[Monika]

Originally by Powerslide
LET'S MAKE THIS WORK PEOPLE!

Okay, now as anyone could see there are HUNDREDS of tech threads floating around in CD - ranging from questions about graphics hardware, to questions about pricier graphics hardware and other tech such as monitors, hard drives and Processors to announcement threads of new technology and more. (I accede - I'm not being very eloquent here

Any questions you have, tech news or ANYTHING related to buying/selling/information/announcements of new hardware should go here.

For example, if you come to the forums to ask "What is the better graphics hardware" or "What sort of RAM should I put in my PC?" then it should go here - I'm a little hazy, I know - but please keep all those graphics card and tech questions to one thread! Please!
So here's the summary, all:

• Announcements and queries on new or unreleased tech
  
• Benchmarks and results of hardware/discussion
  
• Questions on what sort of hardware you need/want for your machine
  
• Questions about existing tech and/or function
  
• Pricing and recommendations

Should be kept to THIS THREAD.

This has been A-okayed by CCNA for all who were wondering - it's up to you to stop filling CD with the same topics again and again that ask what the most powerful card in existence is so you can (not) buy it.

If you feel you have a question or can answer one - please feel free to do so.

Also, this is a great thread for you PC newbs, for learning more about your PC and hardware. http://www.elderscrolls.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=258050&st=0&p=4626051&#entry4626051

Also, a useful site for a frame of reference (not actual numbers), http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu.html?modelx=33&model1=476&model2=477&chart=174, and http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics.html?modelx=33&model1=519&model2=547&chart=211


Thanks all.
Adding more links shortly, thank you for your patience.

(Threads 1-82 have been all pruned, may they rest in peace)


http://www.gamesas.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=1069729
http://www.gamesas.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=1073705
http://www.gamesas.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=1076918
http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1079401-the-community-tech-thread-%2386/

Do I also have to put a big glowing neon sign to this in my signature? THERE ARE TOO MANY TECH THREADS - THIS IS NOT A FORUM FOR YOUR TECH WOES!

But we will gladly help you anyway.

Honour list:
Nottheking
Lord Athanar (SUPER-PINK!)
Insaneturbo13
Anothercanadian
Tig Ol' Bitties
Dogsbody (Moderator)
CCNA (Moderator)
N??h?ggr
wolfpup
Wierd
Softnerd
wingus

Oh and PLEASE, if you want us to "Build" you a PC, please indicate the following:
1.) your budget in your country's currency
2.) what country you reside if not listed in your avatar area
3.) pre-assembled PC? ...or can you build your own?
4.) what is needed other than the PC tower? Monitor, speakers, mouse, keyboard, Windows OS disc? All these can jack up the price.
5.) product preferences, preferred seller, and intended aim

but please, no "I want teh superererest Peecee evar1!!!!11!1", because really, only Bill Gates has that much moolah.

And, speaking of building your own PC, two good how-to videos from Newegg (thanks to SpankyTheElf for finding these):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CStOC0hET8 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3buj5cIh2Bs&feature=related

Other useful links
http://trinityhome.org/Home/index.php?wpid=1&front_id=12
http://tools.corsairmemory.com/systembuild/report.aspx?report_id=12472
http://www.memtest86.com/
http://www.techpowerup.com/atitool/
http://entechtaiwan.com/util/ps.shtm
http://www.irfanview.com/
http://www.knoppix.org/
http://www.jonnyguru.com/
http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/showthread.php?t=136602
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html
http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php
http://www.cpuid.com/pcwizard.php
http://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/
http://www.crucial.com/systemscanner/
http://tftcentral.co.uk/
http://www.apple.com/itunes/
http://www.futuremark.com/products/3dmark06/
http://www.fraps.com/

[John Moore]

I'm having problems with my headset...It's this one. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826249015&cm_re=steel_series_headset-_-26-249-015-_-Product
For some reason, it makes weird noises when I try to talk, some sort of interference. Here's a video of the problem. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6d8be2ddPI (For some reason I put the title as L4D2, ha, I know it's the first one.)
Anyone got any idea what could be wrong exactly?

[Barbequtie]

I'm having problems with my headset...It's this one. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826249015&cm_re=steel_series_headset-_-26-249-015-_-Product
For some reason, it makes weird noises when I try to talk, some sort of interference. Here's a video of the problem. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6d8be2ddPI (For some reason I put the title as L4D2, ha, I know it's the first one.)
Anyone got any idea what could be wrong exactly?

***Its going to blow....*** Arghhhhh! I mean it seems to be feedback. Are you should that Sound Input is set for Line-in or Microphone and not "What you hear", Wave, or Line-out?

[Helen Quill]

***Its going to blow....*** Arghhhhh! I mean it seems to be feedback. Are you should that Sound Input is set for Line-in or Microphone and not "What you hear", Wave, or Line-out?

It was working fine a couple of days ago and I didn't change anything so I'm not really sure.

[Charlotte Henderson]

It was working fine a couple of days ago and I didn't change anything so I'm not really sure.

Steam has a bad habit of changing it from its default setting to Wave. At least it used to be that for me, when I had an Audigy 4 and Windows XP.

[hannah sillery]

Steam has a bad habit of changing it from its default setting to Wave. At least it used to be that for me, when I had an Audigy 4 and Windows XP.

Well I did a system restore from when it was working and it works fine now. Weird.

[Channing]

I'm looking to get a new PC for gaming and have managed to put together a build (as in, I asked for help and tweaked it slightly, I'm a complete noob when it comes to computer hardware sadly). Would anyone be willing to look it over and make suggestions/point out problems/etc?

Here it is:

Spoiler

Western Digital WD1001FALS Caviar Black 1TB SATA2 7200RPM 4.2MS 32MB 3.5IN Dual Proc Hard Drive OEM
OCZ ModXStream Pro 700W ATX 20/24PIN SLI Ready Modular Cables 135mm Fan 80PLUS Power Supply
LG GH22NS50 Black 22X SATA DVD Writer OEM
Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus Direct Touch 4 Heatpipe Heatsink AM2 AM3 LGA1366 LGA775 LGA1156 120MM
Intel Core i5 750 Quad Core Processor Lynnfield LGA1156 2.66GHZ 8MB Cache Retail Box
G.SKILL F3-16000CL9D-4GBRH Ripjaws PC3-16000 4GB 2X2GB DDR3-2000 CL9-9-9-27 Core i5 Memory Kit
ASUS P7P55D LE LGA1156 P55 DDR3 2PCI-E16 2PCI-E1 3PCI CrossFire GBLAN 6SATA IDE Motherboard
Diamond Radeon HD 5850 725MHZ 1GB GDDR5 4.0GHZ 2XDVI HDMI Display Port DIRECTX11 PCI
Coolermaster CM 690 II Advanced ATX Mid Tower Case Black 4X5.25 1X3.5EXT 6X3.5INT
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 64BIT DVD OEM

[Toby Green]

I'm looking to get a new PC for gaming and have managed to put together a build (as in, I asked for help and tweaked it slightly, I'm a complete noob when it comes to computer hardware sadly). Would anyone be willing to look it over and make suggestions/point out problems/etc?

Here it is:

Spoiler

Western Digital WD1001FALS Caviar Black 1TB SATA2 7200RPM 4.2MS 32MB 3.5IN Dual Proc Hard Drive OEM
OCZ ModXStream Pro 700W ATX 20/24PIN SLI Ready Modular Cables 135mm Fan 80PLUS Power Supply
LG GH22NS50 Black 22X SATA DVD Writer OEM
Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus Direct Touch 4 Heatpipe Heatsink AM2 AM3 LGA1366 LGA775 LGA1156 120MM
Intel Core i5 750 Quad Core Processor Lynnfield LGA1156 2.66GHZ 8MB Cache Retail Box
G.SKILL F3-16000CL9D-4GBRH Ripjaws PC3-16000 4GB 2X2GB DDR3-2000 CL9-9-9-27 Core i5 Memory Kit
ASUS P7P55D LE LGA1156 P55 DDR3 2PCI-E16 2PCI-E1 3PCI CrossFire GBLAN 6SATA IDE Motherboard
Diamond Radeon HD 5850 725MHZ 1GB GDDR5 4.0GHZ 2XDVI HDMI Display Port DIRECTX11 PCI
Coolermaster CM 690 II Advanced ATX Mid Tower Case Black 4X5.25 1X3.5EXT 6X3.5INT
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 64BIT DVD OEM

Looks pretty good and you got some nice choices there. Caviar Black HDDs are good...an alternative to consider is Samsung's F3 models.

The only thing I would change is the PSU to a Corsair one...they have modular as well. It's not that OCZ isn't good, but they certainly could be better.

[Holli Dillon]

So like a:
Corsair TX650W 650W ATX 12V 52A 24PIN ATX Power Supply Active PFC 120MM Fan?

[Roberto Gaeta]

Anyone know of a 7.1 KVM, with out the K, the V or the M?

I simply want to be able to switch my PC speakers source from PC to PS3/360. I do not want to spend $200-$400 on a full KVM switch (DVI-D+7.1=expensive for what I need considering all I need is the audio.) but have had poor luck finding what I want.

[Stacy Hope]

Okay, time for a GPU upgrade, and it looks like I'll be getting a PSU along with it. What should I look into getting? I've got a 9800GT right now, and I'm in the market for a good 650W PSU.

[JR Cash]

Okay, time for a GPU upgrade, and it looks like I'll be getting a PSU along with it. What should I look into getting? I've got a 9800GT right now, and I'm in the market for a good 650W PSU.

This http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125294 is what I was recommended to upgrade to from an 8800GT 512MB.

EDIT: Lol, just double checked. You obviously wouldn't get that exact card...seeing as it's discontinued...

[Tamara Primo]

This http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125294 is what I was recommended to upgrade to from an 8800GT 512MB.

EDIT: Lol, just double checked. You obviously wouldn't get that exact card...seeing as it's discontinued...

Well I was kind of looking to go ATi this time, I hear the equivalent of the GTX 260 is better and more reasonably priced, but I'm not too sure.

[Laura Wilson]

Well I was kind of looking to go ATi this time, I hear the equivalent of the GTX 260 is better and more reasonably priced, but I'm not too sure.

Yeah, I've been hearing ATI is the way to go right now. Also, Newegg's higher-end NVidia selection is dwindling for some reason. There's only like 5 different GTX cards left in stock.

I'll sit back and wait for someone with more knowledge about this answer for you and mooch off of it

[Betsy Humpledink]

Yeah, I've been hearing ATI is the way to go right now. Also, Newegg's higher-end NVidia selection is dwindling for some reason. There's only like 5 different GTX cards left in stock.

I'll sit back and wait for someone with more knowledge about this answer for you and mooch off of it

Fermi just had their paper launch (won't be readily available at retail until April 16 or something like that) and even a while before that most manufacturers were backing off the GTX 200 lineup.

The 5770 is more or less a 4870 with DX11 and lower power consumption, would be a decent upgrade over a 9800GT IMO depending on the price. There's also the 5830, which is along the lines of the 4890, though it's way overpriced right now. I wouldn't even consider it until you can pick it up for sub $220. That being said, it overclocks very well and can approach 5850 stick performance. You can probably find a 4890 for under $200 now too.

Of course, with Fermi's release (and despite ATI saying they won't be dropping prices) speculation is there'll still be a slight drop in price for the 5xxx series in April. Might be able to catch a deal on a 5850 for $270, maybe less.

[Dan Scott]

For the graphic card I'd recommend the http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048%20106793261%201067949753%205008&name=%24200%20-%20%24300(pick anyone of those you like) very nice card, and if you want to over clock it should be able to do that well. For a power supply this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005 comes to mind. However if price is no object there are better psu on the market like this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151088. As to why the GTX200 are slowly disappearing, the impending release of the new GTX470 and 480 would have something to do with that I think.

[Isabell Hoffmann]

I am looking to write a program to automatically disable (and possibly remove) entries from the system startup list. Where would I find the registry keys for these items?

Right now I see enabled items in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run but am assuming there to be other paths.

[Maddy Paul]

I am looking to write a program to automatically disable (and possibly remove) entries from the system startup list. Where would I find the registry keys for these items?

Right now I see enabled items in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run but am assuming there to be other paths.

find the windows 'run' prompt, in XP it's on the start menu, i think wndows key+r should do it too. anyway, type msconfig
than go to the startup tab. that's the list of all programs that run on windows boot. uncheck them to disable them, it will whine about needing to restart and then when you restart it will while more and ask if you really want to keep the changes. do a google search to find out what each one does if you don't know. note: some entries are required windows/antivirus/utility programs, so check on things before you disable them, don't just run down the list and disable everything.

... is that what you're looking for?

[Stephani Silva]

find the windows 'run' prompt, in XP it's on the start menu, i think wndows key+r should do it too. anyway, type msconfig
than go to the startup tab. that's the list of all programs that run on windows boot. uncheck them to disable them, it will whine about needing to restart and then when you restart it will while more and ask if you really want to keep the changes. do a google search to find out what each one does if you don't know. note: some entries are required windows/antivirus/utility programs, so check on things before you disable them, don't just run down the list and disable everything.

... is that what you're looking for?

No I know how to do that. I am trying to find the location so I can create a small automated program to disable startup items. Say on a new install I can tell it to always disable a certain item so I don't need to do it manually for multiple machines.

[C.L.U.T.C.H]

No I know how to do that. I am trying to find the location so I can create a small automated program to disable startup items. Say on a new install I can tell it to always disable a certain item so I don't need to do it manually for multiple machines.

If you are doing the install from scratch, you can customize your install disk: use http://www.nliteos.com for pre-Vista OS and try http://www.vlite.net for Vista and Windows 7. See discussions of "tweaks" for nLite and vLite elsewhere for specifics.

If you want it to happen automagically when an existing system is connected to your network, you need a Windows Server to push the script to the target systems. See http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc779838%28WS.10%29.aspx.

[Queen of Spades]

So for my build would a Corsair TX650W 650W ATX 12V 52A 24PIN ATX Power Supply Active PFC 120MM Fan be good?

[rolanda h]

Yes, that should suffice(+) with your hardware. I ran an OC'd q9550 and 5870 with my old Antec Truepower 650 without issues.

Though I did slap an HX850 in here for future Crossfire and moved the 650 back to the e6850/8800GTX.

[Sarah Unwin]

I have a problem with a sound card. On two different versions of http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102021, I get intermittent, sometimes regularly timed pops when doing anything with extended sound playing. It has done it on two different motherboards and in different PCIE sockets, and despite completely cleaning out the drivers (via DriverSweeper).

The symptoms above lead me to believe that the problem is software-based.

My other system components are:

AMD Phenom II Black 955
Gigabyte 790XTA-UD4 (current board)
4 GBs of Dual-Channel DDR3 RAM
Radeon HD 4870 1 GB

Anyone got a clue as to why it's doing this?

[Tamara Dost]

I have a problem with a sound card. On two different versions of http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102021, I get intermittent, sometimes regularly timed pops when doing anything with extended sound playing. It has done it on two different motherboards and in different PCIE sockets, and despite completely cleaning out the drivers (via DriverSweeper).

The symptoms above lead me to believe that the problem is software-based.

My other system components are:

AMD Phenom II Black 955
Gigabyte 790XTA-UD4 (current board)
4 GBs of Dual-Channel DDR3 RAM
Radeon HD 4870 1 GB

Anyone got a clue as to why it's doing this?

Usually this is either a driver issue or a motherboard issue:
Try upgrading the driver if possible.
Then make sure the integrated sound chipset is disabled (in the BIOS) and disable any ATI HDMI sound devices in the hardware device manager.
You can also try moving the physical location of the sound card to another slot, if an additional slot is available. Sometimes IRQ conflict with integrated devices. Mainly if a storage controller (ie SATA, IDE) occupts the same IRQ as a sound card it will cause this.
If your card has an extra drive bay attachment, try removing the communications cable to the unit. You'll have to plug any speakers in to the sound card directly.

[Crystal Birch]

How reliable are Zotac GPUs?