Random Question Thread: Tech

**hey** · 2011-11-20 14:20

what else should I be looking for in a monitor?

1920x1200

**Jojimbo** · 2011-11-20 14:58

Does anyone know of any USB Wifi Transmitters that are sold in the UK? Having a hard time finding any.

My uni room only has one ethernet cable and no wifi, so I can't connect PS3/Laptop without disconnecting my PC and can't connect DS/PSP/iPod/Phone (when I get it) at all. I have no idea if I would be able to use a router (have an ethernet socket and what looks like a phone line but I dunno if it is/if I can use it) the phone in my room that the uni provided connects via Ethernet, but only has one out and I was looking for something cheaper than a router anyway.

If not, could I just get a cheap wifi dongle and use Connectify?

**hey** · 2011-11-20 15:03

You can get a cheap network switch for $10-15.

**Jojimbo** · 2011-11-20 15:13

Thanks, This looks like it would work for my laptop and ps3, but what the wifi devices?

**hey** · 2011-11-20 15:21

http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TL-W...1820156&sr=1-1 should work.

**Jojimbo** · 2011-11-20 15:23

Oh nice, thanks. Kinda sucks looking for these thing when you don't know the names ;;

**Caiyuo** · 2011-11-20 15:42

I wanna say that both the wired and wireless functions can be performed by a single router using client mode, but I have to check. Would assume your university will perform NAT and hand out multiple IPs for you, but if not that could make for some visits to the IT dept.

**Yugl** · 2011-11-21 05:16

Alright, so I tried finding a laptop with...

i7
SSD (If I buy this separately, Intel's 320 series with 80/128GB seems cheapest @ $170-200)
A good ATI GPU (The main concern I have with my current laptop is due to the Nvidia GPU and google-search showed ATI as more reliable)
6-8GB RAM

I've had some difficulty getting all of these at a price range I would like, so my question is which of these I should sacrifice in rank order.

**hey** · 2011-11-21 05:55

The ssd is probably going to be your best downgrade. You can get cheaper ones for around $100 which should meet your needs just fine. I would not drop to 4 gb ram if possible, if only because it won't save you much.

Cpu vs gpu is difficult. Strictly for gaming, the gpu is far, far more important. However, you're also probably going to have a hard time finding something that allows you to get a cheaper cpu without also having a cheaper gpu. If you can though, that is a decent place to save money.

**Yugl** · 2011-11-21 12:31

The main issue is finding a laptop with all of those in one. I think the biggest difficulty is finding a good ATI GPU with an i7 that isn't starting at a ridiculous price. When I say a "good" ATI GPU, I mean one that doesn't come up on the list of "Will squeeze the fuck out of your battery" list or the "Will break down on you in a few months" list. I've moved between Newegg and this other custom laptop site.

On Newegg, I found this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834230021

Part of me is "eehhh" at the refurbished part. Otherwise, this looks fucking amazing. Are laptops worthy buying refurbished or are they like toothbrush territory?

The other site I found was: http://www.xoticpc.com/custom-gaming...95_51_163.html

The latter is somewhat more expensive in certain areas, but has a bit more customization than newegg.

**Ensam** · 2011-11-22 01:46

Dear BG,

I'm looking to upgrade my PC for Christmas. Originally I was thinking of saving up and buying a new one, but I'm pretty sure my problem is only my video card. Here are the specs:

Processor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115030 (Core 2 Duo 2.33 GHZ)
Ram: 3.25 GB
Video Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131082 (Don't know if it's that EXACT video card, but it is Radeon 2400 PRO 256 MB).

If I just upgrade to a 500 MB or 1 GB video card, should I be good?

I'm thinking of just asking for one for Christmas. Originally I saw this one on ebay under top seller:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121444 (512 MB for 15 dollars)

But then looked under 1 GB and saw this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102882 (1 GB for 20 dollars)

Would getting 128 bit instead of 64 bit memory be that much better though? I wouldn't want to ask for one more than 40 dollars but there were a few to get under that after rebates. This one had the highest base price to get under 40:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814162043 (35 dollars)

Does that one look best? Any other suggestions? Here's a quick link to 1 GB, 128 bit sorted by lowest price on new egg if anyone wants to look at those and see if there's any better for under $40:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...CE&PageSize=20

Also, I run dual monitors. Is the only thing that's needed for that is the splited cord or do I need to get specific video cards? Yeah dumb questions I'm sure but thanks for all the help <3

Edit:

Also second question. Both my internal and external hard drive are 7200 RPM and 8MB Cache, external had USB 2.0 interface and internal has SATA 3.0 GB/s. I'm thinking of moving my games - L4D(2), TF2, LoL, Killing Floor, CS:S, and now Skyrim - to my external hard drive.

Would I notice any actual difference in performance? My internal is just 80 GB and I'm running out of room even with only have games/programs installed on internal.

**Niya** · 2011-11-22 02:49

Those bit numbers stand for with how many "data lanes" the memory is connected to the GPU, so multiply the bit number with the memory clock speed and you get a rough value for how many GByte/s the memory can handle. In most cases higher bit numbers are better, but on those "low" performance cards you're looking at it might not have that much influence like on mid/high end cards.
Any decent GPU can handle 2 monitors nowadays, so you shouldn't have problems with that. Just try to connect them on digital ports like DVI, HDMI or Displayport, VGA is still present on most GPUs and monitors but should be avoided...

And for the internal/external question: yes, you WILL notice a difference. SATA2 (3GB/s) can handle ~150MByte/s data transfer and most HDDs range around 90-130. USB2 limits the speed to around 60MByte/s, doesn't matter how fast the HDD is, it's a problem of the USB2 protocol. Only USB3.0 would be fast enough to not slow the HDD down.

**hey** · 2011-11-22 03:49

If you can only afford to upgrade the video card, that will make a huge difference in games. So if that's all you care about, you can go that route. However, i would strongly recommend going with a mid range card instead of the cheapest of the cheap.

You mentioned you play skyrim, so i can give you my experience on that:

My laptop has 4 gb of ram, a phenom II n850 3 core cpu @ 2.2 ghz, and a radeon 5450 with 512 mb video ram. Skyrim runs on low with an average fps of about 20. In some areas it runs stable at 30 (rare), some places at ~10 (also rare, only really happened in winterhold which is when i got fed up and switched to my desktop). More often than not though it stuck around the 15~25 range. Setting it at medium drops my average fps by probably about 2-3.

My desktop is 6 years old, with an athlon 64 x2 cpu @ 2.1 ghz, 2 gb of ram, and a recently purchased radeon 5770. Skyrim runs on that at a stable 60 fps on high, while running various programs in the background using 30%+ of my cpu.

A 5770 is a huge improvement over a 5450, and only costs $100-120. If you can get the extra money for that, you will not regret it.

Also, how do you have 3.25 gb of ram?

**Fereydoon** · 2011-11-22 03:53

Originally Posted by hey

Also, how do you have 3.25 gb of ram?

He's most likely using a 32 bit OS.

**Yugl** · 2011-11-22 05:08

Are there any Nvidia cards notable for durability? The reviews show that Nvidia has a habit of malfunctioning more often than ATI, but ATI is difficult to find within laptops (Or compromises i7 for an i5). Thus, it would be beneficial to know if certain Nvidia GPUs are better than ATI in terms of durability or at are at least durable for four years or more.

**Amelya** · 2011-11-22 15:32

Anyone else get the email to send in the first generation ipod for a replacement? It would be nice if they actually specified what you were getting back...it just says a replacement. Mine still works fine and is in near perfect condition, so I'd rather not get some junky refurb in exchange. I can't imagine they have a huge stockpile of first gen ipods sitting around though...

**Elizara** · 2011-11-22 15:33

Ok. this is starting to bug me guys;

I'm getting POL-0011 errors on when it's contacting for password in POL. I don't know why. It worked last night.

I've tried a tracert to Playonline's site, no luck in running this down (that's told me before when something went wrong; BUT I can get on that website for some strange reason). I also tried rebooting the router and modem (we've been having speed issues anyway and that usualy solves them--mostly anyway.).

Does anyone know what the POL servers are so I can tracert and see if it is something between me and the POL servers that is effing up? Please, I don't know where else to ask since I cannot get on POL's chat support right now. It only lets me get to email support..

**Mellema** · 2011-11-22 18:55

Originally Posted by Amelya

Anyone else get the email to send in the first generation ipod for a replacement? It would be nice if they actually specified what you were getting back...it just says a replacement. Mine still works fine and is in near perfect condition, so I'd rather not get some junky refurb in exchange. I can't imagine they have a huge stockpile of first gen ipods sitting around though...

I filled out the form and they're suppose to send a box to mail it back to them. Mine still works, but it's scratched and scuffed like crazy, so I figured I might as well exchange it. Plus, I have a shuffle I use at the gym and a 4th gen nano I keep in the car, so if the replacement isn't that great it won't bother me much.

**Not Kuno** · 2011-11-22 19:52

Is there any way to limit router speeds for other people on a network? Or at least.. give priority? Other people on the network are irresponsible as fuck, and the worst part is when everyone is doing stuff I'm the one not having any bandwidth when stuff is being downloaded (ie they get 2mbs+ and I get 50kbs when we're both trying to download stuff).

Anyway, this shit drives me insane because I can't just go to their PC to limit it manually. My router has a shit ton of random options, would any of these do something? Diplomacy is not an option, unless you count beating them over the head with a steel support beam.

Spoiler: show

**hey** · 2011-11-22 20:57

QOS will set priority. I believe some custom firmware will allow you to set an actual speed cap, but not sure.

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