rls669

Reply to computer technology chat in Off-Topic Stardock Forums

[quote] BTW, according to the BIOS, the CPU is idling around 100F so it runs even cooler than my Athlon, if that's possible. It used to be you couldn't keep your CPU cool enough, now they hardly even need fans. [/quote]That's not true. First, older CPUs didn't have nearly as much difference in power consumption/heat output between idle and load states as newer ones do. And second, when a C2D idles, it's running at a reduced multiplier (and possibly reduced voltage, can't re

Reply to computer technology chat in Off-Topic Stardock Forums

Gotcha. On that subject, it appears that the best performing heatsinks have copper bases and heatpipes, and aluminum fins. The [link="http://www.thermalright.com/a_page/main_product_si128_se.htm"]Thermalright SI-128SE[/link] is a really nice unit, what separates it from other Thermalrights is that it shares the IFX-14's extremely robust mounting system. Take a look at the installation page to see what I mean. Plus it's got mounting options for Intel and AMD, and enough performance to

Reply to computer technology chat in Off-Topic Stardock Forums

If you're concerned about the mounting system, why not ditch the Zalman and go with one that has a better system instead? The 7500 doesn't cool any better than the stock hsf when the fan's turned down to comparable noise levels anyway.

Reply to computer technology chat in Off-Topic Stardock Forums

The stock Core2 hsf occupies about 1/6 the total volume of the heatsink in my pic above :D Of course, that is quite an extreme example. The AMD stock heatsink can get away with being smaller than Intel's because of its far superior design -- big copper base and heatpipes compared to teeny little base and no heatpipes. I've never owned an both Intel and AMD cpus of the same generation, but I've had an even mix of them over time and it seems the AMD stock hsf has always been much bette

Reply to computer technology chat in Off-Topic Stardock Forums

Heh, the Core2 heatsink is montstrous? It's very small compared a decent aftermarket HSF. It might seem large compared to older generation heatsinks, but that's not really relevent. It's just barely adequate for a non-overclocked quad, not to mention having a poor noise/performance ratio even with its poor performance. The stock socket 939 cooler with the heatpipes looks like a much better unit. I also hate Intel's stock heatsink retention mechanism with those spring loaded plastic pins. I

Reply to Beta 3 Terror Stars in Beta Reports Stardock Forums

[quote] WWW Link [wikipedia] BTW my argument is not "inaccurate". You may not agree wit it, but it is by no means inaccurate lol. [/quote] I don't understand what you're trying to prove here. Your link shows exactly how minimal a carrier's defenses are.

Reply to Beta 3 Bugs in Beta Reports Stardock Forums

Right click on the Arcaen tech Planetary Fortification, then mouse over the Space Cannon's +50% bonus and it says "string not found".

Reply to Found a maybe good bug till fixed in Galactic Civilizations II Stardock Forums

This is fixed in 1.80f.

Reply to Beta 3 Terror Stars in Beta Reports Stardock Forums

[quote] I sorry to say your analogy is flawed by its own strengths Have you seen the AA/Anti Missile batteries on a Aircraft Carrier? [/quote]So what? An aircraft carrier has less defenses than a frigate or destroyer. It's an [I]offensive[/I] weapon. An unescorted carrier [B][I]is[/I][/B] a sitting duck, that's why the bulk of the remainder of the navy is devoted to protecting them one way or another, whether by radar picket, ASW, or

Reply to Beta 3 Bugs in Beta Reports Stardock Forums

Another typo: the Beam Weapon Theory description uses "ordinance" instead of "ordnance".

Reply to No Alliances possible with tech trading off in Beta Reports Stardock Forums

[quote]If you are playing totally freestyle, I don't see why you'd ever turn off tech trading[/quote]Simple -- I don't like the gameplay with tech trading on; I've hated it in every game I've ever played that incorporated the concept. Trade goods + trade routes are enough trading for me.

Reply to computer technology chat in Off-Topic Stardock Forums

Not recommending piracy at all, but if you'd like hassle free use of the software you've paid for, Windows Genuine Advantage is trivially easy to disable without compromising access to updates.

Reply to Effective TA Yor and Iconian strategies in Strategies Stardock Forums

Once you get the improvements that are like having Economic and Manufacturing capitals on each planet and some good weapons tech to balance out the awesome defense, the Iconians appear to be unstoppable. Playing on Painful/Large galaxy, the Drengin and Korath both declared war on me and I was able to survive by turtling and letting my "inferior" ships with their high HP and +100 repair absorb the assault until I built up enough forces to invade a planet. Stole their best missile tech when I in

Reply to Beta 3 (Ver 088(b).003) -- Influence Bug? in Beta Reports Stardock Forums

Forgot to add, the planet stops revolting as soon as the agent is nullified.

Beta 3 (Ver 088(b).003) -- Influence Bug? in Beta Reports Stardock Forums

Playing as the Iconians. Got a foreign agent on a Precursor Archive and a few turns later I got a GNN notice that the planet is revolting because of Terran cultural influence. As you can see from the screenshots the Terrans shouldn't have much influence here so I'm assuming the foreign agent on an influence bonus improvement is bugged somehow. [IMG]http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u287/rls669/influence1.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u287/rls669/influence

Reply to convince me to buy this game... in Galactic Civilizations II Stardock Forums

[quote]As for the forum, well- my biggest complaint about Stardock is the confusing and mediocre forum system. [/quote]I've experienced quite a few custom forum systems and none of them have been anywhere near as good as a regular vbulletin type forum. There are some wheels that don't need to be re-invented.

Reply to convince me to buy this game... in Galactic Civilizations II Stardock Forums

I think you might scare everyone off with such a huge and detailed list of requests and requirements :) I'm not even going to try to answer, except to say that I've played all the Civ games (and SMAC) and like GalCiv II better than any of them. TA requires GalCiv Gold (or DL plus the DA expansion). Even in beta I think TA contains more new content than all the Civ expansions I've seen put together. However, if you like BTS then you might find GalCiv's diplomacy the most limited part

Reply to beta3 now on stardock in Beta Reports Stardock Forums

I'm loving the Iconians with all their unique buildings and techs.

Beta 3 Bugs in Beta Reports Stardock Forums

Xeno Persuasion -- in the tech description it says TODO: this is a new tech for Twilight

Reply to beta3 now on stardock in Beta Reports Stardock Forums

Is there a changelog somewhere?

Reply to computer technology chat in Off-Topic Stardock Forums

[quote] However, at this point, parts are still too expensive considering performance isn't a whole lot better than a Q6600 Core 2 Quad platform. [/quote]Change "not a whole lot better" to "not quite as good" and it would be more accurate. Phenom is, on average, just a little slower clock-for-clock than the Core2 quads . . . and AMDs clock speed tops out where Intel's begins. Then consider that the Q6600 is soon to be eclipsed by the cheap 2.66ghz Q9450 Yorkdale which is faster than P

Reply to FURIOUSLY MALCONTENT in Game Talk Stardock Forums

[quote] I think a game that only had the tactical view some have professed here would be reviewed poorly and sell accordingly.[/quote]Exactly. Many buyers don't read forums or even reviews -- they pick up the box and look at the pretty pictures. But even so, GalCiv is hardly concentrating on the graphics to the detriment of gameplay. Nice as the new graphics are, they are rudimentary compared to the current state of the art and the system requirements reflect this.

Reply to FURIOUSLY MALCONTENT in Game Talk Stardock Forums

I've got enough graphics horsepower to play the game at high res with AA and AF cranked right up . . . and I still play in tactical mode almost all the time because I find it hard to tell what's going on otherwise. I'd like to see an option to replace tactical mode icons with a glowing outline around units, anomalies etc so I can play zoomed out in full 3d without missing anything.

Reply to Jagged, um... Knife? in Beta Reports Stardock Forums

[quote]the Restaurant is buildable by the Yor.[/quote]If they cook like Bender does on Futurama, this should result in an influence penalty.

Reply to computer technology chat in Off-Topic Stardock Forums

[quote] I'm not sure what Intel is using on theirs, but AMD's HSFs use thermal transfer pads that can be rather sticky, so trying to yank them off can result in ripping the CPU right out of the socket (ruining it). [/quote]Intel's new cpu retention system is beefy enough that you'd probably pull the socket loose from the board before you pulled the cpu from the socket