Random Question Thread: Tech

[Jojimbo]

What site are you using? Both Demonoid and TPB allow you to search for loseless/flac, or is there a lot of incorrectly labeled stuff?

[Boyiee]

So far I'm doing ok, but that was exactly what I was looking for. Sorting by flac.

[TacoTaru]

So my computer had the nvidia driver crash 3 times yesterday and I decided to check it today to see what it was running at. My computer has always run hot, but this is as high as it's ever been:

http://gpuz.techpowerup.com/11/09/04/9ku.png
http://gpuz.techpowerup.com/11/09/04/dxe.png

Is the card OCed? I really have no idea why it's getting so hot, but I'd guess that's probably what it was running yesterday as well. I have nothing else on my computer running other than two instances of FFXI. When I was running one earlier it was running around 85ish.

*Edit*
Added another picture; not sure if needed/relevant.

[Jojimbo]

Card isn't OCed, most likely the problem is dust build up which would be solved by taking the card out and clearing it with a can of compressed air. Reseating the heatsink might help as well but you would need something to clear the old paste (isopropyl alcohol + lint free cloth works for clearing) + some new paste, however I would save that as a last resort, especially if you don't have stuff needed.

[TacoTaru]

Well it's a laptop, so I'm not sure if I can take the card out. I thought mobile graphics cards were built in. Will I just need to be really careful about popping the case open?

[Jojimbo]

Oh, you can just try blowing compressed air into the laptop case then. Didn't see it was a laptop.

[Mellema]

Well it's a laptop, so I'm not sure if I can take the card out. I thought mobile graphics cards were built in. Will I just need to be really careful about popping the case open?

What kind of laptop do you have? My Asus laptops are easy to open and work on, my dad's older Vaio is a hassle but not that bad, whereas my mac is a complete pita to work on.

Search youtube for your laptop. There's usually some video of memory upgrades that will show how to open your model.

[TacoTaru]

ASUS G51 is the model I have.

[Katoke]

So I have a HD 6950, Core 830, Mem 1325. I understand these cards scale down clock speeds to save power/temps and then kick up when needed accordingly. However, when running FFXIV, the max core/memory values I'm seeing are 725/1250. Can anyone comment on this?

[Cail]

My laptop shut down some time while I was sleeping last night, so between 1030p-440a. When I woke up, it was at the blue screen of 'Windows is shutting down...' I just got back home at 5:30a and its still like that (so at least 50 mins). I know this is probably not normal, but would it be safe to manually hold down the power button to turn it off, then reboot it? If not, do I just wait it out or what?

Edit: Now 8450a and still on the same screen

[Purrrfect]

So I have a HD 6950, Core 830, Mem 1325. I understand these cards scale down clock speeds to save power/temps and then kick up when needed accordingly. However, when running FFXIV, the max core/memory values I'm seeing are 725/1250. Can anyone comment on this?

Not sure what brand you have and I don't know anything about the 6 series, but according to AMD's site the memory is listed at the 1250MHz you are seeing. They list the core "up to 800MHz", no idea why it would stop at 725, unless they mean you have to use the overdrive in catalyst to get 800.

[Caiyuo]

My laptop shut down some time while I was sleeping last night, so between 1030p-440a. When I woke up, it was at the blue screen of 'Windows is shutting down...' I just got back home at 5:30a and its still like that (so at least 50 mins). I know this is probably not normal, but would it be safe to manually hold down the power button to turn it off, then reboot it? If not, do I just wait it out or what?

Edit: Now 8450a and still on the same screen

Given how long it's been on I don't anything is going to happen, really don't think there's any choice but to hold the power button down

[Blarg]

So, are HP monitors very good? I was going to order this with newegg

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...-24236049-L07C

but when I went to the local future shop site to see if they had that same monitor in stock (they don't) and then I could just get the monitor there with a price match and avoid paying shipping but when I was at the site I saw this monitor for the same price basically.

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/produ...76e9cf8748en02

I don't know much about brands but I know a bit more about HP so maybe they are better quality and it is 1 inch larger so that would be nice.


Is there any good reason to not get the HP one?

[Mellema]

So, are HP monitors very good? I was going to order this with newegg

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...-24236049-L07C

but when I went to the local future shop site to see if they had that same monitor in stock (they don't) and then I could just get the monitor there with a price match and avoid paying shipping but when I was at the site I saw this monitor for the same price basically.

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/produ...76e9cf8748en02

I don't know much about brands but I know a bit more about HP so maybe they are better quality and it is 1 inch larger so that would be nice.


Is there any good reason to not get the HP one?

Depends if you need speakers. The Asus has built in speakers, none on the HP.

[JetEnduro]

So I have a HD 6950, Core 830, Mem 1325. I understand these cards scale down clock speeds to save power/temps and then kick up when needed accordingly. However, when running FFXIV, the max core/memory values I'm seeing are 725/1250. Can anyone comment on this?

Uninstall catalyst/drivers(use driver sweeper) and afterburner(if you use it).
Reboot.
Install latest drivers.

It should fix it. An odd occurrence from what i've read and that seems to fix it.

[Isiolia]

So, are HP monitors very good? I was going to order this with newegg

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...-24236049-L07C

but when I went to the local future shop site to see if they had that same monitor in stock (they don't) and then I could just get the monitor there with a price match and avoid paying shipping but when I was at the site I saw this monitor for the same price basically.

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/produ...76e9cf8748en02

I don't know much about brands but I know a bit more about HP so maybe they are better quality and it is 1 inch larger so that would be nice.


Is there any good reason to not get the HP one?

Probably depends on model. I have two 24" HP IPS screens that are pretty solid. Newegg usually has debranded (refurb) HP monitors if you're looking for cheap. They just have the HP logos pulled off or stickers put over them. I bought one for a friend to use as an XBox 360 display and it's been fine.

[TacoTaru]

Is there such a thing as "gaming router" (self descriptive titles from companies' themselves withstanding)? My current router isn't bad, but I need to replace my switch and I'm considering getting a new router while I'm at it. Current have this model: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833124385

The only reason I'm considering replacing it is when I have multiple things going at once (my laptop, wife's laptop and a console) it can start to dip in speed pretty bad at times, sometimes losing up 5~8mbps, and through the switch it just floors to the point of dropping connection (especially if I have 2 consoles going).

[Jojimbo]

Apparently that router has trouble over long distances (it is a very basic N router and lacks dual band). I see this get recommended a lot (I think that's the correct model anyway) but it lacks N and dual band so might be a bit outdated.

http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/wireless-routers seems like a good place to get an idea on what to buy though.

[sruon]

Is there such a thing as "gaming router" (self descriptive titles from companies' themselves withstanding)? My current router isn't bad, but I need to replace my switch and I'm considering getting a new router while I'm at it. Current have this model: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833124385

The only reason I'm considering replacing it is when I have multiple things going at once (my laptop, wife's laptop and a console) it can start to dip in speed pretty bad at times, sometimes losing up 5~8mbps, and through the switch it just floors to the point of dropping connection (especially if I have 2 consoles going).

There are multiple routers on the market with more aggressive QoS(Quality of Service) settings made for "gaming", generally more expensive for arguably very little reasons.

My advice is to get a router that can run DD-WRT or the variants such as OpenWrt or Tomato, not only are those custom firmware much better than the manufacturer's one, but they do exactly what you're looking for, specify the QoS for each services or clients. The router linked above is one of the (if not the) most used router for DD-WRT but it's getting old, I don't exactly know which router are used these days for DD-WRT but the compatibility list should give you an idea.

[TacoTaru]

Thanks for all the help! If I'm upgrading to a different router is Dual band a must have? Only reason I ask is I noticed that one Jojimbo listed doesn't have (even though you said it's getting up there in age). I looked a couple different ones that have open source DD-WRT but they don't have Dual Band.

Also, are there any "never touch those with a 10ft stick" brands? Almost to a fault, I find myself gravitating to ASUS, because of the performance I've had, and my friends have had, but when I start getting into things like routers, I'm not sure if that's a time to move away from brand loyalty.