Search found 48 matches

by Davinator
Wed Aug 03, 2011 7:47 am
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: Internet Explorer 6 users have low IQs, study says
Replies: 14
Views: 9346

Re: Internet Explorer 6 users have low IQs, study says

This "story" is now reported as a hoax.

Per BBC:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14389430

Dave
by Davinator
Mon Jul 04, 2011 10:41 am
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: External HDD enclosures
Replies: 11
Views: 7559

Re: External HDD enclosures

My opinion hasn't changed from holding off on eSata and waiting for USB3. Now that I've seen USB3 external enclosures in use, some of which don't even require a power cable when used with notebook (2.5" or smaller) HDDs or SSDs, I think more than ever the best answer for high-speed external enclosur...
by Davinator
Wed Aug 18, 2010 10:21 am
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: External HDD enclosures
Replies: 11
Views: 7559

I've tried a Sabrent and a Rosewill, two models from each with USB2.0 and eSATA. All four had problems with Windows properly detecting and detatching the eSATA drive. It worked sometimes, but not others. This made the faster data rates not worth it, so I use them with USB2.0. My plans are to try USB...
by Davinator
Wed May 27, 2009 4:42 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: eSATA / AHCI Question
Replies: 11
Views: 5368

I'm amazed there's such a variety of experiences with eSATA. I had thought before it would be as consistent as USB. Thank you all for your situtations and suggestions. My drives will be internal SATA drives, so I won't have the SCSI issue mentioned. I am going to try the F6 install for AHCI just to ...
by Davinator
Tue May 26, 2009 12:12 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: eSATA / AHCI Question
Replies: 11
Views: 5368

Im,

I do have the floppy ready, having extracted the files from the latest Intel file online, so I guess F6 is the way to go.

Is it still the accepted point of view that choosing RAID over AHCI in the BIOS is the way to go even if I'm not going to build an array?

Dave
by Davinator
Tue May 26, 2009 12:09 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: eSATA / AHCI Question
Replies: 11
Views: 5368

DaveLessnau: I had no idea eSATA gave you a "disconnect hardware" icon like USB as I never saw it in action before, but I'm glad to hear it's similar, though disappointed to hear an opinion it doesn't work as smooth as USB does for me. For clarity, as I jumped around a bit in my post, it's an actual...
by Davinator
Tue May 26, 2009 10:57 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: eSATA / AHCI Question
Replies: 11
Views: 5368

eSATA / AHCI Question

I am putting together a new computer this week and have been planning to give eSATA a try for an external HD for backup storage given the speed advantage it has over USB 2.0. I've read enough to have considered not trying the F6 method of installing AHCI drivers during the Windows XP install (the mo...
by Davinator
Fri Sep 05, 2008 3:47 pm
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: Dual monitors where one is widescreen
Replies: 7
Views: 3598

I use a 24" widescreen at 1920 x 1200 as my primary and a 21" 4:3 screen at 1600 x 1200 for my secondary. The monitors are the Samsung 244T (24") and the Samsung 213T (21"). They are beautiful to work on. If you are considering larger sizes, I think you'd love the combination. Each has a DVI and VGA...
by Davinator
Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:35 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: IDF Fall 2008: Through the Silent Glass
Replies: 32
Views: 30889

Excellent! I didn't want to pressure an article or review, but since I feel you've been successful getting the message across that the quiet effort starts with selecting quiet components instead of struggling to silence a noisemaker, it seems that low power CPUs and the SSD make for the near-term re...
by Davinator
Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:55 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: IDF Fall 2008: Through the Silent Glass
Replies: 32
Views: 30889

With that thermal comment in mind, Mike, do you think we are close to having the ability to build a small desktop PC for everyday use that is finally without fans or moving disks? I was encouraged to feel this is close after reading your article, but for the mention that while the CPU on the one boa...
by Davinator
Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:02 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: IDF Fall 2008: Through the Silent Glass
Replies: 32
Views: 30889

That's what I was thinking. There have been some comments on these boards that SSDs do produce heat that isn't negligible, so I'd think we'd now easily go back to hard mounting them to metal frames for more efficient heat transfer since vibration and noise are not an issue.
by Davinator
Wed Aug 27, 2008 7:38 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: IDF Fall 2008: Through the Silent Glass
Replies: 32
Views: 30889

Why bother making the drive hard mount when you can easily suspend any size drive? I don't care if next month they decide to start selling 2.9782" drives or 3.159123" drives. They'll still fit in my suspension methods. Wait, you weren't suggesting you would still suspend an SSD, were you? Doesn't t...
by Davinator
Sun Aug 24, 2008 4:05 pm
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: Is there a good instant decaf coffee?
Replies: 26
Views: 10925

CallMeJoe: Re: Davinator's informative spiel on coffee marketing in the U.S., even Maxwell House has switched to Arabica beans, and a variety of roasts. I still dislike Starbucks' tendency to scorch their beans. They may start with quality beans, but they still manage to brew an obnoxious cup. Yes, ...
by Davinator
Mon Aug 11, 2008 8:41 am
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: Is there a good instant decaf coffee?
Replies: 26
Views: 10925

Aristide: I've only ever had iced coffee a few times, but prepared as one serving only. I'm not sure if chilled coffee would hold up with regard to taste the way iced tea stays tasty in the fridge. Coffee may just come down to needing to be fresh in order to be good. Those frappes you linked _do_ lo...
by Davinator
Sun Aug 10, 2008 12:35 pm
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: Is there a good instant decaf coffee?
Replies: 26
Views: 10925

aristide: There is a Modern Marvels episode on coffee that notes 80% of the coffee consumed worldwide is instant, it's only a lingering US sentiment that instant is no good, principally because for decades into the late 20th century poor-quality coffee was used. Younger people don't have this impres...
by Davinator
Tue Jul 08, 2008 1:21 pm
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: Is it possible to change AAM on a HDD connected through USB?
Replies: 10
Views: 3997

I'm sorry, I missed that sad news. I feel bad. I didn't know the man personally, but I already feel a loss at all the threads not yet spun.
by Davinator
Tue Jul 08, 2008 10:21 am
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: Is it possible to change AAM on a HDD connected through USB?
Replies: 10
Views: 3997

AuraAllan, did Felger leave the forums? (RIP?)

- Dave
by Davinator
Sun Dec 30, 2007 3:44 pm
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: Explain this dinosaur....Al Gore.
Replies: 93
Views: 35951

If you have access to _old_ copies of science magazines from the 70s, 80s, or early 90s (such as Scientific American) you actually _can_ find graphs produced from the old ice cores regarding temperatures and CO2, but while they show global temps and CO2 are linked, they clearly show rising CO2 level...
by Davinator
Wed Dec 12, 2007 5:49 pm
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: Two 'arcane' questions
Replies: 5
Views: 2993

I can answer the second question. The CD audio cable was used for CD drives that did not support digital sound through the IDE cable. It wasn't long before optical drives were able to do that, so the cable became un-necessary. You can check by disconnecting the cable from your board or card and tryi...
by Davinator
Sun Dec 09, 2007 5:51 pm
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Sparkle Power SPI220LE 80 Plus FlexATX PSU
Replies: 26
Views: 23268

Damn it! Sorry about the stupid question. I installed a new browser version and my links don't show up in alternate shades yet. (You'd think that'd be a default setting, wouldn't you?) If this is mounted on the back of the wood case, will it likely stay cool enough (not being in the GPU or CPU airfl...
by Davinator
Sun Dec 09, 2007 2:12 pm
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Sparkle Power SPI220LE 80 Plus FlexATX PSU
Replies: 26
Views: 23268

Bluefront, where'd you find a vendor for the Sparkle? I'm only coming up with one place at eBay.
by Davinator
Fri Dec 07, 2007 9:18 am
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Damping Supplies in Canada
Replies: 6
Views: 4202

Forgive me for a personal deviation but I'm curious that you mentioned Home Depot. Do you have Home Depots in Canada or do you live close to the border? Do US companies do well in Canada when surely you've got home-grown companies in the same field as Home Depot that compete? I personally use Acoust...
by Davinator
Thu Dec 06, 2007 11:23 am
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: Amtrak two, cell-phones zero.
Replies: 13
Views: 5663

Damn it! Felger Carbon took my natural selection reference.

And here I've been bemoaning Amtrak as the perfect example of what happens when the gov't socializes an industry and they go and get something done.
by Davinator
Fri Nov 09, 2007 9:36 am
Forum: SPCR Article Discussion
Topic: Zalman VF1000 LED Graphics Card Cooler
Replies: 32
Views: 30504

MikeC wrote:reminds me of "Dune" days way back in the 90s.
Ahh, Mike, you had to bring up Dune! This reminded me I have the latest book "Hunters of Dune" sitting here on my desk ready to consume several nights of late reading. One of the few stories that spans several decades.

- Dave
by Davinator
Mon Nov 05, 2007 8:25 pm
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: Cost of storing stuff on top of the refrigerator?
Replies: 3
Views: 4416

I once pulled my fridge out to get at something that fell down back there, was bothered by how dust-laden the coils had gotten. After pulling the fridge out further, I vacuumed them. Through the next few days I noticed things were freezing inside, so after a couple years of turning up the adjustment...
by Davinator
Mon Nov 05, 2007 12:05 pm
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: Cell Phone Jammer.....
Replies: 68
Views: 29232

They do have more sophisticated wireless jamming devices that don't just spit out a signal of higher amplitude in those bands, but are digital and specific to the call signals instead, and allow for the passage of any call to 911. Naturally, they are far more expensive. Can't imagine they are legal ...
by Davinator
Mon Nov 05, 2007 9:25 am
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: Cell Phone Jammer.....
Replies: 68
Views: 29232

Jeez! Just as I'm hoping those new cheap Intel boards w/ Celeron (GLY2) will be in stock soon in the US you go dangling these toys in a post!

Cracks me up as well the way people think the world won't get by without cell phones.
by Davinator
Sat Oct 20, 2007 8:48 am
Forum: General Gallery
Topic: Got my new monitor, it's a BEAST! *56K WARNING*
Replies: 31
Views: 33967

Is that the Maha MH-C401FS charger on your shredder? I love that model. Best charger I've ever owned.

Great job on the photographs. Really make that monitor look fantastic.
by Davinator
Sat Oct 20, 2007 8:22 am
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: Bluefront: Texas man shoots intruder after parrot's warning
Replies: 39
Views: 16116

Oh, that's even better than the bird dancing to Backstreet Boys! Hopefully, the guy gave that bird a special treat that day!
by Davinator
Fri Oct 19, 2007 2:23 pm
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: Singing dancing cockatoo! (one for Bluefront)
Replies: 2
Views: 2340

That's pretty funny, thanks for sharing!

It made me think that's about as close an interaction to human music I've ever seen from another species. Never saw a dog or cat responding to a song in such a way. Seems far more sophisticated than Pavlov's dogs.