Search found 317 matches

by shunx
Sun Jul 28, 2013 10:32 pm
Forum: Networking
Topic: looking for a wi-fi adapter for Ubuntu and Windows
Replies: 2
Views: 10674

looking for a wi-fi adapter for Ubuntu and Windows

Just a couple criteria: - proven stable drivers (preferably plug and play) in both Ubuntu and Windows 8 - available locally: http://www.shopbot.ca/wireless-network-cards/networking/canada/126 Any ideas? I have an Asus USB-N13 that Ubuntu recognizes upon plugging in, but it fails to form a usable con...
by shunx
Sun Jul 28, 2013 3:49 pm
Forum: CPU Cooling
Topic: different fan for a Hyper 212 Evo?
Replies: 1
Views: 2572

different fan for a Hyper 212 Evo?

The stock fan included with the Hyper 212 Evo makes a clicky sound and I wish to swap it. Can anyone recommend the quietest fan they can think of for this heatsink, and any accessories needed to mount it? Thanks.
by shunx
Sun Jul 28, 2013 4:35 am
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Cooler Master Silent Pro M2 620W - louder than expected
Replies: 2
Views: 3713

Cooler Master Silent Pro M2 620W - louder than expected

I purchased this model after reading SPCR's review of the 720w model. Upon powering up my new build for the first time, it sounded significantly louder than one might assume from the review. Subjectively, it sounded louder than the new Acer pre-built small form factor desktop I tried a few days ago....
by shunx
Fri Jul 26, 2013 12:40 pm
Forum: Power Supplies
Topic: Seasonics PSUs buzzing/whinning alternative brand advice?
Replies: 8
Views: 6081

Re: Seasonics PSUs buzzing/whinning alternative brand advice

I'm now quite suspicious of Seasonic because of these posts. Is the Corsair AX series just re-badged Seasonic?
by shunx
Thu Jul 25, 2013 6:11 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: recommend a low-power build for bedroom
Replies: 12
Views: 16439

Re: recommend a low-power build for bedroom

Ah, the bits of missing information that completely changes the usage model :) Before we go further, - are the spreadsheets pretty basic or massive, multilinked database kinda things? - what are the other PC apps? (eg: "I like to transcode video as fast as possible" needs a lot more horsepower than...
by shunx
Thu Jul 25, 2013 1:58 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: recommend a low-power build for bedroom
Replies: 12
Views: 16439

Re: recommend a low-power build for bedroom

If you are set on a PC, and you want it passive and the least moving parts possible, then i would build around HDPLEX H3, SPCR did a review on it worth a look, HDPLEX H3.SODD Fanless Mini-ITX HTPC Case , any ivy Bridge celeron like 1610 should be more than enough for what you are looking for, the H...
by shunx
Thu Jul 25, 2013 1:50 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: recommend a low-power build for bedroom
Replies: 12
Views: 16439

Re: recommend a low-power build for bedroom

Maybe the answer isn't building a PC. Why not just use your smartphone or iPod to drive your powered speakers or A/V receiver for music and get a Chromebook for browsing? Lowest power solution, noisefree, and pretty cheap. Same questions as everyone else has and why does it need to stay on all of t...
by shunx
Wed Jul 24, 2013 5:13 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: recommend a low-power build for bedroom
Replies: 12
Views: 16439

recommend a low-power build for bedroom

I'd like to put together a simple low-power PC for the bedroom which will stay on and be able to play music and browsing at anytime. Should be practically inaudible from several feet away. As few moving parts as possible, fanless whenever possible. Suggestions for CPU, HSF, motherboard with built-in...
by shunx
Fri Dec 07, 2012 9:41 am
Forum: Networking
Topic: lost connection with too many switches?
Replies: 3
Views: 5535

Re: lost connection with too many switches?

Thanks for the replies. They lost connectivity to the internet. The DHCP range is large enough to accommodate the number of devices I have. I may have fixed it: I noticed that the new computer (PC2 in my diagram) crashed and the OS became unstable and unusable. That computer has been having problems...
by shunx
Thu Dec 06, 2012 8:50 am
Forum: Networking
Topic: lost connection with too many switches?
Replies: 3
Views: 5535

lost connection with too many switches?

After a new computer was installed, the LAN started to lose connection. The LAN configuration was as follows: modem gateway -> switch1 -> switch2 -> PC1 (working) After the new PC was installed, the LAN looked like this: modem gateway-> switch1 -> switch2 -> PC1 and PC2 (lost connection) When I took...
by shunx
Tue Nov 06, 2012 4:21 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: does your motherboard support Secure Boot (Windows 8)?
Replies: 5
Views: 4233

Re: does your motherboard support Secure Boot (Windows 8)?

rootkits run in the background, are potentially undetectable once infected, and could steal sensitive information without user knowledge. Secure boot is meant to mitigate against this. I don't see why anyone who has sensitive information would object to this, when secure boot can be simply turned off.
by shunx
Mon Oct 29, 2012 5:15 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: does your motherboard support Secure Boot (Windows 8)?
Replies: 5
Views: 4233

does your motherboard support Secure Boot (Windows 8)?

If you don't have Windows 8, you can check by the upgrade advisor: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/upgrade-to-windows-8 If you are running Windows 8, you can check Secure Boot by the following: 1) Start -> PowerShell 2) Run as Administrator 3) Type “confirm-SecureBootUEFI” if it returns...
by shunx
Mon Oct 22, 2012 1:19 pm
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: anyone records TV programs on a PC?
Replies: 10
Views: 6833

Re: anyone records TV programs on a PC?

Thanks, I appreciate the help! Just cancelled our basic cable while I try to bring myself up to date with 21st century technology. Been paying the cable company way too much.
by shunx
Mon Oct 22, 2012 7:09 am
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: anyone records TV programs on a PC?
Replies: 10
Views: 6833

Re: anyone records TV programs on a PC?

Thanks, so for digital my best bet would probably be a cable box that changes programs so I won't need an IR blaster. I assume that no subtitles can be recorded?
by shunx
Sat Oct 20, 2012 7:40 am
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: anyone records TV programs on a PC?
Replies: 10
Views: 6833

Re: anyone records TV programs on a PC?

Well, I'm currently running two PCs as DVRs. They both run Windows Media Center, one has a ceton tuner card with a cable card in it, so I can get encrypted movie channels and such. I have a couple of silicondust network tuners that just get clearQAM stations off of the cable line. I used to have a ...
by shunx
Sat Oct 20, 2012 7:19 am
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: Why do people have friends?
Replies: 7
Views: 4363

Re: Why do people have friends?

Why do people have fun or hobbies, when it all seems like a waste of time?
by shunx
Fri Oct 19, 2012 1:24 pm
Forum: Video Cards & Monitors
Topic: videocards that can do 4 monitors?
Replies: 4
Views: 3402

Re: videocards that can do 4 monitors?

I was under the impression that brand-name models don't have separate IGP video ports in addition to discrete graphics ports, but I could be mistaken. Could you please name some model names if this isn't the case. As suggested I was looking for a pre-built solution. One issue could be the PSU though...
by shunx
Fri Oct 19, 2012 12:05 pm
Forum: Video Cards & Monitors
Topic: videocards that can do 4 monitors?
Replies: 4
Views: 3402

videocards that can do 4 monitors?

I feel like getting a brand-name computer for an easy upgrade, but those computers usually have just one PCI-Express x16 slot. I happen to use 4 monitors (DVI and HDMI only, no DP). Does anyone know of single cards that can do this? The following says the GTX 680 can do it: read http://www.guru3d.co...
by shunx
Fri Oct 19, 2012 11:53 am
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: anyone records TV programs on a PC?
Replies: 10
Views: 6833

Re: anyone records TV programs on a PC?

Yeah, I am looking to archive, eg financial news. Using PC as a PVR is probably an esoteric thing to do, but I've gotten used to it, even if it's just SDTV.
by shunx
Fri Oct 19, 2012 10:19 am
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: anyone records TV programs on a PC?
Replies: 10
Views: 6833

anyone records TV programs on a PC?

How exactly are you doing this, which TV tuner and software program do you use? Right now I use an old TV tuner card with a hardware encoder that records analog TV channels as .mpg files to the PC. I use a free software but outdated called GB-PVR. It's simple and it just works in the background with...
by shunx
Fri Oct 19, 2012 10:02 am
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: SSD hardware encryption?
Replies: 8
Views: 6368

Re: SSD hardware encryption?

Thanks -- how do we determine if a motherboard supports this password system, is there a name for this specification?

Also, is this the same thing as "self encrypting drives"?
by shunx
Fri Oct 19, 2012 5:24 am
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: SSD hardware encryption?
Replies: 8
Views: 6368

Re: SSD hardware encryption?

According the following video, Intel's drives requires you to set two passwords in the BIOS, a master password and a drive password: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DV5zuDF6MIw#t=2m42s

The video isn't very clear on which models support this feature though.
by shunx
Fri Oct 19, 2012 5:16 am
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: Windows 8: what do you think about it?
Replies: 87
Views: 93337

Re: Windows 8: what do you think about it?

While I wouldn't use it on a desktop, I've actually switched to Windows 8 for my home server, as the "Storage Spaces" let me do proper drive pooling, just like good old Windows Home Server v1. Some users have complained about potential problems with the new Storage Spaces feature: http://social.tec...
by shunx
Fri Oct 19, 2012 4:56 am
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: SSD hardware encryption?
Replies: 8
Views: 6368

SSD hardware encryption?

Apparently some Intel SSDs can encrypt data in hardware so that you don't have to use software like TrueCrypt. Does anyone know which SSDs and motherboards can support this feature?
by shunx
Thu Oct 18, 2012 8:27 am
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: Windows 8: what do you think about it?
Replies: 87
Views: 93337

Windows 8: what do you think about it?

If you were building a new computer, would you get Windows 7 or 8, and why?
by shunx
Thu Oct 18, 2012 8:22 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: how noisy are typical commercial desktop systems?
Replies: 6
Views: 3490

Re: how noisy are typical commercial desktop systems?

edh wrote:A major downside is lack of upgradability. Things are built to a price and obscure form factors and bespoke components are common. Don't expect to just whack in another ATX motherboard or PSU when the time comes.
Do the PSUs usually have different connectors?
by shunx
Thu Oct 18, 2012 6:39 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: how noisy are typical commercial desktop systems?
Replies: 6
Views: 3490

how noisy are typical commercial desktop systems?

I think getting one can be cheaper than building a computer myself. I save the time too.
by shunx
Sun Oct 07, 2012 1:58 am
Forum: CPU Cooling
Topic: Intel stock coolers: are they quiet?
Replies: 7
Views: 12199

Intel stock coolers: are they quiet?

eg the coolers for i7s and i5s.
by shunx
Tue Oct 02, 2012 2:39 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: need a upgrade for video playback
Replies: 11
Views: 4565

Re: need a upgrade for video playback

That's an interesting tip. I googled this and found the following about M57SLI, the board: "Most AM2 Motherboards Not Phenom Ready... we weren't able to run it [Gigabyte GA-M57SLI-S4] with the Phenom processor - despite official BIOS support. The pre-production motherboard revision 0.2 could be the...
by shunx
Tue Oct 02, 2012 2:35 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: need a upgrade for video playback
Replies: 11
Views: 4565

Re: need a upgrade for video playback

The motherboard is AM2 based, which is too old. I'm learning toward getting a new prebuilt PC for them. If you upgrade the bios, the board could support a new processor, i.e. Phenom X3 or Athlon II. Add 4GB of ram and productivity apps should run smoothly. A new processor could even resolve playbac...