Aces High Bulletin Board
Help and Support Forums => Technical Support => Topic started by: 68Hall on June 12, 2006, 08:43:37 PM
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Okay, next month I'm picking up a new video card. Right now I have a GEForce4 TI 4600. I am using an older driver, in the 4.5 series. If I CAN update the driver I will. However, I thing the card is having trouble keeping up with the latest patch etc.
So, I'm looking at a new card. I DO NOT INTEND TO SPEND 500 bucks for a card, so throw those cards out.
What is a good card? Where is the best place to shop for it?
How will it be affected when DierctX 10 comes out?
Thanks in advance for your input.
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One consideration that was recently brought home to me was - what is the capacity of your computer's power supply? That could limit your choices unless you are willing and able to swap that out too.
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Pentium 4 2.80ghz
2.78ghz, 1.00 GB RAM
Is that what you need?
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I'm assuming you have an agp board , so the best agp card is a 7800GS , and they can be had for around $300 bucks . One thing you need to be sure of is the watts and amps of your power supply . There is usually a sticker on the side of the PSU inside the case . Most of the higher end aGP cards require a minimum of 350Watts and in the 7800gs 's case a 20amp 12v rail .
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With the 4600, you should be using the 61.77 drivers. The older drivers will give you some problems, and the newer drivers will give you problems as well.
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anything past 61.77 will cause artifacting problems with gas leaks, oil streams, fireballs, and puffy ack. I have a 4400 and have tested many of the newer sets. Stick with 61.77 for now.
38ruk is right, the card you can get depends on your power supply at the moment.
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I got an ASUS GeForce 7900 GTX, running it at 700/900.
It runs ok.
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Thanks skuzzy. I updated to the 61.77.
Now how do I find the above power source info on my machine? Can it be done without opening the box? If not where, inside the box, might it be found?
I may stay with this card and driver combo, unless I find that this combo is contributing to my disco problems. I don't think that it is. TIA folks.
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The power supply specs are often on a sticker or nameplate on the back of the pc. If not when you open it up you -should- see some kind of info on the supply enclosure itself. The power supply is in a vented metal enclosure right on the other side of the pc case immediately adjacent to where the power cord is plugged in. The specs can also be found on most manufacturer's websites.
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Damn you people....I promised myself I wasn't gonna spend any more money on my vid gear but reading all this my palms start sweatting!!
.....all of this new cheap and great stuff......
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you guys that are afraid to open your case .... did you know that you could be wrecking your hardware with the accursed "DUST BUNNIES" from hell ...
Its really a good idea to open it up every few months and take a small brush clean all the fans /heatsinks and blow it out .
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can we then EAT these dust bunnies?
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Originally posted by Roscoroo
you guys that are afraid to open your case .... did you know that you could be wrecking your hardware with the accursed "DUST BUNNIES" from hell ...
Its really a good idea to open it up every few months and take a small brush clean all the fans /heatsinks and blow it out .
Excellent Point Roo
Id say that out of all the people that drop off their pc's to me , 1/3rd of them are having stability issues due to plugged heatsinks or fans . Its amazing some of the ones ive worked on even ran at all due to being packed with everything from dryer lint , to pet hair . Ive even seen some with a tar like substance coating everything, had to of been from excessive cigar/ cigarette smoke. Bottom line is if you havent opened your pc in the last 3 months , its time to blow it out . Spend the $5 on a can of compressed air , it will save you alot of time and money in the long run .
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but Kermie they'll stick ur toungue ...
:p
i 'd say about 1/2 of the pc's i get/ fix are dust clogged .
ps brush the dust off your ram sticks too . and Ruk clean your radiator man i can smell dust bunnies from here :D
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Much easier to brush things off then give it a good vacuum.
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Originally posted by lefty2
Much easier to brush things off then give it a good vacuum.
If you have one of the special PC vacs, then yes. Otherwise you're asking for it; some floorvacs are a little too powerful, and the motor isn't designed to keep away static electricity...so...bzzt. :O
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Thought about that, but i think its very unlikely the vac has a plastic hose. I have vacuumed out 2 different pc many times and never had a problem.
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Originally posted by Roscoroo
you guys that are afraid to open your case .... did you know that you could be wrecking your hardware with the accursed "DUST BUNNIES" from hell ...
Its really a good idea to open it up every few months and take a small brush clean all the fans /heatsinks and blow it out .
One thing you should be VERY careful of when blowing out a PC with compressed air is to not blow directly onto a fan's blades unless you are holding the fan, keeping it form turning. Otherwise you risk overspeeding the fan and frying the bearings.
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I take my computers out to the garage, then use the leaf blower to purge non-essential parts from the inside. Even does a bang-up job on the power supply, which is difficult to clean out.
NOTE: If you use this technique, make sure all cables are secured in the case and avoid prolonged pointing at fans in the case.
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Originally posted by Skuzzy
I take my computers out to the garage, then use the leaf blower to purge non-essential parts from the inside. Even does a bang-up job on the power supply, which is difficult to clean out.
NOTE: If you use this technique, make sure all cables are secured in the case and avoid prolonged pointing at fans in the case.
That is hilarious.
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Originally posted by Skuzzy
I take my computers out to the garage, then use the leaf blower to purge non-essential parts from the inside. Even does a bang-up job on the power supply, which is difficult to clean out.
NOTE: If you use this technique, make sure all cables are secured in the case and avoid prolonged pointing at fans in the case.
HMMMM was thinking of taking mine to a wind tunnel test facility.
That aught to get those little dust bunny devils.:D :D
Bronk
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Originally posted by Skuzzy
I take my computers out to the garage, then use the leaf blower to purge non-essential parts from the inside. Even does a bang-up job on the power supply, which is difficult to clean out.
NOTE: If you use this technique, make sure all cables are secured in the case and avoid prolonged pointing at fans in the case.
VA-ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!! :O :O :O
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I got an air compressor in my shop at work so I use that to blow air. My case fans have blue and red lights on them. What I noticed was that when the fans started spinning the lights light up on the fans. So I imagine the fan at this point becomes a voltage generator and may throw some dc voltage back to your system. I would think this could possibly fry something. So I hold the fans with my hand and use a stick on the power supply fan to keep from spinning. Also I remove the DVD drives so not to blow more dirt into them than they already have. I haven't yet thought about blowing air threw the DVD drives. I hear not to do this.
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Clutz,
That's possible, however I do believe there are diodes on the mobo and the power supply to prevent voltage backflow. It's interesting that the LEDs light up though.
Whose idea was it to put LEDs in FANS.
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Just so you understand. I was not kidding. My leaf blower has a wind velocity of 300MPH (on high speed). It does a really good job of cleaning out a computer case. And it does it in seconds.
I typically will tape the fans down, and for the PS fan, I just push a pull tie through the grill to hold it in place.
I do admit, when the neighbors see me doing it, they really get a funny look on thier faces. Dunt know why.
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Ruk clean your radiator man i can smell dust bunnies from here
Its funny u say that , i was just thinking about how to flush the damned radiators . Ive notice alittle alge in the resiviour, seems like the condensation at the top is growing some even though i used antifreeze and distilled water . Oh well the joys of water cooling . 38
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Originally posted by Skuzzy
Just so you understand. I was not kidding. My leaf blower has a wind velocity of 300MPH (on high speed). It does a really good job of cleaning out a computer case. And it does it in seconds.
I typically will tape the fans down, and for the PS fan, I just push a pull tie through the grill to hold it in place.
I do admit, when the neighbors see me doing it, they really get a funny look on thier faces. Dunt know why.
I know you're not kidding. I use mine to dry off my car after I wash it. Everyone thinks I'm nuts.
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We're all nuts; we fight a virtual war...think about it... :D
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Originally posted by 38ruk
Its funny u say that , i was just thinking about how to flush the damned radiators . Ive notice alittle alge in the resiviour, seems like the condensation at the top is growing some even though i used antifreeze and distilled water . Oh well the joys of water cooling . 38
After you clean it all out, instead of using anti-freeze (it actually inhibits thermal transfer), put some isopropyl alcohol (make sure none of the parts the coolant touches is acrylic) in the water. It will kill any bacteria and as long as the system is well sealed, it will continue to prevent any organic growth. Just watch the mix. It does not take much alcohol.
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i recommend NOT blowing out dvd/cd drives ... i wrecked a burner a couple of yrs ago by doing that ... The optical lazer can get outta whack really easy .
for my H20 set up i run water wetter (it has alchohal in it) and i dont have lilly pads at all ... (poor Kermie has to suffer) i also put in a few drops of aluminum conditioner ,as for my system is all homemade .
you can take the resevoir off and clean it seperatly too