Hardware - June 2006

Hi
I can't get hold of any heat-conductive gel to improve the conduction between my cpu and heat sink. What can I use as an alternative?

I need something proven and tested, not guesses! Thanks folks
Matt

2006-06-29 09:16:28 · 6 answers · asked by Matty 2 in Desktops

What would be the best way to format/get rid of all information
off a hard drive so I give it to someone or sell it.
So that the information that I had on it won't have a good chance
of being viewed by whom ever gets the hard drive.

2006-06-29 08:47:48 · 8 answers · asked by eightbfan 1 in Other - Hardware

I purchased a Viewsonic VA712B (has built-in speakers) and thought the sound was not very good. My PC is about six years old and therefore has an old sound card. If I purchase a new PC with up to date components such as the sound card, will that make the speakers perform/sound any better?
The monitor is fantastic, but speakers sound bad enough that I doubt I will keep it unless they would be significantly affected by a new sound card.

2006-06-29 08:47:07 · 4 answers · asked by Andrew P 1 in Other - Hardware

2006-06-29 08:45:58 · 5 answers · asked by partyguy20062001 1 in Add-ons

2006-06-29 08:31:46 · 5 answers · asked by unk 1 in Desktops

It's a new computer and I just turned it on and realized the sound isn't working. I tried turning it up but it didn't work, does anyone know why this is happening or how I can fox it?

2006-06-29 08:31:38 · 3 answers · asked by Twilight Elf 2 in Laptops & Notebooks

2006-06-29 08:29:08 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Other - Hardware

2006-06-29 08:25:58 · 3 answers · asked by Bright 6 in Other - Hardware

my compioter shows the CPU as 1.8 gig while my CPU in this pc is AMD 3000 gig

2006-06-29 08:17:27 · 6 answers · asked by i k 1 in Other - Hardware

2006-06-29 08:15:37 · 2 answers · asked by cross-stitch kelly 7 in Other - Hardware

2006-06-29 08:14:42 · 2 answers · asked by melissa K 1 in Other - Hardware

My family needs a new computer, and my mom if fed up with our PC. She's decided that she wants a Mac because of its easier user interface and programs like iMovie. I, on the other hand, am a gamer, and I don't want to have to sacrifice all of my games that won't be compatible and all the programs in Microsoft office that I use for school. Also, Macs aren't as upgradable as Windows, and tend do be integrated, right? I don't want to be stuck with a computer that won't be good in a few years, and that I won't be able to upgrade.

I know that its possible to run windows on Macs, though, but I have no idea how to do that. Firstly, is it going to be necessary so that my PC programs are compatible, and if so, how should I accomplish that?

Second of all, which desktop model should I get? I'm not too sure what to get, how powerful it should be, etc. I know I probably wont be able to upgrade much, so I want something that will last.

2006-06-29 08:07:10 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Desktops

I've been told SATA II HDD's are twice as fast as the first generation SATA HDD, is this true?

Will a SATA HDD (not SATA II) work in the following motherboard?

PATA 2 x ATA100 up to 4 Devices
SATA 3Gb/s 5 x Internal SATA II
1 x External SATA II on Back Panel
SATA RAID RAID 0/1/0+1/5
Additional RAID Controller Sil 3132

And why do we need RAID? How is it used and why would anyone want to use it?

2006-06-29 08:02:32 · 2 answers · asked by Im2hard2please 2 in Desktops

If so do you have any problems with it? Also how's their tech support?

2006-06-29 07:51:04 · 1 answers · asked by aimstir31 5 in Desktops

According to previous post on this problem the solution is to check the Bios battery and clock crystal on the mother board. Well that's good to know but now I need a step by step procedure on how to proceed... Where can point and click my cursor to get the proper result that I needed. In the meantime, can I just leave my laptap on all the time so I do not have to go through the hassle of the error messages that i'm getting and hoping that will still reboot?! Please give me some advice as to what to do with this problem. As far as getting it fix (how much?) or just plain getting a new? Thank you in advance for your replies!!!

2006-06-29 07:50:52 · 12 answers · asked by HelpSmarty 2 in Laptops & Notebooks

Need some air to get in my PC. I think I already have enough blowing out - no more fan slots left....help...anyone with any ideas on how to cool down my PC??

2006-06-29 07:32:07 · 7 answers · asked by Ash 2 in Other - Hardware

It did not look like a laptop or a desktop or a PDA. It was small, but large enough that it had a keyboard -- almost looked like a toy computer, but it was being marketed to people who only needed email and didn't care about doing anything else (Internet, Word, Excel, etc.)

2006-06-29 07:24:14 · 3 answers · asked by rescogirl 2 in Other - Hardware

Whenever I tell people that I am looking to buy a Macintosh Computer, they always give me grief and tell me that I am making a poor decision. I actually like Macs better. I just wondered why they are not as popular.

2006-06-29 07:13:18 · 11 answers · asked by hurley_gurl_10 4 in Desktops

Im planing to get a new motherboard but i want one that has a 3.4 CUP. Which is the best one????????

2006-06-29 07:09:12 · 9 answers · asked by dholloway_iscool 1 in Other - Hardware

My PC makes "booting sounds" as soon as I plug the tower in, without me pressing the power button. There is no video, even when I try to use a card, and keyboard does not power up. I thought it was the motherboard, so I got a new one and switched everything. On testing, I only connected the bare neccessities, power, ram, processor and hd. The same thing happened, indicating that a component is bad, I already tried different RAM. Could it be the processor? A new one costs over $200, a big investment to make just to trouble shoot!

2006-06-29 06:33:54 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Desktops

I need to buy a PC (and laptop too). But I do not want any software installed on that PC, even the OS, since I have all the softwares I need. Is there anyplace I can buy like that? I mean, I need to buy hardwares, not softwares. Why do I need to pay more for the things I've already had?

2006-06-29 05:46:34 · 11 answers · asked by Esente 1 in Desktops

There are so many models of the Pentium D and AMD dual core processor out there....and most all are too pricey for me.

Let's just hope the price will soon drop. I'm told they will in July 2006. We'll just have to wait and see.

If I had no more than $200 to spend on a processor (and I only want a dual core processor) which one can I get?

If you quote a price from a particular website, please provide a link to that site.

Other than price (and this is a major factor for me), what factors should be considered?

I'm starting from scratch so there are no constraints on the processor right now. In other words, I'll match the mobo with the processor.....not the other way around.

I let's say I have 2 to 3 months to buy everything I need to build the computer.

I'll be using the computer primarily to convert analog video to digital video.

NO GAMING GOING ON HERE....unless I change a lot.

2006-06-29 05:34:49 · 8 answers · asked by Im2hard2please 2 in Desktops

The Sony VAIO TX770P/B or the Lenovo ThinkPad X60?

2006-06-29 05:26:52 · 8 answers · asked by yp_veronica_chicago 2 in Laptops & Notebooks

My dog chewed my laptop power cable, I stripped the cable and do not know how to mend the wire together. Any help is greatly appreciated.

2006-06-29 05:14:45 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Laptops & Notebooks

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136111

DFI CA64-TC Socket 370 VIA 694T ATX Intel Motherboard
CPU Socket Type Socket 370
CPU Type Intel Pentium 3 Tualatin/Celeron

I'm also looking for any other motherboards with the same configuration as that one since it would fit into my case.

2006-06-29 05:00:14 · 6 answers · asked by skiisme753 2 in Desktops

2006-06-29 04:49:31 · 3 answers · asked by bithin W 1 in Add-ons

The Battery has never held a charge for longer than 15 mintues and I actually had to remove the batter for the computer to even run last week. Now the computer shuts off in the middle of anything you do. Sometimes it will start back up and other times it wont for a couple hours or sometimes days. Any ideas or suggestions as to what the heck is going on here with it?

2006-06-29 04:48:38 · 8 answers · asked by TomandShannan 1 in Laptops & Notebooks

2006-06-29 04:22:25 · 3 answers · asked by Matthew J R 1 in Laptops & Notebooks

2006-06-29 03:57:17 · 4 answers · asked by Torero In Red 3 in Desktops

2006-06-29 03:51:41 · 13 answers · asked by djbennett999 1 in Printers