[SWagg KId]

Is there any benefit from going two ram chips over one? Like two 2gb, over just one 4gb?

Also need a good, cheap Ethernet card, any suggestions? Thanks.

The RAM cards tend to work better if operating in "dual channel" mode if the motherboard is capable of it (most are). just a shot in the dark, but i would also imagine it would allow simultaneous usage of RAM instead of having to use one port, it can use two.

[Rhiannon Jones]

The RAM cards tend to work better if operating in "dual channel" mode if the motherboard is capable of it (most are). just a shot in the dark, but i would also imagine it would allow simultaneous usage of RAM instead of having to use one port, it can use two.

Cool, guess im going two 2gb Gskill ripjaw.

Is that a ....After Hours avatar, it looks just like Griffin Dunne?

[anna ley]

I have been using Firefox for a while now, and I think I want to make a switch. Something different for a change. What browser is the best at the moment? Should I stay with Firefox? Or go with Chrome or IE?

[c.o.s.m.o]

Tgl, my dad loves chrome. I still use firefox. Chrome has almost a cartoony feel to it. If you get it then make sure you get a theme.
If you MUST make a switch then Chrome is great.

[Andres Lechuga]

Slight update to my earlier post. I opened up the case again this morning and verified that no cables had accidentally gotten jostled loose when I installed the new GPU yesterday. Everything seemed snug as a proverbial bug, so I don't think that's the issue.

I have two theories at this point; not sure how valid they are:

1) Something's gone off with the PSU. I noticed a slight popping sound when I plugged the power cord back in this morning (even though yes, the PSU was switched off), if that makes any difference. Only way to test this theory really is to haul it into the shop and have them test it. (Though, they tested it for me when the LEDs on the front of the case went out back in January/February and said it was fine. And yes, I trust said shop; I know the owner.)

2) I screwed the pooch when I cleaned out the old AMD/ATI drivers with Driver Sweeper. Maybe it did something it shouldn't have. I could roll back via System Restore, but unfortunately the latest restore point I have is prior to installing the new GPU. (For some reason Windows created a restore point when I installed Silent Hill 4, but not when I uninstalled/reinstalled video card drivers. WTF, Windows.) I'm not sure rolling back that far is a smart idea given the GPU change.

Any thoughts? Once again, this has only happened once so far, but even once is one time too many for me.

[Emmanuel Morales]

Tgl, my dad loves chrome. I still use firefox. Chrome has almost a cartoony feel to it. If you get it then make sure you get a theme.
If you MUST make a switch then Chrome is great.

back on your new rig, I assume? :hubbahubba:

[dav]

Getting a Intel Core i7 2600, how much ram should i match this with, and is 64-bit a must-have?

[candice keenan]

Getting a Intel Core i7 2600, how much ram should i match this with, and is 64-bit a must-have?

How much memory you should get is completely dependant on what you plan on doing. For example, I've been meaning to pick up another 8 GB for 16 total because I've been kicking the virtualization into high gear and 8 GB just isn't enough.

Unless it's out of your budget constraints, I say go with 8. It's pretty cheap to get 2x4GB these days.

As for 64-bit, I assume you are referring to Windows? Windows lacks PAE, so if you use 4+ GB of memory you should use the 64-bit version. So long as all your peripherals have a 64-bit driver and you don't have any 16-bit applications it isn't an issue.

[Keeley Stevens]

Anybody have a recommendation for a good, cheap Ethernet card?

[Rowena]

Anybody have a recommendation for a good, cheap Ethernet card?

Did your motherboard NIC stop working? http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100010064%20600013857&IsNodeId=1&name=10%2f%20100%2f%201000Mbps (depending if you needed PCI or PCI-E). People say the Bigfoot 2100 is a great card for LAN/Internet games, but I run my games off of a integrated NIC and they work fine.

[Ebony Lawson]

Did your motherboard NIC stop working? http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100010064%20600013857&IsNodeId=1&name=10%2f%20100%2f%201000Mbps (depending if you needed PCI or PCI-E). People say the Bigfoot 2100 is a great card for LAN/Internet games, but I run my games off of a integrated NIC and they work fine.

Nevermind, Im a newb. Building a rig and my old PC had a separate one not on the MOBO, but the one I have picked out, has a LAN (had to look it up).

[Eilidh Brian]

Well--joy of all joys, the random shutdown and restart happened again. Again, 30 seconds to a minute after booting up Trine. No overheating evident, and I played LotRO earlier today for about two hours without an issue. Exact same error code or lack thereof.

I'll be calling the shop tomorrow. Again...if anyone has any ideas as to what might be wrong (my theory is still the PSU or a screwed up driver), please, please share them. ...Anybody? Bueller? :poke:

[BlackaneseB]

How much memory you should get is completely dependant on what you plan on doing. For example, I've been meaning to pick up another 8 GB for 16 total because I've been kicking the virtualization into high gear and 8 GB just isn't enough.

Unless it's out of your budget constraints, I say go with 8. It's pretty cheap to get 2x4GB these days.

As for 64-bit, I assume you are referring to Windows? Windows lacks PAE, so if you use 4+ GB of memory you should use the 64-bit version. So long as all your peripherals have a 64-bit driver and you don't have any 16-bit applications it isn't an issue.

Yeah, i'm starting out with 2x2GB (Damn RAM is cheap nowadays), but the main reason for upgrading my PC is to run the upcomming games (skyrim, battlefield 3) at full graphics with little lagg, if any at all.

Obviously, the specifications aren't even out yet, but how little is too little ram for an Intel i7? I mean, it's a pretty fat CPU, so I would like to use the power it can give me :hubbahubba:

[Spencey!]

I have a question for people that use a TV for their PC set up. I have a 37 inch Vizio I wanted to use, just to save so I dont have to buy a monitor, and the Vizio is a good TV. But how do you set it up? I mean, I cant sit right in front of a huge TV at a desk. Wireless mouse/keyboard and a TV tray? Do I just sit there and destroy my eyes?

[lexy]

I have a question for people that use a TV for their PC set up. I have a 37 inch Vizio I wanted to use, just to save so I dont have to buy a monitor, and the Vizio is a good TV. But how do you set it up? I mean, I cant sit right in front of a huge TV at a desk. Wireless mouse/keyboard and a TV tray? Do I just sit there and destroy my eyes?

Its what I do, http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq102/Starforce9/PCSetup.jpg But pretty much you just hook either a VGA or HDMI cable from your video card directly into the TV and thats it.

[Ashley Clifft]

Cool, guess im going two 2gb Gskill ripjaw.

Is that a ....After Hours avatar, it looks just like Griffin Dunne?

It is from "Doctor Who" Not sure of the actor though. It changes every year or so.

Its what I do, I too have a 37" Vizio that I use as my monitor. But pretty much you just hook either a VGA or HDMI cable from your video card directly into the TV and thats it.

Am i the only one who noticed the old and most likely twice used printer on the bottom shelf?

[Vicki Blondie]

It is from "Doctor Who" Not sure of the actor though. It changes every year or so.

David Tennant. Had a fairly long run.

[/offtopic]

[Laura Elizabeth]

Its what I do, http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq102/Starforce9/PCSetup.jpg But pretty much you just hook either a VGA or HDMI cable from your video card directly into the TV and thats it.

I thought it was you (remembered that pic and asking what size yours was), but you dont ruin your eyes that way? I mean, thats damn close to the TV.

[Skrapp Stephens]

Does anyone know if Oblivion's max frame rate is 60fps? Thats what its staying at for me and doesnt go any higher or lower. If it isn't the max fps then how do I see the real fps?

[Marta Wolko]

Does anyone know if Oblivion's max frame rate is 60fps? Thats what its staying at for me and doesnt go any higher or lower. If it isn't the max fps then how do I see the real fps?

thats the max your monitor is going to do (unless you have a good monitor that goes past 60 fps). Are you benchmarking, and its saying 60 fps?

[u gone see]

Does anyone know if Oblivion's max frame rate is 60fps? Thats what its staying at for me and doesnt go any higher or lower. If it isn't the max fps then how do I see the real fps?

You have V-Sync turned on which locks the framerate to your monitors refresh rate, 60hz in your case, to minimize screen tearing and make the picture smooth.

If you want to benchmark your system you'll want to turn off V-Sync, but leave it on when you're playing your games.

[Claire Jackson]

Well--joy of all joys, the random shutdown and restart happened again. Again, 30 seconds to a minute after booting up Trine. No overheating evident, and I played LotRO earlier today for about two hours without an issue. Exact same error code or lack thereof.

I'll be calling the shop tomorrow. Again...if anyone has any ideas as to what might be wrong (my theory is still the PSU or a screwed up driver), please, please share them. ...Anybody? Bueller? :poke:

All you changed was the video card correct? Have you tried a different driver?

Somehow I doubt your PSU is the culprit since the card you got to replace the 4870X2 uses less power...unless of course your PSU is starting to crap out itself. With BSODs, it's never fun to find out what's causing it...I hope it's just a screwed up driver in your case as well.

[neen]

So I've been watching the NewEgg "build a PC" videos. Went through Part 3 (Installing Windows/drivers/etc) tonight.

On installing drivers, it says you should install mobo drivers first: Chipset, LAN, USB, Audio (minimum).

The download page for my mobo lists http://www.asrock.com/MB/download.asp?Model=P67%20Pro3&o=Win7. LAN, USB, and Audio are all obvious. Is the "Intel Management Engine" download for the chipset, or is it something else? (I know I don't need the RAID driver, but I'm not even sure what some of those other things are. Hmm.)


Thanks again

[kirsty williams]

How far could I OC a 2500k with http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128507 mobo and a Hyper 212+?

[Lavender Brown]

So I've been watching the NewEgg "build a PC" videos. Went through Part 3 (Installing Windows/drivers/etc) tonight.

On installing drivers, it says you should install mobo drivers first: Chipset, LAN, USB, Audio (minimum).

The download page for my mobo lists http://www.asrock.com/MB/download.asp?Model=P67%20Pro3&o=Win7. LAN, USB, and Audio are all obvious. Is the "Intel Management Engine" download for the chipset, or is it something else? (I know I don't need the RAID driver, but I'm not even sure what some of those other things are. Hmm.)


Thanks again

I'm pretty sure that's just a utility thing that helps out with organizing things and improves performance. Doesn't look like it could hurt anything. I downloaded something similar for my mobo. I would just go ahead and install it, but wait until Tig or someone else can clarify that for you. Don't want to be wrong and have you go messing something up because of me