Computer M-M-M-MEGATHREAD

[FooTemps]

Because of the threadjacking of psychowarden's thread and the deletion of multiple freeware software threads, I have created this computer megathread.

There will be serveral categories in this thread. These are:

Hardware talk
talk about all hardware related issues here. (show off your rig, talk about new hardware, ask for comparisons)
Some rigs:
Mango's rig
Personman's rig
Timmee's rig and worklog
Slade's rig
Software talk
talk about all software related issues. (these include releases, comparisons, testing, updates)
Some mac related software
technical difficulties
if you have problems, ask AO! we have enough junkies here to help.
modding
dremel + case = modding, modding + talk = good!
computer news
any news in the computer world that is not related to any of these categories, these include internets, legislation to regulate internets, and failiures in legislation to regulate internets

If you are going to post about a topic, PLEASE SAY YOUR TOPIC IN YOUR REPLY TITLE.

Here are some helpful resources for computer lovers.
www.hardocp.com - A long standing website that reviews, how-to's and news related to hardware and overclocking (related websites - www.hardforum.com )
www.overclockers.com - Another reputable site related to hardware and overclocking (related website - www.ocforums.com )
www.tomshardware.com - Recently updated, THG is another big pc news site (related websites - www.mobilityguru.com www.twitchguru.com www.denguru.com http://forumz.tomshardware.com/index.php )
www.procooling.com - Hardcore cooling site. These guys are serious about cooling and is a good resource for watercoolers, extreme cooling, and other wacky ideas when it comes to cooling. (related websites http://forums.procooling.com )
www.bit-tech.net - A primarily UK based site, bit-tech does reviews, modding how-to's and is the home to many expert modders such as G-nome, G69T, defyant, and more. (related websites http://forums.bit-tech.net )

Software
Awesome freeware!
Operating Systems
linux - ubuntu
windows - bartPE builder (only for making windows preinstalled environment discs, not an actual OS)
Performance/monitoring
CPUZ
Samurize
Motherboard Monitor
Web browers
Mozilla Firefox
System maintenance
Lavasoft Adaware freeware
Spybot Search and Destroy
File Compression
Winrar (trial)
Winace
7-zip
Media
Winamp
FFD Show
Realtime/Quicktime alternative
DivX (Although FFD show is superior)
Windows Media Classic
Downloading
Bit-Torrent
UTorrent
Azereus
BitTornado
BitComet

[slade]

i want my post back

quick list:

os - linux - ubuntu
everyone knows firefox, adaware and spybot
office suite - openoffice.org
zip - 7-zip, free not trial version
music - winamp
crapcleaner - cleans unneeded files, and searches registry for errors
messenger - trillian or gaim
dictionary - wordweb dictionary

[maxama10]

okay okay i give! ill edit :
Software:

This has to be one of the best, IMO, Media Players around and its on almost all platforms. VLC Media Player http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

Ipod ripping software, going from your Ipod to pc or mac; its not free but you get several free trial uses
windows (2000 or XP): http://www.thelittleappfactory.com/s...ipodripwin.php
and for the Macs (osx): Ipod Rip http://www.thelittleappfactory.com/a...hp?app=iPodRip

compression: Stuffit Expander for mac , windows and linux version free trials...
Mac (osx)http://www.stuffit.com/mac/expander/index.html

Antivirus:
Mac. (dont need it though, its a mac!)
ClamXav http://www.clamxav.com/

DVD ripping for mac:
handbrake :http://handbrake.m0k.org/

sorry if theres not much for windows.... as I use my mac primarily so...


hope this helps someone

[Mango]

Hardware Talk

Here is my new toy:
I've made some changes to it but as it stands I'm running:
Opteron 175 @ 2.5GHz
2 Gigs of Corsair 3500PRO LL 2-3-2-6 @ 236MHz
Asus A8N32
SLi 7800 GT OC'd
X-fi Platinum
Enermax Noisetaker 600w SLi certified PSU
Plextor 716a & Sony DRU-810 DVD roms
Gigabyte Aurora 3D case
Dual NV Silencer 5's on the 7800's
Zalman 9500 CPU cooler
Zalman fan speed controller

Gaming rig



I have some parts for sale if anyone is interested. I have all hardware and packaging.

Zalman 7700 Cu CPU cooler
two Zalman VF 700 CuLED gpu coolers
AMD 3200+ cpu
2 Gigs Cas 2 Patriot DDR 400 memory (Patriot Extreme Performance, I've had it to 218MHz stable)
Asus A8N SLi Premium motherboard


PM or Email me.

[personman]

My computers alright... nothing too special.. but I got a new case and video card for christmas.



Abit AN7
1 gig (2x 512) ddr266
120gig seagate 7200rpm
Geforce 4 ti4200 128mb (right now, my Sapphire Radeon x800gto 256mb is gonna be here thursday)
Samsung DVD rom
Memorex 32maxx burner
external Memorex 16x dual layer dvd +/- burner
AMD Athlon XP 3000+ Barton

I dont really plan on upgrading anymore for a while.. all this 64 bit processor and PCI-e crap is pissing me off.. its been out for what a year and its all you can find now. You can hardly find any decent AGP cards..

[FooTemps]

Hardware Talk

Personman, AGP is out the door already, I'd suggest getting PCI-E and 64 bit soon or you won't be able to run anything. hahahaha

[personman]

Nah, like I said my AGP is doing just fine. Maybe in a few years.

And support for AGP is going to HAVE to be there for at least a few more years. I'd bet that 90% of computer users still use AGP.

So I wouldnt quite say AGP is out the door. Its just that hardly anyone makes them anymore

[Mango]

Oh boy, those plexi cases are high on the neat-o scale but horrible on the thermals. I wouldn't use that case for much more than what you already have in there, unless you plan on water cooling your next setup with a dual loop or something.

[maxama10]

something ive always wondered....isnt it worse to put all the fany lights inside and what not like that...? I would think its slow airflow some and also heat from the lights?

[Mango]

No, the lights are LED and generate almost no heat. They are very efficient and do not impact power consumption very much at all either. Of course, if you were being extremely technical you could say they generate heat and impact airflow since they ARE added to the fan unit, but it is nothing even remotely worth discussing or being worried about in a gaming/enthusiasts computer.

[maxama10]

hmm, okay, makes sense
thanks
-max

[Steelrat]

From looking at these rigs its obvious I need to upgrade.

-P4 2.55
-512 MB RAMBUS (and forget getting any more, stupid expensive)
-70 and 250 mb hard drives
-CD and DVD (speed unknown)
-128 MB Radeon version unknown right now, will update later



For a replacement, should I buy a premade, or build one. If I build one, how much would it cost to put together a cutting edge machine? I'm sick of running BF2 at the lowest resolution.

[personman]

Yeah Mango, I dont really plan on doing much with it. But I've got a nice airflow going through it, I've got 2 80mm fans blowing in, one on front and one on side, then I've got one blowing out, and the power supply has 2 fans, sucking air out of the case and blowing it out the back. I also put this fan thingy I tore out of my bros computer that goes in the 5.5" slot.. has 3 tiny fans. Doubt it does much. Its not in that pic.

But as you can see all of my cables are rounded and leds run pretty cool (cathodes get warm though.)

Steelrat: Build one. You can play bf2 with that thing?!?!
Haha I cant play bf2 with mine. Wont even run. Only because of my video card, but still.
Cutting edge? Probably a few thousand..
But you could probably make a pretty nice running comp for about a grand. It's been a while since I've looked at the prices of parts though.

Check things out at www.newegg.com
Just make sure your mobo is pci-e... because like I said you cant find any AGP cards anymore everything is made for pci-e. Also I'd go with an AMD 64 processor.

[FooTemps]

Hardware talk

Steelrat, I'd suggest going for the budget performer machine. My system (when I bought and built it) is a basically cutting edge machine for its form factor. I ran top line CPU, Graphics Card, maxed out ram, high end sound. I could have gone higher if I had more space but I ended up at 1600 dollars. The only thing is I'm regretting cutting costs because I'm already updating my motherboard and cooling (which I cut costs on in the first place). I say plan for budget performance and that way you don't get stuck with some weird alternate if you're stuck cutting costs. If you can hold out, the next top end ati vid card is due out in a month so prices will drop even more for lower end budget models.

CPU: I'd suggest going for either a pentium M or A64 (dual core or not doesn't matter unless you do encoding and rendering) based system. The pentium M will give you a lot of overclocking power. It'll also be good for gaming. A64 is more of a power hog but it is a performer.

Memory: Always get more memory. That's the bottom line. Sometimes even 1 gig isn't enough for these performance hungry programs.

HD: You either get capacity or silence, Samsung has great silent drives and almost everyone else has great capacity.

Video cards: Like I already said, the new ATI video card is due out at the end of january so prices will drop on budget performers like the 6800gs or x800gto

[Mango]

Steel: I'll hook you up on some great parts if you want to build a new system. All new and still with full warrenties.