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    Can I Get by with no Power Supply Ventilation?

    K, sort of a unique situation here... I bought a very slimline HTPC case that came with a power supply. The power supply is very small and compact -- about half the size of a conventional power supply. The power supply that came with the case was DOA. I didn't bother sending it back for a...
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    Set-Top Box: Online/Apps + Connect to Network Drive

    I'm looking for a set top box, and I'm having a little trouble finding what I need. It seems like these devices are capable of connecting to a network drive and playing media directly off of that (like, for instance, the Argosy HV335T that I own), OR are exclusively "cloud devices", that...
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    [Resolved] MISERABLE build experience. Did I destroy my CPU?

    I was putting together my seventh or so computer today. I liberally applied some thermal paste, installed Windows.... every time I would install VGA drivers (I'm using integrated graphics and an i3, by the way), my computer would crash. It would just reboot. I looked online, and determined that...
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    New i3 Build -- No Video Output

    I have an i3 processor with an ASRock H55M motherboard. I just put everything together, but I'm not getting any video signal out of the HDMI port (also tried hooking it up through VGA -- nothing). I don't have a video card, I'm just using the integrated video. Interestingly, my TV says "check...
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    Noise-Cancelling Headphones

    I work in an office environment. We don't have cubicles, so noise travels pretty well. The sound of the keyboards around me drives me nuts. <CLACK>, <CLICK>, <CLACK> all day long. I find it very distracting, and I find it to be a really unpleasant noise. A couple months ago I purchased some...
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    Bizarre Laptop Powering Issue

    I've had my Compaq laptop for over two years now. The day I got it, I noticed that when I pulled it out of the package and tried to start it up, nothing happened. It was in the dead of winter when it arrived, so I figured it was just extremely cold, and that it just needed some time to warm up...
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    Looking for a real-time strategy recommendation

    I was playing Age of Empires III recently and have been having a lot of fun. I'm sure I'll get sick of it sooner or later, so I want to look into some other real-time strategy games. I want to hear some recommendations! Here are some requirements: The game should be a "classic" real-time...
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    XP Software to Simulate Vista's...

    When software tries to install, Vista will pop up and and ask you for permission to continue. It also apparently has protected directories set up, which require permission to copy files into them. I know a lot of people disliked this feature, but I personally rather liked it. I'm sure there...
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    Feedback on this Build?

    I currently have a GeForce 8800 GT, but it's overshadowing my processor (AMD 4000+). I need to switch to a new system... I'm going with this, I think: Processor - Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Motherboard - GIGABYTE GA-EP45 RAM - 8 GB of mushkin DDR2 800 RAM (just 'cause it's so cheap) Case...
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    Compaq F730US; going from Vista to XP

    I was able to get a F730US laptop for really cheap. The general consensus was that you should downgrade from Vista to XP. I wiped everything clean and installed Windows XP; however, a lot of people also complained about finding XP-compatible drivers for it. I thought this link explained it...
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    Processor Upgrade

    I think I'm ready to swallow some money and upgrade my home system to a dual core processor. I do a lot of multi-tasking and, while a good processor for what I paid, the Athlon 64 it's not cutting it anymore. I also have an 8800 GTS, and I noticed that my system is being held back by the...
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    Looking for a Laptop

    Alright... my tax return is not far away. Because I was absolutely obliterated in taxes, I will have some extra money floating around that I can invest in a laptop. I need some suggestions on what to look for. First, let it be known that this will not be my primary system. The rig I have at...
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    Looking for a Barebone PC

    I have a friend heading away to college that's looking for a barebone computer. From my understand, a barebone system is just something that's just a (filled) tower itself -- it's lacking a monitor, mouse, keyboard, etc... Am I wrong? Some of the barebone systems I saw on Newegg seemed to...
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    "Third Party" Screensaver

    My parents' computer is messed up. The screensaver doesn't work. Obviously this is very bad for their screen... I was reading online, and I read that there is a problem with Windows XP that causes the screensaver to be interrupted (something along the lines of that) if there is a wireless...
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    Affordable Upgrade

    I just bought an 8800 GTS, and I still get crappy performance on Oblivion. I'm positive that my CPU is bottlenecking my system, because I messed around with a couple of different resolutions and I was getting virtually the exact same FPS. I currently only have a AMD Athlon Venice 3200+. The...
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    Removing a PCI-E Card

    How the heck do you remove a PCI-Express card? I removed the screw holding it in place, but the inside part of it (meaning, the opposite end with the monitor connections) seems to "stick." It has that little white clip, but what are you supposed to do with that? Push on it somehow? I feel so...
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    8800 GTS or GTX

    The GTX's MSRP is about $150 more than the GTS. That's a sizable amount of money... from what I've seen, it does seem to perform quite a bit better (to the tune of like 10-15 FPS)... Do you personally think it is worth it?
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    Looking to Upgrade -- Enlighten Me

    Alright! I'm looking to upgrade my computer. My budget is about $800. The $800 has to cover three components: - a motherboard - a video card - a processor My current system features an AMD Athlon 64 Venice processor, a Gigabyte GA-K8N Ultra-9 motherboard and a GeForce 7800 GT. I have...
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    Video / Game

    Is it possible to play a video on one monitor, while playing a game full screen on another monitor at the same time? When the game goes full screen, the video's screen goes black... (though the sound continues, and it runs smoothly so it doesn't seem to be a performance problem).
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    Oh my God!

    Oh no! I got home from work today... and both of my LCD 22" Widescreen monitors were face down on my desk. This DVD/CD stand that was behind them came crashing down! Both monitors appeared to be damaged. Not very heavily, but.. a couple of the "scratches" on either monitor were fixed...
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    Westinghouse 22" Widescreen LCD

    Uhm, tell me if this sounds like it's common... The DVI cable I bought is the correct one. This, I know, because either end will fit into the connection on my video card and my monitor. Here is my problem: when I go to attach one end to the DVI slot on my monitor, it fits... but the right...
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    Looking to Upgrade my Processor

    I have a GeForce 7800 GT (PCI Express) and 2 gigs of Kingston DDR2 533 RAM. I used to play Morrowind a lot; if you're familiar, you would know that Morrowind had an incredible mod scene. I played the game with mod upon mod upon mod -- I probably had hundreds of them. At this point, I started...
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    I Wanna Save Recorded Shows...

    I started renting a DVR from my cable company. I don't know if that's the name they gave it locally or if a lot of places use it, so I'll just state that a DVR is essentially a Tivo. Now... the space on my DVR is slowly running out. I really want to be able to transfer the stuff off of the...
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    Speakers + Headphones Simultaneously?

    Alright, here we go: I have a crappy set of $25 Altec Lansing speakers hooked up. A cord connects from the green audio out port on my sound card (integrated into my motherboard) to the back of this sub. The speakers are hooked up through the subwoofer via speaker wire, like this stuff...