Hardware reviews

Short notes about some of the hardware I own. Sorry, there's nothing much to see here, as I seldom buy new hardware. Last update: 2012.

Wireless Keyboard for a Media Centre

Here are some things you may want to look out for if you want to buy a wireless keyboard as a remote substitute for your Media Centre.

• Does it have modifier keys (most important the shift key) on both sides of the keyboard?
• Does it have an off-button to turn of the computer?
• Are all important keys be big enough or stand out enough to be easyily findable without looking?
• Does it have standard rechargable batteries?
• If it doesnt: can the build-in battery be changed, or do you need a new remote if the battery goes dead?
• Does it have a scrollwheel or another method emulating a scrollwheel (e.g. via touchpad)?
• Does it have numeric keys?
• Does it have a backlight?
• I've read that some keyboards need a few seconds to wake up after not being used for a while. This should suck when used as a PVR remote control

GeneralKeys Micro-MCE-Funktastatur QWERTZ mit Touch-Pad "MFT-276PRO"

This keyboard is not bad, but not great either. But it was cheap, and it's OK for its price.

• The Enter key is too small
• only one shift key
• no functions keys (F1-F12)
• only works if aimed directly at the receiver. Apart from that the range is OK.
• can scroll via touchpad
• there's a short delay after it was not being used used for a while. Takes a few seconds to work after powered on, but that's no bother.
• no backlight
• no off-button

It works out of the box under GNU/Linux. The USB ID is 05a4:1700 Ortek Technology, Inc., the Linux module is called hid-ortek (Prompt “Ortek PKB-1700/WKB-2000/Skycable wireless keyboard and mouse trackpad”, symbol HID_ORTEK).

See also

• A good review of the Lenovo N5901
• Review of the Cideko Air
• Another Review of the Cideko Air
• Ad for the GeneralKeys "MFT-276PRO" (the one above)

Misc

ASRock 960GM/U3S3 FX

• can not boot from the two USB-3 ports
• USB-2 ports collide with DVI connector (but works with some force)
• lm_sensors: w83627ehf (NCT6776F), fan speed can be controlled via /sys/
• ~ 15 seconds to reach GRUB from a cold boot
• ~ 12 seconds to reach GRUB from a warm boot

lspci output

00:00.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] RS780 Host Bridge
00:01.0 PCI bridge: ASRock Incorporation Device 9602
00:05.0 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] RS780/RS880 PCI to PCI bridge (PCIE port 1)
00:06.0 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] RS780 PCI to PCI bridge (PCIE port 2)
00:07.0 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] RS780 PCI to PCI bridge (PCIE port 3)
00:12.0 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 USB OHCI0 Controller
00:12.1 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI SB7x0 USB OHCI1 Controller
00:12.2 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 USB EHCI Controller
00:13.0 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 USB OHCI0 Controller
00:13.1 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI SB7x0 USB OHCI1 Controller
00:13.2 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 USB EHCI Controller
00:14.0 SMBus: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI SBx00 SMBus Controller (rev 3c)
00:14.1 IDE interface: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 IDE Controller
00:14.2 Audio device: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA)
00:14.3 ISA bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 LPC host controller
00:14.4 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI SBx00 PCI to PCI Bridge
00:14.5 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 USB OHCI2 Controller
00:18.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 10h Processor HyperTransport Configuration
00:18.1 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 10h Processor Address Map
00:18.2 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 10h Processor DRAM Controller
00:18.3 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 10h Processor Miscellaneous Control
00:18.4 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 10h Processor Link Control
01:05.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI RS780L [Radeon HD 3000]
02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168B PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller (rev 06)
03:00.0 SATA controller: ASMedia Technology Inc. ASM1062 Serial ATA Controller (rev 01)
04:00.0 USB controller: Etron Technology, Inc. EJ168 USB 3.0 Host Controller (rev 01)

Asrock web page

Kiss Quiet KS-450US

This power supply comes from a company named "Kiss Quiet". It's from the Ultra Silent line.
It's not quiet! Don't buy.

350W Enermax ECO80+

Really silent. See also this review

Useful links

• Supported lm_sensors devices
• CPU database
• Hardware with free drivers
• Printing with free drivers
• Printers supported by HP's free driver
• Hardware Reviews (TechPowerUp)
• Hardware Reviews (Overclock3D)

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