Tag: HD

Vista SP2 HD Audio Controller

July 13, 2009 by Jason

With the advent of Windows Vista, Microsoft praised the boost in energy consumption efficiency in comparison with Windows XP. Still, there are exceptions to every rule. And while Vista indeed uses less energy over XP, users of the operating system can still experience excessive power use. One such example involves Vista SP2 and earlier during sleep or hibernation, and the HD audio controller, the Redmond-based company explained. The software giant has noted that there are two scenarios in which Vista SP2 sucks more power than it should.

“If you put the computer to sleep or into hibernation when it is running on AC power, the high definition (HD) audio controller continues to use power. Additionally, even after the computer transitions to DC power while the computer is asleep or in hibernation, the HD audio controller still uses power. This behavior persists even though you disable the ‘Allow this device to wake the computer’ option in the HD audio controller properties,” Microsoft explained.

In addition, the company has revealed that there is also an issue associated with the Wake on Ring properties not responding to the configuration introduced by users. “After you disable the ‘Allow this device to wake the computer’ option in the HD audio controller properties, the Wake on Ring feature still wakes the computer from sleep or hibernation,” Microsoft stated. Read More»

How to View HD Without an HDTV

November 22, 2007 by Jason

If you’re unwilling to pony up the kind of cash it takes to buy an HDTV and maintain a monthly satellite or cable subscription, but you still want to view HD content, you’re in luck especially if you already spend much of your time in front of a computer. With the help of some of the following tips, HD content without an HDTV can be at your fingertips.

Over the air

Believe it or not, getting HD content onto your computer through the use of over-the-air signals (OTA) is quite easy. The first step is finding out where the towers are located in your area. One option is AntennaWeb. Simply input your address info, whether you live in a single or multiple-story residence and if there are surrounding buildings and or/trees over a certain height, and it will show you the nearby sources of DTV signals and suggest the most appropriate antenna for you. Read More»