Random Question Thread: Tech

**Caiyuo** · 2013-02-16 23:46

Are there any alternatives to Catalyst Control Center for AMD cards? It's kind of a confusing pain in the ass.

**Jojimbo** · 2013-02-17 07:56

For doing what?

**Palpatine** · 2013-02-17 18:19

Do you need anything special on your computer to download and watch BluRay movies at high quality?

**Jojimbo** · 2013-02-17 18:46

Downloaded? No they are just high resolution video files so you only need correct codecs and decent player (something like CCCP includes Media Player Classic and codecs, VLC player can play pretty much everything as well but has shitty subs), to play blu-ray discs you need special software though, I think VLC has some ways to bypass the protection but I have no idea on progress or how well it works.

**Caiyuo** · 2013-02-17 22:41

Originally Posted by Jojimbo

For doing what?

Nothing specific, it's just a mess and I remember there used to be alternatives for managing all the little things it controls. Is it even necessary if your settings are all managed within individual games?

**Jojimbo** · 2013-02-18 06:35

Mean like RadeonPro? Only one I can think of, CCC can be skipped all together if you don't want use it, I mostly use it for display profiles (swapping between 3x1 eyefinity+bezel correction, 2x1 +1 eyefinity and extended)

**Caiyuo** · 2013-02-18 15:19

I remembered what I'd been thinking of was ATI Tray Tools, but that looks like it'd come in handy too.

**Jaffar** · 2013-02-20 10:29

How are Zotac cards? I've been looking to SLI my EVGA 560ti OC, but given the cards rareness these days, a new one is still around $250.

The Micro center near me has the reference Zotac 560ti for $130 after MIR. There's only a handful of reviews out there, they seem positive (zt-50306-10m). Assuming the brand is ok, any foreseeable problems bumping this up to match my EVGA clocks (900/1800 vs 822/1645)?

**Stromgarde** · 2013-02-21 20:37

I currently have a i7 920 (Sandy Bridge) which doesn't overclock particularly well, is it even worth bothering to look into an upgrade path for this? From what I've been able to tell from Googling around it seems like Intel dropped the LGA 1366 socket quite swiftly after the initial batch of i7's came out and ended consumer level support for it about 2 years ago.

**chiyio** · 2013-02-22 00:00

Originally Posted by Stromgarde

I currently have a i7 920 (Sandy Bridge) which doesn't overclock particularly well, is it even worth bothering to look into an upgrade path for this? From what I've been able to tell from Googling around it seems like Intel dropped the LGA 1366 socket quite swiftly after the initial batch of i7's came out and ended consumer level support for it about 2 years ago.

You're correct about the upgrade path, 1366 socket is dead sadly. the 920 is known as a champ overclocker though, you sure you can't bump it up any?

can see here to get you started.

http://www.overclock.net/t/538439/gu...-930-to-4-0ghz

**Stromgarde** · 2013-02-22 00:05

I can hit 3.2GHz using EVGA's E-LEET fairly comfortably, but despite rigging my tower with one of http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835242001 these and a total of 4 120mm fans in push/pull + exhaust and intake configuration it doesn't seem to be able to remain stable at higher frequencies. The X58 mobo I use is also apparently infamous for having a poorly designed VREG that you can boil water on. I tried OC'ing it a bit when I first assembled it but backed off in fear of damaging it by pushing it too far. If you'd like to recommend a different method or tutorial oriented towards BIOS level overclocking I don't mind taking another stab at it.

**chiyio** · 2013-02-22 01:19

If you're being limited by the motherboard, I'd say just not mess with it and call it good. What gpu do you have? You might see easy gains there without having to touch the whole system. In the current ffxiv benchmark thread there are a bunch of 1366 chips showing great results with an updated gpu. (mine included)

**zoopooscooper** · 2013-02-22 03:26

I woke up this morning and found some liquid on my laptop. Not sure where it came from but there it was, picked up my laptop and had a good amount of water or something poured on me. Flipped it upside down and let it dry out for about a hour. Turned back on, and says no operating system installed.
My question is, what are the chances of reinstalling an OS and it actually working? I'll be back in the US on Sunday, and thinking of just taking it in to Geek Squad to see if everything will still work, or just buying another laptop. Saddest, short lived laptop. Had it for like 40 days.

**xopher** · 2013-02-22 14:14

Originally Posted by zoopooscooper

I woke up this morning and found some liquid on my laptop. Not sure where it came from but there it was, picked up my laptop and had a good amount of water or something poured on me. Flipped it upside down and let it dry out for about a hour. Turned back on, and says no operating system installed.
My question is, what are the chances of reinstalling an OS and it actually working? I'll be back in the US on Sunday, and thinking of just taking it in to Geek Squad to see if everything will still work, or just buying another laptop. Saddest, short lived laptop. Had it for like 40 days.

Likely you will not be able to see a hard drive when you try to reinstall. Probably the hard drive got damaged. Also when something gets wet, follow the Jesus rule. Let it dry for three days before even attempting to power it back on.

If it's just the hard drive you can likely replace that and zoom on along.

**Stromgarde** · 2013-02-22 16:07

Originally Posted by chiyio

If you're being limited by the motherboard, I'd say just not mess with it and call it good. What gpu do you have? You might see easy gains there without having to touch the whole system. In the current ffxiv benchmark thread there are a bunch of 1366 chips showing great results with an updated gpu. (mine included)

Running a Radeon HD7850 atm, but it runs unusually hot even when not overclocked (~45-50 deg. C). Perhaps it's just as well though, unless I get picked up for a research assistant position I applied to I don't really have money to be buying anything in terms of upgrades in the near future. Still, what's a good midrange card these days?

**Jojimbo** · 2013-02-22 16:27

The 7850/7870 are the good mid range cards, only way is up to the high end 7900 or ultra-high end multi-GPU setups.

**Niya** · 2013-02-22 16:55

Um... 45°C unusually hot? My 6950 is always somewhere between 41 and 50° on idle, with just the slight "OC" AMD overdrive offers applied. And the GPUs I had before this one (all nVidia) were in similar temperature ranges. And all of them were/are running on non-reference coolers.

**Jojimbo** · 2013-02-22 17:01

Normally get <35c idle with single monitor, <45c with multiple monitors myself.

**Caiyuo** · 2013-02-22 17:15

My 7850 is almost always 30~C when idling, and gets up to high 40s under load with the lil OC space available.

**zoopooscooper** · 2013-02-22 22:34

Never even put the battery in it yet. Thanks, guess I'll find out Monday or Tuesday.

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