Computer General Discussion Thread

[Cekoviu]

Unicode 11.0 is coming out next month! What are your most awaited additions? I'm excited to see Mtavruli script getting a dedicated section.

[Nordengrund]

I'm trying to free up hard disk space by uninstalling some programs. I have a lot of Steam games that I am still playing but don't want to uninstall, but I don't have enough space for a game I want to play.

[Imperializt Russia]

I bought a DisplayPort-DVI cable for my monitor because the HDMI cable that came with my monitor would not display at all. I thought my graphics card was broken or something (my CPU has no on-board graphics capability). My monitor doesn't even support freesync over DP/DVI, only HDMI.

After some guy on Reddit told me I should maybe try another cable, it turned out the cable that shipped with my monitor just didn't work for some reason.

[Imperializt Russia]

I'm trying to free up hard disk space by uninstalling some programs. I have a lot of Steam games that I am still playing but don't want to uninstall, but I don't have enough space for a game I want to play.

If you're genuinely struggling for space you either have a diddy hard drive or too much junk. Get CCleaner and free up some of that (if you don't already use such a programme, that might net you a couple gigs), a defragging routine (worst scenario, maybe another gig or three of "usable" space).

If I cleaned out Steam games that I didn't play I could get a lot of Gigs free on my mostly-empty computer, they're still in your library and you won't have to pay for them again, you can just download them again whenever.

[Corrian]

Any good cheap laptops or laptop-tablet combinations you guys can suggest? And I mean like under $500. Maybe even as low as $300 but I don't really mind spending a bit extra. I don't need anything fancy because I literally just want it for traveling purposes. About all I'd do with it is utilize it at work on breaks or before I start (I carpool so I get stuck at work early sometimes), and on vacation so picture storage would be nice.

[The Corparation]

Used thinkpad from ebay.

[Imperializt Russia]

Laptops make very inefficient foot tenderisers. Would not recommend.
Thank christ it was my recent laptop and not my ancient one, that would probably have legit had my toe off.

[Minoa]

Used thinkpad from ebay.

I came across this video a while back, but nowadays an SSD or larger hard drive is the standard for today’s technology.

[The Corparation]

Used thinkpad from ebay.

I came across this video a while back, but nowadays an SSD or larger hard drive is the standard for today’s technology.

A lot of the used thinkpads on ebay are "refurbished" where "refurbished" translates to "We slapped an SSD into it". I've got an X220T, I wouldn't part with it for the world. Cheap, Durable, small, and has flip around touch screen. Everything I could ever want in a portable computer.

[Minoa]

I came across this video a while back, but nowadays an SSD or larger hard drive is the standard for today’s technology.

A lot of the used thinkpads on ebay are "refurbished" where "refurbished" translates to "We slapped an SSD into it". I've got an X220T, I wouldn't part with it for the world. Cheap, Durable, small, and has flip around touch screen. Everything I could ever want in a portable computer.

SSDs have clearly given a new lease of life to some of the old devices, but it is important to remember that when it comes to intense work, the CPU, GPU and RAM capacity also matters. (nods)

[The Corparation]

A lot of the used thinkpads on ebay are "refurbished" where "refurbished" translates to "We slapped an SSD into it". I've got an X220T, I wouldn't part with it for the world. Cheap, Durable, small, and has flip around touch screen. Everything I could ever want in a portable computer.

SSDs have clearly given a new lease of life to some of the old devices, but it is important to remember that when it comes to intense work, the CPU, GPU and RAM capacity also matters. (nods)

Upgrading the RAM in a thinkpad is trivial. CPU less so. For the GPU have fun replacing what likely doesn't exist. There's not a really a need though. There's not much the average person would do on a laptop that would require such upgrades.

[Minoa]

SSDs have clearly given a new lease of life to some of the old devices, but it is important to remember that when it comes to intense work, the CPU, GPU and RAM capacity also matters. (nods)

Upgrading the RAM in a thinkpad is trivial. CPU less so. For the GPU have fun replacing what likely doesn't exist. There's not a really a need though. There's not much the average person would do on a laptop that would require such upgrades.

My last reply was a bit too generalised, given that a full tower is standard when I come to getting a Windows PC (because VMware and all that).

Dang.

[Cekoviu]

Any good cheap laptops or laptop-tablet combinations you guys can suggest? And I mean like under $500. Maybe even as low as $300 but I don't really mind spending a bit extra. I don't need anything fancy because I literally just want it for traveling purposes. About all I'd do with it is utilize it at work on breaks or before I start (I carpool so I get stuck at work early sometimes), and on vacation so picture storage would be nice.

You can get an HP Stream PC 11 on sale for $100 sometimes. That + a 64 gb SD card should do the trick.

[Okstovskaya]

Hello, I have a NetVista M42(?) which I use for e v e r y t h i n g :
• CPU - Intel Pentium 4 1.8GHz
• GPU - NVidia Palit GeForce FX 5500
• RAM - 2GB(?) Generic* DDR
• HDD - Seagate 80GB 7.2kRPM ATA
• OS - Windows XP SP2


*Brand unknown (probs Kingston or Micron or something)

It's broken.

[Cekoviu]

Hello, I have a NetVista M42(?) which I use for e v e r y t h i n g :
• CPU - Intel Pentium 4 1.8GHz
• GPU - NVidia Palit GeForce FX 5500
• RAM - 2GB(?) Generic* DDR
• HDD - Seagate 80GB 7.2kRPM ATA
• OS - Windows XP SP2


*Brand unknown (probs Kingston or Micron or something)

It's broken.

In what way?
Anyway, you need to get a new machine ASAP, because XP is a safety hazard at this point and 2GB of RAM isn't going to get you anywhere with a modern OS, nor is a Pentium 4.

[Okstovskaya]

Hello, I have a NetVista M42(?) which I use for e v e r y t h i n g :
• CPU - Intel Pentium 4 1.8GHz
• GPU - NVidia Palit GeForce FX 5500
• RAM - 2GB(?) Generic* DDR
• HDD - Seagate 80GB 7.2kRPM ATA
• OS - Windows XP SP2


*Brand unknown (probs Kingston or Micron or something)

It's broken.

In what way?
Anyway, you need to get a new machine ASAP, because XP is a safety hazard at this point and 2GB of RAM isn't going to get you anywhere with a modern OS, nor is a Pentium 4.

• Cannot connect to the internet (despite being directly connected to modem)
• "Insert OS Disc in drive" on startup
• Randomly shutting down and restarting on its own
• Obviously viruses and trojans (damn avast)
• At some times, it would be stuck on the login

And yes, I know, so I planned for a new budget rig at around $400-$460:
• AMD Ryzen 3 2200G, 3.5GHz - PhP 5,348 ($102.34 eh)
• Gigabyte A320M-S2H, m-ATX - PhP 3,270 ($62.58)
• Crucial Ballistix Sport LT 8GB, 2400-DDR4 - PhP 4,840 ($92.62)
• SeaSonic S12ii 520W Bronze - PhP 2,800 ($53.58)
• Tecware Nexus M TG Case - PhP 1,550 ($29.66)

I won't be buying a dedicated GPU for now, and will instead use the integrated one. Overall, the cost is $341.78, of which the leftovers will be (very likely) used to buy a Windows 10 key (PhP 5220, $99.89). It's actually exceeded the maximum budget, but it'll probably be okay for me.

I already own an HDD for the main storage, and will not be looking forward to purchasing an SDD in the near future. I am not sure, however, if the store's RAM product is single or dual module. If it was single, is it possible to instead buy and use two seperate 4GB sticks for dual channel, or should I stick with the 1×8?

[Cekoviu]

In what way?
Anyway, you need to get a new machine ASAP, because XP is a safety hazard at this point and 2GB of RAM isn't going to get you anywhere with a modern OS, nor is a Pentium 4.

• Cannot connect to the internet (despite being directly connected to modem)
• "Insert OS Disc in drive" on startup
• Randomly shutting down and restarting on its own
• Obviously viruses and trojans (damn avast)
• At some times, it would be stuck on the login

Microsoft doesn't cover security updates, which is likely part of the problem with the viruses. Can you do a clean install of XP? That might fix some of those things.

And yes, I know, so I planned for a new budget rig at around $400-$460:
• AMD Ryzen 3 2200G, 3.5GHz - PhP 5,348 ($102.34 eh)
• Gigabyte A320M-S2H, m-ATX - PhP 3,270 ($62.58)
• Crucial Ballistix Sport LT 8GB, 2400-DDR4 - PhP 4,840 ($92.62)
• SeaSonic S12ii 520W Bronze - PhP 2,800 ($53.58)
• Tecware Nexus M TG Case - PhP 1,550 ($29.66)

That looks decent to me, although you may want to get a slightly less cheapo case. Corsair 100/200s work well, and I use a 200R iirc, which is attractive, sleek, and solid, and you can get it for around $50. The ATX forms don't have standoff points for mATX boards, though (that might be a thing with all ATX cases, idk), so keep that in mind. Also, if reinstalling XP makes your PC usable, you might want to hold off on buying parts until RAM prices aren't hellish -- i.e. $50 at the most for 8GB.

I won't be buying a dedicated GPU for now, and will instead use the integrated one. Overall, the cost is $341.78, of which the leftovers will be (very likely) used to buy a Windows 10 key (PhP 5220, $99.89). It's actually exceeded the maximum budget, but it'll probably be okay for me.

There are legal ways to get Windows 8.1 for free; you could consider that if buying the key is problematic. Some schools offer DreamSpark, which can land you a cheapened or free copy of 8.1 or even 10, and there are built-in keys that allow you to try it out for free with a watermark on the screen.

I already own an HDD for the main storage, and will not be looking forward to purchasing an SDD in the near future. I am not sure, however, if the store's RAM product is single or dual module. If it was single, is it possible to instead buy and use two seperate 4GB sticks for dual channel, or should I stick with the 1×8?

Don't quote me on this, but I think there are problems that can originate from using different types of RAM sticks. You'll need to double-check that, though, because it's been a while since I've worked with RAM.

[Imperializt Russia]

After a lot of unscientific guesswork and testing - there's a 'glitch' where if I use the "reset" button then the PC will reboot with full Windows functionality for a couple hours before regaining the watermark - I believe there is a slight performance hit from using a watermarked, unverified copy of Windows 10.
I am also unable to use special settings like RAID speed boosts on my Samsung SSD.

[Cekoviu]

After a lot of unscientific guesswork and testing - there's a 'glitch' where if I use the "reset" button then the PC will reboot with full Windows functionality for a couple hours before regaining the watermark - I believe there is a slight performance hit from using a watermarked, unverified copy of Windows 10.
I am also unable to use special settings like RAID speed boosts on my Samsung SSD.

Hm, interesting. I haven't dabbled with the special settings on my unverified 8.1, but there doesn't appear to be a noticeable performance hit.

[Minoa]

There is no record of Windows 10 slowing down just because of the fact that it has not been activated. If it did, it would be all over the computer forums by now.

[Cekoviu]

There is no record of Windows 10 slowing down just because of the fact that it has not been activated. If it did, it would be all over the computer forums by now.

It's possible that it's just very slight and nobody's noticed it until now, but I imagine it's some other factor causing it.

[Minoa]

Source: https://www.howtogeek.com/fyi/use-stumb ... s-forever/

Stumble Upon will close on 30 June 2018.

What are your memories of being randomly taken to weird and bizarre sites?

I wonder who used Stumble Upon and ended up on NationStates?

[Cekoviu]

Source: https://www.howtogeek.com/fyi/use-stumb ... s-forever/

Stumble Upon will close on 30 June 2018.

What are your memories of being randomly taken to weird and bizarre sites?

I wonder who used Stumble Upon and ended up on NationStates?

I don't think I've ever even opened the site.

[Saiwania]

Could anyone recommend Linux Mint as a replacement for Windows 7 (when it is obsolete)? I want Windows 10 but I don't have money to spare for a new laptop for the time being. The software is at no cost and it has nice features but the downside is- so much software I'm familiar with, isn't available to the Linux world. I have to find or use substitutes or best effort equivalents. But I suppose that is the cost of it being free.

[Cekoviu]

Could anyone recommend Linux Mint as a replacement for Windows 7 (when it is obsolete)? I want Windows 10 but I don't have money to spare for a new laptop for the time being. The software is at no cost and it has nice features but the downside is- so much software I'm familiar with, isn't available to the Linux world. I have to find or use substitutes or best effort equivalents. But I suppose that is the cost of it being free.

Ubuntu Mate > Linux Mint. Use Wine if you need Windows programs, but keep in mind that it doesn't work for all of them.