Computer Questions Not Worth Their Own Thread

[Turner]

My HP will sound like a jet engine trying to take off when I first turn it on. Only lasts for a few seconds and then quiets down. It could be just the start up. If it's not doing it all the time, I would just fire an email off to whomever holds your warranty and ask them if that's normal. Might also be a good idea to ask them how to claim a warranty repair.

 

[Cutlass]

Does anyone have any suggestions for a good, cheap monitor wall mount? Id need something that can hold up a fairly hefty 22" display with an option for larger ones down the road. it should also not be one of those low-profile mounts because that will put the monitor too far from my eyes. I've found a few on monoprice.com, but honestly, this is a topic I have no idea about.
And similarly, I already have a 1680x1050 22" monitor. Would it be more worthwhile to get a second one and a pair of wall mounts or get a single 1920x1080 22"? I can potentially go bigger than 22", but Id love to keep the price under 200$ with either option.

CRT or flat screen? Flat screens weigh very little. So are easy to hold up. For CRTs, there are plenty of choices in wall mounts for TVs that will work. They don't break.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

My Computer Tower/ Chassis has this huge ceiling fan on it, the fan when turned on makes this large noise as if its banging on it, it really sounds discomforting, when its off ive looked briefly at it and see nothing it can bang against.
Any Ideas whats possibly wrong with the fan?

When your system boots, the fans spin up at 100%. My tower too sounds like a jet engine cus every single one of 8 fans goes to 100% for a few seconds. Its perfectly normal and should only concern you when its making lots of noise during regular operation.

CRT or flat screen? Flat screens weigh very little. So are easy to hold up. For CRTs, there are plenty of choices in wall mounts for TVs that will work. They don't break.

Its an LCD, but I was asking for some specific mounts. As I said, total newbie in this area and looking on newegg and monoprice hasnt helped.

 

[Cutlass]

Look at the back of your monitor and see if it has a place to attach something like this http://www.amazon.com/Peerless-Articulating-Wall-Mount-Display/dp/B000BYCNM8 LCDs really don't weigh very much.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I read never to plug in a power supply unless it's connected to a mobo or dummy test. Why not?

 

[Genocidicbunny]

The PSU needs to have a load on it to work properly, afaik.

Cutlass: I know it has a VESA 100x100 mount, Ive figured that out. I was asking if anyone has reccomendations for specific ones, or is it something that any generic mount will do for?

 

[Cutlass]

The PSU needs to have a load on it to work properly, afaik.

Cutlass: I know it has a VESA 100x100 mount, Ive figured that out. I was asking if anyone has reccomendations for specific ones, or is it something that any generic mount will do for?

I really think any of them will do. Each mount will say how large a monitor they will handle. The steel frame of the mount itself will be more than strong enough. You just need to make sure it is strongly attached to the wall and monitor.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

And what about which option is better? A new higher-resolution monitor to replace this one, or a second one of the same resolution? Im leaning to a second one since my GPU cannot handle highest settings for current new games above 1680x1050

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

The PSU needs to have a load on it to work properly, afaik.

What would happen if you didn't put a load on it? Would it not turn on? Would it explode into a fireball? Would it just pop, sizzle, smoke and then die?

 

[Genocidicbunny]

From wiki:

Although a too-large power supply will have an extra margin of safety as far as not over-loading, a larger unit is often less efficient at lower loads (under 20% of its total capability) and therefore will waste more electricity than a more appropriately sized unit. Additionally, computer power supplies generally do not function properly if they are too lightly loaded. Under no-load conditions they may shut down or malfunction.

They just wont work.

 

[Cutlass]

And what about which option is better? A new higher-resolution monitor to replace this one, or a second one of the same resolution? Im leaning to a second one since my GPU cannot handle highest settings for current new games above 1680x1050

That's kind of a personal preference. Personally I wouldn't use a resolution like that unless the monitor was at least 28". I don't like little tiny text. If I really wanted more desktop area, I would be more likely to use 2 monitors than a higher resolution.

 

[Zelig]

That's kind of a personal preference. Personally I wouldn't use a resolution like that unless the monitor was at least 28". I don't like little tiny text. If I really wanted more desktop area, I would be more likely to use 2 monitors than a higher resolution.

Text is trivial to increase in size.

The only reason lower resolution is ever better is to lighten 3D workload.

FWIW, I would never go below 1920x1200/1080 on 23" or larger.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

My mom always have a low resolution as if it's too large, she can't see anything at all. Not just text. I tried enlarging everything for her but she didn't like that.

 

[Cutlass]

Text is trivial to increase in size.

The only reason lower resolution is ever better is to lighten 3D workload.

FWIW, I would never go below 1920x1200/1080 on 23" or larger.

Yeah, but you have to change so many things to get it right everywhere. It's just not worth the aggravation. And then you have to change all the word processor programs to display it one size, but then change anything you want to print. Pain in the ass.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

They just wont work.

Ah dang, I was hoping for a huge fireball explosion.

 

[Zelig]

Yeah, but you have to change so many things to get it right everywhere. It's just not worth the aggravation. And then you have to change all the word processor programs to display it one size, but then change anything you want to print. Pain in the ass.

You don't change the font size, just select "fit to screen", and let it do that for every document.

You just need to change the view settings in your OS, web browser, word processor, and pdf reader, takes about 60 seconds, and should cover 95% of the text you read.

 

[Cutlass]

You don't change the font size, just select "fit to screen", and let it do that for every document.

You just need to change the view settings in your OS, web browser, word processor, and pdf reader, takes about 60 seconds, and should cover 95% of the text you read.

And gain what? What would be the point?

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

More room on your desktop?

 

[Cutlass]

You don't get more room if you have to go back and make everything larger n order to see it

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

If you don't change the icon size too much, you can stuff more icons in.

One thing I love about Windows XP & Vista is the ability to align icons to a grid! (No more trying to keep them straight!)