Hardware - June 2007

I am looking to buy a computer and would like some info, advice, and suggestions based on the features I would like to have. I would like a computer that

• Is dependable (will not freeze or break down often)
• Will be useful for many years (as opposed to obsolete and useless in one)
• Will be able to handle some moderate digital photo retouching with GIMP
• Has decent speed and storage (I do not need lightening fast speed or a whole lot of storage)
• Is reasonably priced ($0-$300)
• I will not be playing games on my computer so I need no info, advice, and/or suggestions concerning what I need for them.

If you have some useful info, advice, and/or suggestions, I would appreciate it.

I would also appreciate info on both PCs and Macs, as I am open to getting either.

2007-06-21 13:38:20 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Desktops

I just got to my cousins house and her computer speakers aren't working :/ The system still makes sounds and the speakers are plugged in but they just don't work. My cousin told me that recently her computer crashed and she had to use a reboot disk to get it running again. If anyone knows what I can do to get these speakers working again I'd appreciate it. Thanks :]

2007-06-21 13:25:04 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Add-ons

I've looked around the web and haven't been able to understand if there is any difference between a PCI slot and a PCI.2. I ask this because my sound card doesn't work with Windows Vista and I've found a card that's compatible but I'm not sure if it will work in my slot, which is just a regular PCI slot. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

2007-06-21 12:48:46 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Other - Hardware

recently i bought an AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ with his motherboard ASUS M2NPV-VM with 512 of ram ddr2 bus of 667mhz ....

I use the computer for video editing and i notice that at the moment when i render the video it only use the 50% of the processor using both cores....

i check the temperature:
when the computer is idle it maintains at 25C...
When the computer it is working usign the 50% climbs to 38C or 43C
Which is the normal temperature of an AMD prossesor??

it is true that overclocking it will reduce the time that the prosessor will be operational??.
The motherboard accepts overclocking at 10% i havent activated.. is there any risks??

is there benefits using windows 64bits??

thanks!!!

2007-06-21 12:32:38 · 5 answers · asked by hawk745 2 in Other - Hardware

Its a desktop with windows xp, SATA------what do I need to know?

2007-06-21 12:26:04 · 3 answers · asked by Nemo the geek 7 in Add-ons

2007-06-21 11:38:01 · 4 answers · asked by jack b 1 in Other - Hardware

I am ordering a new computer (Dell XPS 410 2.4Ghz Core 2 Duo w/ 4GB memory) and i use my computer mostly for music and the internet, dont' really play games. is it worth the money ($100) to upgrade from the integrated 7.1 audio dell provides to the soundblaster X-Fi Xtrememusic card?

2007-06-21 11:36:50 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Desktops

I want to put a 500 GB hard drive in my new computer, (Dell XPS 410 with a 2.4 Ghz Core 2 Duo, 4GB memory) but i'm wondering if the bigger drive will cause a slow down if the power supply can't handle it anyone know anything about this?

2007-06-21 11:31:19 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Desktops

I don't game on my machine AT ALL so thats not an issue, so with that in mind, XP or Vista? Lots of detail please! Thanks!

2007-06-21 11:26:20 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Desktops

I NEVER game on my machine so thats not an issue, but i do watch lots of movies and do a lot with photos on my computer so a good graphics card will help me do what i want to do.
Is the nVidia Geforce 7300LE or ATI Radeon X1300 Pro a better card for me?

2007-06-21 11:25:24 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Desktops

I'm getting a Dell XPS 410 with 2.4Ghz Core 2 Duo, 4GB RAM. i want to upgrade to the ATI Radeon X1300 Pro from the nVidia GeForce 7300LE and the Soundblaster X-Fi Xtreme music card from the integrated 7.1 audio. will these upgrades slow my performance or help it? (i'm thinking about the power supply not being able to handle it)

2007-06-21 11:23:29 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Desktops

Also see the Answers blog piece I've written related to this question.

2007-06-21 10:47:22 · 30 answers · asked by y_answrs_suzi 1 in Other - Hardware

Both have the same spec at each core clocking a 2.4GHZ, only difference is in price and the amount of cache. Which is best?

2007-06-21 10:32:16 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Desktops

2007-06-21 10:10:58 · 2 answers · asked by kissypoo 1 in Other - Hardware

2007-06-21 10:03:21 · 7 answers · asked by Zed 1 in Other - Hardware

2007-06-21 09:54:55 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Add-ons

Im looking to buy a new laptop. i will mainly use it for school work, but i want the best. Which is better between a Dell of a Mac laptop?
Thanks

2007-06-21 09:50:55 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Laptops & Notebooks

Hi,

I bought my laptop last week and I had no problems until yesterday when it decided to start playing up. When I turn it on the Xp logo just loads for hours on end and it never finishes, but it does boot in safe mode.
Because the laptops so new I haven't made a backup copy and the I can't use the system console on the Xp Disk cause I haven't got it.

Does any one have any idea what I should do?

Regards

2007-06-21 09:40:55 · 4 answers · asked by rustinails01 1 in Laptops & Notebooks

I have found some that say they are free, but when I download them they will run a free scan but want to charge for the cleaning. I can understand that they are in business to make money, which I don't have being on Social Security. Can somebody please Help? Thank You

2007-06-21 09:32:22 · 7 answers · asked by RGB 1 in Scanners

I was installing a ram stick in my computer and it did not work when i put my original back in it still did not work
original was a 256 sd
new was a 3gig ddr

2007-06-21 09:27:37 · 5 answers · asked by syth_light 1 in Add-ons

i have a dell.

2007-06-21 08:47:09 · 16 answers · asked by charlene j 1 in Desktops

Some are telling me that these two processors are the exact same thing. However, I find it hard to believe that Intel would create two different names for the same processor.

2007-06-21 08:40:21 · 6 answers · asked by mhovanes21 2 in Laptops & Notebooks

I purchased some DDR2-800 RAM and was wondering if I have a motherboard thats specs have its memory standard listed as DDR2-1600, is that UP TO that clock speed or ONLY that clock speed?

Thanks for the responses in advance.

NOTE: Gigabyte GA-P35-DQ6 motherboard (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128046)

2007-06-21 08:26:25 · 2 answers · asked by Tyler M 1 in Other - Hardware

I have a virus, and I'm scanning for it, will it kill the virus, once found?

2007-06-21 08:22:31 · 1 answers · asked by Pain Is All I Know 5 in Other - Hardware

i have firefox but i don't want to use it all the time. The only way i can get my internet explorer to run is on no-ad ons, and then it doesn't want to work all the time , can somebody help me fix my explorer

2007-06-21 08:19:03 · 2 answers · asked by reneeslove 1 in Add-ons

I have a HP PHotosmart C3100 all in one printer.The operating system will not accept the printer.When I attempt to connect printer,system tells me that it doesn't reconize printer or Insufficient software.

2007-06-21 08:18:06 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Printers

my computer is automatically updated to send fax's but when i try to send one i am having a lot of trouble. can any body help me, what do i need to do or buy (i have my old fax machine and i have plugged into the phone line connected to my computer but that doesn't work either) i think i am having a "senior moment" can you please help me. many thanks

2007-06-21 07:57:31 · 3 answers · asked by Audrey L 1 in Printers

2007-06-21 07:55:47 · 10 answers · asked by quad_wadd 1 in Desktops

2007-06-21 07:29:46 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Add-ons

I'm using a Lexmark and it can scan to the computer. I want to know how I can scan the photos to the computer, I put the photos in the printer and I pressed the scan button but nothing is happening. Please give step by step directions starting from putting the photo's in the scanner.

2007-06-21 07:25:16 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Scanners