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 Post subject: For the tech buffs
PostPosted: Wed Mar 01, 2006 3:18 pm 
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Joined: Sat Jul 30, 2005 10:26 pm
Posts: 126
Just wondering if anyone had any good advice on a new video card. I currently have an ATI X800 PCI Express on a P4 3.0ghz based computer with 3GB of RAM.

Should I bother with a new card? What's the best I can get where my processor isn't going to be a bottleneck causing the card's performance to go to waste. Thanks in advance.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 2:17 am 
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I personally would get a new mobo + cpu, like an Asus mobo and like an AMD 4000+ CPU....

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 8:40 am 
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I've done just about everything in a computer aside from a motherboard. Is it as easy as pulling out the old one and assembling the new one in there, or does it involve a bunch of backing stuff up and re-installation of WIndows?


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 9:28 am 
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Well once you have changed the Mainboard(Motherboard) and CPU it's essentially a new machine so you are supposed to obtain another version of the Windows O.S. for it.
My opinion is that you wait until Windows Vista comes out later this year to build a new machine.Windows Vista will be in 5 versions in the United States.3 of them are for consumers and 2 are for businesses.
However you can greatly increase your framerates by obtaining one of those new Creative Labs X-fidelity sound cards that have their own powerful microprocessor on board.
Building a system from scratch is very simple.The instructions come with the motherboard.You will need a case with a power supply probably between 450 to 600 watts depending of course if you chose a regular motherboard or one that uses SLI(2 video cards in SLI mode).
Asus is a great choice.That's what I use.

Myself I make a rule of thumb and only build a new machine every 3 years.However I upgrade the video card on it a year and a half after I build it so it is capable of playing video intensive games or simulations.
Since I built my current system in March 2004 I plan to build a new system in March 2007.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 3:29 pm 
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Thanks for the advice. By that rule I'm getting close. What's the average cost? I already have two H/D's, a DVD RW drive and regular DVD reading drive, and the above mentioned card and memory.

Would it be cost effective to re-use what I could, or would that just cause me compatability issues in the long run?


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 4:36 pm 
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I always rebuild as a rule to using some of my existing stuff as long as it appears to be of good quality and somewhat current.

Usually harddrives, CD readers/burners, DVD readers/burners, & video cards. It will cut the cost down somewhat in the begining allowing for a fairly cost effective upgrade when newer stuff comes out later.

I'd do the motherboard, case, powersupply (the bigger the better) and system memory. Your older stuff will be the bottleneck but at the rate the system processes information that bottleneck will be negligible.

Good system estimate using existing parts, $700.00 U.S.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 10:12 pm 
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Cool, thanks Snuffy. That's a lot cheaper than I thought. I'm waiting on a board for the Army Warrant Officer Flight program. ;) If I get accepted, that'll be just the pay raise I need to pull it off.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Mar 04, 2006 7:58 pm 
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Depending on the age of your DVD drive, or better yet burner, I'd think of upgrading that too. Certain new sims could have problems with older drives. The sims that come to mind are the ones with StarForce in them, as in Silent Hunter III.

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