PC Hardware help

I like to ask a lot of questions, can we make this the official PC help thread?

So, I'm getting pissed off with the noise of my PC. The fan sounds like I've fired up a jet fighter engine and when I turn the computer off, I often wonder if I've gone deaf.

Anyone suggest any good websites for these types of things? Cheap is the budget (or the budgie).

Question 2 (of 1000) I have another computer without a network socket enthenet thingy hole. Can you buy these on their own and plug the little baby straight in or does it involve soldering and other stuff beyond my can-be-arsed-ness.

Cheers.

Didn't you get a mac? What are you doing messing around with a PC still?

1) You can buy lower RPM fans
2) Yeah you need to buy a PCI network card

Quote: David Bussell @ October 23 2008, 12:57 PM BST

Didn't you get a mac? What are you doing messing around with a PC still?

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T'was my girlfriends Mac. Yes I played with the idea of getting a Mac, but I have two PCs doing nothing. My idea was to do them up and sell them on; either funding for a Mac or better PC. (Yes Aaron, Mac is PC).

Quote: mixmasterfestus @ October 23 2008, 12:58 PM BST

1) You can buy lower RPM fans
2) Yeah you need to buy a PCI network card

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Thanks, I'll have a look into that

Fan: Might be worth investigating WHY the fan is going so much. Could be that you've got a program running which is particularly processor and memory intensive, so the fan's working overtime to cool down the machine.

Sites: www.ebuyer.com www.saverstore.com www.aria.co.uk www.microdirect.co.uk
etc.

Quote: Leevil @ October 23 2008, 1:01 PM BST

(Yes Aaron, Mac is PC).

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Aw, you remembered! Good boy.

Cheers Aaron. Would it be worth getting a USB Wireless thingy rather then a network card? Is there any difference?

Nah not really, would probably be more sellable with one built in, but it doesn't matter that much.

Depends where you intend to put the machine. If you can get it within a reasonable wired distance of your router, then go that way. If not, for example the router in the sitting room and the computer in your bedroom, then you need to go wireless.

Personally, I'd never put my computer somewhere it couldn't be wired in.

Quote: Aaron @ October 23 2008, 1:05 PM BST

Personally, I'd never put my computer somewhere it couldn't be wired in.

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Signed.

Quote: Leevil @ October 23 2008, 1:03 PM BST

Cheers Aaron. Would it be worth getting a USB Wireless thingy rather then a network card? Is there any difference?

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If you're going through Ethanet and a cable it can be faster.

But I have come to except wireless more, so go for it.

And your fan can be noisey for a lot of reasons, but if it's old, it could be dust collecting in and around the fan, but you unfortunatly can't just open macs because they're stupid and sealed in to a large extent and you void a warranty if you do so.

PS - Buy a new PC!

Aside from the obvious security issues, wired connections also (tend to) be much faster. There's also no chance of knocking the stick and losing your connection.

Quote: Aaron @ October 23 2008, 1:03 PM BST

Fan: Might be worth investigating WHY the fan is going so much.

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It's as soon as I press the power button. I think it already has a cheap arse fan anyway and that's got to be quite a few years old.

Yeah, my pc fan goes a bit mental just cos it's trying to do too much at once so maybe you're just hammering it.

Dare I suggest you stick Linux on your unused PCs? It doesn't need the meat of Windows and would be perfectly adequate for web stuff and nice things like taking less than two days just to start up/shut down...

Dan

Quote: Leevil @ October 23 2008, 1:07 PM BST

It's as soon as I press the power button. I think it already has a cheap arse fan anyway and that's got to be quite a few years old.

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I bet my batman glass it's most likely dust and of course a bit of age making all the noise.

Rock ze Ubuntu.