The "Quick Questions That Don't Deserve A Thread"...Thread. v5 - Hardware & Software

I have an old i5 in a computer I built, which I have since given to my parents for web browsing etc. The heat warning buzzer has been beeping a lot, but I see it's only set to 60 Celsius, the lowest setting - I may have changed the setting myself. I've already cleaned out dust, turned up fans with manual switches, and underclocked the CPU. Should I be concerned any further than "turn the threshold to 70 celsius"?

[QUOTE=DrTaxi;48159821]You can't return things you've already unpacked? Just try them out. We can give you the benchmarks you've already seen again, but we can't tell you what exact framerates you'll get with your exact settings and your exact other hardware that has an impact on performance, let alone whether it's worth it [I]for you[/I] as that's extremely subjective.[/QUOTE] You can unpack them and try them out before returning yes, but it feels like a shitty thing to do IMO And yeah, I know, I was more looking for feedback in the form of "what would you have done?"

This might not be too quick but just some advice would be good. I've been having issues with what seems to be random file corruptions for a while. Initially it was just 0x7b crashes on startup for inaccessible boot device, most times this could be fixed with a system restore but eventually that failed and I had to do a clean OS install. On the new install I had issues with drivers like the sound driver breaking for no reason, downloaded files being riddled with corruption and CRC errors, and even more 0x7b failures to boot culminating yesterday with another failure to do a system restore. I've run Seagate SeaTools both in Windows and DOS, and while the DOS version crashed a few times they all came back clean so it's unlikely to be the hard drives. The clean install of Windows started getting the same failures to boot within a few days so it's also unlikely to be an OS issue. I've had Memtest86+ running overnight and 17 passes with no errors looks like nothing troublesome there, but I'll keep it running anyway. Now I seem to have three courses of action. Either mess around in the BIOS settings to see if changing the RAID or AHCI settings helps, update the BIOS in case there are some issues there, or just get a new Motherboard and CPU. I would like to know too if there's any more testing I could do to guarantee that replacing will solve the problem.

Routing question- Been having constant dropping of wireless users on my network. I think I got the problem sorted now with changing two settings. If this is some snake oil shit let me know. 1. ACK Timing is now set at 0. Its a home network with minimal users. 2. Disabled using DNSMasq for DCHP. I think that this was honestly my problem, but I ran through it anyway. -- With those problems probably sorted I turned to static routing for the main users of the network. This should guarantee access to the MAC address listed forever, right. I might just switch all my users to static routing and manually add new computers/phones into the network [editline]10th July 2015[/editline] using DDWRT btw on the router.

I don't know if this question is suitable here. But I'll post it anyway. I am on the hunt for a new computer screen. At the moment I just have my Macbook Pro 13" Retina, early 2015, think I bought it in Febraury. I want a screen for my home office, that is bigger (between 24-27 - preferably closer to 24). I would like to have the "retina" effect transferred to the other screen, so it has to be a screen that is of some quality, of course I will pay accordingly. I have been looking the the Dell UltraSharp serious and the Thunderbolt Cinema display (however, if I settle on that, I will wait until a new version comes out) What do you think?

Tell me guys, what should one usually install on an SSD? Aside from Win OS [editline]10th July 2015[/editline] Also, HDD isn't being recognized.. or working. It's recognized around (like in BIOS, or Device Manager normally) but on "My Computer" there's nothing, just the SSD+DVD drive. :v: Going to the HDD's properties in Device Manager it says "Device is working properly" although not really the case, don't know what's up.

[QUOTE=Bat-shit;48163321]Tell me guys, what should one usually install on an SSD? Aside from Win OS [editline]10th July 2015[/editline] Also, HDD isn't being recognized.. or working. It's recognized around (like in BIOS, or Device Manager normally) but on "My Computer" there's nothing, just the SSD+DVD drive. :v: Going to the HDD's properties in Device Manager it says "Device is working properly" although not really the case, don't know what's up.[/QUOTE] Open Disk Manager, should be detected there right?

Oh ya, I got it. Finding the Disk Manager place itself was a bit of challenge at first. I'm thinking it didn't recognize it first because when installing Windows on the very first boot-up, I just went ahead on set up the SSD only.. So now I had to enable the HDD manually [I]after[/I] the Win install. But anyway works yay [editline]10th July 2015[/editline] Also suggest some software for checking temps? Something that actually works. Tried SpeedFan but that shit was bonkers on this new machine; -127c here and 127c there. From BIOS it showed 39-40c CPU idle temp, which is not high but not really cool either, obviously not +100c. It's an i5-4690k as for GPU temps, no idea.. (gtx 960 "OC")

[QUOTE=Devodiere;48161616]This might not be too quick but just some advice would be good. I've been having issues with what seems to be random file corruptions for a while. Initially it was just 0x7b crashes on startup for inaccessible boot device, most times this could be fixed with a system restore but eventually that failed and I had to do a clean OS install. On the new install I had issues with drivers like the sound driver breaking for no reason, downloaded files being riddled with corruption and CRC errors, and even more 0x7b failures to boot culminating yesterday with another failure to do a system restore. I've run Seagate SeaTools both in Windows and DOS, and while the DOS version crashed a few times they all came back clean so it's unlikely to be the hard drives. The clean install of Windows started getting the same failures to boot within a few days so it's also unlikely to be an OS issue. I've had Memtest86+ running overnight and 17 passes with no errors looks like nothing troublesome there, but I'll keep it running anyway. Now I seem to have three courses of action. Either mess around in the BIOS settings to see if changing the RAID or AHCI settings helps, update the BIOS in case there are some issues there, or just get a new Motherboard and CPU. I would like to know too if there's any more testing I could do to guarantee that replacing will solve the problem.[/QUOTE] 1. what kind of RAID are you doing? 2. just check your HDD's health with a free program like [URL="http://crystalmark.info/download/index-e.html"]crystaldiskinfo[/URL]

[QUOTE=space1;48163674]1. what kind of RAID are you doing? 2. just check your HDD's health with a free program like [URL="http://crystalmark.info/download/index-e.html"]crystaldiskinfo[/URL][/QUOTE] No RAID, I thought there might have been something in the SATA settings in BIOS but after research that seems to be in order too. Doesn't Crystaldiskinfo only give the SMART information? SeaTools didn't pick anything up there and a long test would check for errors more thoroughly, not to mention I'd rather not install Windows again only for it to die again or require a reinstall after getting a new motherboard. With how reliably I was getting these corruptions and every disk checker showing no issues, I really don't think the hard drives are to blame.

how do you even get something like "istartsurf.com" ? after removing it, it still sticks as start page if i launch chrome normally from the folder, it's fine. but if I right click the exe, and apply it to task bar, and launch it from task bar, it will go istarsurf.com jesus fucking christ how does this even happen and why [editline]10th July 2015[/editline] Nvm purged it, thank fucking God

[QUOTE=Bat-shit;48163321]Tell me guys, what should one usually install on an SSD? Aside from Win OS[/QUOTE] I usually put everything on the SSD except the Docs/Pics/Vids/Music libraries, and I have Steam folders on both the SSD and HDD so I can selectively install to either. This works fine on my 120GB SSD, size isn't really an issue as long as you don't put massive, rarely-used files on there.

Ok, there's something strange going on. I just installed the MSI GTX 970, and I'm currently running some benchmarks on it. It works good. The weird thing is that it works [I]too[/I] good. I haven't touched any overclocking tools, and yet GPU-Z, Unigine Valley, and Unigine Heaven reports the same thing; It boosts up to 1455MHz, even though it should only boost up to 1280MHz. Even stranger is the fact that it, according to Sweclockers benchmarks, out-performs an unclocked GTX 980. Like in Unigine Valley, for instance: [IMG]http://cdn.sweclockers.com/artikel/diagram/8451?key=4f4fa9178da175df519845f227f22a9f[/IMG] I get a total of 2840 points with the Extreme HD preset, so 61 points more than a 980, even though I should only get about 2400 points. Same goes for Unigine Heaven, where I also land a tiny bit above the 980 what is going on

My i7 4770k @ 3.5ghz with a Corsair H100i idles at 55 degrees now when it used to only be at 35. My GTX 780 is also at 50 degrees when it idled at 20. Should I change the Corsair thermal paste that came on it pre-applied?

[QUOTE=gman003-main;48164346]I usually put everything on the SSD except the Docs/Pics/Vids/Music libraries, and I have Steam folders on both the SSD and HDD so I can selectively install to either. This works fine on my 120GB SSD, size isn't really an issue as long as you don't put massive, rarely-used files on there.[/QUOTE] Yeah I was surprised how easily Steam handles two separate installations between the SSD and HDD, or two HDD's, or more. Also mine's a 250GB, brand new but already about 60gb's used. [editline]10th July 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=Rixxz2;48165100]I get a total of 2840 points with the Extreme HD preset, so 61 points more than a 980, even though I should only get about 2400 points. Same goes for Unigine Heaven, where I also land a tiny bit above the 980 what is going on[/QUOTE] 4k or something..? :v:

Just tried 3DMark Firestrike, got 11972 as a total graphics score while I should only get around 11200

I'm trying to help a friend of mine whose computer is infected by "strong signal". I've removed every apparent trace of it using adwcleaner, malwarebytes, spybot s&d, hitman pro, and probably more I don't remember. None of them detect anything on any scan anymore, and it's completely uninstalled from the programs menu, and all of the browser helper objects are uninstalled, and searching both the file structure and the registry returns no entries related to strong signal. But the malicious effects are still there. The main symptom being that on every page, in every browser, a column opens on the left inside of the page that says "related searches by strong signal", and three ads pop over the page across the bottom of the browser window (taking up tons of screen space and making the browser unusable at his resolution). I've completely reset all the settings of all his browsers, too, but the ads are still there. Every guide I've found through google has said that the steps and software I've used should be 100% effective, and it has been effective at removing every visible trace of the software - except for the fact that the undesired ads are still embedded into every page of every browser window and sometimes it opens this pop under video ad with some woman talking about food. It's the most frustrating thing, because I could just reinstall windows 8 and be done with it but then I'd have to walk him through getting all of his stuff back, or just do it for him, and that would be just as much of a hassle as this strong signal thing has been. So I'm at a loss and I figured maybe someone here has encountered this before and might have a solution other than reinstalling windows for him.

did you check your extensions/ toolbars

There were extensions, and I've gotten rid of them all. It's still happening though.

[QUOTE=Rixxz2;48165100]Ok, there's something strange going on. I just installed the MSI GTX 970, and I'm currently running some benchmarks on it. It works good. The weird thing is that it works [I]too[/I] good. I haven't touched any overclocking tools, and yet GPU-Z, Unigine Valley, and Unigine Heaven reports the same thing; It boosts up to 1455MHz, even though it should only boost up to 1280MHz. Even stranger is the fact that it, according to Sweclockers benchmarks, out-performs an unclocked GTX 980. Like in Unigine Valley, for instance: [IMG]http://cdn.sweclockers.com/artikel/diagram/8451?key=4f4fa9178da175df519845f227f22a9f[/IMG] I get a total of 2840 points with the Extreme HD preset, so 61 points more than a 980, even though I should only get about 2400 points. Same goes for Unigine Heaven, where I also land a tiny bit above the 980 what is going on[/QUOTE] Maybe you got a golden chip, that's a good stock boost

[QUOTE=J Paul;48166696]There were extensions, and I've gotten rid of them all. It's still happening though.[/QUOTE] does it happen on https sites? there might be some secret https proxy shit going on

[QUOTE=LordCrypto;48168842]does it happen on https sites? there might be some secret https proxy shit going on[/QUOTE] I haven't tried that but I'll definitely look into it. I forgot that I haven't completely reset internet explorer's settings, I dunno how that would cause it to still be effecting chrome, but I'll be sure to look at that too after work. Thanks for the help, and to anyone else, thanks in advance.

Nvm we're all good, turns out it was the ie settings. I thought I had reset those but that was the one thing I haven't done. Thanks for reminding me to recheck my own steps, I really appreciate it. It was way easier than reinstalling windows. Sorry I didn't mean to double post I thought it would auto merge, my bad

I want to get a SSD specifically for Windows 8.1 and Windows 10, once a stable version of that comes out. I already have a SSD for software and games I use often, how big of an SSD should I get?

Just grab a 128gb. Sure you'd do fine with a 64, but I can't think of any new models that come in 64gb.

What are some manufacturer's that should be avoided when it comes to ssd's?

[QUOTE=TheJoker;48179685]What are some manufacturer's that should be avoided when it comes to ssd's?[/QUOTE] I personally have a Kingston SSD for my important programs, and it honestly almost feels like a regular HDD.

Yeah just grab a crucial, Intel, or Samsung. If you're doing Linux is avoid Samsung though

So, I moved into new apartment and comcast sent us this router. Hook everything up, call to activate it, and... I can only connect to ipv6 websites. google, netflix, facebook. The router control says the ipv4 default gateway is blank and the ipv4 ip address is 0.0.0.0 wtf? I called them, and the flow chart theyre reading off of obviously doesn't have this scenario, so they're sending someone out at 8-10am in two days, but I figured I should be able to figure out how to do this myself. Anyone have any ideas?

[QUOTE=TheJoker;48179685]What are some manufacturer's that should be avoided when it comes to ssd's?[/QUOTE] The vast majority of SSDs dead by their own defects in my job's hardware repair group are Kingstons, followed by the 840 EVO and some 128GB LITE-ON anomaly found in some of our older laptops. The stock SSDs in most of our laptops are Intel and often just get upgraded rather than warrantied out