3D Graphics Cards Forum?

[martrox]

How bout just putting up a chalkboard in the bathroom?

 

[Dave Baumann]

Let me explain my thoughts a little more.

Discussion in the 3D Tech forum has become a little stagnent of late, and its now not attracting as many new users as it used to. Because of the nature of the forum it tends to harrass people away from talking about board and driver level stuff. However I still want to attract more people to the site, without devaluing the forums that are already here.

My thoughts are to move the 3D tech and architecture forums into their own 3D category (that could possibly be expanded at a later date) and then create a 3D board and driver discussion in the PC Forums so that more people can freely discussion new drivers, driver changes, board issues, board choices etc., etc., without them getting in the way of the discussion of these forums.

A few recent examples of the types of discussion that would be taken from here into the new forum would be this, this, and this.

 

[Entropy]

The more important thing to look at in that 3D A&C forum is the views count.

IMO, Rev hits the nail.
Even view count underestimates 3D A&C. Since the traffic is lower, you don't have to stop by as often and you can often see if something new has come up without actually entering the forum.

For me, without typing as much as a single char there, 3D A&C has been a success. Of course a lot of material that would have fit there pop up over in this forum as well, only well diluted.

Besides, 3D A&C is a lot like a "work" forum. That's good, but you might enjoy to kick back with a beer in front of the screen and casually opine with the rest of them over in 3D T&H as well. The forums fill their respective purposes reasonably, though I wish the threads over here didn't degenerate so quickly, or that the stronger posters would more often try to wrest the threads back on a productive track, instead of just deserting them when they start their downward spiral...

Entropy

 

[alexsok]

Dave: That's a very good idea, which I'm sure some people just didn't realize when they voted.

Maybe you could open a new poll with your idea further expanded as you wrote later here?

 

[Entropy]

Let me explain my thoughts a little more.

Discussion in the 3D Tech forum has become a little stagnent of late, and its now not attracting as many new users as it used to. Because of the nature of the forum it tends to harrass people away from talking about board and driver level stuff. However I still want to attract more people to the site, without devaluing the forums that are already here.

My thoughts are to move the 3D tech and architecture forums into their own 3D category (that could possibly be expanded at a later date) and then create a 3D board and driver discussion in the PC Forums so that more people can freely discussion new drivers, driver changes, board issues, board choices etc., etc., without them getting in the way of the discussion of these forums.

I think it is completely proper to harass the driver/BIOS/MB crud away from this forum. Instead of creating an ambigously named new forum just name it "Drivers and boards" or such like that clearly states its' purpose.

Furthermore, at the risk of sounding elitist, an unavoidable consequence of being easily accessible is that the overall level will drop, which will cause some of the more knowledgeable to leave ship, which will cause the level to drop further and oldtimers to feel out of place, which will cause them to drop away....et cetera.

Your only hope to resist this trend, and still grow, is to direct people to different fora. I've never seen it work all that well, but if you feel compelled to increase traffic then this is pretty much the only way to go. You might consider increasing the barriers between the various discussion groups.

So your idea is both reasonable and workable, but will it ultimately increase the value of the site for the people who go here?
It may or may not increase the value of the site for advertisers, and I guess that is always important.

Entropy

 

[Reverend]

Dave, attracting new visiotrs brings with it additional work on the part of the moderators, especially when you want visitors to try and know where to post what. Thinking a little more about this, I believe whatever you have in mind will work as long as the moderators are vigilant in moving topics to where they should be. Sooner or later folks will know where to post what specifically.

 

[Brent]

I voted leave forums as they are, but after reading your elaboration Dave I have so say I would change my vote now, the plan you have there sounds like it would work great to me

 

[BRiT]

I too would change my vote from leave as-is to change-away.

--|BRiT|

 

[Dave B(TotalVR)]

The trouble with subdividing forums so many times is that its a pain in the ass navigating around them all the time.

Maybe if there was a way to view all of the latest threads in all folders as well as the individual folders....

 

[Dave Baumann]

Maybe if there was a way to view all of the latest threads in all folders as well as the individual folders....

In some way I like the idea of a 'Meta' forum, however I don't believe the board offers it.

There is the View posts since last visit option that can be found on the forum index, which pretty much does what you are asking.