Random Question Thread: Tech

[Taera]

How do I get rid of the high pitch whine in my audio from my computer? It's always there regardless if running audio through my tv or my headphones.

[Vendog]

So anyone got a answer to my question?

[Omniyoji]

How do I get rid of the high pitch whine in my audio from my computer? It's always there regardless if running audio through my tv or my headphones.

Lower the "Line In" volume?

So anyone got a answer to my question?

Convert X to DVD

[hey]

I am looking for a competent software for Windows that will let me shrink my video size while keeping it with a good resolution.

Did a video with fraps for 15min and it's like 4gig +

Would like to shrink it

Thanks

x264

[Taera]

Lower the "Line In" volume?

Not sure where to find the line in volume

[Ratatapa]

x264

So adding x264 codex in handbrake or something?

[hey]

You could just use x264 on its own, but anything that encodes h264 should work fine.

[Bleublood]

I just recently started looking at buying a fairly large tv (ranging from about 50-58ish inches) and I was wondering what type I should go for; like LED, LCD, or Plasma.

I'm going to be using it mainly as a regular TV but I am also gonna double it as a computer monitor from time to time, like whenever I play Skyrim, Diablo 3 (Maybe), and even FFXI if it doesn't look too bad with such a huge resolution.

What type would give me the best quality for the type of uses I will have for it? I will probably be within 7 to 10 feet from the TV when I use it for games. (Sorry if wrong thread D: just looked like the best bet for this type of question )

[Kalmado]

Having trouble with Max Payne 3 for my 360. Game stutters during opening c/s and when attempting to get to the 2nd scene (opening the balcony door) the c/s doesn't trigger and you can't advance. I attempted to instal the game, but it refuses. I get the "unable to read disc" error. Disc is clean.

I've had the "unable to read" error a few other times, but nothing continuous. No red rings. Does this sound like a 360 hardware problem or the game specifically? I'm going to exchange the game for a new copy today regardless, but I'm curious if I'm looking at needing a new 360 as this one is far out of warranty.

Wanted to bump this and add I exchanged my copy for a new one. Same things happened. Tried disc on a friends console that is in perfect working condition. Same thing. Is it possible for a bad batch of discs to have been produced, as others have reported similarities, or would this be something addressed with a patch from the game company?

[MaachaQ]

I just recently started looking at buying a fairly large tv (ranging from about 50-58ish inches) and I was wondering what type I should go for; like LED, LCD, or Plasma.

I'm going to be using it mainly as a regular TV but I am also gonna double it as a computer monitor from time to time, like whenever I play Skyrim, Diablo 3 (Maybe), and even FFXI if it doesn't look too bad with such a huge resolution.

What type would give me the best quality for the type of uses I will have for it? I will probably be within 7 to 10 feet from the TV when I use it for games. (Sorry if wrong thread D: just looked like the best bet for this type of question )

My family just a few weeks ago bought a 55" LED 3D TV, though LED is a term being applied loosely here just like "4G" is being used for LTE and similar networks. For energy efficiency "LED" TVs are probably your best choice, I had thought 55" would be way too big but I'm getting used to it. Plasma is cheaper and will have a faster response time, but it will suck down kilowatts fast and will run very hot.

We picked this model because it has plexiglass covering the screen, which we felt would be safer since our kids are still pretty young and might damage the screen if it didn't have some extra protection.

LG 55LW9800 A slightly older model but we got a good deal on it, it was a display model from an LG store. 2.6 million won, which would be $2,000 or so at the current exchange rates.

[Niya]

I just recently started looking at buying a fairly large tv (ranging from about 50-58ish inches) and I was wondering what type I should go for; like LED, LCD, or Plasma.

Don't mix up panel types and backlight types
LCD and Plasma are panel types
LED and CCFL (no one mentions that one) are backlight types

Choice between LCD and Plasma: hm... I still prefer LCD more, like Machaa already said Plasma tends to be faster on the refresh, but you always have the big problem of picture burn in. Let's say you watch one TV channel a lot that has its logo in the upper right corner most of the time. After a few months that logo will probably get burned into the panel and no matter what channel you watch, the logo stays up there.
Energy consumption isn't THAT much of a problem any more, the plasma panels got more efficient and are almost on the same level as LCD panels.

On LCD panels you have the choice between the "classic" CCFL backlight and the new LED based backlight. LEDs need less power, but it depends on the LED layout ^^
Edge LED uses the least energy because you just have a few LEDs in the border around the panel. But with this a lot of effort is needed to distribute the light evenly throughout the whole panel.
More expensive TVs have a grid of LEDs behind the panel, that makes light distribution easier and allows contrast enhancing techniques like local dimming so that black stays really black in films.

In the end it's also a choice on how much you want to spend. Price ranges for TVs are HUGE, from <1000 to way over 5000$. The best quality would probably be a TV with a good IPS LCD panel and full-grid LED backlight, but those are bucking expensive...

[Bleublood]

Oooooh! Thank you guys so much for your responses! Thank goodness you told me about image burn in with Plasma's lol.. I have a tendency to leave my TV's idle/paused a lot...

Thank you Niya for that great explanation of all those different types^^ I am no longer in the dark nearly as much anymore on those terms

And MaachaQ that is a beautiful TV :D

[Senji]

My 64" 3D Plasma w/wifi uses less than half the power my of my 46" LCD from 2010^^

106 vs 240w

[Niya]

Um, Senji... LED and Plasma won't quite work together... A Plasma display doesn't need a backlight since the pixels themselves glow. ^^ But yes, it's quite possible that newer TVs need a lot less energy.

[Senji]

Yeah..who knows...

[Elizara]

Run memtest86 if you think the issue is ram.

I did, nothing wrong. Ended up reformatting twice; I think something chewed at my XP somehow. (Second time was due to a improper shutdown caused by a thunderstorm)

I still wonder if the PC got haunted back there..that was odd. Very odd. I also changed antiviruses to Avast! btw; Tip for anyone reinstalling with the newest version of Avast! who plays FFXI btw. Make sure you exclude the Playonline directory in the filesystem shield. If you don't, it'll nag you to sandbox it and will proly shut down POL and FFXI several times until you get all the files. Which will drive you insane.

[Tricen]

Anyone use Pidgin? My pidgin wont let me add anyone and says I'm offline when I'm not. I just upgraded to the newest version and I dunno why it's doin this. I try to add someone on MSN and it say "Invalid Username" even if it is valid.

[Aylee]

is there a way to get free hotspot with a jailbroken 4s with verizion? I Know last i read up on it people were geting warnings saying they needed to stop using the jailbroken software giving free hotspot or they would be charged for it.

[Yuri-G]

random C++ question:

in regards to array notation vs. pointer notation, the book I'm reading says that arrayname[i] and *(arrayname + i) should be equivalent. I'm having difficulty, however, using pointer notation to access structure members. the notation arrayname[i].membername is working fine, but neither *(arrayname + i).membername nor *(arrayname + i)->membername are working. what is the proper way to access a structure member using array notation?


for reference, here is the sample program the book asks for, which works perfectly:

Spoiler: show

#include <iostream>
#include <string>
using namespace std;
struct CandyBar
{
string brand;
double weight;
int calories;
};
int main()
{
CandyBar * snacks = new CandyBar[3];
for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++)
{
cout << "Enter the name of candy bar number " << i + 1 << ": ";
getline(cin, snacks[i].brand);
cout << endl;
cout << "Enter the weight of candy bar number " << i + 1 << ": ";
cin >> snacks[i].weight;
cout << endl;
cout << "Enter the calories in candy bar number " << i + 1 << ": ";
cin >> snacks[i].calories;
cin.get();
cout << endl;
}
for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++)
{
cout << "Candy bar number " << i + 1 << " is named " << snacks[i].brand << "." << endl;
cout << "Candy bar number " << i + 1 << " weighs " << snacks[i].weight << " oz." << endl;
cout << "Candy bar number " << i + 1 << " has " << snacks[i].calories << " calories." << endl;
}
delete [] snacks;
cin.get();
cin.get();
}

yet I tried to do all of that with pointer notation and could not get it to compile.

in case anyone is wondering about this (I doubt it but maybe some of you are learning C++? lol) the answer was: arrays are a special case when it comes to pointers. the array name IS a pointer to the first element in the array. so the proper format to access a member from a structure within an array is either array[i].membername OR (array + i)->membername. the * operator is unnecessary and will only confuse the compiler.

[Buffy]

When do the manufacturers start to slash prices in anticipation of the holidays? Because new items are coming out, etc.

I was about to build a new computer, but pieced together some old shit that limps along for now. If I can hold out for four months, then get an i-7 3930 for $350 (currently about $530), and some 7950s for $300 instead of the current $400-$420, I might be willing to wait.

I haven't built new in several years, and have lost track of the cycles manufacturers dump inventory on.