What Have You Done Today - (Computer Version)

[djinline]

But which fans do I go for? I've tried researching but I can't find any solid recommendations.

Check the sizes, CFM and prices for these: Bitfenix Spectre (not sure to install horizontally) and Spectre Pro (not sure to install horizontally), Scythe Gentle Typhoon (can be installed horizontally), Slip Stream (not recommended to install horizontally) and Glide Stream (not sure to install horizontally), Coolink SWiF2 (not sure to install horizontally), SilenX Effizio (can be installed horizontally). EDIT: Also see; Antec TrueQuiet Pro (not sure to install horizontally), Silverstone Air Penetrator AP121 (not sure to install horizontally) and AP123 (not sure to install horizontally), Noctua NF-P12 (can be installed horizontally) and NF-S12A (can be installed horizontally).

For CPU cooler I would recommend one of these. Macho HR-02 and Corator DS are both cheap and cool nicely but if you want high-end cooling, consider Phanteks PH-TC14PE or Noctua NH-D14. Alpenföhn K2 is very good too but I don't know about its availability. Prolimatech's Genesis, Super Mega and Megahalems are good too (note that these coolers do not have fans with them...), check reviews, RAM clearance if extended heatspreaders and prices on all of my recommendations before choosing.

 

[sesselpupser]

Thanks, that's a pretty definitive answer, I'll check those out ASAP. As for CPU cooling, I pretty much want whatever it'll take to get a 2500K to 4GHz and keep it as cool as the stock cooler keeps it at 3.3GHz, if not cooler... But it seems cheeky to expect that it could be kept even cooler at 4GHz than at 3.3 with an air cooler, I guess I'll have to research it all over again.

 

[nick09]

Got bored this afternoon and made a bad hard drive into a piggy bank.

It can hold quite a few coins inside.

 

[Jason]

Organized my desktop folders. I'm some what OCD and I like to keep everything organized.

 

[Eks]

Just ordered my new Asus laptop, it should be here in ~4 days since I paid $40 for "Rush" shipping. (Thanks nick09 for finding that one, I was seriously about to pay $100 more for a weaker laptop)

 

[BobK]

I'll be plugging in a new NIC and plugging the machine into the replacement UPS that arrived yesterday.

 

[Eks]

Bought a 1TB external HDD to use for my laptop when it gets here.
I'll probably use the external HDD for media and any software that isn't a game and internal HDD for games and the OS.

 

[nick09]

I'd just use your external for the media. It would be a pretty big inconvenience to not have software that you need left at home because you forgot to bring your hard drive with you. The internal hard drive has the space for small programs that are useful at rare times such as being able to burn an iso to a DVD.

 

[Eks]

Eh, good point. I just don't want any slow downs because of a cluttered internal HDD. I don't plan on carrying it around too much, though, which brings up a question - Will leaving it plugged up to the charger constantly damage the battery? The only 2 occasions I ever plan on using battery power/taking it with me is when the power goes out or I'm going somewhere where I may end up bored without it.

 

[tuga703]

What I do is take the battery out of the laptop when just using it at home plugged into the wall. If i need to go somewhere i will charge the battery up a couple of hours before leaving. You should try to keep the battery between 20-80% to cause minimal wear, but obviously charge it higher if you need it.

 

[nick09]

Yes leaving the battery while plugged in for long hours each day will degrade the battery(easily after 2 years). What helps keep the capacity up is to run the battery down after the first full charge as low as you can and then recharge it. Should easily last you 3 years with 20% lost of charge(From my personal experience). I've talked with several people about it and they are impressed that I'm still on my laptop's original battery. So instead of doing 3 hours max battery life it's now 2-2.5 hours max battery life.

As for disabling programs and such, run msconfig. For instance you can disable instant messaging programs, skype, itunes, and etc from starting up during the boot and login process. If you are not sure what a certain program is you can always google it and make certain it is something that you need.

 

[Eks]

Thanks guys, what I'll probably do is charge the battery fully, take it out, and run on AC power until I need it.

 

[tuga703]

I would advise against having it fully charged and not in used for a long time as this can wear it out too. This guide has a few good tips : Guide

 

[G.T]

Not so much lots of stuff done to my computer itself today - just cleaned it up and removed some junk off it - but I completely revamped my PC/gaming area with a new desk with a new 2560x1440 monitor (Asus PB278Q). Very happy with it overall. Can't remember where the setups thread is/ if there is one!:

 

[Eks]

I would advise against having it fully charged and not in used for a long time as this can wear it out too. This guide has a few good tips : Guide

Thanks, that was pretty helpful. 👍

-picture-

I see you've made sure to be aware of your W,A,S,D keys.

 

[Casio]

My mate found an old Model M in his dads shed, and gave it to me. Spent the day taking it apart and cleaning it up.

Before:

After:

 

[Joel]

Looks good! I need to find myself one of those.

 

[sesselpupser]

Those photos of that Model M compelled me to share this:

No idea why Imageshack won't upload with the correct orientation from my phone, apologies about that, but this is my Apple Magic Mouse. Long story short, it developed a fault, I went back to my old wired Mighty Mouse which I hate, and I decided to fix it. I've worked out the problem (battery anode plates separated from the case so there was a poor connection causing bluetooth drop-outs) and I know how to put it back together, but fixing the fault is going to be an issue. I'm still trying to work out what I can do, my mind keeps coming back to drilling a hole somewhere in the lid of the mouse for a wired battery pack connection but I would quite like it to look original!

So yeah, it'll be in piece for a while longer. Maybe I could convert it to work with an inductive charging mat, that would be pretty cool...

 

[G.T]

I see you've made sure to be aware of your W,A,S,D keys.

Yep! Good thing I know which ones they are as no letters are written on them.

 

[JohnBM01]

This is more like what I did yesterday. Anyhow, I changed from my old PCI wireless adapter to a new USB wireless adapter. I even uninstalled the old card from the back of my PC.

This is all part of trying to resolve issues that have impacted my PC lately. I started a thread in this forum regarding this issue, but I don't think it has completely helped truly resolve the matter.

 

[Eks]

I have cleaned out my desk to make room for my laptop. (which, after 5 long days, arrives tomorrow! )

I also went and picked up a mouse today. I hear the trackpad on it isn't so great, and I'd rather not be stuck with it if that's the case.

 

[LaBounti]

EKs. I just upgraded my ram from the stock 4GB 1333mhz to 8GB 1600mhz and it made a big difference in games. Bulletstorm Demo was about 24-32fps before, it jumped to 42-50fps on the settings I was using at 1024x600. I increased the detail and now can play it at 30fps in 1280x720 with more detail.

Its a worthy upgrade in the future. I am selling my A8 laptop for $200 to my bro and I'm currently looking for an A10 + 7670m or I5-7730M upgrade.

If its the same Acer I have yes the track pad blows. I picked up a $40 3200dpi gaming mouse and a Logitec F310 game pad, they are both excellent.

 

[nick09]

He's buying a ASUS laptop.

 

[LaBounti]

Gotcha! At any rate the Acer one sucks too lol.

 

[Eks]

Upgrading the RAM is something I planned to do the moment I ordered it. How would I go about doing that? Just search "8GB laptop RAM?" Or should I be specific i.e. "Asus k55n 8GB RAM?"

I don't want to end up getting the wrong size.

 

[nick09]

Well your laptop comes with a 4GB stick so you can save yourself $30-$40 by getting a single 4GB RAM stick.

 

[Eks]

But that RAM is 1600MHz, the current RAM in my laptop is 800MHz. (According to Task Manager) Wouldn't the different speeds of each stick cause inconsistency in performance?
__

Well, today I installed some apps and I especially like the Google app I have. I swear it is faster than Google Chrome, and while I will still use Chrome for videos, when it comes to text-based things like GTP, I prefer this. Plus, it uses less memory.

Also, I'm really liking Windows 8. I was a little intimidated by it, admittedly because I didn't know how to use it. But now that I've gotten use to it, I prefer it over 7.

 

[nick09]

Actually the 1600MHz figure is the 800MHz figure x2. It's just the way windows shows it.

Edit: Currently optimizing a windows xp laptop before I give it to my friend since my mother is upgrading to a new laptop. You can only do so much for a 4200RPM 30GB HDD and 768MB of RAM.

 

[nick09]

Gave my friend the laptop yesterday, installed a wireless card on his desktop PC, ran into a virus on the laptop, updated anti-virus and told them to do a full scan(had to leave at the time). Then I came back today to dust out the desktop and upgrade the desktop from 512MB of DDR memory to 2GB. Then I told my friend to install a free anti-virus program and do a full scan.

 

[JohnBM01]

I uninstalled my Diamond Xtreme Sound 7.1/24-bit sound card today and replaced it with... a Creative Sound Blaster Audigy SE sound card. The thread I started here in this forum documented my change from Diamond to a past sound card I've used before. I've felt a bit shady returning to this past sound card and trying to use this in addition to the wireless Internet. But so far, things seem to work very well. I almost feel to be waiting for something to crash on me so my woes can continue and for my frustration to fester. But so far, things are looking up for me.