Search found 222 matches

by JoeWPgh
Wed Aug 26, 2009 4:42 pm
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Silverstone Sugo SG05 and SG06: Gaming mini-ITX cases?
Replies: 41
Views: 53609

I tried running it with a J&W Minix, and the front fan disconnected. I was running it off of a pico, with a single nexus 120 blowing down on the CPU and NB. It had a 2.5 and a 3.5 HDDs. This was the problem. Without the front fan, the front of the case gets absolutely no ventilation. In particular, ...
by JoeWPgh
Sat May 02, 2009 7:01 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: HTPC style case for many-drive system
Replies: 7
Views: 3478

From the pics of the LC10, the HDD arrangement looks just like the LC17. What I did was remove one cage and mount the drives in the other. From there, turn the cage sideways and place it on a piece of foam. Then lash it to the chassis with stretch magic or whatever you want to use. You'll be limited...
by JoeWPgh
Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:16 pm
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Seven - and now Eight Years of SPCR!
Replies: 78
Views: 88342

Give it time - and probably less than you think. You can now build a mini ITX that will play Blu-Ray off of a Pico PSU. On one hand, whoop dee do. On the other, had you predicted that 3 years ago, you would have been classified as stark raving mad. There are trends toward efficiency in both power re...
by JoeWPgh
Sat Mar 28, 2009 6:14 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: Mini-ITX Recommendation (needs hd playback)
Replies: 18
Views: 7553

The J&W Minix is a sweet little thang. I'm not an ITX guy, but the performance/features of this little board is astonishing.
by JoeWPgh
Sat Mar 28, 2009 6:00 pm
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: AMD's Maui HTPC Platform
Replies: 163
Views: 159204

After 2 RMA's and a fire, all I can say is that I wouldn't wish this board on Osama bin Laden - let alone my worst enemy. It's a great notion that in implementation is garbage from front to back. If it was designed by a primate, it was by one no higher in social development than a chimpanzee - and a...
by JoeWPgh
Tue Mar 10, 2009 9:56 pm
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: AMD's Maui HTPC Platform
Replies: 163
Views: 159204

A quick question for JayT - Are you the poster otherwise known as Java Jack?
by JoeWPgh
Thu Mar 05, 2009 9:33 pm
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: AMD's Maui HTPC Platform
Replies: 163
Views: 159204

This is the issue that kills the whole deal. As far as I could determine, the board does pass a 'protected signal' to any of these outputs, but only one. It would seem that the movers and shakers of the entertainment industry are terrified people will start lifting audio tracks from Dancing with the...
by JoeWPgh
Thu Mar 05, 2009 7:06 pm
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: AMD's Maui HTPC Platform
Replies: 163
Views: 159204

Croddie? You're missing the point. Self powered speakers are a great concept until you have to run 25' of decently shielded cable, or more, to reach them. I've been a very harsh critic of this platform. For music? You are way better off putting your cash into a system dedicated to that. This is not ...
by JoeWPgh
Thu Mar 05, 2009 6:50 pm
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: AMD's Maui HTPC Platform
Replies: 163
Views: 159204

(Where double-blind testing is useful is in telling us how good those measurements have to be to be audibly identical to a perfect amplifier.) It's been a while since I've followed DBT as applied to audio - Has there been one that has concluded there is an audible difference between any 2 pieces of...
by JoeWPgh
Wed Mar 04, 2009 1:10 pm
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: AMD's Maui HTPC Platform
Replies: 163
Views: 159204

A 9350e 65W Phenom
Other hardware:
Corsair HX520
Corsair 2x2GB DDR2 800
2) Avermedia PCIe combo tuners
WD 640 HDD
WD 1T Green
LG BD/HD DVD-ROM /DVD burner
Vista 64 Ultimate
Mats wrote:JoeWPgh: What CPU model did you use?
by JoeWPgh
Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:41 pm
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: AMD's Maui HTPC Platform
Replies: 163
Views: 159204

It did. I have no idea why. It was one of the tiny ICs between the CPU and the rear I/O panel. The machine went black, then crashed at the Windows desktop for a couple tries. Then I noticed a peculiar odor. A few seconds later, I saw flashes behind the case. I turned it off and opened the side panel...
by JoeWPgh
Tue Mar 03, 2009 11:58 pm
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: AMD's Maui HTPC Platform
Replies: 163
Views: 159204

Actually, I think MSI made claims to audiophile with this platform. Their stake to these claims are worth about $100. So, if you think you get audiophile for $100, you are the idiot MSI is looking for. Even disregarding the relative uselessness of DBT for audio applications (it's like testing a vacu...
by JoeWPgh
Tue Feb 17, 2009 7:31 pm
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: 10 Ways Microsoft's Retail Stores Will Differ From Apple
Replies: 23
Views: 7425

When exiting the store, you'll be required to enter your activation key without the aid of a magnifying glass, then spend 45 minutes on the phone with someone in India. They may or may not let you go.
by JoeWPgh
Fri Feb 13, 2009 6:11 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: MSI Live Diva (780M chipset)
Replies: 3
Views: 3860

Wow. That's a much larger heatsink on the NB than the one on my deceased board. My board was riddled with annoyances before it finally burst into flames. The amp card's bracket was mis-manufactured and did not sit right. For more annoying, were the capacitors that blocked the lower PCIe slot from us...
by JoeWPgh
Tue Feb 10, 2009 3:05 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Media PC build - feedback appreciated
Replies: 8
Views: 4069

Another downside for the Pico, at least in my case, is that the brick's fan spins up around 80 watts, as measured by a kill-a-watt. This doesn't happen all that often, but when it does, it's louder than any of my other 4 PSU fans.
by JoeWPgh
Tue Feb 10, 2009 11:56 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Media PC build - feedback appreciated
Replies: 8
Views: 4069

Two more questions: - Will the Pico PSU essentially leave a big hole in the back of the case where the power supply would be? Yes, unless you keep the case's unused PSU in place. You'll also need to drill a hole for the socket that receives the power brick's input. The Pico's lead for this is fairl...
by JoeWPgh
Sun Feb 08, 2009 8:03 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Media PC build - feedback appreciated
Replies: 8
Views: 4069

Re: Media PC build - feedback appreciated

You could probably get away with a Mini Ninja and still keep it passive. I played around with the WD 320 Black, and found it to feel no faster in everyday use than the 5400rpm WD 500 Blue. The 500 Blue is slower on spec and $20 more. But, if you're going to run this as a server off of a 120w Pico, I...
by JoeWPgh
Wed Jan 28, 2009 7:07 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Please help! New build won't boot/post - nothing!! Argh!
Replies: 11
Views: 4337

Try removing RAM. If you have 2 sticks, try running with one. If 4, try one or 2. If this solves it, you might have to use different RAM, or you might have a bad stick. This is an area of a build that can be more voodoo than science. I've had systems refuse to boot that were identical in every way t...
by JoeWPgh
Sat Jan 24, 2009 2:02 pm
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: HDD suspension: best elastic material?
Replies: 13
Views: 7455

How about shock cord, aka bungee cord or elastic cord? A lot of systems on the pics thread show bungee or elastic cords. I see that 1/8" diameter shock cord (used for tent poles) is at REI for about 15¢ per foot. And what about the longevity of clothing elastic? If it holds a knot, sure, why not? ...
by JoeWPgh
Sat Jan 24, 2009 12:41 pm
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: Just the opinion of one Englishman.
Replies: 25
Views: 7337

Well, at least we have those brave bible thumpers who will fight to the bitter end to stop gays from having abortions once and for all! They're a pretty insightful bunch. There would have been no GWB without them. And without GWB, we never would have known that black is white, up is down and torture...
by JoeWPgh
Sat Jan 24, 2009 5:03 am
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: HDD suspension: best elastic material?
Replies: 13
Views: 7455

Stretch Magic doesn't always hold a knot, so I don't trust it for an actual suspension. (For lashing something down over a block of foam, it's OK) Clothing elastic will not only hold a knot forever, the width and texture of it 'grabs' the HDD pretty effectively if you can get it looped around the dr...
by JoeWPgh
Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:28 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: AMD's Maui HTPC Platform
Replies: 163
Views: 159204

The 'improvement' in going from 2 channels to 5.1 (or more) has everything to do with the sound designer and his finished product. If it's merely a matter of gee whiz effects scattered throughout the room, then the advantage is dubious. If the sound design is well crafted, the effect makes a film mo...
by JoeWPgh
Tue Dec 23, 2008 6:01 am
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: Change NB/SB heatsink on MINIX 780G?
Replies: 2
Views: 2245

Re: Change NB/SB heatsink on MINIX 780G?

Will the base cover both chips? It looks a little on the small side to me. At the same time, I'm not sure if there's room on the MB for the base in the other direction. A top down CPU fan will help the stock heatsink. This is a great MB, but finding a case to handle silent cooling options is a bit o...
by JoeWPgh
Sun Dec 14, 2008 9:34 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Please review this HTPC system
Replies: 10
Views: 4599

You should check out the AVS HTPC forum http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=26 There are several ways you could go, depending on how much you want to spend, and how hard you plan to push the machine. For simple DVR work and Blu-Ray playback, a combination of an AMD 4580e CPU and 780g o...
by JoeWPgh
Sun Nov 30, 2008 2:30 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: GA-MA78GM-S2H 4850e HD problems
Replies: 12
Views: 6144

In Vista, right click 'computer', select properties. In that window, select 'performance' (though while you're there, take a look at your indexing options). 'Manage Start up Programs' will be at the top of the list. You'll be surprised how much garbage loads itself unseen in the tray.
by JoeWPgh
Sun Nov 30, 2008 12:37 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: GA-MA78GM-S2H 4850e HD problems
Replies: 12
Views: 6144

I would comb through what you have running at start up. I doubt it's your drives, CPU or GPU. I run a nearly identical setup without your issues. From what you describe, it seems like you have something running in background that's hogging resources. I don't know what you have installed on your mach...
by JoeWPgh
Sun Nov 30, 2008 12:05 pm
Forum: Networking
Topic: News on Windows Home Server
Replies: 94
Views: 152947

Maybe it's a bit beyond the scope of the article, but it would be really nice to know how well the power saving features work. Since it is supposed to be on 24/7 you would hope they worked very well. Especially when you consider that most of the time it's not doing anything. It runs it's backups at...
by JoeWPgh
Wed Nov 26, 2008 10:49 am
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: WD6400AAKS whining - normal or not?
Replies: 14
Views: 7185

my other issue is that i get this weird vibrating noise through out my case every once in a while. it too, is just sporadic. once it starts, it makes my case vibrate like hell. its quite annoying. i have to slap the front panel part to temporarily allieviate the vibration. though, that issue could ...
by JoeWPgh
Tue Nov 18, 2008 1:28 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: 1080P, RAID, PCI-E, low power: What mobo/cpu combo?
Replies: 21
Views: 9701

Since I can play Blu-Ray from disc, I'm guessing HDCP is working, too. Doesn't have to...if HDCP isn't working the video-stream is downgraded to 720P. But probably it works. Not necessarily. I've just had a couple 780g boards 'lose' their HDCP. Blu-Ray playback was blocked, not down-ressed by both ...