Course Work Survey

I need to get a massive amount of individuals 'data', so if you would be so kind as to fill out this survey I would be very grateful :smile:

Oh ... and you can banter on any gripes, complaints, or anything as such about the survey here as well ...

"Is it necessary to have several case fans (for various reasons)."

having a choice 'disagree' doesnt really make sense, since you arer asking a question, not making a statement that can be agreed with.

I must have writen it incorrectly when transfering it. the "it" and "is" should be swapped. Thanks for pointing it out.

[EDIT]
fixed.
[/EDIT]

Q3: i put 50/50, a 5400rpm hard drive is faster than a 7200rpm hard drive :razz:

Well any factor can be limiting on any system... if you have the best computer in the world, but a 1 megabyte/second hard drive, it will run slow as hell. if you have amazing PC with 64 megs of RAM, it will run slow... I think there is no particular thing that can make a system, but loads of things that can really limit a system that would otherwise be good.

I agree, this survey doesn't really work in my opinion - there is no correct answer to any questions (eg. RAM is a major determinant, but not the major determinant).

I think the point in the survey is your opinion and how much people know about such things, if it was actually technical there are better ways to find this stuff out, e.g. benchmarks. And Reno, you can get that point across just by agreeing with several of the determinants!!

i disagreed with all of the statements claiming that certain individual parts were the determinant factor, and could only go 50/50 that they play an equal part. what will affect a system really depends on how its put together in the first place. but you already know that. :razz:

the only one that i could strongly agree with is that dust can play a major role in performance. i know this to my cost. :sad:

[edit] and forms that reset to blank if you missed a field have always bugged me. /me has sideways glance at Lep too :rolleyes: [/edit]

I guess so Lep, but it read to me like your meant to almost choose one...but I suppose if that was the case it would have been "What is the major determinant in computer performance?" with each component as answers.

The problem with everything is that I have to quantify the data. So, technically you do get a score

But it's no big deal. (Jeff has the right idea though), You really have to pay attention to the wording of the statements. (The system you own doesn't work into the calculations, if you were wondering).

The whole point of the first three questions is that there is NO DETERMINANT factor for speeding up your computer.

Secondly, 50/50 means, you're inbetweening agreeing and disagreeing with the statement's correctness.

Technically there are right answers. And the more you know about this stuff, the better you 'score' you'll get on it.

Anyway, this is for a class so I can use the data to write my final paper. So, keep on taking it. (Please don't take it more then once!).

and thanks again :smile:

[EDIT]
If you do not have an occupation put "Unemployed". If you are just going to school put "student"

I have two from one person that has "n/a" as a major.

See, I'm splitting the data up based on the major/occupation, so ... I'm going to count that as unemployed ... but that's just a guess at what they are :\
[/EDIT]

well, ive filled it out, very intresting...

University work?

done and done :smile:

I put 50/50 for those first three questions since they are all important componants, but each useless by themselves.

I know it's just for data collection purposes to further your work/project, but a badly written/phrased survey has the potential to produce completely "skew-wiff" results...

Just a thought, the phrasing is a little off on the questions IMO.

what's "x86"?

A computer type of architecture created by Intel in the mid-late 70's.
The other architectures (on that survey) are: L68, SPARC, and IBM360.

But what is most commonly known as a "PC" uses the x86 architecture.

Which one does Alpha come under? Not that I have that, just interested.

RISC.

That one took some architecture class notes

x86 = 286, 386, 486, 586, 686.

Should I include machines that arent working? I guess not...

EDIT: After reading those 2 posts made while I typed this one :biggrin: I figured out that x86/windows still applies to me. :dorky:

ooh i see;so Pentium is a 586, i suppose; i started with a 286... that was so slow.... and i used to play "prince of persia".... :smile: good old times

ooh i see;so Pentium is a 586, i suppose; i started with a 286... that was so slow.... and i used to play "prince of persia".... :smile: good old times

...Not really. A Pentium chip is a Pentium ... the architecture that the board and chip uses is x86. 256, 386, 486, etc. were models based on 'generations' of the architecture, if I'm not mistaken.
However, I don't remember the first x86 machines name. But it was 8-bit addressable (at this point in time, the processor speed did represent the total performance speed of the computer). Then they made it 16-bit, and then in the early-mid eighties, they were able to up it to 32-bit. Now, we're going into 64. Oddly enough, 64-bit computers (for the most part) are not x86.

The AMD Athlon 64 is though :smile: (As well as the FX and FX-53).

There are a bunch of architectures, so it's best not to try to label them on your own, just look them up.

Surprisingly, someone who took that survey had an IBM360 somewhere! I wonder if he programs hardware on it ... if he does ... he must be a genius

Oh, just a little trivial 'fact'. Next to the IBM 360, the x86 architecture is the ugliest architecture to date.
It's rather inefficient, but, its only saving grace is that it's consistent.

In the 70s someone, I forget who, I want to say Borland, had a stack machine. Basically the machine ran off of a stack, only. It wasn't byte addressable. So, you had to push and pop to send and get information. It was a fairly simple machine and when programmed properly it blew away the x86 ... however, if you're familure with the stack, you'll note that it is NOT constant. So, with the machine you couldn't really rely on certain speeds.

The test is poorly structured and does not provide accurate information about how much someone knows about computers - the way the questions are worded imply that the answer must be in a certain form, and that form is wrong. It all depends on the context.

Kain said:
and i used to play "prince of persia".... :smile: good old times

Hehe, i got rid of that last week, i downloaded it using winmx, it was a 4 meg download

Intel's 8086 was the first x86 processor. Its competitor was the motorola 68000, considered by many to be vastly superior. For some unknown reason, when IBM was making the first 'IBM PC', they chose the 8086 instead of the 68000, even though the 68000 was technically better, and did not cost more. This is the reason the 'ugly' x86 is dominant.

RISC isn't the answer I'm looking for, I don't think. A processor employs either RISC or CISC... Being either of these isn't a defining thing afaik. Crono?

And I thought I was a computer genius.... This is all chinese to me; I'm gonna stick to easier issues, like understanding how a pop-corn machine works.

does not provide accurate information about how much someone knows about computers - the way the questions are worded imply that the answer must be in a certain form

They're not questions. They're statements. You mark at what level you agree or disagree. It does imply how much someone knows, since there are more correct responses then others. These statements are not really matters of opinion.

that form is wrong.

If you don't like the survey, then don't take it. I'm not changing the damn thing. :rolleyes:

It all depends on the context.

You're right it does depend on context, and I purposfully made it that way, you need to actually read the statements. The 20 people I tried this on before I put it up online didn't have any of these 'problems', so I guess, deal with it :razz:

The test is poorly structured

You're poorly constructed!

Jeff, hmmm ... oh ... Whoops, I gave you the processor type

So, the Alpha's processor is ISAs (uses RISC), I'll look up what the architecture of the computer is ... it appears to be AXP. :smile:

Kain said:
ooh i see;so Pentium is a 586, i suppose; i started with a 286... that was so slow.... and i used to play "prince of persia".... :smile: good old times

It would make sence. Pentium... I think came after the 486 series computers.. SX and DX. And Pentium comes from Penta, meanning 5. Unno.

Anyways, Crono, your survey, is, completed. That dust question really got me, whats your take on that one?

I think it does affect performance, but it depends on the quantity of dust.

Dust covered components can't dissipate heat so easily, so they run hotter. This could cause instability or shortened component lifespan.

AXP? Never heard of it :smile: Oh well.

i lost a cpu once, when a layer of dust like a small carpet tile built up in the heatsink. i check/clean it regularly now.

Yes, it can. Does it always, no.
Jeff's response is the reason why.

Dust covered components can't dissipate heat so easily, so they run hotter. This could cause instability or shortened component lifespan.

Jeff, yeah, neither had I.
I'm not familure with the Alpha computer though, so.

Man, I hope it's keyboard isn't all screwy like the SPARC's. I laughed so hard when I saw it had an 'any' key

Crono said:
Jeff, yeah, neither had I.
I'm not framilure with the Alpha computer though, so.

I think you've been watching one too many FRAM oil filter commercials

Your fingers have never hit an extra key next to one of the keys you've pressed, thread spammer? :rolleyes:

Crono said:
Your fingers have never hit an extra key next to one of the keys you've pressed, thread spammer? :rolleyes:

Nope, not that I know of lol. :biggrin:

framilure, familiar... Do you use a dialing wand to type or something? :wink:

Crono said:
Your fingers have never hit an extra key next to one of the keys you've pressed, thread spammer? :rolleyes:

first off, WC's post was funny as royal hell it wasn't spam.. secondly, even without the extra letters, it looks spelled funny :razz:

crono, you excel at pointing out our trivial errors.. take a few punches you justly deserve as well.

no one will fault you for having them, but eventually they will tire of you denying you do it..

On the subject of dust, most good electrical shops and certain component suppliers will probably sell cans of compressed air (about ?2/?3/$5, something like that).

They are perfect for keeping on top of your dust problems inside the case, I heartily recommend you all buy a can and go spray liberally round your PC innards! Also, old, cheap paintbrushes are good for the job as well - as long as theyre fairly soft :smile:

That post comes under spam for me. I mean honestly, laughing at the fact somebody made a typo?

At least he made a joke about it...even if I don't really get it (as in I've never heard of FRAM oil filters, so its not really funny for me).

ReNo said:
At least he made a joke about it...even if I don't really get it (as in I've never heard of FRAM oil filters, so its not really funny for me).

it truly was funny, but must be colloquial



this particular filter, is the exact model i use in my ford tempo its a PH8A..

anywho's.. i laughed myself silly.. guess you have to be there sorta

I've never pointed out typing mistakes or 'trivial errors'.

Secondly, when have I ever made fun of anyone? If I did, then I did it with out knowing.

Without the 'r' it is spelt correctly, Orph :razz:

The 'r' is right above the 'f', Lep.

Gwil, Yeah, compressed air is pretty good. However, you have to make sure you don't let too much of the air in its liquid form hit the board or anything like that.

Weird though, since I was just thinking about going to buy a pack, a fan in my computer is making a weird noise, I think it's my chipset fan :\

Crono said:
I've never pointed out typing mistakes or 'trivial errors'.

all the freakin time, errors that are not wrong enuff to be corrected, or trivial :razz:

spelled correctly or typo, the funny thing was, wildcard made a particularly funny joke about a local product.. all the rest is moot.

i.. suffer from typo's endlessly.. my son has the good comp, the biggest i mean and it has the best keyboard.. this pc, my old 450 has a generic keyboard, the keys are made for a 6 year olds fingers.. tiny things they be..

anywho's take it for the well intended funny it was meant to be.. this site is currently suffering enuff from... ill received/understood comments :sad:

it has the best keyboard

Hardly a massive investment to buy a new keyboard is it? Especially if the one you have annoys you.

scary_jeff said:

it has the best keyboard

Hardly a massive investment to buy a new keyboard is it? Especially if the one you have annoys you.

whispers

the 450 is my wifes, she picked out everything..

winks

she has the nookie, i don't change her keyboard if i want to borrow that particular organ :wink:

Crono said:
Without the 'r' it is spelt correctly, Orph :razz:

so i take it that this is another word that no-one knew how to spell when they left on the mayflower. because as Lep said;

Leperous said:
framilure, familiar... Do you use a dialing wand to type or something? :wink:

Orph, it takes a lot to piss me off, so, I'm not going anywhere because WC only points out the typing spelling mistakes I make rather then the spelling mistakes I make from not knowing how to spell the word.

[insanity]
I'd also appretiate it if my thread was picked up off its burning derailed side and placed back on the track so we can get moving ... the chickens are coming soon. We musnt be here when they arrive. They are messengers for the monkeys, messengers of death.
[/insanity]

you're killing me crono.. i am truly laughing.. not at you, but with you.. at least i hope your are as well.

wildcards joke fit perfectly with the typo, who gives a rats ass why, or how you made the damned thing, its hilariously funny IF you want to see it as such.

lastly.. derailing threads is an obligation each member must take seriously, if you cannot derail at least one thread daily, you don't belong here.

get a sense of humor :biggrin:

I like the detail you go into with your personal life Orph...

Crono... you want the thread back on track, ignore the pointless not-even-funny 'jokes', and make an on-track post. What exactly do you want to add to the original discussion?

scary_jeff said:
I like the detail you go into with your personal life Orph...

it was.... a bit to much info i admit, there are after all a few minors about, but it was also a true comment as well.

sometimes its very hard to say what you want or need to say without being out right naughty.

still this is a site dedicated to a game that is rated ?? 17?

if i can't say a bit if naughty, then why are we hare exactly :heee:

i apologize for my comment to anyone i may have upset.. hopefully you will live long enuff to experience exactly what i said .

for the record though, i have no idea what this thread is or was before today.. i just arrived and saw that WC was being treated unfairly, and i might add, i would do the same for any of you if the circumstances dictated... if i recall, i have for both jeff and crono :/

Dude, Orph, its cool. My last post was a joke! (the murdering chickens should have been a clue) :smile:

If you want to feel better about it, take my survey!
(there's a link on the first page of the thread).