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Most Common Ways to Kill a PC
Sparky the Service Center Dude writes "PCstats covers the most common ways to kill a PC in this "what not to do" guide. Everything from exploding capacitors, to cat hair, to dodgy components and overclocking account for users killing their own PC's. The most common PC killer? The Power Supply."
Don't those stats mean the most common way to recycle a PC is just to replace its power supply? I've pulled several working PCs out of the "trash" (NYC curbside - cleaner than a dumpster, dirtier than a Toronto dumpster). I had a "$2000" stereo system I rescued from yuppie abandonment by merely replacing its "motherboard" and speaker fuses.
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make install -not war
Speaking as someone who has worked at a college computer store, I would have to say water/beer is the biggest enemy to the life of a computer.
"OMG! I was just having a drink and chatting with my girlfriends online, and I accidentally spilled it on my laptop! Daddy, buy me a new one!"
On several occaions, I have also run across a laptop that was damaged during...um...let's just say "coital activities". Those definitely make the hall of fame.
Yeah. Because destroying shit just to destroy it, no matter who is paying for it, is a good idea kids. No wonder the world is so fucked up.
My blog. Good stuff (when I remember to update it). Read it.
No freaking kidding. I've been at my current job since I got out of college a little over 2 years ago. After working for a couple of months, I had to go to the first session of some bogus training for young engineers, set up so the new blood from all over the company could mingle and network. I was *shocked* when one of the multiple-session veterans talked about how they'd just about destroyed a rental car on another trip. He condescendingly explained that another time he'd told that story, someone had freaked out a little, because they were too inexperienced to understand that the cars were insured and it couldn't come back on you.
When kids are 12 years old, I can see it a little, but 22-25? Cripes. I wanted to punch him in the head and it wasn't even my car.
Abso-fricking-lutely correct.
The spec's written on most el-cheapo Chinese PSU's are about as accurate and truthfull as the wattage claims written on the box of those $25 "1000 WATT" PC speakers you bought at the local PC market. The difference being that if you blow up your craptastic speakers you just need to buy new speakers, but a bad PSU can cause you to re-purchase a completely new PC.
It amazes me the number of "tech heads" out there who will pay AU$900 for a top of the line GPU (just to gain another 3fps in Doom 3) but will try to run it and their P4EE off a $15 SangChoyBow "500 WATT" powersupply.
Incredible.
"You can't fight in here, this is the war room!"