Scott Bull

So I'm currently using a 0.5tb SATA HDD 7,200rpm but am running out of space and was wondering which type of HDD I should go for when upgrading to a 1tb HDD.

I'm torn between a 1tb SATA @ 7,200rpm and a 1tb SSHD @ 5,400rpm.

From what I understand SSHD's cache the most commonly used files in the NAND memory which would be the boot-up and OS files surely.

Also, does this mean that the non-cached file would then take longer to access due to the lower RPM speed?

I've also heard that SSD's tend to sacrifice their reliability to provide a faster speed, is this also the case with SSHD's?

Finally, I'll be looking at using a HDD copy-station to copy the data from my SATA to the newer drive: is it possible to do this from a SATA to a SSHD?

My system specs are as follows:

OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit/SP1

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad-Core Q3630M @ 2.4ghz, (up to 3.4ghz with TurboBoost 2.0).

RAM: 14gb total, (4+4+4+2 DDR3 SODIMM @ 1,600mhz), with 1gb ReadyBoost, (not that it's ever actually been used and most of the time isn't even mounted).

I primarily use my system for gaming and composing music, (the games are pretty modern though the music software isn't).

Thanks.

Note: the HDD's I'm looking at are below though I'd be open to other suggestions.

SSHD: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00BHRWHNI/ref=...

SATA: http://www.amazon.co.uk/HGST-Travelstar-7K1000-HTS...

So I'm reading conflicting information about ReadyBoost and was wondering whether it's worth using it on either of the following systems.

System: Dell Alienware M17X R4.

OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit/SP1.

Processor: i7 Q3630M @ 2.4ghz, (TurboBoost 2.0 up to 3.4ghz).

HDD: 2x 0.5tb non-RAID @ 7,200rpm.

RAM: 2gb+4gb+4gb+4gb DDR3 SODIMM @ 1,600mhz.

Graphics: NVidia GeForce GTX 675M @ 2gb (GDDR5).

System: Dell Inspiron 530.

OS: Windows Vista Home Premium 32bit/SP1.

Processor: Core 2 Duo E6600 @ 2.4ghz, (I think).

HDD: 1x 320gb.

RAM: 2gb.

Graphics: Intel Family.

At the moment the only SD card I have is a 16gb.

Any other information such as trade-off's and benefits would also be appreciated, (since 7 Home Premium can only do 16gb RAM for example, would it mean I could only utilise 2gb of the 16gb SD card for example)?

So I've got a custom "Emily The Strange" branded Epiphone G310 SG and the frets have somewhat rusted and the strings too; having not been used for a few years.

I'm thinking that a complete refret and new strings would be better than partial work and would like to know what kind of prices I could expect.

So yeah, I've got the following hardware on my Dell Alienware M17X R4.

C: 0.5tb 2.5" eSATA @ 7,200rpm, (I believe it's eSATA anyhow).

D: As above, but a different model.

Externals:

0.5tb mains-powered SATA (believe it to be a 3.5" @ 5,400rpm), USB 2.0.

0.5tb USB powered SATA, (believe it to be a 2.5" @ unknown-rpm), USB 3.0.

I'm looking to image the C-drive to the USB 3.0 powered HDD or possibly the mains-powered 2.0 HDD.

What would be more advisable to use?

I have "Back Up Your Files", (OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit/SP1), and also Nero BackItUp 7.

I don't intend using the secondary HDD in my system to do such a back-up, hence I'm enquiring about which external I should use and which HDD I should use.

Is one more advisable than the other, (both HD and back-up method), and will they both create an exact file-for-file image that I can recover if needed, (also, how easy is it to recover images using both software), or is this just a matter of preference and opinion?

Thanks in advance.

So I'm looking at buying one of the following two TV's before the 4K era starts trying to put nails in the 3D coffun.

The TV's I'm looking at are:

http://www.directtvs.co.uk/LG_32LM620T_32_Inch_Cin...

http://www.directtvs.co.uk/Panasonic_TX-L32ET5B_32...

From reviews the LG sometimes loses sound briefly though the Panasonic sometimes suffers from white-wash from the lighting and is very reflective, (originally I wanted to get a 37" but it'd look ugly and large in my bedroom).

I've had LG before and whilst their customer support is a bit iffy, the site I've given the links to helped me out when LG messed up.

Does 3D lose it's charm at 32" also, (I'll be around 8ft from the screen, perhaps 10ft), also, what's the 2D-3D conversion like?

Oh, and if anyone knows of a better price for either of the TV, (new), please let me know; especially if the site has a good history and offers either free or low interest credit or Direct Debit.

Thanks for your help in advance.

So I figured I'd get upgrade parts for my Dell Alienware M17X R4 since it's cheaper to purchase it in such a manner; I'm looking to find out whether the following parts will work on the system.

I'm currently running Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit/SP1 with 2gb and 4gb of RAM with 500gb HDD 7,200rpm.

These are the parts I'm looking at:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kingston-1600MHz-HyperX-Me... (bringing the total RAM to 14gb).

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004UGWH8S/ref=... (bringing the total HDD to 1tb).

Thanks.

So I heard a song today whilst I was at the gym, but I couldn't work out what the title of the song was or who it was buy, (when you've got 200lbs over your head you've kind of got more important things to focus on, heh).

Anyhow, it's a fairly up-beat tempo song with the words "I refuse to socialist/socialize with those who earn nothing", or something very similiar to it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated and have a cool Yule everyone!

So I've got a Dell XPS720 that I bought new almost 4 years ago, and everything's been working fine up until a few hours ago.

Basically, I logged on and got the mesages that BCM2045A wanted to install new drivers; I let it run to install the drivers, yet it couldn't find any.

A Google search indicated that it was a Broadcom chip within my Dell system.

I've tried pressing the BlueTooth button on the Dell XPS720, but it's no longer responding; yet the "Found New Hardware" option appears each time.

Additionally, the computer can't find the BlueTooth itself, which is part of a multi-memory card reader, which is working as normal, I also have the default BlueTooth folder in the My Documents section of the system, and the BlueTooth logo still appears if I want to send a file.

I tried an old USB BlueTooth device too, (one of those cheapy ones), but thi failed to install either; so I'm lost as to what's happening.

None of my other devices can detect it either, (such as mobile phones, TV, PS3, and so forth), and as mentioned, pressing the BlueTooth button doesn't work either, (whch has worked in the past, as indicated in the information above regarding to the system wanting to install drvers for a device it can detect....but not detect....lol).

I've tried to use the Windws Restore to set it back to an earlier point in time; but we all know how well that works, (I can't be doing with going through a factory reset because of the ammount of re-installing and back-up's I'd have to do).

I've tried running a Broadcom installer; but to no joy, (the BlueTooth software was built-in with the system, and I'm not sure if the disc contains it, and whether I cna just install a single device, especally if the system doens't detect it, but the obvious install option is telling me otherwise).

Any insight would be well appreciated.

The system specs are as follows:

System: Dell XPS720

OS: Windows Vista Home Premium 32bit/SP1 (yeah, I know SP2 is out, but SP1 is working fine with me, and has done for several months).

Other: No new software or hardware installed over the past several months.

Note: The system did stall when closing down, so I had to holddown the power button for a few seconds to turn it off, thugh this has happened in the past without incident.

I'm looking to get a 60gb model to replace my 80gb model, for the backwards compatability and extra USB ports and memory card reader; what I'll be doing is buying a 60gb PS3, and transferring the data from my 80gb model to a 640gb HDD in the older 60gb model; will there be any problems with this?

Heh, just over 60 games fill up my 80gb model, and that's without giving extra memory to Home or Folding @ Home, yet I've got 260 games on my Xbox360, and still have almost150 gb of a 250gb HDD left, and that includes videos and demos....go figure).

But yeah, the exact process I'd be doing would be:

1. Updating the firmware on the 60gb model to the newest release.

2. Taking the 60gb HDD out and replacing it with a 640gb.

3. Transferring the data from my 80gb model to the other system, which now houses the 640gb model.

Would there be any issues with this?

Many thanks for any help provided peeps.

So I host an internet radio show on http://www.blogtalkradio.com/balambseedg%E2%80%A6 and one of the problems I have, (apart from never planning the show, and talking total cack for an hour), is that the voice from a PC over Skype sounds terrible.

Heh, yeah, I know the shows are generally cack, but that's part of how it goes, ironically.

If someone else is calling in, they can hear me fine, but when the show is archived, my voice sounds worse than usual, though anyone calling in sounds fine, (in archive, their voice sounds fine, but mine sounds tinny through Sype).

I'm using a Dell XPS720, (though even using an old Packard Bell it sounds the same), and SoundBlaster HS-600 headsets, (the distortion that's sometimes heard is when the headphone is muted at the switch, oddly enough).

I was thinkingabout getting a USB-style microphone like this one: http://www.depauw.edu/photos/PhotoDB_Rep%E2%80%A6

But obviously a working microphone, and not a radio that looks like one.

Or even better yet, one that connects to a standard headphone jack.

Alternatively, is there a headset similiar to what I'm using with bettersound to it, (since the when someone calls into the show, they can hear me clearly, I believe it may be down to how the show's are archived).

I've tried adjusting microphone input levels, but nothing seems to work.

Any help would be most appreciated.

So I just recently bought a HTC HD7 phone running Windows Mobile 7 OS, and whilst I've been able to add all of my Zune-bought videos to the phone, (such as Beverly Hills Cop 2 and Jackass), I've not been able to add Digital Copy movies I get with certain movies, (such as Despicable Me, X-Files: I Want To Believe, Famile Guy - Something Something Something Darkside, and Family Guy - It's A Trap).

The files will all play on my PC with no problems, as well as on iTunes and my iPod Touch 3G.

Also, Zune says that I can't access Queen: Rock Montreal on Zune or my HD7, despite having bought and downloaded it to my Xbox360, (as with all the other Zune purchased movies, which work fine).

Any help would be greatly appreciated, (the phone is on an O2 Contract, if that's revelent, and I'm using Windows Vista 32bit Home Premium).

I'm looking for the sheet music, (PVG version), of The Fray's "How To Save A Life", but can only find it in the US, (with extortionate import charges on top), I'm not looking for the entire album of sheet music just that one song, and I'm looking for a UK store/website that I can buy it from, (non-download, I'm looking for a physical copy).

Many thanks to anyone who can help.

So I'm looking for a totally free MMO from the iPod App Store, preferably that can be played both online and offline.

If you've came across any that you'd advise, please give me a brief write-up and I'll check them out, (if it supports Game Centre then all the better, but I'm not really too fussed about it).

Note: I'm using an iPod Touch 3G running OS4.01 with 32gb memory.

So I got a new TV after the manufacturers of my old TV faffed their own repairs up, and my replacement one doesn't seem to pick up the lower-end ITV and Channel 4 FreeView stations as well as my old TV, (granted, some of this is because I live less than 100 metres from an "International" Airport), and was wondering whether FreeSatHD would help me with this?

I'm looking for information about where to get it/sign up for it, the costs involved and anything else that I may need to know or check before getting it, (I have permission from the council to put a satellite dish up on their property, so there's no problems there).

If you have any feedback on the quality of FreeSatHD, whether it be good or bad, I'd also be interested in hearing any constructive feedback relating to this too.

Many thanks for your help in advance.

So I want to hook both my Xbox360 and Wii up via the Component video sockets on the back of my TV, (an LG 32SL8000 if it's relevant), and was wondering whether I could use an RCA audio cable splitter to do this: http://i22.ebayimg.com/03/i/001/59/d6/68fb_2.JPG

The audio is going to an external device in both cases, so the red/white audio cables are of no concern here, only the R/G/B cables.

Many thanks.

So I'm thinking of getting Chuck season 1 and 2 on Blu-Ray and was wondering if Blu-Ray's are region free and if the PS3 will play them?

Also, what are the chances that a firmware update will be released in the future that will create a region-system for Blu-Ray, and will this affect existing Blu-Ray titles?

So I got my pre-order download content code for MAG via email today from Play.com and entered it into the "Redeem Codes" section of the PSN Store.

A pop-up appeared for the Dynamic Theme, and then for the SVER character skin, then proceeded to download the Dynamic Theme, however, it never listed the SVER character skin.

Checking my download history, only the Dynamic Theme is listed, and if I re-enter the code, it will now only list the Dynamic Theme and not anything else.

How do I download the SVER character skin, or is there something going belly up here?

So I'm looking to get Invizimals on PSP this Friday, and was wondering if the Solus edition of the game comes with the "Capture Card" needed to play the game, (I already have a PSP Camera).

Many thanks to all who can help.

So I'm looking into buying a new LG HDTV after several years of enjoyable use from my existing LG HDTV and have narrowed it down to either the LG 32LH5000 or the LG 32LH7000 and was wondering what the differences were.

For example, what features does the 5000-series have that the 7000-series doesn't, (if any), and what features/upgrades does the 7000-series have that the 5000-series doesn't?

Many thanks.

So I recently downloaded PS Home V1.3 and as usual, the clowns at Sony can't do anything right, and many systems, including mine, are freezing up.

I was told that if I deleted Home and reinstalled it that the problem would be resolved.

However, I was wondering if doing so would cause me to lose my created character, as well as my room layout, purchased items and my Club House?

Many thanks for any help provided.