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    Is there any OS/backup software that can fully idle the backup drive when not in use?

    I have an old Atom-based PC that I'd like to use as a dedicated backup server. It has a small SSD drive and a new 6TB drive which I intend to use for backups of other machines in my home (which all run Windows). My goal is that this drive will be completely idle (not even spin) except when...
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    Gaming on a QHD screen at FHD vs. a native FHD screen

    Reducing resolution in an LCD screen (e.g. QHD at FHD) results in blurry text in most cases, but is it an issue for gaming? I'm considering getting a QHD screen and trying to work around the small text by changing Windows DPI settings (and living with the occasional broken app and truncated...
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    Is there a way to force Radeon HD7850 to output 1080i and not 1080p?

    My 15m long HDMI cable (which is connected to my TV through an Onkyo NR709 receiver) doesn't support 1080p. Is there a way to configure AMD Catalyst to always downgrade 1080p to 1080i?
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    Merging a PC case internals into a Apple PowerMac G4 Graphite case?

    I have two cases that I'd like to "merge" - the externals of an Apple PowerMac G4 Graphite: ...and the internals of a CompuCase 6A21: The problem is I'm a completely inexperienced when it comes to modding. Does the above combination seem like a worthwhile project or should I start with...
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    Recommended DVD writer?

    My DVD writer shows signs of retirement, so I'm looking for an alternative. Mandatory requirements: - Good writing quality - Good reliability - Perfect audio ripping - Not region locked (RPC1 or with available RPC1 firmware) Nice to have: Support for backing up protected discs Thanks!
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    How bad are Killer NICs?

    It seems there are far more complaints about Killer NICs than complements, which makes it odd that mobo makers are actually putting them in higher end models. I'm looking for a new Z87 board and wondering if I should cross out boards with these NICs and focus on boards with Intel or Realtek...
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    Is MSI Audio Boost worth it?

    They claim it offers the following advantages: Looks impressive, but will it provide better sound quality compared to what I'm getting now, connecting my headphones (Beyerdynamic DT990 250 Ohm) to an old Denon AVR-1602 receiver which is connected to my PC digital coaxial out? If sound quality...
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    Anyone using a foot pedal for non-driving games?

    Is it useful for things like moving forward / jumping / crouching in FPS games? How's convenient is it, and is there a specific model to get? Thanks! :)
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    Tenkeyless mechanical keyboard - Corsair, CoolerMaster or Razer?

    I need more room on my desk (to fit a Logitech G13 game keypad) and am looking at tenkeyless keyboards. So far the following options caught my eye: Razer BlackWidow Tournament Edition Corsair k65 Cooler Master Storm QuickFire Rapid The Razer uses blue Cherry MX switches and is relatively...
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    Hate WASD, not happy with arrows. Any suggestions?

    I hate using WASD keys for movement in games because the W key is not right above the S, so it just feels awkward to press the right edge of the W key rather than the key itself. I have large hands, so maybe this could be the reason, but it is what it is. So I use the arrow keys, but don't find...
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    GPU and CPU calculation results not identical (OpenCL issue)

    When I turn on OpenCL in DxO 8.1.5 (image processing application) the resulting files are slightly different than when OpenCL is turned off. The files are binary different, and I can even spot a few differences if I increase magnification significantly. Is there an application I could use to...
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    HD 7790 - any benefit in the 2GB version for image processing?

    I'm debating between the three Sapphire HD 7790 versions - 1GB one fan, 2GB dual-x (two fans) and 2GB (one fan). I intend to use the card for image processing using DxO Optics Pro 8 (which uses OpenCL) and some light gaming. Coming from a passive cooled 7900 GS I appreciate silence and hope that...
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    Windows 7 Spanned Volumes and hot-swapping

    I'd like to use my drives (two USB + two SATA) as a single logical partition. I also want to be able to disconnect any given disk from the array, without the entire array failing. As far as I understand the dynamic spanned volume feature of Windows 7 doesn't support this. Are there any ways to...
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    eSATA thumb drives: Fast enough to boot OS for regular use?

    I'm specifically interested in this drive. Is it likely to be sufficiently fast compared to my 500GB Seagate drive? I'm currently using Windows 7 and Linux Mint 10. Thanks! :cool:
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    Running Sysprep from Win7 Recovery Console?

    I just replaced my old motherboard with one that uses a different chipset. As expected, I now experience a BSOD loop. The Motherboard forum has a sticky post that explains how to to Sysprep to prepare a machine for migraiton from one motherboard to another. The problem is that the old board is...
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    Board with integrated CPU - any alternative to intel's D510MO?

    My P4-3000-based server/part-time-HTPC just died and it seems that the D510MO may be a suitable alternative with sufficient power for the job. However, it only has a VGA port and only one PCI slot. Are there more capable boards with integrated CPU's? Something with a DVI/HDMI port and an extra...
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    What email address do you specify in your PGP key?

    I'd rather not use an address that contains my full name, as I won't necessarily encrypt/sign email to recipients who know my full name. Any best practices to follow? Note that I'm using an email service that supports aliases (fastmail.fm), but I'd like to know if there are any reasons to use a...
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    HD4550 or 7600GT to run old games?

    I can buy either card (second hand) for roughly the same amount of money. The question is which card will run the following games better: - UT2004 - Far Cry (the first game) - Prey - Vegas2 I don't intend to play newer games in the next year or so, which is why I'm not looking to buy a more...
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    Is Realtek ALC889 on-board sound significantly better than ALC888?

    I'm trying to decide between two Gigabyte boards - one with ALC888, the other with ALC889. Is there anything in there to worth the bother in the differences between those two chipsets, or should I just take the cheaper board (GA-P55A-UD3)? Thanks in advance! Edit: I just found this...
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    Memory size and type for i5 750?

    I'm soon going to buy a Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD3 mobo, an Intel i5 750 CPU and a Sapphire HD 4650 screen card. What I haven't decided on is the memory size and type. Below are the tasks I intend to run (under WinXP 32 bit): - RAW file conversion using RawTherapee - Noise reduction using Noiseware...
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    LGA 1156 board with above avarage legacy HW support?

    I'm soon going to replace my Athlon 64 3000+ machine wih an i5 750 one. I plan to reuse some legacy hardware so I need a board with better than average legacy support: - Serial port (for my USR external fax modem) - 2x PS/2 ports (to support a PS/2 KVM) - 2x or more legacy PCI cards (SCSI...
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    Recommendation for an IGI2-like game for outdated hardware?

    I'd like to buy a tactical shooter game as a gift to a friend. He like IGI2 a lot, so this is the general direction. The problem is that his hardware is pretty weak and outdated by today's standards: GPU: NVIDIA GeFORCE 7025 / NVIDIA nFORCE a630 (on board, as far as I understand) CPU: AMD...
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    Upgrading from Athlon 64 3000 - how significant?

    My current PC is based on an Athlon 64 3000 and 1.5 GB RAM. I'm considering upgrading to a more modern (yet still low budget) PC, e.g. one with Athlon II X2 245 and twice the RAM. I'd be happy if people here could estimate how much faster such a PC will be for the following tasks: - RAW file...