Technophiliacs & Technophiles FAQ

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• Dfg Admin

  July 2010 edited July 2010

  Hardware

  
  
  Why do I see people still loving CRT monitors over LCD monitors? By Equinox
  
  Well, a lot of people still like and use CRT monitors because they are very accurate when it comes to color. With LCD screens, the colours can sometimes be a bit 'off'. It's not really important unless you're an artist.
  
  What is RAM, and how much do I need? By Equinox
  
  RAM stands for Random-Access Memory. RAM provides space for your computer to read and write data to be accessed by the CPU. If you add more RAM to your computer, you reduce the number of times your CPU must read data from your hard drive. This is because RAM is a lot faster to read than a hard drive.
  
  The amount you need depends on what OS you are running, but here are rough estimates:
  
  Windows XP and below - You need at least 512MB of memory, but if you want it to run nice and smooth, I'd recommend 1 GB.
  
  Windows Vista/7 - 1GB is needed, but 2GB enables it to run nice and smooth - and to help it look pretty.
  
  Mac OS - Again, 1GB is needed, but 2GB is recommended.
  
  Linux (most distributions) - 512 MB is needed. However, because of how customizable Linux is, you really need to assess this for yourself. But for the average computer user running Linux, 512 MB will do fine.
  
  
  I need to play HD-DVD/BlueRay files, which graphic card should i use?
  Before deciding on a Graphic Card, make sure you have a decent Processor. Any Core2Duo 2.0> can easily play HD content but sometimes you will require a bit more muscle, in that case going for all rounder Graphic card would be a good choice. But if you only want to play HD content and don't want to gaming performance (HTPC) than getting a cheap Graphic Card with HD decoding support would be a good idea.
  
  Personally it depends on your budget.
  
  Technologies to look for in a Graphic Card:
  Purevideo HD (Nvidia)
  Avivo (ATI)
  
  Which GPU Transcoder is the best?
  Read this article:
  http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=647&type=expert&pid=1
  
  I'm looking to buy a laptop - What specs should I look for? By Equinox
  
  To choose the right laptop--one with the right set of features at the right price--you'll need to figure out how you'll want to use your machine. I've taken the liberty of filling out a few 'profiles' that you will probably fall into.
  
  Home user
  
  Home users are increasingly turning to notebooks as their primary PCs; they like that laptops can offer similar performance and features to those of a desktop PC and can be easily moved from room to room. Though of course almost any notebook will do for typical home use, there are two types of notebooks most suitable for home users: midsize notebooks, which tend to be budget-friendly, and desktop replacements, which are usually packed with features.
  
  The key features you need to look for are:
  
  AMD Turion 64, AMD Turion 64 X2, Intel Core Duo, or Intel Core 2 Duo
  
  At least 1GB of memory
  
  Large hard drive for storing digital photos and video
  
  14.1-inch display or larger
  
  Fixed or swappable DVD burner
  
  Wired and wireless networking
  
  Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium or Apple Mac OS X
  
  Student
  
  Students and others on a tight budget should look for a laptop that delivers the most bang for the buck. In particular, students need a notebook that is small and light enough to lug back and forth across campus but rugged enough to withstand bouncing around in a backpack.
  
  What you'll need to look for:
  AMD Turion 64, AMD Turion 64 X2, Intel Core Duo, or Intel Core 2 Duo
  
  At least 1GB of memory
  
  Big hard drive to hold all those MP3s
  
  DVD burner for backups and class projects
  
  Wired and wireless networking for network-equipped classrooms and dorm rooms
  
  Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium or Apple Mac OS X
  
  Frequent flier
  
  If you spend a lot of time on the road, size and weight are the two most critical factors in choosing a new notebook--even if it means sacrificing a little on performance and features. The smallest and lightest notebooks, netbooks, weigh less than four pounds and are no thicker than a spiral-bound notebook.
  
  So, you'll want to look for:
  
  AMD Turion 64, AMD Turion 64 X2, Intel Core Solo, or Intel Core Duo
  
  At least 1GB of memory
  
  A 13.3-inch display or smaller
  
  Wired and wireless networking
  
  Extended battery for those cross-country flights
  
  Media slice or external CD-RW/DVD drive
  
  Port replicator for the desk
  
  Business Power User
  
  If you rely on the same notebook at work, at home, and on the road, you need a well-balanced system. And it has to deliver the performance to keep up with a wide range of applications. A thin-and-light is just the ticket.
  
  AMD Turion 64 X2 or Intel Core 2 Duo
  
  At least 1GB of memory, preferably 2GB for Windows Vista
  
  Midsize hard drive
  
  A 14-inch or 15.4-inch display
  
  Dual-layer DVD burner
  
  Wired and wireless networking
  
  Extra battery
  
  Microsoft Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate
  
  Multimedia Author or Gamer
  
  If you demand more from a notebook, you'll need a true desktop replacement. Whether you're designing a Web site, editing home movies, or mowing down aliens, your notebook will demand a powerful processor, plenty of memory, great graphics, and a healthy hard drive.
  
  AMD Turion 64 X2, Intel Core 2 Duo, or Intel Core 2 Extreme
  
  2GB or more of memory
  
  A 15.4-inch display or larger
  
  Advanced graphics card with 256MB or 512MB of its own memory or dual SLI graphics
  
  The largest and fastest hard drive available
  
  Dual-layer DVD burner, possibly HD-DVD or Blu-Ray compatible
  
  Multimedia connectors, such as S-Video, HDMI,
  
  FireWire, S/PDIF
  
  External keyboard and mouse
  
  Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium or Ultimate, or Apple Mac OS X
  
  
  
  So there you have it. I hope this helped you in your search for a laptop

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• Dfg Admin

  July 2010 edited July 2010

  Software

  
  What programs do i need for burning a DVD (Data/Audio/Video) with menu support if possible?
  
  Try these:
  
  DVD Flick Free
  http://www.dvdflick.net/
  
  Windows DVD Maker Windows Vista/Windows 7 Free
  http://www.windowsdvdmaker.com/
  
  Nero Shareware
  http://www.nero.com/eng/index.html
  
  InfraRecorder (Windows) Free
  http://infrarecorder.org/
  
  ImgBurn (Windows/Linux)
  http://www.imgburn.com/
  
  K3b (Linux)
  http://k3b.plainblack.com/
  
  CDBurnerXP (Windows)
  http://cdburnerxp.se/
  
  
  
  What software's do i need for ripping a Video DVD?
  
  Try these software's.
  
  VLC
  http://www.therealcaffeine.com/how-to/rip-dvd-with-vlc/
  
  DVD Shrink (Windows)
  http://dvdshrink.org/
  
  DVDFab HD Decrypter
  http://www.dvdfab.com/free.htm
  
  Handbrake:
  http://handbrake.fr/
  
  I need a software to check my system temperatures?
  There are numerous software's available for this purpose. You can try the following, each software has different set of features.
  Here is an article explaining the concept of hardware sensors and why you need them:
  http://www.tech-faq.com/monitor-cpu-temperature.shtml
  
  Here are some of the popular software's:
  SpeedFan
  http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php
  
  HWMonitor
  http://www.cpuid.com/hwmonitor.php
  
  Hmonitor
  http://www.hmonitor.net/product.shtml
  
  Everest Ultimate Edition
  http://www.lavalys.com/

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• Dfg Admin

  July 2010 edited July 2010

  Networks

  
  What is networking? By Equinox
  
  Networking is the practice of linking two or more computing devices together for the purpose of sharing data. Networks are built with a mix of computer hardware and computer software.
  
  What is the different between a LAN and a WAN? By Equinox
  
  LAN stands for Local Area Network. This network is typically spread over one home - connecting all computers in the home together.
  
  WAN stands for Wide Area Network. These reach across cities, states, or even across the world. The Internet is the world's biggest WAN.
  
  What are peer-to-peer networks? By Equinox
  
  Peer to peer is an approach to computer networking where all computers share equivalent responsibility for processing data. Peer to peer networking is common on small local area networks (LANs), particularly home networks. Both wired and wireless home networks can be configured as peer to peer environments.
  
  Computers in a peer to peer network run the same networking protocols and software. Peer networks are also often situated physically near to each other, typically in homes, small businesses or schools. Some peer networks, however, utilize the Internet and are geographically dispersed worldwide (Such as BitTorrent).
  
  
  What is Bit Torrent etc? (from Vladd with Thanks)
  
  
  Bit Torrent is a p2p system that distributes downloads among peer downloaders. When you are downloading, you are simultaneously uploading the same file to other users. A group of PEERS are called a SWARM. Some person in the Swarm who has a copy of the whole download is called a SEED.
  
  The actual process of file transferring is decentralized. The Fundamental idea of Bit Torrent is that users upload at the same time they are downloading. By doing so network bandwidth is used in an efficient manner.
  
  Bit Torrent is designed to work better as the demand to download a specific file increases. Which is in direct contrast to WinMX and other p2p programs queue concept. The more that try to download a bittorrent at the same time the better.
  
  Unlike most other p2p models there is no search function for Bit Torrent. To Download a file using bittorrent, you must find .torrent files from a variety of sources. These sources include websites, irc and even emailing torrent files from one person to another.
  
  There are central servers (tracker) which coordinates the action of all peers engaged in downloading. The tracker does not have any knowledge of content of files bit torrent users download, it only manages connections. Allowing a large quantity of downloaders with limited tracker bandwidth usage.
  
  Bit Torrent is best understood by analogy. Visualize a group of people (Bit Torrent users) sitting around a table (Tracker). Each person at the table can both talk and listen to any other person at the table. These people are each trying to get a complete copy of the book.
  
  Person 1 has pages 1-9, 35-46 and 88-100.
  
  Person 2 has 10,28-35,44-60 and 72
  
  Person 3 has 5-20 32-39, 80-92
  
  Person 4 has 9-27 and 58-73.
  
  Between them, they have every page except 74-87. So each user could continue to complete (Download) the book from each other, each one getting a page from the other, in exchange for a page they do not have. Until a time that another person shows up who has the missing 74-87, or even a person who has the entire book. In which the other users would each gather pages that were missing from the whole to distribute among themselves until every copy was complete.
  
  A user who has the entire "book" would be called a seed. A person with the entire file (seed) is required for the process to begin, but it is possible to have a distributed copy without having any single user possessing a complete copy as other users continue to share their partial long after there are no seeds in a swarm.
  
  It is always good to have a complete copy, but it is not vital. WHAT IS VITAL is you have enough upload bandwidth left over to listen out for the swarm requests. Your upload bandwidth is typically only one tenth that of your download ability. DON'T max it out. Always leave at least 20% free so your bit torrent client can hear others in the swarm and reply to them in a timely manner.
  
  IF DOWNLOADING only download ONE or at the most 2 torrents at any one time. NEVER seed more than one torrent when downloading... it is that simple really!
  
  When only seeding, knock yourself out, seed as many torrents as you wish and you can even use 90% of your available upload bandwidth as you require less if you are only seeding. BUT START A DOWNLOAD - THEN LOOSE your seeding torrents, all but one and remember to STOP them or you will run into problems with your download speeds.
  
  GIVE (upload or seed) TO THE SWARM you are downloading from....the more you give to the swarm the faster you will download from it providing you do not max out your upload bandwidth...
  
  Need help with torrents not getting any good speeds Rigmar Radio.
  
  Follows this guide:
  You can archive download speeds in EXCESS of 100Kb per second during the first 12 hours of any torrent I seed by following this simple guide:

  1. NEVER Queue Torrents - they can stop and start at random and that really messes up your download speeds. ONCE YOU ARE IN A SWARM STAY WITH IT TILL THE JOB IS DONE!
     
  2. ONLY download ONE or at the very most 2 Torrents at any one time or your bit torrent client will Queue them (See above)
     
  3. If downloading never SEED more than one torrent. Your upload speed is the critical factor for downloading and good torrents. Don max it out!!!!!
     
  4. TEST you speed at this site http://www.speedtest.net - once you understand the results ENTER your max upload and download speeds into your Bit torrent C lent.
     
  5. NEVER FORCE START a Torrent - there is a Very Good reason why your bit torrent client will only let you run 2 or 3 torrents at any one time. Please don't over ride your software it is trying to give you the best speeds. Again I ask you not to Queue your torrents, if you have 11 downloads and 22 seeds on the go at the same time, you really should read up on the wiki about the theory of Bit Torrent. You will slow down everyone on the swarms you 'infect' with YOUR bad practice as you may have the last few bits the swarms you are downloading from require to get 100% and with dozens of swarms on the go at the same time at your end, that can take an age at 110 bits per second sigh... :-(
     
  6. Try not to run any other internet activity such as Web browsing Media players CPU intensive or any other P2P (file share) software - that will kill your torrent speeds.
     
  7. Give back to the file share community - learn how you can make your own torrents and share your cool stuff for us to enjoy. it is nice to get, but nicer to GIVE :-)

  
  And finally NEVER restrict your upload (seeding) speeds to the torrent swarm you are feeding from (downloading). This will reward you and everyone in that torrent with better download speeds and a faster result in getting 100% of the wanted file(s). This is also a very important bit.
  The more you GIVE to the Swarm the FASTER you will download from it. Try it and see! - But again DON'T max out your upload speed, remember you can download 10 times faster than you can upload unless you are one of the lucky few to have a symmetrical or T1 connection. By giving back to the swarm you also reduced the time taken to seed it and allows the uploader (me in this case) to move on to the next goodies they may wish to share with you all.
  
  I have found this site very educational in understanding how Bit Torrent clients work - the general rules given will apply to your software as well as users of Vuze.
  
  http://www.azureuswiki.com/index.php/Main_Page

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• Dfg Admin

  July 2010 edited July 2010

  Security

  
  I'm running Windows, what are the basic precautions I should take against Virus's/Hackers/Worms etc? By Equinox
  
  First up, Use an Internet firewall. If you're running Windows, then you should already have one. Make sure it's enabled and up-to-date. On that note, you should regularly download Microsoft's updates. These will help keep your computer in tip-top condition.
  
  Next, use Anti-virus software. There are a number of free ones available: AVG, Avast!, BitDefender.. Always download updates for these as well - These make sure your Anti-Virus software knows about the latest Virus's.
  
  Also, Use up-to-date anti-spyware software. Spy-bot Search & Destroy is highly recommended.
  
  So, there are the very basics. However, you should also never open files you don't trust/recognize. For instance, if an e-mail comes into your inbox from someone you don't know, and it has an attachment, don't download it. Chances are high that it will be/contain a virus. Also - Don't download any files that randomly pop up - say, after visiting a random website you've never been to before, and haven't clicked a 'Download' button.
  
  If you're downloading music through LimeWire, don't download ANYTHING that ends with '.exe' - e.g. Britney_Spears_Circus.exe. This has a 99.9% chance of being a virus.
  
  What about other Operating Systems? By Equinox
  
  Well, for now, there aren't many Virus's made for other operating systems. However, Virus's are growing for the Mac operating system, so you should be careful even if running that. If you're running Linux, you don't need to worry much about Virus's. Just use common sense.
  
  [How can I secure my laptop when connecting to a public network? By Equinox
  
  Since public hotspots generally don't use encryption, you should assume that anyone can see your Internet traffic unless you take precautions.
  
  First up, make sure it's a legitimate hotspot: Nefarious types have been known to set up pirate routers with familiar SSID names like "wayport" or "t-mobile," and then use them to capture unsuspecting users' log-on information and other private data.
  
  Never send bank passwords, credit card numbers, confidential e-mail, or other sensitive data unless you're sure you're on a secure site: Look for the lock icon in the bottom-right corner of your browser, as well as a URL in the address bar that begins with https. Such sites build in their own encryption.
  
  Always turn your Wi-Fi radio off when you're not at a hotspot: Hackers can use it to create peer-to-peer Wi-Fi connections with your computer and access it directly.
  
  
  
  B]I've just set up my own wireless network - What can I do to secure it?[/B] By Equinox
  
  Well, it's not nearly as complicated as most people think. If your router came with a manual, there should be instructions in there, but otherwise:
  
  Go into your routers webpage. You can do this by going into 'My Network Places' and right-clicking your router, then 'Show router webpage' or something similar. You will then need to enter your username and password - Most commonly admin/admin, or something similar. A quick google search for 'Default router passwords' will bring up what you're looking for.
  
  Once you're in your routers webpage, look around for 'Encryption Settings'. From here, Select WPA/WPA2, and enter a key (unless you leave it as the default, which is already entered in). But remember: Your encryption is only as strong as your key. My personal encryption key is over 30 characters in length - a random combination of letters and numbers.

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• Dfg Admin

  July 2010 edited July 2010

  Hardware II

  SLI / CrossFire

  
  [Note: I copied this FAQ from this thread, credit goes to the creator of that thread, btw editing this FAQ was pretty hard, I had to edit everything in notepad lol,]
  
  What is SLI ?
  
  NVIDIA SLI is a platform that allows you to scale graphics performance by combining multiple NVIDIA® graphics solutions in a single system.
  
  
  What is CrossFire ?
  CrossFire is a high-performance
  PC Gaming Platform technology that enables multiple ATI Radeon graphics cards and a CrossFire-ready motherboard in a single computer to increase graphics quality and performance.
  
  What is CrossFireX(Quad CrossFire)?
  
  I found a very good definition for it in techreport.com:
  CrossFireX is, quite simply, an extension of the CrossFire dual-GPU feature to three and four GPUs.
  Here is a good chart about the cards and motherboards which support CrossFire,CrossFireX and the compatibility list:
  
  
  
  From Anandtech.com :Aside from potential performance scalability, there is also the capability to support up to 8 monitors from one system with 4 graphics cards installed.
  
  
  What is AMD Hybrid CrossFire?
  
  It’s a technology from AMD which allows an integrated graphics and low-end discrete graphics in CrossFire mode.
  You are basically taking two very slow GPUs and making one not-so-slow GPU.
  This can only be done with AMD chipsets and AMD/ATI Graphics.
  
  
  What is Nvidia Hybrid SLI?
  
  I found very good information in Hothardware.com and here is it:
  NVIDIA's Hybrid SLI technology gives users the ability to pair an IGP, or mGPU (motherboard GPU), with a discreet graphics card, or cards, for two new modes of operation. NVIDIA calls these new modes Hybrid Power and GeForce Boost.
  
  
  GeForce Boost does what its name suggests. By coupling the motherboard's integrated GPU with a discreet graphics card, the 3D rendering workload is shared between the two GPUs for a boost in performance. Currently, GeForce Boost is only supported by GeForce 8400 GS and 8500 GT discreet cards, as for the IGP, only the next-gen nForce 700a series of chipsets due to arrive this quarter will be supported initially.
  
  
  Can you use SLI on a CrossFire board or can you use CrossFire on a SLI board?
  
  Well, in general, the answer is NO. But it's said that if you hack the drivers, you can use SLI on a CrossFire board or CrossFire on a SLI board.
  Caution: There is no guarantee that if you hack the drivers then you use SLI on a CrossFire Motherboard or CrossFire on a SLI board, so do it at your own risk!
  
  
  However, when Core i7 came out, a new chipset came out too which is Intel X58 chipset that allows users to use CrossFire and SLI on the same motherbard.
  By this i don't mean you can use for example one ATI card and one SLI card on the same motherboard,i mean this chipset supports both SLI and CrossFire.
  
  
  Do the cards have to be same model?
  
  I answer it with an example:
  You have a NVIDIA Geforce 7800GTX 256, and you want to add another card, the second card has to be 7800GTX exactly.
  
  
  But what about the memory, Can you add a 7800GTX 512 and use that with 7800GTX 256?
  
  It's recommended to use a 7800GTX 256 with a 7800GTX 256 and 7800GTX 512 with 7800GTX 512.
  However you can use a 7800GTX 256 with 7800GTX 512 , BUT the 7800GTX 512 will lower its RAM to 256MB to operate with the other card, so it won’t have its true power. (This option isn't recommended. )
  
  
  
  What about brands?
  
  Well the brand doesn’t matter , again for example , you can use a XFX card with a EVGA card , or a SAPPHIRE card with a DIAMOND card , just make sure they have the same memory and same clocks.
  
  
  What will happen if 2 cards have the same amount of memory but one has higher clocks than the other?
  
  One of the best ways to learn is to make examples.
  You have a 8800GT(Normal edition,no OverClocks) and you want to add another 8800GT(Which is OverClocked),then:
  
  
  1_The OverClocked one will lower its clocks to reach the Non-OverClocked card.
  
  
  2_You can OverClock your card(The one that has Stock frequencies) and reach the OverClocked card.
  Remember, you can’t ALWAYS OverClock the normal card to reach the other card, because it may not OverClock that much and may become unstable.
  
  
  WARNING: There are many exceptions in Computer Hardware, for example "Mousemonkey" a member of this forum has told me that when he puts his ASUS 7900GT card (Which is at stock speeds) with a XFX 7900GT(A OverClocked card) the ASUS one raise its clock to reach the XFX one which is an exception and as i said exceptions are alot in Computer Hardware.
  
  
  
  A very important note about CrossFire:
  
  Many users ask to use 1 brige or 2 briges when they want to use 2 cards in CrossFire mode.
  The answer is it will work with 1 bridge without any problems but i recommend using both bridges because:
  1: You will never lose either of these bridges.
  2: Some users have reported a minimal(Not noticeable) performance increase.
  
  
  Do SLI or CrossFire always improve performance ?
  
  Not Always , there are some games that dont take advantage of SLI or CrossFire , so you wont see a difference between 2 cards and 1 card in those games , but in games that take advantage of SLI or CrossFire , 2 cards will perform better than one.
  
  
  What are SLI or CrossFire certified Motherboards:
  
  For SLI certified Motherboards ,go here :
  http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_build_mobo.html
  
  
  For CrossFire certified Motherboards go here:
  
  http://ati.amd.com/technology/cros [...] rown1.html
  
  
  WARNING: Some RAMs have SLI or CrossFire logo on them. Many people ask if they are the only RAMs which support SLI or Crossfire.
  Well thats wrong,there are many RAMs which dont have SLI or CrossFire logo but you can use SLI or CrossFire with them without any problem.
  
  
  What are the power requirements for SLI or CrossFire ?
  
  For each card , the Power requirement is different , if you want to know if your Power Supply can handle SLI or CrossFire , check here
  
  For NVIDIA cards, go here:
  
  http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_build_psu.html
  
  WARNING: There are some Power Supplies which aren't in the List , but they are compatible , you have to check the manufactures sites too.
  
  
  And for CrossFire cards , go here :
  
  http://ati.amd.com/technology/cros [...] rown2.html
  
  
  
  Is it really necessary to use SLI or CrossFire ?
  
  Well , it really depends mostly on the resolutions and games you play , resolutions like 1920x1200 and higher benefit more from SLI or CrossFire than resolutions like 1600x1200 or lower (I dont mean SLI or CrossFire wont be good for resolutions like 1600x1200 or lower , i am just saying that SLI or CrossFire shines in higher resolutions.)
  This(MultiGPU technology) has been more optimized though and has become more mature than before, i mean in the first years of MiltiGPU technology the drivers werent as good as they are now and also not all games took advantage from MultiGPU, but things have gotten better(but not the best, because there are still games that dont take advantage MultiGPU like Flight Simluator X and there are still lots of driver problems too.)So in some of today games that really drain a lot of power from GPU, MultiGPU performs good at low resolutions (again in some games).
  Also as i said , it depends on what games (with what settings) you play , for example if you just want to play games at good settings (with not everything at maximum settings) then MultiGPU technology isn't needed , but if you want to play with every option at maximum settings, then SLI would help alot.
  Caution: Due to some problems (like Drivers and etc) in some games, a single card (like X1900XT) may beat 2 1900XT in CrossFire mode! so dont always think that 2 cards will beat one card.
  
  
  Some games like FLIGHT SIMULATOR X are mostly CPU-limited rather than GPU-limited:
  
  http://www23.tomshardware.com/grap [...] &chart=293
  http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_sli2007.html
  
  
  8800GTX VS 8800GTX in SLI :
  
  
  8800GTX:
  1920x1200 : 22.6
  1600x1200 : 22.4
  1280x1024 : 23.0
  
  8800GTX in SLI:
  1920x1200 : 22.6
  1600x1200 : 22.4
  1280x1024 : 23.0
  
  
  But here is an example of a game which benefits from SLI like OBLIVION:
  
  
  8800GTX VS 8800GTX in SLI :
  
  
  8800GTX:
  1920x1200 : 28.7
  1600x1200 : 32.5
  1280x1024 : 43.6
  
  
  8800GTX in SLI:
  1920x1200 : 53.8
  1600x1200 : 61.2
  1280x1024 : 77.1
  
  
  
  So is it better to get 2 mid-range cards or 1 high-end card?
  
  I answer this with an example,lets say we want to compare 2 AMD/ATI HD 4770's with 1 AMD/ATI HD 4870,well in games that benefit from MultiGPU,2 HD 4770's would win but there are some exceptions too,for example some games doesn't benefit from MultiGPU(Which i talked about this)and in those situations the faster card takes the lead.
  
  
  Also many ask that whether to get 2 HD 4870's in CrossFire or 1 HD 4870X2(I mean getting 2 cards with or get a 1 card with the power of those 2)
  Well by looking at the benchmarks you will find out that actually 1 HD 4870X2 is faster than 2 HD 4870's by 0-15% in "MOST" games(there are some exceptions too that 2 HD 4870's take the lead)also 1 HD 4870X2 doesn't need a MultiGPU Capable motherboard and it produces less heat and has lower power consumption too.

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• Dfg Admin

  July 2010 edited July 2010

  Do SLI or CrossFire double the memory ?
  
  This is one the questions that many people make mistake understanding it .
  The answer is NO , SLI or CrossFire doesnt double the memory , You have a 512MB card , adding another card wont make your memory 1GB, it still will be 512MB
  Another example :
  A game needs 512MB card to run at maximum settings , and you have a 256MB card , and you think if you add another 256MB card , your memory will be 512MB and thats not true.
  
  
  You may see this mistake in many sites.
  
  
  Which is better , SLI or CrossFire ?
  
  Well , you cant say exactly which is better , in some games SLI does better than CrossFire and in some games CorssFire does better than SLI, for benchmarks and tests , go to Tomshardware charts:
  http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_sli2007.html
  
  
  
  
  A note about Motherboards:
  
  
  Some Motherboards support Multi-GPU Technology at Dual 16x mode, some support it at Dual 8x mode and some support it at 16x 4x mode, what are the differences?
  Well for getting the best performance out of Multi-GPU cards,you need a Motherboard that supports Multi-GPU at dual(Or more) 16x mode like Nvidia 790i ULTRA SLI, Nvidia790i SLI, Nvidia 780i SLI, Nvidia 680i( As i said, NVIDIA 790i ULTRA SLI ,790i SLI ,780i SLI and 680i SLI support 3-Way SLI too(Nvidia 680i LT SLI chipset has 2 PCI-E 16x slot which supports 2-way SLI only.),Nvidia 590i SLI, Nvidia nForce4 SLI 16x, ATI CrossFire Xpress 3200,Intel X38 and X48.
  
  
  Dual 8x is a very good configuration too,it doesnt have alot of difference with Dual 16x and its cheaper too.
  Chipests like Nvidia 750i SLI, Nvidia 650i SLI,NVIDIA 570i SLI, NVIDIA nForce4 SLI, ATI Radeon Xpress 200, Intel 975x and ONLY 2 Intel P35 boards(ASUS BLITZ FORMULA and ASUS BLITZ EXTREME) support Multi-GPU at dual 8x mode.
  However for cards like radeon HD 48xx series,its better to get a Dual 16x motherboard because it performs better.
  
  
  However,there are some expections too,for example EVGA has a 750i Motherboard(The model of it is
  EVGA 750i SLI FTW)Which supports SLI at dual 16x mode unlike many 750i Motherboards which support SLI at dual 8x mode.
  
  
  The last one is 16x 4x, this one is the weakest and doesn't perform very good compared to dual 8x or dual 16x,so i won't recommend it for Multi-GPU configuration. Intel P35 and P965 chipsets support Multi-GPU at 16x 4x mode.
  
  
  Here are some benchmarks that help you understand it better:
  Dual 16x vs Dual 8x (ASUS A8N32-SLI DELUXE vs ASUS A8N-SLI PREMIUM) Its an old but good article:
  http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/m [...] eluxe.html
  
  
  Dual 8x vs 16x 4x (ASUS P5B DELUXE vs P5W-DH DELUXE)
  http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2837
  
  
  Nvidia 680i (Dual 16x) vs Nvidia 650i SLI(Dual 8x)
  http://www.techspot.com/review/45- [...] -680i-sli/
  
  
  List of NVIDIA and AMD/ATI CrossFire compatible Graphic Card: (All of them are PCI-EXPRESS cards,MutliGPU technology is for PCI-EXPRESS cards not for APG cards.)
  
  
  
  
  NVIDIA cards(Desktop models)
  
  
  Geforce 200 Family:
  NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 295
  NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 285(Supports 3-way SLI too)
  NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 280 (Supports 3-Way SLI too)
  NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 275(Supports 3-Way SLI too)
  NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 260 Core 216(Supports 3-Way SLI too) and also you can SLI this card with normal GTX 260 too,
  NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 260 (Supports 3-Way SLI too)
  NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 250(Supports 3-Way SLI too)
  
  
  Geforce 9 Family:
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 9800GX2(Read the note about the 7950GX2,its the same for 9800GX2)
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 9800GTX+(Supports 3-Way SLI too)
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 9800GTX(Supports 3-Way SLI too)
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 9800GT
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 9600GT
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 9600GSO
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 9500GT
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 9400GT
  
  
  Geforce 8 Family:
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 8800ULTRA (Supports 3-Way SLI too)
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 8800GTX (Supports 3-Way SLI too)
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 8800GTS 512
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 8800GT
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 8800GTS 640
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 8800GTS 320
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 8800GS
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 8600GTS
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 8600GT
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 8500GT
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 8400GS
  
  
  Geforce 7 Family:
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 7950GX2(Remember, you may think that because 7950GX2 is actually "2 cards attached to one" then you need a SLI motherboard to use it, but you dont, for single 7950GX2, u will need just one PCI-E 16x slot.
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 7900GTX
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 7950GT
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 7900GT
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 7900GS
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 7800GTX 512
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 7800GTX 256
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 7800GT
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 7600GT
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 7600GS
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 7300GT
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 7300GS
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 7300LE
  
  
  Geforce 6 Family:
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 6800ULTRA
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 6800GT
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 6800GS
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 6800
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 6800LE
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 6600GT
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 6600
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 6600LE
  
  
  NVIDIA cards(Notebook models)
  
  
  Geforce 200M Family:
  NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 280M
  NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 260M
  
  
  Geforce 100M series:
  NVIDIA GEFORCE GTS 160M
  NVIDIA GEFORCE GTS 150M
  NVIDIA GEFORCE GTS 130M
  
  
  Geforce 9 Family:
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 9800MGTX
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 9800MGT
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 9800MGTS
  
  
  Geforce 8 Family:
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 8800MGTX
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 8700MGT
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 8600MGT
  
  
  Geforce 7 Family:
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 7950GTX
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 7900GTX
  NVIDIA GEFORCE 7800GTX
  
  
  
  AMD/ATI cards(Desktop models)
  
  
  AMD/ATI HD Familty:
  
  
  AMD/ATI HD 4890
  AMD/ATI HD 4870X2(Read the note about HD 3870X2,its the same for HD 4870X2)
  AMD/ATI HD 4870
  AMD/ATI HD 4850
  AMD/ATI HD 4830
  AMD/ATI HD 4770
  AMD/ATI HD 4750
  AMD/ATI HD 4670
  AMD/ATI HD 4650
  AMD/ATI HD 4550
  AMD/ATI HD 4350
  
  
  AMD/ATI HD 3870X2(Warning:The HD 3870X2 is NOT 2 cards (like Nvidia 9800GX2).Its actually 2 GPUs on one card and it has 1 PCB* compared to 2 PCBs of 9800GX2,so you "Don't" need a CrossFire board to use this card,it requires only one slot.)
  AMD/ATI HD3870
  AMD/ATI HD 3850
  AMD/ATI HD 3830
  AMD/ATI HD 3650
  AMD/ATI HD 3470
  AMD/AT HD 3450
  
  
  AMD/ATI HD 2900XT
  AMD/ATI HD 2900PRO
  AMD/ATI HD 2900GT
  AMD/ATI HD 2600XT
  AMD/ATI HD 2600 PRO
  AMD/ATI HD 2400XT
  AMD/ATI HD 2400 PRO
  
  
  AMD/ATI X195O Family:
  AMD/ATI X1950XTX
  AMD/ATI X1950PRO
  
  
  AMD/ATI X1900 Family:
  AMD/ATI X1900XTX
  AMD/ATI X1900XT
  AMD/ATI X1900GT(Unlike X1900XT and 1900XTX which require a Master card to run in CrossFire,this card can be paired with another X1900GT)
  
  
  AMD/ATI X1800 Family:
  AMD/ATI X1800XT
  AMD/ATI X1800GTO
  AMD/ATI X1800XL
  
  
  AMD/ATI X1650 Family:
  AMD/ATI X1650 PRO
  AMD/ATI X1650XT
  
  
  AMD/ATI X1600 Family:
  AMD/ATI X1600XT
  AMD/ATI X1600PRO
  
  
  AMD/ATI X1550 Family:
  AMD/ATI X1550
  
  
  AMD/ATI X1300 Family:
  AMD/ATI X1300XT
  AMD/ATI X1300PRO
  AMD/ATI X1300
  
  
  AMD/ATI X850 Family:
  AMD/ATI X850XT-PE
  AMD/ATI X850XT
  AMD/ATI X850 PRO
  
  
  AMD/ATI Cards(Notebook models)
  
  
  AMD/ATI HD family:
  AMD/ATI HD 4870
  AMD/ATI HD 4850
  AMD/ATI HD 3870
  AMD/ATI HD 3850

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• Dfg Admin

  July 2010 edited July 2010

  Torrents

  
  (Credits goes to R4z3r from RevolutionTT)
  
  What is BitTorrent?
  A swarming download P2P that has gained huge popularity due to its FAST speeds.
  
  What is P2P?
  Peer-to-peer is a networking term describing the connecting of a computer on the network to another computer on the network.
  
  What is a seeder?
  A seed(er) is a client on the BT network that has a complete copy of a particular archive. For any archive to work, there must be at least one seed to download from originally. Sometimes under certain circumstances, there may be no one seeder but enough people with all the parts to make up the whole archive, this is called a distributed copy. It is HIGHLY recommended that once you have gotten an archive you leave the BT client running for at least the amount of time that it took you to download the archive to help ensure that others will also be able to get it. Share and Share alike!
  
  What is a leecher?
  A leech(er) is a client on the BT network that does not have a complete copy of a particular archive yet. When any new client begins downloading an archive, they are a leecher until they have finished downloading the entire archive and then become a seeder. The name 'leecher' here is an unfortunate use that has become too commonly used even though it is really not applicable to what the meaning is. A leecher normally means someone who downloads without uploading (takes but does not give.) But here, a leecher is part of the network and is uploading as well, many times more KB than they download. But hey, it's worth the new meaning once you appreciate the vast resources that BT brings to you.
  
  What is a peer?
  A peer is another computer on the internet that you connect to and transfer data. Generally a peer does not have the complete file, otherwise it would be called a seed. Some people also refer to peers as leeches, to distinguish them from those generous folks who have completed their download and continue to leave the client running and act as a seed. The Leech will just hit and run without seeding.
  
  What is a .torrent file?
  To download something with BitTorrent, you must have a .torrent file. This file contains in it a location that tells the BitTorrent client where to go to find the tracker that manages the uploading and downloading of the archive. An archive is a complete set for downloading which may include one file or many files. The one .torrent file contains the archive information also. To download on this network it is simply a matter of clicking on the .torrent file in your web browser, then the BitTorrent client kicks in and asks where you'd like to save the archive. That's it, from there you just sit back and watch the client work it's magic.
  
  What is a tracker?
  A tracker is similar to a traffic cop. It keeps track of all the files that are uploaded to it, and directs all the various traffic to where it needs to go. It also is a great way to check out the status of various torrents, as most sites trackers contain information about each torrent files number of complete seeders versus, the number of leechers.
  
  What is Azureus?
  Azureus is a java bittorrent client. It provides a quite full bittorrent protocol implementation using java language. uTorrent is an alternative and the recommended client of RevolutionTT
  
  What is Bandwidth?
  The amount of data that can be transmitted in a fixed amount of time. This is also a measure of the speed that you can send or receive something.
  
  What is a Client?
  A client is a program that connects to another computer over a network to request information.
  
  What is Download and Upload?
  When information (files) is being transferred to you from another computer on a network, that is called downloading. When information is transferred from your computer to another computer through a network, that is called uploading.
  
  What is File Sharing?
  The act of BOTH receiving AND sending of files to other users. This is different from someone who only receives files, called a leecher.
  
  What is a Firewall?
  A point where entry is blocked into your computer through an internet/lan connection. Usually achieved by closing ports.
  
  What is Freeware?
  Software which is free to use. This type of software has complete functionality at no cost to the user.
  
  What is FTP?
  Acronym for File Transfer Protocol. This is the standard protocol used for transferring files over TCP/IP.
  
  What is UDP?
  Acronym for User Datagram Protocol. This protocol allows data transfer much like TCP however does not have the strict error management features that slow TCP down.
  
  What is http?
  Acronym for Hyper Text Transfer Protocol. It is the protocol used to transfer information by the World Wide Web.
  
  What is an IP Address?
  IP, or Internet Protocol Address, is a unique identifier assigned to each computer accessing the Internet. Your IP address can be either "static," meaning it remains constant, or "dynamic," meaning it changes every time you log on. It is typically displayed as 151.69.28.18.
  
  What is Remotely Queued?
  If you're unable to download from a source, due to a "remote queue", this means that the remote user has filled all their available upload slots. Once those ahead of you have finished their file-transfer, your download will begin.
  
  What is a Server?
  A server is a computer/device which provides information or services to computers (clients) on a network. In P2P, a program is often a server and a client both at the same time, this is called a servant. This is because you are usually serving information (uploading files) like a server, and receiving information (downloading files) like a client.
  
  What is a Hash?
  A hash is a method of creating a unique code that identifies a particular file. This serves many purposes, 2 of the most useful are: 1. Verifying that the file you are downloading is a legit file and not a fake by trading hash codes of known good files. 2. Multi-source downloading is made easier by simply matching hash files to know that the file is the same regardless of the file-name.
  
  What are Ports?
  Ports are what allows many servers or P2P programs to use the same internet connection. Each port is like a channel that a server/client can speak to each other over.
  
  What is Protocol?
  A standard way of communicating across a network. Many P2P networks have their own protocol for the peers to communicate with each other.
  
  What is the RIAA?
  An Industry organization, the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) is the relentless and constant pest that interferes with the free flow of information.
  
  
  What are Sources?
  The originating point of a file that you desire to download is a source. Many programs now have features that automatically determine many sources (people/computers) that have the file and can download from them simultaneously. This is called multi-source downloading.
  
  
  Definitions of Some Basic, Yet Important Terms
  
  I just thought I might make a list of some of the terms that seem to be asked about somewhat frequently. When I first got here I found the FAQ to be overwhelming, and while I did know a little about how things worked, I was still pretty much in that dark about what things meant. I hope this list will be helpful.
  
  Hit and Run - Stopping a torrent or closing the client after a download has completed where you do not meet the requirements stated in the next line. To avoid getting banned, always seed to 1:1 ratio [upload as much MB as you have downloaded from a certain torrent] or upload for 72 hours after the download has completed.
  
  Ratio
  
  1. Site ratio - This is the ratio for the TOTAL of all of your downloads combined. As it states in the rules, you must maintain a minimum site RATIO of .8 or you will receive a warning and a ban. So if John takes one apple from RevolutionTT, he has to give back .8 of that apple to stay here [minimum]. This is obviously the most important ratio definition to remember. To maintain RATIO you need to give data to other people.
  
  2. Torrent ratio - You must SEED back each torrent you download to .8. BUT if you are unable to SEED a torrent properly, due to lack of people LEECHING the file you can stop SEEDING after 72 hours without having to worry about being warned for a hit n run. Again, people must take data from you for either / both types of RATIO to increase.
  
  *** Since you will more than likely download a number of torrents with few LEECHERS and many SEEDERS, or POPULAR torrents that are already well SEEDED, you may wonder how you can possibly maintain a healthy SITE RATIO. That would bring us to a common solution to that problem.....
  
  Partial Seeding
  
  PARTIAL SEEDING is when you put a torrent in your client and instead of selecting the entire contents of the torrent, you only download one or a few .rar files in it (these wont necessarily be torrents you want for yourself. This is a way to help maintain your SITE RATIO). The benefit, if you choose wisely is that you will only download a very small amount of data, but if enough people come along to take data you can seed a great deal from such a small investment.

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• Dfg Admin

  July 2010 edited July 2010

  Uploading
  
  There are 2 definitions of UPLOADING and if you aren't sure which one applies to you then you can rest assured that the SECOND definition applies to your situation.
  
  1. Uploading (I'll call this ACTUAL uploading) - This is where a member of RevolutionTT (an UPLOADER) has a file that is currently not available on RevolutionTT, be it a movie, tv show, program etc. and provides it for the benefit of the RevolutionTT community. You can find out the criteria by looking through the http://www.revolutiontt.net/faq.php"">FAQ but if you need to look it up you probably don't meet the criteria. The fact that you may have a ton of "stuff" on your computer that is not currently available on RevolutionTT does NOT meet the criteria.
  
  2. Uploading (This one is also known as seeding) - This is the most common and relevant definition of UPLOADING for most RevolutionTT users. This is the way you maintain your RATIOS. When you download a torrent you are taking the data from someone else. That person is UPLOADING (SEEDING). Once you have some of that data, you will, in turn be giving that data to someone else (you are now SEEDING). keep in mind that there have to be LEECHERS for you to give data to. If there aren't taking data, or there are no (or very few) LEECHERS, you will not be SEEDING.
  
  Seeders
  
  1. Full Seeder (just known as a SEEDER but I needed a seperate term to differentiate the two types) - This is someone who has all the data of a particular file and are giving their data to others. In the stats they will be listed as a SEEDER.
  
  2. Partial Seeder - This is someone who only has part of the data in a torrent and has no intention of downloading any further data from that torrent. It may be because they are PARTIAL SEEDING to boost their SITE RATIO or they may be downloading from a PACK (e.g. multiple movies or programs in one torrent and they only need some of the files). THESE PEOPLE WILL SHOW IN THE STATS AS LEECHERS SINCE THEY DO NOT HAVE ALL THE DATA, EVEN THOUGHT THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF RECIEVING ANY MORE DATA.
  
  Leechers
  
  Pretty straightforward. LEECHERS are people who are downloading data from a torrent (with the exception of PARTIAL SEEDERS mentioned above)
  
  ***Since maintaining a good RATIO means that people (LEECHERS) have to take data from you, you may think to yourself "Self..... The best way i can boost my RATIO is to download "POPULAR" files. So i will look for the most downloaded files and that will certainly help me. It can't fail!"
  
  Popular
  
  The problem with "POPULAR" torrents is that they can be a double edged sword. Yes "POPULAR" indicates that many people wanted it, so the assumption is that more people will too. The problem is that MANY PEOPLE WANTED IT, SO MANY PEOPLE ALREADY HAVE IT, AND ARE CURRENTLY SEEDING IT. That means that when you do have the full file, you and all of the other people who already have the file and are SEEDING it, have to share or take turns giving data to anyone new who decides to download it. So if 1000 people have it, and 10 new people come along to get it, YOU WILL NOT SEED THAT TORRENT VERY WELL.
  
  Some may disagree with me but in my personal opinion, going by definition alone, "POPULAR" MEANS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. And speaking of POPULAR. One thing that is a POPULAR MISCONCEPTION is that a PACK may be useful to boost your RATIO....
  
  Packs
  
  A PACK is a number of different files in one easy to download "package" or torrent PACK. For instance in movies there may be a "Matrix PACK" which contains all 3 of the matrix trilogy, or a "comedy PACK" which contains more than one comedy film. These are handy so that you don't have to scour the site for similar types of films, or consecutive movies like a trilogy, or even a certain actor / actress' full body of work.
  
  PACKS WILL GENERALLY NOT SEED WELL. You may say to yourself "Self.... I don't get it..... the stats say that there are plenty of LEECHERS downloading this PACK. So I should be getting a good SEED and / or UPLOAD speed. What is going on here?"
  
  The answer is listed above, under the SEEDERS heading (definition #2 - PARTIAL SEEDER) "THESE PEOPLE WILL SHOW IN THE STATS AS LEECHERS SINCE THEY DO NOT HAVE ALL THE DATA, EVEN THOUGHT THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF RECIEVING ANY MORE DATA."
  
  THE EXCEPTION TO THE PACK RULE OF POOR SEEDING ACTION
  
  The exception to the "DO NOT TRY TO USE PACKS TO BOOST RATIO" rule would be TV SHOW BOXED SETS. In general when someone downloads an episode from a TV series, they are more than likely going to want the entire season or series. So for the most part, all of the LEECHERS in the stats are actually taking all the data for the entire torrent (with the exception of people who are PARTIAL SEEDING that particular torrent to boost their RATIO)
  
  
  So I hope that this list is helpful in understanding about SITE RATIO and TORRENT RATIO, and that it is of benefit to both SEEDERS and LEECHERS, whether you are LEECHING, SEEDING or even PARTIAL SEEDING. Always remember to thank the UPLOADERS for making RevolutionTT one of the most POPULAR torrent sites out there.

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• Dfg Admin

  July 2010 edited July 2010

  Overclockers Section

  
  
  The Complete Guide to Spread Spectrum [By Harrkev]
  
  
  INTRODUCTION
  You have this shiny new motherboard, and the BIOS lists an option for "Spread Spectrum." You have heard that it is best left turned off for overclocking, but you have no idea what it is or why it is there. That is what this article is about. Hopefully all of your questions will be answered after reading this.
  
  From now on, spread spectrum will be abbreviated as SS.
  
  DO I NEED SPREAD SPECTRUM?
  No. As an end user, you ALMOST NEVER need SS. This feature was NOT designed to benefit the end user. It was designed to allow pre-built computers to pass FCC testing. If you do not know what FCC testing is, then you have absolutely no need for SS. But, if your computer interferes with your radio reception, it is possible that enabling SS may help a little.
  
  The good news is that, unless you overclock, SS does absolutely no harm.
  
  SO WHAT GOOD IS SPREAD SPECTRUM?
  Spread spectrum is a trick used to allow products to pass FCC testing. Inside almost every electronic device is an oscillator of some sort. On a typical motherboard, the front-side-bus may operate at 200MHz. This means that there is a steady 200MHz clock which is running all of the time. This clock runs over long wires. And a long wire carrying a signal is also sometimes known as an antenna.
  
  So, a typical motherboard will be radiating a 200MHz signal into the air as radio waves. Also, there is likely to be a strong 33Mhz and 66Mhz signal from the PCI and AGP ports. Plus, each clock will have overtones which will be odd multiples of the fundamental frequency. So you will also have signals at 100MHz, 167MHz, 200MHz, 233Mhz, etc. Not to mention harmonics plus the noise generated by the signal and control lines.
  
  The problem comes when a product needs FCC certification. On a spectrum analyzer, each of these clock frequencies shows up as a "spike" on the spectrum display. If the spike goes over a certain threshold, the product fails the test. There are several ways to deal with a failure of this type, and they all require making changes in the prduct. Perhaps the board can be re-designed (expensive), or perhaps the case can be improved (possibly also expensive). Or perhaps SS can be turned on (free, if built-in).
  
  SO HOW DOES SPREAD SPECTRUM WORK?
  Spread spectrum works by changing the clock frequency. Instead of the FSB running at 200MHZ, it will be AROUND 200MHZ, but constantly varying. One instant it will be 200MHz. The next instant, it will be 199.5MHz, and 198MHz the next, and maybe 202MHz the next. The actual frequency of the clock goes up and down, but is always centered around 200MHz.
  
  Now, if you look at this on a spectrum analyzer, instead of getting a sharp "spike" at 200Mhz, you will get a round "blob" centered at 200MHz. If the top of the blob is below the legal threshold, the product now passes FCC testing. It should be noted that the exact same amount of radio energy is being generated, but the energy has been spread out over a narrow range of frequencies instad of being centered on one frequency. To use a simple analogy, instead of putting $10 on #12 on a roulette wheel, you will instead put $2 on #10, $2 on #11, $2 on #12, $2 on #13, and $2 on #14. This is why it is called "spread spectrum" -- you are taking the same amount of radio energy and spreading it out around the spectrum.
  
  SO WHY IS THIS BAD FOR OVERCLOCKING?
  Let's suppose that the weak link in your computer is the RAM. No matter what you do, your RAM will not run faster than 230MHz. So, if SS is disabled, you can safely run at 230MHz. Now, if SS in enabled, and the frequency variation is +/-5MHz, then if you run at 230MHz, one instant you will be running at 225MHz (OK) and the next instant you will be running at 235MHz (blue screen of death). With a +/-5MHz variation, you cannot run faster than 225MHz.
  
  It should be noted that, in this case, if you are running at the stock 200MHZ, then you might as well leave SS turned on because it does not hurt you.
  
  SO WHY ARE YOU MISTER SMARTY-PANTS?
  I have a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering. I currently design and debug digital control and communication products (including board and FPGA design) for a non-consumer market.
  
  For more information: http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/4154

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• TLV Regular

  July 2010 edited July 2010

  Good guide. for anything else GOOGLE.
  
  Is something is wrong, Backup, Format, Reinstall. If its still there THEN you ask.

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• Dfg Admin

  July 2010 edited July 2010

  You need an Audio Editor capable of editing audio files, look no further.
  

  Freeware

  • Free Audio Editor 2010
  • Audacity
  • Ardour
  • Rosegarden
  • Musix
    

  Shareware

  • Nero Wave 3
  • Adobe Audition
  • Soundbooth
  • Song Acid
  • Sound Forge
  • Nuendo 5
  • SoundTrack Pro 3
  • GoldWave

  I will add more later. Post your Music Editors in this thread.

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• KundaLini Regular

  July 2010 edited July 2010

  Excellent thread, I go with Audacity.

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• Dfg Admin

  July 2010 edited July 2010

  So, you're looking for some websites which will help you check your local weather and see forecasts.
  
  You're in luck, I have just the right thing for you. There are two methods, one is to check a website and the other involves downloading a desktop app.
  

  Websites
  

  • http://weather.weatherbug.com/
  • http://www.intellicast.com/
  • http://www.accuweather.com/
  • http://www.weather.com/
  • http://www.wunderground.com/
  • http://weather.yahoo.com/
  • http://www.weatherforyou.com/
  • http://www.theweathernetwork.com/

  
  I prefer weatherbug.
  

  Applications

  • YoWindow 2.0
  • [URL="http://ww2.weatherbug.com/downloadclient.asp]Weatherbug Desktop App[/URL]
  • AccuWeather.com Widget
  • Weather Network
  • Google Desktop/ Windows Vista/7 Sidebar/ Yahoo Widget etc

  
  I prefer YoWindow 2.0.
  
  The reason is simple:
  

  

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• bornkiller Administrator In your girlfriends snatch

  July 2010 edited July 2010

  This thread is epic...:eek:

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• Unknown

  January 2011 edited January 2011

  When it comes to Windows 7, if you're using a pirated version set the Windows Update to download updates BUT not install them. check each update and google the ones you have doubts. Updates like these KB976902 can be a bitch to remove. I will update this FAQ later

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• Spiff Regular

  May 2011 edited May 2011

  Nice thread. I'm going to print it out and give it to my old man.

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