[clelia vega]

Can anyone here suggest where I can save money with this build? I am looking to use an APU as a base, since it is a reasonable quad-core processor with a decent graphics card attached. After a few months, I then intend to add a dedicated graphics card, such as a GTX 660 or Radeon 7850. Is this a good idea?

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zD8sCygZ7xIDVdfABcd1YMItw_qzcmXAK6NxCDU7PAw/edit?usp=sharing

Drop us a PM or leave a comment on the Google Drive document if you can help, please.

[Je suis]

I suppose this is as good a place to ask as any.

I have found a gif that I would like to use as my avatar however at the moment it is too large. How would I reduce it in size, I did as a noob try in MS paint but that failed miserably

[Captian Caveman]

Gimp works well.

[Céline Rémy]

Thanks I will try that

[Danger Mouse]

I need a new laptop for college and have sort of been looking around for one, but I am certainly no computer expert. I sort of understand what things do, but beyond that, nothing. Price really isn't a big deal. I also want to use it for some games, nothing really big. But if it were Battlefield 3 I don't care if I have to run it on low/medium graphics.

Here are the minimum requirements.

Intel? Core? i5 Processor or higher

? 4GB DDR3 SDRAM or higher

? Dedicated video card with minimum 1GB of video memory

? HDMI port for external monitor/projector

? HDMI cable

? 500GB (7200rpm) hard drive

? DVD±RW

? Audio

? 10/100/1000 Network interface

? Wireless 802.11g/n

? USB 2.0 ports

? OS: Windows 7 or 8 Professional or higher, 64-bit

A couple things I looked at were http://microcenter.com/product/408504/Satellite_S855-S5382_156_Laptop_Computer_-_Ice_Blue_Brushed_Aluminum and http://microcenter.com/product/402519/ENVY_dv6-7292nr_156_Laptop_Computer_-_Midnight_Black.

Oh yeah, I also do not want a Mac.

[Steve Fallon]

The 2 you linked are 15.6". For gaming, and entertainment, you might want to look at some 17". I've got an older Asus G73SW (i7, GTX460M, 17.3" 1080p, bluray). Great video, but you pay for it in weight and shorter battery life.

[April D. F]

I think the Toshiba's larger version is the same price, will have to check again. Though I don't for see this being a huge problem seeing as I might use a TV or extra monitor as a screen.

[stevie critchley]

you're on a desktop? Don't bother with an external drive, just get another internal drive. Even with USB 3.0, the protocol for USB just can't compare to SATA in terms of reliability, latency, or stability.

[Jesus Lopez]

I was thinking of using it so I could use it with my laptop as well, but I've decided an internal alongside an SSD would be much better.

Setup is looking like http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Tqqn now.

[Darlene Delk]

Lenovo's quality has greatly improved the past couple years and are one of the more reliable brands to buy a notebook from. Consider getting this directly from Lenovo's website:

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:item.detail?GroupID=457&Code=59371969&AID=10383968&PID=1225267&SID=XS75lK-dEeKeYhZ4I5Z1xwOeA1_ydXX3_0.M_0_0&CJURL=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.lenovo.com%2FSEUILibrary%2Fcontroller%2Fe%2Fweb%2FLenovoPortal%2Fen_US%2Fcatalog.workflow%3Aitem.detail%3FGroupID%3D457%26Code%3D59371969&PUBNAME=Slickdeals+LLC&NID=CJ

Use coupon code: SLICKDEALY500

Price should be $879. Not sure how long this will last, so consider it soon.

Cheaper faster RAM: http://www.ebuyer.com/274061-g-skill-8gb-ddr3-2133mhz-ripjawsx-memory-f3-17000cl11d-8gbxl

Not a big fan of Corsair CX line. They're not terrible, but just rather average being Corsair's lowest model series and it's OOS when I clicked on it. Consider this Antec HCG instead: http://www.ebuyer.com/245671-antec-520w-high-current-gamer-psu-0761345-06205-3

It's actually a rebranded Seasonic unit and it's plenty enough power if you decide for either of the video cards you mentioned.

Everything else looks fine unless you want to go with lower quality cheaper cases.

As mentioned in 2 posts above this one, consider getting this directly from Lenovo's website:

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:item.detail?GroupID=457&Code=59371969&AID=10383968&PID=1225267&SID=XS75lK-dEeKeYhZ4I5Z1xwOeA1_ydXX3_0.M_0_0&CJURL=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.lenovo.com%2FSEUILibrary%2Fcontroller%2Fe%2Fweb%2FLenovoPortal%2Fen_US%2Fcatalog.workflow%3Aitem.detail%3FGroupID%3D457%26Code%3D59371969&PUBNAME=Slickdeals+LLC&NID=CJ

Use coupon code: SLICKDEALY500

Price should be $879. Not sure how long this will last, so consider it soon.

[BRAD MONTGOMERY]

A quick question, hopefully: anybody got any ideas why my mouse keeps being reset or disabled? It happens frequently, a reset on average about once every half hour (but totally irregular) and sometimes it "switches off" two-three times a day and won't come back unless I unplug it and plug it back in.

It's a Logitech G5 and currently attaches through a USB-connected KVM switch.

I use Windows 7 64-bit, and the problem has persisted for at least a year. I can't remember what I did around the time that could have caused it, but I'm not sure. The only thing I can think of is something that remaps the Windows keys into something actually useful, but I don't see why that would affect the mouse.

I did wonder if it was the Uberoptions tool I previously had installed to customise it, which would totally stop working when it was reset, but having uninstalled it, it's still problematic.

This isn't the only problem I have with Windows apparently forgetting what it has connecting to it: it also does it with the ethernet interface which periodically stops working unless I unplug and replug the cable from the network hub. Plus there's stuff like it forgetting folder views in Windows Explorer, but I suspect that's probably not relevant.

Anybody got any ideas?

[Tiff Clark]

http://first-website.web.cern.ch/blog/first-url-active-once-more

I don't recall any more appropriate thread for this, but CERN just brought back their first webpage at it's original URL.

http://info.cern.ch/hypertext/WWW/TheProject.html

[Katy Hogben]

Here's a strange looking creature.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811108436&cm_sp=recommend-_-11-108-436-_-05032013_1

[Flesh Tunnel]

A PC with a roll bar: neat. That'll protect its innards from the rough and tumble of enthusiastic gaming. It's not really a looker, though...

[Beth Belcher]

http://www.highspeedpc.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=TopTechLRG is my preferred open "case".

I know, it's not a real looker either.

[Euan]

I thought they were both pretty cool looking...

[Ross Zombie]

I posted this on a different thread already but I got redirected by deaths_soul

Hi, I'm not sure if I'm posting in the right thread or if this post will even get viewed but I need some help.

I've been looking around and have been searching for an ideal machine to play Skyrim on but I'm not very technical and all this computer jargon doesn't mean much to me.

I'd be really grateful if someone would suggest some computers that match these criteria:

• Desktop computer or laptop that can play Skyrim on max settings all round, nothing more, nothing less
• Price is an issue so nothing too fancy/over-the-top and no hi-tech accessories that I know a lot of serious gamers own

Thanks a ton in advance and I hope I'm not being too picky

The Herald

[Bird]

What price range are you looking at spending? Is Skyrim the most demanding game you plan on playing? Desktops will give you the best performance for the money. What do you need besides the tower? (Monitor, keyboard/mouse, speakers/headphones, OS install disc?)

[Casey]

My system already meets that criteria (max Skyrim, nothing more, nothing less).

CPU: 2nd Generation Intel Core i3-2120 @ 3.3GHz ($130), a 3rd generation i3 would be even better for the price I'd assume.

RAM: 8GB DDR3, 4GB will do you fine ($20 - $40)

OS: Windows 7 64-bit ($100)

GPU: Nvidia Geforce GTX 660 (non Ti version) 2GB ($150 - $200)

Sound: Soundblaster X-Fi Titanium (onboard sound will take care of business without spending an extra $80 on a sound card)

Mobo: Any that supports your CPU socket and has a single slot 16X PCI-Express (mainly most mobos that cost $50 - $60)

PSU: A GOOD BRAND 550w - 600w ($50 - $80)

I'm sure somebody here can help you substitute Intel/Nvidia with AMD/ATi equivalents if you prefer that.

[Charlie Sarson]

sounds great!

which computer do you have?

[Eoh]

well I'll need a monitor and keyboard (I already have a mouse that I use with my bottom of the range notebook)

but I don't know what an OS install disc is

[Suzy Santana]

What I have is what I posted (with the sound card, 8 GB RAM). I used to have just 4GB of RAM and after upgrading to 8GB I have seen no performance increase of any kind on anything with my system. Maybe if I was movie editing I'd see a benefit, but 4GB will suffice for your Skyrim gaming needs.

I have a 2nd gen (Sandy Bridge) i3 CPU only because there were no 3rd gen (Ivy Bridge) at the time I made my purchase. Go for the 3rd gen i3 if you settle for that, or you could spend an extra $50 - $80 and get an i5 CPU.

[Latino HeaT]

okay

sorry if my incompetence is annoying

[Janeth Valenzuela Castelo]

It's quite alright. I wasn't exactly born computer literate myself. Give it about 3 years after your first build and everything will be honky-dorry then.

[Crystal Clarke]

I've been watching the first Newegg TV video and I'm wondering if anything will be different for me than building a computer in the United States because I live in Munich, Germany