Author Archives: Dan

About Dan

For a complete biography, stop by www.danmarx.org and click around for a while.

Backyard Projects – Grand Sequoia Play Set Assembly

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Dan

Last year we bought a new home, while the details of that little adventure are better left for another post, I did want to share some of the work we have done in the backyard in order to make it … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Home DIY | 3 Comments

AMD A4-3400 Llano-Based HTPC Upgrade Rocks

Posted on July 29, 2012 by Dan

Several years ago I threw together a cheap HTPC based on an AMD Athlon 939-socket chip. It worked fine over the years playing back standard-definition movies and streaming Netflix without issues. Recently however I noticed lots of skipping and stuttering … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers | 2 Comments

Review of the Pioneer VSX-1021-K 7.1 A/V Receiver

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Dan

Last month my 13-year old Sony 5.1 receiver finally quit. The very same receiver that had been the hub of my home theater since the dawn of the DVD era. I was bummed to have it break since I wasn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in DIY Audio | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Blu-ray and Pentium Get Along at Last

Posted on June 25, 2011 by Dan

If you’ve ever wondered if that old Pentium IV computer you’ve got collecting dust in the closet might just make a great media hub capable of full 1080p, you may be surprised to find that it’s got just enough horsepower … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers, DIY Audio | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My Tired Old PC Gets Some New Hardware

Posted on May 18, 2011 by Dan

I’ve been limping along with the same old Pentium 4 PC for longer than I care to admit. As long as everything was working fine, I told myself, I wouldn’t build a new PC until it finally pooped out. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Windows 7 Family Pack Transforms 3 Old PCs

Posted on January 3, 2011 by Dan

For a brief period when Windows 7 was first released, Microsoft was offering a Family Pack of 3 licenses for the low price of $149 – that’s about $50 per license for an upgrade-only version of Windows 7. At that … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers | 1 Comment