Hardware - September 2006

I am supposed to build a system for my aunt next week, but there is one thing which I do not about. The processor. I read the Core 2 Duo series is meant more for the heavy gamers, and given that she isn't exactly a gamer I do not know whether to get a Core 2 Duo 6300 ($190) or the 6600($330). The 6600 has twice as much cache, so if i wanted it for gaming it would be the better choice. However, my aunt wont be doing much FPS gaming lol. At most she will do some Photoshop, so should i go with the 6300? or perhaps bumb it up to the 6400 cuz its still only $230.
Any of you guys have an answer?
(p.s.i have a pretty huge budget so i dont have to get the cheapest stuff)

2006-09-29 13:02:24 · 7 answers · asked by aruel100 2 in Other - Hardware

I get the message "Error occured writing data to disc". I have tried using different types of cd burning software and I get the the same or similiar error messages from all of them.

2006-09-29 12:59:23 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Other - Hardware

my battery was dead so it shut off by itself then I plug my power cord and I am not able to start it again. Do you know what key I have to press to turn this computer on? I already press on power on but nothing appens .
thanks

2006-09-29 12:52:57 · 4 answers · asked by Kissoflove 2 in Laptops & Notebooks

2006-09-29 12:48:54 · 12 answers · asked by Celebrity girl 7 in Other - Hardware

to use the 3D studiomax program and the rendering thing with no trouble whatsoever?
What's best of these two then what's best in general?

2006-09-29 12:34:16 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Other - Hardware

I have an external hard drive with a sata connection which keeps becomming disconnected, can I put the drive into my pc and use it as an internal hard drive?

2006-09-29 12:03:00 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Other - Hardware

In the last few days my computer has,

Gone into standby mode while I was moving the mouse. But this time I was able to get it out in a few seconds after I hit the spacebar.

Then it went into standby mode while I was using it and I wasn't unable to get it out no matter what I hit. I then switched it off and back on and still no luck, so then I unplugged the monitor and tightened the conection to the videocard and still no luck. So then I shut the comp down for an hour and then it finally worked.

Then just now when I booted my comp it started without any icons on the screen. My mouse buttons wouldn't do anything but I was able to do crtl+alt+dlt and restart. (I don't know if this has anything to do with the standby thing or not)

I'm using retail WINDOWS XP Home on an AMD duron 1000.

2006-09-29 11:59:42 · 8 answers · asked by pigdoghorn 2 in Desktops

I'm trying to get the sound from the speakers to work, but it's not working. When I try to play videos, its just silent. I tried turning up the volume on the computer but it won't let me. So what should I do. And if I need to go on the internet and download the drivers can you please tell me which site to go to to download it. Thankyou, I would greatly appreciate it.

2006-09-29 11:57:29 · 6 answers · asked by D-Town Girl 2 in Other - Hardware

I'm a grad student in technical field, but I know nothing about laptops. I need to buy one, my friend is selling one. I want to find out if it's a good deal. How do I compare it to other brands that are out there? What makes a good laptop? He's selling DURABOOK N14RI with following charachtereistics: Battery: L1-10N (is it good?), Communication: WL-802.11BG (what does this mean?),
OS: WIN XP-PRO (yeah, I want that), CPU speed: C-PS 1.6 GHz (is it slow or OK by today's standards?), Memory: 512 MB, HDD: 40 GB (why are there 2 memories? How important are they?) Display: 14.1" XGA This compareable to what I have on my old and tried desktop, so it should probably be enough. But does it mean my laptop would be outdated?

The asking price is $750

If you can answer any of those questions or provide any advise I'd greatly appreciate it.

2006-09-29 11:56:39 · 10 answers · asked by Snowflake 7 in Laptops & Notebooks

2006-09-29 11:49:10 · 4 answers · asked by dean d 1 in Printers

The cartdiges are identical but Dell says that you can only get the ones for the Dell printer through Dell.com The guy at Office Depot said that some Lexmark cartridges will work in some Dell printers. Anybody know?

2006-09-29 11:27:15 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Printers

I have a dell xps 400 with windows xp pro. Someone put a
dvd disc with a program on it, i.e., not a blank one, into the
dvd-rw drive by mistake. Now i can't get it to eject. I have tried
my computer/dvd-rw(e)/eject, and the light flashes on it, but still
will not eject. Ideas ?

2006-09-29 11:01:41 · 6 answers · asked by miked4998 2 in Desktops

its a dimension 3000 and ive had it for well over a year and ive had problems with it for a while now. When i turn it on and it makes the start up noise music... its all crackly and takes forever to load everything. i had been sending error reports becasue it crashes sometimes with a blue screen. finaly i got a response saying its the video card driver needs to be updated. so i tryed and it is up to date. now things have gradualy gotton worse and it crashes from alot of things. i did all the things it said to try. i then called dell and they said i haev to pay $40 to have them tell me a simple thing. then i decided to try a pc restore back to what it was when i bought it. but noooooooo it says keybourd error and i cant do it. but the keybourd is fine... works great. and i dont want to pay $40 to find out what it is when its probably something realy simple. please help if you know what the problem may be. email me or something. thanx

James

2006-09-29 10:55:48 · 11 answers · asked by J 1 in Desktops

I'm going to build my own computer for the first time but I don't know much about processor cooling\heatsinks. I'm buying most of my stuff at pricwatch.com but i don't know what to look for. My processor is intel core 2 duo e6400. thanks

2006-09-29 10:53:03 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Other - Hardware

If I do add something to same port do I lose 1st thing installed?

2006-09-29 10:39:27 · 6 answers · asked by sasssssyredhead364 1 in Desktops

The application failed to initialize properly (0xc00000022). Click on OK to terminate the application. appear.

is there anyway to help me guys..who ever help me in this problem i will appricate him all of my life

2006-09-29 10:28:44 · 5 answers · asked by didi_wah_2006 1 in Laptops & Notebooks

TigerDirect has some for 195.00 but right before I ordered it jumped about 75.00...so not them, hah.

Looking to keep it around 195.00 (but less would be better of course).

Thanks in advance!

2006-09-29 10:28:10 · 5 answers · asked by Harvey 3 in Desktops

I think it is about 1MB , so if I have DSL I have a T1 connection

2006-09-29 09:26:42 · 3 answers · asked by chaessigbikerboy 2 in Other - Hardware

is nvidia 7600 GT ok? which brand? is overclocking important? etc.
I'm totally confused. plz help.

2006-09-29 09:26:26 · 9 answers · asked by Morris 2 in Add-ons

We've tried everything...so, does anyone have any solution to what this problem is, or how we can fix it? We have Windows XP. We hope to find the problem and fix ourselves before seeking a computer repair shop. Nothing shows up on virus scans, or spyware scans, yet when we go back to the computer after it has gone into screensaver mode, the screen is black, and will not do anything, and when we reboot, up comes the blue screen of death! Is there anything we can do at this point, and what is this coming from??? I would hate to think our computer "crashed", it is just a year-1/2 old. Thanks for any tips.

2006-09-29 09:07:23 · 8 answers · asked by LARGE MARGE 5 in Desktops

I need a new computer and have no idea how to shop for one. I'd use it for RPGs, bills, CDs/MP3s, spreadsheets and school work. I'd like one with good graphics that doesn't take a year to get moving (Mine now is slow as molasses). What kind should I get?

2006-09-29 08:33:27 · 10 answers · asked by Gibulet 2 in Desktops

My computer is connected to a fax machine. I am running Windows XP.

2006-09-29 08:16:02 · 8 answers · asked by newjerseygirl 3 in Printers

2006-09-29 08:12:14 · 3 answers · asked by samantha 2 in Laptops & Notebooks

Am looking at the Asus A7JC-RO79XL with 1.83Ghtz core duo 2 processor with X1600 256k graphics,2056MB 667 SDRAM, 100GB 7200RPM HDD for £1300 anyone familiar with Asus Notebooks?

2006-09-29 08:06:08 · 9 answers · asked by calmseas10 1 in Laptops & Notebooks

and why in such arrangement as opposed to ABC etc ?

2006-09-29 07:53:36 · 10 answers · asked by India 55 5 in Other - Hardware

I use a computer to write documents and shopping online.
I also have two Ipods Nanos and download music.
My current computer is a 2002 Dell P3 512MB 30gb hard drive laptop. It has been getting slow as of late.The hard drive has 18% left open. I want a desktop this time. PC orMac--- I will buy which ever is best for me.
Please tell me facts so I may make my mind up for the sunday.
Thank to all that answer

2006-09-29 07:51:23 · 8 answers · asked by rsegel 1 in Desktops

When I put a blank cd in it never works.

2006-09-29 07:51:13 · 4 answers · asked by lilbagel21 2 in Other - Hardware

Personally I can't see any appreciable difference. If that is the case, are the tower's days numbered?

2006-09-29 07:39:10 · 66 answers · asked by richy 2 in Laptops & Notebooks

system disk tells me that one of the files isnt in its original place and saft mode just wont boot

2006-09-29 07:28:24 · 6 answers · asked by PAUL R 1 in Desktops

my laptop (toshiba, satellite 1405) is getting old and the real time clock battery is no longer rechargeable. so everytime I turn on the computer, the system clock is always changed back to 1999. I was wondering if I can change the battery myself, or do I have to take it to a computer store (and how much would that cost)? I heard that the RTC battery is a small button-like battery and is really cheap, but I didn't see it when I opened the back of the laptop. Any idea? thanks a lot for your help.

2006-09-29 07:20:00 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Laptops & Notebooks