Do I 'need' a gaming laptop to play MMOs? [more inside]
posted by Kurichina on Nov 9, 2009 - 9 answers

The best way to go from knowing how to put a computer together out of the box but nothing else, to understanding how the 'innards' work? [more inside]
posted by malibustacey9999 on Oct 5, 2009 - 13 answers

I scrapped all my junk computers together and made the most rag tag beowulf cluster ever in my living room. Mostly as a conversation starter. But now I have to figure out what to have it working on. What's something that will sound really cool?
posted by brenton on Sep 12, 2009 - 10 answers

In lieu of buying a tricked-out MacBook pro, I'm thinking about taking the advice in this comment and picking up a mostly equivalent, Windows-based desktop for around $500. Can you give me advice? [more inside]
posted by niles on Aug 22, 2009 - 10 answers

I'm going to make a dedicated FreeNAS box. Looking for hardware suggestions. [more inside]
posted by tdreyer on Jun 22, 2009 - 4 answers

I'm in the market for a new laptop. Should I get a PC or Mac? What specs are important for me to look at when making a decision? [more inside]
posted by reenum on Jun 2, 2009 - 31 answers

Advice for a server newb who needs help getting started with a simple media/backup/torrent server? [more inside]
posted by wastelands on May 29, 2009 - 12 answers

I just purchased two WD Caviar Black 500GB HDDs and I'm trying to figure out the best backup configuration for my home computer. [more inside]
posted by jluce50 on Feb 3, 2009 - 14 answers

Help a poor fool fix his computer. New motherboard has only one IDE slot. Have two old hard drives and two old CD drives. What to do? [more inside]
posted by kurtroehl on Feb 2, 2009 - 11 answers

Does anyone know a good computer store based in Melbourne, Australia? [more inside]
posted by Silentgoldfish on Dec 6, 2008 - 8 answers

What type of capabilities should I look to include in a computer I'm planning on building within the next few months? I would like to make sure I'm prepared for future technology. I don't want to build totally for the present. [more inside]
posted by decrescendo on Oct 8, 2008 - 12 answers

Looking for robust multitouch hardware and programming. [more inside]
posted by Mister_A on Jul 21, 2008 - 3 answers

I am having a very unusual problem with my hard drive and CANNOT recover any data from it after trying numerous methods. Please help me with your technical expertise. [more inside]
posted by deafmute on Jun 29, 2008 - 7 answers

Is there a website that tests computer hardware like Tom's Hardware does, but publishes comprehensive comparison artilces more regularly? [more inside]
posted by ErWenn on Jun 9, 2008 - 7 answers

Between the 4 desktops that my immediate family owns, we've probably been through 6 or 7 DVD burners in the last few years. Does everyone else have this kind of failure rate? Any recommendations on reasonably priced, quality drives, so that I don't have to keep replacing them? [more inside]
posted by chrisamiller on May 29, 2008 - 19 answers

My desktop computer is dead dead dead (I think -- can you help me be sure?). I was going to get a new iMac anyway, so now I'll just move those plans up. I understand there's a utility to migrate all my files from the old Windows machine to the new Mac -- how can I make that happen when the old one won't start? [more inside]
posted by gleuschk on Mar 27, 2008 - 10 answers

Would it be safe to hide cash in my computer? [more inside]
posted by bindasj on Feb 29, 2008 - 18 answers

I just got a relatively new PC secondhand. What should I upgrade first in order to most successfully play games? [more inside]
posted by joshrholloway on Feb 9, 2008 - 18 answers

I'm trying to simplify my computer wiring situation, and could use some strategic advice. I have a bunch of devices, and 3 machines. How can 2 (or preferably all 3) machines share all the peripherals? My little KVM doesn't quite cut it. [more inside]
posted by swift on Feb 8, 2008 - 13 answers

I need a new motherboard and processor compatible with my old hardware. [more inside]
posted by mithiirym on Dec 24, 2007 - 6 answers

My old, faithful, color-reliable, flat screen, CRT computer monitor sometimes starts making a strange, extremely high-pitched noise, which - while not ear-piercing, is annoying. [more inside]
posted by _dario on Oct 23, 2007 - 11 answers

Can you name any laptop motherboards (brands, models, etc.) capable of booting from a USB flash drive? [more inside]
posted by DrSkrud on Oct 3, 2007 - 11 answers

Neeerrrrrrrrdfilter: I want to play Bioshock. Help me find the most economical way to upgrade my video hardware so that it will run the game satisfactorily. [more inside]
posted by killdevil on Aug 22, 2007 - 20 answers

I am building a new computer and was wondering if this setup seems good I already have the OS and case/power supply more details after break. (previously, previously) [more inside]
posted by DJWeezy on Jul 26, 2007 - 13 answers

I am building a new desktop pc for college and am going to leave it on 24/7 in my dorm room so i can just rdc into it from anywhere on campus (only until i get a mbp with leopard later on) Take a look at this hardware and see it everything looks ok. also this system wil work with vista ultimate x64 right [more inside]
posted by DJWeezy on Jul 11, 2007 - 16 answers

Computer Buffs: Building a new computer from scratch, and wondering if my selection will work and if it's the best combination. Any ideas would be very helpful! [more inside]
posted by chitlin on Jun 8, 2007 - 14 answers

AC power is lost on my computer and I need to use it this weekend! How can I find a reputable computer technician that can fix it today or tomorrow? [more inside]
posted by any major dude on May 12, 2007 - 14 answers

I need to buy a server for around $800 ($1000 as an absolute maximum). It will be hosting a website with a (PostGres) database that will start at around 4GB and grow slowly (so would like at least 2GB of RAM). It must be able run Linux, preferably Ubuntu or Debian. [more inside]
posted by phrontist on May 10, 2007 - 9 answers

I've got an nVidia nForce 570 motherboard with 5 drives (500 GB each -- 465 GB actual) in a RAID-5 array. The RAID has been working well in Vista until yesterday, when my system froze. Now nVidia's Storage control panel reports a "Healthy" array with 5 drives but with a capacity of only 465GB (rather than the expected 1.81 TB). Can this be fixed? [more inside]
posted by scottnic on Mar 28, 2007 - 4 answers

Laptopfilter: I'm curious about how CPU usage, noise level, and being able to go to standby/hibernation and shut down properly are related. For a long time (over a year, I think) my HP laptop(running Windows XP) was at 100% CPU usage all the time, ran loudly, and wouldn't go to standby or hibernation or shut down all the way. There's a lot [more inside]
posted by sleeplessunderwater on Jan 31, 2007 - 11 answers

Shopping for a cheap used laptop: What are the minimum specs I should be looking for with respect to CPU, RAM, HD? I'm planning to use WinXP (maybe I'll settle for 2K), Open Office, and FireFox (including some AJAX-heavy web sites such as gmail, Google Docs, del.icio.us), with a wifi card. And not much else. I want to avoid "I'm always waiting for this stupid slow computer!" but not spend much more than the minimum needed to avoid that.
posted by Leonard of Vince on Dec 18, 2006 - 24 answers

On my computer, sometimes I can't load Windows. Sometimes I can and it freezes. Can intermittent problems like this be due to the power supply? [more inside]
posted by secret.osha on Nov 4, 2006 - 15 answers

What is a good forum to go to if I'm interested in building my own simple Athlon computer system and want to learn before I shop? [more inside]
posted by zek on Sep 17, 2006 - 20 answers

We moved my husband's Mac from one side of the room to the other, carefully re-connecting all the cables. But when we started it up again, the screen displays in almost indecipherable chunky gray-and-white (8-bit?), and the icon and window sizing are all wrong. Help, please!
posted by Uccellina on Sep 3, 2006 - 19 answers

I need an alternative to Newegg.com that easily allows Paypal. I'm having trouble lately submitting orders on Newegg. [more inside]
posted by rolypolyman on Aug 31, 2006 - 7 answers

COMBINING Hard Drives. Roommate has fast, great computer. I have slow, antiquated one with (among other upgraded parts I've procured) a fast new hard drive (personally installed). Want to install my current drive in her current machine so that all roommates can use one system and still keep my files/ preferences. [more inside]
posted by mireille on Aug 28, 2006 - 20 answers

Debian won't find my hard drive! Please help! I have details so there's [more inside]
posted by tdreyer1 on Jul 12, 2006 - 14 answers

I want to expand the number of keys available for mapping as hotkeys in some of my games. Is it possible to connect a second keyboard under Windows XP, possibly a USB one, and use it as, essentially, a very large keypad? If so, how would I go about it without causing IRQ conflicts? [more inside]
posted by slavlin on May 9, 2006 - 5 answers

HardwareFilter: trying to revive an old computer. Help me defeat the psychedelic screen of death. [more inside] [more inside]
posted by sophist on Feb 25, 2006 - 7 answers

Building a cheap computer for Civ IV. [more inside]
posted by Tlogmer on Feb 15, 2006 - 17 answers

I recently purchased a new Dell Dimension 9150, I plan to wipe the Dell partition and install a fresh copy of XP Pro (I already have a full copy). Any problems/hiccups I should know about before I destroy the Dell partition?
posted by mhaw on Feb 15, 2006 - 14 answers

Huge (hopefully not) monitor issue: Thinkpad T41. Are there any good hardware troubleshooters out there? [more inside]
posted by jadanzzy on Feb 13, 2006 - 2 answers

What type of router typically has a gateway of 10.1.9.1, I'm used to seeing the typical router use 192.168.*.* but I'm trying to figure out what routers the local apartment unit is using to run their wireless.
posted by skEwb on Jan 30, 2006 - 18 answers

How can I get a good picture on an aging CRT monitor? [more inside]
posted by joegester on Nov 19, 2005 - 7 answers

I broke my computer, but it didn't break... [more inside]
posted by pompomtom on Nov 4, 2005 - 8 answers

After searching Google and the archives of AskMe, I've come across some great suggestions and ideas for making digital photo frames. From what I can determine, however, all of these require a computer of some kind built into the frame. Supposing one only has a laptop screen? Specifically, the screen from an old ThinkPad with a blown motherboard. Could I connect the monitor to my network somehow? Hook it up to some special circuit board designed for just this sort of thing?
posted by aladfar on Nov 3, 2005 - 6 answers

Any suggestions for the best hardcore computer (and related) hardware retailer with online ordering and US-based? [more inside]
posted by Ethereal Bligh on Sep 25, 2005 - 20 answers

[DeadComputerFilter] I just moved, and as is customary, my PC moved in a separate trip, re-boxed in its original container, and generally cared for better than even myself. Now, I plug it in, turn it on... well, almost. It just doesn't come on anymore. [more inside]
posted by ChrisR on Jul 9, 2005 - 6 answers

My computer is suffering from undervoltage on +5V! Help me out if you are a ninja with hardware. [more inside]
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim on Jul 8, 2005 - 13 answers

Is there any way to recover data from an external USB 2/Firewire hard drive that has apparently decided to stop working? [more inside]
posted by cathodeheart on May 11, 2005 - 7 answers