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    OC'd 3570K enough for GTX 1080?

    I have an i5-3570K at 4.2Ghz along with an R9 290. I'd been thinking of a GTX 1070 as an upgrade but now with the 1080's price cut, I might consider that instead. Is the overclocked Ivy Bridge i5 enough to keep up with a 1080, or would the 1080 be in some sense wasted? I use a 70" 4K display for...
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    Advice on upgrades for 4K set.

    I game on an HTPC with an R9 290 and i5 3470K. I recently bought a Vizio M70-D3 as my new TV. Everything runs through a Denon S910 receiver which is fully HDMI 2.0a compliant, so the 290 is actually the weak link in the 4K chain now as it only has HDMI 1.4. What would be a worthwhile upgrade...
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    Which RAM to get?

    I recently got a deal on a laptop and it only has 4GB of RAM (1 stick of 1600Mhz DD3L.) The processor is a Core i3-5020U. Would I be better to buy a matched set of 2x4GB sticks and pull the stick it already has, or buy an 8GB stick for a total of 12GB? I'm specifically interested in the impact...
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    Trade dv7 for an Envy 17?

    I have a Sandy Bridge-based HP dv7 that I'm going to have send back soon because of the chipset issue (I have till April 30th from everything I've read.) I purchased this for slightly over $900 after a $500 off $1399 coupon. The current system is a i7 2720QM, 8gb RAM, 640gb HD, DVDRW, 1gb...
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    DEAD: $500 off any laptop $1399 and up at HP--

    Use coupon code NBK4267893 Just picked up a Sandy Bridge-based 17.3" dv7 for $964 after tax, free shipping. This is my first post in Hot Deals, hope this counts as one! dv7t Quad Ed • Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit • 2nd generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2720QM (2.2 GHz, 6MB L3...
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    Deciphering mobile graphics-6570M

    I'm in the market for a new DTR laptop and spend a small but not insignificant time playing PC games--mainly somewhat older titles. (Civ 5 is the only PC game I've bought in 2010). I currently am using a Q6600@3ghz with a Radeon 4850 512mb, but with my kids getting older I don't have the luxury...
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    wifi for apartment complex

    My brother just moved into a new apartment complex and isn't getting a good connection from his old router. There are a lot of competing wireless routers installed around him. He has a laptop, phone, and maybe one other device. All are standard wireless b/g/n; none are dual-band that I know of...
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    Nook Color

    I just picked up my Nook Color tonight, and upon turning it on for the first time I noticed a dead pixel near the middle of the screen. I'm afraid it might drive me crazy--but I get along fine with smartphone screens that are smudged to hell. I'm fearful of exchanging it only to find the next...
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    Harmony remote

    I'm overwhelmed with remotes on the coffee table, so I'm finally going to get a Harmony to replace all/most of them. I'm considering a refurb 670 or the Xbox 360 edition remote. I'm not sure which one to go with--the 670 is a little more but I don't know if it does anything to warrant the extra...
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    popping sound from speaker

    I'm hearing a scratch/pop sound out of the right rear speaker, and I can't tell if it's the source or the speaker/speaker connection. It occurs in the exact same spot of a concert BD (Elton 60), and it occurs at the same point in both the 5.1 and 2.0 LCPM audio tracks (the 2.0 using Onkyo's...
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    HDMI, audio levels, and HD DVD

    I have a Toshiba HD-A2 connected via HDMI to an Onkyo 605 receiver. All my HD DVD's seem to be really, really quiet--like I have to have the volume control all but maxed out to hear things well. My PS3, also connected via HDMI, has no such problems with BD discs, and my Xbox 360 HD DVD player...
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    need more bandwidth and range for PS3

    I'm using a Netgear Wireless b/g router (WGR614) on my home network. It does fine for basic things in my home office in my upstairs, but my PS3 downstairs does not get a good signal at all. Very slow with lots of lag, and I can't stream music very well and video is impossible. What do I need to...
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    question about HD audio formats

    I've been doing a fair amount of reading, and I'm not sure I've got all of this information straight about the new HD audio formats. The way I understand things is as follows: a receiver can get audio information that has already been decoded by the player in pcm format through HDMI. Or it...
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    Pixar movies look amazing

    I've always thought the Pixar movies looked great on DVD. Popped in the Ratatouille BD tonight and was blown away--it's easily the best looking HD title I own now. I'm looking forward to taking a look at Cars next. What other movies are there that are good "show off" movies for HD? My...
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    when to pull trigger on ps3

    I've been thinking about getting a PS3 but I keep hesitating on when the best time is. I don't see a lot of PS3 games that interest me terribly yet, but I would like it's blu ray and multimedia capabilities. I also never owned a PS2, so there are some great games I missed out on. I assume the...
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    PS3 as a DVD player

    I've been thinking about getting a PS3 for my home theater. I'd like it for Blu Ray as I already have HD DVD through the Xbox. I was wondering about the PS3's ability with DVD upconversion--how well does it do? My HDTV is a couple of years old, so I figure the PS3 might do a better job with...
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    Xbox 360 HDDVD drive $159.88 at Sam's Club YMMV

    I just purchased the HDDVD drive from my local Sam's Club...yesterday, the website listed $181; today it dropped to $159.88 ($169 out the door after taxes). You can only buy the drive through the B&M Sam's Clubs, but you can search your local store's inventory online. Most of the Sam's Clubs...
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    just bought the HP w2207

    Just got back from Circuit City with an HP w2207 LCD. I am just thrilled with how it looks. I was torn between it and the LG L226WT, but constant inspection plus the superior mount swayed it in my favor (they were the same price--$329.) The glossy finish scared me at the store, because of the...
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    LCDs and gaming

    I am debating between a 19" widescreen display or a 22". I like the size of the 22" screens better, but the native resolution is a lot higher. I guess what I'm afraid of is committing myself to a constant graphics "arms race" where I HAVE to buy an upper end card fairly frequently to keep up...
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    internal to USB external question

    I'm trying to help my brother, but I'm can't see what he's got and I'm not terribly experienced with what he's looking at. He bought a kit to convert his 40gb ide 2.5in laptop drive from his old HP, and he says it doesn't look like that cables match up to his drive at all. I know the kit he got...
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    e4300 temps

    I began overclocking my e4300 and I've got it up to 2700mhz, but I'm concerned my temps are high. I'm idling at 49-50 degrees and going up to 70-71 under load. Is this too high? I've bumped the voltages up slightly because I wasn't stable at stock, and I think I can get more out of it, but I'm...
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    HELP! New build won't start.

    I just put together my new build tonight and cannot get the thing to power on. I am blanking on what I've done wrong. System: E4300, Gigabyte DS3, 2x1gb Super Talent DDR2 667, X1950GT, Antec SmartPower 500W, DVDRW, and 2 HDD. I put everything in, hit power, and nothing happens. If I cycle...
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    HD failure or motherboard?

    I need some help--wondering if anyone knows if this is a HD issue or a motherboard problem. I was playing Civ 4, ended a turn, and while autosaving my computer locked up and a terrible screeching sound came out of my speakers. I had to kill the power switch to get to stop. Waited a little...
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    New build for overclocking

    I have an A64 3200 at 2.6ghz and still have plenty of CPU power available, but I'd like to go to 2 gigs of RAM and don't want to invest in more DDR. I was planning a system around the following: Gigabyte DS3 Rev. 3.3 (figure the officially supported 1333mhz bus gives some future proofing)...
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    sound card worth it over onboard?

    I'm using onboard sound right now, and I'm ready to begin the process of assembling parts for a new system. I saw this SB X-Fi XtremeGamer for $50 AR on Newegg, and was wondering if this card was worth it. It's been a long time since I've used a dedicated sound card. I listen to a lot of music...
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    minimum PSU requirements?

    I bought a HP system for my wife and it only has onboard 6100 graphics, which is fine for 2D and Quake 3 but for some newer games I think she might like it will be too weak. I have a spare X800 XL from where I upgraded my system, and I'd like to put it in her system. Her system only has a 300W...
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    build or buy updated

    So about a week ago I posted a thread where I asked if I should build a system for my wife or buy a system off the shelf. Overwhelming opinion was to build. I thought so too, but I waited around for Windows MCE with the Vista upgrade to come back into stock at Newegg, so I had waited on...
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    build or buy?

    I'm looking to replace my wife's old system, and I was ready to build her a system myself that'd be fine for light gaming/office work for a couple of years with only minor upgrades. Today, though, Compusa has a HP Media Center desktop for $799 AR. Now I'm not so sure: Here's what I was...
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    which is the best in terms of quality?

    I'm looking for a new PC for my wife to replace her very aging Duron 800 system. Since it looks cheaper to buy than to build for her, who should I go with? I'm looking at either a HP system with a X2 4600, a Gateway with a 4600 or a C2D 6300, or Dell 9200 with C2D. I'm specifically concerned...
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    x1900xt 3d issues

    I just got my X1900XT 256 this week and installed it today. It replaced a X800 XL so I just swapped out the cards. I can't get any 3D apps to open--they either just do nothing or they give a message that they've "encountered a serious error." And the ones that don't give a message don't appear...
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    x1900xt 256 worth it?

    Newegg has the Sapphire one for $240. I currently have a x800xl that occasionally shows its age. Is it a worthwhile upgrade with DX10 cards not so far off? (system is single core A64 with 2x512mb RAM).
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    Which is the best investment?

    I play a lot of strategy games, with the occasional FPS. Starting to get some slowdown on boards with a lot of units, and am wondering which is my best bet to hold me for awhile--new CPU/mobo/RAM, or new graphics card. running now: Athlon 3200 at 2.6ghz, 1GB RAM, X800XL video card...
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    which hard drive?

    I know that many people have horror stories about Maxtor drives, but I'm looking for a new drive and I think I've narrowed it down to three models: Maxtor Maxline III--16mb cache, SATA 3.0GB/s, NCQ, 300GB 5yr warranty Maxtor DM10--same specs as above, with 3yr warranty (not sure what the...
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    Nero won't recognize burner as 16x

    I bought the BF 16x burner for $20 at Staples. Came with Nero but it is only recognized as 8x, when everything on the box says 16x burn speed for DVD+/- R. It's a Digital Research, which I'm sure is just a re-badged drive, and I think I may need to upgrade the firmware. Is there a way to find...
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    back from Episode III

    It's 3am, and I'm very tired, but let me say that Episode III was as good as I had hoped, and that certainly it was superior to Episodes I and II. It is a very full movie that doesn't really have any slow spots, and the acting is improved over the last film. It does a really good job of filling...
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    Terrible Venice experience...

    I'm not finding the Venice to do much for me at all. Before I even tried a systematic attempt to squeeze as much out as I could, I just tried a mild overclock, and it will not boot into Windows at 210 HTT. I've tried the following: dropped HTT multiplier to 4 and to 3 upping the voltage on...
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    Sufficient PSU?

    Ordered a Venice 3200, DFI NF4 Ultra, and a x800xl video card. I also have two optical drives, two hard drives, and two case fans, and 2x512mb sticks of memory. I'm using a 420W Thermaltake PurePower PSU--is this going to be sufficient for my system, or do I need an upgrade? I do plan on...
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    which 6xxx series card?

    I'm building a new system around a Venice A64 3200. I need advice on what PCI-express card to pair it with. I think I'm convinced of the virtues of SM3 so I'm leaning towards the 6600/6800 cards. I do play some FPS, but the main game I'm looking forward to this year by far is AOE3. I also play...
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    What is this card?

    I was looking on ZZF, and saw this MSI card that claims to be a 12 pipe 6800GT. The MSI link calls it a 6800GTO. Anyone heard of this before?
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    value ram question

    I'm looking to buy 1gig of PC3200 for an A64 system, and after reading Zebo's guide I see little reason to spend $200+. I'm leaning toward the Corsair Value Select, but I saw Newegg had some G.skill value RAM that was just a little pricier but claimed timings of 2-3-3-6 instead of 2.5. Any...