Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by AhNong

[WTA] Media PC

AhNong — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:19:24 +0800

ok firstly i've always been confused of where to post this. since my questions are all hardware related but also audio related i'll just chuck it in here first. so please dont scold me.

I've weighed between the logitech z series which is approx RM 1400. i've pitted it up against a smaller HES, which is around the region of the same price. so for a few hundred ringgit more, is it worth getting a mini hi-fi system for a media pc rather than the logitech z series ? also the hardware i need to perform this, since i have no more pcie slots, i could only dig up the x-fi series from creative which runs on PCI and not PCIE. my question here would be,

the best bang for buck = best value for money would be an internal sound card from the x-fi ? or would it be an external USB say the X-Fi 5.1 USB unit ? both are quite similar in pricing, probably 40-50 bucks price difference.
does an external unit that runs on a USB port produce better sound ? or is it the ease of controlling, as i know the USB one has a volume controller on it, where else the PCI's controller are software based. FYI , the USB based X-Fi is cheaper than the internal PCI that i saw.

and which is more appropriate to be used to produce a decent quality audio ? say if i were to purchase the mini hi-fi system from either yamaha or JVC, would it be better for me to use the external USB unit ? or the other way around perhaps ?

since this is my first time setting up a media pc, i have purchased some necessary hardware to run it such as a graphics card with hdmi output, a wireless keyboard and mouse, some extra rams and a larger hdd. all i'm lacking of and confused right now is the audio portion. i watch a lot of war movies and mostly all action packed stuffs.

i'm looking forward to a 5.1 system, enclosed in a small room of 28 feet by 35 feet. i have no idea what sound card matches with what system to produce some "decent" audio quality. Please take note that this is a media pc i'm making and not a super hi-end room 9.1 system.

so may i again bother all of u for some explanations and some recommendations ? would the logitech z series perform the same quality as other home entertainment system of a 5.1 class that are within its price range ? i have found some 5.1 system which is around the same price region at highway audio in SS2. but i have not tried the z series. and please take your patience to explain to me the details of the sound cards. i am totally new at this.

[WTA] Sound Cards

AhNong — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:18:59 +0800

I'm in the midst of converting my rig into a media pc. i've looked at the logitech z series speakers and would like to pair them up with something decent instead of the on-board sound card that i have on my motherboard. Since i have used up my single PCIE slot for my graphic card, all i have left are USB and PCI options.

i need some clarification and recommendation before i move for a purchase. gotta be a smart consumer anyway.

Now i've done comparisons between the X-Fi surround 5.1 external USB @ RM239 from viewnet, the Live 24bit external @RM199 from sri comp, the audigy value @ RM 119 from sri comp and X-fi Extreme audio RM299 @ sri comp as well.

Only 2 have something called DTS & Dolby Digital Decoding Decoding via Cyberlink PowerDVD Download, which i have no idea what that is. Both these units are the X-fi cards. What on earth does that mean ? does it mean it has the capability to play dts encoded material on a dvd ? or one has to buy or pay for additional download features in order to play dts ? or does it simply mean it is able to play dts encoded material and give out dts output ?

As for the other 2 units which is the live24bit external and the audigy value, are they not able to play dts encoded material and give out the proper output ?

My other questions include,

1 - the obvious, which sound card is the best bang for buck currently ? the best value for money to use on my 5.1 system ?
2 - any recomendations which i can get a lower price from in lowyat plaza apart from sri comp and viewnet ? i've checked czone and mypc. both are quite pricey.

I just want to watch movies and have a nicer experience. gaming music and sounds arent important to me. i dont want to go extreme and buy a 10000 dollar card or a 50000 dollar home entertainment system but i'd like stuff that are currently on the best value for money things. please help me and my dilemma.

I thank you in advance for your advice and recommendations and suggestions.

sorry if i posted this in the wrong section. i was planning to post in audiophiles section but i thought this would be a more appropriate place as it is more hardware related.

[WTA] Conversion of 2.1 to 5.1

AhNong — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 01:05:04 +0800

I currently own an altec lansing FX6021 which is a 2.1 system.
I'm wondering if it is possible to convert or add-on to make it a 3.1 or 5.1 system.

I was thinking of upgrading to a 5.1 system but the logitech z series seem to be quite pricey for me and i didnt want to let go of this good ol system that i currently have. My questions are

Is it possible if i purchase a sound card and a separate set of perhaps mid and rear sattelite speakers to make it a 3.1 or 5.1 ?
i would really like to retain the sub and current sattelite that i have.

Which sound card would be the best bang for buck in order for me to do something like that ? Is there a particular sound card that would allow me to split all the different sattelites ?

Please advice. Thank you in advance.

I wan asking

AhNong — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:24:26 +0800

If fon is hang kei, normally i taking the battery out. but if fon is always hang kei and i always taking battery out the shop say is will spoil fon more easily and got many problems. but if hang already then how to not hang it other than take battery out ?

i wan asking is spoil what if i always taking battery out ? is contak terminal battery there spoil or is cover become loose only ? or is sofware spoil if i always taking battery out ?
if not how can solving this if not taking battery out ? is got 3rd party application can using to make fon not hang anymore after it hang ?

sorry for english.

Digi broadband

AhNong — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:16:26 +0800

Today i got sms from digi with promotion offer so i thought i look and see.

so i go to digi center in ss2 cos near my office in amcorp mall and their promo is nice.

you can find all here : http://rediscoverbroadband.com.my/

they now got special promo buying the laptop RM999 only but need sign up for broadband i think is they charge RM128 per month.
anyway if wan know more thing is in that website i give.

50gb transfer is ok i feel for RM128.

QUOTE

Broadband Promo Package

Features
• Download speed: up to 3.6Mbps (FREE Trial of up to 7.2Mbps)
• Upload speed: up to 384kbps (FREE Trial of up to 2Mbps)
• Quota: 50GB (connection will be throttled to 64kbps when the
quota is breached)
• FREE Broadband E230 HSPA modem (with free MicroSD card)

Terms and Conditions
• Price: RM128/month for 6 months (normal price at RM158).
Price returns to RM158 after 6 months.
• Contract period: 12 months. Should the customer decide to terminate the service before the contract expires, an early termination penalty will be imposed at either the cost of the
modem (RM600) or the remaining balance of the contract value,
whichever is lower.
• Advance payment: 2 x monthly fee (RM256).
• FREE Trial of 7.2Mbps speed is at DiGi's discretion and valid for contract period of 12 months.

this their coverage area : http://rediscoverbroadband.com.my/cov.html is green color the person in charge showing me just now.

[WTA] Transfer contacts

AhNong — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 21:31:15 +0800

How to do it ah ? i got the old 6220c then i bought new E66. i got pcsuite and read help file already but can only export contact from my 6220c to txt or excel file. means i still have to input 1 by 1 again to new phone. any faster way to do this ah ?

can i save a backup copy from my 6220c then when plug in my e series and use that same backup copy ? if not how ah ?