Personal computing discussed

Search found 103 matches

by TDIdriver
Fri May 19, 2017 3:56 pm
Forum: Cases and Power Supplies
Topic: What cases and PSUs are you guys using?
Replies: 83
Views: 12673

Re: What cases and PSUs are you guys using?

I'm using a 600T and hx650. Some days I wish I'd kept using my K62 for my main PC. It was much sturdier and simpler. I think I paid between around $60 for the PSU and $90 for the 600T.
by TDIdriver
Thu Oct 02, 2014 5:21 pm
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: Knives - Cut Above the Rest
Replies: 55
Views: 13193

Re: Knives - Cut Above the Rest

I was going to suggest almost any of the Byrd knives, particularly the Finch and Robin. $20 or less.
For clamshell packaging you're going to want a combo or fully serrated edge, which Spyderco/Byrd does quite well.
You could always get one of the exchange-a-blade deals like the Gerber.
by TDIdriver
Mon Aug 25, 2014 10:05 am
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: Knives - Cut Above the Rest
Replies: 55
Views: 13193

Re: Knives - Cut Above the Rest

turtlepwr281 wrote:
Welch,

The thing that's most important, and the thing that non knife-nuts don't realize: heat treatment and edge geometry is more important than steel. Crappy steel with a perfect heat-treat is going to out perform the best steel with a crappy heat treat EVERY time..

^this x100
by TDIdriver
Wed Aug 20, 2014 2:07 pm
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: Knives - Cut Above the Rest
Replies: 55
Views: 13193

Re: Knives - Cut Above the Rest

For good, and relatively inexpensive, broad-use outdoor/hunting knives Mora has some excellent options like the Bushcraft.
My EDC folders mostly consist of Kershaw Blurs and Scallions, with a Turbulence and Chive thrown in for good measure.
by TDIdriver
Tue Jul 01, 2014 2:03 pm
Forum: General Hardware
Topic: Good, affordable NiMH charger
Replies: 46
Views: 23773

Re: Good, affordable NiMH charger

You can get some really good chargers for $30 or less from Tenergy, Nitecore, and Xtar.
The Nitecore i4 goes for less than $20.
by TDIdriver
Tue May 27, 2014 3:43 pm
Forum: General Hardware
Topic: HD 7970 won't detect my LED TV
Replies: 24
Views: 30085

Re: HD 7970 won't detect my LED TV

Look in the bios for a setting related to "init display first" or something of that nature.
by TDIdriver
Fri May 09, 2014 2:54 pm
Forum: Graphics
Topic: Swiching betwin iGUP and dGPU on Z87 (but without VirtuMVP)?
Replies: 10
Views: 2236

Re: Swiching betwin iGUP and dGPU on Z87 (but without VirtuM

It seems that Virtu is largely relegated to MSI in post-7 series boards.
by TDIdriver
Tue Feb 25, 2014 4:41 pm
Forum: Motherboards, Chipsets, & RAM
Topic: mATX board for system upgrade
Replies: 17
Views: 4265

Re: mATX board for system upgrade

CPU will be either the Xeon E3-1225V3 or the Xeon E3-1245V3, depending on budget as they best match my use case. I've narrowed the search to the ASUS H87M-PRO or the GA-Z87MX-D3H . These offer me 3 monitor support (DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort) without resorting to D-Sub which has been problematic with a...
by TDIdriver
Tue Feb 25, 2014 3:50 pm
Forum: Cases and Power Supplies
Topic: Suggestions for a micro ATX case
Replies: 26
Views: 9905

Re: Suggestions for a micro ATX case

I think the Define Mini is worth a look.
What made you go with the Gryphon over something like the OC Formula or G1 Sniper boards?
by TDIdriver
Fri Feb 14, 2014 2:25 pm
Forum: General Hardware
Topic: DAC question
Replies: 49
Views: 8324

Re: DAC question

Even price not withstanding, the ODAC would seem to be the logical choice. Try finding detailed measurements on the Bifrost and others, that's what made me get it instead for my headphone setup.
by TDIdriver
Thu Feb 13, 2014 6:59 pm
Forum: General Hardware
Topic: DAC question
Replies: 49
Views: 8324

Re: DAC question

Quality of cables is largely irrelevant.

Look into ODAC or if you feel like you need it for some reason shell out slightly north of $1000 for a Benchmark DAC1.
by TDIdriver
Wed Feb 05, 2014 3:34 pm
Forum: System Builders Anonymous
Topic: Building a Basic System
Replies: 22
Views: 4411

Re: Building a Basic System

I'm doing a build for my employer with similar usage requirements. Right now I'm building it around this board... click here Basically you get motherboard, cpu, graphics all taken care of for under $100. There's also a Biostar model that has a PCI-E slot if you'd like the option to add discrete grap...
by TDIdriver
Mon Feb 03, 2014 12:48 pm
Forum: Graphics
Topic: IGP aiding Dedicated GPU performance?
Replies: 5
Views: 1821

Re: IGP aiding Dedicated GPU performance?

In addition to what Chrispy_ said, if you use something like Virtu MVP it could improve performance to have a better IGP. I don't see as many people using that compared to a year or so ago though.
by TDIdriver
Mon Dec 09, 2013 5:22 pm
Forum: Gaming
Topic: Too new to be a classic
Replies: 26
Views: 4504

Re: Too new to be a classic

Forza, Halo and Halo 2, probably a few others if I dig through my games.
by TDIdriver
Thu Dec 05, 2013 6:40 pm
Forum: Gaming
Topic: BF4 GPU Suggestions
Replies: 13
Views: 2992

Re: BF4 GPU Suggestions

JawsomeArt what CPU will it be paired with?
A 7950 is an excellent recommendation, but if you have something like an FX-4xxx or Core2 as a CPU it would be overkill.
by TDIdriver
Tue Nov 19, 2013 12:42 pm
Forum: System Builders Anonymous
Topic: micro-ATX build advice
Replies: 13
Views: 3533

Re: micro-ATX build advice

I recently did a mATX build for my father using the Fractal Design Define Mini, and I have to recommend at least looking at it. It's slightly larger than the TJ08 so you might not like that, and you might as well throw away the included controller. That said, it is one of the easiest cases to work i...
by TDIdriver
Mon Nov 18, 2013 4:47 pm
Forum: Overclocking, Tweaking, & Cooling
Topic: Need a CPU Cooler
Replies: 25
Views: 10348

Re: Need a CPU Cooler

Just get a Hyper 212 Evo and don't worry about it again. I agree that if this is happening at default speeds in a HAF case you have something wrong.
by TDIdriver
Sat Nov 16, 2013 4:48 pm
Forum: Hot Deals
Topic: 7870 Tahiti for $140 with MIR
Replies: 5
Views: 4415

Re: 7870 Tahiti for $140 with MIR

Got it installed last night. Card is dead silent in my PC at idle. To get an idea of noise/heat under load I ran the Furmark 3D test, and I noticed the fan profile is very conservative. At default settings I couldn't make it out over my case fans, but the temps did get up into the mid 80s. By settin...
by TDIdriver
Thu Nov 14, 2013 4:58 pm
Forum: Hot Deals
Topic: 7870 Tahiti for $140 with MIR
Replies: 5
Views: 4415

Re: 7870 Tahiti for $140 with MIR

What's your take on the noise levels and temps TDI? I see a fair amount of newegg reviews saying its relatively quiet but runs on the hotter end of the spectrum. It just got delivered according to UPS tracking haha. I'll get it in my PC after work and report back. My case's noise floor is pretty hi...
by TDIdriver
Thu Nov 14, 2013 4:05 pm
Forum: Hot Deals
Topic: 7870 Tahiti for $140 with MIR
Replies: 5
Views: 4415

Re: 7870 Tahiti for $140 with MIR

I bought one at this price. Unfortunately it only Crossfires with 7900 series cards, but my CPU couldn't drive that much graphics hp anyway.
It could theoretically outperform even the new R9 270X so even at $175 or so it would be a bargain.
by TDIdriver
Thu Nov 14, 2013 3:57 pm
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: Feeling Blue
Replies: 77
Views: 15683

Re: Feeling Blue

I'm in no way qualified to give psychological or medical advice and have no intention to do so. That being said, I've struggled with clinical depression since I was about 12 years old. Thankfully it's been well managed for a while, but occasionally I've felt just as you describe, sometimes for weeks...
by TDIdriver
Tue Mar 26, 2013 3:26 pm
Forum: General Hardware
Topic: Could a CPU and discrete GPU be placed on motherboard
Replies: 16
Views: 4088

Re: Could a CPU and discrete GPU be placed on motherboard

I'd imagine cost is the major factor, especially from R&D. Anyone recall the recent(-ish) concept board Asus put out?
http://rog.asus.com/116882012/news/asus ... u-onboard/
by TDIdriver
Mon Sep 17, 2012 2:51 pm
Forum: System Builders Anonymous
Topic: Luxury upgrade? Please offer ideas...
Replies: 19
Views: 6370

Re: Luxury upgrade? Please offer ideas...

A good alternative to the Plextor would be a Vertex 4 if they are priced similarly, as it has excellent random performance.
What case are you currently using?
by TDIdriver
Thu Sep 06, 2012 1:37 pm
Forum: Linux, Unix, and Assorted Madness
Topic: Ubuntu and Virtualbox issues - number of processors
Replies: 12
Views: 7333

Re: Ubuntu and Virtualbox issues - number of processors

Typically I give the VM at least one proc less than the computer actually has. That way at least one is free to do background tasks. I didn't base that on anything other than it made sense, so that might not be the case.
by TDIdriver
Wed Aug 29, 2012 5:39 pm
Forum: General Software
Topic: Cross platform RDC
Replies: 13
Views: 3351

Re: Cross platform RDC

We use the RDC client in openSUSE to connect to my dad's work PC(windows) all the time. But the target PC has to have at least Windows 7 Pro.
I heard this advertised on Leo Laporte. It's not free of course. And would only be worth it if it brought in revenue.
http://www.gotoassist.com/remote_support/
by TDIdriver
Wed Aug 29, 2012 1:05 pm
Forum: Cases and Power Supplies
Topic: CM Haf XM or C70?
Replies: 3
Views: 3589

Re: CM Haf XM or C70?

I was going to post the same question. Looking at those two as well.
by TDIdriver
Wed Aug 29, 2012 1:00 pm
Forum: Processors
Topic: Intel i3-2120 vs. AMD FX-6100
Replies: 29
Views: 18193

Re: Intel i3-2120 vs. AMD FX-6100

Why does everyone always assume that power consumption is an issue? Typically if you're overclocking that's already been thrown out the window. It can have an effect on selecting a power supply, which may make the difference between buying a cheaper CPU and more expensive PSU or a cheaper PSU and f...
by TDIdriver
Wed Aug 29, 2012 12:26 pm
Forum: Processors
Topic: Intel i3-2120 vs. AMD FX-6100
Replies: 29
Views: 18193

Re: Intel i3-2120 vs. AMD FX-6100

Chrispy_ wrote:
And before you think that overclocking might be a valid option, have a look at how it OM NOM NOM NOMs power compared to an i3

Why does everyone always assume that power consumption is an issue? Typically if you're overclocking that's already been thrown out the window.
by TDIdriver
Tue Aug 28, 2012 2:04 pm
Forum: Processors
Topic: Intel i3-2120 vs. AMD FX-6100
Replies: 29
Views: 18193

Re: Intel i3-2120 vs. AMD FX-6100

If overclocking will be involved the FX-6100 would be a good choice. Otherwise the i3 would be better.
:edit:
If you'll be overclocking the FX you'd want to move up to at least the GA-970A-D3 though
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