The Herd Mentality PC - 2020

The Herd Mentality PC - 2020 follows a bold experiment in DIY PC building: Linus and team decide to assemble a computer by sorting Newegg parts solely by Best Rating, essentially letting the crowd’s opinions drive the build. The opening segments set the premise: the team is overwhelmed by acronyms and specifications, and instead of meticulous research they surrender to the fates of the highest rated components. This approach leads to a Ryzen 7 3700X as the CPU, paired with a MSI X570 ACE motherboard, and a 16 GB G.Skill DDR4 kit. The narrative emphasizes compatibility and forward planning, noting the motherboard’s upgrade path for Ryzen 5000 and the emphasis on features like 2.5 Gb Ethernet and WiFi 6. The first major segment ends with the assembled core: CPU, motherboard, memory, storage, cooler, and power supply, all chosen from top-rated items, though some choices are clearly not Linus’s first instinct in a typical curated build. As the build continues, the video delves into storage and cooling specifics. Intel’s 660P 1 TB SSD is highlighted as a surprisingly solid value despite being a mid-range option, while the Noctua NH-U12S cooler is praised for quiet performance and a legendary mounting system. The Seasonic GX-750 PSU is presented with a long warranty and modular cables, and the Cooler Master HAF XB Evo case is introduced as the most unconventional, yet highly rated, viewer’s pick. Throughout this section, the host discusses the balance between price, performance, and long-term support, noting that warranties and upgradability factor into the herd mentality beyond raw specs. Midway through the video, the team reaches the challenge of assembling the system inside the eclectic HAF XB Evo case, with added commentary on cable management and the idiosyncrasies of older case designs. They install a Western Digital 4 TB HDD for mass storage and consider how easy or difficult the build is when following top-rated parts rather than a traditional, model-by-model plan. The commentary naturally pivots to a broader question: does building a PC based on best-rated components yield a well-rounded machine, or do outdated marketing and SKU choices create friction in practical use? The video culminates with a test of the finished rig, showing it boots, runs a 1080p gaming loop at high FPS, and delivers a surprisingly smooth experience thanks to the chosen cooling and power delivery. In a sponsorship-driven turn, Newegg upgrades the build to an EVGA RTX 3080 and a 3090 FTW3 for giveaway, tying the project to a Black Friday promotion and promoting Newegg’s PC Builder and Showcase tools. The closing frames reiterate the value of a well-chosen, crowd-sourced build and invite viewers to participate in the giveaway while highlighting the retailer’s seasonal deals. Overall, the episode frames a question at the heart of consumer tech culture: is a computer built from the highest-rated parts truly optimized for practical gaming and everyday use, especially when long-term support and compatibility are considered? The result is a functional, quiet, and capable gaming rig that demonstrates the power of crowd-guided shopping while acknowledging the real-world caveats of relying solely on ratings, reviews, and sample sizes. The video finishes with a nod to accessible tools for future builders, including Newegg’s PC Builder and Showcase, and a reminder that great value can come from combining top-rated parts with considerate case and cooling choices. The finale also emphasizes how a family-friendly, wholesome moment can coexist with a highly technical hobby, underscoring Linus’s approachable style and the community’s appetite for both humor and hardware depth.

Topics · technology · science-and-engineering · consumer-electronics · computer-hardware · review · sponsorship · gaming · build-guide