±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: HighestAce
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6648

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 694
Total: 694
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Home
02: Community Forums
03: Community Forums
04: Photo Gallery
05: Downloads
06: Community Forums
07: Community Forums
08: Member Screenshots
09: Member Screenshots
10: Community Forums
11: Community Forums
12: Community Forums
13: News Archive
14: Home
15: News Archive
16: Downloads
17: Community Forums
18: Downloads
19: Member Screenshots
20: Community Forums
21: Home
22: Community Forums
23: Community Forums
24: Member Screenshots
25: Home
26: Home
27: Community Forums
28: Community Forums
29: Community Forums
30: Member Screenshots
31: Community Forums
32: Community Forums
33: Community Forums
34: Community Forums
35: Community Forums
36: Community Forums
37: Home
38: Community Forums
39: Community Forums
40: Community Forums
41: Community Forums
42: Home
43: Community Forums
44: Home
45: Downloads
46: Community Forums
47: Community Forums
48: Community Forums
49: Member Screenshots
50: Community Forums
51: Community Forums
52: Home
53: Community Forums
54: Community Forums
55: Home
56: Home
57: Community Forums
58: Downloads
59: Statistics
60: Photo Gallery
61: Home
62: Community Forums
63: Member Screenshots
64: Community Forums
65: Community Forums
66: Member Screenshots
67: Community Forums
68: Member Screenshots
69: Community Forums
70: Photo Gallery
71: Community Forums
72: Community Forums
73: Community Forums
74: Member Screenshots
75: Community Forums
76: Community Forums
77: Member Screenshots
78: Community Forums
79: Community Forums
80: Home
81: Member Screenshots
82: Community Forums
83: Home
84: Member Screenshots
85: Community Forums
86: Community Forums
87: Community Forums
88: Community Forums
89: Member Screenshots
90: Community Forums
91: Community Forums
92: News Archive
93: Photo Gallery
94: Home
95: Community Forums
96: Home
97: Community Forums
98: Community Forums
99: Community Forums
100: Statistics
101: Community Forums
102: Member Screenshots
103: Community Forums
104: Member Screenshots
105: Member Screenshots
106: Community Forums
107: Community Forums
108: Community Forums
109: Downloads
110: Member Screenshots
111: Downloads
112: Member Screenshots
113: Community Forums
114: Community Forums
115: Home
116: Community Forums
117: Treasury
118: Photo Gallery
119: Community Forums
120: Downloads
121: Member Screenshots
122: Member Screenshots
123: Community Forums
124: Downloads
125: Community Forums
126: Statistics
127: Home
128: Community Forums
129: Member Screenshots
130: Community Forums
131: Home
132: Photo Gallery
133: Member Screenshots
134: News Archive
135: Community Forums
136: Community Forums
137: Community Forums
138: Home
139: Home
140: Community Forums
141: Home
142: Community Forums
143: Home
144: Community Forums
145: Home
146: Community Forums
147: Home
148: Community Forums
149: Photo Gallery
150: Community Forums
151: Photo Gallery
152: Photo Gallery
153: Community Forums
154: Home
155: Community Forums
156: Home
157: Community Forums
158: Community Forums
159: Community Forums
160: Community Forums
161: Community Forums
162: Home
163: Member Screenshots
164: Community Forums
165: Community Forums
166: Home
167: News Archive
168: Community Forums
169: Member Screenshots
170: News Archive
171: Community Forums
172: Community Forums
173: Community Forums
174: Member Screenshots
175: Member Screenshots
176: Home
177: Community Forums
178: Community Forums
179: Member Screenshots
180: Community Forums
181: Community Forums
182: Community Forums
183: Community Forums
184: Community Forums
185: Community Forums
186: Community Forums
187: Community Forums
188: Community Forums
189: Member Screenshots
190: Community Forums
191: Community Forums
192: Community Forums
193: Community Forums
194: Community Forums
195: Community Forums
196: Community Forums
197: Community Forums
198: Community Forums
199: Community Forums
200: Community Forums
201: Community Forums
202: Community Forums
203: Downloads
204: Community Forums
205: Community Forums
206: Community Forums
207: Community Forums
208: Community Forums
209: Community Forums
210: Community Forums
211: Community Forums
212: Community Forums
213: Community Forums
214: Community Forums
215: Community Forums
216: Community Forums
217: Photo Gallery
218: Home
219: Member Screenshots
220: Member Screenshots
221: Statistics
222: Home
223: Community Forums
224: Community Forums
225: Photo Gallery
226: Community Forums
227: Community Forums
228: Community Forums
229: Photo Gallery
230: Community Forums
231: Community Forums
232: Community Forums
233: Community Forums
234: Home
235: Member Screenshots
236: Home
237: Home
238: Home
239: Member Screenshots
240: Community Forums
241: Community Forums
242: Member Screenshots
243: Downloads
244: Community Forums
245: Community Forums
246: Downloads
247: Community Forums
248: Community Forums
249: Member Screenshots
250: Community Forums
251: Home
252: Community Forums
253: Community Forums
254: Home
255: Downloads
256: Home
257: Home
258: Community Forums
259: Community Forums
260: Community Forums
261: Member Screenshots
262: Community Forums
263: Community Forums
264: Home
265: Community Forums
266: Community Forums
267: Member Screenshots
268: Community Forums
269: Community Forums
270: Downloads
271: Community Forums
272: Community Forums
273: Community Forums
274: Community Forums
275: Community Forums
276: Community Forums
277: Home
278: Home
279: News Archive
280: Home
281: Community Forums
282: Downloads
283: Member Screenshots
284: Home
285: Community Forums
286: Home
287: Home
288: Community Forums
289: Community Forums
290: Community Forums
291: Member Screenshots
292: Home
293: News Archive
294: Home
295: Community Forums
296: Home
297: Community Forums
298: Community Forums
299: Community Forums
300: Community Forums
301: Community Forums
302: Community Forums
303: Community Forums
304: Member Screenshots
305: Home
306: Community Forums
307: Community Forums
308: Community Forums
309: Photo Gallery
310: Community Forums
311: Member Screenshots
312: Member Screenshots
313: Home
314: Community Forums
315: Community Forums
316: Community Forums
317: Community Forums
318: Community Forums
319: Member Screenshots
320: Community Forums
321: Home
322: Community Forums
323: Community Forums
324: Member Screenshots
325: Member Screenshots
326: Home
327: Home
328: Community Forums
329: Community Forums
330: Photo Gallery
331: Member Screenshots
332: Community Forums
333: Community Forums
334: Community Forums
335: Community Forums
336: News Archive
337: Home
338: Home
339: Community Forums
340: Home
341: Community Forums
342: Home
343: Community Forums
344: Community Forums
345: Home
346: Community Forums
347: Home
348: Member Screenshots
349: Member Screenshots
350: Community Forums
351: Home
352: Photo Gallery
353: Downloads
354: Home
355: Community Forums
356: Community Forums
357: Community Forums
358: Community Forums
359: Community Forums
360: Community Forums
361: Member Screenshots
362: Home
363: Community Forums
364: Community Forums
365: Home
366: Community Forums
367: Statistics
368: Home
369: News Archive
370: News Archive
371: Community Forums
372: Community Forums
373: Community Forums
374: Home
375: Community Forums
376: Community Forums
377: Member Screenshots
378: Home
379: Community Forums
380: Home
381: Community Forums
382: Photo Gallery
383: Member Screenshots
384: Community Forums
385: Community Forums
386: Community Forums
387: Member Screenshots
388: Community Forums
389: Member Screenshots
390: Downloads
391: News Archive
392: Community Forums
393: Community Forums
394: Photo Gallery
395: Community Forums
396: Home
397: Member Screenshots
398: Downloads
399: Community Forums
400: Downloads
401: Home
402: Community Forums
403: Home
404: News
405: Community Forums
406: Home
407: Community Forums
408: Community Forums
409: Community Forums
410: Community Forums
411: Community Forums
412: Home
413: Community Forums
414: Home
415: Community Forums
416: Downloads
417: Member Screenshots
418: Community Forums
419: Home
420: Home
421: Community Forums
422: Community Forums
423: Community Forums
424: Community Forums
425: Home
426: Community Forums
427: Community Forums
428: Community Forums
429: Downloads
430: Community Forums
431: Member Screenshots
432: Community Forums
433: Community Forums
434: Community Forums
435: Community Forums
436: Home
437: Community Forums
438: Member Screenshots
439: Home
440: Community Forums
441: Home
442: Community Forums
443: Downloads
444: Home
445: Community Forums
446: Community Forums
447: Member Screenshots
448: Home
449: Home
450: News Archive
451: Community Forums
452: News Archive
453: News Archive
454: Home
455: Home
456: Community Forums
457: Home
458: Home
459: Downloads
460: Home
461: Home
462: Home
463: Community Forums
464: Community Forums
465: Community Forums
466: Community Forums
467: News Archive
468: Community Forums
469: News Archive
470: Home
471: Home
472: Community Forums
473: Community Forums
474: Community Forums
475: Member Screenshots
476: Home
477: Member Screenshots
478: Community Forums
479: Community Forums
480: Community Forums
481: Community Forums
482: Community Forums
483: Downloads
484: Community Forums
485: Downloads
486: Community Forums
487: News Archive
488: Member Screenshots
489: Home
490: Home
491: Community Forums
492: Home
493: Community Forums
494: Home
495: Home
496: Community Forums
497: Community Forums
498: Home
499: Home
500: Downloads
501: Member Screenshots
502: Home
503: Community Forums
504: Member Screenshots
505: Home
506: Community Forums
507: Community Forums
508: Community Forums
509: Statistics
510: Community Forums
511: Photo Gallery
512: Member Screenshots
513: Community Forums
514: Community Forums
515: Member Screenshots
516: Community Forums
517: Member Screenshots
518: Downloads
519: Member Screenshots
520: Community Forums
521: Community Forums
522: Community Forums
523: Community Forums
524: Community Forums
525: Community Forums
526: Community Forums
527: Home
528: Home
529: Community Forums
530: Photo Gallery
531: Community Forums
532: Community Forums
533: Community Forums
534: Community Forums
535: Photo Gallery
536: Member Screenshots
537: Community Forums
538: Community Forums
539: Community Forums
540: Downloads
541: Community Forums
542: Member Screenshots
543: Home
544: Community Forums
545: Home
546: Community Forums
547: Photo Gallery
548: Home
549: Community Forums
550: Community Forums
551: Member Screenshots
552: Community Forums
553: Community Forums
554: Community Forums
555: Community Forums
556: Community Forums
557: Community Forums
558: Community Forums
559: Community Forums
560: Downloads
561: Community Forums
562: Community Forums
563: Community Forums
564: Member Screenshots
565: Statistics
566: Community Forums
567: News Archive
568: Member Screenshots
569: Community Forums
570: Community Forums
571: Downloads
572: Community Forums
573: Community Forums
574: Community Forums
575: Home
576: Community Forums
577: Home
578: Community Forums
579: Member Screenshots
580: Member Screenshots
581: Community Forums
582: Community Forums
583: Community Forums
584: Home
585: Home
586: Community Forums
587: Home
588: Home
589: Community Forums
590: Community Forums
591: Community Forums
592: Community Forums
593: Community Forums
594: Community Forums
595: Community Forums
596: Community Forums
597: Community Forums
598: Community Forums
599: Member Screenshots
600: Community Forums
601: Community Forums
602: Photo Gallery
603: Community Forums
604: Photo Gallery
605: Home
606: Community Forums
607: Community Forums
608: Community Forums
609: Community Forums
610: Home
611: Member Screenshots
612: Community Forums
613: Photo Gallery
614: Community Forums
615: Community Forums
616: Home
617: Community Forums
618: Home
619: Statistics
620: Home
621: Member Screenshots
622: Home
623: Member Screenshots
624: Downloads
625: Community Forums
626: Downloads
627: Home
628: Downloads
629: Home
630: Home
631: Community Forums
632: Community Forums
633: Community Forums
634: Community Forums
635: Home
636: Home
637: Home
638: Photo Gallery
639: Community Forums
640: Community Forums
641: Community Forums
642: Home
643: Home
644: Community Forums
645: Home
646: Home
647: Community Forums
648: Community Forums
649: Community Forums
650: Community Forums
651: Community Forums
652: Member Screenshots
653: Photo Gallery
654: Community Forums
655: Community Forums
656: Community Forums
657: Member Screenshots
658: Community Forums
659: Downloads
660: Community Forums
661: Member Screenshots
662: Downloads
663: Home
664: Home
665: Community Forums
666: Member Screenshots
667: Photo Gallery
668: Community Forums
669: Home
670: News Archive
671: Member Screenshots
672: Home
673: Community Forums
674: Community Forums
675: Community Forums
676: Downloads
677: Community Forums
678: Community Forums
679: Community Forums
680: Member Screenshots
681: Home
682: Home
683: Community Forums
684: Member Screenshots
685: Home
686: Member Screenshots
687: Community Forums
688: Community Forums
689: Community Forums
690: News Archive
691: News Archive
692: Member Screenshots
693: Member Screenshots
694: Community Forums

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
Retirin' the CFS3 Test Rig...but for what?! :: Archived
Resolve issues with your computer problems here or read about the latest computer parts and information.
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Post new topic    Revive this topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  Hardware

Topic Archived View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 12:13 pm
Post subject: Retirin' the CFS3 Test Rig...but for what?!

(That doesn't mean I'm retirin' from CFS3 myself though!)

Amost brings a tear to my eye (sniff). It's time to retire the ol' Dell Dimension 8300 used as the test rig in the CFS3 Tweaks and Tips guide, gents.....it's gettin' dawg-damn slow, and after 3-1/2 years of trying to keep it afloat with decent FPS rates in various sims, CFS3 and FS9 are showing it's limits for sure. Matter of fact, my laptop with a 1.5Mhz Pentium-M flies both sims much better, just because the internal components are better matched (faster bus & RAM). By comparison, it's almost PAINFUL to fly on the ol' Dell any more.

So I've decided to give the ol' early 1.8Ghz P4 with 100Mhz front side bus, 1Gig of old-fashioned SD-RAM (Stands for Dog-Slow) and maybe even the should-be-fast-but-is-also kinda slow 160-Gig HD a break from flying duties. It shall live out the rest of it's days at the service of my boy, who will no doubt torment it with various online games, Runescape junk and all that. Not the most glorious retirement for a fine steed that's brought so much pain and havoc to various fierce online opponents, but it's either that or assign it Solitaire and Home Accounting duties with my spouse. Either way, it's going to a desk job for sure. I blame Dell for not ever returning my calls regarding a system upgrade.

Anyway, I'm seeking opinions & such regarding any "sweet spot" deals out there y'all might know or be happy with? Particularly, pretty definite about certain things I want in the next system:

- INTEL P4, 3.0GHz minimum, HT version. Not AMD or Celeron, I'm an old-fashioned Intel diehard. Prices seem to have settled down on this speed range.
- 1Gig fast RAM this time around....DDR stuff?
- Could keep the NVidia-based FX5200 card or go with something a little better but not too dear? What's a pretty reasonably-priced improvement over this card, anyone know?
- 160GB or better HD (seems a pretty common size now)
- SOME kind of manufacturer behind the whole deal. Like a Gateway/EMachines kinda thing I guess. I've assembled probably over 100 custom PC's in a past job and know what I'm doing, and am at the point in life I don't wanna deal with it, or self-support, but want someone I can call and make miserable instead. That's why I got that dang Dell, was my very-first ever 'store bought' PC since buying a used IBM XT back in '85.

Oh yeah....here's the funny part - trying to stay arounf $600-$700 US currency. Prob'ly keep my monitor and some other stuff, so it's just a fairly straightforward box I'm talkin' about. Figured, some of you might be willing to offer some input on a new SSS (StoopySimSystem)?

_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
Uhu_Fledermaus
Aircraft Demolition Expert

Offline Offline
Joined: Nov 28, 2004
Posts: 4369
Location: Blaricum, The Netherlands ~GMT+1
PostPosted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 12:27 pm
Post subject: Re: Retirin' the CFS3 Test Rig...but for what?!

not shure how the things are at your end Stoopy,

at this end Siemens Fujitsu offers a very nice ready to rock rig with :
P4 3,4 HT
1 G ram
200 G HD
ATI9800pro
DVD dubbellayer burner/reader
Sound stuff (dunno wich)
Windows XP home and some other stuff

price including Her Majesty's taxes = 900,00 Euro's

I was contemplating to buy one of these myself

just waiting for the comments ! Laughing


fled
Back to top
View user's profile ICQ Number MSN Messenger Photo Gallery
RCAF_MadDog
Janitor

Offline Offline
Joined: Nov 13, 2004
Posts: 849

PostPosted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 12:29 pm
Post subject: Re: Retirin' the CFS3 Test Rig...but for what?!

Myself I would rather run 2-3 smaller drives than one big drive windows dont have to search through as much info to find what its looking for and another point is .....I put windows on the main drive and Utility type programs on the 2nd and all games on the third. If my main drive crashes I still have all the downloads Utilities and Games reinstall windows (Ghost Image) and im up and running in minutes. And im a diehard Intel man also and I dont use anything but Asus mobo's and my brand of hard drives are always Maxtor. As far as video cards my next one will be ATI instead of the faithful NVidea and im prolly gonna check out the PCI Express but not sure. As far as Ram I would make sure everything is 800mhz FSB.

_________________
RCAF_MadDog RCAF Command
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 1:04 pm
Post subject: Re: Retirin' the CFS3 Test Rig...but for what?!

Hmmm! Fast responses, Thanks gents I appreciate it!

Hate to feel dumb but really I just don't keep up with the new stuff anymore.....coupla more quick questions?

1. D'ya think the ATI 9600 series - or 9600SE - offer better performance than say the NVidia FX5200? (Just generally speaking - I know opinions & brand loyalties will vary). Or is the 9800 sereies the better jump in performance for a mid-range vid card?

2. 800Mhz RAM? I see speeds up to 533Mhz (PC4300)....still, DDR Memory is the stuff newer than mine....Dual-Channel's the way to go right? PC3200, 400Mhz seems like the sweet spot on pricing, should do?

_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
Uhu_Fledermaus
Aircraft Demolition Expert

Offline Offline
Joined: Nov 28, 2004
Posts: 4369
Location: Blaricum, The Netherlands ~GMT+1
PostPosted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 1:21 pm
Post subject: Re: Retirin' the CFS3 Test Rig...but for what?!

Rolling Eyes

Personally I prefer the ATI cards, but I'm maybe biased as I have a ATI 9800pro card installed here and rather happy with it, see also piccie's about first hop ! Wink
and indeed the faster RAM the better, alltough also depends on the depth of your wallet !
but that's an item that can be upgraded in time with lesser expenses Wink


fled
Back to top
View user's profile ICQ Number MSN Messenger Photo Gallery
RCAF_MadDog
Janitor

Offline Offline
Joined: Nov 13, 2004
Posts: 849

PostPosted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 1:25 pm
Post subject: Re: Retirin' the CFS3 Test Rig...but for what?!

2. 800Mhz RAM? I see speeds up to 533Mhz (PC4300)....still, DDR Memory is the stuff newer than mine....Dual-Channel's the way to go right? PC3200, 400Mhz seems like the sweet spot on pricing, should do?


yeah as far as im concerned the dual channel is the way to go the Ram I have is rambus rdram 800mhz FSB but its expensive and a dieing breed. The dual channel ram thats 400mhz shouldnt cause a bottle neck even if the cpu an the mobo is 800mhz. Just my opnion on the ram

As far as the vid cards im not sure ..

_________________
RCAF_MadDog RCAF Command
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 2:00 pm
Post subject: Re: Retirin' the CFS3 Test Rig...but for what?!

Thanks, Maddog. Fled, those are indeed some very tasty screenies you do. If I may ask, what kind of general frame rates does your system acheive in such settings like the last hop you showed, with mountain terrain and fog, etc.?

_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
Uhu_Fledermaus
Aircraft Demolition Expert

Offline Offline
Joined: Nov 28, 2004
Posts: 4369
Location: Blaricum, The Netherlands ~GMT+1
PostPosted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 3:39 pm
Post subject: Re: Retirin' the CFS3 Test Rig...but for what?!

Cool
I've applied the following setings :

Scenery
Terrain mesh complexity = 100
Terrain size texture = high
Terrain detail = land only
Water effects = high
Dawn/dusk texture blending = checked
Extended terrain textures = checked
Special effects detail = high
Scenery complexity = Dense
Autogen Density = Dense
Add-on dynamic scenery = checked / setting = extremely dense
Ground scenery cast shadows = checked
Sun glare = checked
Lens flare = checked

Aircraft
Quality = Ultra high
Virtual cockpit gauge quality = high
Reflections = checked
Aircraft casts shadows = checked
Landing lights = checked

Weather
Sight distance minimum= 60 miles
Cloud draw distance = 50 miles
3D cloud percentage = 80 (higher doesn't give a noticable difference)
Detailled clouds = checked
Cloud coverage density = Maximum

Hardware
Render to Texture = NOT checked
Transform and Lightning = checked
Anti Aliasing = NOT checked
Filtering = bilinear
MIP mapping = 5
Hardware rendered lights = 3
Global max texture size = Massive

Target frame rate = 20 (higher doesn't improve anything and also eats up resources)

P4 2,8 running as 3,08 on ASUS P4C800 "de luxe"
2G RAM Corsair DDR 3200 pro
320 G (4 x 80G) HD's
ATI Radeon 9800pro
screen res 1280 x 1240 32 bit
the latest ATI drivers
monitor = Sony HMD 19" Trinitron

system build in July 2003


fled
Cool
Back to top
View user's profile ICQ Number MSN Messenger Photo Gallery
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 4:38 pm
Post subject: Re: Retirin' the CFS3 Test Rig...but for what?!

Dang me, Fled, That's nothing less than a BUTTLOAD of info....and a helluva nice system!!!!

Don't see too much Siemens stuff over on this side of the pond... yet......although their washers and driers and phones are showing up slowly. They're stuff is also loosely invovled in something I do for a living, so...uhh.... I like to avoid any potential conflicts of interest by not buying their stuff for my home. No offense to the Germans of course... Smile

Hey, dig it, though....looks like a pretty good lo-cost potential candidate, eh?

www.compusa.com/produc...pfp=BROWSE

I'm looking kinda sideways-like at that ATI X300 SE PCI Express vid card .... ain't never heard of me such a'beast...... guess I could giver 'er a whirl and swap out to the ol' Nvidia FX5200 if it ain't up to snuff, I reckon.....'zat one o'them newfangled thangs thats supposed to be better'n AGP vid cards??

Thanks for all the input you guys.... pretty cool that a coupla folks at good ol' COm-C wanna he'p out Stoopy with his new rig!


_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
Uhu_Fledermaus
Aircraft Demolition Expert

Offline Offline
Joined: Nov 28, 2004
Posts: 4369
Location: Blaricum, The Netherlands ~GMT+1
PostPosted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 4:53 pm
Post subject: Re: Retirin' the CFS3 Test Rig...but for what?!

Mr. Green

That looks like a nice system Stoopy and it offers potential for upgrading, the first upgrade I would make is to toss in some more RAM ! Wink

Can't comment on the PCI vidcard and I know that the PCI slot stuff is the latest development, I'd tend to hang in a bit longer till more of that stuff hits the market as now it's "brand new" and therefore also more costly ! Wink

Also convinced that a few more people should butt in here and deliver some comments, I can only relate from own expiriences and there is more out there than this ! Laughing

but apart from that it will set you up nicely I think


fled
Mr. Green
Back to top
View user's profile ICQ Number MSN Messenger Photo Gallery
RCAF_MadDog
Janitor

Offline Offline
Joined: Nov 13, 2004
Posts: 849

PostPosted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 5:33 pm
Post subject: Re: Retirin' the CFS3 Test Rig...but for what?!

PCI express is one of them new thangies lol And i'd have to read up on it but i believe it will let ya run 2 vid cards as one. Hitman would be the one to ask about that though

Im not familiar with vid cards much anymore im still using a GF4 lol

_________________
RCAF_MadDog RCAF Command
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
Shadow_Bshwackr
Janitor

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 21, 2005
Posts: 7019
Location: Central Illinois, USA
PostPosted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 7:54 pm
Post subject: Re: Retirin' the CFS3 Test Rig...but for what?!

General opinions among most of the Admins here at CC is the use of Asus/Intel combo main boards. Like you Stoopy, I'm an all Intel guy and while I agree that AMD makes some killer CPU's, the main board chipsets used such as VIA, Nvidia or SiS don't have access to the Windows/Intel instruction sets that Intel is privy to. This doesn't mean they don't do a good job, they do, but in my past experience, Intel works great straight out of the box with no problems. I can't say the same for the others I've used in the past building puters.

ATI v Nvidia is always going to be an ongoing debate and I say use whatever you feel will get you the most "bang for your buck". Personally, I've used both and feel both are great companies capable of wonderful graphics and game playing.

BTW, your old rig makes a great Web/printer/game server....:D Just a thought....lol
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
Shadow_Homfixr
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 541
Location: Fort Walton Beach, FL-USA
PostPosted: Sat Mar 05, 2005 1:38 pm
Post subject: Re: Retirin' the CFS3 Test Rig...but for what?!

Before buying a store bought rig you might want to check out this site:

www.tigerdirect.com/

I have had great success with everything I have bought there and they have some killer deals. Ready to go rigs to custom built for you with every accessory available.

As far as vid cards go, definitely get a newer card that is DX 9 compliant. The 5200 will not run all the things that DX 9 offers. I took my 5200 and threw it out(j/k). Still have it but it is in the desk draw...lol...it wouldn't run Joint Operations worth a dang so I got the 6800 GT. A little pricey at $400 but well worth the investment. I can now crank the vids all the way to the top in JO nad FS9 Laughing . My wife's rig has a 5700 LE in it and things run great there too..bout $130. Good luck!

_________________
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail MSN Messenger Yahoo Messenger Photo Gallery
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Sat Mar 05, 2005 2:39 pm
Post subject: Re: Retirin' the CFS3 Test Rig...but for what?!

Ooops! Well I guess I read your post too late Homfixer, 'cuz the wifey and I just got back from the store. I travel a good bit so it drives me nuts when I order stuff, and it comes in when I'm away from home, ....so for me it's worth it to go touch, feel, pay and come home with a box, lol!

Got a new Gateway 554GE sittin' next to me on the dining room table right now, installing the ATI utilities that came with the X800XL PCI EXpress card we bought as an upgrade for it. Actually, we are real pleased with the price of the system, it's not quite the same as the one I was looking at, it differs in that it already came with a meg of fast RAM in it already instead of 512M... otherwise, same box.

Edit: Actually, I went and just looked (looking for a few other specs on it anyway and ran across this) - I paid just almost $400 less than what tigerdirect is showing as the price. Seriously...I guess this particular web page may be out of date?

www.tigerdirect.ca/app...=G153-1022

Anyway thats the box I got.

Birthday's comin up and so wifey picked out a new 19" Viewsonic flat CRT monitor for me too. I almost said no, but...guess I got sidetracked.....not LCD, but I'm an old-fashioned CRT guy anyways.

This ATI X800 card is supposed to be fairly decent, isn't it? 256M of ram on it and 16 graphic pipelines, whatever they do. All I know is the vid card itself weighs over a frikkin' pound, is HUGE compared to the lil' X300 card that came out of the PCI-X slot, and has a gawdawful cool lookin' fan on it.

Welp......hope this'll be good enuff, seems like it oughta flat dust the ol' Dell workhorse, gonna have to last another 4 years like it's predecessor at least, and now time to install a few progs and see what color smoke we get! Thanks all for the he'p, all!!!!

_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Sat Mar 05, 2005 4:28 pm
Post subject: Re: Retirin' the CFS3 Test Rig...but for what?!

Heh...Umm......Ahhhh......forget I asked about that video card. Almost thought something was wrong for a while. Locked FPS at 30 in FS9, set it to 1600 x 1200 x 32bit res, ultra detail, flew around Chicago for half an hour with cold fronts moving in....never saw it dip below 30FPS until I landed the Bell 207 on the pitcher's mound of Wrigley field....dipped down to 28 for sec....Most immersive simmign experience I've ever had! And I've NO idea what the thing would actually top out at FPS-wise.....

You have GOT to get yourself one of THESE! WooHOOOO!!!!!

Loadin' CFS3 up next......thinkin' this oughta work too

_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Revive this topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  Hardware
Page 1 of 2
All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Go to page 1, 2  Next

Archive Revive
Username:
This is an archived topic - your reply will not be appended here.
Instead, a new topic will be generated in the active forum.
The new topic will provide a reference link to this archived topic.