Anyone know anything about computers?

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by BogMonster

I don't know what the different refresh rates are but mine runs at 60Hz (I think it does higher ones too but this was the default) and the picture stability is superb, not a hint of flicker at all, when there is just my wallpaper image showing, it could be a painting

You do need to choose the right res though - I had mine at 1024x768 when I first fired up the computer and it was horrible, but at the designed 1280x1024 its lovely.

I hate widescreens, but that's just me. I always think you can fit more useful stuff on a proper shaped screen which was one reason I got this HP.

Different sort of refresh to CRTs - you don't get flicker with a an LCD so you can have a low refresh no probs - until you start to play games or watch films - then you notice the lag or blurring - still not as good as CRTs!!!

Glad you noticed the difference the res makes - so many people don't realise that LCDs will only work properly in their native mode - this means that on some 17" monitors many people can't see them properly without glasses as the res is too high for the size!!!

As to widescreens you are SO right - unless you are watching films all the time they are a nightmare - what shape is a word processor page or a website??? A4 is vertical - NOT horizontal!!!

[Hightower]

Can't say that a widescreen bothers me on a computer. On most applications you need to scroll down and providing the (lets say word document) fills the screen to the sides why does it matter? It'll be an improvment on my 17" monitor.


Is there any tests I could carry out on my graphics card before I bin it? Someone at work told me it could be a clogged fan that is taking too long to get going or might be a dry/broken solder joint that plays up when cold but makes good contact when warm. It only happens after I log into an account and not before.

[jwalker]

I agree with Cod, A4 portrait is the way to go.

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Different sort of refresh to CRTs - you don't get flicker with a an LCD so you can have a low refresh no probs - until you start to play games or watch films - then you notice the lag or blurring - still not as good as CRTs!!!

I haven't tried Doom since I got home, but I don't watch films on my computer anyway (apart from the Ribnet FFFFwellyhelli (sp?) Rib Raid video I downloaded ) and I still have a perfectly good 17in CRT if required for the odd Doom sessions

[Nos4r2]

Games are the reason I've got a 21" CRT...

[Mark Halliday]

Originally Posted by Hightower

Novatech do one for £140 inc. Its a 19" widescreen.

I have got one of them.
Nice bit of kit. Fast refresh, wide viewing angle etc.

A4 portrait.....ummm ......... I prefer to work in A1 landscape, but thats Autocad for you.

[Biggles]

Originally Posted by jwalker

Why is that, Biggles?

I actually mean the response time, haven't looked at building a PC for a year, so a bit rusty on the terminology. Anything over 16 ms and you start to get problems with the screen keeping up with the PC and what your eye can see. Its mainly a games playing thing or watching movies but the 5ms of that Novatech screen is good. I have a 16 ms screen and I can't see any problems.

[Biggles]

Originally Posted by Hightower

Can't say that a widescreen bothers me on a computer. On most applications you need to scroll down and providing the (lets say word document) fills the screen to the sides why does it matter? It'll be an improvment on my 17" monitor.


Is there any tests I could carry out on my graphics card before I bin it? Someone at work told me it could be a clogged fan that is taking too long to get going or might be a dry/broken solder joint that plays up when cold but makes good contact when warm. It only happens after I log into an account and not before.

I recently took my PC to a PC shop for a diagnostics check because it stopped working. I didn't have the kit to check each piece individually, they charged me £40 and identified the graphics card as being U/S. Not too sure if Novatech offer this service. I'd try and find a small local computer shop for this. The £40 covers the first hour of labour, this covered a full diagnostics check.

Basically unless you have got a spare graphics card lying around this is what you might have to do. Do you know anyone with lots of spare PC parts ?

[Hightower]

Might just as well buy one, you can buy graphics cards for about the £40 mark. I don't need anything fancy as I don't do gaming. 128mb or a cheap 256 should suffice.

[DJL]

Anybody know what ISO 13402-6 is about? I can't find it on the ISO website. Lots of TFT manufactures seem to be publicising their products compliance, and then don't mention ISO 13406-2.

[Jimbo]

Originally Posted by DJL

Anybody know what ISO 13402-6 is about? I can't find it on the ISO website. Lots of TFT manufactures seem to be publicising their products compliance, and then don't mention ISO 13406-2.

ISO 13402-6, or ISO 13406-2? Presumeably they are two different things?

Edit: Just been to the ISO website, looks like 13402-6 doesn't exist, but I get this result for 13406-2 :http://www.iso.org/iso/en/CatalogueD...ICS2=180&ICS3=

Didn't fancy shelling out to find out what it was all about though!

[Biggles]

Originally Posted by Hightower

Might just as well buy one, you can buy graphics cards for about the £40 mark. I don't need anything fancy as I don't do gaming. 128mb or a cheap 256 should suffice.

Andy,

Buy one but try and buy it from somewhere you can take it back. staples used to be very good at this. PC World, Dixons and Comet are crap for this. Its what I'd do.

As you say you can buy a half decent graphics card for £40. Mine is for gaming and cost quite a lot. Thats why I didn't buy a new one to check it out. Also the symptoms were the same as a total power loss. Not something I would normally associate with a graphics card.

Since my last post have just refitted my repaired card and all seems to be working well. Lets hope it keeps going over the weekend.

[Nos4r2]

Do you play Americas Army Biggles?

[Biggles]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Do you play Americas Army Biggles?

Matt,

Tried it when it first came out but I play CS Source (Good Training) most of the time (Nickname is Capn Stabin LOL), Battlefield 2 and COD 2. Sad I know but gives me something to do on those long winter nights when the seas are empty.

[Nos4r2]

There's a new version of AA coming out today-it's MUCH improved from the early versions now. It's pretty much all I play now-it's improved so much.

My nick is a bit obvious lol

[Biggles]

Is it still a free download. If so I'll give it a try.

[Biggles]

Matt,

Which version do I need to download. The version I can see is 2.7. Is that the one ?

[Nos4r2]

Give it a couple of days-I think the new version is 2.7 but I haven't downloaded it yet as it's got so many people queueing for it.

[jwalker]

Originally Posted by Mark Halliday

A4 portrait.....ummm ......... I prefer to work in A1 landscape, but thats Autocad for you.

Kinda like this?

[DJL]

Originally Posted by Jimbo

ISO 13402-6, or ISO 13406-2? Presumeably they are two different things?

Edit: Just been to the ISO website, looks like 13402-6 doesn't exist, but I get this result for 13406-2 :http://www.iso.org/iso/en/CatalogueD...ICS2=180&ICS3=

Didn't fancy shelling out to find out what it was all about though!

Yeah - I didn't make that very clear. ISO 13406-2 is the one that covers dead pixels and the like. However, it seems that manufacturers of LCD's at the cheaper end don't seem to be publicising compliance with ISO 13406-2. - Instead they list 13402-6 which I’ve never heard of - and it looks like it doesn't exist.

I've returned two LCD's in the past for dead pixels, so it quite nice to know where you stand with the manufacturer.