Author Topic: Hardware/OS Geek Thread  (Read 53064 times)

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Offline Nathan

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Re: Hardware/OS Geek Thread
« Reply #400: October 24, 2009, 05:48:21 PM »
Tried downloading 7 last night with Safari, but it didn't like something.  Got to 4 GB downloaded out of a 3 GB file.  Huh?

Retried with Firefox and it seemed ok, SHA1 checked out, so I'm burning it now.  Is it bad that I can get excited for a Saturday night of installing a new OS?

Chief, have you tried slapping 7 on you MB or is that a no-no?

I was tempted by that 3-fer deal at best buy, give the netbook to my dad and I'd keep the notebook if I knew someone who would want to buy the desktop.

Offline NatsAddict

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Re: Hardware/OS Geek Thread
« Reply #401: October 24, 2009, 06:29:44 PM »
Got to 4 GB downloaded out of a 3 GB file.

Sounds like you downloaded from a mirror, www.TimGeithner.com

Offline Nathan

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Re: Hardware/OS Geek Thread
« Reply #402: October 24, 2009, 06:32:48 PM »
Sounds like you downloaded from a mirror, www.TimGeithner.com
I used the same link both times, it worked in Firefox.  The link was from Microsoft TechNet, it wasn't from a piracy site or anything.

Offline JMW IV

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Re: Hardware/OS Geek Thread
« Reply #403: October 24, 2009, 06:35:01 PM »
say, how difficult is it to replace the RAM in a Laptop?

I'm looking at trying to talk either of these guys down to like 150-175, but eventually I'd want to push the RAM up to like a Gig or 2.

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/sys/1435466164.html

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/sys/1435609394.html

Offline sportsfan882

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Re: Hardware/OS Geek Thread
« Reply #404: October 24, 2009, 06:41:00 PM »
easy. I'm about to up the RAM on my old laptop I just put Windows 7 on. It has 1 GB RAM (512 MB X 2) and I am about to up it to 2 GB (1 GB X 2). I opened the back of the laptop earlier today just to confirm that it has two slots and that I ordered the right RAM.

You just unscrew the back of your laptop where the RAM is located and pop the chips out and put the new ones in. Make sure your computer can support the amount of RAM you are upping it to.

Offline Nathan

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Re: Hardware/OS Geek Thread
« Reply #405: October 24, 2009, 06:41:28 PM »
say, how difficult is it to replace the RAM in a Laptop?

I'm looking at trying to talk either of these guys down to like 150-175, but eventually I'd want to push the RAM up to like a Gig or 2.

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/sys/1435466164.html

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/sys/1435609394.html
RAM should be pretty simple to replace.  Usually just popping off the back cover, some even have a little door you open and can replace it.

Offline Nathan

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Re: Hardware/OS Geek Thread
« Reply #406: October 24, 2009, 06:49:22 PM »
Just did a quick check, looks like that model will support up to 2 GB, didn't really price shop but it looks like 1GB sticks for that model are around $50 a pop.

Offline JMW IV

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Re: Hardware/OS Geek Thread
« Reply #407: October 24, 2009, 07:02:04 PM »
I see.

well, i'm still looking around. checking out EBay.

really though, I need to pay no more than 175, simply because I got 175 of "extra" money(i.e. not money from my regular paycheck and already earmarked for bills or anything else) that just came in. so I'm gonna take my time and explore everywhere to see what I can end up with. i may not even buy a laptop at all. we'll see.

Offline JMW IV

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Offline Nathan

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Re: Hardware/OS Geek Thread
« Reply #409: October 24, 2009, 07:05:08 PM »
As a rule, you're probably going to get a more powerfull system in a desktop than you would a laptop for the same money.  But the portability is nice. 


Offline JMW IV

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Re: Hardware/OS Geek Thread
« Reply #411: October 24, 2009, 07:07:59 PM »
As a rule, you're probably going to get a more powerfull system in a desktop than you would a laptop for the same money.  But the portability is nice.  

oh yeah, i get that.  but I do want the portability.

I understand that I am going to get an underpowered machine. I just want to kinda set a threshhold of just how underpowered I am willing to pay for, you know?

I think i really need to go look at a Netbook before considering. I hear both the pros and cons of them though.

I'm wondering if the small screen is really as much of a detriment as people say it is.

Offline Nathan

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Re: Hardware/OS Geek Thread
« Reply #412: October 24, 2009, 07:10:48 PM »
My work computer is a 2.8 GHz P4 with 512 MB Ram and it's not that bad, but it's not great.

Offline The Chief

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Re: Hardware/OS Geek Thread
« Reply #413: October 24, 2009, 07:14:02 PM »
Regarding RAM:

DDR2 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148086

DDR3 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148193

One of those should work in pretty much any laptop and will bring you up to 2GB regardless of what's already in there for ~$35.

I would avoid DDR1-based laptops because it's more expensive (most of those would be older than what you're looking at by now anyway)

Offline JMW IV

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Re: Hardware/OS Geek Thread
« Reply #414: October 24, 2009, 07:23:04 PM »
lots of 7" netbooks on sale for cheap on Ebay :rofl:

that's a bit too small though. only considering 10" netbooks.

Offline Nathan

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Re: Hardware/OS Geek Thread
« Reply #415: October 24, 2009, 07:43:48 PM »
Regarding RAM:

DDR2 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148086

DDR3 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148193

One of those should work in pretty much any laptop and will bring you up to 2GB regardless of what's already in there for ~$35.

I would avoid DDR1-based laptops because it's more expensive (most of those would be older than what you're looking at by now anyway)
The ones he was looking at on craigslist were DDR not DDR2.

I really don't know what to expect to get with a $200 price range.

Offline JMW IV

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Re: Hardware/OS Geek Thread
« Reply #416: October 24, 2009, 07:45:08 PM »
The ones he was looking at on craigslist were DDR not DDR2.

I really don't know what to expect to get with a $200 price range.

i don't expect very much, trust me. i may just stick with this desktop for now, and wait till i can afford to pay full price for a brand new computer. either way, I'll be alright. just exploring options.

Offline Nathan

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Re: Hardware/OS Geek Thread
« Reply #417: October 24, 2009, 07:46:19 PM »
lots of 7" netbooks on sale for cheap on Ebay :rofl:

that's a bit too small though. only considering 10" netbooks.
Check a best buy and play around on a netbook, do what you would want to do normally on it, and see if it would work for you.  That's what I did and I found out that I hated it.  It may be great for you, just make sure you try it out before you buy one.

Offline Nathan

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Re: Hardware/OS Geek Thread
« Reply #418: October 24, 2009, 07:48:54 PM »
i don't expect very much, trust me. i may just stick with this desktop for now, and wait till i can afford to pay full price for a brand new computer. either way, I'll be alright. just exploring options.
If you can wait and save up to about $500 that would be ideal.  You can get a very capable machine for that.  Maybe even closer to $400.

Offline ronnynat

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Re: Hardware/OS Geek Thread
« Reply #419: October 24, 2009, 07:51:22 PM »
say, how difficult is it to replace the RAM in a Laptop?

I'm looking at trying to talk either of these guys down to like 150-175, but eventually I'd want to push the RAM up to like a Gig or 2.

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/sys/1435466164.html

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/sys/1435609394.html

Those prices are way too high.

Offline JMW IV

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Re: Hardware/OS Geek Thread
« Reply #420: October 24, 2009, 07:52:43 PM »
yeah, i think I'm gonna wait and get a PSP Go instead. i see a bunch of those on Ebay for around 150-ish...which is what they SHOULD cost, rather than 250 in the store lol.

Offline Nathan

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Re: Hardware/OS Geek Thread
« Reply #421: October 24, 2009, 07:57:54 PM »
yeah, i think I'm gonna wait and get a PSP Go instead. i see a bunch of those on Ebay for around 150-ish...which is what they SHOULD cost, rather than 250 in the store lol.
Bah, PSP Go.  No UMD drive, smaller screen, all for more money than a PSP 3000.  I went for the 3000 instead.  Still doesn't seem to be many titles for download, the only way to get games for the go.  Plus I wanted some of the older cheaper Greatest Hits like God of War and Liberty City Stories.

Offline ronnynat

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Re: Hardware/OS Geek Thread
« Reply #422: October 24, 2009, 08:01:17 PM »
Not sure if I'm going to upgrade to Windows 7. I still really like XP.

Offline JMW IV

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Re: Hardware/OS Geek Thread
« Reply #423: October 24, 2009, 08:03:12 PM »
Bah, PSP Go.  No UMD drive, smaller screen, all for more money than a PSP 3000.  I went for the 3000 instead.  Still doesn't seem to be many titles for download, the only way to get games for the go.  Plus I wanted some of the older cheaper Greatest Hits like God of War and Liberty City Stories.

don't forget about teh bluetooth, which enables you to play with a dualshock or sixaxis controller when you use the TV-Out function.

i will admit though, that it should have been priced less. if it were 200 bucks, and you could transfer your UMD games to digital format, nobody would complain about it.

Offline Nathan

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Re: Hardware/OS Geek Thread
« Reply #424: October 24, 2009, 08:34:15 PM »
don't forget about teh bluetooth, which enables you to play with a dualshock or sixaxis controller when you use the TV-Out function.

i will admit though, that it should have been priced less. if it were 200 bucks, and you could transfer your UMD games to digital format, nobody would complain about it.
Yeah, they said at first I thought that there would be a way to transfer UMD games to it, but then decided against it.  If they would gave kept that idea, like a $40 kit that you plugged into USB and popped your umd in to transfer it, I would have bought one.  But the complete lack of any way to get some of the older games onto it steered me to the 3000.