Random Question Thread: Tech

[GoggleHead]

Would this be the appropriate place to ask about gaming headset recommendations? The Steelseries Siberia v2 are on sale and I was wondering if anyone had any comments on them.

They're what I use and I've not really had any complaints with them. The audio is fairly good, but probably not audiophile good. As for the mic, well it's good enough that I use it to record a podcast so you aren't gonna be the guy in Vent everyone wishes would shut up because his mic sounds like a ferret being buried underneath an avalanche of gravel.

They're also pretty comfy on the head unlike the last headset I had. If they're going for a good price I'd go ahead and grab them.

[Yugl]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820167127

Currently, I have a Intel 120GB 320 Series SSD with a 500GB HDD. I know this will improve read/write by roughly 2x, but I hear the NAND on the 330 is "meh" by current SSD standards, so don't expect much duration on that SSD. Power usage actually favors my current unless I use my current HDD as an external of sorts. Will going from dual SSD+HDD to SSD+SSD improve performance by much?

For the record, ~60GB used by my current SSD and ~90 used by my current HDD. Intel SMART details shows 1.89TB total LBA written and 3.72 total LBA read (Almost an annual use for this SSD). Hoping someone to see the remaining duration based on that.

[hey]

http://www.anandtech.com/show/5817/t...-120gb-180gb/3

Unless you're buying tlc nand (which is a terrible idea, for more reasons than just the shit endurance), i would never worry about endurance on an ssd.

[Yugl]

I read about that, but when looking at reviews for competing drives, I recall them saying there was an error with the Intel reading the SSD.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6462/i...on-the-ssd-335

Third paragraph from the bottom. Basically, you wouldn't see a change with the value no matter how much you slammed the SSD because the WMI was broken. The Broly of SSDs!

[hey]

Oh, hah. I still really wouldn't worry about it.

[Yugl]

Would I get much going from the SSD+SSD or would should I stick with SSD+HDD and ??? the current SSD?

Edit: Sold out at Newegg and Tigerdirect lol. Oh well.

[hey]

Probably depends on what you're using the hdd for. You may or may not get a noticable difference by replacing the hdd with another ssd, since presumably, you're already using your ssd for things that really benefit from it. The only reason to use hdds though is price, so if you can afford use ssds for everything, i'd say go for it.

[Yugl]

Thanks.

[Cream Soda]

Doing a clean install and getting drivers from my computer's site, but looks like there are multiple types of the same thing, like wireless lan driver

Windows 7 Intel Centrino Wireless LAN (6300 / 6235) Drivers for Windows 7 32/64 BIT
Windows 7 Integrated Realtek Wireless 802.11 B/G/N + Bluetooth Combo Driver for Windows 7 32/64 BIT
Windows 7 Bigfoot Networks Killer Wireless-N Wireless LAN Driver for Windows 7 32/64 BIT

How do I find out the one I have installed now; so shit is the same when I reinstall. Don't want to have to adjust to a bunch of new shit

[Yugl]

Depends on which one of those you have. The third option is your best wireless card (Assuming you have that). DL and check wireless with that.

[Jojimbo]

Control Panel > Device Manager > Network adapters (I think, don't have wireless on this PC).

[Cream Soda]

About to reinstall windows. Currently have 64 bit ultimate, though I don't think I use any special features?

Does ultimate take up more disk space than home premium? and if so, is there anything on there worth using up that much space for?

[Isiolia]

About to reinstall windows. Currently have 64 bit ultimate, though I don't think I use any special features?

Does ultimate take up more disk space than home premium? and if so, is there anything on there worth using up that much space for?

There's a table here showing features between different versions of 7. The system requirements only indicate a difference between 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows with regard to disk space, though it's probably a generous estimate. Most of the additional features aren't things that would take up much space, if they aren't already there but disabled. XP Mode does officially take an additional 15GB (at least), but the content for that isn't even on the disc - there's a download for Virtual PC, and another for the barebones XP image it uses.

[Jojimbo]

Not entirely sure, I would assume it takes up a tiny bit more but I expect that unless you install the language packs the end difference won't be big enough to worry about (Microsoft don't even bother separating them beyond 32-bit and 64-bit requirements)

[Yugl]

If I use a non-OEM disk for this laptop's OS, will I be able to use the disk again? I was under the impression that these disks could be used any number of times, but the third laptop could not use the disk, so I had to find their OEM disk. This laptop has no OEM disk though and I'm planning on upgrading the SSD.

[Jojimbo]

Do you mean the disk itself or the code? And by OEM I assume you mean one of these? Anyway you should be able to install windows any number of times from any disk/media, hell you can even legally download the .iso for any version in any language of windows, but the activation code can only be used once (although people just treat OEM disks as 'only one PC at any one time' anyway). It is possible to recover the activation code used for that copy of windows, I think it'll still work with pre-installed versions.

What do you mean by could not use the disk though.

[Isiolia]

Shouldn't be so much an issue with the disc itself, but activating with a particular key.

If you're just using the disc to install, and then using the serial numbers from the stickers on the laptops, I think you need to actually call MS for an activation code instead of have it activate online (it's still an automated system in most cases).

[Salodin]

I'm looking for the most cost effective way to backup data from my computer that doesn't include just buying an extra internal hd. It'll be mainly for movies, small files, etc, so that I can free up my main drive for easier reformats and downloading. Any recommendations? 500gb-1tb is fine, but expanding after that when its filled up is a concern (hence why I want to not go the internal route). Help me out!

[Yugl]

Do you mean the disk itself or the code? And by OEM I assume you mean one of these? Anyway you should be able to install windows any number of times from any disk/media, hell you can even legally download the .iso for any version in any language of windows, but the activation code can only be used once (although people just treat OEM disks as 'only one PC at any one time' anyway). It is possible to recover the activation code used for that copy of windows, I think it'll still work with pre-installed versions.

What do you mean by could not use the disk though.

Shouldn't be so much an issue with the disc itself, but activating with a particular key.

If you're just using the disc to install, and then using the serial numbers from the stickers on the laptops, I think you need to actually call MS for an activation code instead of have it activate online (it's still an automated system in most cases).

My laptop didn't come with an OS, so I bought the 32/64 version pair. That activation code worked for my computer (Only used so I could upgrade) with the 64-bit disk. The code didn't work for another PC though and I had to use the 32-bit one (I said OEM within my original post, but I remember using the 32-bit disk instead). The laptop that I used the 64-bit for will be changing the main SSD for another one soon, but I would prefer not to obtain another code. I assume this works based on what you guys said though. I guess the simplified version is "same PC different boot HDD; can I use the same disk?".

[Jojimbo]

I'm looking for the most cost effective way to backup data from my computer that doesn't include just buying an extra internal hd. It'll be mainly for movies, small files, etc, so that I can free up my main drive for easier reformats and downloading. Any recommendations? 500gb-1tb is fine, but expanding after that when its filled up is a concern (hence why I want to not go the internal route). Help me out!

External HDD? Don't see what other options you have unless you want a million and one DVDs

My laptop didn't come with an OS, so I bought the 32/64 version pair. That activation code worked for my computer (Only used so I could upgrade) with the 64-bit disk. The code didn't work for another PC though and I had to use the 32-bit one (I said OEM within my original post, but I remember using the 32-bit disk instead). The laptop that I used the 64-bit for will be changing the main SSD for another one soon, but I would prefer not to obtain another code. I assume this works based on what you guys said though. I guess the simplified version is "same PC different boot HDD; can I use the same disk?".

Yes, just reuse the key. So long as the activation code is only being used on one PC at any given time you should be fine, the fact that it didn't work with another PC is expected.