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Building a new computer - Great Rumbler - 10th February 2008
My old lappy is getting on in years [3 this May], so I figured it was as good a time as any to upgrade. Here's what I'm looking at:
4 sticks of 1GB DDR2 1066 RAM
160GB Western Digital SATA harddrive
Asus P5K motherboard with built-in Wifi
Geforce 8800GT with 512MB
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 at 3.0GHz
Acer 20" widescreen LCD monitor with native resolution of 1680X1050
Cooler Master Ammo case
Standard DVD burner
Windows Vista Home Premium 64-Bit
Total cost of roughly $1300.
Also, I'm thinking about adding in a Bluray drive somewhere down the line. Not right away though because they still cost $190 for ones that don't even burn DVDs.
Building a new computer - Dark Jaguar - 10th February 2008
I have 2 gigs of RAM and as of yet I haven't had a single issue that was bottlenecked by that. However, with DX10 games coming out that may be reached. If you can afford the 4 gigs go with it.
I would recommend a larger hard disk. 250 is about what most gamers need, and if you are going for a major computer upgrade I imagine that's your basic drive in getting such an overhaul.
P5K sounds fine. Built in wi-fi on those is a bit iffy, and I think it require setting up an external antenna, but it's no biggy and works well if you aren't near your router.
That videocard is pretty much the current top of the line. The only issue is I might wait on that because the NEXT series of NVidia's video cards will incorporate an extra physx processor, and you likely won't want to miss out on that action. That processor is fine top of the line stuff.
As long as that moniter allows for older games to run in proper aspect ratio and doesn't "force" wide screen, it sounds great.
I don't know what a "cooler master ammo case" is, but my guess is it's a water cooled computer case that has some silly "camo" look. As much as I like some of the nice cooling tech they put in new cases, I'd really like it if they stopped trying to make them look "hard core". At any rate, sounds good so long as it isn't lit up like a Vegas strip to keep you up at night.
Home Premium is basically all most people need, and I think all versions you might buy let you pick between installing the 32 bit and 64 bit versions (well, maybe not OEM disks, those are pretty limiting). The one warning I'll give is that 64 bit can do 32 bit programs but they didn't bother adding in the ability to run 16 bit programs (probably would have taken a while to code that in I guess). As a result, if you have old 32 bit games that use 16 bit programs as installers, you're out of luck. You can always have a duel boot system though.
"Standard" DVD burner, well, okay. Those are all pretty much speed locked at this point (they had to slow down CD reading speeds to 48x on them you may notice, physics providing some trouble in exploding disks ya know).
That's a good cost for what you're getting. You may be able to knock down the value even more by shopping around, but in price vs trustworthy online merchants ratio, I think you got a balance.
I personally would wait until the HD-DVD/Bluray battle is finally over before getting either one. I see 3 scenarios. HD loses it's last exclusive company and dies. Bluray someone screws up (let's say the fact that you have to have an online connection and update every single time a new movie comes out, which I think mom and pop that don't know the first thing about updating their "firm's ware" is going to want to bother with) and it dies. Or, BOTH die because the average consumer doesn't see the point, relegating the high def movie experience to about the same user share as laser disk had. I will wait for a conclusion, thus (of course) aiding the 3rd option, but I don't care.
Building a new computer - Great Rumbler - 10th February 2008
HDDVD is pretty much already dead at this point. That fact just hasn't been realised in the marketplace yet.
Quote:I don't know what a "cooler master ammo case" is, but my guess is it's a water cooled computer case that has some silly "camo" look. As much as I like some of the nice cooling tech they put in new cases, I'd really like it if they stopped trying to make them look "hard core". At any rate, sounds good so long as it isn't lit up like a Vegas strip to keep you up at night.
It's an aluminum case with mesh screen on the front and one side. Also, it has a handle, making it easier to take to QuakeCon.
Building a new computer - A Black Falcon - 10th February 2008
64-bit Windows? I know that it'll allow you to access that 4GB of RAM, but there are compatibility issues with 32-bit programs and forget about older 16-bit Windows apps I'd imagine... Vista as it is has enough compatibility issues with older stuff (as did XP in its day). 64-bit just makes that worse (again, as did 64-bit XP). When I got my new computer I didn't even consider 64-bit Windows, despite its RAM advantage, and for good reason, I'd say. The downsides are just too huge. 32-bit Home Premium is indeed the best version.
Other than that, I'd get like at least three times that amount of HDD space (get as much as you can afford! :D), but that's me... I currently have filled 381GBs of the 493GBs of actual space available on my drives. I think I'll want another harddrive in not that long... :)
Oh yeah, and I'd definitely try to find room in the budget for an actual sound card, either Audigy or X-Fi. Relying on the motherboard's onboard sound really isn't the best idea... sound cards are still important. I have an X-Fi.
Building a new computer - Dark Jaguar - 10th February 2008
Yeah X-Fi is great.
Isn't the market what determines if something is dead or not?
Building a new computer - Great Rumbler - 10th February 2008
Quote:Isn't the market what determines if something is dead or not?
Ultimately, yes. But when major studios start pulling out, it's pretty much over.
Building a new computer - A Black Falcon - 10th February 2008
The market seems to be voting decisively for DVD.
Building a new computer - Dark Jaguar - 11th February 2008
Yeah, that's the impression I get. Bluray reads too slowly in the PS3 as it is (at least too slowly for today's expectations) which is why so many games include an "install to hard disk" option, and DMC4 on that system forces it. I think the other two made the right call going with DVD. We just don't need the space and most people just want to watch a movie. They don't care about it being "in the best picture quality available", or "just like in the theater sound quality" so long as they can just watch the movie. Youtube should tell you what quality people will tolerate.
Building a new computer - Great Rumbler - 11th February 2008
A Black Falcon Wrote:sound cards are still important.
And expensive.
Building a new computer - Great Rumbler - 11th February 2008
Like clockwork, my overzealous drive has cost me dearly. I purchased some of the components already, which included Windows Vista 64, only to find out that it doesn't work with the motherboard I'm buying. Changing the motherboard also means changing the RAM. Also, Windows Vista 64 apparently sucks really bad. Because I bought the OEM version, read: cheap, it cannot be sent back for a refund. So now I'm having to buy Windows Vista 32 in order to get my new computer to even work properly.
On the plus side, if I get the cheaper Core 2 Duo at 2.66GHz, the one that's actually in stock, and swipe my brother's extra 500W Blue Storm power supply, I end up not paying any more than I thought I would.
Soo...anyone looking to upgrade their OS?
Building a new computer - Dark Jaguar - 11th February 2008
I can see myself upgrading to Vista at some point. ABF's already got it covered. If someone's got a more pressing need though, send it their way. (This is however the closest chance you'll ever get to find out the forbidden data, The Address. Eh...)
Building a new computer - Great Rumbler - 11th February 2008
Unless anyone here really wants it, I'll probably try to get rid of it on eBay.
Building a new computer - A Black Falcon - 11th February 2008
Quote:And expensive.
Would you rely on onboard video, just because video cards are expensive? Of course not. With audio the difference might be less, but it's still more than significant enough to be worth the expense... and it's not THAT expensive, really. The cheap X-Fis are like $60...
Building a new computer - Great Rumbler - 12th February 2008
Quote:Would you rely on onboard video, just because video cards are expensive?
I haven't had a soundcard since the Dark Ages and games have sounded just fine. Without a dedicated videocard you can't even PLAY most games.
Building a new computer - A Black Falcon - 12th February 2008
And I've never had a computer that didn't have a sound card in it.
(And the "dark ages"? But computers didn't even have onboard audio until a couple of years ago...)
Building a new computer - Great Rumbler - 12th February 2008
I probably haven't had a soundcard in at least 5 or 6 years. It's never been a problem for me.
Building a new computer - A Black Falcon - 13th February 2008
If you want to waste CPU power doing audio go ahead, but it DOES impact performance, and sound quality isn't as good (and there are many fewer options too, of course). You also won't get ALchemy, if you have games compatible with it you want to use it with.
Oh yeah, and Vista x64... as I said, not worth it. :)
Building a new computer - Great Rumbler - 13th February 2008
Fine, maybe I'll get a $30 Soundblaster Audigy.
Building a new computer - Dark Jaguar - 13th February 2008
Yeah, on-board audio is sufficient for the needs of most, so if you don't want one it isn't needed. However, if you want some better sound, you'll notice it so long as the game supports sound acceleration, and most do (even though MS dropped official DX support of hardware sound Creative still helps game companies add in unofficial support, and it works great). Today's on-board audio is certainly a lot better than when they first started putting cheap SB16 ripoffs on boards.
Building a new computer - A Black Falcon - 13th February 2008
An Audigy will do decently, yeah. X-Fi is better, but Audigy's definitely better than onboard, and will get you hardware sound acceleration.
Building a new computer - Dark Jaguar - 13th February 2008
I think modern motherboards use a cheap copy of a Live card as their onboard audio these days.
X-Fi is sufficiently required by games with sound acceleration that I'd say if you aren't going to get it, just go with on board audio. For info on the variations, check this article.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-fi#X-Fi_line-up
Building a new computer - Great Rumbler - 14th February 2008
I was being facetious. I'm not getting a sound card.
Building a new computer - A Black Falcon - 14th February 2008
Why? Even an Audigy would be a much better choice than onboard audio, really.
Building a new computer - Great Rumbler - 14th February 2008
Saving that money would be an even better choice. I don't have some kind of crazy 7.1 sound setup, I don't NEED a soundcard.
Building a new computer - Great Rumbler - 15th February 2008
![[Image: DSC00722.jpg]](http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k33/GreatRumbler/DSC00722.jpg)
Building a new computer - Dark Jaguar - 15th February 2008
http://kotaku.com/357153/geforce-8-owners-to-get-free-physx-upgrade
Well if that is your new "blue demon", I suppose you got a GeForce 8. Fortunatly NVidia is releasing special drivers to map some physx functionality to a processor on the existing cards.
Building a new computer - Great Rumbler - 15th February 2008
Yeah, I got the Geforce 8800 GT.
Building a new computer - Dark Jaguar - 16th February 2008
http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/16/toshiba-pulling-the-plug-on-hd-dvd-already/
It's official, blu ray is the only competitor left. Unless you count DVD.... and you should.
Building a new computer - Great Rumbler - 16th February 2008
And of course it would happen just months after I buy an HD-DVD player.
Building a new computer - Dark Jaguar - 16th February 2008
Wait you got one? I thought you were holding off yourself.
Building a new computer - Great Rumbler - 16th February 2008
I was, but I came across a sale on HD-DVD players at Wal-Mart one day. It was a player and 12 free movies for $300.
Building a new computer - A Black Falcon - 16th February 2008
Didn't they recently cut HD-DVD player prices hugely?
Building a new computer - Great Rumbler - 16th February 2008
Yes, you can get one for about $150 now. Maybe less than that if you shop around.
Also, Crysis really hates my new rig. Even turning everything down to just "High" only nets about 15-20 fps on average, close-quarters combat scenarios are about 5. :/
Building a new computer - DMiller - 16th February 2008
Crysis hates all computers. It is actually a game from 5 years in the future.
Building a new computer - Great Rumbler - 17th February 2008
Indeed. It does look really sweet though. Well...when you're not moving around anyway...
Here's what I've got on my computer so far:
Stalker: Shadow of Chernobyl - Runs great on max settings
Simcity 4 - Runs great on max settings
Neverwinter Nights: Diamond - Runs great on max settings
Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends - Runs great on max settings
Crysis - Runs poorly on anything above medium
Next up:
The Witcher
Baldur's Gate II
Neverwinter Nights 2
Unreal Tournament 2004
Building a new computer - A Black Falcon - 17th February 2008
Quote:Crysis - Runs poorly on anything above medium
Depends on how low a framerate you can tolerate, really...
Building a new computer - Great Rumbler - 17th February 2008
A Black Falcon Wrote:Depends on how low a framerate you can tolerate, really...
When it's so low that you can't aim properly, it's not tolerable.
Building a new computer - A Black Falcon - 19th February 2008
http://kotaku.com/357959/hd-dvd-is-dead-please-move-on-with-your-life
... And HD-DVD is dead. Player production is being cut back as of this March.
The question is, will people actually switch from DVD to Blu-Ray? Beyond videophiles I don't think there's much of any evidence of that happening yet... we'll see. It's certainly nowhere near the jump that it was from VHS to DVD.
Quote:When it's so low that you can't aim properly, it's not tolerable.
"Very High" is essentially designed to not run acceptably on anything... "High" is what most people can aim for, really. And even there... yeah, it takes a pretty expensive machine to run it flawlessly on High. Mine isn't smooth on high either...
Building a new computer - Dark Jaguar - 19th February 2008
Yeah I posted that ealier in this thread actually ABF.
Building a new computer - alien space marine - 19th February 2008
what will happen to the xbox 360?
Building a new computer - Great Rumbler - 19th February 2008
Why would something happen to the Xbox360 because of HD-DVD?
Building a new computer - alien space marine - 19th February 2008
Great Rumbler Wrote:Why would something happen to the Xbox360 because of HD-DVD?
HD is discontinued would they switch to blue ray?
Building a new computer - lazyfatbum - 19th February 2008
They'd have to yeah. But both formats aren't doing well and every few months one of them claims a victory over another. But it cant be ignored that every single one of sony's formats has failed them.
HD-DVD's major victory was porn, people are going nuts for it. BR would have to hit hard with something like Indiana Jones 4 being BR only (or normal DVD) but that wont happen.
edit - It's DED? lmao! wth?
Building a new computer - lazyfatbum - 19th February 2008
"While we are disappointed for the company and more importantly, for the consumer, the real mass market opportunity for high definition content remains untapped and Toshiba is both able and determined to use our talent, technology and intellectual property to make digital convergence a reality."
I used babelfish "Bullshit to english"
"We sold out and Sony bought us a hot chicks room and a robot panther."
Although in the last months I saw something interesting. It's el-cheapo flash drives that go upwards of 80 gigs which... if you think about it would be great for HD movies, plus the players themselves would essentially have no moving parts so you could unleash a player with high-end a/v for cheap and movie cards with no loading, no scratches, no finger prints, etc Then you have the whole non-physical market about to crop up. Maybe Toshiba is persuing that? :P
That's so funny that they just bowed out like that. If it's not a sony-pushed buy then its because both BR and HDDVD have been sluggish since the start.
Building a new computer - Great Rumbler - 19th February 2008
alien space marine Wrote:HD is discontinued would they switch to blue ray?
Xbox360 games are on regular DVDs and the HD-DVD add-on never really sold that well to begin with. About the only thing that will change is that Microsoft might release a Bluray add-on.
Building a new computer - Dark Jaguar - 19th February 2008
Yeah you have the wrong idea.
360 uses normal DVDs (well, duel layer). The HD-DVD addon wasn't used for games at all, and MS stated from the very start they would never make games that needed the addon. As for abandoning it, well lazy, what did you expect MS to do when Toshiba decided not to MAKE them any more? That is, when the vast number of all the major movie houses started going Blu-Ray exclusive and various stores stoppes stocking HD DVD entirely, to the point where Toshiba just said "we're done"? How could you possibly refer to that as MS "selling out"?
Building a new computer - alien space marine - 19th February 2008
I hear the beta vs vhs analogue often used were porn makers decided that one; Imagine high definition money shots :D
Building a new computer - DMiller - 19th February 2008
From what I heard, HD-DVD had more porn support, so who knows why porn didn't win the day this time.
Building a new computer - Great Rumbler - 19th February 2008
Because the internet has made porn discs, to some extent, irrelevent.
Building a new computer - lazyfatbum - 19th February 2008
Dark Jaguar Wrote:Yeah you have the wrong idea.
360 uses normal DVDs (well, duel layer). The HD-DVD addon wasn't used for games at all, and MS stated from the very start they would never make games that needed the addon. As for abandoning it, well lazy, what did you expect MS to do when Toshiba decided not to MAKE them any more? That is, when the vast number of all the major movie houses started going Blu-Ray exclusive and various stores stoppes stocking HD DVD entirely, to the point where Toshiba just said "we're done"? How could you possibly refer to that as MS "selling out"?
You misread my entire post :D MS didnt sellout, Toshiba did. If Sony's price was right. Or if the circumstances were diff, it was a question of neither format making any large dent in the market.