Grain

If you want one for games, this is the one I'd get, and actually probably am! Info copied from another site, sells for $329CAD, which should be about $290-300US. Samsung SyncMaster 931C 19in Digital LCD w/ DVI, 2ms, 2000:1 Contrast, Glossy Black Product Info * The Samsung SyncMaster 931c is a 19-inch analog and digital TFT-LCD delivering a 2000:1 contrast ratio with dynamic contrast, 300cd/m2 brightness, 1280 x 1024 resolution, 160/160 degree viewing angle and scanning frequency of 30-81kHz horizontal and 56-75Hz vertical with a fast response time of 2 ms (gray to gray). It is the first 19" LCD monitor that features Wide Color Gamut (CCFL 97%) Color Innovation with support of other Samsung Magic Technologies including MagicTune and MagicBright III. Features * - Wide Color Gamut (CCFL 97%) - Color Innovation - 2000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio - MagicSpeed Fast 2ms Response Time - Print Viewer preview image for accurate printing - High glossy black infusion of style - MagicBright3 - MagicTune Specifications * Panel Viewable Area: 19" Pixel Pitch: 0.294 Brightness(Typ.): 250 cd/m2 Contrast Ratio(Typ. ): 2000:1 (Dynamic Contrast) Viewing Angle(H/V): 160/160 (CR>5) Response Time(Typ. ): 2ms (Gray to Gray) Interface: Analog/Digital Frequency Horizontal Frequency: 30-81khz Vertical Frequency: 56-75hz Maximum Resolution: 1280x1024 Colour Supported: 16.2 million Signal Input Input Video Signal: Analog RBG, DVI Digital Link:TMDS Sync. Type: Separate H/V, Composite H/V, SOG Input Connectors: 15pin D-sub, DVI-D Included Signal Cable: D-Sub Cable, DVI Cable Mac Compatibility: Yes DDC: DDC 2B On Mode: 38 Watts (Max.) DPMS Mode: <1 Watt Multimedia Speakers: N/A Wall-Mount: VESA 75mm Available Colours: High Glossy Black Stand: Simple Dimensions: Set with stand(WxHxD): 422.7x427.9x219.3 mm Weight: 5.5 kg Warranty * 3 years Manufacturer's Parts and Labour warranty. Manufacturer's Dead Pixel policies will apply.

How about a log taken aback.

And they regularly get attacked by giant lizards & Mothra's

Off topic, looks like there's a little chaos over in Japan with the PS3 release lol

Looks like shite to me, unfortunately the wife really wants to see it

If you wanted to replace it, you'd need a drive that has a removable "face", like some Plextors and Sony's have. I would guess that there's a Liteon out there too, as I'm quite sure the drive is just a computer drive mounted in the case.

Can't get your pic to work. It's a bit of a trick to swap out burners/drives on stand-alone player/recorders, but not impossible. They are quite cheap now though, so I'd just go for a known name that does all the disc formats you use ie +/-. Heard good things about Panasonics, but never had one. I have a no name job (Aspire), works OK if you know what your doing. if I was buying another I'd go for a Pioneer first, then a LG.

To each his own. I've never complained about your pics with that sheep wearing that little red bow Shamus, and I too will "fight for your right to party".

<edited and deleted due to filth overload>

Pillow Biter

I don't know what your laughing at LFC, you still have my Boy George tea cozy collection you borrowed to pretend was yours to show your mates at that "party" you held.

<singing mode on> Do you really want to hurt me <singing mode off> Wankers

You just gratuitously slapped 3 countries there Pain Man

Thing is, public lynchings were Saddams style, so to do the same to him would be stooping to his level, and could be interpreted by the Iraqis as not much has changed.

I too have some burned cds that have been banging about in my truck for 6 years, still play great. Stick to good media, and they'll likely outlast your use for them.

Have you checked out Alienware or VooDoo? They both make pretty sharpish rigs.

I haven't noticed any performance decrease during verify myself.

Viva Revolution! Che' Che' Che' !!!

Thanks Polo, if the new memory isn't the problem (don't think it will be, but I needed an excuse to tell the wife so I could go from 4 sticks of cheap 512 Kingston valueram to some decent dual channel stuff ) I'll call Creative, good advice.

BENQ DVD LS DW1655 BCIB (ATA) Media Information: BENQ DVD LS DW1655 BCIB (ATA) Current Profile: DVD-R Disc Information: Status: Empty Erasable: No Free Sectors: 2,298,496 Free Space: 4,707,319,808 bytes Free Time: 510:48:46 (MM:SS:FF) Supported Write Speeds: 2.4x, 4x, 8x Pre-recorded Information: Manufacturer ID: MXL RG03 Physical Format Information (Last Recorded): Book Type: DVD-R Part Version: 5 Disc Size: 120mm Maximum Read Rate: Not Specified Number of Layers: 1 Track Path: Parallel Track Path (PTP) Linear Density: 0.267 um/bit Track Density: 0.74 um/track First Physical Sector of Data Area: 196,608 Last Physical Sector of Data Area: 0 Last Physical Sector in Layer 0: 0 Results: I 21:34:02 ImgBurn Version 2.1.0.0 started! I 21:34:02 Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600 : Service Pack 2) I 21:34:02 Initialising SPTI... I 21:34:02 Searching for SCSI / ATAPI devices... I 21:34:03 Found 2 DVD?RWs and 2 DVD?RW/RAMs! I 21:34:17 Operation Started! I 21:34:17 Source File: -==/\/[DISCOVERY IMAGE]\/\==- I 21:34:17 Source File Sectors: 2,298,496 (MODE1/2048) I 21:34:17 Source File Size: 4,707,319,808 bytes I 21:34:17 Source File Volume Identifier: DISCOVERY_IMAGE I 21:34:17 Source File File System(s): None I 21:34:17 Destination Device: [1:1:0] BENQ DVD LS DW1655 BCIB (G:) (ATA) I 21:34:17 Destination Media Type: DVD-R (Disc ID: MXL RG03) (Speeds: 2.4x, 4x, 8x) I 21:34:17 Destination Media Sectors: 2,298,496 I 21:34:17 Write Mode: DVD I 21:34:17 Write Type: DAO I 21:34:17 Write Speed: MAX I 21:34:17 Link Size: Auto I 21:34:17 Test Mode: No I 21:34:17 BURN-Proof: Enabled I 21:34:18 Filling Buffer... I 21:34:18 Writing LeadIn... I 21:34:39 Writing Image... I 21:42:39 Synchronising Cache... I 21:43:07 Exporting Graph Data... I 21:43:07 Graph Data File: C:\DVDInfoPro Scans\BENQ_DVD_LS_DW1655_BCIB_10-24-2006_MXL_RG03_MAX_DISCOVERY_IMAGE.ibg I 21:43:07 Export Successfully Completed! I 21:43:07 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:08:49 I 21:43:07 Average Write Rate: 9,597 KB/s (6.9x) - Maximum Write Rate: 11,158 KB/s (8.1x) I 21:43:07 Cycling Tray before Verify... W 21:43:17 Waiting for device to become ready... I 21:43:30 Device Ready! I 21:43:30 Operation Started! I 21:43:30 Source Device: [1:1:0] BENQ DVD LS DW1655 BCIB (G:) (ATA) I 21:43:30 Source Media Type: DVD-R (Book Type: DVD-R) (Disc ID: MXL RG03) (Speeds: 2.4x, 4x, 8x) I 21:43:30 Image File: -==/\/[DISCOVERY IMAGE]\/\==- I 21:43:30 Image File Sectors: 2,298,496 (MODE1/2048) I 21:43:30 Image File Size: 4,707,319,808 bytes I 21:43:30 Image File Volume Identifier: DISCOVERY_IMAGE I 21:43:30 Image File File System(s): None I 21:43:31 Verifying Sectors... I 21:48:40 Exporting Graph Data... I 21:48:40 Graph Data File: C:\DVDInfoPro Scans\BENQ_DVD_LS_DW1655_BCIB_10-24-2006_MXL_RG03_MAX_DISCOVERY_IMAGE.ibg I 21:48:40 Export Successfully Completed! I 21:48:40 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:05:03 I 21:48:40 Average Verify Rate: 15,171 KB/s (11.0x) - Maximum Verify Rate: 22,492 KB/s (16.2x) I 18:00:57 Close Request Acknowledged I 18:00:57 Closing Down... I 18:00:57 Shutting down SPTI... I 18:00:57 ImgBurn closed!

HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GSA-H22N 1.00 (ATA) Media Information: HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GSA-H22N 1.00 (ATA) Current Profile: DVD-R Disc Information: Status: Empty Erasable: No Free Sectors: 2,298,496 Free Space: 4,707,319,808 bytes Free Time: 510:48:46 (MM:SS:FF) Supported Write Speeds: 4x, 8x Pre-recorded Information: Manufacturer ID: MXL RG03 Recording Management Area Information: HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GSA-H22N Physical Format Information (Last Recorded): Book Type: DVD-R Part Version: 5 Disc Size: 120mm Maximum Read Rate: Not Specified Number of Layers: 1 Track Path: Parallel Track Path (PTP) Linear Density: 0.267 um/bit Track Density: 0.74 um/track First Physical Sector of Data Area: 196,608 Last Physical Sector of Data Area: 2,495,103 Last Physical Sector in Layer 0: 0 Results: I 21:02:37 ImgBurn Version 2.1.0.0 started! I 21:02:37 Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600 : Service Pack 2) I 21:02:37 Initialising SPTI... I 21:02:37 Searching for SCSI / ATAPI devices... I 21:02:38 Found 2 DVD?RWs and 2 DVD?RW/RAMs! I 21:04:23 Operation Started! I 21:04:23 Source File: -==/\/[DISCOVERY IMAGE]\/\==- I 21:04:23 Source File Sectors: 2,297,888 (MODE1/2048) I 21:04:23 Source File Size: 4,706,074,624 bytes I 21:04:23 Source File Volume Identifier: DISCOVERY_IMAGE I 21:04:23 Source File File System(s): None I 21:04:23 Destination Device: [1:0:0] HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GSA-H22N 1.00 (F:) (ATA) I 21:04:23 Destination Media Type: DVD-R (Disc ID: MXL RG03) (Speeds: 4x, 8x) I 21:04:23 Destination Media Sectors: 2,297,888 I 21:04:23 Write Mode: DVD I 21:04:23 Write Type: DAO I 21:04:23 Write Speed: MAX I 21:04:23 Link Size: Auto I 21:04:23 Test Mode: No I 21:04:23 BURN-Proof: Enabled I 21:04:23 Filling Buffer... I 21:04:24 Writing LeadIn... I 21:04:46 Writing Image... I 21:12:58 Synchronising Cache... I 21:13:27 Exporting Graph Data... I 21:13:27 Graph Data File: C:\DVDInfoPro Scans\HL-DT-ST_DVD-RAM_GSA-H22N_1.00_10-24-2006_MXL_RG03_MAX_DISCOVERY_IMAGE.ibg I 21:13:27 Export Successfully Completed! I 21:13:27 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:09:03 I 21:13:27 Average Write Rate: 9,360 KB/s (6.8x) - Maximum Write Rate: 11,185 KB/s (8.1x) I 21:13:27 Cycling Tray before Verify... W 21:13:37 Waiting for device to become ready... I 21:13:57 Device Ready! I 21:13:57 Operation Started! I 21:13:57 Source Device: [1:0:0] HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GSA-H22N 1.00 (F:) (ATA) I 21:13:57 Source Media Type: DVD-R (Book Type: DVD-R) (Disc ID: MXL RG03) (Speeds: 4x, 8x) I 21:13:57 Image File: -==/\/[DISCOVERY IMAGE]\/\==- I 21:13:57 Image File Sectors: 2,297,888 (MODE1/2048) I 21:13:57 Image File Size: 4,706,074,624 bytes I 21:13:57 Image File Volume Identifier: DISCOVERY_IMAGE I 21:13:57 Image File File System(s): None I 21:13:57 Verifying Sectors... I 21:19:06 Exporting Graph Data... I 21:19:06 Graph Data File: C:\DVDInfoPro Scans\HL-DT-ST_DVD-RAM_GSA-H22N_1.00_10-24-2006_MXL_RG03_MAX_DISCOVERY_IMAGE.ibg I 21:19:06 Export Successfully Completed! I 21:19:06 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:05:01 I 21:19:06 Average Verify Rate: 15,268 KB/s (11.0x) - Maximum Verify Rate: 22,317 KB/s (16.1x) I 21:34:00 Close Request Acknowledged I 21:34:00 Closing Down... I 21:34:00 Shutting down SPTI... I 21:34:00 ImgBurn closed!

Afraid that's not it, it has an onboard creative card, tried a pci card with the same results. Works ok, but when running several programs at once it will BSOD on me.

Still got sound problems, works like a clock without a sound card running. Tried a different brand sound card, similar issues. I posted wrong earlier, my old rig didn't like sound blaster either, but the on-board generic sound worked fine on that. Ordered some new memory to see if that's the issue, it's the only hardware that's been on both machines.

Went well, thanks. Took a couple weeks off work, which was also nice. Will honeymoon somewhere hot in winter, Cuba looks atractive.