Flaky computer take 3

[johnridley]

Died well and truly today. Diagnosed as a bad video card; any computer it is plugged into will no longer even power up (the fans just twitch a bit).

So I need to find a reasonable nVidia dual-DVI card. I've got a backup computer here so I will probably just order one from Newegg. The only danger is that this machine is running XP and I may remember how much I like XP more than 7 and want to stay.

We are going to be in Farmington this evening and Dearborn tomorrow, I could look around there but I doubt they'll beat Newegg prices. Probably the only place left is Best Buy anyway, and I wouldn't buy shoelaces from those crooks.

Feh, replacement cards are $80. I need to decide whether to do this or punt and pick up a laptop. I was looking at them this morning anyway, and for about $400 I can pick up a dual core machine that I think will work fine for the minimal amount of stuff I do these days, assuming I can do dual monitor.

Feh 2, laptops that can do dual montor are more like $800 than $400. Guess I'll get the card.

Comments

[billroper]

You could always pick up one of the little boxes that you plug into a USB port and it acts as a second monitor for a laptop. Of course, I have no idea of how well they work...

[johnridley.livejournal.com]

That's one of the options I'm considering. They used one at work to attach a 3rd monitor there, and it works OK. Obviously not fast, but I can play video on it. Probably not HD video, but it works OK for YouTube and the like.

Dell is still overpriced for memory. I can buy a machine with 2GB in it, rip the 2GB out and throw it away and replace it with 4G and still come out $45 ahead.