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Geek Culture / New Setup

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Indicium
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Posted: 29th Mar 2010 01:29
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Hey I'm considering getting my desktop from the downstairs living room and putting it in my room, as I want a little more power than my laptop can offer me, plus desktops are... better.

Anyways, got a few questions about it, and hoping I can get some answers here.

Firstly, is it particulary difficult to upgrade RAM? Currently my desktop only has 512mb of ram. Obviously I want to upgrade that.

Secondly, the only way I currently get an internet connection upstairs, is through wireless. My desktop doesn't have a wireless adaptor. So my plan is to move my router upstairs. The cable between my modem and router is an RJ11 to RJ45 (I think thats the one) but it's only 1m long. Would it be possible to buy an ethernet connector, plug one end into the RJ11, and the other end into, say a 50m ethernet cable, and run it upstairs?

Thirdly, I was thinking of using my HDTV as a second monitor. My desktop typically doesn't have a HD output. Any ideas? The options I have are:

Desktop:
s-video
VGA
USB

TV:
Scart
Component
HDMI

Thanks!

Windows 7 32-Bit Home Premium Intel Pentium Dual-Core @ 1.46Ghz 2038mb RAM
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Shadowtroid
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Posted: 29th Mar 2010 02:13
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Well, I actually got a new graphics card and it came with HDMI support. So it is available.

Overall though I don't know much about computers...Just wanted to say that.

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Indicium
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Posted: 29th Mar 2010 10:23
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I'm not keen on the idea of a new graphics card though.. They're about £70 (the ones i've seen) and i just don't have that kind of money to spare at the moment.

Windows 7 32-Bit Home Premium Intel Pentium Dual-Core @ 1.46Ghz 2038mb RAM
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Melancholic
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Posted: 29th Mar 2010 16:07 Edited at: 29th Mar 2010 16:31
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Firstly, ram is the easiest component to replace, though before you do find out what type you have. There should be a few slots on your motherboard where the ram sticks fit, they are held in by two clips on each side of the stick. Ram is also pretty cheap.

Not sure about your Internet problem, it seems to me that the easiest solution would just be to buy a cheap wireless adapter.

To connect your computer to your tv as a second monitor you could use a s video to scart converter, they dont cost that much.

Though if you are upgrading this pc i would suggest upgrading the graphics card as well, your computer will only be as fast as its slowest part after all.

Edit:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Asus-Radeon-PCI-E-LP-Graphics/dp/B002V1FQSW/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1269869105&sr=8-11

There is a graphics card that has a hdmi out, only £20!
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Indicium
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Posted: 29th Mar 2010 17:49
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Cool I will be getting some RAM then

About the wireless bit, I've been wanting wired connections up here for a while. I had two xbox's (one for me, and my sister has one ) and no wireless adapters, £120 WTF?! So I want the router up here for simple wired connections without trailing multiple wires around the house.

And about that graphics card... Asus Radeon? Is that some sort of rip of a ATI radeon? I don't trust it at all. Besides, my graphics card isn't TOO old... it's a geforce 6200...

I will go for the s video to scart adaptor i think
thanks!

Windows 7 32-Bit Home Premium Intel Pentium Dual-Core @ 1.46Ghz 2038mb RAM
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Melancholic
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Posted: 29th Mar 2010 17:59
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Quote: "And about that graphics card... Asus Radeon? Is that some sort of rip of a ATI radeon? I don't trust it at all. Besides, my graphics card isn't TOO old... it's a geforce 6200... "


Its not a rip off of ATI at all. You cant actually buy a graphics card made by ATI or Nvidia. ATI and Nvidia design the chips and pcbs of the board, then companies like Asus and Sapphire manufacture the graphics cards. They make money by selling the actual processors of the cards and royalties on the design.

Also before you upgrade your ram, open up your computer to check it can support more RAM. Basic procedure is:

Open Computer

Find Ram Sockets

Check if there is any free ram sockets

If all your ram sockets are taken there is still a way to upgrade the ram. Though its not as effective as slotting in more ram. So basically ram sticks come in various sizes(memory wise). So you may be able to replace the ones in with higher memory sticks. Plus remember to check that your OS will support more ram!(Though unless its win 98 it will support more than 512mb!).

Glad to have been of any help
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Shaun Of The Dead
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Posted: 29th Mar 2010 18:25
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To be honest. Everything you want done can be done by yourself. Just get the parts and go for it
Thats what me and Asteric did with his pc and we replaced the power supply and graphics card. Its all easy if you have more than one brain cell

Your signature has been erased by a mod - Neither clever nor funny.
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charger bandit
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Posted: 29th Mar 2010 18:43
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Asus Radeon a ripoff? Thats just stupid.The companies simply modify the base card,overclock it and add a new cooling system and then sell it.For example I own a Gigabyte Radeon.

For RAM,first check what kind of RAM is it,or take it out and take it with you when you go buy a new one since theres many models like SDRAM,DDR,DDR2,DDR3.


A.K.A djmaster
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Indicium
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Posted: 29th Mar 2010 22:47
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Quote: "Asus Radeon a ripoff? Thats just stupid."


I didn't mean it like that... I thought the radeons were actually manufactured by ATI Thanks for the advice regarding RAM.

Just wondering if anyone knows if my router idea will work??

Windows 7 32-Bit Home Premium Intel Pentium Dual-Core @ 1.46Ghz 2038mb RAM
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Shadowtroid
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Posted: 29th Mar 2010 22:48
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@SOTD

Well, that's the problem. He doesn't have the money to go out and buy a bunch of new parts.

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Shaun Of The Dead
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Posted: 30th Mar 2010 00:07
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Quote: "Well, that's the problem. He doesn't have the money to go out and buy a bunch of new parts.
"


Oh. I didnt see that part sorry. But either way, could he just get a used graphics card and fit it himself?

Your signature has been erased by a mod - Neither clever nor funny.
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Indicium
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Posted: 30th Mar 2010 00:33
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I might buy a new graphics card. But I'm gunna move my PC upstairs tomorrow... My main concerns are getting an internet connection, and getting more RAM. For now, I'm going to use ICS with my laptop to get my internet, but I have a 30m ethernet cable ordered as well as a joint for it.

Thanks for the help!

Windows 7 32-Bit Home Premium Intel Pentium Dual-Core @ 1.46Ghz 2038mb RAM
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PAGAN_old
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Posted: 30th Mar 2010 01:07
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i always liked laptops more than desktops because they are more comfy. There is a russian joke that goes like "if your home lacks warmth comfort and romantic atmosphere , you can create your own by turning off the lights and lying down on the couch with a laptop"

dont hate people who rip you off,cheat and get away with it, learn from them
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Indicium
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Posted: 30th Mar 2010 01:11
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Quote: "i always liked laptops more than desktops"


Who says I'm getting rid of my laptop

Windows 7 32-Bit Home Premium Intel Pentium Dual-Core @ 1.46Ghz 2038mb RAM
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Yodaman Jer
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Posted: 31st Mar 2010 17:20
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After using a laptop exclusively for about five months at this point, I really miss using a desktop. Primarily because the cooling systems are actually designed to work and don't require you to life the computer up every time you watch something on YouTube/Hulu, whereas on my laptop I have to do just that so that the videos don't start skipping. It drives me nuts!

Oh, and desktops are way more durable, too. And more powerful, and more reliable, and the monitors have WAY higher resolutions (I really love high resolution monitors, makes things so much easier), and, and...yeah. I miss using a desktop. >.>


Check out my videos!
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Seppuku Arts
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Location: Cambridgeshire, England
Posted: 31st Mar 2010 17:31
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I hear your pain CoffeeCoder...my laptop is no longer the uber-machine it once was and suffers from over-heating and me has not the money to get it checked out. Stuttering on YouTube...it even crashed on YouTube earlier. This thing ran Crysis medium-high settings last year.

Should have settled with a desktop + netbook, rather than buy a gaming laptop.

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The Slayer
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Playing: (Hide and) Seek and Destroy on my guitar!
Posted: 31st Mar 2010 19:56 Edited at: 31st Mar 2010 19:58
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@Mad Nightmare:

About placing or removing the RAM plates (or sticks) or any other internal piece of hardware, just remember to discharge yourself BEFORE opening your computer! This is a vital step to not damage any component in your computer, because RAM sticks (or any other piece of hardware that has micro-connections or fragile wiring) can become dissabled - or in other words broken - when they are overcharged.

By discharging yourselve I mean that your clothes or your skin can be electrically charged (i.e. like when you comb your hair, the brush gets electrically charged).

So, first you disconnect your computer (completely), and before you open the case, just touch the iron backplate a couple of seconds, and make sure that you don't touch any fragile piece of hardware with your clothes.

Cheers

Slayer rules!!! Yeaaah, man!
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charger bandit
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Posted: 31st Mar 2010 20:44
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Or just touch a radiator or some other grounded metal object.Also make sure your hands are dry and the ram is perfectly slotted in there.If there is no picture after you turn on your pc,the RAM is bad or its inserted badly.


A.K.A djmaster
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