[Taylor Thompson]

Here's a hopelesly noob question: does changing the CPU require OS reinstall?

Edit: And researching some more, it seems that card (GTS 450) would require a PCI Express 2.0 interface, but my http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=dFAMIWrZWGgB1GuJ&templete=2 has an http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_P35 that can only do 1.1 so i wouldn't get the full power from that card with the current MB. Would the performance hit make it a waste of money?

First question, usually no. Just swap new CPU in and system should immediately recognize new one. It's usually the motherboard swap that would need a new OS reinstall...and even then, there are people savvy enough to provide guides on the web to even avoid that. Just make sure you've made any necessary BIOS updates for the motherboard in order to see the new chip before installing it....and of course, I hope this chip is compatible with the board.


The GTS 450 will run on any previous generation PCI-E interface...it's a backwards compatible thing here. As far as bottlenecking the card, I don't see it happening with a GTS 450 even on PCI-E 1.1, so should be fine...if there are any bottlenecks, it would be rather negligible.

So my sister's laptop is running insanely slowly lately, and after a quick look I'm fairly sure that it's absolutely ridden with viruses and dodgy freeware. I'm thinking of running DBAN on it then re-installing Vista Home Basic. I've found the drivers http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=sIyltiuq3sE6NBuf I'll be honest, my knowledge with computers is patchy at best, so before I wipe the laptop free of everything on there, is there anything that I've missed out on? For the record there's no trace of the CDs that came with the laptop that I think had everything needed for a re-install, so I'm kind of stuffed here.

Thanks in advance.

Should be fine in what you're planning to do so long as you have a Vista install disc. The rest of the drivers can be gotten off Asus's website as you've noted.

[Rachael Williams]

First question, usually no. Just swap new CPU in and system should immediately recognize new one. ....and of course, I hope this chip is compatible with the board.

So i figured, but it's better to be safe than sorry. And it should be, the MB supports it's FSB frequency and apparently works with all Core 2 Duo/Quad/Extreme processors. Best to do a google to be safe, though. Edit: yes, supports it after a BIOS update.

As far as bottlenecking the card, I don't see it happening with a GTS 450 even on PCI-E 1.1, so should be fine...if there are any bottlenecks, it would be rather negligible.

It is a budget card in my undestanding, so i suppose it wouldn't require full speed of that bus anyway. As long as it performs better than my current GF 9600GT, mostly interested in the Dx11 support and doubling my current VRAM anyway.

Thanks for the answers :goodjob:

[Dan Scott]

Well, wherever you're looking, it's definitely not worth looking there. That's expensive. This is what you should be looking at:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227274
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227288
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227288
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227258
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883229206

Ah thank you.

Sorry to keep asking questions, but which one would you recommend out of those?

[Andrew]

Should be fine in what you're planning to do so long as you have a Vista install disc. The rest of the drivers can be gotten off Asus's website as you've noted.

Thanks, just wanted to check that I wouldn't permanently nuke the laptop before it's too late.

[cutiecute]

Ah thank you.

Sorry to keep asking questions, but which one would you recommend out of those?

Well, the first three are no longer in stock or deactivated since I last posted those. Either of the last two are good. Here's another one to consider:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883229188

[Samantha Pattison]

Well, the first three are no longer in stock or deactivated since I last posted those. Either of the last two are good. Here's another one to consider:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883229188

That one looks nice, I think I may go for that.

Thanks a lot for your help.

[Joe Bonney]

Does anyone have any opinions on this headset?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826158082

I've liked my creative products in the past so I am hopeful for there headsets. I also am hesitant about buying something that is a label ("Fatality"), so I am hoping someone has experience with these. If anyone else has other headsets they want to recommend go ahead, my budget is <$50 and it needs to have a microphone.

[Sammygirl500]

I've liked my creative products in the past so I am hopeful for there headsets.

I personally prefer here headsets (there was even a phase in my youth when I liked hither headsets, glad that one is over...), but I think that particular headset will suit you just fine. Price is not too crazy and it seems to have generally good reviews.

[Ana]

I personally prefer here headsets (there was even a phase in my youth when I liked hither headsets, glad that one is over...), but I think that particular headset will suit you just fine. Price is not too crazy and it seems to have generally good reviews.

I may end up getting these headphones then. Hopefully they will last longer than my current pair did (only 1 year).

[Rebecca Dosch]

I may end up getting these headphones then. Hopefully they will last longer than my current pair did (only 1 year).

They're surprisingly decent and at that price, it's certainly worth it. Granted I only got to use it for a couple games (COD4 and Crysis) at my buddy's place, but they're not bad if you're on a budget. Hopefully, your head isn't too big...I had to take them off after an hour.

edit, found even cheaper here:
http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Labs-HS-800-Fatal1ty-Headset/dp/B002DS4HTM/ref=pd_cp_e_3

[Chloe Mayo]

Apparently my uncle's computer's motherboard went out (according to Geek Squad), so he asked me if he gave me the money, if I could fix/build a new one for him. So pretty much the only thing we kept was the harddrive and case. Well, now as soon as windows XP boots up it asks for a CD key or whatever. I doubt he has one, because this computer is pretty old, and he's not the kind to keep it. Now, if I'm right this happened because of the new motherboard. My question is, can I get the computer to realize that this is the same old computer it used to be? Or anything not involving getting a new copy of XP?

[Lillian Cawfield]

Does anyone have any opinions on this headset?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826158082

I've liked my creative products in the past so I am hopeful for there headsets. I also am hesitant about buying something that is a label ("Fatality"), so I am hoping someone has experience with these. If anyone else has other headsets they want to recommend go ahead, my budget is <$50 and it needs to have a microphone.

I have these ones myself, and I love them:
http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Labs-HS-980-Fatal1ty-Professional/dp/B002BH3JDA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1292057128&sr=8-3

I dunno if the difference is that great to warrant the price, but they are very comfortable.

[Alisia Lisha]

Apparently my uncle's computer's motherboard went out (according to Geek Squad), so he asked me if he gave me the money, if I could fix/build a new one for him. So pretty much the only thing we kept was the harddrive and case. Well, now as soon as windows XP boots up it asks for a CD key or whatever. I doubt he has one, because this computer is pretty old, and he's not the kind to keep it. Now, if I'm right this happened because of the new motherboard. My question is, can I get the computer to realize that this is the same old computer it used to be? Or anything not involving getting a new copy of XP?

If your uncle doesn't have a disk, the original key should be on a Microsoft sticker on the case of the computer somewhere.

You may have to call Microsoft as well. I did have success with this once in the past.

[loste juliana]

That reminds me, is changing a processor and graphics card enough to make Windows 7 authentication system throw a fit?

[Music Show]

That reminds me, is changing a processor and graphics card enough to make Windows 7 authentication system throw a fit?

Probably not.

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1145193-the-community-tech-thread-no-94/page__view__findpost__p__16773867

[Isaac Saetern]

If your uncle doesn't have a disk, the original key should be on a Microsoft sticker on the case of the computer somewhere.

You may have to call Microsoft as well. I did have success with this once in the past.

No sticker, unless its inside the computer. And as I said, he's not the type of person to keep stuff like the XP disc lol. it's an Emachine. or it was anyways. Well that svcks. I guess I'll have to bug my cousin Trey and ask him for an XP code. He found a 100 pack of XP in the trash lol. only like 10 copies were missing, from what I've heard. But I just hoped I wouldn't have to bug him... And I'm lazy

[lolly13]

No sticker, unless its inside the computer. And as I said, he's not the type of person to keep stuff like the XP disc lol. it's an Emachine. or it was anyways. Well that svcks. I guess I'll have to bug my cousin Trey and ask him for an XP code. He found a 100 pack of XP in the trash lol. only like 10 copies were missing, from what I've heard. But I just hoped I wouldn't have to bug him... And I'm lazy

If it's an emachine, call them. The machine was originally built with an "OEM" license, as such, it cannot be transferred to a new machine, but it can be validated on an updated machine.

I repeat, I've done this

[Nathan Hunter]

Can someone tell me, if streaming audio and/or video does the computer that is streaming the media perform the processing/acceleration or is it simply passing it on for the reciever to process.

[Your Mum]

Can someone tell me, if streaming audio and/or video does the computer that is streaming the media perform the processing/acceleration or is it simply passing it on for the reciever to process.

That depends.

If the server is sending an already encoded bitstream (for example if an encoded .avi file from the server's hard disk is to be streamed) then the server does no processing and only sends the data to the client who stores and/or decodes and displays it.

If the server is not sending an already encoded bitstream (for example if a live feed from a camera is to be streamed) then the server first has to create the bitstream which will be sent to the client so it has to encode the data prior to sending it to the client (who, again, stores and/or decodes and displays it).

Client-wise though, there is no difference between these two versions of streaming. Also, in both cases the server performs absolutely no decoding - it either sends an already encoded bitstream to the client or encodes a bitstream and sends it to the client.

[Ash]

That depends.

If the server is sending an already encoded bitstream (for example if an encoded .avi file from the server's hard disk is to be streamed) then the server does no processing and only sends the data to the client who stores and/or decodes and displays it.

If the server is not sending an already encoded bitstream (for example if a live feed from a camera is to be streamed) then the server first has to create the bitstream which will be sent to the client so it has to encode the data prior to sending it to the client (who, again, stores and/or decodes and displays it).

Client-wise though, there is no difference between these two versions of streaming. Also, in both cases the server performs absolutely no decoding - it either sends an already encoded bitstream to the client or encodes a bitstream and sends it to the client.

Thanks that was very helpful and interesting.

[Channing]

Is this the right place to ask for help with building a computer..? Because I need help...

Well found my answer..

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



1.) USD. Willing to spend $1,000-1,200
2. United States
3. Uh..pre-assumbled.. I think.
4. I don't need a monitor, speakers, mouse, nor keyboard. I'll need 2 HDD's though.
5.Intel. Product can't be made by MSI...terrible...

Not sure if that helps..

[Brian LeHury]

Hey, I'm trying to buy a new computer. Tig Ol Bitties you might remember that I had a $1500 budget last time I asked. It is down to 1300 now. Can any of you build me a good computer on cyberpower?

1. budget is 1300 usd
2. United states.
3. Pre-assembled.
4. I don't need anything but a computer.
5. I'd prefer a well known website such as cyberpower, buyxg, or newegg. This computer is going to be for gaming and I want it to be good now and upgradable in the future. I also want a chocolate chip cookie.

[Adrian Morales]

3. Uh..pre-assumbled.. I think.

3. Pre-assembled.

You guys make it no fun to help you :sadvaultboy:

[Laura Wilson]

Sorry, I don't understand 3.....

I can build one. (??)

[Pumpkin]

I'm planning on buying a third internal hard drive so I can dual boot windows 7 and XP on the same system. I'm going to get a Western Digital 500GB hard drive, but would I see a significant difference between getting the blue (16MB cache) vs the black (32MB cache)? I think my windows 7 install is on a western digital blue right now.