Can you change what you computer specs say?

basilmarket.com forums : Tech Talk | 14 posts archived

thread starter NyteProwleR Aug 13 2010 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

You know how you can view your computer specs? Is there anyway someone can CHANGE what they say? So like make it say x graphic card/processor/amount of RAM when it actually has y graphic card/processor/amount of RAM? I'm having a computer built and I'm scared I might get scammed =x LOL. I just want to be sure the parts I wanted are really in there. The builder is also doing all the software set up. So if I check what the specs say when I use the computer, there's no way it can like...lie to me right? :o

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ThePepsi 08/13/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

I know in China, they can change how your computer recognizes your graphics card or something. Ex. Radeon 5450 and computer recognizes it as a 5770 or something. That's how they sell "fake" GPU's in China.

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ShiroNoYami 08/13/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

If you're that paranoid about it, why get someone else to build it in the first place?

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azn011 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

It should be possible by software to trick the OS into displaying certain specs, but you can easily check around that using programs like CPU-Z, GPU-Z, EVEREST, and other diagnostic programs. The BIOS chip on graphics cards could be tampered with to display a different GPU model. The processor could actually be a lower-range model unlocked/OCed to a higher CPU model's specifications. I'm not completely sure about this, but it's all in the realm of possibility. Though...I doubt any normal system builder would go through all that trouble to steal a hundred dollars or so off you.

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Tatterdragon 08/13/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

If the builder was really that interested, he could probably trick any software into saying it has different hardware than it really does. It probably wouldn't be easy or simple, but it can be done. If you have the time though, you could always take a flashlight into the computer's case, find the model numbers on all the components and look them up online. That would be a lot slower and more time consuming, however. If the builder was really trying to "fake" a computer's components though, it's pretty unlikely that he'd bother with more than changing what Windows itself says. So the programs in Azn011's list, if you used one of them, would probably give you the true results.

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Chickenz 08/13/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

Just look inside the computer itself. Sure you won't be able to see the processor unless you want to take it apart, but you can clearly see the hard drive and graphics card- considering you are buying one of the more high-end ones, which usually show the model on the heatsink cover.

My Characters: Chik3nchunin - 80 Windia Chief Bandit

Divination + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

Not sure if what OP said is possible, as I've never seen it occur before, but it is possible to "hack" your WEI score.

BobR 08/13/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

Even the labels/logos on the actual components themselves could be faked, so even visual inspection might not prove anything. If you're THAT paranoid about it, DON'T buy a custom built system from someone else, BUILD IT YOURSELF. Or just buy a "pre-built" from a major commercial computer company.

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Tatterdragon + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

[quote] BobR : Even the labels/logos on the actual components themselves could be faked, so even visual inspection might not prove anything. If you're THAT paranoid about it, DON'T buy a custom built system from someone else, BUILD IT YOURSELF. Or just buy a "pre-built" from a major commercial computer company. [/quote] Changing labels and logos is usually more work than it's worth when they're printed directly onto the component. Yes, you can scrape them off and print new ones on, but really, it's a lot of work considering the average person, who the builder would be trying to scam, wouldn't even think about looking at them. And if you look closely, you'd probably notice scratches and scrapes where the labels were scraped off. I'm pretty sure your typical everyday paint remover would leave a noticeable damage too. You'll most likely be getting what's printed on the component unless the manufacturer itself is lying to you, in which case they wouldn't be in business very long (it's hard to keep people buying your components with a lot of bad reviews...). I agree with your second point though, building it yourself is an excellent way to make sure you get exactly what you paid for. Buying the components yourself, next to actually making them, is pretty much the best way to make sure you're getting exactly what you're paying for. And it's not like computers are all that complicated to put together. Nothing will fit where it doesn't belong, so even someone with zero knowledge of computer building could assemble one with an hour or two of time, a little patience, and some simple trial and error. The only hard part is figuring out what pieces to get - and if you're not good at that, you can always ask for advice from someone who is. Forums like Basilmarket are actually a good place to ask, because usually if someone is spouting nonsense or lies, they get corrected by other people who actually know what they're talking about and/or are more interested in being helpful.* If you really want to just have it built for you though, I'd suggest doing a bit of research. Try to find reviews from past customers of the builder and see what they thought. A few bad reviews are pretty typical, but if you have a hard time finding anything good about the builder, it's probably a good idea to find somebody else. *Not implying that anybody in this thread so far has been spouting nonsense or lies, just that if they were , they'd get corrected most likely.

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BobR 08/13/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

[quote] Tatterdragon : Changing labels and logos is usually more work than it's worth when they're printed directly onto the component. Yes, you can scrape them off and print new ones on, but really, it's a lot of work [/quote] Actually I was thinking more of "counterfeit" components where the knock-off manufacturer actually silk-screens the fake labels/serial numbers/FCC ID numbers/whatever on the chips and PC boards to make the product look legit. An unscrupulous builder could buy counterfeit video cards for example and tell their customers they were getting some really high-priced, high-powered card when they know it's really some sub-standard thing at half the cost to them. This used to happen a lot when memory chips were terrifically expensive and everyone was looking for cheaper alternatives. Some distributors were caught with slower access counterfeits that looked exactly like the more expensive originals. Same thing happened with misbranded CPU chips that were sold as higher speed units than they really were. Sadly, no way for the poor end buyer to know. Unfortunately this can happen with almost any component. We just have to trust that Newegg isn't shipping out empty CPU display boxes when people order CPU chips. Oops... wait...

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Tatterdragon 08/13/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

I guess the only way to be absolutely certain then... Would be to make every single circuit of every single component yourself. Because even circuits could be "mislabeled." That's kind of a scary thought. It makes me glad that "reputable" companies and regulations are around to make things like that happen less often. And of course, lots of reviews and the like from people without any real investment in the company to help base decisions on. I would imagine though that cheap knockoffs are very uncommon in legitimate computer stores though, so as long as you're sure the pieces came from a store of that type, they're probably exactly what they say they are... for better or for worse. So if you build it yourself, you probably are getting what you paid for, making building it yourself a good idea. If someone else builds it... You get what he paid for, so you just have to trust him. Building it yourself would probably be the best method, like BobR said. And if you need help, you can always ask.

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Chickenz 08/13/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

I also thought of asking the builder for the receipt of the parts. But then again, he could fake that too. Lol.

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BobR + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

From what I can tell, just from a brief Googlation about the subject, it appears that most of the counterfeiting activity appears to be taking place in (surprise, surprise), China. It also doesn't appear to involve much in the way of the kinds of assemblies we'd be using to build computers, like video boards or motherboards, but is centered mostly on reprocessed chips removed from PC boards and "rebranded" to make them look like new dated military grade parts. These are then sold in bulk to distributors who sell them to buyers in the US (who think they're getting a terrific deal), so they can install them in, oh.. things like the FA-18 strike fighter and missile defense systems. Guess that's where the money is these days, not with computer home-builders. The incident with Newegg in March is still very unclear- whether the -300- Intel i7 CPUs that were shipped were actually "demo" units- mockups designed to be displayed in stores and look like "the real thing", or actual counterfeited units. Newegg is sticking with the "it was all a big mistake- they were demos" story for now, apparently. Can't really find much about fake nVidia cards though. Doesn't seem to be a widespread problem, if it's even happening at all. But the bulk of the problem is the chips going into products from refrigerators to space probes (NASA reported finding two shipments of counterfeit parts that had been accepted, one of which had already been assembled into equipment slated for launch into space- how nice).

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qwan456 08/14/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

I believe Newegg revoke that statement of them being demos. One of Newegg's suppliers, IPEX told them that they were "demo units" at first. But later after some investigation with Intel, Newegg found out they were indeed counterfeited and dropped the contract with them.

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