A few questions

[strange_man]

Hi guys,

I had a few question regarding computers (vague, I know, but read the questions and you'll see why!):

- Is it possible to change the graphics card on your laptop?

- Is Expansys a good site for ordering computer accessories (i.e. has anyone used it before)?

- Does anyone know where to buy compressed air from? I have looked in Wanchai and Mongkok computer places, with no results!

- How does one go about hooking a laptop up to a TV?

- Does anyone know how one can sell a four-year-old desktop? I heard that people in Mongkok do buy them for spare parts, etc...

Please feel free to answer any questions you know about!

Thanks and Regards,
Strange

[JohanSWE]

1.
No its not posible to change graphics card on a notebook.

2.
Never used them.

3.
For what? are you talking about wapor for CPU/GPU cooling, or for cleaning, airbrush or?

4.
Tricky, depends on what tv you have and possibly if your graphic card supports tv out.
Please supply more details.

5.
I know a few places in Sham sui po that buys old computers, but dont expect to get more than a few hundred for the whole thing.

Hope it helps, ill get back to you regarding the tv thing once you tell me more.

[jimmyssmak]

Hi guys,

I had a few question regarding computers (vague, I know, but read the questions and you'll see why!):

- Is it possible to change the graphics card on your laptop?
Not exactly, however, when you purchase the Built-to-Order brand latop, you do have a choice to have better display chips on-board

- Is Expansys a good site for ordering computer accessories (i.e. has anyone used it before)?
They specialises the parallel import electronics goods or the stuffs that it has no dealer in HK, just more pricey than the normal retail when you buy a normal PDA or mobile phone.

- Does anyone know where to buy compressed air from? I have looked in Wanchai and Mongkok computer places, with no results!
do u mean the pc fan or the the cooling system with compressed air for pc?

- How does one go about hooking a laptop up to a TV?
simply purchase the ext tv box which allow you to plug-in atenna and watch tv from your laptop screen


- Does anyone know how one can sell a four-year-old desktop? I heard that people in Mongkok do buy them for spare parts, etc...
it probably doesnt really worth much in HK tho, you can try to get the quote from the 2nd computer shop in wanchai or mongkok.

Please feel free to answer any questions you know about!

Thanks and Regards,
Strange

Hope it is clear and helpful.

[strange_man]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the help so far!

In terms of compressed air, I mean air to clean out your PCs. And my graphics card is GeForce Go 6800. I have a Samsung Plasma TV, Multi HDTV ready (if that helps). I got it only about 2 years ago, so it's quite new.

If you need any more details please let me know!

Regards,
Strange

[JohanSWE]

for the tv out you can go about it in 2ways.
Buy a VGA/DVI split depending on what port is on your gcard and connect this to the back of the tv, check first if it will accept VGA or DVI incase you might have to buy an adapter.

Or invest in a S-vhs cable if you have such a port and connect to the s-vhs/Scart(needs converter) but the quallity will be greatly limited compared to vga or DVI. DVI being the prefered choise if your tv and card can support that.

Then once connected use your nvidia system tools to set the display options to extend/clone/ and such to what ever suits your needs.

Thats the basics of it.
There are features such as when watching a movie on one mon it will open in Fullscreen on the other and such if you need help with that just shout.

/J

[strange_man]

JohanSWE- Thanks for the help mate, I shall let you know if I have any problems.

Anyone know anything regarding compressed air?

Also, my fan is now starting to make guttering noises, low when the PC is on generally, but much higher when I play games. What could be wrong?

[JohanSWE]

nothing, its just the cool and quiet mode that allows the fan to rotate less when the cpu is cool, but when the cup gets warm such as when playing games the fan will increase in speed and cause more noise.
Replacing the fan with a liqiud barring fan will reduce the nois also, i recommen brands like Zalman, topcool, termaltake.

And serious, you dont need compresed air to clean the computer.. thats just a waste of money.

[strange_man]

Thanks again Johan!

But the problem is the fan never made the noise before - now its ALWAYS is doing it, a guttering, grating, low sound which intensifies when you play any computer game (gets very loud). I've had it for two years and it hasn't made that sound before at all!

And are you sure about the compressed air not being necessary? A lot of magazines recommend it!

[JohanSWE]

Well the reason its started to make noise now is probably that the barrings are about to bust or there is dirt stuck around the fan try cealning it, if there is no dirt you better replace it, its quiet common that the barings break down after sometime.

And regarding compressed air yes im very sure you wont need it.
Just clean the fan grill, and whipe the fans inside the CPU and GPU with a microfiber cloth or simillar.
And a tissue or something to whipe the dust/dirt at the base of the chassi. that should be well enough.

[Oman Mercenary]

Hmmm, if the talk is centering on Laptop FAN noises, it is not something that I'd want to fiddle with.

"Unzip" a laptop, and many are difficult to open, and harder to re-assemble.

Better to leave it to an expert at the distributor's service centre is my view --- especially when the replacement parts are most probably "non-standard" and unavailable in ShamShuiPo or wherever your choice of spare parts may be, & you may cripple the Laptop unintentionally & have only yourself to blame - whereas you would have a "comeback" on the distributor's service dept if they wrecked it for you!

I quite frequently clean up and grease the fans in my Desktop, but I'd be loath to open up any of my Laptops to grease those fans.