Random Question Thread: Tech

[Zhais]

Some of the frameworks are not inclusive of previous version numbers. I know 2.0 does not include 1.1 parts, it is possible 4.0 does not have 3.5 and you would need to install 3.5 in addition to the 4.0 you currently have.

http://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/89...t-35-30-20-11/

[kyosak]

if i play ps3 using my PC monitor (via HDMI) and i plug in my headphones through the monitor's headphone jack,
am i getting shitty sound (in terms of "surround" sound)? i'm trying to sound whore in games like black ops but i don't have an amp or anything...
i'm pretty sure the console only allows me 2-channel sound in the audio settings.

my headphones are sennheiser HD595 if that matters.

[Blabj]

PS3 is capable of supplying a 5.1 signal via optical out, however over HDMI I do believe it only gives a stereo signal. As far as I'm aware the reason the sound whoring works on headphones with amps is because they boost certain frequency ranges that footstep sounds are on...

Anyway, I think the sound quality will be more than adequate, especially given those headphones are very nice. I always find playing with headphones on gives a more intimate feeling with the sounds around you.

[Isiolia]

PS3 is capable of supplying a 5.1 signal via optical out, however over HDMI I do believe it only gives a stereo signal.

Not exactly. The issue is that his monitor will only output a stereo signal from HDMI. The same thing happens from an HDTV - I can hook up my PS3 over HDMI directly to my TV, use the optical out from the TV, and I'll get a stereo signal. If I go straight to the receiver over HDMI, I can get HD surround audio.

AFAIK, it's not an issue of technical capability (well, for 5.1 anyway), but more a DRM security function of HDCP. The headphone or optical jack on the TV or monitor is no longer a protected audio path, and so is limited in capability. Same reason that Blu-ray won't do 1080p over component - it's not an issue of not being technically able to, but it's not permitted by the spec.

You can, however, set the PS3 to do audio out over optical - you won't be able to use HD audio formats that way, but it'll do Dolby Digital or DTS 5.1 just fine.

[Zanz L. Barre The 3rd]

Hm, so FFXI isn't working quite yet! POL, etc. works fine, but when I click "Play" for FFXI, I get a white windowed screen and the message "POL has stopped working". I'm trying to open it through windows and I've configured the resolution properly through FFXI config and launcher_GUI, then made sure the FFXI "Windowed Mode" wasn't enabled.

Is this perhaps a graphics driver issue? I'm on Windows 7 btw. Graphics card is the ATI 5870m on the G73J laptop.

[Stromgarde]

Hm, so FFXI isn't working quite yet! POL, etc. works fine, but when I click "Play" for FFXI, I get a white windowed screen and the message "POL has stopped working". I'm trying to open it through windows and I've configured the resolution properly through FFXI config and launcher_GUI, then made sure the FFXI "Windowed Mode" wasn't enabled.

Is this perhaps a graphics driver issue? I'm on Windows 7 btw. Graphics card is the ATI 5870m on the G73J laptop.

Is UAC turned all the way off and launcher being run as admin?

[Zanz L. Barre The 3rd]

Yeah, turned UAC all the way off and have been launching as an admin

[arus2001]

Lately I've been coming to not trust the electric wiring in my house. I'll get speaker pops when someone runs the paper shredder in the kitchen or sometimes when lights are toggled in the adjacent room. Recently our old router died and a few weeks after that a microwave blew. We also have some rather consistent issues where the oven and microwave, on the same fuse, pops the circuit. Either way, now I've noticed that my TV is starting to make the occasional crackling noise, seemingly in the bottom back where the circuit board would be. I have a couple power strips in my room, but I don't think any of them have any kind of surge protection or voltage regulators. So, wondering if there's any place in particular where I could find a quality unit on the cheap. Don't need a big fancy one with phone jacks or anything, just something to maybe better protect my tech if this is an aging house issue.

Edit: I see these for example, which is basically 2 strips for $7.50 apiece. Sounds like a good deal, but I'm worried about them being nothing more than power strips after a good surge or how well they handle long-term saturation from unstable power flow.

[Cephius]

Lately I've been coming to not trust the electric wiring in my house. I'll get speaker pops when someone runs the paper shredder in the kitchen or sometimes when lights are toggled in the adjacent room. Recently our old router died and a few weeks after that a microwave blew. We also have some rather consistent issues where the oven and microwave, on the same fuse, pops the circuit. Either way, now I've noticed that my TV is starting to make the occasional crackling noise, seemingly in the bottom back where the circuit board would be. I have a couple power strips in my room, but I don't think any of them have any kind of surge protection or voltage regulators. So, wondering if there's any place in particular where I could find a quality unit on the cheap. Don't need a big fancy one with phone jacks or anything, just something to maybe better protect my tech if this is an aging house issue.

Edit: I see these for example, which is basically 2 strips for $7.50 apiece. Sounds like a good deal, but I'm worried about them being nothing more than power strips after a good surge or how well they handle long-term saturation from unstable power flow.

Yeah, those are just power strips, they're not going to help you if your electronics are getting undervolted. You need a UPS, basically anything on this page: http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCateg...ry=72&name=UPS

They're not cheap unfortunately, but they will regulate the voltage so your computer/TV/whatever always get a clean current and gives you the bonus of having battery backup during power outages.

[Yugl]

A bluetooth adapter came with my Logitech KB/Mouse (MX1000). I'm looking to replace the mouse, but it is expensive to buy the same model, so I might opt for a cheaper one (Still bulky though). Can I buy another bluetooth and use the same adapter for both the KB and the mouse?

[Isiolia]

A bluetooth adapter came with my Logitech KB/Mouse (MX1000). I'm looking to replace the mouse, but it is expensive to buy the same model, so I might opt for a cheaper one (Still bulky though). Can I buy another bluetooth and use the same adapter for both the KB and the mouse?

Should be able to if it's all Bluetooth.

[Fou-Lu]

Old video card died
Was 512MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 9800 GT
Whats good now? i can spend up to $400 and here are other specs:
Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Quad Q9550 2.83GHz 12MB Cache 1333MHz FSB
Power Supply: Alienware® 750 Watt Multi-GPU Approved Power Supply
Memory: 8GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz - 4 x 2048MB

Yes its alienware, was gift, dont crucify.

[kyosak]

radeon 6970 is good

[Beave]

So my computer is a dinosaur, but I only use it for ffxi -- I have consoles for other games. I bought it in 2006, and it has a 3200+ AMD athlon XP processor. I upgraded the video card a few years ago to nvidia geforce 6600 gt, and the computer only has 1 gig of ram.

i've recently began to dual-box a lot, and my cpu is running at 100% a lot of the time if either character is in a congested area.

Also important to note that the lag only affects one of my characters at a time, and it's always my main character, regardless of which one I logged in first, and which one I loaded priority.dll --

I've updated the nvidia drivers, but still seem to have random flashes of red and then ffxi crashes. I'm thinking maybe I'm just putting too much stress on cpu/graphics card with my resolution settings.

Any tips for dual-boxing with one window set to really low res, and the other one something more aesthetically pleasing?

[Clash Perez]

So my computer is a dinosaur, but I only use it for ffxi -- I have consoles for other games. I bought it in 2006, and it has a 3200+ AMD athlon XP processor. I upgraded the video card a few years ago to nvidia geforce 6600 gt, and the computer only has 1 gig of ram.

i've recently began to dual-box a lot, and my cpu is running at 100% a lot of the time if either character is in a congested area.

Also important to note that the lag only affects one of my characters at a time, and it's always my main character, regardless of which one I logged in first, and which one I loaded priority.dll --

I've updated the nvidia drivers, but still seem to have random flashes of red and then ffxi crashes. I'm thinking maybe I'm just putting too much stress on cpu/graphics card with my resolution settings.

Any tips for dual-boxing with one window set to really low res, and the other one something more aesthetically pleasing?

http://www.bluegartr.com/threads/103...=1#post4558504

Looks like you were asking a similar question. That may help.

Another option is to start one instance, modify the registry (exporting two different settings as .reg files saves time), then start the second. That would allow you to change more than just the screen resolution. Although, the Windower launcher can probably do the same thing. The launcher GUI has always been rather buggy for me, so I don't use it.

[Clash Perez]

Any recommendations for a decent router? Or more specifically, warnings away from bad ones?

Looking for something $100 or less, unless there is a pretty good reason to spend more. I'm looking to feed two desktops, and wifi for my phone and guests.

[Blabj]

Any router that is supported by DD-WRT. If you're averse to network configuration though perhaps that isn't the best option. In my opinion Buffalo make good routers and have good customer support.

[Caiyuo]

Anyone have advice on dealing with eye strain from monitors? I'm trying the program "Flux" right now that dims the brightness based on the time of day, but anything else would be great, even for TV or times when I want normal color on a monitor. Are there any worthwhile options for glasses? I've seen the "Gunnar Optiks" thing but as far as I can tell they seem to be an overpriced "nerd chic" gimmick.

[Clash Perez]

Any router that is supported by DD-WRT. If you're averse to network configuration though perhaps that isn't the best option. In my opinion Buffalo make good routers and have good customer support.

I'm not particularly averse to network configuration, I simply don't know what the fuck.

After briefly reading about DD-WRT, I'll probably buy a router that supports it anyway; options are always good.

[Senji]

Going to be doing a cleaning of my PC sometime soon since it's got a good layer of dust inside, and has been running with the fans pretty loudly when under load. Was mainly wondering if I should order some thermal paste and reapply a fresh layer of that to the CPU during the process? It's not had it done in over four years. Mainly trying to get this thing to run cooler in general. May consider getting another fan on the rear of the case to help with the flow.

Just taking the side panel off made a difference in the noise it creates.

If you used a HQ paste it really shouldn't need it if it wasn't messed with. Some stock stuff or unknown origin, yeah.

Just pulled the stock fan w/ intel paste off an i7 from oct 09. Powder underneath.