whats up? ok first things first. if those really are the specs on your computer i would recommend that you keep the hard drive ( for whatever stuff you have on there) and save up for an entirely new pc as close to top-of-the-line as you want to spend. Second last time i checked you will need some kind of converter (i would not recommend trying to use a DVI cable with an HDMI output or vice versa) i doubt that any good converter will have too much data loss. as for the speakers, i know there is a way to use your computer speakers with your monitor but im not sure how. well thats my 2 cents good luck!

in almost every case!
Can i ask how many people out there decided to buy a top of the line motherboard with a view to being able to upgrade a year later and then after a year passed by, copped a slap in the face because of compatability issues?

The word 'upgrade' is fast becomming an obsolete term in computers because manufacturers insist on changing things just enough, always just enough so there not compatable with older hardware, it makes me sick!

yep - a minor change to the pin configuration is why i can't upgrade to a Core 2 Duo.



thanks, Kassad. my friend who pointed out the issue about the power grid brought a UPS as something to consider. i'm a little ambivalent, though, because i don't know too too much about them. if it's a purchase that'll last me a long time without needing to invest more money, i can justify it. how long do the batteries for these things tend to last?

Get as big a psu as you can get! Because little by little the little things you ad to your computer ad up. Trust me I know,. I fried or should I say under cooked an expensive Alienware computer just by leaving there 440 watt psu and adding things.

thanks drrider,

and GalaticGod, i understand your point very well.

however, i really won't be upgrading this system too much more. for starters, the mobo only has two PCIe slots (x16 and x1). the only additions i'm likely to make are a newer video card and more RAM (from 1G to 3G). while a 270 watt PSU was a joke, i don't think i'll need more than 400 for a modest system like this.

...still not sure what to do with my extra expansion slot... not too many low profile designs - it's a toss up between a sound card (not sure a low-profile audigy would improve my built-in sound very much, but i'm an audiofile, so even a small improvement wouldn't be unwelcome) or a low-profile TV tuner (I could use an external USB tuner instead if I opted for the sound card).

Sometimes that's tricky. Makers know that continuous ratings are more applicable than peak ratings and single rail is better than dual rail. If they don't state those specs, the marketing pukes are probably hiding them to make their product look better than it is. Try newegg.com to browse specs. They always list that stuff. They also show good photos of the power supply label so you can see things like single rail or dual rail and peak versus continuous (if you see 12V1 and 12V2 it's dual rail). If continuous isn't listed, you can generally subtract a third from the peak rating to estimate the continuous rating.

As far as single versus dual rail, it just means the power supply is split into two sections. Each one can handle half the load. It's cheaper to manufacture that way. The problem is you can get unequal load utilization on each half. One may be overloaded while the other may be underloaded. Single rail ensures optimal load utilization and is more expensive to manufacture.

CraigHB,
thanks for the explanation, that'll definately help. PSUs are in this strange zone between computational electronics (which i know a fair amount about) and electrical machines (and i don't know too much about electrical engineering).

Mystikmind,
thanks for the testimonial. that's really interesting that the old box performs better on built-in sound than the newer box with a sound card. i'm pretty satisfied with my sound quality as it is, but i don't know how much is due to nice speakers vs. good hardware/software. my speakers are logitech Z5500 (5.1s with a ~125 watt subwoofer that my cat likes to sleep on, earning him the nickname 'superwoofer'). my only complaint is that sometimes DVD volume is too low, but i should probably start using better DVD software for that.

since i stumbled onto the subject, any recommendations for DVD-playing software? i've just been using the stock crapware that came with my system since i've only started building up a DVD collection, but now it's getting to the point that i'd like something better.

I think the whole DVD software market looks like a big pile of xxxx.

We have tried program after program after program (trial versions) and nothing stands out as being worth a dollar to buy. Typically they hide basic functions to such an extend that they are simply unusable. Either that or the hidden functions simply do not exist,,,, a good example is the feature for full screen mode, try and find that one in a DVD program? go on, i dare you!!

hahaha well, i've been using the bundled "Cineplayer" that came with dell, and it starts in full-screen. the interface options hide if i leave the mouse alone, but pop back up on the bottom, unused portion of my screen when i need them. however, since you mention it i do remember taking a week and finally asking my mom's boyfriend to look at it to figure out why i could barely hear dialogue: something about the default speaker configuration screwed it up.

ah, Microsoft: pioneering mankind's quest for better artificial stupidity.

yeah, don't even get me started on Office 2007.

they got rid of menus and hid common functions like Save As. instead of menus they now have "ribbons", which are just a stupid way to organize the buttons at the tops of their programs so that they can have way more of them. but personally, i hate using the mouse. i know functions by their names, not by cute little iconographic buttons. i used to alt through menus by memory most of the time, but that's all gone now. man, i'm starting to think the GUI is the worst thing to happen to anyone who actually knows how to use a computer - the mouse dependancy is driving me to the point that i kind of want to learn to use a frogpad (one-handed keyboard).



yes, "perhaps Microsoft thinks," but i doubt it.