at Intel and AMD without bias. This is going to be a case where depending on the task, Xeon or Threadripper could be the better CPU.

Every laptop I build gets a thorough inspection. That includes checking all cooler and motherboard screws. Occasionally, I’ll find one that needs attention, like the cooler screw shown here. This level of detail is just one part of the process that ensures each system is built to the highest standard.

One interesting chassis on display at Sliger's booth was this 4U chassis with Neutrik connectors. No risk to the motherboard if one breaks. They have had a lot of feedback on putting them on their new S640 which I agree, it would make sense to do them on an S645 since I can see those units on the go often. What do you think about that type of connector at the back of a system?

Ok @FrameworkPuter , I see you with the Laptop 13 Pro....may have to order one myself after speaking with the business team. youtu.be/GnOpIQJnYWU?si=3Upy…

NAB 2026 was very insightful. I may try to get back there tomorrow too. So much more I wanted to look at but time was limited. Of course Sliger and Asus were two stops I had to see!

Shipped this little monster to Texas yesterday for one of my largest customers! One of the very few with over 100 systems (mixed laptops and desktops). Highlights: Ultra 9 285K RTX 5090 32GB 192GB DDR5 @ 6000 MT/s 2TB 2TB NVMe storage Don’t put up with outdated hardware!! For those of us in high stress positions, your workstation really does make a difference. #BIM #AEC #Archicad #Revit #Solidworks #GameDev #Vray #Enscape #D5render #Lumion #SurveyLife #LandSurveying #coding #rendering #3Dvisualization #archviz #architecture #interiordesign #landscapedesign #custompc #workstation #workstations

Just shipped out a fun build to Texas today. (Will post pics of it tomorrow) Unlike the first 3 years of business, the past 8 years most of my systems have been shipped out of state, which means if something goes wrong, it becomes a costly situation. That’s why I take packing seriously, using high quality boxes and materials as well as proper internal protection to make sure everything arrives exactly how it left my bench. This one is going to a large company, my contact is aware of the power consumption. Just in case the technician setting it up doesn't get the information, I noted a peak power draw of 860 watts on the info sheet. That allows them to ensure the system doesn't trip a breaker in a busy office. Building and testing the system is just part of the process, packaging it correctly is just as important.

Worlds smallest Threadripper Pro build? Quite possibly. Waiting for the PSU to arrive but glad it all fits 🤣

Happy Friday everyone! Taking a minute to appreciate how far high end desktops (HEDT) workstations have come while working on this AMD Threadripper Pro build. This system is headed out for on-site point cloud processing, serious work that demands serious hardware! The 768GB of RAM alone is impressive (and probably worth more than my truck 😄). We went with the 32-core / 64-thread 9975WX since it aligns best with the client’s software, paired with an RTX 5070 Ti 16GB to get them up and running. There’s talk of stepping up to an RTX Pro 6000 96GB down the line. Always fun building systems that are purpose-driven like this. #Workstations #ThreadripperPro #RealityCapture #AEC #PointCloud #PCBuilder