A Little Knowledge (iii)

Yesterday’s computer kafuffles concluded with the computer working pretty much as I think it should do: I ought, I suppose to check the bios to see that I am getting the best out of my shiny new processor, but frankly it seems to be behaving and doing all I ask of it, so on the basis that I can actually do things with the PC, including playing Warcrack, I am more than tempted to leave sleeping dogs lie. Doubtless one of my chums will tell me that I am slowly killing my machine by doing this.

My last post on the subject was potentially a little premature. Yes, the computer worked, but the heat problem hadn’t gone away, despite cleaning the heat sink on the graphics card. I switched the brute off, opened it up again and had a look at the innards for the umpteenth time. I plugged it in and booted it up with the side off and sure enough, the fan on the graphics card wasn’t moving, though it was plugged in. So, I turned the PC off, took the graphics card out and stared at it a bit. Then I shook it and then prodded the fan experimentally. It was all nice and clean following my previous ministrations and nothing obvious – either bits of tech or dust – fell out. Resigned to having to spend a further £35 to £40 on a new graphics card, I swore vehemently at it and slotted it back in place.

It clearly took note. Miraculously, the fan started working again and has continued to do so despite being switched on and off a number of times by way of test. I haven’t had the opportunity to play the game for any length of time, but I managed a good half an hour’s pootling with no problems, which suggests that it is sorted. I would manage maybe three minutes before. Fingers crossed, then.

We finished the weekend off with a trip to the West End last night to meet colonel_maxim and see the Hot Club of Cowtown - a western jazz-swing trio from New York at the 100 Club on Oxford Street. An excellent evening, though a touch more ventilation would have been nice.

Furtle even bought a couple of stickers!

A Little Knowledge (iii)

Yesterday’s computer kafuffles concluded with the computer working pretty much as I think it should do: I ought, I suppose to check the bios to see that I am getting the best out of my shiny new processor, but frankly it seems to be behaving and doing all I ask of it, so on the basis that I can actually do things with the PC, including playing Warcrack, I am more than tempted to leave sleeping dogs lie. Doubtless one of my chums will tell me that I am slowly killing my machine by doing this.

My last post on the subject was potentially a little premature. Yes, the computer worked, but the heat problem hadn’t gone away, despite cleaning the heat sink on the graphics card. I switched the brute off, opened it up again and had a look at the innards for the umpteenth time. I plugged it in and booted it up with the side off and sure enough, the fan on the graphics card wasn’t moving, though it was plugged in. So, I turned the PC off, took the graphics card out and stared at it a bit. Then I shook it and then prodded the fan experimentally. It was all nice and clean following my previous ministrations and nothing obvious – either bits of tech or dust – fell out. Resigned to having to spend a further £35 to £40 on a new graphics card, I swore vehemently at it and slotted it back in place.

It clearly took note. Miraculously, the fan started working again and has continued to do so despite being switched on and off a number of times by way of test. I haven’t had the opportunity to play the game for any length of time, but I managed a good half an hour’s pootling with no problems, which suggests that it is sorted. I would manage maybe three minutes before. Fingers crossed, then.

We finished the weekend off with a trip to the West End last night to meet colonel_maxim and see the Hot Club of Cowtown - a western jazz-swing trio from New York at the 100 Club on Oxford Street. An excellent evening, though a touch more ventilation would have been nice.

Furtle even bought a couple of stickers!

Boredy Borderson

I am bored almost beyond endurance today and it’s making me feel tired and cranky. Still, I only have about 45 minutes and then I shall pack up and go home. Thank God for Monday night games sessions.

Tomorrow I have to be in much earlier than I normally am and this looks likely to become a regular Tuesday event as I have been volunteered to be the middleman between the subsidy policy team and the reform team. I shouldn’t complain, I suppose – this is the sort of thing my temporary (if you can call 14 months and counting temporary) promotion rests upon.

I’m still bored, mind.

Boredy Borderson

I am bored almost beyond endurance today and it’s making me feel tired and cranky. Still, I only have about 45 minutes and then I shall pack up and go home. Thank God for Monday night games sessions.

Tomorrow I have to be in much earlier than I normally am and this looks likely to become a regular Tuesday event as I have been volunteered to be the middleman between the subsidy policy team and the reform team. I shouldn’t complain, I suppose – this is the sort of thing my temporary (if you can call 14 months and counting temporary) promotion rests upon.

I’m still bored, mind.

A Little Knowledge (iv)

It seems that I was, yet again, precipitate in my celebrations over my PC.

The graphics card heatsink is really not happy, and although I can use my PC for this sort of thing, I really don't want to keep taking the side off and swearing or otherwise goading the fan into action. I suspect then, that I must may as well just shell out the golden sploners and upgrade the brute into something muscly enough to cope with 3D graphics without melting to slag...

Any recommendations for something that will fit snugly onto an ASUS M2N-X Plus motherboard? And yes, I know there are better motherboards out there, but I can't afford to keep throwing money at upgrades right now. House and stuff; you understand.

A Little Knowledge (iv)

It seems that I was, yet again, precipitate in my celebrations over my PC.

The graphics card heatsink is really not happy, and although I can use my PC for this sort of thing, I really don't want to keep taking the side off and swearing or otherwise goading the fan into action. I suspect then, that I must may as well just shell out the golden sploners and upgrade the brute into something muscly enough to cope with 3D graphics without melting to slag...

Any recommendations for something that will fit snugly onto an ASUS M2N-X Plus motherboard? And yes, I know there are better motherboards out there, but I can't afford to keep throwing money at upgrades right now. House and stuff; you understand.