Author Topic: The Computer Megathread  (Read 490026 times)

I think my GPU that I got last April may be failing already, I saw dead pixils on the screen when I started up. I've lowered my graphics settings to put less strain on it, but is there anything else I could do?

edit:

It's an EVGA GeForce GTS 450 if that helps.
« Last Edit: December 10, 2011, 12:40:29 PM by otto-san »

When people have clearance issues with the Noctua its because they're going vertical instead of horizontal right?
Both. It's quite big, and some cheaply made motherboards have northbridge heatsinks that get in the way, and some RAM heat spreaders get in the way as well. Although it is elevated so any motherboard manufacturer with the slightest brains should be fine.

Whats better? More Cores or faster clock speed?

And Ethan, how many custom built computers do you have in your house.
Well, to be honest, neither.
Architecture is key. My laptop has a 2.1GHz dual core, newest architecture Sandy Bridge.
One of my desktops has a 3GHz quad core Phenom first gen. Terrible architecture.
The Sandy Bridge blows it away, even though they aren't that far apart in architecture. Hell, it even blows a Phenom II (second generation) away. Yes, it does have hyperthreading (2 physical cores, 4 logical cores) but still, it's not as good as having the real deal.

Also, http://forum.blockland.us/index.php?topic=175043.msg4504819#msg4504819
That will show all my custom builds.

Couple things to note from there:
Since then I have gotten a laptop. Basic specs of the laptop:

Intel Core i3-2310m, quad core (not really but it likes to think it is :D) 2.1GHz
AMD HD6770m 1GB
6GB RAM

Also, since then, system 5 has been reformatted and Windows 7 Ultimate has been installed. It runs it perfectly, which was a surprise.

Well, my dad ordered the Dell laptop. Even after all of my convincing.
Can't tell some people.
My father knows that I'm quite knowledgeable in the area of computers. Yet, he went and bought a laptop behind my back from some small town computer shop.
It has an old Intel Celeron dual core at about 1.X GHz, and has Intel HD graphics (not the good SB ones, the older ones).
It cost him $1200.

When he told me, I was quite angry. I got my laptop for $1000, plus it came with a free $200 camera! Look up in the post to find the specs, and how it totally stomps his.

I was disappointed. He went in to some small town computer shop, and the guy there said it was the best of the best these days. And he also sold him some really bad antivirus for like $100.

This was his first computer. He got an email attachment through that had a link to a page that required flash player. He clicked on it, and was confused. Instead of just calling me and asking, he somehow managed to buy $70 worth of... uh... what's that software called where it advertises that you have problems with your computer in an advert, and you must fix them now as they are all really bad, and it somehow knows all this in a picture on a webpage? Lol.

Oh well. Some people.

Rainmeter?
Yes. Thanks.

I think my GPU that I got last April may be failing already, I saw dead pixils on the screen when I started up. I've lowered my graphics settings to put less strain on it, but is there anything else I could do?

edit:

It's an EVGA GeForce GTS 450 if that helps.
Dead pixels is your monitor.
A dying GPU will give artifacts.
http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/6000/restartyartefakty.png
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/594/artifactsi.jpg

Or something even as simple as a color change artifact or a colorful sprite in a game:
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/5750/quake4greenai6.jpg

I can't find a picture of a particular artifact, but if you overclock your GPU too far and play games, especially source games, then you'll see some small areas of textures have become fluorescent colors, almost as if lit up with a colored light. I almost want to OC my GPU too far just to show you, lol.

Ok ive got a quick question. I plan on buying this motherboard:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157265

I also plan on getting another GTX 570 and putting it in SLI with the one I have now. Newegg says that this allows for quad sli. Would this also allow for regular SLI?

Ok ive got a quick question. I plan on buying this motherboard:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157265

I also plan on getting another GTX 570 and putting it in SLI with the one I have now. Newegg says that this allows for quad sli. Would this also allow for regular SLI?
Yes. I can't see it supporting quad SLI though as it only has 3 slots, not 4.

However, if you are going to get that board, get this instead:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

It too will support your 2-way SLI, but it has a better chipset and is cheaper. The Z68 chipset fixed issues with the P67 and also added support for Intel SRT technology.

Just make sure that now you're getting these boards that your CPU is a LGA 1155 (Sandy Bridge) CPU.

Yes. I can't see it supporting quad SLI though as it only has 3 slots, not 4.

However, if you are going to get that board, get this instead:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

It too will support your 2-way SLI, but it has a better chipset and is cheaper. The Z68 chipset fixed issues with the P67 and also added support for Intel SRT technology.

Just make sure that now you're getting these boards that your CPU is a LGA 1155 (Sandy Bridge) CPU.


Im decently sure that Quad SLI only needs two slots. What you're thinking of is 4-way sli.

Anyways, Ill look into that motherboard. Ive been searching Newegg for the past 2 months looking for a motherboard for the i5 2500k I plan on buying. Can't believe I overlooked that one.


Im decently sure that Quad SLI only needs two slots. What you're thinking of is 4-way sli.

Anyways, Ill look into that motherboard. Ive been searching Newegg for the past 2 months looking for a motherboard for the i5 2500k I plan on buying. Can't believe I overlooked that one.
Yeah, if you buy dual GPU cards. But if you were doing that you'd get a more quality mobo.

Hmm, monitor drivers perhaps? Seems odd.

I've never had to have drivers for it before.

For those of you looking for a good $150 Z68 motherboard, I really recommend this one:


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128512


Really good motherboard. Have this in my current build with an i5-2500K and a 6870 and it works great.


Ugh, that's fake AV. He bought a virus actually lol.



My dad kept saying the Phenom II x6 1100T was better than the i5-2500K> I finally convinced him. However, I'll have to wait until Christmas to get my CPU Cooler.
« Last Edit: December 10, 2011, 03:59:07 PM by HerpaDerp »



-snip-
So like, random magenta lines going all over my screen with startup repair would be my monitor?

I meant artifacts, not dead pixils.
« Last Edit: December 10, 2011, 05:05:51 PM by otto-san »

So like, random magenta lines going all over my screen with startup repair would be my monitor?

I meant artifacts, not dead pixils.
Hmm.
Sometimes it isn't, but most of the time it is.


Sonofaforget thats alot of systems. Where you get money? You have a JOB or something?

Also so pretty much Better Architecture > Clock speed / Multiple cores ?

I have a question, my laptop has been experiencing some problems. I don't know if it is my charger or laptop though. I plug in my charger, it works perfectly fine. Then 3 lights on my laptop start flashing (The power button, then there are two lights at the edge of my laptop, it's like a battery and a flashlight. usually they don't flash. But when they do, my computer stops charging. Is it my laptop or is it like because my power cord has a short in it?