Search results

  1. M

    Cooling my AV cabinet - Fan options?

    Not sure if this is the right place... figured it might be better than Off Topic or General. I'm looking for cooling solutions for my A/V cabinet, possibly using PC fans. My PVR box (or dvr/tivo depending on where you live) gets really freaking hot and of course so does my xbox 360. The...
  2. M

    New to wireless - which router?

    I'm getting an XBOX 360 in the next week or so and I want to get a wireless router for it. Initially the 360 will be the only thing using wireless but potentially in the next year or so I'll have a PC or two on it as well. I don't do any heavy network traffic and I'm not planning anything...
  3. M

    Good Divx playing drive enclosures?

    I'm looking for some feedback/suggestions on good DIVX playing drive enclosures. I've been googling for a bit but there seems to be a lot of generic enclosures out there and not a lot of reviews. My brother owns this one and it's pretty sweet (Divx Player). It's very small (just add any 2.5...
  4. M

    Fan specs?

    My case (Antec 1080AMG) claims the follow fan specs; 2000 RPM, 17.3 CFM, 25 dB(A). They are pretty darn loud. Not insane, but annoying enough. I found these: Nexus Real Silent 80MM Case Fan which claim; 1500 RPM, 20 CFM, 17 dB(A). Can I reasonably expect these fans to move more air and...
  5. M

    Seagate Tool for low level HD copy?

    Do the Seagate disk tools you can download from their site have the capability to completely copy one drive to another? I know Maxtor has this functionality but I can't determine if Seagate does as well. I have a 120GB Seagate drive I *think* might be causing me some problems so I'd like to...
  6. M

    x800xl -- No Overdrive?

    So either I'm very blind or very tired... but I can't for the life of me find the Overdrive settings for my new x800xl. I'm not interested in overclocking right now, I just want to get a feel for temperatures. I'm using Catalyst 5.7 and the Overdrive lock/unlock is just not there. I've...
  7. M

    Ordering experience from CanadaComputers.com?

    I'm used to dealing with NCIX.com and their great order processing communication system (continual updates on the status of your order as it is verified, filled and shipped). CanadaComputers.com is definately not as professional and I'm looking for good/bad experiences any of you may have had...
  8. M

    $329 CDN for ATI Radeon x800xl AGP. Too good to be true?

    So I did a search online and found a ATI Radeon X800XL 256MB AGP for $329 Canadian. The same site has PCI-E cards for $50-$60 more. Is this a price I should jump on or are they really coming down this much? I hadn't found an AGP version of the x800xl for less than $420 Canadian before today...
  9. M

    Fresh Install - Mobo Drivers before applying SP2?

    I did some searching and couldn't find the answer. Sorry if it's here somewhere and I managed to miss it. I'm doing a fresh build (not slipstreaming SP2 into my XP install) and am wondering if I should apply my ABIT IC7 drivers before or after I install SP2. Does it make a difference?
  10. M

    Removing C:\WINDOWS without reformat/repartitioning

    Time to rebuild XP again - I think I've managed to go a year this time. :D Somehow I've accumulated way too much stuff to easily move to my D: drive so I can do a fresh reformat of C: before starting the OS installation. I'd like to do a fresh install of the OS without having to move most of...
  11. M

    Any S.M.A.R.T. experts out there?

    I've recently been playing with Speedfan and noticed the S.M.A.R.T. drive functionality it has. My 80GB Maxtor comes up as being in good shape SMART-wise, but my fairly new Seagate 120GB IDE is only scoring 50% on the Fitness rating (although great performance rating). Speedfan SMART pic...
  12. M

    Loading Speedfan settings at Boot?

    I'm using Speedfan to slow my IC7 Northbridge fan down to 3000 RPM and it's working great. I've done some searching (here and on other sites) and can't find a way to make Speedfan start up automatically on boot and minimized. I can obvisously have it start with windows but you have to...
  13. M

    Mixing RAM? KHX3200 and Valueram?

    Due to the limitations of my cpu's overclock (235 fsb P4 2.8) and my RAM's inability to do DDR470, I am currently running my 2 x 512MB KHX3200 @ DDR376. Pretty much a waste of this memory which is unfortunate, but it's the way things turned out. Kingston, Samsung and Corsair value ram just...
  14. M

    Post "System Restore" hangover - Windows XP

    I had some major video driver issues over the last month. No amount of Driver Cleaner, uninstalls, reinstalls, removing devices or adding devices were able to fix me up. I'm not quite ready for a fresh install of XP so I figured I'd try a system restore as a last resort. I ended up using a...
  15. M

    Cleaning the wheel on an Intellimouse Explorer 2.0?

    I have this setup: MS Wireless Optical Desktop Pro 2.0 I love the keyboard and the mouse is great as well once you get used to the wheel (no stop ticks as you scroll which is pretty annoying at first). I have a problem now where the wheel movement is no longer smooth; it kind of...
  16. M

    Problem: XP won't load unless display device is removed in Safe Mode

    I posted this in the Video forum over a week ago but didn't get any replies after a couple bumps so trying out General Hardware. --------- My PC has a really annoying problem which I think started when Windows Update decided to download and install some ATI 9800 Pro drivers. Thanks Windows...
  17. M

    Memory Ratio: 5:4 vs 1:1 - is it worth the upgrade?

    My current OC'd system is a P4 2.8 running a 235 FSB. The 2 x 512M Kingston HyperX PC3200 ram I have will not even do 220 so I have it running 5:4 or DDR376. If I bite the bullet and go with some RAM that will do the DDR470 my cpu/fsb is capable of running, will I even notice it while...
  18. M

    Help with XP / Video Problem

    My PC has a really annoying problem which I think started when Windows Update decided to download and install some ATI 9800 Pro drivers. Thanks Windows Update! Problem - If I reboot my PC (power down or restart) Windows XP will not load. I get to the XP black screen with the blue progress...
  19. M

    6800 GT = what from ATI?

    I'll be watching for price drops on the 6800 GT 256MB nVidia cards over the next 6 months until they hit my magic number. I'm just a little confused about the current ATI offerings and I'd like to know what the 6800 GT's closest competitor is performance-wise (not price-wise). I currently...
  20. M

    New IntelliMouse Explorers, looking for comments.

    I'm thinking about buying one of these: Microsoft Wireless Desktop Pro I love the keyboard (already use a similar model at work) so that isn't an issue... but I've heard some complaints about the latest Intellimouse Explorers. The mousewheel no longer *clicks* as you roll it, it's an even...
  21. M

    Limiting Upload Bandwidth in XP?

    My ADSL connection is really choked when uploading at maximum bandwidth (~40kps). When I use bittorrent, I use a client that will let me set a maximum upload speed to keep my download bandwidth from being constantly stalled. (I use ABC and set it to 35kps.) Example: I can upload at 35kps...
  22. M

    Limiting Upload Bandwidth in XP?

    Moved to Operating Systems forum...
  23. M

    Permantently setting BRIGHTNESS for WMP and/or Codecs?

    I watch a lot of DiVX/XViD files, lots. Due to the nature of my monitor settings most AVI's tend to be just slightly dark, so I bump up the brightness in WMP to around 5 or 7. The problem is I have to do this every single time I open/watch an AVI. I haven't found a permanent setting anywhere...
  24. M

    Looking for feedback on VGA Silencer & Sapphire 9800 Pro

    A company I deal with quite a bit has a great sale on the Arctic Cooling VGA Silencer (Rev 3) right now; $17 CDN + shipping. (NCIX.com) I can't really decide if I want to buy it or not and am looking for some input from people who've used one. My Sapphire 9800 Pro 128MB (R350 core; not...
  25. M

    WCPUID Memory reading, can somone explain please?

    Hey there! I have a 2.8C @ 235 FSB with my memory 5:4 on an Abit IC7 (Resulting OC = 3.29Ghz & DDR376) WCPUID shows my memory as 195.95 (DDR391?) and I'm wondering if it's just a bug or not. Other programs identify my memory speed correctly (or what I assume is correct). I seem to notice...
  26. M

    Future Socket 478 Processors?

    I'm just curious if any of you know Intel's vision for s478 cpu's. Is it done? I currently have an Abit IC7 (2.8c) but won't be looking to upgrade my mobo/cpu for at least 6 to 12 months. Is everything planned for s478 already out or announced? Will there be a 4+Ghz s478 cpu? Higher? Or will...
  27. M

    How can I force old DOS games to run Windowed?

    So I'm taking a trip down memory lane and want to play some Bard's Tale III again for kicks. The only problem is that I can't seem to force the EXE to run Windowed. No matter what I do it goes fullscreen, which is very hard on these eyes of mine. Anyway, there must be an emulator or some sort...
  28. M

    Doom3 -- Capped at 60 FPS?

    Hey there. I've found for myself (using FRAPS) that Doom3 is capping its framerate at 60. I've also found various sites/forums indicating this was the Master Plan all along. What I can't seem to find is *why*. There are a couple parts early in the game where I find myself looking at and...
  29. M

    Fan Control: Antec 1080AMG Case

    I'm looking for a simple fan controller for my Antec 1080AMG case. The three fans which came with it all have molex connectors and most of the controllers I'm finding seem to be for 3pin fans. Currently I have all three fans chained together off of one lead from the PSU. I'm looking for...
  30. M

    IC7 undervolt issues?

    My IC7 consistantly sits at a lower CPU voltage than what I've set in the BIOS (idle or load). With everything at stock (2.8c @ 2.8c, 1.525v) my CPU voltage sits around 1.45v to 1.47v. When I overclock I have to start increasing my voltage around 215-220 FSB. I've heard of people can get to...
  31. M

    IC7 undervolt issues?

    *moved to OC Forum*
  32. M

    Memory OC -- Greatly reduced in Dual Channel

    I had one 512MB stick Kingston HyperX DDR400 running at DDR440 for several weeks (220 FSB 1:1 on an Abit IC7). Since slapping in another 512MB stick of the same memory and moving to dual channel I only seem to be able to hit DDR420 (210 FSB 1:1). I haven't done extensive testing, but dropping...
  33. M

    Prime 95 acting differently after memory upgrade

    I usually run the Blended test on Prime95. When I only had 512MB of RAM in my system it would max my P4 2.8c @ 50% CPU. I would run an instance of Seti@Home as well to push my CPU to 100%. Since I've upgraded to 1GB of RAM Prime 95 doesn't take 50% of my CPU any more using the Blended test...
  34. M

    Canadians! NCIX.com has Victoria Day Sale

    NCIX has some decent sale prices until May 26th. Of greatest note is Kingston HyperX PC3200 512MB (or a matched pair of 256MB) for $169 + $10 shipping. Maybe not amazing... but the best Canadian ram price I can find ATM (for HyperX) anyway.
  35. M

    Antec TRUEPOWER 430w owners please respond

    My Antec TRUEPOWER 430w PSU seems to have a fan speed issue. The specs say it should operate between 1500 and 3800 RPM depending on temperature conditions; mine has never topped 1700 RPM. When my system first starts up my PSU fan clocks in around 900-1100 RPM. Once things get cooking (35...
  36. M

    Will these low voltages cause me problems?

    My voltages seem a little low, do you think they'll cause any problems? Could my bios be reporting them lower than they are? I used the same PSU in another system for a couple weeks and the voltages were always a little higher than spec. Hopefully this link works (please post if it's not and...
  37. M

    New System: Odd video problems

    I just built a new system and everything is going pretty well. (IC7, 2.8C @ stock, Antec 430W TruePower). I've had it as high as 3.22 (235 FSB) without any problems CPU or memory wise (Prime95 had no problems), but then I noticed an odd video problem. I took everything back to stock but am...
  38. M

    Application of AS5 with a CNPS7000-AlCu?

    So what's worked best for those of you which use Arctic Silver 5 and a big heatsink like the Zalman CNPS7000-AlCu? Zalman says, "apply thermal paste and smooth out to thinly cover the whole surface of your P4." Arctic Silver says, "apply x amount to the middle of your P4, apply pressure with...
  39. M

    XP -- Can't open or delete a couple folders

    I believe Windows Update created a folder tree which now I can't remove. The drive letters on a new system I was building got assigned oddly and because of this my data drive ended up as C: and my system drive ended up as F:. My motherboard fried while patching critical updates and never...
  40. M

    General Timings question

    My Kingston HyperX is rated 2-3-2-6. My motherboard (IC7) detects as 8-2.5-3-3. I manually changed them to 6-2-3-3, but I can't figure out which of the 3's to change to 2 because I can't find HyperX timings labelled anywhere. Which is RAStoCAS and which is RASPrecharge? My mobo lists...