Posted 5:24 PM by Gene

Speaking of OUTSOURCED, I finally got my brand spanking new homemade computer to work, but it wasn't without teething pains: it took me a week to learn that the HDMI-equipped GPU overrode the motherboard audio, and that the only solution was an HDMI cable to my monitor; and fiddling with the memory to procure its rated speed caused so many BSODs (the dreaded Event ID 41) I tried switching it around and got something worse, an F3 F6 boot loop; I feared I've have to RMA my motherboard and my Intel i7-950. Fortunately removing the CMOS battery for two nights solved that one. If I do try again I'm e-mailing Corsair.

I will say Windows 7 is a darned sight better than XP. I can't get used, however, to the permanent ClearType, much of which looks washed-out even on a monitor like an ASUS VH236H; and I'm annoyed I can't play my rigged Monopoly CD game because the BUGMEISTERS banished 16-bit from the premises (though the disc includes a 32-bit version); nor can I play Solitaire because they added so many play-slowing bells and whistles, and to use the old version you have to go into XP mode. Now to get a DSLR, and a new pair of computer speakers.

P. S. on 10/4/2010 at 8:32 a. m. Evidently enough people object to ClearType that it's possible to rid it, but if I know the BUGMEISTERS ridding it doesn't work quite properly.