Computer buffs??

[SilverStrike]

Originally posted by redsnake99
Beware of that Everquest nightmare. It has sucked in and ruined many a young person's life. Getting hooked on that one is worse than crack. Many a parent is ready to sue!

Crack rock indeed. I've played it several times, and it can be VERY easy to get too caught up in. I've even heard rumors of people who were so obsessed with their Everquest character, they took their own life when their character was killed.

Of course, an unstable mind can get wrapped too tightly around anything there days, and I can think of much worse habits to get a taste for..

Overclocking is very much like (if not exactly like) modifying an OEM engine. Done properly and in small amounts, along with the appropriate countermeasures, it can be safe.

It's the overclocking freaks out there with liquid-cooled processors, 20 fans, and heatsinks on every componenet that are pushing it..

If you guys ever want to get more info on this type of thing, browse some of these sites.

www.overclockers.com (excellent forums)
www.exoticpc.com
www.xoxide.com
www.zxmods.com
http://active-hardware.com
www.hothardware.com

[SilverStrike]

[Ken 01-Cobra]

Originally posted by STU
Thanks Ken, I don't play any games, music, etc. on the computer.

I only do email, message boards, web pages, appliance parts look up programs I have stored on my hard drive and business needs. This still does everything I need. I only added the cd burner to have a better media to store digital pictures on.

Before I upgraded I checked into getting a new tower. After I loaded it with all the best new stuff I was around $3,000 from dell (with out moniter or printer). That's why I went the route I did.

Yeah, that is why I went the HP route. All the latest and greatest toys, DVD-RW, CD-RW, 1 gig RAM, 2.8 GHz chip, with monitor and 3 year warranty for >$2500 AND $200 in rebates, making system cost >$2300. Oh yeah, and 1 year same as cash.

Bottom line is as long as the computer does the job you wish it to do, it is useful and doesn't need to be upgraded. As soon as you find yourself wishing you could do X, it is time to look at a new box.

[Ken 01-Cobra]

Heh...if you used that case, you better HOPE you never spring a leak!!!

[Ken 01-Cobra]

Originally posted by Latham99

Overclocking is very much like (if not exactly like) modifying an OEM engine. Done properly and in small amounts, along with the appropriate countermeasures, it can be safe.

I think a better analogy might be raising the rev limiter on an otherwise stock engine. Lets say to 7500 RPM on our mod 4.6L's. You might be able to get away with it. Some engines might allow you to do it forever with no complaints, but others are going to blow very quickly.

The issues here are in the manufacturing of the silicon wafers and any faults or inconsistencies in that chip. Overclocking tends to exploit the natural weakness on these faults through heat build up. You CAN add numerous, noisy fans to try to get around this, but to me that is more intrusive a solution than I am willing to go for a few clock cycles. Or, you can buy one of those insane water cooled cases that look cool, and spend more money for the case than the upgrade to the next chip would have cost you.

[Hunter26]

I am one of those water cooled freaks Overclocking is a delicate art and when done right will last just as long as a regular processor. I have a P3-700 running at 933 MHz for the last 2 1/2 years 24/7 without a single problem. My main rig is water cooled, Athlon XP 1.4GHz running at 1930MHz 24/7 for the last 8 months without a single hiccup that I haven't caused (wouldn't run 2 GHz ) I have been overclocking since I built my first computer without a major problem. And the small problems that did occur were ones I caused. A lot of people will talk negatively about overclocking becuase either they did it once and screwed up or haven't tried it all and have only read about the screw ups. No offense to anyone. Just thought I would share my 2 cents.

Btw, you are gonna have a lot of fun with your new computer

[flynfink]

I am a computer pro. been working with them since we used tape, 8", 5 1/4 and 3 1/2 floppies, hollerith cards (anyone else old enought to remember that?)...

But if I ever need a watercooled, sixteen fan case for my processor,,,, shoot me....LOL

[Hunter26]

My computer is dead silent with 4 fans

[Ken 01-Cobra]

Originally posted by flynfink


I am a computer pro. been working with them since we used tape, 8", 5 1/4 and 3 1/2 floppies, hollerith cards (anyone else old enought to remember that?)...

But if I ever need a watercooled, sixteen fan case for my processor,,,, shoot me....LOL

Heh...yeah. I have been doing computer stuff since 1973 where 1600 bpi tapes were state of the art storage. Did you ever use paper tape?

Hunter, if ya want to overclock, that is fine with me. It ain't my dime. But, as you say, there IS a fine line there, and MOST people aren't educated enough to stay on the sane side of the line. I'll just get a faster chip when they are built to run that speed and leave the trial and error to someone with the patience to work it out. TO ME, the extra time, effort, money, and possible problems just are not worth the few extra cycles you can squeeze out of a chip.

[Ken 01-Cobra]

Originally posted by Hunter26
My computer is dead silent with 4 fans

Well, it must be UNDER your desk instead of ON it then. Mine has three fans and it is noisy as heck...especially when you're trying to concentrate on a particularly sticky code issue!

[Hunter26]

My computer is under my desk, but you have to stick your face up to it to actually hear it and even then you can only hear the water pump's faint hum

If you want to quiet down your computer, open it up (if you feel safe doing that) and spray all the dust out with canned air. Probably your fans are clogged with dust and it's making them louder.

[SilverStrike]

There are also fans available, that are engineered to run quieter. The Vantec Stealth series are well regarded, and their 80mm is rated at 21 dba. That's a sharp contrast compared to other 80mm fans that can run as loud as 45dba..

They also offer PSU units that don't make alot of racket. Fortron makes the SilenX series PSU's, which run around 14dba.

My brother-in-law had a dual processor system he built, with 5 fans ranging from 80mm to 120mm. When you booted that thing, it sounded like a jet's turbine engine coming to life!

In all, ambient noise doesn't bother me much when I'm working. I've got an old Synoptics fan-cooled 16-port hub sitting on my desk at work. It's maybe 2 feet away from my face, and I rarely even notice the noise.

[Hunter26]

Also might wanna check out Panaflo fans. They are very good too. That's all I have in my case.

[flynfink]

OK computer buffs. I just upgraded my router/switch at home to a wireless one for my notebook.

I have for sale the 4 port router (will work with DSL or cable modem) that I replaced --- cheap----. It's a Sohoware nbg800 and it's got the latest firmware. Has built-in firewall if you want to use it (and you should).

Is complete in excellent shape.

$25. and I'll ship it (or local maybe even deliver and install)

[SilverStrike]

Stick it in the Forsale section. I'm sure someone will pick it up.