#computer-building

How-to: If I buy an SSD now, and then new computer parts later, will I have to reinstall the OS? #answer #dev #programming

If I buy an SSD now, and then new computer parts later, will I have to reinstall the OS?

I just ordered a new computer (CPU, GPU, RAM, …), but it won’t arrive for another week. I also want to buy an SSD though. If I buy it now, and install Windows 7 on it, will I have to reinstall it when I get my new parts so that it recognizes and installs the drivers for them?

Answer [by davr]: If I buy an…

How-to: Can I build a laptop from scratch? #programming #computers #answer

Can I build a laptop from scratch?

I’ve been looking at this as the same approach as building a desktop computer from scratch but I’ve never really come across the core things.

Can I buy a laptop “case”?

Can I buy a motherboard/PSU to fit that case?

Can I choose a CPU fan?

What are my battery options? Obviously taking into consideration the case.

Why isn’t this as easy as putting together a…

Fix: Fitting a Motherboard into a Computer Case #development #dev #computers

Fitting a Motherboard into a Computer Case

I’m interested in building my own computer. I saw a motherboard and CPU that I want to buy from Tiger Direct.

My question is has to do with computer cases and motherboards.

Are all motherboards one size? i.e. 15″ x 15″

If they’re not, can any motherboard go into any computer case?

If not, will I need to purchase hardware to fit a motherboard into a…

Solution: 2.5" SSD in a 3.5" desktop drive bay normal? #development #solution #it

2.5" SSD in a 3.5" desktop drive bay normal?

I’m a little out of touch with modern desktop builds, but I recently built a new machine anyway. I want to pick up a SSD for my I/O intensive apps (EverQuest 2 and Flash CS4 mostly), but I’m having trouble finding any in the 3.5″ form factor.

Is this expected, or do I fail at product search? And, if it is expected, do 2.5″ SSDs come with an adapter to…

Solution: RAID 0 performance gains? #programming #computers #development

RAID 0 performance gains?

I’m building a new computer over the summer. I’m fairly competent in computer hardware, and am thus building the computer from scratch. I have everything planned out, but I was wondering about RAID. I asked which RAID I should useearlier, but now that it’s pretty clear that RAID 1 isn’t really that great, I think I’ll go with cloud-backup instead of disk-redundancy.…

How-to: Why are so few SSD 3.5 inches? #programming #development #answer

Why are so few SSD 3.5 inches?

I was looking around for a cheaper SSD on Newegg and the time I’m writing this they have almost 300 2.5-inch SSD but only 12 3.5-inch ones, 9 of which are sold out. Why are there so few 3.5-inch SSD? Is it just that the demand for these drives is mostly in laptops? Why should I have to pay more for a (physically) smaller drive and then have to pay more again for a…

Answer: Does vertical position affect the lifespan or integrity of a hard drive? #fix #computers #answer

Does vertical position affect the lifespan or integrity of a hard drive?

I’ve noticed on many small PC cases that the hard drives are installed vertically. In midi cases, towers and others of a larger housing, they are in the horizontal position.

What impact on a hard drive does a vertical position have? Does it affect the life? Is it more prone to errors?

(Not of SSDs (solid-state drive), just…