The new computer build

[AK-47]

Only you can determine how sensitive the data is, and the consequences of it getting into the wrong hands. For example your threat model may use some metrics like this:

1. What are the consequences of it getting in the wrong hands? Self explanatory, but probably the most important one. What are the consequences of a leak, and what ramifications does it have for you or others?
2. Can the data be reset or revoked easily? For example, I would consider a password for this forum to be less sensitive than a scanned copy of a birth certificate or passport.
3. How easy is it for the data to end up in the wrong hands? Encryption makes it a lot harder, and so you may be able to afford to spend less time destroying it, generally one random pass and a zero pass will do the trick.
4. How likely is it to end up in the wrong hands? Unless the orphanage you're donating the PC to is full of evil hackers from the Netherlands, the data is not as likely to end up in the wrong hands as leaving it out on the side of the road or in a dumpster.
5. How capable and motivated are your worst adversaries? So let's say the orphanage is called "Kwaadaardige hackers van Nederland die van Google Translate houden, verenigen zich!" They may have more resources than an orphanage called "Niets om hier te zien, ga mee!" who aren't interested or capable of accessing your personal data, and just want to watch the latest episode of Game of Thrones.

Nwipe alone does a pretty good job and it's versatile. If you really don't have any personal or sensitive data on it (bank details, credentials/ID that can't be revoked or changed, secret plans of a spacecraft in the shape of an elephant, etc) you can even get away with just one pass of the Quick Erase option, which only writes zeroes and then verifies it. Turning off verification improves speed a bit.

I like using the ATA secure erase first to hit the bad/reallocated sectors (that tools like nwipe can't get to), then use something like nwipe. On an SSD I might use a second round of ATA secure erase, which resets the drive to its factory state.
One use for ATA secure erase isn't even security related: if I have to reinstall the OS for some reason I like to start with a clean slate.

The main disadvantage of my method is time, particularly with a HDD.

[Eadwine Rose]

Thanks for that extensive answer. Food for thought

[Eadwine Rose]

Thanks and you're welcome.

Running MX18.3 from the new rig since yesterday. Only need to fiddle with sensors, everything else is working :)

[Eadwine Rose]

Built in the dvd burner earlier today, tested it and it works. That is the last hardware thing that needed adding.

This evening I started copying the exact design that Ron (my mate) had made me as a gift, a sticker for my computer. I stuck it on the inside of the case back when, and that is how I know now exactly when it was built

So this is pretty much the same. The simplymepis logo has changed to an MX logo though His avatar on the old sticker was also different from what is on here. This is the cat he cared VERY much about, and the avatar has his logo in the top left.. great find, so what more could I want

He has "helped" me still, hence the posthumous honoring. Without him assisting me on what to put where in my system and his back when I would never have dared to do this now!

So yeah, this is a little cherry on top to honor him

Computer build sticker.jpg

Anyone remember my old avatar?

[richb]

A nice touch. Of course I remember your old avatar.

[AK-47]

And, throughout this thread, I noticed a rapid increase in self-confidence too. You really have something to be proud of.
A lot of field techs omit basic, simple yet critical steps and here you do all those steps properly. Not bad for a "noob."
Even though you didn't know it at the start, you really knew what you were doing all along.

[Eadwine Rose]

Thank you

It was a given to find out stuff before blatantly buying something. My mate did that back in the day for this system.. or.. so it seemed. Maybe he went about things the same way I did here. I don't know, because I never asked, I just trusted his judgement.

I HAD to make sure things were compatible, the last thing I wanted was spend a LOT of money (this "rig" is the most expensive one I have ever bought) and then be stuck with a luxury paperweight

Tweakers.net was VERY helpful in narrowing down ALL the options. I never went by the number of reviews or stars something had gotten, to me that was irrelevant.
Here you go, it's a Dutch site, but looks like the translated site by google works on it.

I can recommend it to all noobs out there, and even those more experienced.

[alexjack]

Thanks for the input!

And yeah.. I like my stuff to last as well. Not into overclocking either here. Pretty much the same way of thinking as you do :)

Do you have the standard CPU cooler that came with the Ryzen 2600? Or? How are the temps on that CPU?

I'm using the stock cooler, which is the smaller one of the three AMD options. I did take a look at temperature during a video encoding run, but unhelpfully, can't actually remember the value. Nothing worrying though. I'll report back the next time I do some DVD conversion. I'd consider a bigger cooler for slightly less noise. Not that its loud.

OK, doing some video encoding with CPU at 80-90%, CUP temperature is a steady 84 deg C. Sounds quite toastie to me. Any views on this? This is a Ryzen 2600 with the stock cooler.

[Eadwine Rose]

It would likely be easier if you started your own topic now, because this one is not the one to ask for help on your own issue

[Eadwine Rose]

Just bumping this up.. I am not waiting till next year, it's gonna happen this year.

And again I am nervous LMAO!!

Currently looking for a better CPU cooling solution, because on this super hot day here running DVDStyler is bumping temps up into the low 70s (that is C, not F).


Need to mind the sizes, I have enough room with the wraith Max cooler (105mm L x 108mm W), but it should not get bigger length and width wise.


When it cools down a bit here I will take some pics of the insides of the ... wait I have this:



You can see I don't have much space on the right side (ram), though when it widens out higher up that should work.
I also don't have much on the bottom there either (graphics card).

Height wise I have roughly the width of the PSU which is 150mm, a wee extra in fact because of the shape of the case.



So.. here we go again