Random Question Thread: Tech

[Niya]

wired xb360 controller

^ this.

Have used a wired 360 for the last years and it still works like a charm. And i'm kind of sure it will survive longer than those PS2 pads (with converter box) i used during my FFXI time. I think i killed 2 or 3 of them in those 5 years...

[hey]

I think i killed 2 or 3 of them in those 5 years...

How...?

I have had one controller of any kind break, ever. It was a ps3 controller that someone stepped on. And even then, it still works fine, it just doesn't have an r2 button. How do people break controllers?

[Niya]

Maybe should have mentioned that those 2 or 3 were non-Sony cheap controllers. ^^ The first thing to get close to breaking was always the left analog stick (used for running, for so long with enough force to cut deep scars into the plastic just from the pressure against the controller "body". Plus, the "dead zone" got bigger and bigger...) and the cable (rolled over it way too often with my chair up to the point where it almost got ripped out...)
The only PS2 controller that hasn't "broken" is the original sony controller, that one is still in use on my PS2 xD

[Dathus]

I've had the same PS2 controller for the last 3 years and there's been no incident with it with the use of FFXI I've done.

For those who HAVE the 360 controller, how in all that is holy do you get the triggers to work?! FFXI's Controller config won't register them...

[Isiolia]

I've had the same PS2 controller for the last 3 years and there's been no incident with it with the use of FFXI I've done.

For those who HAVE the 360 controller, how in all that is holy do you get the triggers to work?! FFXI's Controller config won't register them...

The official drivers map them as an additional axis, not as buttons. Third party drivers can get them to function as buttons (here or here or you could probably use XPadder).

Maybe SE could be convinced to build in XInput support with all the UI tweaks they're doing.

[hey]

What's the final word on 2700k vs 3770k? Everything i've read seems mixed, with some saying ivy is better, and others saying just the opposite. I can't seem to find anything even remotely concrete on which is actually better

[Datonare]

Any simple reason as to why my physical memory on my computer sits at 30% when idling with no programs open? Got an i7 950, 4g ram... I have had errors lately that when running multiple programs that I'm low on memory or something weird. Could one of my sticks be shot/acting up? According to my computer I still have all 4 (well 3) gigs there

[Ratatapa]

Right click the task bar and select Task Manager

Go to the process tab and click on mem usage to class it by memory usage and check whats taking the most

[Kayu]

Question about hard drives need 2 of like 1-2TB that are for full time use(24/7) for storing important information(basically a drive that has a very low chance to crash)
i am sure the lower RPM drives are good for this but which one!

[Isiolia]

What's the final word on 2700k vs 3770k? Everything i've read seems mixed, with some saying ivy is better, and others saying just the opposite. I can't seem to find anything even remotely concrete on which is actually better

If you compare both at their stock speeds, the 3770k is a slight improvement with the exception of the integrated video (and in turn Quick Sync acceleration), which is substantially improved.

On the other hand, Ivy Bridge hasn't shown itself to be a particularly great overclocker as it starts to get hotter faster.

IMO, if you're keeping things stock or going with a very modest overclock, Ivy Bridge is probably the way to go. If you're trying to push a bigger overclock, the 2700k is probably going to accomodate it better, possibly allowing you to negate some/all of IB's small performance advantage.

[hey]

On the other hand, Ivy Bridge hasn't shown itself to be a particularly great overclocker as it starts to get hotter faster.

If you're trying to push a bigger overclock, the 2700k is probably going to accomodate it better, possibly allowing you to negate some/all of IB's small performance advantage.

I hate this these are so close that this question is so impossible to answer without the words opinion, and probably

Thanks though. It's starting to seem like it's just a matter of the luck of the draw which is better.

[Vendog]

Whats a good (and free) web cam program that my kids can have fun with and make crap to send to family?
And whats the newest or best peer blocking program i can use?

[Deadgye]

Anybody have a recommendation about what I should do/use to mimic/implement multi-threading with C++? Or if there's another approach I should be using instead? Some quick googling mentioned something like a 'boost' library(?), is this what I'm looking for and is it easy to find and set up?

I'm working on a group project for a robotics class with lego mindstorms (nxt). If we had more time I'd use lejos so that I could implement threading via java. However, the project is due this Friday so we'd rather stick with nxt++ since that's what we've been using the entire semester.

We're planning on using an fsm to define the behavior. The problem is that some responses to certain situations might require specific, calculated time lapses between outputs. (Time lapses created via a simple loop from the nxt++ library.) This result in sensor inputs that would trigger other events being ignored. The first solution I thought of to this problem was to use multi-threading so that the (ballistic) responses could be run concurrently, but it seems c++ doesn't have built in multi-threading support. Normally we wouldn't care about our robot being slow and reacting sequentially, but our final project is to compete with another group in a small sumo-bot fight.

If multi-threading seems like the wrong approach or is too difficult/time consuming to set up and use, should I just attempt to structure the fsm very nicely and use a global clock variable or something?

[Chocobunnies]

Pretty noob question, not even entirely sure how to word it so it'll be extra noobish but... are you supposed to dust the inside of the PCs tower? And if so how would you go about it?

[Cephius]

Pretty noob question, not even entirely sure how to word it so it'll be extra noobish but... are you supposed to dust the inside of the PCs tower? And if so how would you go about it?

Take a can of compressed air and blow it out every once in awhile. Every month or two is usually enough to prevent buildup.

[Chocobunnies]

Take a can of compressed air and blow it out every once in awhile. Every month or two is usually enough to prevent buildup.

That's what I was thinking of using, didn't even notice/think of it till I had to look for something near it. Do I have to dismantle it and dust it that way, or just use that long stick and just stick it in the vents and use it that way?

[Kiehl]

At least take the cover off when you blow it out. Preferably outside. Blowing through the vents will only loosen the dust, not get rid of it.

[Chocobunnies]

At least take the cover off when you blow it out. Preferably outside. Blowing through the vents will only loosen the dust, not get rid of it.

Ok, thanks for answering super noobish questions.

[Kuishen]

What fucking program is this?



It's like a fucking watermark in the top right corner of my monitor and it overlaps anything that isn't in fullscreen mode, and I can't find any thing in my Task Manager or System Tray that isn't supposed to be there. Driving me insane because it wasn't there last night.

EDIT: Also has nothing to do with my monitor settings.

EDIT: Also 1337th post.

[TacoTaru]

Is there a way to set up MSI Afterburner to automatically capture screenshots every x seconds/minutes? I'm trying to figure out a way to get a decent catalog of pictures during events/boss fights without having to stop and take them.