Sorry your browser is not supported!

You are using an outdated browser that does not support modern web technologies, in order to use this site please update to a new browser.

Browsers supported include Chrome, FireFox, Safari, Opera, Internet Explorer 10+ or Microsoft Edge.

Geek Culture / How to make your comp faster... using an eraser?!?

Author
Message
Arkheii
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 15th Jun 2003
Location: QC, Philippines
Posted: 21st Dec 2004 22:25
Link
I was talking to my classmate over YM just now. He was talking about how his PC became really fast all of a sudden.

After reformatting, his PC was still damn slow, too slow to install anything. He asked his dad, who in turn asked the condominium's janitor. The janitor suggested using a pencil eraser to erase the dirt that collects in the RAM contacts (the shiny part that sticks into the mobo). He did what the janitor said and viola. Blistering fast PC even on an AssRock (pun, haha) mobo.

Apparently the janitor was a comp sci graduate from an unknown school, so the employers never hired him. But he happens to be good at this stuff, according to my classmate.

Anyone with expendable sticks of RAM willing to try the eraser trick? RDRam costs too much to try a stunt like that


I spelled "disappointment" wrong. Pahintulutan ang di-inaasahang nakakahiyang pagkakamaling dulot ng kamangmangan. Have at you.
Back to top
Profile PM
Three Score
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 18th Jun 2004
Location: behind you
Posted: 21st Dec 2004 23:11
Link
ill try now did he do it with or without unplugging his pc j/k
i will try it now and when i get back on i will tell u the results
(i only got 64mb to risk im nto going to try it on my 256mb strip)

http://hck83.proboards42.com formerly: 404 name not found
"others understand me but i dont understand my own thoughts"
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Van B
Moderator
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 8th Oct 2002
Location: Sunnyvale
Posted: 21st Dec 2004 23:14
Link
Without unplugging I'm hoping...

Switching off at the wall socket, but leaving your PC plugged in will keep it grounded, and greatly reduce the risk of frying any sensitive components through static. It's just like having an anti-static wristband, as soon as you touch the PC case, your earthed.


Van-B


It's c**p being the only coder in the village.
Back to top
Profile PM Email
bitJericho
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 9th Oct 2002
Location: United States
Posted: 21st Dec 2004 23:17
Link
the broblem with that vanb.. is that electricity can still run through the mobo depending on the powersupply, you could shortcircuit something if you drop a screw.... or so I've heard.. that may not be true


Yarr join LoGD and defeat your fellow coders!
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Ilya
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 10th Aug 2003
Location:
Posted: 21st Dec 2004 23:20
Link
Wear gloves or something. And why an eraser? Wouldn't that get particles on the RAM?

Quote: "I've seen the word programming and I'm not sure what it means. Anybody please explain?"


Quote: "We shouldn't sacrifice the truth to preserve "balance"."
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Van B
Moderator
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 8th Oct 2002
Location: Sunnyvale
Posted: 21st Dec 2004 23:24
Link
Nah, if it's switched off at the mains, it should have 0 current. I'd switch off at the back of the PSU as well if possible, it just needs the power cable plugged into the PC and a wall socket to ground it.

There are some mobo's that accept current from the PSU whether it's switched on or not, but that's usually just for stuff like led's and power on detects - should'nt cause problems unless your really determined with those loose screws .

For me the biggest hazard with PC's is simply cut fingers, I've done no end of damage to my hands with cheap PC cases - so be careful - fingertips are best kept as a set.


Van-B


It's c**p being the only coder in the village.
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Ilya
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 10th Aug 2003
Location:
Posted: 21st Dec 2004 23:31
Link
I've stabbed myself with screwdrivers(by accedent).

Quote: "I've seen the word programming and I'm not sure what it means. Anybody please explain?"


Quote: "We shouldn't sacrifice the truth to preserve "balance"."
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Van B
Moderator
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 8th Oct 2002
Location: Sunnyvale
Posted: 21st Dec 2004 23:32
Link
Llya,
There's already particles all over your PC, you just gotta find an ancient PC and open it up, often the motherboard looks like a carpet because of the amount of dust that collects.

Cleaning the metal contacts is not cleaning it from dust - it's more likely to be crystalised gunk on the contacts, same goes for CD players - residue from the air settles on some surfaces and crystalises, an erasor would be fairly good at shifting that, but it'll probably be doing the same job as cleaning alcohols.

Thing is, often just removing memory sticks and putting them back in is enough - over time the contact becomes unreliable (especially after using your PC for a while), and doing a little basic maintenance every so often is vital.


Van-B


It's c**p being the only coder in the village.
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Three Score
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 18th Jun 2004
Location: behind you
Posted: 21st Dec 2004 23:35
Link
um i am nto going to do it cause actually my 64mb is 128mb(i forgot i upgraded)

http://hck83.proboards42.com formerly: 404 name not found
"others understand me but i dont understand my own thoughts"
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
EddieB
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 29th Sep 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Posted: 21st Dec 2004 23:35
Link
Quote: "There's already particles all over your PC, you just gotta find an ancient PC and open it up, often the motherboard looks like a carpet because of the amount of dust that collects."


I know what you meen there. I dont it the ever day after choking on the dust its like a carpet.

Asp ..... PHP
ASP!!
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
bitJericho
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 9th Oct 2002
Location: United States
Posted: 21st Dec 2004 23:43
Link
Quote: "For me the biggest hazard with PC's is simply cut fingers"


x_x, that's the worst that's ever happened to me

It's so annoying, and you're always afraid you got blood on the mobo or something


Yarr join LoGD and defeat your fellow coders!
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Ian T
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 12th Sep 2002
Location: Around
Posted: 22nd Dec 2004 05:15
Link
Quote: "
There are some mobo's that accept current from the PSU whether it's switched on or not, but that's usually just for stuff like led's and power on detects - should'nt cause problems unless your really determined with those loose screws ."


8v of power for the LED I believe, hardly enough to damage anything . I've never had a wrist band but keep the PC plugged in when I'm adding new hardware, two new pieces today, never destroyed anything through static .

[center]
Join the fun in #darkbasic!
Back to top
Profile PM
DrakeX
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Aug 2002
Location:
Posted: 22nd Dec 2004 05:32
Link
"For me the biggest hazard with PC's is simply cut fingers"

yeah, i cut my finger pretty deep too, punching out a piece of metal that was in front of a drive bay. damn thing. i bled like a stuck pig.

i've never heard of erasing RAM contacts, but i've used it before on NES cartridges. works wonderfully well at getting all that schmutz off.

"when it's done" means "we have no idea, we forgot to do that; we were hoping you would all forget we promised <insert exotic promise here>"
Back to top
Profile PM Email
bitJericho
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 9th Oct 2002
Location: United States
Posted: 22nd Dec 2004 05:47
Link
well cartridges aren't much different than ram in the way they contact, may be worth a shot


Yarr join LoGD and defeat your fellow coders!
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Fallout
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 1st Sep 2002
Location: Basingstoke, England
Posted: 22nd Dec 2004 06:55
Link
Just to be a completely anal, but voltage is not a measure of power. That's wattage.

Back to top
Profile PM
Benjamin
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 24th Nov 2002
Location: France
Posted: 22nd Dec 2004 08:01
Link
Yeah, voltage is just the rate at which energy is drawn from a source..

CURRENT PROJECT: Chaos Hizzle Demo
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Dave J
Retired Moderator
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 11th Feb 2003
Location: Secret Military Pub, Down Under
Posted: 22nd Dec 2004 08:43 Edited at: 22nd Dec 2004 08:48
Link
Quote: "Just to be a completely anal, but voltage is not a measure of power. That's wattage. "


Just to be anal, 'Wattage' isn't actually the correct term, power is 'Power', and it's simply measured in Watts.

I don't know why people had to go and invent the term 'Wattage', just because Voltage is measured in Volts. That's like calling a distance 'Meterage' because it's measured in Meters or the current 'Ampage' because it's measured in Amps. Although, the term 'Wattage' now exists, it actually isn't scientifically correct.


"Computers are useless - They can only give you answers."
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Arkheii
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 15th Jun 2003
Location: QC, Philippines
Posted: 22nd Dec 2004 09:25
Link
The sex appeal of a car is measured in pimps. Pimpage

IIRC current is more dangerous than voltage. My teacher warns us to be careful of anything with more than 1 ampere of current.


I spelled "disappointment" wrong. Pahintulutan ang di-inaasahang nakakahiyang pagkakamaling dulot ng kamangmangan. Have at you.
Back to top
Profile PM
DrakeX
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Aug 2002
Location:
Posted: 22nd Dec 2004 10:38
Link
"just because Voltage is measured in Volts"

isn't the correct term for voltage actually something else?

..

maybe not. "charge differential?"

"IIRC current is more dangerous than voltage"

yes, to some extent, because it's really current that measures the strength of the electrical charge. voltage just is a measure of how different the charges are between two points. when you shuffle along the floor in socks and spark the doorknob, there's something like ten thousand volts between your finger and the knob, but the current is so low that nothing happens.

at least i think. this is coming from a pretty much casual knowledge of electricity.

what's that equation again? V=IR?

"when it's done" means "we have no idea, we forgot to do that; we were hoping you would all forget we promised <insert exotic promise here>"
Back to top
Profile PM Email
BearCDPOLD
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 16th Oct 2003
Location: AZ,USA
Posted: 22nd Dec 2004 11:49
Link
*
CURRENT:
I = V/R or I = P/V



*
VOLTAGE:

V= P/I or V = IR


*
POWER:

I2R or VI


*
RESISTANCE:

R = V/I

Crazy Donut Productions, Current Project: Project Starbuks
Sony stole our name!
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
NathanF
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 24th Mar 2004
Location:
Posted: 22nd Dec 2004 12:00
Link
I = Amps = Current
V = Volts = Voltage
R = Ohms = Resistance
P = Watts = Power
t = seconds = Time
Q = Coulomb = Charge
E = Joule = Energy

Also this:
I=Q/t
current=charge/time

Correct me if im wrong, i got a C on my electricity exam >.<

-Formerly DarkSephiroth-
Back to top
Profile PM
game Spacer
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 24th Jul 2004
Location:
Posted: 23rd Dec 2004 00:28 Edited at: 23rd Dec 2004 00:29
Link
Quote: "The janitor suggested using a pencil eraser to erase the dirt that collects in the RAM contacts (the shiny part that sticks into the mobo). He did what the janitor said and viola. Blistering fast PC"


That old trick was used when edge connections on cards where tinned
which after time would oxidise.Now with card edges being gold plated
its no longer necessary.
Back to top
Profile PM
Mason
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 20th Mar 2004
Location: Arizona
Posted: 23rd Dec 2004 16:38
Link
Actually I just took your advice and gave it a shot. I had an old 128 mb ram card and it was dusty as a carpet. I rubbed the edge connections with the erasor and it is going wayyyyyy faster. After that worked, I salvaged some ram from my older computer and put it into my other crappy computer (also using the erasor) It works really well. Thanks arkheii (and the over-qualified janitor)

¤§Mason§¤

B-L (Black Lab Studios) *Woof* ~ Other Member(s): BL Ben
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Back to top

Login to post a reply

Server time is: 2024-11-26 16:33:41
Your offset time is: 2024-11-26 16:33:41