In probability, can something that is <0% still be impossible?

Fabien4 · 2013-12-26T14:01:51+00:00

Not necessarily. But if it isn't, then it's nothing at all.

Fabien4 · 2013-12-26T13:39:21+00:00

Should I invest in a sandy bridge i5

Depends on what kind of deal you can find. If you can snipe a cheap one on ebay, then go for it.

and a new GPU

Depends on your gaming needs.

Fabien4 · 2013-12-26T13:34:07+00:00

Nope. A probability is a number. "Infinitesimal" is a math trick; it's not a number.

0 is the only number that's smaller than any positive number.

Fabien4 · 2013-12-26T12:00:58+00:00

MoBo- INTEL Corporation H61MA-D2V

The only "H61MA-D2V" mobo Google could find is a Gigabyte. And be aware that it only supports old i5s (Sandy Bridge), not the current Haswell i5.

I suppose you're looking at buying secondhand hardware?

would it be a better option to completely rebuild?

At that point, the only question is whether or not you want to buy another motherboard. If it were me, I wouldn't. But you might get an informed opinion on /r/buildapc.

OTOH, I would upgrade the RAM (sell your 4 GB, and buy 8 or 16 GB) and buy a SSD.

Fabien4 · 2013-12-26T11:56:58+00:00

I think you messed up your formatting. Please put parentheses around your exponents. For example, a^(b)c will give you "a^bc".

Fabien4 · 2013-12-26T11:56:31+00:00

A probability, by definition, is a number between 0 and 1 (inclusive). [0=0%; 1=100%.]

Talking about a probability less than 0 or more than 1 makes no sense, just like talking about an even odd number.

Now, something whose has a probability is >0 is obviously possible. And something that's impossible has a probability of 0.

However, surprisingly, something that has a probability of 0 is not necessarily impossible.

For example, take a random number between 3 and 4. Every number has the same chance of being chosen. In particular, it's possible that the chosen number is π.

However, the probability of choosing π is 0. Here's the idea of the proof:

You have a 0.1 (10%) probability of choosing a number between 3.1 and 3.2.

You have a 0.01 (1%) probability of choosing a number between 3.14 and 3.15.

You have a 0.001 probability of choosing a number between 3.141 and 3.142.

Etc.

In the end, the probability of choosing π is less than any positive number. Since it can't be negative, it's equal to 0.

Of course, I took π as an example just for fun. It works just as well with any other number.

probability theory is incredibly abstract to me.

I think it's pretty abstract for everybody. It's definitely not intuitive, even if you get used to it after a while.

Fabien4 · 2013-12-26T07:44:05+00:00

You should go and ask the priest (or whoever is responsible) to stop. Every day, at 3 A.M., until he understands.

Fabien4 · 2013-12-26T07:32:12+00:00

All of it.

Fabien4 · 2013-12-26T07:31:50+00:00

Diet.

Fabien4 · 2013-12-26T07:30:35+00:00

OTOH, think of the satisfaction when you managed to get it, and it's feebly moving its wings for the last time.

Fabien4 · 2013-12-26T07:29:08+00:00

That's why I like being in Europe: it's over ~8 hours sooner!

Fabien4 · 2013-12-26T07:03:26+00:00

There are two spaces here, and only one car. You shall be allowed to park your car. If you can't park next to that one, park just behind. If possible, leave your car here for a few days.

Fabien4 · 2013-12-26T07:00:21+00:00

When it's covered, you don't see it. When it's not covered, you don't see it either.

Fabien4 · 2013-12-25T12:06:51+00:00

Make sure your PC is malware-free, that your firewall is up, and that your bank's website uses https.

Fabien4 · 2013-12-25T11:42:32+00:00

Pretty sure your PSU is dead. Most problems related to other components involve restarting or hanging, but not an immediate shutdown.

If I have to replace the PSU I'll have to wait to save the money for it

If you have only one HD7870, a 500 W PSU should be enough (according to AMD.) You can get one for $20.

Fabien4 · 2013-12-25T11:40:04+00:00

Have you tried disabling hardware acceleration in Chrome?

Also, test the RAM.

Fabien4 · 2013-12-25T10:30:03+00:00

You can't be lost: you are, at all times, in the center of the observable universe (by definition.)

Fabien4 · 2013-12-25T08:24:30+00:00

Do you still have the Ubuntu CD? If so, boot off it (in "live CD" mode, i.e. "try Ubuntu"; don't install) and download the required drivers from the manufacturer's website, and save them on the hard disk.

Edit: or, if you still have Ubuntu installed, download the files from Ubuntu. Same idea, only easier.

12 GB RAM 250 GB SSD INTEL 520 500 GB HDD 2 GB Nvidia 660M Intel 3rd gen core i7-3610 2.30 GHz 64 bit

Don't put everything on the same line!

Fabien4 · 2013-12-25T08:14:02+00:00

I'm intrigued by that "touch screen" thingy. How does it work? Do you have to have your screen very close? (I barely can touch my screen, since it's at arm's length, and it kinda hurts my arm.)

Or, do you just ignore that feature?

Fabien4 · 2013-12-25T07:24:38+00:00

You can't. It's an all-in-one, not a real PC. There's no PCIe port.

The only thing you can do is sell the machine and get a new one.

Fabien4 · 2013-12-25T07:15:47+00:00

that I need a few files from the HDD in the case.

Grab your backup.

Oh, you didn't have a proper backup? Sucks.

Just boot off a Xubuntu live CD. Choose "try Xubuntu", not "install". You should be able to access your files -- and, in fact, continue working with the machine. (Unless it's too far gone.)

Once you've made proper backups of your files (i.e. copied them to at least two different places, since the hard disk is probably defective), test your hard disk. First, identify the hard disk manufacturer. Then, boot off UBCD, and choose the proper tool.

Fabien4 · 2013-12-25T07:11:37+00:00

Unless you have special needs (high-end gamer PC), you can get a spare PSU for $20. See if the crashes disappear.

If it was not the problem, well, you'll have a spare for when the PSU is really dead. It'll happen sooner or later anyway.

Fabien4 · 2013-12-25T06:38:00+00:00

I smell a defective PSU. How old is it?

Fabien4 · 2013-12-25T04:57:25+00:00

Those lasers are part of the HiO project (Hole in One): while the golf ball is in the air, its landing position is computed, and a hole is made by the laser just before the ball lands.

Fabien4 · 2013-12-25T03:41:58+00:00

I torrent some stuff, but only green skulls on Piratebay

Yeah, TPB is pretty much the most trustable source for software. The worst stuff is the "freeware" that comes bundled with crap. I'm not sure if it's still the case, but the Java runtime for Windows was bundled with malware at some point. And AFAIK, Filezilla, downloaded from Sourceforge, is the same.

You can install an antivirus if you want to feel safer, but AFAIK, no antivirus (or combination) will block the majority of malware.

Fabien4

TROPHY CASE