Notebook maintenance - Cleaning the fan

This is a thread made to be attached to the sticky. Feel free to comment however.



Notebooks are tools of the trade, they are meant to be used. As mobile as they are, they also suffer from wear and tear, whether it be evident in such cases as keyboard and wrist rest wear, or tear from accidents. However, one of the most common cases of wear and tear is the cooling system in notebooks.



Due to the size constraints, notebook fans are usually small and come in small amounts, usually one or two depending on the size of the notebook. It may not sound like much, but the fan is a vital part of a notebook, and can make a difference whether or not the notebook will function well and at times, the lifespan of the notebook.



Often overlooked, there has been many questions and inquiries where the fan is the culprit:



1) Why is my notebook so hot?

2) My fans are too loud all of a sudden!

3) Overheating notebook?



Such cases is from these situations is because the fan is being clogged, as well as the air vents. The vents of a notebook let air ventilate the notebook, but where there is air, there is dust, particles, insects, and other various minuscule objects that may be sucked into the vents.



This results in the fan being clogged and can not move hot air in the notebook effectively. As mentioned above, some of the situations there are only some symptoms of what can happen if a notebook is not cleaned enough, or thoroughly.



My ASUS V6va has been maintained quite well, I own a few cans of compressed air and bi-weekly I spray some air into the vents and I could see dust and particles blow out. I would of thought this would be effective enough to clean my notebook and have it purring. It has been almost 19 months since I have bought the notebook and used it heavily wherever I go, be it at school, a coffee shop, the library or a friends house.



This is a simple guide, a generic guide as most notebooks are not the same in where the insides are. If you find yourself unsure what to do, feel free to ask or contact your dealer so you do not harm your notebook.





Bottom of notebook, there are a handful of screws to open up the back plate. The screws marked 'K' are for the keyboard removal.



As of late, I found my notebook running excessively hot, and the fans would be on very often at max when I play games, or even when I'm watching movies. At idle, the CPU would be at 58-63, and under stress, it ht up to 80 degrees, with NHC warning me about the temperatures. At first, I did my regular routine, take off the back plate, the keyboard and clean the vents with a can of compressed air.





Opening up the back plate, the fan is attached by 3 screws. Make sure there are no 'WARRANTEE VOID' stickers. IN my case, there was none except for the one on the CPU heatsink.



However, being the curious person I am, I decided to take out the fan and see whats up. Well, I found what was the problem.





The fan itself was caked in dust, which was pretty bad considering the maintenance I did with the notebook. Think of what would be the case if a person did not do maintenance with the insides!



Looking further in, I saw the main source of the problem, and it wasn't pretty!





Caked with more dust, hair, and whatnot, the other side of the main vent was pretty clogged. Think of what would be the case if a person did not do maintenance with the fans! Yikes!



I used the can of compressed air to blow majority of the dust and particles away(outside of course), but there were still some that wouldn't come off. To further clean the insides and the fan, I used a handful of Q-Tips, some of them damp, to clean the insides. After a pretty nasty cleaning session, I put everything back together and let it dry for a bit.



What I found inside were a mix of dust, small hairs, coffee grinds(I worked at a coffee shop for a year as a Barista) and lots of unknown bits I don't think I would want to identify.



After a few hours, I booted up the notebook, let it run for a bit and now it's running much much better. The surfing temperatures fell down into the low 50's, gaming would peak at a bit over 70.



Maintenance may seem like a hassle, but to improve notebook temperatures and a healthy lifespan, it's well needed. Like a vehicle, regular changes are necessary, and this notebook is humming away happily.

Reply 1 : Notebook maintenance - Cleaning the fan

Awesome post.



I'll be getting cans of compressed air on my way home today!

Reply 2 : Notebook maintenance - Cleaning the fan

hey just cleaned it like mentioned in the post before i used to only clean my fan but once i took it out completely and looked around where it sat saw alot of dust clumped together around the vents.. cleaned the vents with toothpicks to take out all the dust it even reduced the temps by like 5-10 degrees and laptops much quieter now...



Great post

Reply 3 : Notebook maintenance - Cleaning the fan

Glad to hear it helps. And yea, as simple as it sounds, it can really benefit in the end.



Updated thread with larger pictures.

Reply 4 : Notebook maintenance - Cleaning the fan

Thanks Cori

I used this guide to clean my W3J and it matches.

Reply 5 : Notebook maintenance - Cleaning the fan

Does anybody know if the fan set up will be similar too my ASUS F3 series because after 7 months of use at home and college i may have a similar issue since i have noticed high temperatures, at first i thought i may be due to the higher room temperatures so i bought a Notebook Cooler, but now i will be doing this.



Would it matter what i used to clean the insides of it with? As in could i use cotton buds to clean it? Also where could i get cans of compressed air from?

Reply 6 : Notebook maintenance - Cleaning the fan

Quick tip: Use a clean toothbrush to get some of the hard-to-reach areas. And if you need to use a liquid to clean anything, use rubbing alcohol (BUT NOT ON THE SCREEN!!!!). It will evaporate quickly. Use a water-moistened cloth to clean the screen. No chemicals, no windex (seen it done )

Reply 7 : Notebook maintenance - Cleaning the fan

Great info, Coriolis. Silentheero makes a good point too.



I usually use a 50/50 mix of isopropyl alcohol and water when cleaning small areas with q-tips. Breaks down some of the gunkier gunk and drys quickly.

Reply 8 : Notebook maintenance - Cleaning the fan

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wraith of Vern Does anybody know if the fan set up will be similar too my ASUS F3 series because after 7 months of use at home and college i may have a similar issue since i have noticed high temperatures, at first i thought i may be due to the higher room temperatures so i bought a Notebook Cooler, but now i will be doing this. Would it matter what i used to clean the insides of it with? As in could i use cotton buds to clean it? Also where could i get cans of compressed air from?

yeh its basically the same i got my f3ja about 7 months ago as well and started getting fustrated with the high temps so gave it a good clean. the main area to concentrate on is the 3rd picture after you unscrew the fan.

Reply 9 : Notebook maintenance - Cleaning the fan

I used a QTip, but I made sure to loosen up the cotton at the end. I also used a tiny bit of water to help clean off the harder particles.



Compressed air can be found at any electronics stores, even Staples or Best Buy carries it.

U36JC or U41SV

Hey guys,



I'm struggling to buy between U36JC and U41SV. How would you guys compare these 2 machines?



These are the links to the spec:

ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Notebooks- ASUS U36JC

ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Notebooks- ASUS U41SV





I travel for work a lot so I don't want something too heavy and big chunk. In the same time, I do a little bit of 3D drawing with solidworks, so I need some graphic processing power. I want the battery life to be long lasting. (5 hours at least?)



I fancy the size and weight of U36JC but I like the better graphic card and sandy bridge processor on U41SV. I need some opinions.



How much more heavier and thicker would I feel between these 2? (I haven't seen them both personally)



Thank you guys in advance.

Reply 1 : U36JC or U41SV

Personally I would hold out for the U41SV. From the link you gave, it only weighs about 2kg - this is actually a bit less than a Macbook Pro, which really isn't that heavy at all, and for a 14" laptop is frankly pretty good. While it is a bit larger than the U36, I think that it more than makes up for it with the extra juice of the Sandy Bridge processor.

Reply 2 : U36JC or U41SV

I agree with blurpe. The main reason is the CPU. The U36JC uses the first gen cpu while you'll get the new second gen Sandy Bridge with the U41SV which will get you much better performance.

Reply 3 : U36JC or U41SV

Quote:

Originally Posted by blurpe Personally I would hold out for the U41SV. From the link you gave, it only weighs about 2kg - this is actually a bit less than a Macbook Pro, which really isn't that heavy at all, and for a 14" laptop is frankly pretty good. While it is a bit larger than the U36, I think that it more than makes up for it with the extra juice of the Sandy Bridge processor.

Actually, there's a little trick the spec page pulls right there. The weight of U36JC is 1.6kg with 8-cell battery while U41SV is 2.0kg with 6-cell battery. I'm not sure how much more will it add on if the one i'm getting is U41SV with 8-cell, but thanks for the opinion. Seems Sandy Bridge upgrade is really worthwhile.

Reply 4 : U36JC or U41SV

there is also upcoming u36sd successor to u36jc

Reply 5 : U36JC or U41SV

does anyone know if there is a planned sandy bridge update for the b43 notebooks? i like the boston battery, and the ruggedness of the business notebook.

Reply 6 : U36JC or U41SV

Does anyone know when the U41SV is coming out and the approximate price its going to be selling at?

Reply 7 : U36JC or U41SV

U41SV is already available in Malaysia and it's selling at MYR2899= USD 959

I guess I would go this. I'm losing on some portability but I get a very good upgrade on the graphic card and processor.

Reply 8 : U36JC or U41SV

Quote:

Originally Posted by skysky123 U41SV is already available in Malaysia and it's selling at MYR2899= USD 959 I guess I would go this. I'm losing on some portability but I get a very good upgrade on the graphic card and processor.

Do you have a link for this please?

Reply 9 : U36JC or U41SV

Which is considered higher end, the upcoming U36SD or U41SV?

cf-27 hdd caddy modifyable for cf28?

so i've ben have a hard time finding a caddy for the 28 but i found a lot of cheap cf-27 caddys. so i started thinking (i know its gets dangerous when i do that ) and i was wondering if the connector (aka ribbon cable) fits the cf-28 so i could reverse engineer a caddy from the connector, gel packs and some duct tape



RGDS

ares93



BTW if this has been discussed before i apologize. my search turned up nothing...

Reply 1 : cf-27 hdd caddy modifyable for cf28?

I have a 27 caddy in front of me right now but I don't have a 28 caddy. The connection looks similar but the cable itself is too short without some sort of extension....

Reply 2 : cf-27 hdd caddy modifyable for cf28?

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtsiek I have a 27 caddy in front of me right now but I don't have a 28 caddy. The connection looks similar but the cable itself is too short without some sort of extension....

thanks for the pic.

that should be an issue, as long as the connector that interfaces with the motherboard is the same. the pata connector is modifiable quite easily.



EDIT: i dunno check this out :

http://toughbooktalk.com/public_down...les/drive9.jpg

looks similar, but then again it doesnt...

Reply 3 : cf-27 hdd caddy modifyable for cf28?

I doubt you could do it and have it maintain the integrity of the Toughbook. There are a few people making caddies now to fill the void... They aren't worth much. I would pony up the duckets for a factory caddy.

Reply 4 : cf-27 hdd caddy modifyable for cf28?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toughbook I doubt you could do it and have it maintain the integrity of the Toughbook. There are a few people making caddies now to fill the void... They aren't worth much. I would pony up the duckets for a factory caddy.

the integrity is a secondary objective. i needed the toughbook to stand the oil stains and crap like that. so as long as the thing doesn't fall apart, i'm pretty much satisfied. i wont be running over it with a car or dropping if from a balcony, atleast i'll try to. my netbook doesnt like working on cars with be... although the amount of punishment that thing got, i think i would have passed panasonic's tests.

Reply 5 : cf-27 hdd caddy modifyable for cf28?

Well, im the guy i think your talking about who built his own caddy, it involves cutting your toghbook up a lite but, but is unnoticable under normal operations, ill post pictures later on tonight.

Reply 6 : cf-27 hdd caddy modifyable for cf28?

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtstealthuser Well, im the guy i think your talking about who built his own caddy, it involves cutting your toghbook up a lite but, but is unnoticable under normal operations, ill post pictures later on tonight.

what caddy did you base it on? because the ribbon cable is still needed.

Reply 7 : cf-27 hdd caddy modifyable for cf28?

With the CF-27 ribbon cable you don't have the bend of the CF-28 type. That means you would need to mount the hard drive 90 degrees different from stock. I'm not sure you'll have the room to do it. But I have been wrong before...

Reply 8 : cf-27 hdd caddy modifyable for cf28?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ares93 what caddy did you base it on? because the ribbon cable is still needed.

The CF-27 caddy. It has the foam lid, the gel, and the ribbon cable.

Reply 9 : cf-27 hdd caddy modifyable for cf28?

Alright. I got to thinking one day about how the CF-28 was designed. And thought, there should have been some space behind the mobo plug for the hdd. So I ended up taking apart the 28, just to have a look around inside, and to my discovery, I was right about space behind the plug. So i took a dremel and grinded out the magnesium until it was as wide as a hard drive. I then carefully assembled the toughbook, and inserted the plug and hard drive through my home made slot, screwed the toughbook back together and vola. A tip though wouldve been to insert the foam pad before the toughbook was re assembled. After that, just fill the remaining space with the gel(i cut/shreaded mine) and there you go, one hard drive caddy for the 28. The only problem i see is that you cant remove the harddrive without dissasembly of the toughbook. But who removes their harddrive anyway?



Also, the last pic, what is that for, its under the ram chip...

Advice needed for securing a refund for a L502x that can no longer boot, Two Weeks OLD.

I purchased a L501x originally, had severer overheating problems, after several failed call out by technicians where they failed to show or inform me that they wouldn't I received a replacement laptop. This machine had the same issues, high temperatures and random shut downs.

Dell refused to do anything in regards to this replacement as I felt I was entitled to an upgrade on some level considering the period of time I spent dealing with this not to mention the several days I had to take off work expecting a technician. After much debate and threats of the UK Standad Tradings act I received a full refund. With this refund I was able to purchase a L502x of higher specifiation than the replacement I was seeking for the faulty replacement.

This new L502x is now failing to boot in any sense.

Rather than look for advise on how to remedy this I will be seeking a full refund and purchasing a Desktop as despite the inconviene of limited portability I will be able to get a higher specification machine and won't have to deal with Dell anymore. The laptop arrived approximately 2 weeks ago. Outside of the standard return period however as I am not looking to return due to a change or heart but because I have recieved a faulty product under UK law I am entited to a full refund.

Dell aren't so sure.

I spoke to an XPS manager today although the best he could offer was an engineer visit on Tuesday rather than organising a refund. I'll be receiving a call back tomorrow from his superior who has the power to authorise refunds and I'm looking for advise to help me procure this.

This new laptop is under a seperate customer than the first as things didn't end plutonically after the last couple of issues.

I have been polite and stating I know my rights however the person I spoke to today reiterated the company policy. When I stated the law takes precencde over corporation policy he remained silent.

Does anyone have any tips to ensure I receive a full refund on a laptop that is 2 weeks old, already failing boot in any sense and had intermitent shut downhs. I also mentioned the deception made when ordering; i.e I was guaranteed it would be a 15day delivery and ultimately was comfortably twice that.

I'm aware ranting and raving at the customer team won't help but I'm sure there are certain "buttons to press" to ensure I'm not stuck with an a laptop I'm not sure I can ever be content again with.

This has been the final straw for me with Dell, and to be honest it's a real shame as they are incredibly competitive pricewise.

So any advice is HUGELY appreciated as I know their underhanded tactics!

Reply 1 : Advice needed for securing a refund for a L502x that can no longer boot, Two Weeks OLD.

I guess it depends on why it wont boot (rickered Windows vs failing POST, for example) but according to the link below 4 weeks is reasonable for a refund if something is bad, under the consumer credit act



Consumer Rights: "Give me my money back!"...



It's a nice laptop - even though you're annoyed wouldn't it be worth letting Dell try to fix it? If they can't, or something else goes wrong after an engineer visit, I'd think you'd have a great case for a refund!

Reply 2 : Advice needed for securing a refund for a L502x that can no longer boot, Two Weeks OLD.

Get your refund man, don't accept a tech coming out.

My XPS 15 failed to boot during midterms, and it took them a MONTH to get it fully repaired, and this was with on-site next day warranty upgrade as well.

Save yourself the headache.

Reply 3 : Advice needed for securing a refund for a L502x that can no longer boot, Two Weeks OLD.

After an escalated phonecall I was told the best they could offer was a tech visit and then if I was in anyway unsatisfied afterwards I can claim a full refund. It seems it will add a day of two delay to my refund but it also means hopefully I have more time to search for bargains.

This seems easy enough and I have requested this in writing and will be giving a close read.

I'll still be getting my refund one way or another.



zygotic I agree it is a great laptop although I'm tired of the faults and want the flexibility of having a desktop. I enjoy tinkering too much and there isn't the scope playing with the hardware in the same way.



I'm going to be selling a variety of laptop related peripherals including a charger, 8GB DDR 1333mhz RAM and an internal blu-ray burner.

Anyway interested hit me up, if not I'll stick them on eBay

passwords on log in

Hello what is the diffrence on bios for pass words and reg pass words to log in when it says vista and says to please log in hope I am asking this clear thanks I think the its user accounts and does anyone know how to remove this if I no longer want pass word?

Reply 1 : passwords on log in

BIOS passwords are to prevent un-authorized access to your system hardware settings (like boot devices, cpu/chipset configuration exc.)



Windows passwords prevent unautherized access to your windows account (software). to do thinks like browse the internet, play games, work on documents.



hackers can NOT access your BIOS through the internet, a BIOS password can only protect you from physical people in your computer room, turning on your computer and accessing the BIOS.



Also, some BIOS's have passwords called user-passwords that DO NOT ALLOW OPERATING SYSTEMS TO LOAD (like vista) until the password is entered, when the computer turned on. (not out of sleep)

Reply 2 : passwords on log in

NBR doesn't allow discussion of cracking BIOS passwords, but if you want to remove a Windows password (and you don't know it), you can just reinstall the OS.

Reply 3 : passwords on log in

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodney2009 when it says vista and says to please log in hope I am asking this clear thanks I think the its user accounts and does anyone know how to remove this if I no longer want pass word?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Commander Wolf NBR doesn't allow discussion of cracking BIOS passwords, but if you want to remove a Windows password (and you don't know it), you can just reinstall the OS.

I think the OP want to know how to log into windows without the nuisance of a password

I am taking for granted that the OP knows the password



I use a bios password myself, I consider it more secure

I forgot the steps needed after you are logged into windows to change to no password needed

Does anyone remember ?

Reply 4 : passwords on log in

Windows Key + R (Run command) > type "control userpasswords2" (without quotes) press Enter > untick "User must enter a user...." > click OK.



HTH.



RD.

Reply 5 : passwords on log in

Windows doesn't require a passwords, if you press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, click Change Password, and then leave the New Password and Confirm Password fields blank, it'll remove the password.

i7-740qm vs i7-640m Battery Life

Hello Guys,



I am debating between

i7-740QM, 16G Ram, FDH Screen, FX 1800M.

Funny HP says 5hours 30min battery life



OR



i7-640M, 16G Ram, FDH Screen, FX 1800M.



My main concern is battery life. I am reading that the i7-Quads do not have an onboard video so it will always be using the power hungry FX1800 and I travel alot.



anyone have either othese laptops can tell me battery life?

Reply 1 : i7-740qm vs i7-640m Battery Life

Quote:

Originally Posted by tilhasbb My main concern is battery life. I am reading that the i7-Quads do not have an onboard video so it will always be using the power hungry FX1800 and I travel alot.

i7-740QM is a Clarksdale cpu built using 45nm tech. It's rated at max 45W TDP.

i7-640M is a Arrandale cpu built using 32nm tech. It's rated at max 35W TDP. It also has an IGP onboard.



The i7-640M should therefore consume less power. Moreso if the system has switchable graphics so can use it's IGP.



If you want a Quad core AND an IGP or switchable graphics then look at Sandy Bridge notebooks.



Consider too a DIY ViDock to add graphics capabilities to systems without such an option. Can be made portable enough to carry around.

Reply 2 : i7-740qm vs i7-640m Battery Life

Quote:

Originally Posted by tilhasbb I am debating between i7-740QM, 16G Ram, FHD Screen, FX 1800M. i7-640M, 16G Ram, FHD Screen, FX 1800M. anyone have either othese laptops can tell me battery life?

The 8540w owners thread has a datapoint. Several different battery configurations are possible (Primary: long-life[3yr, many cycles] 68Wh, standard[1yr, faster charge?] 73Wh. Optional attached external: extended (+52Wh), ultra (+95Wh)). This datapoint is with the 68Wh long-life:

Quote:

Originally Posted by aldoaldo For my 8540w i7 720qm quadro fx1800 Full HD my 8cell 68whr for internet (wifi on) and office and 3/4 brightness lasts about 2h50min.

The 8740w Benchmark thread has some data which may be useful:



1. The 620M comes with a dual-core motherboard, which only has two dimm slots. 16GB RAM is currently significantly more expensive for a two-dimm motherboard (need two 8GB DDR3 dimms) than the quad-core motherboard.

Siorah has gotten an 620M to work in a quad-core motherboard with four dimm slots, though it only recognized 16GB RAM on a 32GB system.

Update on the 32GB

8740 AND 8540 Memory Configurator



2. Siorah has reported similar numbers for the 8740w (not 8540w), after swapping a 620M into a 720QM system.

The times should be low compared to a 8540w system because

- the 8740w has a larger screen

- the 8740w has a Quadro 2800M, not a Quadro 1800M.

- the 8740w with 620M was measured on a quad-core motherboard with 4 dimm slots, not 2.

But shows roughly how much difference it may make.

Code:

8740w battery times summary:



CPU Model:	720QM	620M

CPU TDP watts:	 45w	 35w



Idle minutes:	135min	157min (+22min)

MP3 minutes:	118min	134min (+16min)

DVD minutes:	 98min	111min (+13min)

BD minutes:	 83min	 92min (+ 9min)

Collected 8740w Owners Benchmarks Data: Battery Times

Reply 3 : i7-740qm vs i7-640m Battery Life

Also, I don't think the 8540w can use the IGP.

Reply 4 : i7-740qm vs i7-640m Battery Life

Thanks everyone!



I know the processor QuadCore uses 10Watts more but what concerns me more is the videocard power draw. If the Dualcore can disable the nvidia videocard which uses 45Watts on it's own.



So surfing the net the Dual core would use 10+45 = 55Watts Less than the Quad.



Is that true? if so the battery life difference should be significant.

Reply 5 : i7-740qm vs i7-640m Battery Life

Quote:

Originally Posted by tilhasbb If the Dualcore can disable the nvidia videocard which uses 45Watts on it's own.

Will you be using 3D while on battery? If not, consumption will be less. If you plan to mostly use battery to read email or text without video/animations, notice that the Quadro 1800M only uses 3.8w when idle (PowerMizer, EnergyStar).



The 1800M does not support Optimus.

NVIDIA Quadro Mobile Solutions

No Optimus means that in order to use both the 1800M and the IGP, the notebook manufacturer would have to provide a switch on the motherboard so that either the 1800M output or the IGP output could be wired to the internal screen.



I believe the 8540w only wires the 1800M to the screen, not the IGP.



(As I understand, for notebook+GPU combinations that support Optimus or equivalent graphics switching, the GPU result memory image is copied back to the IGP memory, and only the IGP output is wired to the screen. That additional copying also uses more power, so Optimus might be less efficient if you frequently use 3D while on battery.)

Reply 6 : i7-740qm vs i7-640m Battery Life

I didn't know that about the GPU.



HP EliteBook 8540w Mobile Workstation (ENERGY STAR) (XT970UA) specifications - HP Products and Services Products

I'm leaning towards this model now.



i7-740QM Processor (1.73 GHz, 6 MB L3 cache)

8 GB 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM (I'll add another 2 DIMMs of 8G for a total of 16G)

320 GB 7200 rpm SATA II

DVD+/-RW SuperMulti DL LightScribe

15.6" diagonal LED-backlit FHD anti-glare (1920 x 1080)

NVIDIA Quadro FX 1800M graphics with 1 GB dedicated GDDR5 video memory





I currently have a

i7-620M

Nvidia Quadro 880M

8G Ram

256GB 7200 RPM HD

DVD+/-RW SuperMulti DL LightScribe

15.6" diagonal LED-backlit FHD anti-glare (1920 x 1080)



and I about 2hours and 30minutes of battery life on it.



I'm hope to keep atleast 2+hours with the Quad core..

Reply 7 : i7-740qm vs i7-640m Battery Life

Anyone here with a Quadcore?

Can you please run Osiris Development - BatteryBar, the most accurate battery meter for Windows

it's a neat free app which tells you how much power your using.



With 1/2 screen on my 640m I get discharge rate of -17,438mw which gives me a little over 3hours

Reply 8 : i7-740qm vs i7-640m Battery Life

I will use that program

Reply 9 : i7-740qm vs i7-640m Battery Life

Anybody at home? I installed that Battery Bar however I do not see where I can find information about how much power I use.

LNB46750 LCD TV lost audio.

I have a Samsung LN46B750 LCD TV that is still under warranty. The sound quit working. The unit has been performing just fine for almost a year. Video is still fine but the only sound is the chimes that still sound as usual when the TV is turned on or off.Cable input is from a Comcast cable box. Control is by the Comcast remote.What steps should I go through to determine and fix the problem? Any help is appreciated.Thanks.

Reply 1 : LNB46750 LCD TV lost audio.

Check whether the Sound has not been switched to external speakers. this setting can be found in the sound menu make sure the TVs speakers are turned on, and not External Speakers.

New 15" MacBook Pro 2.2 Vs. Maxed out Sony Z13? Help Please!!!

This is not a trolling or Sony Vs. Apple thread.



I have a chance to get either one of these at the same price. I have just received my insurance check for my stolen Z and I have been looking into a replacement computer. I am not going to wait for the new Z as I don't like the add on approach. Also, the SA is still MIA, so this is a no go as well.



For the most part, I loved my Z. The trackpad and battery life were ok, but this is one huge selling factor for the Mac. Also, OSX is a plus to have on the MBP, but I have no problems with Win 7 either.



The main negative is the size of the MBP Vs the Z. I do like the power brick better than Sony's as well, so this is a reduction in total daily weight. I would be interested in the HiRes Anti Glare as I have been spoiled by my Z. They can keep that glass crap.



Anyways... here's the main rub. The MBP kills the Z spec wise. Although, I would e getting a 512 SSD in the Z Vs a 7200 RPM drive in the MBP. I am affraid the Z will be worth nothing in 6 months, however I just went to local computer stores and still absolutely NOTHING still touches it.



What do you think a Maxed out Z will be with in a years time? This is another thing I loved about past Apple products. Their resale value has been very strong.



I use my laptop for business, showing homes and out in the field. The Z was perfect size for that and watching movies on the plane worked perfect because of it's size.



I also like to play games, Black Ops, Crysis 2, SFIV and others. With the Bios mod and new drivers, the Z could handle it well. Although, the MBP would be much better. I'm not sure what the difference between the 330m and 6750 is, but I would guess pretty large.



I am a screen snob. Plain and simple. The SB will not work for me.



Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I will be ordering a replacement something tomorrow.



Thanks in advance!

Reply 1 : New 15" MacBook Pro 2.2 Vs. Maxed out Sony Z13? Help Please!!!

Replying to you on a 13" MBP...



Screen on Z shreds (resolution and color, not to mention glare) the screen on the MBP. Issue is you are comparing a 15" vs a 13" so the 15" MBP is available with better specs than the Z.



OSX vs. windows, you know what you are getting into there so no need to comment. Pros and cons both ways.



Couple bits of advice.



1.) find out how good windows games run on the MBP's. In the past, they did not perform anywhere near as well as their windows-designed counterparts.



2.) If you don't mind the 15" for factor, why not look around for a 15" windows pc that competes with the MBP specs? HP envy 14.5" comes to mind, I think I read somewhere they were bringing back the radiance displays as well.



Good luck!

Reply 2 : New 15" MacBook Pro 2.2 Vs. Maxed out Sony Z13? Help Please!!!

Mind if I ask what is the config of the VAIO Z you're talking about when you said that it is maxed out? I'm just curious.



By the way, my suggestion is to get a new maxed out VAIO Z notebook. Good luck.

Reply 3 : New 15" MacBook Pro 2.2 Vs. Maxed out Sony Z13? Help Please!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPEEDwithJJ Mind if I ask what is the config of the VAIO Z you're talking about when you said that it is maxed out? I'm just curious. By the way, my suggestion is to get a new maxed out VAIO Z notebook. Good luck.

2.8 512ssd Carbon extended battery 1080p z13

Reply 4 : New 15" MacBook Pro 2.2 Vs. Maxed out Sony Z13? Help Please!!!

Put a Z next to a MacBook Pro?



ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ





EDIT: I guess I could make my post more useful by saying that a friend of mine has a MBP and he likes my Z better.

Reply 5 : New 15" MacBook Pro 2.2 Vs. Maxed out Sony Z13? Help Please!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by maven1975 I use my laptop for business, showing homes and out in the field. The Z was perfect size for that and watching movies on the plane worked perfect because of it's size. I also like to play games, Black Ops, Crysis 2, SFIV and others. With the Bios mod and new drivers, the Z could handle it well. Although, the MBP would be much better. I'm not sure what the difference between the 330m and 6750 is, but I would guess pretty large.

I humbly think that based on your uses as listed above, a VAIO Z notebook is probably going to suit you better when compared to a 15" MBP.



However, what kind of software do you need to use for work? If it is basically word processing & productivity stuff, then the power of the 2011 Sandy Bridge 15" MBP is not going to make too much difference to you & the VAIO Z notebook is going to be very, very, very fast (as you had already experienced while using one for a while) due to its RAID SSDs.

Reply 6 : New 15" MacBook Pro 2.2 Vs. Maxed out Sony Z13? Help Please!!!

Just pulled the trigger...



I got 20% off at Sony for being a repeat customer.



VPCZ1290X

1080p

Metal Shield

Extended Battery

Win 7 Pro

Adobe Bundle

2.66 - 3.33

8GB

512 SSD



2556.17 Shipped



The MBP would have been 2387 shipped.



I can still cancel if you think I should pick something else.

Reply 7 : New 15" MacBook Pro 2.2 Vs. Maxed out Sony Z13? Help Please!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by maven1975 Just pulled the trigger... I got 20% off at Sony for being a repeat customer. VPCZ1290X 1080p Metal Shield Extended Battery Win 7 Pro Adobe Bundle 2.66 - 3.33 8GB 512 SSD 2556.17 Shipped The MBP would have been 2387 shipped. I can still cancel if you think I should pick something else.

Wow. Great deal. I wish I can get my hands on a 20% discount.



Anyway, congrats on your purchase.

Reply 8 : New 15" MacBook Pro 2.2 Vs. Maxed out Sony Z13? Help Please!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by maven1975 Just pulled the trigger... I can still cancel if you think I should pick something else.

Don't cancel, that Z config is just about perfect, you will be happy

Reply 9 : New 15" MacBook Pro 2.2 Vs. Maxed out Sony Z13? Help Please!!!

I would vouch for th mbp 15'' its not that heavy, and can pack quite a significant punch.



Yes games on it perform quite well. the lead should be around 30-50% better compared to the Z

Wireless Router

Hoping someone can help someone very inexperienced in network etc. I currently have a Netgear WPN824 v2 installed on my desktop computer. About the only time it's used is with the kids laptop and my iPhone and only for internet use, no file sharing. We live in an old home and I do have some problems with range. I have access to a Linksys WRT160N at vitually no cost. My first question. Is the Linksys a better option than the Netgear and can I use one or the other as a "repeater". Or can anyone suggest a better system for what I'm after, that being internet only with maximum range. Hope this makes sense to someone.

Reply 1 : Wireless Router

You want to use the second router as an access point.

I'll answer that post 17 currently in our forum sticky (the top post in this forum) addresses that.

We use stickies so moderators don't have to type the full answer.
Bob

Reply 2 : Wireless Router

If range is an issue to the wireless router then you have three choices, first use a directional antennae to boost the signal http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to/video/how-to-make-a-parabolic-wifi-booster-with-aluminum-foil-272913/, buy a different router with wireless 802.11n specification, or use a repeater. If you intend to try to use a second router as a repeater usually it's better to have the main router (by this hooked up to the ISP) connected to a primary computer by wifi, then use a network cable from that computer to the second router that will be the repeater but connect it to it's uplink, and then you will need to on the primary computer configure internet connection sharing.

Reply 3 : Wireless Router

i like to know about this range thing to get better working of network..

Subtitle option greyed out on 8 Series 3D TV

hope someone has previous knowledge on this.
I have an 8 series LED 3D TV connected to cable provider Virgin Media in the UK but the option for subtitles is greyed out.

This came to light because I was trying to play a .mkv which included subtitles through a usb connection.

Reply 1 : Subtitle option greyed out on 8 Series 3D TV

The subtilte file needs to be its own file. Not inside the MKV.

And if you want to campaign for subtitles INSIDE the mkv, go right ahead. At least this area has been discussed and let's hope you can now fix it.

Also, THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE subtitle file. Another well covered limit.
Bob

What is coming out of my laptop ?

Hello,



I got my laptop for about 4-5 months now, and something white is coming out of my laptop.. :P. I thinks its near my graphics card. Also, like 2 days ago my laptop just shut down, because of graphic card overheating. I have never had that before i saw that white stuff coming out. So, now is my question.. What is it ? Should i screw my laptop open and remove it ? Anyways here is a video showing whats coming out.



YouTube - WTH is coming out of my laptop ?



Thanks,



Exiled Dingo



Edit: Not sure where i should have placed this thread. So sorry if it's wrong.

Reply 1 : What is coming out of my laptop ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ExiledDingo Hello, I got my laptop for about 4-5 months now, and something white is coming out of my laptop.. :P. I thinks its near my graphics card. Also, like 2 days ago my laptop just shut down, because of graphic card overheating. I have never had that before i saw that white stuff coming out. So, now is my question.. What is it ? Should i screw my laptop open and remove it ? Anyways here is a video showing whats coming out. YouTube - WTH is coming out of my laptop ? Thanks, Exiled Dingo Edit: Not sure where i should have placed this thread. So sorry if it's wrong.

I believe it is thermal paste. find some pictures in the internet to see where GPU or CPU are situated

Reply 2 : What is coming out of my laptop ?

Long way for thermal paste to travel though, and whats leaking out looks more than the amount of thermal paste used anyway. i wonder whats inside the heat pipes? if one is cracked??...they run right round the corner with cooling fins.



You're gonna have to open it up anyway, since its seemingly overheating.

Reply 3 : What is coming out of my laptop ?

Good thought. That is why I told him to check pictures to see what is inside there. However as he bought it 4-5 month ago I DO NOT recommend to open it at all. That is why warranty was made for.

Reply 4 : What is coming out of my laptop ?

Wait are you talking about the yellow balls in your vent? It looks like someone jammed airsoft bbs into it O_O

Reply 5 : What is coming out of my laptop ?

Ohh, sorry....I did not realize it was bought brand new. I read it again now.

You Tube vid is gone now.

But going by my DV9774 I had all apart a few weeks ago to change motherboard, theres not much in that corners except the heat pipe, fins and the fan. The cpu and gpu are quite aways over on the motherboard.

I'd like to have known what it is too.

What would cause m6300 laptop to not even show bios boot?

Dell diagnosed the problem as a "bad motherboard," and of course it is just a few months out of warranty.



I replaced my motherboard with a used one from ebay. Still no signs of life.



Would a bad CPU, GPU, fan or something else cause the unit not to even show the BIOS startup? Power light comes on, but that's about it. Any suggestions on what to try/replace next to try to bring it back to life (I don't really want to buy a replacement GPU or CPU just to try it)?

Reply 1 : What would cause m6300 laptop to not even show bios boot?

Dell owned you.

Usually it is RAM problem or CPU sometimes. How much RAM modules U have? Try to use just one AND put it in different slots (if you do not know where is the first main slot). And turn laptop after every reinstalling a RAM to different slot or changing stick

Reply 2 : What would cause m6300 laptop to not even show bios boot?

Does it stay powered up? If it stays powered up, it's probably a GPU issue...



Problems with 8-Series GPU derivatives aren't as common in removable GPU models like the M6300 as they are in non-removable GPU models like the M1330, but it happens.



See if you can change the RAM amount and make it beep...



EDIT: You might just have a bad screen, too. Try an external display.

Reply 3 : What would cause m6300 laptop to not even show bios boot?

I don't think a bad GPU will cause it to not respond at all. Most likely CPU, although CPU problems can be indicated with flashing LEDs. Memory problems will cause lights or beeps.



Have you changed power sources (different battery or AC adapter)?

Reply 4 : What would cause m6300 laptop to not even show bios boot?

I did the memory dance before calling Dell. I might give that another go.



The power light stays on, with a slight hum from the top-right under the keyboard. I've been wondering if it is the fan attempting to start; quite possibly it has always done that. The DVD gets a brief jolt, but I can't hear anything from the hard drive.



Power supplies, docked or undocked makes no difference. Dell had me hit some key sequence that caused the screen to flash colors. I don't know if that is a sign that the GPU is still alive or not.



I was thinking that desktops I've worked on would sometimes refuse to go anywhere if the BIOS didn't sense that the CPU fan was operating. It could also be that my "new" used motherboard is just as dead as the first.

Reply 5 : What would cause m6300 laptop to not even show bios boot?

It depends on the system, some don't check the fan. Not sure about the M6300, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try to find another fan or get one from eBay.

CF-29 SSDs: Is it possible to get around IDE bottleneck?

I've got a CF-29 MK5, and for the last few hours I've been coming up empty trying to find a way to get a high performing SSD into it. With the IDE controller, it seems like the only option is paying way too much for an older SLC IDE SSD with limited disc space. Which doesn't make much sense to me, since the SSD would be 'slow' in comparison to a newer, faster SATA SSD.



I (think) my CF-29 has a PCI-e slot in it where I could put a SATA PCIe SSD, but I don't know if that would work. The SATA PCI SSDs are advertised as 'plug n play', but maybe that's only the case if you've got an SATA controller in the first place? Would getting a PCIe SSD would circumvent the IDE issue?



Basically, how do I get an SATA ssd into my CF-29, and still see the drive's full performance?



Is the 29's IDE mobo a bottleneck that is impossible to get around?



Is it possible to do something like install a PCI SATA card http://www.overclockers.com/forums/s...2&postcount=3?



Do something with a card like this http://www.amazon.com/SD-SATA2-4IR-I...052558&sr=8-4?

Reply 1 : CF-29 SSDs: Is it possible to get around IDE bottleneck?

There is an adapter for ide to sata, its on ebay it works. It just requires a bit of modification.

Reply 2 : CF-29 SSDs: Is it possible to get around IDE bottleneck?

I don't think you will find a pci-e slot on the cf-29 , other than the mark 5 wwan sled



Even if it did, the chances of being able to boot to it are 0



I think there is a couple of members here that choose a pata ssd drive and are happy with the performance



And a few that have used a sata to ide adapter , not really a good fit though



The majority have chosen the 7200rpm hitachi or the 5400rpm Samsung drives





Alex

Reply 3 : CF-29 SSDs: Is it possible to get around IDE bottleneck?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomcat57 I don't think you will find a pci-e slot on the cf-29 , other than the mark 5 wwan sled Even if it did, the chances of being able to boot to it are 0 I think there is a couple of members here that chose a pata ssd drive and are happy with the performance And a few that have used a sata to ide adapter, not really a good fit though The majority have chosen the 7200rpm hitachi or the 5400rpm Samsung drives

I sometimes question the reasoning behind trying to "super speed" a reasonably fast "intelligent brick" like the Toughbook CF-29.



Want a "gamer" Toughbook? Go for an i7-equipped CF-31.

Reply 4 : CF-29 SSDs: Is it possible to get around IDE bottleneck?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomcat57 I think there is a couple of members here that chose a pata ssd drive and are happy with the performance

I'm one of those members, and I posted some of my positive experiences with it. It certainly makes for a more responsive system.



Another option is a 1.8" ZIF drive and then get an adapter to convert to 2.5" IDE. I've used the Addonics adapter with success. This can give you a few more choices than just the dwindling 2.5" PATA drives.



You have to watch what you getting, as newer isn't necessarily better. An Mtron SLC SSD in a CF-18 gets a better Primary Hard Disk score in the Windows Experience Index (5.9) than a new mid-range desktop computer a friend built with an SATA MLC SSD (5.1).



I don't know much about them as a company, and I have never used any of their products, but RunCore still includes 2.5" PATA IDE Solid State Drives in its product line. While these MLC drives are currently available in capacities up to 256 GB, the performance is less than that of earlier Mtron models.

Reply 5 : CF-29 SSDs: Is it possible to get around IDE bottleneck?

Mtron is one of the first companies that made ssd drives

They were top of the performance charts when they came out

I have a 16gb slc sata Mtron in my spare cf-19 caddy

Expensive when purchased, as was my Samsung slc ssd drives



















Alex

Reply 6 : CF-29 SSDs: Is it possible to get around IDE bottleneck?

I don't play games on the toughbook (though the previous owner had Disney games and Sims 2 installed when I got it). I'm looking at this from a long term investment standpoint. I don't want to buy a PATA ssd because PATA is on the way out I think. I would rather heavily invest in a SATA ssd and get an adaptor for it now so I could remove it from the Toughbook and put on a newer machine years from now and still be happy.



Guess it's not possible to see the full performance out of the SATA ssd but so be it. Question is should the new ssd be SLC or MLC. I saw a post by Les(?) recently around here saying that the newer MLCs don't have as many disadvantages vs SLCs

Reply 7 : CF-29 SSDs: Is it possible to get around IDE bottleneck?

Its a toss up



In a few years the cost will be down, and the capacity up on the sata ssd drives



However if you go with an inexpensive sata ssd and adapt it to work it should be reliable and fast













Alex

Reply 8 : CF-29 SSDs: Is it possible to get around IDE bottleneck?

-Adapter - Amazon.com: Addonics ADSAIDE SATA to IDE-ATAPI Converter: Electronics

-SSD - Amazon.com: ADATA 128 GB S599 Sandforce 2.5-Inch SATA II 3.0Gb/s Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) AS599S-128GM-C (Black): Electronics



Think it'll fit the 29?

Reply 9 : CF-29 SSDs: Is it possible to get around IDE bottleneck?

I like your ssd choice

It uses the Sandforce controller ,which is highly rated



Not sure on the Adapter

Here's another listing for it

SATA laptop adapter 2.5" IDE Panasonic TOUGHBOOK CF-29 - eBay (item 260666946111 end time Oct-19-10 20:23:49 PDT)













Alex