Author Topic: what kind of desktop..... (Read 1088 times)

BBStacker · « **Reply #15 on:** October 14, 2007, 05:50:51 PM »

The problem with Dell is their proprietary hardware; it's difficult, if not impossible to upgrade a Dell.

If you're not into building your own, there is this guy who builds great machines on ebay. I've talked to a couple guys who have bought from him and are very happy.
Check out his feedback rating.

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZbleedingQ5fedgeQ5fpc

...and I agree with those who say to stay away from Vista....bad driver support and the OS is a dog

edit: btw, those aren't the only machines you have to buy. You tell this guy what you want, he'll quote you a price and build it to your specs.

acfireguy26 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 16, 2007, 09:50:57 AM »

This is what I got a couple months ago. I run graphics maxed out with high res pack and still get 80+ frame rate,in a major furball over a burning and smoking base with tracers going everywhere.

Quantity Item Number Description

1 223-0380 Inspiron 531,Athlon 64 X2 5000+ (2.60GHz, 512Kx2)
1 311-7206 4GB DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz
1 310-8025 Dell USB Keyboard
1 310-7966 Dell Optical USB Mouse
1 320-5615 Video ready option w/o monitor
1 320-5747 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600GT- DDR3
1 341-4736 250GB SATA II Hard Drive (7200RPM)
1 341-4965 Dell 13 in 1 Media Card Reader
1 420-6540 Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition, English
1 420-5769 Internet Search and Portal
1 420-5924 Icon Consolidation Application
1 463-2282 Dell Owners Manual installed on your system,click on icon after system set-up to access
1 420-6436 Vista, PC-Restore, Dim/Insp
1 420-6481 Dell Support, Vista, Dim/Insp
1 313-5584 Dell Resource DVD with Application Backup
1 310-1966 Mouse included with Keyboard purchase
1 430-0412 Integrated NIC card
1 313-4593 56K PCI Data Fax Modem
1 412-0914 Adobe Acrobat Reader 7.0
1 313-5175 48X CDRW/DVD Combination Drive
1 420-6464 Roxio Creator Basic
1 313-2758 Integrated Audio

1 412-0940 Security 30-day trial
1 412-0934 Earthlink
1 412-0933 AOL for Broadband
1 412-0912 MS WORKS 8.5
1 950-3339 3 Year Limited Warranty
1 960-7391 1 yr Automated PC Tune Up
1 420-6995 DELL SUPPORT 3.4,DIM/INSP
1 420-7273 Dell Support and PC Tune-up 1YR
1 987-4827 Insp Datasafe 10GB,1YR,DHS
1 420-7094 DataSafe Online 10GB for Dim/Ins/XPS
1 420-7091 DataSafe Online Dim/Ins/XPS
1 987-3177 Dell Hardware Warranty PlusOnsite Service, Initial Year
1 982-4360 Type 15- Third Party At Home Service with Nights and Weeke ends, 24x7 Technical Support, Initial Year
1 987-3148 Dell Hardware Warranty PlusOnsite Service, Extended Year
1 982-1272 Type 15- Third Party At Home Service with Nights and Wee kends, 24x7 Technical Support,2 Year Extended
1 412-0360 Soft Contracts - Banctec
1 982-8852 Warranty Support,2 Year Extended
1 983-3680 Warranty Support,Initial Year
1 986-5807 Thank you for choosing a Limited Warranty and Service Contract
1 310-8626 You have chosen a Windows Vista Premium System
1 412-0943 Basic digital Music,Photo and Game experience

$1450 delivered

Got this also included with above price.
ViewSonic VA1703WB 17-inch Widescreen Black Flat Panel LCD Monitor

Skuzzy · « **Reply #17 on:** October 16, 2007, 10:07:31 AM »

The hardware you listed should be getting well over 150FPS.

I have a 4 year old 2.4Ghz Pentium 4 with an X850XT in it and it easily gets and maintains 80FPS with the graphics all maxed out in the game.

I have another system sitting here with an Intel Core 2 CPU E6300 and an NVidia 7600GT in it. It gets around 300+ FPS.

Of course, those numbers are with V-sync turned off just to see how fast the game loop can run. And none of those use Vista. The XP Pro installations on those computers are clean.

I would not touch any software from Roxio. What they do to the system registry should be classed as criminal.

acfireguy26 · « **Reply #18 on:** October 16, 2007, 11:39:14 AM »

I get 200+ when flying with no one around. Like I said in a major furball with lots going on and smoke and fire it drops to the 80's.

BTW why dosent this topic bump to the top when new replys are posted?

MrRiplEy[H] · « **Reply #19 on:** October 16, 2007, 01:01:02 PM »

Extended warranties are the biggest source of income for hardware vendors. They're a bad deal. That Athlon5000+ Dell package is a $800 max package without the added stupidities.

You can buy yourself an another computer for the difference.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #20 on:** October 16, 2007, 01:18:39 PM »

I was talking about furballs. The frame rates when nothing is around are insane.

You cannot help but lose about 30 to 35% of your performance just for running Vista. Therei s no way around it.

acfireguy26 · « **Reply #21 on:** October 16, 2007, 05:11:19 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by MrRiplEy[H]
Extended warranties are the biggest source of income for hardware vendors. They're a bad deal. That Athlon5000+ Dell package is a $800 max package without the added stupidities.

^^This type comment is why I dont post on here much.There is way to much hostility towards people who try to help other people and towards "new guys in general".

Quote

You can buy yourself an another computer for the difference. [/B]

I have had to use the warranties in the past. I dont know enough about computers to build one myself. Plus 12 months same as cash and ill have it paid off in 4 more months so it works for me.

Quote

Originally posted by acfireguy26
BTW why dosent this topic bump to the top when new replys are posted?

I see this got fixed.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #22 on:** October 16, 2007, 05:26:02 PM »

There is a lot of frustration towards most OEM's simply due to the fact of how much you give up to own one. Now, I will be the first to admit, not everyone can build thier own computer. Not everyone wants to build thier own computer.

I think it is a shame there is not an OEM willing to actually ship a really lean and mean computer system. 99% of what they load on computers today is a hindrance to the operation of the computer. This same software also makes it difficult for our game to run properly, yet we take the heat for it.

OEM's take advantage of people who have no or little knowledge of computers. It really is that simple.

Nothing was fixed to make the thread bump to the top of the forum as posts are added. This has to do with the cookie stored on your computer and the timestamps. If the cookie cannot be properly updated, then things do not well on the bulletin board. You are running Vista, and Vista will do some might stupid things in this regard. I know, as I have to use it everyday.

acfireguy26 · « **Reply #23 on:** October 16, 2007, 05:41:53 PM »

Yeah I just checked again and it is way down the list again. Oh well I told you I didnt know much about computers. But I do have a blast playing the game. Thanx for all the hard work you guys do keeping things rolling as smooth as possible.

Flint · « **Reply #24 on:** October 16, 2007, 06:21:11 PM »

Ok Scuzzy - that does my head in.

I'm running a P4 3.06 on a 500mhz bus with 1gig of unmatched ram (pc2700 and 3200, timings to suit the slowest) but working as dual.

22 Processes inc AH2 and I still have to set sliders at 60% for a guaranteed 40fps.

All drivers up to date - vid card is a 256mb 7800gs agp, sound is an audigy 2zs gamer.

One smoking bomber howerver and my frame rate is cut in half.

526 textures, 4x AA, AF off... 1024 x 768 res.

You're old rigs performance is slaughtering mine - I've been through the optimization tips, but it seriously sounds like I need some help.

Fulmar · « **Reply #25 on:** October 16, 2007, 06:35:24 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Flint
Ok Scuzzy - that does my head in.

I'm running a P4 3.06 on a 500mhz bus with 1gig of unmatched ram (pc2700 and 3200, timings to suit the slowest) but working as dual.

22 Processes inc AH2 and I still have to set sliders at 60% for a guaranteed 40fps.

All drivers up to date - vid card is a 256mb 7800gs agp, sound is an audigy 2zs gamer.

One smoking bomber howerver and my frame rate is cut in half.

526 textures, 4x AA, AF off... 1024 x 768 res.

You're old rigs performance is slaughtering mine - I've been through the optimization tips, but it seriously sounds like I need some help.

My old rig was a P4 2.8ghz Northwood non-HT 533mhz buss. I had a gig of ram and a 5900XT video card and I would get 50-60 FPS, 40 in combat. Also at a higher res. And around 35 processes.

As for your ram, I'm pretty sure your ram is not running in dual channel since they are mismatched sticks. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Flint · « **Reply #26 on:** October 16, 2007, 06:55:35 PM »

yeah - is 4 sticks ... 2matched x 2matched, so is running dual

MrRiplEy[H] · « **Reply #27 on:** October 17, 2007, 04:06:07 AM »

I brought up the OEM issue because nobody is forced to buy OEM even if they lack the knowledge for building the computer.

Many hardware sites offer preinstalled packages for a very marginal fee. This means you get a ready built system very cheap, very high quality components and without OEM bloatware. And here's the real kicker: You get to choose any OS you like. No more forced Vista installations!

I highly recommend that route if DIY building is not an option. In fact, Skuzzy could make his life easyer by making a deal with a US vendor to promote basic AH boxes with XP preinstalled

And Flint: I think your vidmem gets saturated with 512 textures and 4xAA. If that happens your fps will plummet. If the fps nosedive stops when you temporarily lower the textures to 256 and maybe FSAA to 2x then you're dealing with insufficient video memory.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #28 on:** October 17, 2007, 06:02:46 AM »

Flint, your 3.06Ghz P4 is a Prescott P4. It has about the same performance equivalent as a 2Ghz Northwood P4. My 2.4GHz is a Northwood. There was not a Prescott equivalent that was faster.

Your PC2700 RAM is going to hinder performance as well. Better than not having the RAM, but worse than my old systems low latency (CAS2) PC3200 RAM.

I also tune the video card settings to get better performance and I run a really clean installation of XP Pro. I do not have anything that phones home, such as Flash, Acrobat, Real Player, Roxio, .NET, and so on, installed.

My base installation of XP has been tweaked and optimized to have as little overhead as possible.

Tigger29 · « **Reply #29 on:** October 20, 2007, 04:03:50 PM »

Heck I get 50FPS in a fiery furball! (1280X1024 - 512 texts.. hi res makes it a little jittery)

Intel E6300/AsRock Dual VSTA
AGP Nvidia 6200
2GB DDR2 Ram (Forget the speed, but synched)
XP HOME
33 Processes running (gotta clean up some of the junk the wife installed)

oh yeah.. only a 250 watt power supply! haha

I plan on upgrading the PS and video soon though