I will just focus on just one topic in this answer: If you want to unload distant circuits to save CPU time and/or memory, what will happen to complex circuits that spred across multiple chunks?


Igore this problem. Easy to implement, but unsatisfactional behaviour.
Let player be aware of this problem, and give him a tool to display chunk bounds. I think there was such item in one of Minecraft's mods. Player then can build circuits only on one chunk if he needs to.
Create some connective block, when placed, it will guarantee that all circuits in a set redius will be always loaded/unloaded at the same time. Assuming that radius is smaller than chunk size, one such block will connect maximally 4 chunks together. However overusing these blocks can lead to infinitely many connected chunks.
In Tekkit mod, there was World Anchor block, that kept surrounding chunks loaded all the time. Good choice if you want to have some machinery running away from player.


Summary: Depends on what you need, I wouldn't be afraid of combining 2, 3 or 4 (or all) together, you can also nerf 3 to connect maximally N chunks.

how to make blocks like "redstone" working in a minecraft-like game when the block is very far-away from your character

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  What should I do when Ubuntu freezes?  




I've just tried to install ubuntu 12.04 dual boot OS with Windows 7 and it finished installing in ubuntu. However, it said that the bootloader "grub.." failed to install. The same exact problem here I receive the error &#39;grub-install /dev/sda failed&#39; while attempting to install Ubuntu as the computer&#39;s only OS. . When I tried to restart my computer, it went to the hp screen since my computer is a dv6 hp laptop and then it goes into this black screen with no words or any buttons will work. There is just a blinking underscore that seems like it'll allow me to type but makes error sounds when I type. Is this because I possibly partitioned my memory incorrectly? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm very desperate. ANY HELP would be great. Thanks.

UPDATE:

I gave up and just reformatted my whole comp. I'm sure there was a better way to do it by either booting it up by the live usb with the ubuntu OS and try to reinstall grub loader. 
