[Rant] Minor Rant III: For a Few Hollers More

Even though I know it's petty, and I know it's not coming from her, every time I read a linked article about work-life balance and they take that turn around the "but really, this is hardest on moms who are still doing most of the work" bend, I'm out with a capital FU. I do at least as much housework as my wife, and for a long time when her career was ramping up, I did a lot more. It's the same with advertisements that feature the dumb dad. Guess what, guys! This dumb dad does all the cooking and shopping, and it only takes one of those to get me to boycott the fuck out of your entire line of products.
 
Even though I know it's petty, and I know it's not coming from her, every time I read a linked article about work-life balance and they take that turn around the "but really, this is hardest on moms who are still doing most of the work" bend, I'm out with a capital FU. I do at least as much housework as my wife, and for a long time when her career was ramping up, I did a lot more. It's the same with advertisements that feature the dumb dad. Guess what, guys! This dumb dad does all the cooking and shopping, and it only takes one of those to get me to boycott the fuck out of your entire line of products.
Hey now, let's not have yet another thread devolve into a Male Privilege dramafest!

Just accept that as a white/cis/(protestant?)/(heterosexual)/(young)/male, you cannot be discriminated against or taken advantage of, and if you feel isnulted, attacked or ridiculed, it's probably your own fault.
 
Hey now, let's not have yet another thread devolve into a Male Privilege dramafest!

Just accept that as a white/cis/(protestant?)/(heterosexual)/(young)/male, you cannot be discriminated against or taken advantage of, and if you feel isnulted, attacked or ridiculed, it's probably your own fault.
Where do you think you are, tumblr?


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So, I was playing world in conflict on my alienware laptop. Suddenly my computer goes "zap". Shuts off, and is completely dead. I figured SOMETHING must have friend because the battery indicator still worked, and the pwoer cable LED light still turned on while plugged in to the wall, but turned off when plugged into the computer. So I took it down to the local computer shop and turns out my VGA card friend. How...how does that happen? And could it have been caused by the game itself or......?

EDIT: Fried. Fried damnit. My VGA card friend fried. :dumb:
 
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GasBandit

Staff member
So, I was playing world in conflict on my alienware laptop. Suddenly my computer goes "zap". Shuts off, and is completely dead. I figured SOMETHING must have friend because the battery indicator still worked, and the pwoer cable LED light still turned on while plugged in to the wall, but turned off when plugged into the computer. So I took it down to the local computer shop and turns out my VGA card friend. How...how does that happen? And could it have been caused by the game itself or......?
I dunno, my video cards always tended to be loners and homebodies.

Seriously though, it happens. Video cards, especially in laptops, are subject to huge amounts of thermal stress and pump a LOT of current from your power supply. They tend to wear out.
 
So, I was playing world in conflict on my alienware laptop. Suddenly my computer goes "zap". Shuts off, and is completely dead. I figured SOMETHING must have friend because the battery indicator still worked, and the pwoer cable LED light still turned on while plugged in to the wall, but turned off when plugged into the computer. So I took it down to the local computer shop and turns out my VGA card friend. How...how does that happen? And could it have been caused by the game itself or......?
Well, at least it wasn't a MacBook, right?

Also, the graphics cards on Laptops tend to be less feature-rich than their desktop counterparts, usually because it's a big problem to try and get rid of that much heat in that small of a space. As such, keeping the vents/fans clean and free of fuzz is reeeeeally important to keeping them going as long as possible, and that's when fate isn't conspiring against you (such as with the GeForce 8500M recall, etc). Historically, laptops which are marketed as "gaming" laptops almost always have a shorter lifespan than their workhorse counterparts, the same way that turbocharged engines have a shorter service interval than a standard powerplant.

--Patrick
 
Well, at least it wasn't a MacBook, right?

Also, the graphics cards on Laptops tend to be less feature-rich than their desktop counterparts, usually because it's a big problem to try and get rid of that much heat in that small of a space. As such, keeping the vents/fans clean and free of fuzz is reeeeeally important to keeping them going as long as possible, and that's when fate isn't conspiring against you (such as with the GeForce 8500M recall, etc).

--Patrick

Well, I have 2 GTX 580M in SLI, and I was just thinking, the repair guy said he'd have to get the same exact card as a replacement. Being where I am, I better friggin make sure. I assume the Nvidia control panel won't lie to me.
 
Most of them don't require an exact replacement, unless they have custom stuff on the board that'll only work with their custom setup. It is possible to make generic upgradeable graphics slots, but that opens the possibility to being undercut by 3rd party upgrade companies, or for a user to try to install a card that's too hot/power-hungry for the computer to handle. Usually anything in the same family will work. Whatever he does, make sure he does a good, thorough cleaning while he's in there, or else you might have to go right back in when your brand new replacement fails due to your old clogged fan.

--Patrick
 

GasBandit

Staff member
Most of them don't require an exact replacement, unless they have custom stuff on the board that'll only work with their custom setup. It is possible to make generic upgradeable graphics slots, but that opens the possibility to being undercut by 3rd party upgrade companies, or for a user to try to install a card that's too hot/power-hungry for the computer to handle. Usually anything in the same family will work. Whatever he does, make sure he does a good, thorough cleaning while he's in there, or else you might have to go right back in when your brand new replacement fails due to your old clogged fan.

--Patrick
He has an SLI setup. If I'm reading right, only one card has died. So if he wants to maintain his SLI, he has to replace the bad card with exactly the same model card, because SLI doesn't work with disparate cards, even of the same manufacturer or family.

Which to me, begs the question of, why can't he just remove the bad card and continue on using only the one in non-SLI mode.
 
Ah, I thought the two cards were mounted on a single module (which sounded wasteful but whatever).
Yes, if they are SLI then he not only needs the same type of card, but also the same manufacturer/VRAM size, etc.

Or else he needs to buy 2x570M or something to replace both of 'em.

--Patrick
 

GasBandit

Staff member
I can't understand why Wrigley decided to change the green flavor when they ported skittles over to jellybeans. Green skittle? Lime. Green Skittles jelly bean? SOUR APPLE. Bleck.

Also, for some reason, the packaging displays starburst.com instead of skittles.com.
 

GasBandit

Staff member
Maybe it hasn't reached Texas yet, but that's what's included in the mid-Atlantic region of the east coast.
I'm sure you're right, I haven't eaten actual skittles in over a year. I googled it, and yeah, middle of last year, bam, sour apple. SKITTLES ARE RUINED.
 
What... do you actually get a bunch of the same colored skittles together to get a single flavor? Eat ALL the flavors at once. TASTE... THE RAINBOW.
 

GasBandit

Staff member
What... do you actually get a bunch of the same colored skittles together to get a single flavor? Eat ALL the flavors at once. TASTE... THE RAINBOW.
Actually I meticulously sorted them, then made sure to eat one from each flavor simultaneously in each handful.

But sour apple just tramples over every other flavor.
 
Ah, I thought the two cards were mounted on a single module (which sounded wasteful but whatever).
Yes, if they are SLI then he not only needs the same type of card, but also the same manufacturer/VRAM size, etc.

Or else he needs to buy 2x570M or something to replace both of 'em.

--Patrick

Which is why I still don't have my laptop in my hands. The repairman is having a hard time finding the exact card in China.
 
My wife's family is posting religious rhetoric with regards to the trial going on in Michigan to strike down the gay marriage ban. It's hard not to engage, despite knowing how futile any exchanges would be.
 

Dave

Staff member
Going on vacation Wednesday? Check! So am I sick as a dog? Check!

Help me, NyQuil! You're my only hope!
 
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