Search results

I am considering getting the Soundblaster Z to upgrade my dodgy X-fi sound card. However, I have a question for the current owners about the speaker setup. My speakers consist of a set of bookshelf speakers attached to a small amplifier. The input of the amplifier attaches to the stereo line out...

Well, it is time for me to try to get rid of some more stuff I have lying around. More stuff will be added as I find and photograph it. ------------------ Terms: Any expensive items will be shipped insured. The prices listed include shipping unless otherwise noted. If you have a particular...

Hi, I am looking to upgrade my current computer. I have noticed some slowdowns in games recently. Specifically, Skyrm with a bunch of mods, Batman AC, and Metro 2033. I currently have a i7 920 CPU at stock speeds and a Radeon 5870 video card. I was thinking of simply upgrading my video card...

Well, I have officially given up on my dream of getting an ITX HTPC, they seem to be a bit too limiting. I am therefore looking to build an HTPC with a micro-ATX motherboard. The answers to the standard questions are below: 1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web...

Well, it is time for me to try to get rid of some more stuff I have lying around. I don't have as much free stuff as last time, but there are still a few things left in that category. As always, more stuff will be added as I find and photograph it. ------------------ Terms: Any expensive...

As part of the recent Steam sale, I got Morrowind for $5. Following the advise of some forum posters I went here and followed the instructions to install a BUNCH of mods that are supposed to make the game look better. For the most part, it worked. It required a few tweaks because Steam puts...

Hi I recently upgraded to an XFX 5870. After upgrading, sometimes the display will start to flicker. Sometimes this will lead to the screen going all a single color (typically a similar color to what it was displaying right before it froze). When this happens, sometimes after a minute or so...

Problem: my computer takes a long time to start up. The holdup seems to be between entering my password, and when the desktop appears. Background: My OS (Win 7, 64 bit) is installed on the Intel 80GB SSD, and various larger files (like the steam folder) are stored on other drives and...

A friend is looking to get (build) a new computer, and I was trying to throw together a recommendation. The build will be used for gaming, as well as web surfing and other general computer tasks. I have answered the questions below. 1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop...

Hi, I am setting up a secondary computer to be used for development. I would like to have Windows XP, Windows 7 and Linux (Ubuntu) installed side-by-side. From looking around online, it seems that using Grub in Linux is a pretty good way of doing this, but apparently if you install the OSes...

I was planning on building a small(ish) computer for general use around the house. I have been pretty happy with the Antec P180 that I got, so I decided to go with the P180 Mini for the new system. Newegg happened to have the white version on sale for ~$50 AR, so it seemed like a good idea...

I was not sure whether to put this here or in the modding section, but I figure this probably works. I recently was given an Asus P4P800SE motherboard from a friend. He told me that he switched it out because it was unstable. Upon inspection, the reason for the instability became obvious...

In an effort to get rid of a bunch of my old stuff, I am looking at disposing of a large number of CDs and DVDs. While many of them are boring stuff, some have sensitive data on them and I would like to destroy them somehow before I get rid of them. Does anyone know of a good way to do this...

Just came across this while bored at work. Looks promising as I intend to build an ITX HTPC at some point, but I doubt 65W is enough for the Zotac motherboard with a C2D. (Stolen from Antec site)

Hi I have an unusual question, and I am not sure how to figure out what I need to know. I have a small server running in a Chenbro ES34069 case. I am a big fan of this case, but the cable routing is very difficult. The main problem I have with it is the routing of the ATX 20 pin plug. I have...

Well, that took quite a bit longer than I thought. But I finally have some new stuff to add to the list. Don't everyone jump at once. :p Some of the new pictures are showing no thumbnail for me. I dunno what the problem is, but clicking on them does bring up the real pictures. I just upgraded...

You guys probably already know this, but there is now a fix out for the BSOD when connecting to SAMBA shares with antivirus installed in Windows 7. My computer would BSOD after like 5 or 10 minutes when I mapped shares from my Ubuntu server with NOD32 installed and running. The BSOD would...

I recently got an Auzentech X-Fi Forte to compliment my new computer. I mostly use my headphones when listening to music so I can crank up the volume without bothering my housemates. :D The Forte has a dedicated port on the back for headphones, so I am using that. However, I noticed that when I...

Hi A few weeks ago, not happy with the speed of the financial stimulus bill and mindful of the need for immediate action, I decided to draft my own stimulus bill. After a public comment period of several days on the [H], the final bill consisted of funding for the following items. :cool...

Quick question about SATA hot swap: I have the Commell LV-677 motherboard in a small backup server that I made. I am not using one of the onboard SATA ports (presumably from the ICH7M southbridge). It looks like these are SATA-150. If I attach an ESATA header to this port, will I be able to...

So I though I would be clever and build small computer to run pfSense to replace the router in my house. Now that it is done and running, I realize how little I actually know about networking :eek:. I have included some pictures of the build, and have a few questions about how to set it up. I...

Sorry for the (probably) simple question. I assume a bunch of people here play TF2 and I am hoping someone else can provide a quick answer to my question. I am trying to stop TF2 from downloading sounds from the servers I play on. I am aware of the CL_downloadfilter option, and am trying to...

So I was trying to find a program that will show video ram, as I thought I was running out while playing fallout 3. In the process of looking around, I downloaded and tried ATITool (despite the name, it will work with nVidia cards too). I ran the scan for artifacts option at the default clocks...

My parents computer is having memory problems. It is an old P4 Northwood 2.6Ghz on an Abit IS7 motherboard. They had 4x256mb PC3200 DDR modules on the board, but one of them went bad. If I take out the offending module, the motherboard will go back to single channel memory with 768mb, and if I...

I have heard many good things about pfSense on these forums, and now that I have roommates that use Bittorrent, I was thinking of setting up a small pfSense box to do QoS for our network. I was thinking of using one of the Intel Atom ITX motherboards, or maybe the VIA C7 (or Nano if it ever...

Hi I am looking to build a PC for my parents. This PC will be replacing their painfully slow P4 2.6Ghz. They don't do anything too complicated with their PC, so I am just looking for something that will be reasonably fast doing everyday tasks. I don't plan on reusing anything from their...

I have a 60gb PS3, and it sometimes takes a few 'tries' to start a game or movie. I have noticed this with PS2 and blu-ray movies. I haven't noticed this with PS3 games, but the sample size is pretty low. :p When I put in the game, the icon will appear in the XMB, but sometimes when I start...

Hi, I am working on building a computer with a Core Duo T2300 processor (original thread here). I have some experience installing HSFs, but because this processor has no heat spreader, I am wary. I have not been able to find *ANY* information on how install the HSF on this processor. I have pics...

I am making a small file server and have a few questions: Some background: This server will be for home use and will be mostly for backing up my main computers and streaming movies and music. I would also like it to download torrent files occasionally, and possibly provide remote access to...

Hi, I am using the 196.21 NVIDIA drivers for my 8800GTX on windows XP. I have this switch so I can attach bolth my computer and PS3 to my monitor. It has HDMI input instead of DVI, hence the HDMI switch. However, there is a problem switching. Switching to the PS3 works fine, but when I switch...

I am not sure where to put this, but I think it is an OS issue more than a network issue, so here goes: I have a small network at home which has a few computers running windows, and a NAS device. I have shares on my NAS that I would like access to on my Windows XP desktop, so I used the 'map...

I am not sure where to post this, so I figured here is a safe bet. I have been having a video problem with the computer in my sig. I recently got the LG 246WP LCD, and at first all was well. However, about a week ago, I noticed there were new drivers for my video card, so I uninstalled my old...

Hi I have noticed an odd phenomena in TF2, and I was wondering if it is my hardware or something about the engine that is causing it. I have two examples below. What I am talking about (if it is not obvious) is the sparkly line in both the screenshots. This line tends to stay...

Hi, I am currently using a Dell 2001fp 20" LCD. I have been happy with it, and wouldn’t think of changing it (until it dies), except that I just got a PS3. Foolishly, I thought that I could plug in the PS3 using a HDMI to DVI converter. However, my monitor is not HDCP and without that you...

Quick questions for all the power supply experts: I was looking to put together a computer with a bunch of spare parts that I have lying around, and I wanted to verify that the power supply I have is sufficient. I have a Seasonic S12 330W supply. (I can't seem to find the specs online...

Hi I am looking for a way to 'combine' multiple email addresses and allow access to all the mail on several different computers with different OSes. I was wondering if there is some sort of program that will collect mail from multiple external sources (download it to it's local hard drive)...

Basically, I was looking to make a small, low power consuming router/firewall. I was looking to use a mini-ITX VIA motherboard/processor and install Clark Connect on it. However, when I presented this idea in the general hardware forum, it was suggested that the board I wanted to use had...

I am thinking of making a low power PC for a firewall/router, etc. Let me know if anyone has experience or can say anything about these parts: JetWay J7F4K1G5D-PB - Low power VIA C7 Processor, dual gigabit lan, some crappy video card. (25 watts!) - $129.99 Samsung 18GB SSD - $199.99...

From Lenovo: Thinkpad T60 Core 2 Duo T7200 ATI Mobility FireGL V5250 256MB 2GB PC2-5300, 2 DIMM 15.4 WSXGA 120 GB, 5400RPM Hard Drive 8X DVD Burner 9 Cell LI-ION Battery Windows Vista Home Premium For $1,594.43 including tax and such. The reason I ask is that I ordered this...

HI I am having a rather vexing problem with my computer. I have been trying to verify that the computer is stable by running stress testing programs and monitoring the temperature (nothing is overclocked... yet). However when I try to do this, my computer will shut down after a few minutes...