I will no longer be posting on this blog.
I am now running a linux blog @ http://matt-linux-log.blogspot.com/
I may start another blog in the future for this sort of content meaning the close of this blog. If this happens the content will be moved.
Thursday, 2 September 2010
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Bad DNS lookups.
Today I tried to go to the coolermaster website and for some reason I got re-directed to an under construction page. I thought this was a bit wierd and after talking to a few people found out it was just me.
I found out that typing http://coolermaster.com gave a different result to typing http://www.coolermaster.com.
I thought this was a bit weird and especially after I found out that both went to the under construction page unless I cleared my dns cache.
I worked out that my ISP's DNS servers were a bit messed up after being sent to wrong websites several times so I decided to do something about it.
I was recommended a free DNS service called OpenDNS at http://www.opendns.com/ with dns server IP addresses of:
208.67.222.222
208.67.220.220
which worked fine.
I have a dlink router so I had to go to the configuration page, click advanced > Dns Setup and manually specify the dns servers there.
I have had no bad lookups since and highly recommend using these dns servers.
I found out that typing http://coolermaster.com gave a different result to typing http://www.coolermaster.com.
I thought this was a bit weird and especially after I found out that both went to the under construction page unless I cleared my dns cache.
I worked out that my ISP's DNS servers were a bit messed up after being sent to wrong websites several times so I decided to do something about it.
I was recommended a free DNS service called OpenDNS at http://www.opendns.com/ with dns server IP addresses of:
208.67.222.222
208.67.220.220
which worked fine.
I have a dlink router so I had to go to the configuration page, click advanced > Dns Setup and manually specify the dns servers there.
I have had no bad lookups since and highly recommend using these dns servers.
Saturday, 29 May 2010
Do computers dream of electric sheep?
Electric Sheep is a collaborative abstract artwork founded by Scott Draves. It's run by thousands of people all over the world, and can be installed on any ordinary PC or Mac. When these computers "sleep", the Electric Sheep comes on and the computers communicate with each other by the internet to share the work of creating morphing abstract animations known as "sheep". The result is a collective "android dream", an homage to Philip K. Dick's novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep.
Anyone watching one of these computers may vote for their favorite animations using the keyboard. The more popular sheep live longer and reproduce according to a genetic algorithm with mutation and cross-over. Hence the flock evolves to please its global audience. You can also design your own sheep and submit them to the gene pool.
Download page is here: http://community.electricsheep.org/download
When you first install it you may have to wait a while for it to download "sheep". Do not be alarmed if you just get a black screen for a while.
You can use this as a great screensaver in Linux windows or mac, or linux users who feel brave can use it as a constantly mutating desktop wallpaper. This may take some scripting and I wouldn't recommend you do this unless you have a good processor, plenty of ram and a lot of patience for scripting.
Anyone watching one of these computers may vote for their favorite animations using the keyboard. The more popular sheep live longer and reproduce according to a genetic algorithm with mutation and cross-over. Hence the flock evolves to please its global audience. You can also design your own sheep and submit them to the gene pool.
Download page is here: http://community.electricsheep.org/download
When you first install it you may have to wait a while for it to download "sheep". Do not be alarmed if you just get a black screen for a while.
You can use this as a great screensaver in Linux windows or mac, or linux users who feel brave can use it as a constantly mutating desktop wallpaper. This may take some scripting and I wouldn't recommend you do this unless you have a good processor, plenty of ram and a lot of patience for scripting.
Friday, 14 May 2010
Where do I buy my components?
I was recently asked where I get my computer parts.
I usually shop around to get the best deals but I like to get good customer service too.
I highly recommend Aria for their products and for their customer service.
Novatech are also very good for both prices and especially customer service.
If they do not stock what I want I would use Ebuyer.
For very custom PC's, watercooling etc I recommend scan and Kustompc.
I am not usually one to complain or moan but I have heard a lot of bad reviews about http://www.overclockers.co.uk/ and I would not recommend you buy there.
I usually shop around to get the best deals but I like to get good customer service too.
I highly recommend Aria for their products and for their customer service.
Novatech are also very good for both prices and especially customer service.
If they do not stock what I want I would use Ebuyer.
For very custom PC's, watercooling etc I recommend scan and Kustompc.
I am not usually one to complain or moan but I have heard a lot of bad reviews about http://www.overclockers.co.uk/ and I would not recommend you buy there.
Ubuntu 10.04 is full of bugs. Everybody panic!!!!!
I had a look on some of the forums today and there are a lot of new users who have just installed ubuntu 10.04 and have either encountered a bug or have had trouble booting etc..
As a regular user of linux I (and many others) can tell you that this happens every release. Last time I heard that 9.10 was 'the worst release ever' and similar horror stories. I have been using 9.10 since the release and es I have encountered a few bugs but they have been fixed very rapidly.
This happens with all OS's. With windows they have a lot more time to test it but with ubuntu they release every 6 months so time is very restricted and often a few bugs don't get squashed until after the release. If you are a new ubuntu user I recommend you wait at least a month before installing Lucid Lynx but if you are inpatient please do not get put off by bugs.
If you find a bug please report it as soon as possible and I'm sure it will be fixed. If not please use the ubuntu forums as there will be someone out there who will be able to help.
As with all releases it will get better over time and after maybe 2 months from the release it will be ultra stable.
I have money but what do I upgrade?
I have seen a lot of posts on various forums recently saying they have a decent computer, want to upgrade something, have the money, but don't know what, so I thought I would give my recommendations. They are no particular order.
1.)PSU. If your computer has a generic ( non branded ) PSU I recommend you change it as soon as possible to a branded one. For modern machines most non branded PSU's are 300W but are rated at 800W etc because they have managed to do that in a lab on a good day.
You should upgrade to a Branded PSU as soon as possible. I personally recommend Corsair for their PSU's but Cooler-master, OCZ and several other brands sell good PSU's as well.
For the average machine 500W is plenty but if you want to overclock, use Xfire/ SLI or run a lot of high end components you may want more power getting closer to 1000W or even more in extreme systems.
I always recommend a modular PSU as this will help considerably in cable management.
2.) Monitor. If your graphics card is up to it I would always recommend a bigger monitor. 22" is a very good size at the moment and you can pick up a good one for about £150. Monitors can go up to some very large sizes but if you use a single monitor I would recommend 28" max as over that can be a strain on the eyes, especially if you sit quite close.
If you want dual display then any size up to about 24" is good. I have also seen 3 monitor + setups but I find these to be a bit overkill unless your an extreme gamer or need a lot of workspace.
3.)Graphics card; are always being improved. They lose their value more quickly than almost any other part of the computer. I wouldn't recommend spending over £250 on a GPU as they lose their value so fast it can be a waste of money. You can get a good card for £150 and many of these can be put into SLI or Crossfire with Nvidia and ATI cards respectively. A new card can let you stretch your gaming experience much further.
4.) RAM. Many computers now ship with 4GB or ram. However not so long ago computers commonly came with only 1-2GB. With a 32bit Operating System you shouldn't normally need more than 3 GB of ram but in a 64Bit system you may want to go to 8GB or higher. Usually 4GB is good enough at present but more is always good.
5.) Processor. If you have an older processor you may be able to get a new one without changing your motherboard. Some motherboards will support newer CPU's with a BIOS update etc... but always make sure you know whether you can use it or not before you buy. Always remember you may be able to give your current processor an overclock.
5.) HDD. You can never have enough hard drive space. Bill Gates one said nobody will ever use more than 6Mb of disk space and now you can get a 1Tb Hdd for under £50. If you think you can use it a larger HDD is always a good upgrade.
6.) Motherboard. Now and again your motherboard may reach its maximum potential and you may have to upgrade or maybe you just want to have the latest socket or chipset etc.. and I can't really give you advice on that. I personally am an AMD fanboy but some people prefer Intel. I would recommend you go with the best you can get at the time for your money.
7.) Peripherals. A new mouse, keyboard, speaker system, webcam etc is always a good investment. They lose their value very slowly compared to the rest of the computer and are always great to have. Even a new mouse-mat can be a good investment.
8.) Case. If you are serious about your system you may need a new case for the cooling you want in your system or maybe you need more space for gpu's or a large motherboard. Whatever the reason a case is always a good idea. You can get some great looking cases with great performance for about £100 or less.
9.) Cooling. You always want to keep your computer cool and quiet. Just adding a new fan or cpu cooler can be a great idea. Sometimes a new application of thermal paste under your heatsink can be a good idea. Just remember keeping your computer well cooled can increase its life. And watercooling is always an option.
10.) Cable management. Now some people may not consider this as an upgrade but getting some cable brading, cable ties and a few better cables for your system can be great. You can give your computer much better airflow and some good looks if you have a window.
And last of all remember to clean your system out and make sure it doesn't fill with dust.
1.)PSU. If your computer has a generic ( non branded ) PSU I recommend you change it as soon as possible to a branded one. For modern machines most non branded PSU's are 300W but are rated at 800W etc because they have managed to do that in a lab on a good day.
You should upgrade to a Branded PSU as soon as possible. I personally recommend Corsair for their PSU's but Cooler-master, OCZ and several other brands sell good PSU's as well.
For the average machine 500W is plenty but if you want to overclock, use Xfire/ SLI or run a lot of high end components you may want more power getting closer to 1000W or even more in extreme systems.
I always recommend a modular PSU as this will help considerably in cable management.
2.) Monitor. If your graphics card is up to it I would always recommend a bigger monitor. 22" is a very good size at the moment and you can pick up a good one for about £150. Monitors can go up to some very large sizes but if you use a single monitor I would recommend 28" max as over that can be a strain on the eyes, especially if you sit quite close.
If you want dual display then any size up to about 24" is good. I have also seen 3 monitor + setups but I find these to be a bit overkill unless your an extreme gamer or need a lot of workspace.
3.)Graphics card; are always being improved. They lose their value more quickly than almost any other part of the computer. I wouldn't recommend spending over £250 on a GPU as they lose their value so fast it can be a waste of money. You can get a good card for £150 and many of these can be put into SLI or Crossfire with Nvidia and ATI cards respectively. A new card can let you stretch your gaming experience much further.
4.) RAM. Many computers now ship with 4GB or ram. However not so long ago computers commonly came with only 1-2GB. With a 32bit Operating System you shouldn't normally need more than 3 GB of ram but in a 64Bit system you may want to go to 8GB or higher. Usually 4GB is good enough at present but more is always good.
5.) Processor. If you have an older processor you may be able to get a new one without changing your motherboard. Some motherboards will support newer CPU's with a BIOS update etc... but always make sure you know whether you can use it or not before you buy. Always remember you may be able to give your current processor an overclock.
5.) HDD. You can never have enough hard drive space. Bill Gates one said nobody will ever use more than 6Mb of disk space and now you can get a 1Tb Hdd for under £50. If you think you can use it a larger HDD is always a good upgrade.
6.) Motherboard. Now and again your motherboard may reach its maximum potential and you may have to upgrade or maybe you just want to have the latest socket or chipset etc.. and I can't really give you advice on that. I personally am an AMD fanboy but some people prefer Intel. I would recommend you go with the best you can get at the time for your money.
7.) Peripherals. A new mouse, keyboard, speaker system, webcam etc is always a good investment. They lose their value very slowly compared to the rest of the computer and are always great to have. Even a new mouse-mat can be a good investment.
8.) Case. If you are serious about your system you may need a new case for the cooling you want in your system or maybe you need more space for gpu's or a large motherboard. Whatever the reason a case is always a good idea. You can get some great looking cases with great performance for about £100 or less.
9.) Cooling. You always want to keep your computer cool and quiet. Just adding a new fan or cpu cooler can be a great idea. Sometimes a new application of thermal paste under your heatsink can be a good idea. Just remember keeping your computer well cooled can increase its life. And watercooling is always an option.
10.) Cable management. Now some people may not consider this as an upgrade but getting some cable brading, cable ties and a few better cables for your system can be great. You can give your computer much better airflow and some good looks if you have a window.
And last of all remember to clean your system out and make sure it doesn't fill with dust.
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
Mouse mod
To let you guys know, I HATE BRANDING.
If I get a keyboard with the Microsoft logo on it I peel it off or put a sticker over it.
Now I don't take this to extreme lengths as I like some logo's such as the saitek one.
However I bought a lazer mouse from Nikkai a few weeks ago and I just hated the fact that the name of the company was on my mouse. I also didn't really like that fact that the mouse was part silver. (I bought it because it was nice and cheap)
So this:
got taken to bits:
Out came the fiberglass paste:
The hole where the logo was got filled:
And nicely sanded down:
[I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT MY IMAGES ARE TOO LARGE FOR PEOPLE ON NETBOOKS. FROM NOW ON I WILL POST THUMBNAILS. PLEASE CLICK THEM FOR THE FULL IMAGE SIZE]
The mouse is now sitting patiently for me to spray paint it metallic red.
As promised here are some pictures of the primer layer:
There were some quite glaring imperfections:
so after a bit more sanding and another coat:
(sorry about the lighting)
I decided that I could get the back quite smooth but there was always going to be a small poc mark so I started designing possible icons that I could paint on to cover it up:
Here are some of my designs. The cyborg head is the symbol saitek use on their cybork keyboards and as I am planning on getting the saitek cyborg V5 keyboard I thought it would go together quite well.
Some of my freehand attempts:
I have a lot more but won't post them. In the end I could freehand paint the image quite well and decided it looked best when reasonably wide, instead of tall and thin. It also looks good if the target eye is quite large.
Here is the saitek cyborg mouse mat. The picture on it is a bit clearer:
I have got a nice bright red that should look great. Once I am happy with the surface of the red I will paint the logo/icon onto the mouse freehand and then use clearcoat.
Here is a pic of the results of the first coat:
Some slight ripple on one side:
After a bit of sanding and a second coat:
After a good hour (and a lot of practice on postits) I went for the icon:
First line and target eye:
One side outlined:
Filled in with other side:
The surface wasn't very smooth:
After a few brush strokes with water:
I did touch it as little as possible as grease or even a slight amount of sweat off a finger could spoil the results.
And the finished product:
If I get a keyboard with the Microsoft logo on it I peel it off or put a sticker over it.
Now I don't take this to extreme lengths as I like some logo's such as the saitek one.
However I bought a lazer mouse from Nikkai a few weeks ago and I just hated the fact that the name of the company was on my mouse. I also didn't really like that fact that the mouse was part silver. (I bought it because it was nice and cheap)
So this:
got taken to bits:
Out came the fiberglass paste:
The hole where the logo was got filled:
And nicely sanded down:
[I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT MY IMAGES ARE TOO LARGE FOR PEOPLE ON NETBOOKS. FROM NOW ON I WILL POST THUMBNAILS. PLEASE CLICK THEM FOR THE FULL IMAGE SIZE]
The mouse is now sitting patiently for me to spray paint it metallic red.
As promised here are some pictures of the primer layer:
There were some quite glaring imperfections:
so after a bit more sanding and another coat:
(sorry about the lighting)
I decided that I could get the back quite smooth but there was always going to be a small poc mark so I started designing possible icons that I could paint on to cover it up:
Here are some of my designs. The cyborg head is the symbol saitek use on their cybork keyboards and as I am planning on getting the saitek cyborg V5 keyboard I thought it would go together quite well.
Some of my freehand attempts:
I have a lot more but won't post them. In the end I could freehand paint the image quite well and decided it looked best when reasonably wide, instead of tall and thin. It also looks good if the target eye is quite large.
Here is the saitek cyborg mouse mat. The picture on it is a bit clearer:
I have got a nice bright red that should look great. Once I am happy with the surface of the red I will paint the logo/icon onto the mouse freehand and then use clearcoat.
Here is a pic of the results of the first coat:
Some slight ripple on one side:
After a bit of sanding and a second coat:
After a good hour (and a lot of practice on postits) I went for the icon:
First line and target eye:
One side outlined:
Filled in with other side:
The surface wasn't very smooth:
After a few brush strokes with water:
I did touch it as little as possible as grease or even a slight amount of sweat off a finger could spoil the results.
And the finished product:
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