Random Question Thread: Tech

**Yugl** · 2012-12-15 13:39

"Copy Link to this Page" isn't working when using Dropbox. I tried disabling Noscript and Adblock, but still no address.

**Cliron** · 2012-12-16 22:25

I use a HDMI wire to connect my laptop to my tv when at home. I love to have some tv show on in the back ground while I work, but hate having to alt tab to watch it.

How can I set my laptop screen to show one output, while I do other things using tv output?

**Cliron** · 2012-12-16 22:44

I kept using the word output in google searches and it didnt return anything. Using Display gave me what I was looking for. I will be soooo much more productive now. Noice.

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/orga...id=9kGXVA06Id_ This link gives a walkthrough on it

**Kohan** · 2012-12-17 02:07

Originally Posted by jmcgarrell

Looking for a christmas gift for my brother.

Was wondering if there are any wireless gaming headsets that would work on PS3, XBOX 360, and PC?

I have a Logitech F540 that I love, but it has no wireless PC audio.

Limit would be $200 Max

I found a few relatively good sets, and narrowed them down by three factors: universal compatibility, quantity and quality of reviews, and last but not least, price. Here they are:

http://www.amazon.com/Sharkoon-X-Tat...727923&sr=1-34

http://www.amazon.com/Force-Programm...727326&sr=1-14

http://www.amazon.com/Turtle-Wireles...727326&sr=1-24
* For this one, you may wish to call Turtle Beach and verify that it can work on a PC as well. I would be surprised if it did not, given its Bluetooth functionality (even if this meant that you will need a Bluetooth adapter), but it does work on the PS3 and Xbox 360 for certain.

**jmc** · 2012-12-17 02:28

Originally Posted by Kohan

I found a few relatively good sets, and narrowed them down by three factors: universal compatibility, quantity and quality of reviews, and last but not least, price. Here they are:

http://www.amazon.com/Sharkoon-X-Tat...727923&sr=1-34

http://www.amazon.com/Force-Programm...727326&sr=1-14

http://www.amazon.com/Turtle-Wireles...727326&sr=1-24
* For this one, you may wish to call Turtle Beach and verify that it can work on a PC as well. I would be surprised if it did not, given its Bluetooth functionality (even if this meant that you will need a Bluetooth adapter), but it does work on the PS3 and Xbox 360 for certain.

Thanks a ton for the list!

I actually was looking at the turtlebeach xp500 today at bestbuy (on sale for $160 currently). If it can be hooked up to PC, i'll probably end up picking it up.

**Siya** · 2012-12-17 23:39

Not exactly a tech question. But I recently bought a 7950 off newegg that came with the 3 free games (yay), I used them assuming the card was going to work. Card is a dud and I placed an RMA order while the card was still in stock, since I knew the free games were gonna be an issue. Some time between the approval and them receiving the card it became out of stock. So my RMA was automatically changed to a refund.... minus the free game cost. Trying to either get a working 7950 (would rather stick with the gigabyte one) or a different card all together (maybe an nvidia). Anyone have any experience with this type of situation?

Edit: After a little chat the issue has been resolved :D very happy with newegg.

Edit2: Probably going the nvidia route instead of ATI. Thinking of getting getting maybe a 670 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125423 or plunging for a 680 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125422 any thoughts? Gonna upgrade my CPU after vacation to either a 3570k or a haswell one if they are closed to being released/are worth it.

**Jojimbo** · 2012-12-18 07:58

Either is fine, 7950 and 7970 are as fast for cheaper but it's not like nVidia cards are bad or anything and unless you get a 7970 GHz Edition (which with 12.11 drivers is outright faster than a 680) then you have the OC the 7900s for them to be competitive (not that it's hard to do). There are other alternatives, Sapphire HD 7950 cooler is just as good as the Gigabyte and is currently one of the cheapest 7950s. If you do go with the nVidia route then I'll go with a 670 imo, this MSI has a comparable cooler as is a bit cheaper or this EVGA is a lot cheaper but with a blower cooler.

**Aevis** · 2012-12-18 09:24

If you decide on ATI, either OC 7870 or jump on a 7970. Stock overclocked 7870s like the Powercolor one are as powerful as standard clock 7950s, but cheaper and consume less power. Especially compared to a 7970, which would perform ~20% better tho.

**Callisto** · 2012-12-18 09:51

For the 660 vs 670, is there a pretty substantial quality increase for the $130+ price hike?

**Siya** · 2012-12-18 14:08

Originally Posted by Jojimbo

Either is fine, 7950 and 7970 are as fast for cheaper but it's not like nVidia cards are bad or anything and unless you get a 7970 GHz Edition (which with 12.11 drivers is outright faster than a 680) then you have the OC the 7900s for them to be competitive (not that it's hard to do). There are other alternatives, Sapphire HD 7950 cooler is just as good as the Gigabyte and is currently one of the cheapest 7950s. If you do go with the nVidia route then I'll go with a 670 imo, this MSI has a comparable cooler as is a bit cheaper or this EVGA is a lot cheaper but with a blower cooler.

Also another question, 2gb vs 4gb. Would it really make a difference? I plan to stay at 1080p as I don't care much for dual monitor, read that the 4gb would only really help with dual/tri monitor setups.

**Niya** · 2012-12-18 14:29

4gb is a waste of money and material... the GRAM is mostly needed for (large) textures, and there's only a handful of games nowadays that even makes use of more than 1gig of GRAM... And for even larger textures, the performance of the GPU itself is the limit, so go figure...

**Jojimbo** · 2012-12-18 14:59

Originally Posted by Siya

Also another question, 2gb vs 4gb. Would it really make a difference? I plan to stay at 1080p as I don't care much for dual monitor, read that the 4gb would only really help with dual/tri monitor setups.

Depends on resolution, 4GB is worthwhile for surround (5760x1080 and higher) as games often use 2-2.5GB (or more in some cases like skyrim) but for a single monitor (even 1440p) it doesn't help at all. AMD is preferred at those high resolutions anyway (better performance and better multi-monitor support)

Originally Posted by Niya

4gb is a waste of money and material... the GRAM is mostly needed for (large) textures, and there's only a handful of games nowadays that even makes use of more than 1gig of GRAM... And for even larger textures, the performance of the GPU itself is the limit, so go figure...

I'll say only a handful use over 1.5GB, most relatively modern games use just over 1GB now. Here's the RAM usage from a series of benchmarks I ran a few weeks ago:

Spoiler: show

RAM can also be a huge bottleneck, although it's more of a concern for multi-GPU/multi-monitor setups where the FPS is too low on a single gpu even without the bottleneck.

**jmc** · 2012-12-19 15:02

Originally Posted by jmcgarrell

Thanks a ton for the list!

I actually was looking at the turtlebeach xp500 today at bestbuy (on sale for $160 currently). If it can be hooked up to PC, i'll probably end up picking it up.

I picked up the xp500 the other day, and gave them to my brother as a gift yesterday. Absolutely terrible headphones, could not go 5 minutes without the audio cutting in and out on them.

Returned them this morning, and he decided to go wired instead of wireless. Picked up a pair of Astro a30's, and I loved them so much I ended up going back to purchase myself a pair.

**Haborym** · 2012-12-19 15:52

Does anyone have a suggestion for an alternative mintor to Apple's Thunderbolt Display (27-inch)? I'm looking one about the same size, defiantly not smaller. The appeal for the Thunderbolt display is the docking system they for my MBP, but I could live without it if there is a competitive monitor that is drastically less costly.

**hey** · 2012-12-19 16:18

Originally Posted by Haborym

Does anyone have a suggestion for an alternative mintor to Apple's Thunderbolt Display (27-inch)? I'm looking one about the same size, defiantly not smaller. The appeal for the Thunderbolt display is the docking system they for my MBP, but I could live without it if there is a competitive monitor that is drastically less costly.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ACHIEVA-Shim...item4ab90f1888

exact same panel, lower response time, no anti glare shit, and 1/3 the price.

**Haborym** · 2012-12-19 16:29

Originally Posted by hey

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ACHIEVA-Shim...item4ab90f1888

exact same panel, lower response time, no anti glare shit, and 1/3 the price.

Do you personally use these? The reason I ask is I'm looking to see how accurate the color is. I work as a UX/IxD and in paste cases I have bought mintors where the color hasn't been up to par and I more or less stopped using them because of this.

**hey** · 2012-12-19 17:33

Yeah, i do. Like i said, it's exactly the same panel as apple's thunderbolt display. Same model number and everything.

**Haborym** · 2012-12-19 19:41

Awesome, thanks.

**Boyiee** · 2012-12-21 10:56

friend thinks his card fried.

What's your take on this... The other day I wanted to watch a movie, so I pop the disc in my machine and plug my HDMI cable into my video card. Open VLC and as soon as I start playing the disc, my UI starts locking up and crashing. I keep getting the "310.70 drivers have crashed" message. Originally I think my RAID array went bad, but everything checked out. Uninstalled the card + drivers, restarted, reinstalled the drivers... no change. Finally, I say fuck it and do a total OS wipe, blew away the RAID for a standard setup, and get everything back up and running. Go to play Far Cry 3 because everything looks stable... "310.70 drivers have crashed". I haven't tested going back to the older drivers, but I was playing on the newest without a hitch until I tried watching that movies/hooking my card up to my TV (which I've done numerous times before).

**hey** · 2012-12-21 16:00

Seems likely.

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