Tech Corner

[mr.hackcrag]

Yes. I connected the speakers with cable, but I'm not hearing any audio and I'm not sure why.

EDIT: Nevermind, I just had to turn the volume all the way up on the Audio Interface because my monitor volume was set so low.

I don't have a lot of space to have optimal spacing of monitors though.

https://i.postimg.cc/fT7kCpzs/1722384390342.jpg




I used that video to do the monitor settings, but not sure if they are the best way to do it? I'm also sometimes getting screen flickering after I made the changes.

[Pol]

What panel you picked?

You can also reset your settings and start again. However getting HDR and SDR profiles tuned "both at once" is a magic. Many panels don't allow proper HDR in such case, as they simply don't have sufficient hw for that. (But that shouldn't be your case)

https://tftcentral.co.uk/articles/hdr-b ... e-aw3225qf
https://www.dell.com/community/en/conve ... 2bfe809f85

Screen flickering after you made the changes? And these disappear in a while or these last? Can you turn DV off?

[mr.hackcrag]

I chose AQ3225QF.

Yes I can turn off DV as I suspect that is the problem. The screen will flicker when I move my mouse and click around or change tabs.

[Pol]

That sounds liked driver/app issue.

Does AQ3225QF come with any driver, is it the latest?
Are you using latest version of your graphic driver?

[mr.hackcrag]

Everything is up to date.

The flickering only happens when Dolby Vision is on.

https://www.dell.com/community/en/conve ... 6bf86f60c3

Should I set refresh rate to 120 instead of 240?

[Pol]

Try that but that thread is overall not much positive.

Anyway, for a mere desktop you can live even with 100Hz without noticing it.

In games however more is merrier and it should work on max. Otherwise you certainly overpaid.

[Pol]

And ofc, if you can live without DV it's also good. Just remember that I asked you

[Pol]

This, if you have Gaming PC with Win11, there's good advice to disable "Core Isolation". Might helps at more places and it's official advice from Microsoft.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/win ... 6f3f474613

[mr.hackcrag]

I watched HDR videos in youtube with dolby vision and there was no flickering. There was also no flickering when playing Wuthering Waves. Flickering only happened when doing desktop stuff outside of the HDR content.

https://i.postimg.cc/2ysK78bn/20240804-172439.jpg

What do I do with these that came with the speakers? I'm not sure what they are but they are like foam. I assume they are meant to reduce interference of sound, but I'm still not sure how to use them if at all.

[Pol]

Ah, Wuthering Waves I would also like to play

Yes, so it's basically windows problem, when these are in desktop mode. Hence, back to drivers or settings. Did you try to disable "Core Isolation"?

These works as mini legs/pads, to prevents transferring interferences from the repro to the desk, or otherwise. It's better to use them

[mr.hackcrag]

I think one of my PC fans is making a clicking/rattling sound. How do I identify which one and what do I do about it?

[Pitsu]

I think one of my PC fans is making a clicking/rattling sound. How do I identify which one and what do I do about it?

First would be to observe the fans during start-up or shut-down. If the sound comes because a fan is out of balance or collides something, it starts/slows down differently than others. If the computer is shut down, you may also try to push the blades gently with finger and see if one is more resistant than others. Many fans have individual power connectors that can be disconnected to further verify the origin of the sound, but it should not be needed and even a noisy fan is better than no fan for cooling. As to what to do about it, first would be to clean it from dust and ketchup and whatever the fan is covered with, but most likely it needs a replacement. It means you need to identfy the fan, its producer and model and try to find a replacement in stores.

[Pol]

I think one of my PC fans is making a clicking/rattling sound. How do I identify which one and what do I do about it?

Check of presence of cable/s in vicinity of the cooler's blades. Rattling sound is very apt description for blades constantly touching it.

If you can see the cable, just tie it somewhere else.

Otherwise all what Pitsu said.

[mr.hackcrag]

https://i.postimg.cc/445Rgnh5/20241002-235631.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/Gm6ZQyZc/20241002-235626.jpg

I couldn't isolate the sound. I thought it was that white fan just by the hearing test, but I spun it with my hands and it didn't make any sound. There were two fans on the top cover of the pc that also spun with no sound by hand. I didn't try spinning the GPU fans or the AIO fans because it didn't look there were any wires near those. Any thoughts?

[Pitsu]

The noise may appear only at higher speeds. Manual spinning may help to identify if there is a direct collision of blades with a loose wire or something. Additionally, if giving the fan a manual spin, observe the time it takes to stop. Unbalanced/dirty/damaged fan usually stops much faster than those in perfect order. If it still does not help, then you can try to disconnect power to fans (only on fan at time), and listen to the results. Disconnecting a noisy fan is not a solution to the noise problem of course, as the computer needs cooling.
The power cable that needs to be disconnected from motherboard is something like that:

[mr.hackcrag]

The sounds do not happen all the time. It starts and stops which makes me think it is not about cables but something else. Maybe fan bearing? It's quite a mystery...

[Pol]

Fun bearing doesn't do raggling sound usually.

When it's heard, when the compuer is in load CPU/GPU or at some other circumstances?

[mr.hackcrag]

Right now, it hasn't made any noise for two days and I didn't do anything. This is the longest time it's gone without making a noise since I started experiencing the problem.

[Pol]

According nVIDIA Security Bulletin you should upgrade your graphical drivers. There was patched a serious flaw, which could grant an elevated access to non-privileged user.

NVIDIA GPU Display Driver for Windows and Linux contains a vulnerability which could allow a privileged attacker to escalate permissions. A successful exploit of this vulnerability might lead to code execution, denial of service, escalation of privileges, information disclosure, and data tampering.

CVE: CVE‑2024‑0126,CVE‑2024‑0117,CVE‑2024‑0118,CVE‑2024‑0119,CVE‑2024‑0120,CVE‑2024‑0121,CVE‑2024‑0127,CVE‑2024‑0128
Affected: All driver versions prior to 566.03

[Pol]

With Windows 10/11 you are getting better support with multiple monitors and virtual desktops, yet the functionality si incomplete.

Keyboard shortcuts:
Switch apps to multiple monitors: Select app + Win+Shift+←|→

Browser - FF
Focus Search Window Ctrl+L
Windows Manager
Switching tabs

Opera
Flow



Recommended extending apps:
PowerToys
Start11/OpenShell
PackageManager+UI
WSL
TeraCopy
FreeCommander
7-Zip
PC Manager
zVirtualDesktop - Free, you can support its development on Patreon. Allows adding keyboard shortcuts to moving windows among desktop for virtual desktop.
MSKLC
IrfanView
Altap Salamander
WinSCP
Process Lasso
SearchMyFiles


--WIP--