Hardware/OS Geek Thread

[Nathan]

http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/18/intel-wants-to-charge-50-to-unlock-stuff-your-cpu-can-already-d/

A $50 "upgrade" card.  No, not an expansion card, like a prepaid phone card that you scratch it off and put in the code.  To unlock the full amount of cache and hyperthreading on your processor.

[JMW IV]

that is taking crap too far.

[The Chief]

lol wtfh

[PANatsFan]

http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php

Speedfan is just a quality product.

[The Chief]

I remember when I used to obsess about my fan speeds and various component temperatures.  Motherboard monitor was "the" app back then.  I've used speedfan before, it works well.  CoreTemp is also a very good basic applet.

These days my computer would probably have to catch on fire before I'd notice anything

[PANatsFan]

The biggest problem with cygwin is that when you want to install a new package, it installs upgrades to all your other packages at the same time, which takes forever.

[JMW IV]

question for the experts.

just went to speedtest.net and ran my CLEAR service throught it.

on a scale of 1-10 compared to Comcast, Verizon DSL, and Verizon Fios, where is my speed? 

[Nathan]

Probably about on par with Verizon, if not a bit faster.

On Comcast, I get 14-15 down, 3 up usually.

[imref]

that's pretty darn good for wireless.  I have FiOS 35/25 service, yet when I just ran a speed test I got 8 MB down, 21.5 MB up.  

[Nathan]

that's pretty darn good for wireless.  I have FiOS 35/25 service, yet when I just ran a speed test I got 8 MB down, 21.5 MB up.

That's gotta be wrong.  Maybe try again or a different website.  My work computer just gave me 0.00 down and 19 up.

[imref]

it went to ashburn by default, I ran it again to D.C. and got 21.5 down, 20.5 up.

[The Chief]

Not sure what FIOS you guys are using but speedtest measures in megabits, not bytes.  JMad's score there is very good for wireless but it's not even close to the lowest fios tier.

edit - nvm saw new posts.  Generally best to use the DC server for speedtest, as you discovered.

[Nathan]

Not sure what FIOS you guys are using but speedtest measures in megabits, not bytes.  JMad's score there is very good for wireless but it's not even close to the lowest fios tier.

My first broadband service was 3M and then it went to 4M.  I thought it was 6M now, but I seem to always get over 12, so comcast may have changed its low tier speed again, i don't know.

[PANatsFan]

that's pretty darn good for wireless.  I have FiOS 35/25 service, yet when I just ran a speed test I got 8 MB down, 21.5 MB up. 

Imref you have to open internet explorer and go their optimization page - it fixes your TCPIP settings. Otherwise you don't get all the bandwidth.I can download 3 megaBYTES per second!

[The Chief]

Imref you have to open internet explorer and go their optimization page - it fixes your TCPIP settings. Otherwise you don't get all the bandwidth.I can download 3 megaBYTES per second!

Um...  the what now?  Site works just fine for me on every box and connection I've ever tested.  If anything it's too generous since I'm sure most ISPs "optimize" for it.

[PANatsFan]

Um...  the what now?  Site works just fine for me on every box and connection I've ever tested.  If anything it's too generous since I'm sure most ISPs "optimize" for it.

To optimize your connection to FiOS, not speedtest.

[Nathan]

Imref you have to open internet explorer and go their optimization page - it fixes your TCPIP settings. Otherwise you don't get all the bandwidth.I can download 3 megaBYTES per second!

You can take 3 bites of my mega ass

[The Chief]

My first broadband service was 3M and then it went to 4M.  I thought it was 6M now, but I seem to always get over 12, so comcast may have changed its low tier speed again, i don't know.

I think I get 20-ish with my Comcast service on speedtest, but it isn't strictly accurate as it only reflects their lame "powerboost" marketing gimmick - aka you get 20mbit/s for the first xx MB of a download, but after that it scales back to the 12mbit/s you're actually paying for.  Same for uploading, i think it's ~5mbit/s up with "powerboost" but you really only get that for the first 50 MB or so... after which it's about ~1.5mbit/s

[The Chief]

To optimize your connection to FiOS, not speedtest.

Again, never had a problem with getting advertised speeds on fios before.  Parents have it.  Have tested many times.

[Nathan]

I think I get 20-ish with my Comcast service on speedtest, but it isn't strictly accurate as it only reflects their lame "powerboost" marketing gimmick - aka you get 20mbit/s for the first xx MB of a download, but after that it scales back to the 12mbit/s you're actually paying for.  Same for uploading, i think it's ~5mbit/s up with "powerboost" but you really only get that for the first 50 MB or so... after which it's about ~1.5mbit/s

Yeah, there is that too.  I don't actually see power boost as a gimmick though.  It does speed up downloads of smaller files, after all.

So the low tier is 12 now, though?

[imref]

Imref you have to open internet explorer and go their optimization page - it fixes your TCPIP settings. Otherwise you don't get all the bandwidth.I can download 3 megaBYTES per second!

What's Internet Explorer?  (I have a Mac. :-)  )

[The Chief]

Yeah, there is that too.  I don't actually see power boost as a gimmick though.  It does speed up downloads of smaller files, after all.

Yeah there is that.  Much more useful on uploads than downloads, and I'm sure that helps loads of Joe Facebooks with their album spamming.  I just wish consumer upload speeds weren't so stagnant.  2 mbit/s up was great when I was getting it with Cox...  5 years ago

So the low tier is 12 now, though?

I think it's one step up from the entry-level tier.  I'm only using it because there was a promo and I'm moving (thus canceling) in a couple months anyway.

[The Chief]

What's Internet Explorer?  (I have a Mac. :-)  )

Then there's no helping you.  Your stuff is broke for good

[Nathan]

When I torrent I can usually get a consistent 1 MB down speed, so it has to be more than 6 now that I think about it.  Unless the way bit torrent works causes the power boost to be in effect the whole time.

[Nathan]

Then there's no helping you.  Your stuff is are broke for good