New computer

[T-Bag]

Well, I set back my bike fund a little bit and decided to spend a bunch of money on a new computer so I could actually play some of the newer games. This thing is insanely powerful compared to what I'm usually used to, and it better be for what I paid. Anywho...

Gateway GX7022E
Intel Pentium D dual core 3.0 ghz, 800 mhz FSB, 2x1 MB L2 Cache
2 gig DDR Dual channel
8 in 1 media card reader
320 gig hard drive 7200 RPM
Double layer DVD burner/CD burner
DVD player
8 in 1 memory card reader
TV tuner
nVidia Geforce 6200 video card (soon to be upgraded)

I went out and got Battlefield 2 and F.E.A.R. while I was at it, both run excellent and near max settings.

I feel like a nerd, but its nice to have a decent rig again.

[pOrk]

Shoulda let me know, my brother could have built you a similer if not better system for cheap :-P

[T-Bag]

Shoulda let me know, my brother could have built you a similer if not better system for cheap :-P

I got a very kickass warranty with this one, took a little negotiating but...yeah.

The media center stuff is kickass, and so is Battlefield 2.

[pOrk]

Oh, well sometimes a warranty is worth the extra coin. I have less then 200 into my new system, and that included the 19" Flat screen LCD :-)

[T-Bag]

Oh, well sometimes a warranty is worth the extra coin. I have less then 200 into my new system, and that included the 19" Flat screen LCD :-)

Nice. The video card I'm going to get is almost twice that amount, haha. I could really use an LCD screen.

[pOrk]

I've got another 19" LCD new in box. Wanna work something out? Its a MAG

[pOrk]

Same monitor as listed HERE on egay

http://cgi.ebay.com/MAG-19-Flat-Panel-LCD-MONITOR-LT916S-Silver-NEW-IN-BOX_W0QQitemZ8743194292QQcategoryZ41808QQssPageNam eZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I'm asking 250 for it

[theavenger333]

BUM. (he asked me about building him one a few months back)

[T-Bag]

Same monitor as listed HERE on egay

http://cgi.ebay.com/MAG-19-Flat-Panel-LCD-MONITOR-LT916S-Silver-NEW-IN-BOX_W0QQitemZ8743194292QQcategoryZ41808QQssPageNam eZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I'm asking 250 for it

I can't afford to buy anything else at this point, helluva deal though.

Avenger, I totally forgot about that. I apologize :(

[Cryptic]

i build machines too.

[Slow Joe]

Me three...

[awsomeears]

I know shat about computers so dont let me build it

[pOrk]

Someoen buy my monitor!

[Cryptic]

Someoen buy my monitor!
$50, LMK

[pOrk]

bah

[GTSLOW]

What video card are you going with? Building computers is definately my area ;)

My new system consists of:

AMD FX-55 Processor (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103527)
Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe Motherboard (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131568)
2gb OCZ Titanium Dual Channel Kit (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227056)
For now one EVGA 7800GTX KO video card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130237)
Creative Labs X-FI Platinum Sound Card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102190)
Lian Li 65B Case w/ window (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811112040)
OCZ Powerstream 520W PSU (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817711002)
Wester Digital Raptor 10krpm 74gb Hard Drive (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144160)
Oh and its all water cooled. Plus I bought almost everything new on ebay its alot cheaper than those prices!

I hope your video card is PCI-E and not AGP.

[wikked]

All the new cards coming out now should be PCI-E, unless they're gonna throw out some AGP8x versions for the older systems.

[T-Bag]

Yeah...it has an open PCI-E X16 slot, I just don't know what card I want to go with?

I was looking at the Radeon X700 Pro...would that be a upgrade from my current 6200? I don't want any frame drop with settings all the way to the max in BF2.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7487524&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat60700050018&id=1126591861086

That's the system I got. Computer geeks, find me a suitable video card to own High settings in BF2 without slow down and less than 300! What the hell is this turbocache ****? Look at the video card in the description of the computer.


I don't think RAM or Processor speed is my problem, 2 gig should be more than enough.

[wikked]

Computer geeks, find me a suitable video card to own High settings in BF2 without slow down and less than 300!

[All PCI-E of course]

[Good]
Radeon X800 XL:
Goes for around $225.

[Better]
The GeForce 6800 Ultra is riiight at $300, with slightly slower speed than the X850, but a decent chunk faster than the X800.

[Best]
The Radeon X850 XT:
About 10-15% faster than the X800 XL, but goes for around $375

All 3 of those will have no problem with BF2 on high.

[GTSLOW]

6800's are old news trust me I have two :) and you forgot to add 7800 as Bestest :goof

Get a 7800GT they're in 280-350 price range, OUTSTANDING video card for the money. Anywho a 7800GT would PWN a X850 and could run BF2 on max settings. But they're both good cards.

Please don't buy ANYTHING from bestbuy or any local places!!!! www.newegg.com has pretty much the best prices on everything. I've built two computers with parts from newegg and the prices are great. For my new computer I'm buying all ebay :D



That's the system I got. Computer geeks, find me a suitable video card to own High settings in BF2 without slow down and less than 300! What the hell is this turbocache ****? Look at the video card in the description of the computer.

I don't think RAM or Processor speed is my problem, 2 gig should be more than enough.

Bah its just some goofy name they madeup to catch peoples attention. As said on the BF2 forums with 2gb you should rock in BF2!! I have 2gb and I'm almost always the first person in the game by atleast 10seconds. :thumbsup

[GTSLOW]

Here:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130256

[wikked]

oop, i meant 7800, not 6800 :D

[GTSLOW]

oop, i meant 7800, not 6800 :D

Hehe although a 6800Ultra is still a bad azz video card, and definately a POWER hogg!

I think your best bet is since the puter had a nvidia card to stick with an nvidia card! Get that EVGA 7800GT you will not be disapointed!! My EVGA 7800GTX is in the mail :)

[T-Bag]

Looks like a good price...best buy wanted 399 for that same card in Nvidia's own card. Will I need to uninstall all of my old display drivers/card before installing the new one? I'm pretty sure I would need to since I'm replacing the card outright.

[wikked]

Yea that's the norm.

Uninstall old video drivers.
Shut down.
Install new card.
Boot up/install new drivers.

[animal]

Yea that's the norm.

Uninstall old video drivers.
Shut down.
Install new card.
Boot up/install new drivers.

Actually I haven't had to do that since before XP. It does a pretty good job of it without bothering uninstalling the old first... granted I only buy nvidia cards (until 3dfx comes back) so I'm sure that might have something to do with it too :)

[theavenger333]

Actually I haven't had to do that since before XP. It does a pretty good job of it without bothering uninstalling the old first... granted I only buy nvidia cards (until 3dfx comes back) so I'm sure that might have something to do with it too :)
agreed, XP does it all for ya

[wikked]

well yea I guess you don't unless you're changing brands.
I had to the last time because I changed from an ATI Rage to ATI Radeon... yea it's been that long :(

[T-Bag]

96s10: I can't use that card because I don't have a 450 watt power supply.

I've been looking at the BFG cards, but I've also heard that a lot of card dont' work with XP Media Center (especially BFG) yet. I can pick up a Radeon 800 Pro for 150 from a forums I visit brand new, would one of these be even close to the 7800? I'm leaning more toward the 7800 if I can find one that works with windows media center.


update: I'm probably just going to go with the 6800, the 7800 hasn't been certified for XPMEC yet so I'll hold off.

[wikked]

update: I'm probably just going to go with the 6800, the 7800 hasn't been certified for XPMEC yet so I'll hold off.

Media Center at it's core, is no different than regular XP.
The only real difference between teh 2 is the programs that come installed on it, so I don't think XP/XP-MCE drivers are different?

[GTSLOW]

Well its up to you but you'd be sooo much better off with a 7800! However it's your computer. How many watt psu do you have?

Also if you stay with an nvidia card you can get away with just swapping the two and installing the latest drivers:

http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp

Do not just use the ones XP installs. It's fine for peeps who use puters for surfing and such. But when it comes to a gaming rig, go with the latest and greatest.

[T-Bag]

I would go with the 7800 but I can't go with it. I've been reading reviews with people having troubles in media center, and nvidia doesn't approve it for use with media center on their website.

That would suck to shell out the money and then have it not work

[Pantera99GS]

granted I only buy nvidia cards (until 3dfx comes back) so I'm sure that might have something to do with it too :)

Ha! I should dig up my Voodoo2 card up from the basement...maybe play some GLQuake?!

[wikked]

Ha! I should dig up my Voodoo2 card up from the basement...maybe play some GLQuake?!

Heh, Diablo2 + Voodoo2 = :drool:

[T-Bag]

Update

Well I ended up getting this from best buy

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7297089&type=product&id=1118843714616

Now before you go yelling at me for going to best buy, please comprehend the following

Note the part # on Best Buy's page

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814143037 <---same one as best buy
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814143042

Notice the slightly different part number? If you were a Best Buy employee...would you pay much attention when it comes to price matching? Guess which price I got it at :)

P.S. I work in Sales

I decided to go this route after talking with the guys on an NVIDIA forum.

[GTSLOW]

Update

Well I ended up getting this from best buy

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7297089&type=product&id=1118843714616

Now before you go yelling at me for going to best buy, please comprehend the following

Note the part # on Best Buy's page

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814143037 <---same one as best buy
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814143042

Notice the slightly different part number? If you were a Best Buy employee...would you pay much attention when it comes to price matching? Guess which price I got it at :)

P.S. I work in Sales

I decided to go this route after talking with the guys on an NVIDIA forum.

Great choice!!! I have two BFG 6800OC's in my rig right now!

[T-Bag]

Great choice!!! I have two BFG 6800OC's in my rig right now!

Its a 7800 GT OC sucka

I love the thing. Everything is maxed out in BF2 and it doesn't even hiccup. I did just have my first lockup though after about 2 hours of straight gaming. Hopefully it isn't a sign...

[GTSLOW]

Its a 7800 GT OC sucka

I love the thing. Everything is maxed out in BF2 and it doesn't even hiccup. I did just have my first lockup though after about 2 hours of straight gaming. Hopefully it isn't a sign...

LOL I know I'm saying the 6800OC's are great the 7800GT OC's are gonna be even better :D and BFG rocks!

No, BF2 is known to be quiet a buggy game. Every now and then I'll be in a game and it will just quit to the desktop :wtf or other STRANGE things. You'll notice them as you play more!

Also try to play in ranked servers.

[T-Bag]

LOL I know I'm saying the 6800OC's are great the 7800GT OC's are gonna be even better :D and BFG rocks!

No, BF2 is known to be quiet a buggy game. Every now and then I'll be in a game and it will just quit to the desktop :wtf or other STRANGE things. You'll notice them as you play more!

Also try to play in ranked servers.


There's a server I play on (ranked) that is only open to members of the forum...its an awesome server, 48 players, usually always 40 or more people, great people that i've played games with for about 5 years now.

I've been playing FEAR all day and nothing happened, so probably just BF2 being gay. Thanks for all the pointers, and I'm really glad I went with the 7800, this is a COMPLETELY different machine now. That video card was bottlenecking this things potential.

[GTSLOW]

Ha so how do you like fear? That game scares the sh*t outta me!!! Gotta play @ night with the lights off and sound up :thumbsup

[2kgtp]

Fear is a great game. I've beaten it already. The best as stated to play is in a dark room with sound cranked. That game is freaky! Any of you like to play rpg's? AOE 3, D2, WOW, etc?

A64 3200+
Asus mobo
2gb ram
dvdrw
Nvidia 6800GS 256mb
Soon to be watercooled

[GTSLOW]

Sweet what water cooling stuff are you going use for yours??

-Black Ice Extreme 2 Radiator 1/2" fittings
-Danger Den D4 pump 1/2" fittings
-Danger Den RBX 1/2" fittings
- 7/16ID 5/8OD tubing

Here's mine:

http://s-seriesforum.com/albums/album229/IMG_2345.sized.jpg
http://s-seriesforum.com/albums/album229/IMG_2342.sized.jpg

Updated my system a little:
Corsair XMS DDR433 1gbx2 2-3-2-6
x2 74gb Raptors in RAID 0

[2kgtp]

Wow. That is one helluva water kit! I'm thinking I'll just get the one from Coolermaster. Installed one in Williamz box a few weeks ago. Nice and quiet. Very effective.

[GTSLOW]

Not a kit all peiced together, thats the way I'd recomend.