It's 5 o'clock here, going for a drink.

5/5/2011 7:13:48 PM

You live in Denver right? Our IT people are in Denver. I'm always working late to have meetings with them. haha. Enjoy!

5/5/2011 7:16:06 PM

I'm thinking about finally getting a SSD:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148441

Anything I should be aware of, like moving the swap file to a traditional HD to avoid burning the drive out? I haven't kept up with SSDs, so I'm still under the assumption that they have a finite number of writes you can perform - so it seems like getting the swap file off the drive would be a good idea - even if it did slow things down.

5/14/2011 1:11:05 PM

if you have 4GB memory or more, disable the page file. if you want to keep it and/or experiencing program crashes, put it on a hard drive.

make sure the SSD has TRIM support

and the MTBF for most SSD's is 1,200,000+ which is on par with the enterprise HDD's

5/14/2011 2:31:35 PM

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/e7/archive/2009/05/05/support-and-q-a-for-solid-state-drives-and.aspx

5/14/2011 3:23:02 PM

Thanks for the info.

5/14/2011 5:00:57 PM

Man, I just got an ATI HD5830 card (it was the newegg deal with the free tv tuner that we wanted to get).

For a pretty budget card ($100 FS), I am fucking amazed. I tried out Crysis 2 in 3D at 1080p and fuck it was gorgeous and buttery smooth. I am stunned what a hundred dollars buys you on the PC now. And it really makes me wonder what in God's name people spend 4-600 bucks on a video card for.

Now my media center PC is almost complete. as soon as the HDHomerun prime arrives I am done with it for a long while. 16gb of ram, 4 hdd's, AMD quad core cpu, quad tuners (non cable card though ) DVDRW and bluray player. So far total investment has been ~800 bucks.

It's pretty much composed of all slickdeals over the course of about 2.5 years. That sight is the devil.

5/14/2011 6:12:43 PM

that sight site IS the devil.

^you saw my post about the Prime right? the email came out today... pre-order now, release on June 29... 3 tuners and only $250, pretty darn good deal, particularly since it's a networked tuner

also 1080p resolution gaming is the budget/average gamer... i think you'd be surprised once you bump up the resolution how the FPS suffers. i agree $100 gets you a lot, but $200 gets you even more... it's the sweet spot, always has been. i agree with you that the $300+ cards are a waste though.

[Edited on May 14, 2011 at 8:40 PM. Reason : .]

5/14/2011 8:35:56 PM

^seriously? I mean I was playing on my 50" screen. I just cant imagine running a game higher res than that

And yeah, it's already been preordered. I signed up to be notified a while ago, so as soon as I got the email I was plunking down my CC

5/15/2011 3:08:05 AM

dude, i know, tell me about it... i'm just saying serious gamers are on 30"+ LCD monitors with 2560 x 1600

5/15/2011 2:24:41 PM

Quote :

"For a pretty budget card ($100 FS), I am fucking amazed. I tried out Crysis 2 in 3D at 1080p and fuck it was gorgeous and buttery smooth. I am stunned what a hundred dollars buys you on the PC now. And it really makes me wonder what in God's name people spend 4-600 bucks on a video card for."

Crysis 2 isn't exactly a graphically intense game. The textures are barely half what the originals are. They dumbed down the graphics because they ported it to console and the PC version suffered. If you really want to bring that 5830 to a stop try the original Crysis or any of the newer PC games. They look much better than Crysis 2.

Quote :

"And it really makes me wonder what in God's name people spend 4-600 bucks on a video card for."

Because they want to play newer games at max quality. There's numerous games on the market that need at least that much power to utilize the game's engine at the highest settings.

Quote :

"^seriously? I mean I was playing on my 50" screen. I just cant imagine running a game higher res than that "

^ as he said 1920 by 1200 and 2560 by 1600 are much more common. Your FPS will suffer when you turn settings up and up the resolution.

5/15/2011 6:32:00 PM

HALP TWW!

Quote :

"Windows detected a hard disk problem"

I have 2 HDs in my desktop - a 400gb drive used for Windows 7 stuff and some documents, and a 1.5TB HD for everything else (music, videos, etc)

The 400gb drive is the one with the error. I've already begun backing up everything to be sure I don't lose anything. Once this is finished, is the drive worth keeping? It currently has the operating system on it, and it's probably best to get a new drive for the OS?

Is there anything to be done, or am I over reacting?

5/23/2011 1:37:13 AM

Is SMART enabled? That can help determine if it's a physical issue or just a software error or bad sector. My guess is it's on it's way out and that the drive is 3+ years old if it's 400GB.

5/23/2011 2:07:32 AM

I went into BIOS and SMART was set to auto. I changed it to enabled. I then ran SEAtools (it's a seagate drive) and it came up with "SMART-FAIL" The drive is 4 or 5 years old so I suppose it is on the way out. What's my best option(s)? [besides obviously replacing it]

5/23/2011 2:59:21 AM

1. Backup to known good drive.
2. Install new hard drive.
3. Install OS / Copy files back (Make sure everything is back to normal)
4. With the old hard drive, open the top cover & destroy platters
5. Take to recycling plant.

5/23/2011 10:11:59 AM

I wanted to thank everyone who gave me advice. I finally got my PC built and its awesome.

^ any bits of advice on overclocking. I have never done it before but it seems pretty simple.

5/23/2011 11:36:08 AM

^ Increase speeds in small amounts; test system stability rigorously before increasing again; watch CPU temps like a hawk when under load; increase CPU voltage only when you really know what you're doing as than can cause real damage if something goes wrong

5/23/2011 12:14:34 PM

^^If you have the Gigabyte board, just use EasyTune, it's by far the safest.

If you really want to get into maximizing the overclock I can explain it all, but it can get complicated, balancing out the CPU and memory speeds vs. the multiplier.

5/23/2011 6:35:26 PM

Is it worth the price to invest in a SSD (30-60 gigs) for just my operating system? My 1.5TB drive is plenty for my other files and I have a small external for backups. Will it boost performance for normal tasks enough to be worth the $100+ price tag?

5/23/2011 7:06:22 PM

I just got a 64gig for $65. I would definitely say go for it. The system seems much snappier now that I have an SSD.

5/23/2011 7:31:52 PM

^Is that deal still going on? I mean i can watch slickdeals, but currently Newegg has 64gig SSD for $100 at the cheapest

5/23/2011 7:37:33 PM

No I dont think so. It seems like slickdeals on SSDs run out really quick. I just watched the site like a hawk for about a month and grabbed one. If you are not in a huge rush I would just do that. It seems like they have a great deal about every 2 weeks on SSDs. Plus I hear the new generation is coming out pretty soon so hopefully that will drive prices down.

5/24/2011 7:27:03 AM

Vertex 3

5/24/2011 11:35:30 AM

So I finally got around to identifying my defective memory module. I'm set to buy another pair of modules, so dumb question:

Budget dictates that I'll be left with 3 sticks of 2GB each. I've got a MB with two dual channel slots. Any negatives to sticking all 3 sticks in and leaving half of one of the channels vacant, or should I stick to completely filling up just one channel (4GB memory total) and keeping the other good stick in case I have problems in the future.

I can't think of a reason not to just put it all in, but you I never know.

[Edited on May 24, 2011 at 9:36 PM. Reason : -]

5/24/2011 9:35:05 PM

Quote :

"Vertex 3"

Sounds great, but I don't have $170+ to spend on a hard drive for my OS. I have a video card and memory that need upgrading first...

5/25/2011 2:29:22 AM

Quote :

"I just got a 64gig for $65."

That's crazy sick cheap! def a steal. I've seen them hover around 80 or so on sale. SSD is my next hardware upgrade.

5/25/2011 7:11:07 AM

^ haha thats assuming they dont screw me on the $45 MIR.

5/25/2011 8:01:18 AM

they had a 96GB for $100 yesterday ($50MIR) I think on a V100+... it makes it tempting....EXCEPT...

SATA3 hard drives just came out like the Vertex3 and the speeds are about double the V100+... I'm going to hold out just a little bit longer until SATA3 drives come down in price.

5/25/2011 10:44:08 AM

^ I thought about waiting but to be honest I am pretty happy about how fast it is. I dont really know if I would see any improvement bumping up to a vertex 3.

5/25/2011 2:34:48 PM

depends entirely on what SSD you already have.

almost double the V100+ speeds if you have SATA 6Gb/s

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/vertex-3-sandforce-ssd,2869-11.html

for me nearly 4x as fast as my 300GB Velociraptor for read, 8x as fast for the write, (10x the benchmark score overall)

[Edited on May 25, 2011 at 4:12 PM. Reason : .]

5/25/2011 4:09:57 PM

Yeah Im sure it will do some things faster but for what I do daily on the computer I can't see it making a big difference. With the SSD I just got, I click the icon and the program is up before I have time to think about it. I just dont see where anymore speed will improve my system unless I start playing games.

5/25/2011 4:27:38 PM

yea, i just thought you meant it wouldn't be faster period. depends on what you do daily for sure.

5/25/2011 4:55:24 PM

Is it worth getting this?

Kingston SSDNow V100 Series SV100S2/64GZ 2.5" 64GB SATA II Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

It's "normal price" on newegg is $125, but it's on sale for $75 (after rebate). It has some negative reviews that seem to stem from an older firmware issue. The price tag just looks a lot better than the Crucial 64gb one for $115 that doesn't even come with the 3.5" bay adapter. What say you, TWW? The rebate period ends today (5/27) so I'd have to bite soon if I order it.

5/27/2011 1:24:09 AM

^ I got the V+ series and I am very happy with it. No idea if that makes a big difference but I would say jump on it if you want one now.

5/27/2011 7:30:51 AM

I want a powerhouse laptop (one that will last me for 5 years or more). I want something that is a mobil desktop and is HD capable. 17" screen is a "must."

Is there anything else I should consider that would be great bang for buck? Trying to stay at or below $1,500. HP seems to be pretty hard to beat, unless I'm not looking in the right places.


HP dv7tqe series

Operating system: Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit with Service Pack 1
Processor: 2nd generation Intel(R) Quad Core(TM) i7-2720QM (2.2 GHz, 6MB L3 Cache) w/Turbo Boost up to 3.3 GHz
Graphics card: 2GB GDDR5 Radeon(TM) HD 6770M Graphics [HDMI, VGA]
Memory: FREE Upgrade to 8GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
Hard drive: 640GB 7200RPM Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
Office software: No Additional Office Software
Security software: FREE Upgrade to Norton Internet Security(TM) 2011 - 15 Month Subscription (activation required)
Primary battery: High Capacity 6-Cell Lithium-Ion Battery (standard) - Up to 5.5 hours of battery life +++
Display: 17.3" diagonal Full HD HP Anti-glare LED Display (1920 x 1080)
Primary optical drive: FREE Upgrade to Blu-ray player & SuperMulti DVD burner
Personalization: HP TrueVision HD Webcam with Integrated Digital Microphone and HP SimplePass Fingerprint Reader
Networking: Intel 802.11b/g/n WLAN and Bluetooth(R) with Wireless Display Support
Keyboard: Standard Keyboard with numeric keypad

Total: $1,513.99


Also, from my understanding, the 2GB GDDR5 Radeon HD 6770M is way overkill and the 1GB is fine... With the price difference being just $50, is it "worth" upgrading to the 2GB or is it wasted money?

[Edited on May 30, 2011 at 2:49 AM. Reason : .]

5/30/2011 2:31:52 AM

personally, I think HP laptops are crap. I haven't seen an HP laptop last more than 3 years and most of the ones I've seen go to shit just after 18 months. (although their LCD monitors are hot!) Toshiba laptops have always been pretty good. I got an old laptop that's about 6-7 years old, going strong still, although its tasks is nothing more than a cheap shoutcast box.

Dell is a mixed bag, I've gotten good and bad ones, but my Dell 1705 that just turned 5 yrs is still my main laptop that I still use daily; I honestly haven't had too many issues with it, but I did have a 3 year warranty and then renewed for another 2 years (which was worth it since they replaced the LCD and GPU around the 3-4 year mark). I've been waiting for this laptop to die so I can replace it, but it still keeps on going strong. Fast enough for what I need it for, although the size and no battery life is a downside now. A lot of the newer ones seem really nice for the price, but never pay full price for them.

It's really hard to predict your computing needs 5 years in advanced and then picking the best one for your needs and budget. If you can be patient and wait, you can find some pretty good deals online for that laptop, specially since "Back to school" sales are right around the corner. I'd budget in some money for an extended warranty, either through the manufacturer or with a 3rd party like squaretrade. They always seem to be problematic after the "regular" warranty is up.

5/30/2011 6:07:16 AM

I refuse to go to Dell after 2 of their laptops crapped on me within a year and a half of ownership. Granted, I believe the issue was more related to Intel's motherboard having overheating issues, but meh. Dell warranty service sucked and I don't wish to own another...

5/30/2011 7:04:15 AM

The laptop will be primarily a mobile entertainment center... I don't have a blue ray player and would like one. I'd like something I can take on trips and still watch my netflix. I want something I can hook up to my TV in 1080p format and stream tv shows from ABC.com or whatever. I will also be using it for schooling and work, but those aren't demanding tasks. My 8 year old 2.8ghz with 2gig DDR2 desktop is more than sufficient in carrying out those workloads... gaming will be minimal, as I simply don't do much of that anymore. Star Craft 2 looks awesome, but I think that's about it... I've got a 360S I primarily do my gaming on.

[Edited on May 30, 2011 at 2:47 PM. Reason : .]

5/30/2011 2:46:16 PM

Save your money, go ASUS.

[Edited on May 31, 2011 at 5:39 PM. Reason : link]

5/31/2011 5:38:21 PM

I always recommend Asus. I mean, 1 year complimentary accidental damage protection? Yesplz.

5/31/2011 6:19:42 PM

I found this on New Egg:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834230028

ASUS G Series G73SW-XN2 Notebook Intel Core i7 2630QM(2.00GHz)
17.3"
8GB Memory DDR3 1333
500GB HDD 7200rpm
DVD Super Multi
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M

A little less HD storage, but I've got a desktop that holds all the important stuff so that's not too much of an issue... The core is a one step below the HP, but then 2.0GHZ quad core is more than enough for any and all of my applications.

This is also short a Blue Ray player... Then again, I don't have any Blue Ray Disks... So... Problem solved?

HP has two of each USB 2.0 and 3.0 where the ASUS has two USB 2.0 and one 3.0. I don't have anything that requires USB 3.0, so for now, I'm good with that... Perhaps a wireless mouse in the future?



I just saved ~$400 for nearly the same thing... Thanks guys. It's on sale now for $1,190... I wonder if they'll have better deals near July 4th?




[Edited on May 31, 2011 at 8:06 PM. Reason : .]

5/31/2011 7:46:45 PM

i was going to post that in my previous post but removed it b/c it didn't have blu-ray...

you can always add an external later:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135251

5/31/2011 11:02:52 PM

Asking for:
ASRock P67 EXTREME4 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
Intel Core i5-2500 Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500
CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX4GX3M2A1600C8

for Father's day. Currently on C2D 3.0Ghz. It sucks I can't upgrade anything without upgrading everything at this point.

6/1/2011 10:45:16 AM

^i had the same problem.

6/1/2011 11:07:39 AM

HEY NOW. I'm stuck with a single core P4 with an AGP video card

I have no pitty for you people and your dual cores

6/2/2011 11:22:34 AM

Quad actually, quad.

6/2/2011 12:22:44 PM

^^Well, if my father's day works out, I'll sell you a C2D processor, mobo, and RAM.

6/2/2011 12:48:31 PM

so I just got this case for the computer im building:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811815008

It comes with a 170mm fan on top and 2 120mm fans on back and front. I also got 3 extra 120mm fans, 1 for the bottom and 2 for the side. Im not sure what the best way to maximize airflow through the case is though, Ill have the cpu heatsink and rear fan blowing out of the case (I assume) but the rest will be trial and error unless there are some ideas?

Not sure if it matters but the power supply is on the bottom and there are two video cards

6/2/2011 11:07:10 PM

cross-flow and negative pressure to reduce heat (more exhaust than intake)

6/2/2011 11:25:05 PM

Does anyone have recommendations on monitors for a dual 19" widescreen setup? HDMI out not necessary. One of my Hanns-G is flickering and losing color.

I normally just go with the best reviews on Newegg, but personal experience suggests otherwise

6/3/2011 12:54:44 AM