Personal computing discussed

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by swampfox
Sat Jun 29, 2013 9:20 pm
Forum: System Builders Anonymous
Topic: Suggestions for 775 rig
Replies: 28
Views: 6468

Re: Suggestions for 775 rig

Thanks for the advice. Yes, the 4850 was a great, inexpensive card for gaming at the time, but it gets hot and fairly noisy (particularly if the fan is working overtime because you haven't dusted the thing lately!).
by swampfox
Fri Jun 21, 2013 10:15 pm
Forum: System Builders Anonymous
Topic: Suggestions for 775 rig
Replies: 28
Views: 6468

Suggestions for 775 rig

I'm thinking about upgrading my rig (see signature), but I'm not sure if there is anything I can do with the old parts. Can I turn these into a low power home server, or am I going to be better off selling these and getting a Synology or something like that?
by swampfox
Sun Sep 23, 2012 10:53 am
Forum: Mobile Tech
Topic: Which HP Laptop is the best to buy?
Replies: 12
Views: 5363

Re: Which HP Laptop is the best to buy?

The answer might partly depend on what you want. The dv4 has a 45W processor, dm4 has a 35W, which means it should run a little cooler and maybe have a little better battery life. It is also 200 MHz slower. Either graphics card will be ok (unless you want to game much), but the dv4 looks like it ha...
by swampfox
Sat Sep 22, 2012 8:44 pm
Forum: Mobile Tech
Topic: Which HP Laptop is the best to buy?
Replies: 12
Views: 5363

Re: Which HP Laptop is the best to buy?

The answer might partly depend on what you want. The dv4 has a 45W processor, dm4 has a 35W, which means it should run a little cooler and maybe have a little better battery life. It is also 200 MHz slower. Either graphics card will be ok (unless you want to game much), but the dv4 looks like it has...
by swampfox
Thu Aug 09, 2012 9:43 pm
Forum: Storage
Topic: Recommend a 2/3TB HDD in the 100-170 range for me
Replies: 13
Views: 4534

Re: Recommend a 2/3TB HDD in the 100-170 range for me

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned WD Red drives. They have a three-year warranty. I'm looking at getting one for our NAS.

2TB WD Red is $130 on NewEgg

but the 3TB is currently out of stock and $200, so that's a bit much.
by swampfox
Mon Feb 27, 2012 10:26 pm
Forum: Windows
Topic: Today I Learned
Replies: 13
Views: 3583

Re: Today I Learned

Well that's awesome. I've been annoyed by that as well, and of course there is a simple solution that I never bothered to go looking for... :)
by swampfox
Sun Feb 12, 2012 10:10 pm
Forum: General Hardware
Topic: Notebook Dissonance!
Replies: 6
Views: 1573

Re: Notebook Dissonance!

I've got a DM1z, and it works great, particularly for your core uses. The screen isn't great, but I stream movies to it and watch with my wife, and it works fine.
by swampfox
Thu Jan 26, 2012 5:15 am
Forum: System Builders Anonymous
Topic: New to PC's -- Friend wants to build me a "Beast" machine?
Replies: 114
Views: 20130

Re: New to PC's -- Friend wants to build me a "Beast" machin

Here is my current spec.... Okay, let's back up the truck a bit and note that pretty much anything you build using modern parts is going to blow that machine out the window. This got a serious LOL from me. I agree with those here, particularly as regards the i5-2500K, and a quality ~500W PSU. I wou...
by swampfox
Thu Jan 05, 2012 3:44 am
Forum: Visual Haven
Topic: Nikon D5100
Replies: 21
Views: 6705

Re: Nikon D5100

Just received a d5100 for christmas (yay). Fun to play with but it only came with a af-s dx 18-55mm. It would be nice to pick up a couple reasonably priced lenses; perhaps one for landscapes and one for people/indoors? Not really sure what to use for shooting what. Congrats. My brother-in-law has a...
by swampfox
Fri Dec 02, 2011 2:13 am
Forum: Gaming
Topic: Dungeon Defenders
Replies: 9
Views: 2871

Re: Dungeon Defenders

Does it run well on weak hardware? In order to play multiplayer, have to use my dm1z...
by swampfox
Fri Dec 02, 2011 2:09 am
Forum: Gaming
Topic: favorite pc game?
Replies: 50
Views: 13262

Re: favorite pc game?

Can you compare Sanctum and Orcs Must Die for me? I just finished playing Orcs Must Die and I rather liked it. Sanctum looks like a similar concept, so I'm wondering if it's as fun. Sorry, haven't played Orcs Must Die. Recommend it? How about multiplayer, and for weak computers? (I'm playing Sanctu...
by swampfox
Fri Dec 02, 2011 1:54 am
Forum: Gaming
Topic: favorite pc game?
Replies: 50
Views: 13262

Re: favorite pc game?

Really enjoying Sanctum right now. Fun to go back and forth between Tower Defense and FPS.
by swampfox
Thu Nov 24, 2011 9:51 pm
Forum: Gaming
Topic: Holiday Steam Sale 2011
Replies: 54
Views: 6425

Re: Holiday Steam Sale 2011

Hey guys, Just wondering if you have any advice on which fallout new vegas DLC's might be worth getting. Probably don't need all of them, but the good ones would be cool. I loved Old World Blues and Honest Hearts, and couldn't stand Dead Money. But then, Metacritic exactly disagrees with me. That's...
by swampfox
Tue Nov 22, 2011 8:35 pm
Forum: Gaming
Topic: Enter our Anomaly: Warzone Earth giveaway here
Replies: 161
Views: 22276

Re: Enter our Anomaly: Warzone Earth giveaway here

Have been wanting to check this game out. Free seems like a good option, particularly now that I didn't win a copy of Skyrim. ;)
by swampfox
Sun Nov 06, 2011 2:53 am
Forum: System Builders Anonymous
Topic: Need Mouse Recommendations
Replies: 25
Views: 3653

Re: Need Mouse Recommendations

Meadows wrote:
JustAnEngineer wrote:
Have you tried a simple Logitech MX518 as RickyTick suggested?

No.
G400.


Thinking about getting one of these... I've heard it is essentially a newer, more inexpensive version of the MX518. Is that true?
by swampfox
Thu Oct 27, 2011 6:18 am
Forum: System Builders Anonymous
Topic: Time for a new system - Utility Player?
Replies: 21
Views: 4044

Re: Time for a new system - Utility Player?

A couple of helpers: a 2500k is the most you'll want to go with, the 2600k is too much more $ for not enough more performance. If you live near a Microcenter, they're selling 2500k's from $150-$180. Thanks for the heads-up. In fact, there is a Microcenter in the Denver area but it's pretty far sout...
by swampfox
Sun Oct 23, 2011 12:24 am
Forum: System Builders Anonymous
Topic: Need Mouse Recommendations
Replies: 25
Views: 3653

Re: Need Mouse Recommendations

Zoomastigophora wrote:
So I think I might just end up cycling through mice until I get one I like.


Zoomastigophora wrote:
I'll keep this thread updated with my mousing adventures ;)


Curious what you settled on...
by swampfox
Thu Oct 20, 2011 10:17 pm
Forum: Visual Haven
Topic: Looking for a new monitor
Replies: 13
Views: 2622

Re: Looking for a new monitor

Just wanted to second this question. I'm curious about getting a 27" 2560x1440 monitor, but don't see lots of reviews around aside from the Dell ones... thoughts or suggestions?
by swampfox
Wed Aug 31, 2011 6:59 am
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: Recommendations for a sci-fi novel
Replies: 104
Views: 10499

Re: Recommendations for a sci-fi novel

paulWTAMU wrote:
Also try Charles Stross' Atrocity Archives (kind of a sci fi/horror blend).


Yes, Charles Stross is cool.
by swampfox
Wed Aug 31, 2011 6:58 am
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: Recommendations for a sci-fi novel
Replies: 104
Views: 10499

Re: Recommendations for a sci-fi novel

just brew it! wrote:
swampfox wrote:
the Ender series

I liked the original Ender series, but not the related "Shadow" series.


I only read Ender's Shadow, and it was entertaining to see things from another point of view. There's a whole series of those?
by swampfox
Tue Aug 30, 2011 10:09 pm
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: Recommendations for a sci-fi novel
Replies: 104
Views: 10499

Re: Recommendations for a sci-fi novel

Adding my vote to some already mentioned: the Dune series, the Ender series, and the Old Man's War series (as well as other things by Scalzi).

Ringworld sounds interesting; might have to check it out myself.
by swampfox
Tue Aug 30, 2011 8:27 am
Forum: Gaming
Topic: Games that make you RAGE
Replies: 71
Views: 16983

Re: Games that make you RAGE

Last one I remember cursing at was Mario Galaxy, one of its jumping puzzles. I hate jumping puzzles; they're just an exercise in split-second timing. The ultimate expression of this need for precise and accurate timing would have to be NES Battletoads, which was so hard as to be unfair. I don't rec...
by swampfox
Tue Aug 30, 2011 3:59 am
Forum: Gaming
Topic: Games that make you RAGE
Replies: 71
Views: 16983

Re: Games that make you RAGE

Last one I remember cursing at was Mario Galaxy, one of its jumping puzzles. I hate jumping puzzles; they're just an exercise in split-second timing. The ultimate expression of this need for precise and accurate timing would have to be NES Battletoads, which was so hard as to be unfair. I don't rec...
by swampfox
Thu Aug 25, 2011 6:23 am
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: New Family Member Needs Name!
Replies: 30
Views: 2966

Re: New Family Member Needs Name!

I like somewhat uncommon human names. We had a dog named Vern when I was a kid. Always made people chuckle a little. Your new puppy is adorable (when I opened the thread, I was afraid I was going to have to name a 30" Dell IPS panel or something like that... this is much better!). Watched the v...
by swampfox
Thu Aug 25, 2011 6:16 am
Forum: Visual Haven
Topic: Just bought a camera
Replies: 13
Views: 4685

Re: Just bought a camera

JustAnEngineer wrote:
The AF 50mm f/1.8D is $120.


This little lens is great, and is well worth the $120.
by swampfox
Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:12 am
Forum: System Builders Anonymous
Topic: Building my First Computer- "Sweeter Spot" for college- Help
Replies: 15
Views: 2670

Re: Building my First Computer- "Sweeter Spot" for college-

I'll chime in with my take. Like the others have already said, nice build overall. I'll start off by echoing a few comments. (1) IMHO the sound card is probably not needed. Back in the day when I was building only my second PC (also for school) I dropped in a Creative sound card and can absolutely ...
by swampfox
Fri Aug 19, 2011 12:52 am
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: Ok techreport. I am now officially ticked!
Replies: 43
Views: 4497

Re: Ok techreport. I am now officially ticked!

after I log in tio post a comment in a thread, I get this screen that says you have now logged in and will be redirected but I get redirected to the general forum page. I then have to navigate, find the thread I was interested in, find the post I wanted to reply to, then hit reply and post the thou...
by swampfox
Mon Aug 15, 2011 11:51 pm
Forum: Mobile Tech
Topic: College Needs/Wants
Replies: 18
Views: 2852

Re: College Needs/Wants

Thank you, this is exactly the kind of information I was looking for. I still want one, but I will now likely go the ultraportable route. So what do you guys think? Dm1z, perhaps? I have a dm1z and love it, but would really prefer a 13.3" screen. Have also used a Lenovo T420s, and it is quite ...
by swampfox
Mon Aug 01, 2011 8:33 am
Forum: System Builders Anonymous
Topic: August! Let's discuss another build! :)
Replies: 8
Views: 1451

Re: August! Let's discuss another build! :)

If the current rig isn't hurting, wait for at least Sandy E, and then just wait for Ivy as well. If you keep saving, you could build a sweet Ivy rig, and get a new monitor or something like that.
by swampfox
Thu Jul 21, 2011 9:18 am
Forum: System Builders Anonymous
Topic: [POLL] Tick or Tock?
Replies: 16
Views: 5027

Re: Tick or Tock?

Wow - first to vote! My last two computers were a tock (e6400) and a tick (e7300). Not sure if it matters terribly, but I'm always impressed with the ticks: a refined architecture, power and speed improvements...

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