A few questions

jtmzac

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I'm a bit late but I finally got around to trying windows 8. After the initial shock was over I've managed to accept most of the changes.

I would like to ask if there is any way to fix a few problems I have with the new OS:

1. I can't find and way to make the metro menu start on a different screen to my main display. I run 3x 1920x1080 in 5760x1080 with the centre screen as the main display and it's extremely annoying that the metro menu is on my main screen whenever I start the computer.

2. I can't find any way to have the taskbar clock on all 3 taskbars. This seems like such a simple feature and since I run all my fullscreen programs on my main display it seems necessary especially with the next problem.

3. I nearly always run fullscreen programs on my main display which means the clock is hidden. Because of my monitor setup I run everything in windowed fullscreen when I can. In windows 7 I can just click on another screen and the taskbar would appear over the windowed fullscreen program on my main display. This doesn't happen anymore. It's extremely annoying as it's how I tell what is the active window especially since the IE10 colours are less contrasting between active and non-active in windows 8.

Any help with these issues would be appreciated.

I think overall windows 8 has a lot of good ideas but has alienated "enthusiast" users with a lack of customisation and too much focus on the metro interface which is fairly useless for everyone except the most basic user.

The lack of a shutdown button has and will confuse everyone. I know how to make a batch file and put it on the links bar on the task bar but most won't.
 
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The lack of a shutdown button has and will confuse everyone. I know how to make a batch file and put it on the links bar on the task bar but most won't.

The shutdown button is in Metro, bring up the charms, click settings and you'll see the power options.
 

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    Windows 7, Windows 8 RP
You can move Metro to another monitor by moving the mouse to the top of the screen of any metro app. When the mouse cursor turns to a hand, click and drag the metro window to the other monitor. Now when you hit the windows key, metro appears on that monitor.

Regarding the clock, it's relatively easy to see it simply by accessing the charms bar, either by moving the mouse to a corner, or by using windowskey-c.
 

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    Windows 8.1 Pro
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    Intel i7 3770K
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    Gigabyte Z77X-UD4 TH
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    16GB DDR3 1600
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    nVidia GTX 650
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    Onboard Audio
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    Auria 27" IPS + 2x Samsung 23"
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    2560x1440 + 2x 2048x1152
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    Corsair m4 256GB, 2 WD 2TB drives
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    Antec SOLO II
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    Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000
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    Logitech MX
The shutdown button is in Metro, bring up the charms, click settings and you'll see the power options.
I'm well aware of where the shutdown button is. I was simply pointing out its harder to access then it used to be and the new location will confuse people.

You can move Metro to another monitor by moving the mouse to the top of the screen of any metro app. When the mouse cursor turns to a hand, click and drag the metro window to the other monitor. Now when you hit the windows key, metro appears on that monitor.

Regarding the clock, it's relatively easy to see it simply by accessing the charms bar, either by moving the mouse to a corner, or by using windowskey-c.

I know how to move metro to another screen. I want it to start on another screen by default. It always starts on my main display when I boot up the computer.

As for the clock I always have the taskbar showing on my other two monitors. It seems rather silly to have to use a keybinding to read the clock when you could just duplicate the clock onto the other taskbars.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit & Windows 8 RP 8400 64bit
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    Intel Core i7 3770k 4.5Ghz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Maximus V Extreme
    Memory
    4x4GB Corsair 1600Mhz 7-8-8-24
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GTX680
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster Recon 3D Fatal1ty Champion
    Monitor(s) Displays
    3x Dell U2311H 23" IPS
    Screen Resolution
    3x 1920x1080 in Extended 5760x1080
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    Corsair F120, Samsung 830 256GB, 3x Hitachi 2TB 5400 in Raid 5
    PSU
    Corsair AX850
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    Corsair 800D
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    Custom CPU Water Loop
    Keyboard
    Logitech G19
    Mouse
    Razer Mamba 2012
    Internet Speed
    30/1 Mbps
It takes all of 1 second to move it to another monitor, is it really that much of an inconvenience? Most people don't use the start screen much anyways due to taskbar pinning their common apps.
 

My Computer

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  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    CPU
    Intel i7 3770K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z77X-UD4 TH
    Memory
    16GB DDR3 1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GTX 650
    Sound Card
    Onboard Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Auria 27" IPS + 2x Samsung 23"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440 + 2x 2048x1152
    Hard Drives
    Corsair m4 256GB, 2 WD 2TB drives
    Case
    Antec SOLO II
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000
    Mouse
    Logitech MX
It takes all of 1 second to move it to another monitor, is it really that much of an inconvenience? Most people don't use the start screen much anyways due to taskbar pinning their common apps.

I don't know, put yourself in his place. Would YOU want to have to move it EVERY time you turn on your machine??? Sounds like a PITA to me. It should just stay where you put it no?

I can see maybe having the metro screen on a secondary monitor and using live tiles is as a replacement for the missing gadgets while 99% of what I run is on the desktop on the primary.
 

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Since I boot my computer about once a month, I do several things when I boot each time. It's not a problem for me. But really, how often do you boot? Especially considering hybrid sleep?
 

My Computer

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    Windows 8.1 Pro
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    Intel i7 3770K
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    Gigabyte Z77X-UD4 TH
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    16GB DDR3 1600
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    nVidia GTX 650
    Sound Card
    Onboard Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Auria 27" IPS + 2x Samsung 23"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440 + 2x 2048x1152
    Hard Drives
    Corsair m4 256GB, 2 WD 2TB drives
    Case
    Antec SOLO II
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000
    Mouse
    Logitech MX
Heck I boot up anywhere from five to six times a day ... and sometimes more. When I've finished a session, I turn the power off at the wall, (having had two PCs nuked at the same time by a lightning strike); and press the start button on the PC to empty the capacitors of residual current. This prolongs the life of the solid state elctronic components and capacitors.

I never use sleep or hibernation.
 

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You do realize that you put more stress on those circuits by turning them off and on all the time than you do by leaving them on.

But regardless, hybrid sleep allows you to do that and still recover exactly where you were (it treats it as hibernation).
 

My Computer

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    Gigabyte Z77X-UD4 TH
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    nVidia GTX 650
    Sound Card
    Onboard Audio
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    Auria 27" IPS + 2x Samsung 23"
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    2560x1440 + 2x 2048x1152
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    Corsair m4 256GB, 2 WD 2TB drives
    Case
    Antec SOLO II
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    Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000
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    Logitech MX
That's not what I was taught when I was doing my Electronic Engineering Degree.

From first hand experience my son and I upgraded to the same WiFi modem a few years ago. He left his on permanently. I turned mine off at the wall after every use. His carked it about a year ago and mine is still going strong.
 

My Computer

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  • OS
    Windows 7 Ult Reatil & Win 8 Pro OEM
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    Built as DIY
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    6 core 12 thread & 4 core
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    Inel Extreme & Intel standard
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    12GB & 8GB
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    3 top end SLI linked & onboard
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    In built in graphics card & onboard
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    24 & 23 inch Samsung LED backlit
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    High def
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    Corsair Force 128GB SATA3 SSDs in each machine. Plus several external USB3 and eSATA spinner HDs
I shutdown and boot up my computer a few times per day. I simply don't like hibernate and sleep as I have had many problems with them before. My computer only takes a minute to turn on so the speed increase from hibernate and sleep isn't a benefit.

Even if the hardware is stressed more from a shutdown then starting up the OS must be safer with a shutdown compared to a sleep/hibernate. Hardware stress doesn't even matter. You can tell how old most of my hardware is in my pc specs and I'm planning to do a complete upgrade very soon. If my hardware was going to fail overclocking would be the cause, not shutting down the computer instead of hibernating.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit & Windows 8 RP 8400 64bit
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    Intel Core i7 3770k 4.5Ghz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Maximus V Extreme
    Memory
    4x4GB Corsair 1600Mhz 7-8-8-24
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GTX680
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster Recon 3D Fatal1ty Champion
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    3x Dell U2311H 23" IPS
    Screen Resolution
    3x 1920x1080 in Extended 5760x1080
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    Corsair F120, Samsung 830 256GB, 3x Hitachi 2TB 5400 in Raid 5
    PSU
    Corsair AX850
    Case
    Corsair 800D
    Cooling
    Custom CPU Water Loop
    Keyboard
    Logitech G19
    Mouse
    Razer Mamba 2012
    Internet Speed
    30/1 Mbps
It's quite easy to prove to yourself that electrical equipment fails most at the point its turned on. How many times have you turned on a light switch and had the bulb blow right then and there. How many times have you had it blow when it was in use? The former more often than the latter I will bet.

I've also had more power supplies blow when turning on the computer (though this is mitigated somewhat in modern power supplies because they have constant voltage, but if you turn it off at the wall that doesn't help). Hard drives also fail most often when powering up.

I didn't say anything about shutting down the computer vs hibernating. Hibernating causes a shutdown, and is identical to powering off. However sleep doesn't shut down all the current to the system, so there is no major surge when powering it up as there is with cutting off the power at the wall.
 

My Computer

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  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    CPU
    Intel i7 3770K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z77X-UD4 TH
    Memory
    16GB DDR3 1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GTX 650
    Sound Card
    Onboard Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Auria 27" IPS + 2x Samsung 23"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440 + 2x 2048x1152
    Hard Drives
    Corsair m4 256GB, 2 WD 2TB drives
    Case
    Antec SOLO II
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000
    Mouse
    Logitech MX
If my hardware was going to fail overclocking would be the cause, not shutting down the computer instead of hibernating.
I would certainly agree that over clocking would be a much bigger factor in solid state circuitry degeneration. But even so, electronic components still have a finite number of hours usage. The stress due to shut down/reboot is not a factor compared to continuous use with either no shutdown or sleep/hiberation. And that especially applies to capacitors.
 

My Computer

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    Windows 7 Ult Reatil & Win 8 Pro OEM
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    6 core 12 thread & 4 core
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    Inel Extreme & Intel standard
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    12GB & 8GB
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    3 top end SLI linked & onboard
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    In built in graphics card & onboard
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    24 & 23 inch Samsung LED backlit
    Screen Resolution
    High def
    Hard Drives
    Corsair Force 128GB SATA3 SSDs in each machine. Plus several external USB3 and eSATA spinner HDs
This entire discussion has become rather off topic and pointless since I replace my hardware more often then the average pc user. 2-3 years between upgrades is pushing it for me. I really don't think the wear from shutting down and turning on would apply in this short of a time period especially since my hardware is good quality stuff.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit & Windows 8 RP 8400 64bit
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 3770k 4.5Ghz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Maximus V Extreme
    Memory
    4x4GB Corsair 1600Mhz 7-8-8-24
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GTX680
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster Recon 3D Fatal1ty Champion
    Monitor(s) Displays
    3x Dell U2311H 23" IPS
    Screen Resolution
    3x 1920x1080 in Extended 5760x1080
    Hard Drives
    Corsair F120, Samsung 830 256GB, 3x Hitachi 2TB 5400 in Raid 5
    PSU
    Corsair AX850
    Case
    Corsair 800D
    Cooling
    Custom CPU Water Loop
    Keyboard
    Logitech G19
    Mouse
    Razer Mamba 2012
    Internet Speed
    30/1 Mbps
Most of my computer component failures come from hard shutdowns. :rolleyes:
 

My Computer

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  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro ($39.99 upgrade)
    Computer type
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    Home Built
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    Intel I5 3570K overclocked to 4.2ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus P8Z77-V LX
    Memory
    Cosrair DDR3-1600 (4 x 4gb)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GT 610 2GB
    Sound Card
    None
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC 27" LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1920x0180
    Hard Drives
    Seagate HDD 500gb (windows)
    Seagate HDD 1.5tb (media)
    Seagate HDD 1tb (media)
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    PSU
    CoolMax 700watt
    Case
    Cosiar R400 Carbide series
    Cooling
    Cool Master H212
    Keyboard
    Dell
    Mouse
    PowerUp 3 button mouse
    Internet Speed
    12mb down, 1mb up
    Other Info
    qty. (5) 120mm fans, four are monitored by motherboard.
    Logitech T650 Touchpad for touch screen gestures
I replace my hardware more often then the average pc user. 2-3 years between upgrades is pushing it for me. I really don't think the wear from shutting down and turning on would apply in this short of a time period especially since my hardware is good quality stuff.
:ditto:Yeah would have to agree with that in respect of good brand names, high quality control in manufacture and modern technology. I've never had a mobo componenet failure on a PC yet. But then I only use Intel/Intel mobo/CPU.

I've still got my original PC with Win98 operational on it, which I've kept for antiquity.
 

My Computer

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  • OS
    Windows 7 Ult Reatil & Win 8 Pro OEM
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Built as DIY
    CPU
    6 core 12 thread & 4 core
    Motherboard
    Inel Extreme & Intel standard
    Memory
    12GB & 8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    3 top end SLI linked & onboard
    Sound Card
    In built in graphics card & onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24 & 23 inch Samsung LED backlit
    Screen Resolution
    High def
    Hard Drives
    Corsair Force 128GB SATA3 SSDs in each machine. Plus several external USB3 and eSATA spinner HDs
I usually run my machines all the time, and I don't use sleep or hibernate. My concession to energy savings is allowing the monitor to shut off after about 15 minutes. I had a couple machines that ran virtually non-stop for 10+ years with very few problems. The main desktop I use now has run a long time (4 1/2 years, I think) without issues, and is usually shut down only for hardware maintenance (video and memory upgrade, and power supply upgrade).

I think this is one of those "your mileage may vary" situations.
 

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It's quite easy to prove to yourself that electrical equipment fails most at the point its turned on. How many times have you turned on a light switch and had the bulb blow right then and there. How many times have you had it blow when it was in use? The former more often than the latter I will bet.

I've also had more power supplies blow when turning on the computer (though this is mitigated somewhat in modern power supplies because they have constant voltage, but if you turn it off at the wall that doesn't help). Hard drives also fail most often when powering up.
There is no comparison between 240/120 volts mains current heating a light globe filament, contained in a vacuum to prevent oxidation, and the circuitry on a mobo. Each time a globe is switched on and used, the resistance is slightly increased. The greater the resistance the greater the running temperature of the filament. Eventually, the point is reached where the temperature differential between the off/on state of the filament is so large, the sudden increase in temperature on start up, as opposed to the constant temp while the globe is running, is so great it burns out the filament.

This is much more evident in the so called "long life, green friendly" energy saving halogen light globes, as opposed to the now banned tungsten filament globes. You only get the long life in halogen ones if you leave them on peramently, as opposed to many turn on/offs ... which kind of defeats the purpose. The only winners are the light globe manufacturers with cost of halogen globes being 3 to 4 times as much as tungsten ones.

The power box in a PC runs on mains current 240/120V, but contains a step down transformer which reduces the mother board current to a few volts. So the switch on from cold start for a mobo is such a small voltage it is negligible in terms of "shock power" due to overheating. The solid state IC chips also have a fairly high +/- % tolerance allowance for variations in voltage compared to normal electrical devices. However, they are susceptible to static electricity which has quite high voltages albeit only small current flow.

Therefore, it's no coincidence the main burn outs are in the power box at switch on. When a PC is only turned off by the GUI command using an electronic switch, the mains power is still flowing to the power box in the PC. And this constant "on" state wears it out quicker, and increases the potential for break down when the step down transformer comes into play when the PC is turned on! And if the step down transformer goes at boot up, it usually allows a high voltage overload current to the other components which is what fries your mobo, etc.

After over ten years of multiple switch on/offs at the mains, I've never lost a power supply or mobo. I attribute this to minimizing wear on the power box by turning off the power at the wall outlet with an in-line open-wire I/O switch between the wall outlet and the multiple socket power board and the PC, as opposed to simply turning off the PC with an onboard electronic switch.

Mains wall outlet --> inline I/O switch --> Power board with power cables --> PC, printer, modem, etc ... with the landline phone cable switched through the surge protected power board. Switching off the I/O switch protects everything except a backdoor through the land line phone cable. So I also unplug this at the ADSL filter.

The I/O switch at the back of the PC will only protect the PC, but is not the answer if you want to protect all devices such as modem, printer, etc. Also even if the I/O on the PC is off, a current overload can still find a back door entry via the printer, (USB cable), modem, (if using a LAN cable). Or any other devices using mains power and wire connected to the PC.

If you turn off your PC via the GUI command, and then power off at the mains supply, and then press the start button on the PC, there is enough residual current stored in the capacitors to make the fans/LED lights on your PC run for a second or two. Try it and see! And then all residual charge in the capacitors is drained. When you switch on the mains power charging the capacitors is like charging a flattened battery, only almost instant.

My main concern is lightning strikes. However, if you turn off the mains power from the wall outlet; and unplug the phone landline at the ADSL filter, there is no chance of any danger from that. If I'm running my PC and an electrical storm starts up I immediately do this. I also leave it this way when I'm not using it, so if I happen to be out when an electrical storm occurs, it's still protected.

I had two PCs switched off via the GUI, but with mains power still flowing to the power box in the PC. It was all protected by an RCD, (Residual Current Device), in my household meter box, and a power-surge-protected multi-plug board between the mains wall outlet and the PC, printer, modem, etc. Despite this the lightning still nuked both machines and ancillary plug ins. Since then, while always having the wall outlet turned off, despite many electrical storms, no nukes. Insurance is good, but you've still got to rebuild your rig and reload windows and programs, etc.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Ult Reatil & Win 8 Pro OEM
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Built as DIY
    CPU
    6 core 12 thread & 4 core
    Motherboard
    Inel Extreme & Intel standard
    Memory
    12GB & 8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    3 top end SLI linked & onboard
    Sound Card
    In built in graphics card & onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24 & 23 inch Samsung LED backlit
    Screen Resolution
    High def
    Hard Drives
    Corsair Force 128GB SATA3 SSDs in each machine. Plus several external USB3 and eSATA spinner HDs
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