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  • Showing only topics in ~tech with the tag "hardware". Back to normal view / Search all groups
    1. Need help troubleshooting computer

      So my computer is not posting, and I am unsure the cause. I am not getting an error code, so that complicates things. I do not know if this motherboard will provide post codes, it does not have a...

      So my computer is not posting, and I am unsure the cause. I am not getting an error code, so that complicates things. I do not know if this motherboard will provide post codes, it does not have a seven segment display for providing post codes.

      How it started

      It just randomly stopped displaying any pictures, unsure if it happened while in use or when the computer was asleep. I was doing stuff at my desk and had music playing on my computer. The music ended and I did not put on more music and the monitors went to sleep. Later when I went to use my computer It did not appear to wake up, I tried fully shutting down and turning on my computer, and that is when this problem occurred.

      Symptoms:

      • When I power on, computer appears to start normally, with all fans spinning so power delivery appears to be working. Even GPU fans are spinning.
      • Holding down the power button turns the computer off as normal.
      • Nothing is displayed on the screen, my monitors do not even detect an input.
      • USB devices do not appear to be powering on.
      • Every minute or two, the GPU fans ramp up briefly, and then ramp down. It may be all fans are ramping up, kind of hard to tell exactly which fans are ramping up.
      • With the AMD GPU, the LEDs for power turn on. However, I vaguely recall the GPU itself having some RGB when the system was running that was not on. How my computer was setup I did not see inside my case that often, so the RGB on the GPU is a vague memory from a few years ago and I would not put much weight in there being some RGB.

      Hardware:

      • MOBO: Gigabyte 9900FXA-UD3
      • CPU: AMD FX-8359
      • GPU: ASUS Radeon HD7870 or EVGA GTX 970
      • PSU: Cooler Master Elite V2 550W

      Troubleshooting Attempted:

      I initially assumed it was GPU related as the computer appears to turn on normally, but then nothing is displayed. So another user shipped me his old GPU (the GTX 970), and I swapped it out with my old one, and the problem persists.

      4 votes
    2. Suggestions for used and modular laptop for language learning

      I've recently come back to studying German, after having taken a small break for a few months for a new job. My main form of study is immersion (I recently stumbled across the books of Walter...

      I've recently come back to studying German, after having taken a small break for a few months for a new job.

      My main form of study is immersion (I recently stumbled across the books of Walter Moers and haven't looked back since) and conversation practice on iTalki.

      Nowadays, I try my hardest to only buy tech second-hand and preferably as future proof and modular as possible. My go-to machines are a fully modded Lenovo Thinkpad T430, and a more humble Thinkpad X230, both running Linux (Ubuntu and PopOS respectively). They work just fine for my basic needs (mostly surfing, some occasional streaming and word processing). But they struggle during my conversation lessons on iTalki or Zoom, most of the time either overheating or freezing/stumbling. I realize this might be a Linux problem, but I have also found the web camera and built-in microphone on both machines to be really inadequate for video calls. I gave up using my own laptops for my language lessons over a year ago, and now have resorted to stealing my partners Macbook, which isn't ideal.

      Do you have any recommendations for any more recent laptops that would offer a better video conference experience, while offering at least a removable battery? Pricewise it would be great to be find something below €500 used.

      5 votes
    3. Looking for a decent, but cheap-ass tablet

      Okay -- I am looking for a decent but dirt cheap tablet, manly for recipes, spotify, youtube/VLC, maybe some simple puzzle games. I want the largest tablet I can get for the fewest dollars spent...

      Okay -- I am looking for a decent but dirt cheap tablet, manly for recipes, spotify, youtube/VLC, maybe some simple puzzle games. I want the largest tablet I can get for the fewest dollars spent

      Not a lot. I was looking at the Lenovo Tab M11 or something around there.

      Also, ideally something that can take a crap-free Android ROM.

      quick edit: I gave up on this for a few days because I got into the 'this one is better... but this one is better...' and before I knew it I was hitting a grand for something I'll barely use. I just ordered a Lenovo P11. I don't expect it to be amazing, but it'll be fine for the very basic tasks I'll be using it for.

      Its surprising how much old stuff is for sale on Amazon. iPads from 2018, for instance. Doesn't seem right.

      double edit: I returned the under-powered P11 and got a Lenovo Tab K11 LTE w/ 8gb and 128gb eMMC. Not a big fan of eMMC, but it'll be fine for my uses.

      19 votes
    4. Webcam recommendations?

      Hey there, Title is pretty self-explanatory, looking for some web camera recommendations, USB obviously1, good price to value, higher quality the better, microphone not required, but appreciated....

      Hey there,

      Title is pretty self-explanatory, looking for some web camera recommendations, USB obviously1, good price to value, higher quality the better, microphone not required, but appreciated.

      1 Don't need any MDR-26/SDR-26/CameraLink connectors, or Game Boy Camera recommendations here /s

      15 votes