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    Just bought a 7870 for $220 AR -- good option?

    Had a few parts laying around from an old system: ASRock X58 Extreme i7-930 6GB of PC3 12800 (3x2GB) An old 400W powersupply Wanted to build out a decent system at the lowest possible cost, so picked up a: Diamond HD7870 2GB ($239 w/ $20 MIR = $219 AR) 120GB Samsung 840 SSD ($99)...
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    Do you recognize this screw?

    It's from a brand new ASRock X58 Extreme motherboard (used to hold the heatsinks down). The one on the left is broken... (arggh!) It's kind of a flanged design where the flange catches on the back of the motherboard, and must be pinched together to remove. Anyone know where I could find a...
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    Can using an old / underpowered PSU cause damages?

    Just wondering... I'm about to put together a new build (i7 920, Radeon HD 5850, single hard drive, nothing else), and I think I'm just going to use my old Free-After-Rebate "500w" PSU: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/465/1/ Worst case scenario is: I get random crashes / instability when I...
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    Buying an i7 920... should I select a specific chip?

    I was at my local Micro Center yesterday and saw they had a bunch of i7 920s in stock for $229. I'm unsure how a B&M is selling this processor for so much cheaper than all the online places, but it converted me over from my previous choice of the i5 750. Anyway, should I look for a certain UPC...
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    Good Time to Build?

    I never thought I'd admit this, but after building a new system almost every year until 2006, I've been on a bit of a hiatus... 100% satisfied with the speed of my 4yr old laptop. I can browse the web, use office apps, and stream media to my PS3. The rare time I have for gaming I've used...
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    How to Bridge Wireless Internet with Static Home Network?

    I recently bought a Brother MFC-440CN. I don't have any empty USB ports on my laptop, so I thought I'd connect it via LAN (on my old Dell 700m). I was able to setup the printer successfully: 1) Set the Wired LAN Connection to a static IP of 192.168.25.10 2) Set the printer to a static IP...
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    Must Push "On Button" Multiple Times to Start (!?!)

    I've got to push the power button multiple times for my computer to start up. Usually I just mash it furiously for about 10 seconds, and it'll eventually power up. No other problems. In one of my less impatient moods, it seemed like the lights / fans would come on VERY BRIEFLY after I hit the...
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    USB Power Surge Killing Dance Pads?

    I built my computer last Spring and haven't really paid much attention to it since then. It holds up fairly well: Geforce 7600 GS, Fortran 450W, 3700+, and EP-9NPA+ Ultra. Recently, I decided to try out some DDR (yes, late adopter, I know). I purchased these two pads from BNS. The major...
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    Geforce 7600 GS Overclocking Results

    I bought this recently: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130011 The EVGA Geforce 7600 GS 256mb Retail. Heard it was a decent card, and it came out to $104 afer MIR... rather cheap! Its natural clock is 400mhz/400mhz and gives me a 3dMark05 result of: 3973 -...
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    New Mid-range Gaming System & Price! v.2

    Just a built a new system (to go with a recent 2007WFP acquisition)... Not sure why, I think I have a learning deficiency. Parts listed in order of descending price (includes s/h & tax): $380: ATI Radeon X1900 XTX 512mb PCIe $235: AMD Athlon 3700+ San Diego $127: 2x1GB PC3200 DDR SDRAM...
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    "Value Priced" 550W Power Supply

    So, I think I'm going to need at least a 550W power supply... I have a X1900XTX, X2 3800+, 2x1GB DIMMs, DVD+/-RW, 4 USB devices, and a SATA harddrive. http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculator.jsp According to that calculator, looks like I won't be getting off cheap. SO...
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    CPU to max out Radeon X1900XTX?

    Which CPU will max out the Radeon X1900XTX (in typical gaming usage... like Oblivion or HL2)? 3700+ San Diego 2.2Ghz: $235 3800+ X2 Manchester 2.0Ghz: $297 4200+ X2 Manchester 2.2Ghz: $357 I plan on using the stock heatsink. Will overclock, but only what I can achieve easily with the...
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    Building a System Around X1900XT

    Ok, so I think I've decided on a video card for a new system build. It's for one purpose: to play Oblivion (and HL2) on my brand, new 2007WFP. This is pretty much the minimum I can get if I want decent graphics, right? X1900XT just purchased from Dell. -edit 4/19 10:20pm- So, help me...
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    Force 2007WFP Resolution

    The 2007WFP has a native resolution of 1680x1050. I'm going out from my laptop using a standard VGA cable. However, I can't seem to be able to select that option.... (even PowerStrip doesn't give it to me). I'm stuck at lower / malformed resolutions. This doesn't make sense, because I...
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    3200+ and GeForce 7800GT Overclock Results

    The System Case: Antec Sonata II Power: Antec 450W SmartPower Mainboard: Epox Ultra 9NPA+ CPU: Athlon64 Socket989 3200+ (2.0Ghz, 10x multiplier) CPU HSF: Thermalright SI-120, 120mm Nexus fan, AS5 GPU: eVGA Geforce 7800GT GPU HSF: Zalman ZF700-AlCu, AS-Ceramique Memory: 2x1GB OCZ...
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    How Hot Do Heat Pipes Get?

    I have an Epox 8NPA+ and a Sonata II case with an SI-120 HSF. The power connector to the motherboard rests against the heatpipes on the SI-120. I'm guessing that if I leave it this way, it will melt right through the multicolored plastic coating on the wires. Is that a correct assumption...
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    SI-120 and Nexus Fan Incompatible?

    I recently purchased an SI-120 along with the default Nexus fan from Jab-tech. However, the fan clips are made for a fan that has four screw/attachment holes on each of the corners of the bottom edge of the fan. The Nexus fan has four "shafts" instead of a separate hole on the bottom and top...
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    Surround Sound & Computer Desks?

    I'm trying to decide how to set up my recent computer (and am buying a new desk and chair). I have a low-mid quality 5.1 speaker system (X-530). Do you guys find that surround sound requires an L-shaped desk? So, you would essentially put your monitor at the corner of the "L", two speakers...
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    New Mid-range Gaming System & Price!

    I've listed the prices, parts, and vendors below. If you see anything completely out of line (or anywhere I got ripped off or am missing a major concept), speak up! I'm not a poor college student, but I'm not a wasteful enthusiast, either. My goal was to go for the optimum value solution...
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    HSF in Sonata II Case w/ Epox 8NPA+ Ultra

    Hey, I was just trying to decide between these two heatsinks. I'll buy a 120mm fan, too (but that's a different discussion). These are my top two choices right now. Silence is important to me -- hence the choice of heatsinks that support a 120mm fan. I'll be overclocking a 3200+ Venice...
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    Poll: Number of Dead Pixels on Your 2405FPW?

    Yay! (Kind of). I got my 2405FPW in today, and I want to run the full battery of tests on it to determine if I should return it and have a new one sent or not. I used "LCDTest" and was able to detect two obviously dead pixels. One is about two inches from the left side along the midline...
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    POLL: Compare These Two Systems

    These two systems are relatively equivalent. I play games 70% of the time. Both systems will be running a Dell 2405FPW display. I read the recent review on Anandtech (see here), and it's obvious that the AMD system is a superior build. Here's the question: How much MORE is the AMD System...
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    Just spent $1.3k on a New Dell Computer

    I've been in the market for a new computer for a while, with an eye towards procuring one of those beautiful value-priced >20" Dell LCDs before buying the parts. A deal came across my table a couple hours ago, and I couldn't help but jump on it for $1,290. Here are the specs: Pentium D...
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    POLL: Gaming with 2005FPW vs. 2001FP

    Even though this probably comes down to whether or not your favorite games offer widescreen support or not, it would be nice to get a quantitative view. I know there's a new topic every week about this (including an active one right now), but they all have conflicting opinions. It would be...