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Archive through March 21, 2008

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: Jan. 2008 ~ Mar. 2008: All Things Technical: The Help Desk: Computer Problems? Ask Here: Archive through March 21, 2008 users admin

Author Message
Bob2112
Member

06-12-2002

Thursday, March 20, 2008 - 2:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bob2112 a private message Print Post    
Julieboo: It works that way on a PC also.

If you want a Mac, get a Mac.

Much of the world runs just fine on Windows, for less money.


Naja
Member

06-28-2003

Friday, March 21, 2008 - 2:48 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Naja a private message Print Post    
Dear Bob, I haven't hit send yet on my order. Is there any reason I should go ahead and save myself my 23 bucks and go with a stock 400 watt power supply, or spend the extra 23 bucks and get this instead?

460watt Cooler Master eXtreme Power RS-460-PMSR-A3

Naja
Member

06-28-2003

Friday, March 21, 2008 - 2:56 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Naja a private message Print Post    
And also Bob, what is really the difference between

3.0Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 6MB Cache FSB 1333

and

3.0Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 4MB Cache FSB 1333

??

I mean I see one says 6 MB Cache and the other 4, but what difference would it show while using your computer? I can save another 40 bucks if I go with the 4 MB one, but I don't want to if it does something I will really notice or appreciate.

Bob2112
Member

06-12-2002

Friday, March 21, 2008 - 4:12 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bob2112 a private message Print Post    
Does the stock 400W PSU have a brand?
The 460W Cooler Master is a lower end PSU and most of the reviews say it's fine for the money, but nothing special. Looks like it costs about $40 brand new, so you would save a little with the upgrade. I tend to spend more on PSUs (so they don't catch fire! LOL!) and use either 600W or 700W. You should be fine with either the 400W or 460W.

The processor with the 6MB of L2 cache also uses Intel's newer 45nm architecture which is starting to replace the 65nm.
In simpler terms, if you plan to do much video editing, high def video processing or play highly graphical games, then the 45nm will run things better. You will be fine with either of them, so if you don't do much of the things listed, save the $40.


Naja
Member

06-28-2003

Friday, March 21, 2008 - 4:20 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Naja a private message Print Post    
Bob, the stock power supply says included with case, nothing else, and the case is

Apevia Black X-Plorer (4 5.25, 5 3.5 bays) 2 Fans, Window, Front USB/1394/Temp




Video recording, converting and editing is like my main big cpu draining thing I do (I am only a light gamer), so I guess I should spend the 40 bucks. Thanks :-)I also plan on recording hdtv on the pc in few months for my birthday upgrade, so there's even more of a reason I guess :-) Thanks.

eta, I found the stock cooling spcs. Intel LGA775

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Friday, March 21, 2008 - 4:35 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
Ongoing computer stuff here . . .

Jim (CompUcoach) is going to remote in Sunday evening and remove Norton. He will come here Monday morning to turn on computer and do whatever. Then install CA 2008 AntiVirus / AntiSpyware software for protection. Hopefully that will fix slow cold start-up, but they said no guarantees. I understand that.

What do you think of CA for protection? They recommend it.

Posts between Naja and Bob . . . Huh???

Bob2112
Member

06-12-2002

Friday, March 21, 2008 - 4:38 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bob2112 a private message Print Post    
Based on what you just said, the $40 would be well spent on the CPU upgrade.

Go ahead with the 400W PSU. I don't think the 460W is that great of an upgrade. You can always replace the PSU later if you add hard drives or upgrade the video card. It's easy to do if you can handle a screw driver and note which devices need power.


Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Friday, March 21, 2008 - 4:46 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
I'm thinking the title of this thread should be changed to:

"Computer Problems? Ask Bob Here"

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Friday, March 21, 2008 - 4:48 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Or better yet:
"Computer Problems? Ask Here"

Bob2112
Member

06-12-2002

Friday, March 21, 2008 - 4:56 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bob2112 a private message Print Post    
Computer problems? Buy a Mac!

Bob2112
Member

06-12-2002

Friday, March 21, 2008 - 5:02 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bob2112 a private message Print Post    
Colordeagua: I'm happy with AVG, so I don't really have direct experience with the other programs. Just what I read.

CA is a bit pricey and they charge even more for phone support, but I don't think you would call them directly anyway. CA 2008 does seem to be getting better reviews and higher ratings than Norton.

How much are they charging you for the software?
How much is the annual renewal?
Is Jim opposed to loading AVG?

Do you want to do one last test over night to see if we can point the finger directly at Norton?


Bonzacat
Member

07-08-2003

Friday, March 21, 2008 - 5:02 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bonzacat a private message Print Post    




Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Friday, March 21, 2008 - 5:03 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
I think we need another Chicago meet sometime soon!

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Friday, March 21, 2008 - 5:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
CompUcoach not opposed to AVG, but recommends CA. $39.99. Don't know about renewal. I'd say CUc is good ('cept somebody's got to learn people skills). And you can tell I'm up a creek without help. Thought of not having anyone to call for help is very stressful for me.

Yes, I'm game for another try. Hope it's not too brain taxing. Not much left.


Julie, YES.

Naja
Member

06-28-2003

Friday, March 21, 2008 - 5:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Naja a private message Print Post    
Hi, I asked Bob specifically because it was an extension of an earlier conversation. I didn't mean to offend anybody.

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Friday, March 21, 2008 - 5:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
Naja, was that because of my "Huh?" Just meant that as a joke. It is all Greek to me.

Naja
Member

06-28-2003

Friday, March 21, 2008 - 5:47 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Naja a private message Print Post    
LOL Colordeagua, ooooh! When it comes to hardware, a lot of it is Greek to me, too...That's why I have to ask "Bob"...hahaha

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Friday, March 21, 2008 - 5:48 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
I don't know enough to be able to ask the question much less understand the answer.

Bob, there is something very simple I'd like to do on the computer, but don't know words for it to search for answer. How do I put screen to sleep? Something through Control Pannel? I have fish tank for screen saver, but if you want screen to go black after a while . . . how?

So many acronyms. Relative to TiVo, I just figured out what "GSOD" is.

Landileigh
Member

07-29-2002

Friday, March 21, 2008 - 5:53 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Landileigh a private message Print Post    
bob, i hate to ask this as i know quite a bit about computers, but i need to buy a MAC. do i buy a regular Mac Book with 4GB and 250 HD? or a Mac Power Book with 4GB and a 250 HD? i'm going to be using Adobe CS Web Premium, Final Cut and Microsoft Office. i'll be making video podcasts for the company i work for and uploading them to itunes and i'll be doing website tweaks and new pages, along with basic office functions. what extras should i make sure to get? can i use my existing wireless network router or do i have to buy one that is MAC specific? can i use a mouse with a MAC? or do i have to use the touchpad? also i have a brand new Logitech QuickCam Pro 2000, can i use that on this new MAC too?

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Friday, March 21, 2008 - 5:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Naja, I don't think anyone took offense!! I was just being funny! (or attempting to be--that doesn't always work, though!!)

Naja
Member

06-28-2003

Friday, March 21, 2008 - 6:02 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Naja a private message Print Post    
LOL, no problem! I just thought maybe other people wanted to answer, but here I was only asking Bob...LOL

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Friday, March 21, 2008 - 6:04 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
Same with my question about putting screen to sleep. Anyone?

Landileigh
Member

07-29-2002

Friday, March 21, 2008 - 6:10 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Landileigh a private message Print Post    
i meant to say i know alot about PCs, not MACs

Karuuna
Board Administrator

08-31-2000

Friday, March 21, 2008 - 6:26 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Karuuna a private message Print Post    
Landi, I can answer some of those for you:

You can use a mouse with your Mac, but you'll want a one-button mouse, not the two button kind that come with PCs.

Macs will work with any wireless network, if your notebook has a wireless card installed.

Your QuickCam is Mac Compatible. You'll need the installation CD to install the appropriate software.

PowerBooks were discontinued in 2006. The MacBooks are all built with Intel processors, and the old PPC processors will eventually not be compatible with software upgrades. So get a Macbook.

Hope that helps!

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Friday, March 21, 2008 - 6:38 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Slight correction here... You absolutely DO want to use a two button mouse. They work just fine on a Mac. When you right-click an icon, it's the same as pressing Cmd + click. (For Landi especially, coming from the Windows world, it'll make the transition much easier and it is so much faster to access functions with the right-click.)

Connecting to a wireless with a Mac is easier than with Windows. Basically, it's pretty much connected as soon as the WAP is found! :-)

Landi, buy a MacBook Pro. Get the 17" screen if you can (it's awesome!). If you are doing some really graphics intensive work, you may want to bump your memory, but 2GB should work for most all you do. It comes with iLife, which I think is so basic that it's almost useless. So be sure to check out the apps you need to do the (new) work you'll be doing.