Subj : USB port issue -follo To : Ky Moffet From : Barry Martin Date : Fri May 22 2020 11:44:00 Hi Ky! > KM> Excellent, in fact. Some have been good, but the problem with > KM> companies that cater to gamers is that everyone gets to beta-test > KM> hardware. Gamers have a hard-on for AMD, so those are usually > KM> worse. > Yes, it would almost seem the gaming excellence would translate to > super-fast CPU and GPU reaction -- how much work is it to put up a black > or any coloured letter on a screen read from a hard drive compared to if > an objects strikes another at a 47ø angle..... KM> Actually it's very difficult, but it's also a distinct subset of KM> CPU math -- so to wow gamer benchmarks, the CPU only needs to be KM> good at game-related math, not at math in general. Have KM> repeatedly seen this problem with AMD "gamer" CPUs, where when KM> you ask 'em to do math that's not-gaming, they get really KM> sluggish. (Windows Tubes screensaver is actually a good test; KM> it's apparently very math-intensive.) I see we've found more holes in my thinking process! It would seem gaming math would be built on general math. Probably in real life but not in computers. As for Windows' Tubes screensaver, reminded how the 'snake' screensaver for Wildcat! is extremely CPU-intensive (at least here): slams my CPU usage to 100%, or at least with the old system. Changed to the 'text' one and just a spike when the sign moves to a new position > Sounds like what I did here: the 'kit' had a motherboard, CPU + that > AMD-Approved heat sink and fan, maybe some other stuff -- been a while > plus I've taken kits and used parts in two (or more!) different > projects. Problems, found out the original 125W cpu is a little too > much for the motherboard specs - heat and data-wise, so get the next one KM> You CAN underclock 'em, ya know. At least if the BIOS lets you KM> mess with CPU settings. Most CPUs will work just fine KM> underclocked, including set at lower voltage. Trudge-trudge-trudge....! I don't think I've ever fiddled with clock speeds. The BIOS on this system will allow user configuration. The problem I was having originally was probably more due to the one stick of RAM being faulty, which I had assumed was OK by the quick test being performed at boot. (MemTest 86+ even passed the stick on its quick check option which took longer than the BIOS's.) KM> Oh, another AMD shortfall: Double Vision (of the Socket939) CPU KM> is one that can be severely overclocked. Nominally 2.0GHz, but KM> can be clocked to nearly double that if the BIOS supports it KM> (mine will only give me 10% more). So... have found I can either KM> set RAM to its correct 400MHz (instead of the 333MHz the BIOS KM> wants to default to), OR I can set the CPU to 2.2GHz, but not KM> both. Clocking RAM where it belongs made WAY more difference, so KM> guess which I did. Ummm....! Set the RAM correctly! > down (90W?, similar specs -- a few someones had experimented and > appeared they knew what they were doing so went with their suggestion - > worked except for now finding a bad RAM stick -- maybe would have worked > after all? Anyway, now I have a not expensive but not cheap CPU, so get > a compatible motherboard..... KM> Haha, yeah... Johnny Cash's Computer. In fact the one I'm KM> using til I finish setting up Silver II is named Cash for exactly KM> that reason! That computer has worked fine, so possible due to the motherboard being more compatible. Didn't take too much cash to get it up and running. > Yeah!! ...Can you use 4x 4GB DDR3 PC3-10600 (1333)? A few years ago I > accidentally picked up this server memory. HP 21576835. (Googled - > didn't seem to show anything.) KM> Oh yes, this is *exactly* what I can use!! Frankenservers R Us. :D E-mail where you want it sent if you haven't already deciphered my contact address at the bottom. (So Barry underscore Martin under- score three at q dot com.) (I have't look at e-mail yet this morning.) > > So never assume what isn't working is due to what the obvious seems to > > be. > KM> Yeah... frex, when old Silver's USB was failing, it looked like > KM> it was the external hub that failed... but nope, that's still > KM> perfectly good. > Yup: I thought my semi-new USB 3 Hub was failing so swapped out with a > "spare" USB 3 hub - not really spare as I was planning to use with the > new computer and bought while on sale and I could get a discount ont op > of that. Original hub was fine, just the 'static electricty issue'. KM> EXACTLY the very first issue (20-20 hindsight) with my bad KM> southbridge -- USB3-to-IDE adapter acted like it had an KM> electrical fault. Made shorting-out noises and quit. (USB2-to-IDE KM> adapter worked fine, at the time.) Stuffed the adapter away as KM> faulty and didn't try using it again... until after this debacle. KM> Yep, the adapter is fine; Silver's USB was faulty. Yuuhhhhhp: I've been semi-sorta on the lookout for a good Intel-based motherboard and CPU based on all this; what you just said pretty much cinched it for me to not do AMD any longer, or at least for my primary systems. ("Secondary" being the MythTV Frontend computers around here.) The good news is I did a 'split' in the installation: the OS is on the SSD and the data on the HDD. Could use a new SSD with the Intel-based OS, though then I loose all the added-on utilities onthe AMD-SSD. Will have to see about how others did the switch -- ideas? > OTOH did find in that position the original 4-port hub was 'tight' and > the 7 port replacement was better. (One port has a dead thumbdrive in > it - metal case so I tap it to discharge.) KM> Being annoyed with crappy port positioning vs oversized plugs, I KM> got a bunch of short extender cables, and now use those instead KM> of arguing over who gets what space. Um, remind me and I'll look KM> up the vendor; these are both inexpensive and really good KM> quality, and BLUE so I can tell they're USB3 at a glance. Reminder! Probably have somewhere an ANSI of a finger with a reminder string tied around it.... My current USB 3 hub has blue LEDs but only indicate the port is connected: the USB 2 scanner is blue, the USB 3 external HDD is blue, the dead metal thumbdrive I'm using as a ground point is blue. The port I'm using to power a gifted decoration is off -- just power I guess won't turn on the "I'm working' LED. When I wrote 'tight' up there actually meant number of ports and not physical closeness. At the time I was using the 4-port hub did have two 'permanent' devices plugged in, sometimes three, occasionally all four used, so the port availablity was 'tight'. > Yup - now any 'super systems' around here will probably also be built > using heavy-duty cooling rather than stock cooling. May waste a little > money if comes-with -- maybe take the fan off and use it for general > moving of air. KM> Copper instead of aluminum makes such a huge difference that I KM> will not buy a heatsink that isn't copper core, and preferably KM> solid copper. And you don't necessarily need Super-Duper... for KM> the New! Improved!! systems I tried a little HP stock heatsink KM> that costs all of $25 new, and it's excellent, even tho it's very KM> small as heatpipe types go (the i7 idles at about 85F!!). Uses a KM> standard case fan, another requirement (I won't do HSFs like KM> Zalman where if the fan fails, you have to replace the whole KM> monkey because the fan is this weird custom thing). Solid copper KM> foot, lots of fins, no bigger than two packs of playing cards KM> (plus fan). The Cooler Master I'm using was gifted from a friend in Michigan as he couldn't figure out how it was to install. I think he was confused by the dumbed-down line drawing instructions and didn't realize the motherboard connector (holder) had to be swapped out, though he also had mentioned about a concern of moving the pipes holding the cooling liquid too much and cracking, thus leaking. (Was he talking about the same cooler??) Both of those did cause me to hold back on my swap. ...Anyway, unless one really twists the heat sink itself it's not going to break (this model, anyway), the need to swap the motherboard holder portion did confuse me for a few minutes. The 120mm fan appears to be able to use a standard replacement: comes with brackets to snap to the heat sink. KM> One of the weird blingees I've seen is a mirror-shiny KM> nickel-plated foot on the heatsink. Um... nickel is a poor KM> conductor of heat... Oooo: shiii-neeeey!! For me it's like the LED stuff for the fans, etc. Egh! If some sort of a warning when at max performance (so getting too hot), or warning LED(s) comes on when failing, fine, and even great. I'm just not into those pretty lights that have no real use. Everyone I know personally gets overwhelmed by the number of computers up here; they wouldn't know a CPU from RAM if laid on the table. > KM> (I always forget I have Paint It Black, possibly because it runs > KM> Vista.) > Sometimes a real system is better than a virtual one! KM> True. Lightfoot came with Vista64 but it was awful -- dreadful KM> performance even after nuking all the Stupid Crap -- got replaced KM> with Win7, which runs okay, if not stellar. But Vista32 on Paint KM> It Black runs very well, even tho that's a much slower system. So KM> decided since they love each other, I'd leave well enough alone, KM> just in case I ever need it. (Tho I should try Vista64 on it and KM> see if maybe THAT was the problem... x64 vs consumer desktop was KM> then a relatively new thing for Microsoft. XP64 was really KM> Server2003 and doesn't count.) Yes, for you might be worthwhile to check out. The only thing I need Windows for is to occasionally run recovery software for munged thumbdrives. ...Still running Virtual XP for the BBS stuff and X10 (ActiveHome) but both have a Linux option, just haven't gotten a Round TuIt -- probably mired in the dust of those projects! > KM> game bugs... and dismiss bugs that came with the hardware. But by > KM> damn if it has enough bling, they'll buy it! > Nancy and I have a thread over in ChitChat sort of about the > bling. Personally I prefer the plain black 'discreet packaging' cases. > I don't need a whirling LED pattern flying around the case perimeter nor > inside around the fan. OTOH it would be nice if the fan was having an > issue to have a warning light. If be the blinken lights do something > useful -- blinken light ist fur Chrrrristmas! KM> LOL, same sentiment!! I don't mind the odd extra light (Silver's KM> case has extra LEDs, tho I disconnected all but the front pair KM> that double as nightlights) but generally, give me plain black or KM> beige, all metal, normal stacked drive bays, no blinking or KM> rotating doodads or LEDs in weird places (what's with LEDs on KM> RAM, fer ghu's sakes??) and none of those windows with no KM> function but to show off your bling. I swear they remind me of KM> the French court, where everyone had to be more foppish than the KM> next, and concomitantly less functional. I have on one (maybe more) motherboard a LED next to the RAM which is there to mean it's running properly -- nice little plus to make diagnostics a little easier when something goes wrong. As for the LEDs on the RAM, not sure what they would indicate other than "bein' purdy". I'm running 6.1 GB usage right now -- and that usage line is usually White Sands Proving Grounds flat -- boooooorrrrrinnnnng! > KM> As a friend puts it, gamers ruin everything. > I have avoided buying 'gamer' systems, usually because they didn't come > with what I wanted. Now I'm seeing there's a deeper reasoning. KM> Yeah. Let them work out the kinks, at their own expense, not KM> mine! That too! One of the reasons I've not bought cutting edge anything -- usually initial release too expensive and pretty much know they're going to find problems/bugs. > > What was 'funny' is I did not hear a fan revving up. Maybe on a scale > > of one to ten a three but I expect a slight change when doing something > > CPU-intensive. At 180øF I'd expect the fan to be in full-throttle ol > > Mode. > KM> No !! > Of course they probably either throttled the fan speed or > kept the dB level down to keep the gamers from being distracted. KM> They do complain about noise... of course, if they didn't KM> overheat the system to where it needs six fans just to keep KM> gasping along, they might not have this problem! You've seen the picture on the Internet of someone using a box fan to cool their computer! (Open case.) > > Why it's so dark out?! > KM> The light all prismed away! > I'll have to reflect on that! KM> I don't see anything. Is it dark? Do you have your eyelids open? Ah! your hands are in front of your eyes! ¯ ® ¯ Barry_Martin_3@ ® ¯ @Q.COM ® ¯ ® .... Yo' House is so nasty the roaches wear shoes --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.47 þ wcECHO 4.2 ÷ ILink: The Safe BBS þ Bettendorf, IA --- QScan/PCB v1.20a / 01-0462 * Origin: ILink: CFBBS | cfbbs.no-ip.com | 856-933-7096 (454:1/1) .