Frustrating technology

[Chris Dodkin]

We all need it, and it's great when it's all working.. but when it goes wrong it's a pain in the arse!

First I had my web hosting service go south - ZangZing is closing down, so I had to download every folder and file from their host servers, and start re-loading them all into Flickr.

Just a laborious process - and of course it still means that every photo i posted here will vanish in 30 days when their servers close down, and the URLs no longer work!

Then, in the middle of uploading to Flickr my MacPro froze.

I blamed the Flickr software, and went to restart the machine - no go

I played around all night, and eventually got it running.

It started the next morning, but then froze again after a few hours - this time I tried reinstalling the OS, but that didn't fix it

Finally I turned to GOOGLE to see if I could figure it out - RESULT!

Apparently my original MacPro came with a cr@ppy ATI video card which eventually dies in exactly this manner.

Of course they don't make this video card any more, but intrepid Mac users have figured out that the card for the 2010 MacPro also works in the old machine.

You've got to love the InterNet - not only did it tell me what the problem was, it gave me a solution, AND I was able to locate a card in my local Maplin type store (Fry's) just 10 mins from my house.

45 mins later - new card installed, and MacPro vacuumed out to remove 6 years of dust - harmony is restored

It's even faster - so an unintentional upgrade.

What I don't get is - why do they make video cards look all tech and fancy?

You only see them for 2 mins before you install them - then you never see them again!

 

[Paul Lange]

They look fancy for all those computer nerds that like peep holes in their computer cases. The same thing happened at work at the same time we were installing Lion Server. What a load of crap that was but thats another story. Probably found the same site as you did.

 

[Kev Pugh]

Now Chris I'd a thought you would have had one of those fancy perspex cases.............or am I the only saddoe here???? Actually I really don't have one.:d but when the guts are so fancy then we surely should so we can adore where our hard earned had ended up

 

[Larry Bolch]

Marketing, for one thing and cooling for another.

Then there are tech aficionados—a lot of people apparently bought Fuji X100 cameras on the basis of their "beauty", only to discover the camera was way beyond their capabilities—judging from the prattling in the forums. And yes, computer cases are available with windows as well as Windows.

Obviously, a fascination with technology for its own sake is nothing new. This classic send-up goes all the way back to 1957! Amazing how fresh it has remained.

Flanders And Swann ~ Song Of Reproduction ~ (1957) - YouTube

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Best mod for a PC case I've seen...

 

[Larry Bolch]

My P4 could do that without the charcoal. Nice during long cold winters here in Canuckistan.

- - - Updated - - -

My P4 could do that without the charcoal. Nice during long cold winters here in Canuckistan.

 

[Paul Lange]

The MacPro cases are much better for that, they have all those tiny air holes in them. They really bring through the air and get the coals going.

 

[Dave Green]

I fixed my dead MacPro graphics card by baking it in the oven.

I kid ye not!

Have a Google for "baking video card in oven" - it works! LOL!

 

[Hamish Gill]

That's **** about all your pix on the forum Chris!
The other stuff sucks for you of course ...

 

[Chris Dodkin]

I fixed my dead MacPro graphics card by baking it in the oven.

I kid ye not!

Have a Google for "baking video card in oven" - it works! LOL!

Dave - I saw references to people baking their cards to reflux the solder!

Also saw that for some the card still eventually flaked out due to failing capacitors

So I decided to take the easy (but more expensive) route

Now I've set Photoshop to use the graphics card for processing, I'm even more chuffed with my unexpected upgrade - nice performance bump

Silver lining and all that

- - - Updated - - -

That's **** about all your pix on the forum Chris!
The other stuff sucks for you of course ...

I'm posting all the same files to Flickr, so as threads come around I'll try and edit in the new URLs

That should keep me busy!