What computer is Amber using?

[Alterationartist]

Title says it all, but I think it's been more than a few time where Amber's comp has gone off the rails. Just what is she using that breaks down so often?

[Madd the Sane]

Artists generate anti-technology energy. Didn't you know that?

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

She's not using any computer at the moment. It's broken, so she can't use it.

;-]

More seriously, it is, as I understand it, a home build from a year or so back, when last hers broke on her. It is, from memory, fairly hefty, but tends to inhale a lot of dust. Normally this wouldn't be too much of a problem, but nobody informed her that the graphics card had a fan on it, so there was a lot of dust collected in there that hadn't been cleaned out when she went through every so often and blew the dust out with an air can.

As a result, her graphics card may have been warmed up too much. Her PSU may have inhaled too much dust and overheated (since those things are a bugger to get the dust out of anyway). Or, it may be the motherboard objecting to general heat issues created by either of the other two.

In any case, it's in hand, and Ambaargh is not really going to be a lot of help in explaining it; I believe her usual response is "it's that box on the desk" or similar... ;-]

[AmigaDragon]

And here I was going to blame a Redmond-based OS. 

It's more important that she get it fixed, not that she go broke trying to get it done faster. We can wait.

[Anker Steadfast]

In case of computer woes, there's only one thing to do !!!!

[Alterationartist]

She's not using any computer at the moment. It's broken, so she can't use it.

;-]

More seriously, it is, as I understand it, a home build from a year or so back, when last hers broke on her. It is, from memory, fairly hefty, but tends to inhale a lot of dust. Normally this wouldn't be too much of a problem, but nobody informed her that the graphics card had a fan on it, so there was a lot of dust collected in there that hadn't been cleaned out when she went through every so often and blew the dust out with an air can.

As a result, her graphics card may have been warmed up too much. Her PSU may have inhaled too much dust and overheated (since those things are a bugger to get the dust out of anyway). Or, it may be the motherboard objecting to general heat issues created by either of the other two.

In any case, it's in hand, and Ambaargh is not really going to be a lot of help in explaining it; I believe her usual response is "it's that box on the desk" or similar... ;-]

Wow, that answered questions I didn't even know I was gonna ask. Either way, I hope it works out in the end.

[RobbieThe1st]

As a result, her graphics card may have been warmed up too much. Her PSU may have inhaled too much dust and overheated (since those things are a bugger to get the dust out of anyway). Or, it may be the motherboard objecting to general heat issues created by either of the other two.

That's what 120PSI air is for!
(Yes, it -does- work, and extremely well, so long as the air's dry)

----
As llearch said, her computer is custom and IIRC made with decent mid-to-high-end components. Unfortunately, computers which are used a lot and on a desk or the floor tend to collect loads of dust.
Personally, I've taken to putting a few-inch spacer between it and the desk, which seems to help me slightly. Along with cleaning every 6 months or so.

[Shouta]

Will amber build a new computer or just fix it?
-Shouta, The Haibane

[Turnsky]

What computer is Amber using?

one that says 'No', apparently. 

Shouta: the question more being: "would amber have one built or have it fixed?"  From what i've seen/heard, Ambaargh's not the most technologically minded of people, it's like driving a car, most folks know how to use it, just not how to fix it.

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

Will amber build a new computer or just fix it?

Depends on what her repair guy says, I think. If he can fix it, neat. If not... probably replace parts until it works.

... mind you, that's kinda the wya computer fixing tends to go anyway...

[Netrogo]

Since she may actually see this thread, Amber hit me with a pm if there are any parts you need that your buddies don't have. Me and my buddies have boxes o' random parts kicking around so we may have what ya need to toss your way.

[Anker Steadfast]

Also, remember she is not asking for donations towards her computer !!!

... someone *might* have accidentally donated towards an ice cream though.   

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

Since she may actually see this thread, Amber hit me with a pm if there are any parts you need that your buddies don't have. Me and my buddies have boxes o' random parts kicking around so we may have what ya need to toss your way.

Ooo! I could make use of that ;-]

[Shouta]

If we had a list of computer part, i think i could help out. I have 3 broken computer sitting around the house right now.
-Shouta, The Haibane

[Anker Steadfast]

Maybe, her computer is like this ?

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

If we had a list of computer part, i think i could help out. I have 3 broken computer sitting around the house right now.

Certainly, more than happy to provide a list.

case, GPU, CPU, CPU fan, motherboard, PSU, hdd, OS, RAM.

If you provide that lot, I'll be more than happy to spring for a monitor for it.


... Oh. Wait. You were talking about Ambaargh's machine, weren't you?

Nuts. Back to the drawing board.

[Netrogo]

Certainly, more than happy to provide a list.

case, GPU, CPU, CPU fan, motherboard, PSU, hdd, OS, RAM.

If you provide that lot, I'll be more than happy to spring for a monitor for it.


... Oh. Wait. You were talking about Ambaargh's machine, weren't you?

Nuts. Back to the drawing board.

Har har Llearch XD

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

Har har Llearch XD

Well, one has to have a sense of humour about these things, doesn't one? ;-]

[Netrogo]

Har har Llearch XD

Well, one has to have a sense of humour about these things, doesn't one? ;-]

True true.

[Kazairl]

I  think I just found the perfect business plan:  Buy computer parts in the US, then resell in the UK.

Some of the others weren't TOO bad, but you can literally get twice the CPU and twice the RAM for the equivalent price in dollars.

Equivalently priced CPU:  Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition = $139.99
Equivalently priced RAM:  G.SKILL Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) = $84.99

My thoughts on the dust bunny problem:

I use a case with a a very fine mesh filter in front of the 140mm front air intake fan.  This filter is easily gotten to for occasional washing.  I haven't had a dust problem inside the computer since.   This was a Lian-Li PC-60FNW that was $119.99 here (74.89 in pounds).  I found almost the same thing (minus the clear side panel) at that UK store.

Lian-Li PC-60FNB

Note:  The bottom-mounted PSU can either be mounted right side up, sucking in fresh air from underneath the case, or upside down, sucking air from inside the case.  Both configurations exhaust to the back.

 

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

I do believe you are forgetting something.

The UK govt charges 20% tax on top of what you sell it for. Hence the prices.

Also, the case in that list was selected to fit in a gap I have under my desk which is 21cm high, 39.5cm long, and about 20cm wide, with space widthwise to extend to 30cm or so without getting in the way. The case you've selected would probably be more suitable for Ambaargh, who isn't looking to replace her case.

In fact, as Netrogo correctly identified, I was facetiously posting the list for a computer for me, not for Ambaargh. Those of you who wish to donate towards this worthy cause, the IRC page has a paypal button on it; I do not, however, expect anyone to do so, and will be shocked and amazed if anything does show up via there.

[Anker Steadfast]

I'd do it, just to shock you ! 

But I have no idea where the IRC page is at !

[Naldru]

Have you looked at his signature?

[Turnsky]

Have you looked at his signature?

he's afraid llearch's sig beasties will get him. 

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

he's afraid llearch's sig beasties will get him. 

And with good reason!

[Turnsky]

on a lighter note somebody should totally make ambaargh some gingerbread computers, at least then she'd have a tasty computer that doesn't work to gnaw on. 

[Anker Steadfast]

Heh, if she had gingerbread computers, they'd just get eaten all the time. 

[Madmann135]

I have a PNY 9800GT graphics card that I do not use.  Well I was using it as a PhysX processor for a time but all I was doing was wasting power.
Last time I ran it (months ago) it ran perfectly fine.  It also has 1024mb of ram (1gb) and if amber has a large monitor that extra ram can come in handy.

[Anker Steadfast]

Looking at Ambers current frontpage rant, I reckon this is fitting :

[Drayco84]

Looking at the rant for Monday's pre-update, I can't help but wonder if Amber's tried GIMP... (Since llearch is a linux-user, [Debian, nontheless.] I figure he's mentioned it to her once or twice before...)