Random Question Thread: Tech

**Milks** · 2011-09-25 22:54

Definitely not computer technical question, but a washing machine question. Don't know where else to put this.

I have a Whirlpool LHW0050PQ. The machine will not fill with water. If I put it in test mode and set it to test the water pump, it fills the machine fine. However, if i use a normal wash cycle, nothing happens. It starts spinning clothes and shit with no water inside. Anyone know about this kind of shit?

**Salodin** · 2011-09-26 12:03

Originally Posted by Not Kuno

Trying to help a friend make his entertainment room be awesome but I suck at some technical stuff and also I have no idea what is good. I want to know what a good sound system might be. I'd like at least 4 HDMI inputs and possibly some component or VGA/DVI inputs. Basically, the audio and video hooked up to one central piece of hardware instead of fiddling everything. It'll be for a pc, xbox, wii, ps3, cable box, maybe a few laptops etc. Any ideas on what might work? Would I need a sound system and something else also?

Isn't this what recievers are for? They act as a central hub for everything, and you just change the input for whatever it is you're using now. Makes it so that only one HDMI needs to go to the tv and everything else goes to the computer.

I bought one a few years ago that had like 2 or 3 HDMI cables (can't even remember as I never move it any more), but it's rather expensive and I couldn't find one with more HDMI slots to future proof it. They almost all come with enough sound settings that you don't need to worry about getting a sound system with it's own receiving box, but like I said they can be hella expensive. 4 or 5 years ago the box I got was like...400 or 500 dollars?

**avelle** · 2011-09-26 13:51

Originally Posted by Rellikard

I'd only recommend a Linksys or Netgear router but since you don't like Linksys, here you go:

Netgear Router Wireless N600
4x Gigabit Ethernet Ports
USB port if you want to connect an external HDD to it or printer.
Should get you more coverage than the 3 floors you have.

I have this one and it's the bee's knees. Highly recommend. I only have a one floor house though!

**jmc** · 2011-09-26 19:41

Originally Posted by avelle

I have this one and it's the bee's knees. Highly recommend. I only have a one floor house though!

my brother ended up coming home with a Asus router..... Didn't even know they made them.

if it doesn't work out, I'm picking up this one

**Not Kuno** · 2011-09-27 09:07

Originally Posted by Salodin

Isn't this what recievers are for? They act as a central hub for everything, and you just change the input for whatever it is you're using now. Makes it so that only one HDMI needs to go to the tv and everything else goes to the computer.

I bought one a few years ago that had like 2 or 3 HDMI cables (can't even remember as I never move it any more), but it's rather expensive and I couldn't find one with more HDMI slots to future proof it. They almost all come with enough sound settings that you don't need to worry about getting a sound system with it's own receiving box, but like I said they can be hella expensive. 4 or 5 years ago the box I got was like...400 or 500 dollars?

Any specific kinds of receivers that would be good then? I don't know what would be not shitty.

**Aylee** · 2011-09-27 10:22

Recently the speakers in my gf's computer stopped working (desktop). They make kind of a buzzing noise with a kinda mid range sounding beep every so often. Tried my speakers in it and exact same thing happens so im assuming its the computer not the speakers. I figured replacing it would be as easy as installing a gpu but it looks like the jacks are housed in a box directly on the mother board. Is there anyway to replace the jacks (needs to be fairly easy) without replacing the whole mother board?

Also: can hook headphones up to it via USB and they work fine.

**Jojimbo** · 2011-09-27 10:29

Originally Posted by Aylee

Recently the speakers in my gf's computer stopped working (desktop). They make kind of a buzzing noise with a kinda mid range sounding beep every so often. Tried my speakers in it and exact same thing happens so im assuming its the computer not the speakers. I figured replacing it would be as easy as installing a gpu but it looks like the jacks are housed in a box directly on the mother board. Is there anyway to replace the jacks (needs to be fairly easy) without replacing the whole mother board?

Also: can hook headphones up to it via USB and they work fine.

Never heard of someone replacing the MB ports/jacks before, might be possible but I doubt it'll be easy (assuming it's simply the ports that are the issue). Could try reinstalling the sound drivers or get a cheap soundcard if you have a spare pci(-e) slot, that or you could keep using USB.

$21 Asus Xonar DG is probably your best bet for cheap soundcards (it's a bit better than onboard and has a headphone amp)

**Isiolia** · 2011-09-27 10:31

Originally Posted by Not Kuno

Any specific kinds of receivers that would be good then? I don't know what would be not shitty.

As a good one would be a fairly expensive purchase, you may want to poke around more dedicated forums for A/V stuff (like here).

There are a number of good brands. Onkyo is a common recommendation, Denon as well. Pioneer makes solid bang for the buck gear (Yamaha used to, not sure if they've redeemed themselves from a few years ago).

Unfortunately, HDMI (in particular) and the sheer amount of processing that modern receivers do makes them harder to gauge without some hands-on. If you're really not familiar at all with home theater stuff, I could try to explain more, but there are many other resources out there that do too (could poke around Crutchfield for example - not usually the best price, but they've got extensive customer support).

**Aylee** · 2011-09-27 11:04

Both the large pci slots are being taken by her gpu.... I have two of the small slots open but the linked one shows the long slots anything I can do with those?

**Isiolia** · 2011-09-27 11:12

Originally Posted by Aylee

Both the large pci slots are being taken by her gpu.... I have two of the small slots open but the linked one shows the long slots anything I can do with those?

Does it have headers for front panel jacks? Could try those. My suspicion would be more that it's not just the jacks. USB headphones work because USB audio devices are their own "sound cards".

**Aylee** · 2011-09-27 11:22

Ill tr to reinstall her drivers and if that doesn't. Fix it ill browse newegg or see if I can move the gpu around. Ty for help

**TacoTaru** · 2011-09-27 12:22

Back with another router question. Was looking to order up the last of my parts today and was looking at these two ASUS routers

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833320039

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833320038

Can anyone tell me the different. Just from looking at the specs on each, they look almost identical with the second one having 2 USB2.0 ports for what's in the title description, but I don't really care about that. I just care about speed and performance. Both are open source, and like I said, they look identical for the rest of the features. Can I save almost $70 for features I don't care about or is the second going to have better performance all around?

**Jojimbo** · 2011-09-27 13:11

Reading reviews it seems like the N12 does perform a lot worse than the N16 (N12 can only use DD-WRT mini as well) but is a good budget router. N16 would be better if you need Giga ethernet + 5GHz wireless, can't find any reviews on actual performance for N12 though.

**TacoTaru** · 2011-09-27 14:19

The idea would be to upgrade from what I have now, which is the Linksys E1000 and that seems equivalent to the N12. What I didn't notice was the N12 lacked the 1Gb ethernet and 5GHz wireless when I was looking it over and that is only has the ethernet/wireless equivalent to the E1000. Guess I'll hold off and get my new switch with the router as well.

Thanks!

**jmc** · 2011-09-27 14:56

Looking into video cards for battlefield 3, was thinking about getting a 580.

Now I have 2 questions.....

1) Are there any other video cards coming out soon, that I should wait on..... or any other cards besides 580's I should look at?

2) Should I even bother upgrading to a 580 with my current setup? (q6600 quad core overclocked/6 gb ddr2 memory/ati 5770 graphics)

I know that I should get a ddr3 memory setup..... but I don't think I could afford to do the processor/mobo/memory/gpu at this time.

**avelle** · 2011-09-27 15:36

Originally Posted by jmcgarrell

Looking into video cards for battlefield 3, was thinking about getting a 580.

Now I have 2 questions.....

1) Are there any other video cards coming out soon, that I should wait on..... or any other cards besides 580's I should look at?

2) Should I even bother upgrading to a 580 with my current setup? (q6600 quad core overclocked/6 gb ddr2 memory/ati 5770 graphics)

I know that I should get a ddr3 memory setup..... but I don't think I could afford to do the processor/mobo/memory/gpu at this time.

I'm not knowledgeable enough about bottlenecks to answer #2, but I don't believe the next generation of video cards are coming out until 2012. At the very least, I'm pretty sure nothing new is being released anytime soon.

**Jojimbo** · 2011-09-27 16:20

I would be surprised if you didn't run into a bottleneck with 580GTX, apparently it can bottleneck a 5800 even OCed to 3.2, I mean you'll be able to play games but I dunno if it's worth it over a 570 or something unless you plan on upgrading later. New cards are to be released Q4 2011 for ATI and Q1 2012 for nVidia (although I dunno what ones will be first out, might not get the higher end for a couple of months after).

**Salodin** · 2011-09-27 18:34

Originally Posted by Not Kuno

Any specific kinds of receivers that would be good then? I don't know what would be not shitty.

I honestly don't know much about which receiver is better then another =( I just know that this is probably what you want. I'd visit a dedicated forum like Isolia suggested, or go to your local bestbuy, see what they offer, then go online and work from there.

**Yugl** · 2011-09-27 23:39

Controller for PC? I've gone through ~3 controllers and it's incredibly annoying. I cannot use Xbox controllers though since I'm used to the PS model.

**TacoTaru** · 2011-09-27 23:51

Logitech has a wired controller that's got joysticks in the PS3 spot but has brobox face buttons. That being said friend is on his second one in four months and mine is close to eating shit. Their wireless was really damn good when I had it, but I have a horrible habit of dropping controllers so it bit the dust after about two years. If neither of those work, I would recommend just hooking a PS3 controller up to your PC and using that.

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