Journal FortKnox's Journal: The New System 28
My bro was nice enough to find me a good deal on a new system:
A Dell PowerEdge 400SC (Intel P-4 Processor at 2.4GHz (w/HyperThreading), 512KB Cache, 800MHz FSB).
I had to go through Dell's Small Business to get it under $400 (comes with 40GB HD and some memory that I'll be sending back for cash). The deal has expired (sorry, I bought it the last day of the sale). But it will be shipping on the 6th (tomorrow). Kingston has a good deal on 800MHz Ram (DDR PC3200, I believe) which I will be getting 1GB of...
Now the final thing I need to worry about is the video card... I want something under $150 if possible, but I also want to play Deus Ex2 (I have a GeForce4 MX card, which doesn't look like it'll be strong enough). Any ideas on what to get? I've been out of the 'gamer' loop too long and am unsure of the card that'll give me the most bang for the buck.
A Dell PowerEdge 400SC (Intel P-4 Processor at 2.4GHz (w/HyperThreading), 512KB Cache, 800MHz FSB).
I had to go through Dell's Small Business to get it under $400 (comes with 40GB HD and some memory that I'll be sending back for cash). The deal has expired (sorry, I bought it the last day of the sale). But it will be shipping on the 6th (tomorrow). Kingston has a good deal on 800MHz Ram (DDR PC3200, I believe) which I will be getting 1GB of...
Now the final thing I need to worry about is the video card... I want something under $150 if possible, but I also want to play Deus Ex2 (I have a GeForce4 MX card, which doesn't look like it'll be strong enough). Any ideas on what to get? I've been out of the 'gamer' loop too long and am unsure of the card that'll give me the most bang for the buck.
FX5600 (Score:2)
This will do the trick. (Score:1)
Deus Ex looks like it doesn't support DX9 anyway so it'll fly.
9800 (Score:2)
Well, I am not a gamer per se, but I am on a couple companies lists of games to send for alpha/beta testing. I have two systems that I have been pretty happy with. One runs a Nvidia GeForce Ti and the new dual G5 runs an ATI 9800. Both cards deliver pretty impressive frame rates for both gaming and scientific visualization.
Re:9800 (Score:2)
Hey, anyway you can hook me up and get me on that list??
Re:9800 (Score:2)
Sure, these things are typically paid positions or by invitation only but you would need a Mac.
Re:9800 (Score:1)
List your current side project on the application, and you should be in like Flynn.
Re:9800 (Score:2)
Mine is a DUal AMD MP 1800+ that has only been crippled by the need for a DX9 card. Everything else is still extra beefy even for such an "old" system.
I know the G5 is latest/greatest of the Mac side, but I am wondering how your dual compares to single CPU system for games...
jason
Re:9800 (Score:2)
It really depends upon whether or not the game takes advantage of multiple CPU's. A dual CPU system with an OS that properly takes advantage of said system will give one some degree of advantage, but the difference in most situations will not be that noticeable unless the application "knows" the system has multiple CPU's and can take advantage of it. Applications that take advanta
Re:9800 (Score:2)
I don't hold out any hope for games to support SMP. However, if I can assign a preference for the game to stick to a CPU, then the OS tasks can reside on the remaining CPU. This is mainly where I was wondering if a dual system can extend the game play life of a system as opposed to a single CPU system.
You're hosed on video (Score:2)
You might have to look for a PCI card, good luck.
Re:You're hosed on video (Score:2)
Go check out the installation and troubleshooting manual. I'd provide linkage, but it keeps coming up under my premier support logon.
Re:You're hosed on video (Score:2)
Re:You're hosed on video (Score:2)
A few things to look out for (since I have done this more times than I can count) that might help...
*Most new(er) AGP cards need a free power header to power their heat sink fans & memory bus clocks. Don't forget to plug this in. And for that matter don't forget to plug in the CPU fan when installing a new heat sink... (learned the hard way).
*Your board supports AGP 8X. That's good, because some cards now are AGP 8x only and may not work on AGP 4x/Pro slots.
*Deus E
Re:You're hosed on video (Score:1)
Re:You're hosed on video (Score:2)
I remember the origional DX had friggin huge maps. I played it on the same system with an ATA100 hard drive and then later with my RAID 0 system and the RAID loaded in 1/2 the time (or faster).
jason
as much as it pains me (Score:1)
the latest in mainstream cards (radeon 9600XT) can be had for just a little more than $150. here [newegg.com] and here [gameve.com] are some examples in the $150 - $200 range. the bonus of the XT is that it comes with a coupon/certificate redeemable for the full version of half life 2 upon its release. if you
You are correct (Score:1)
I'll leave the specific recommendations to others.
BTW, look for the 'nocd' crack for the game. Even with the patch, the cd copy protection still causes problems on level loading.
Add'l Details (Score:1)
I got one too (Score:1)
Let me know what you think about it.
I went with the P4 and had the RAM doubled instead of the rebate because i'm not sure what i'm going to do with it yet.
Here are the specs for mine:
Intel(R) P(R)4 Processor at 2.26GHz, 512KB Cache, 533MHz FSB
Floppy Drive3.5 in, 1.44MB, Floppy Drive
MouseLogitec System Mouse, Gray
Hardware Support Services1Yr,Parts + Onsite Labor (Next Business Day)
Operating SystemNo Operating System, Microsoft
Memory256MB DDR, ECC, 400Hz, 2X128MB at a 128 pri
Re:I got one too (Score:1)
Not sure why my ship date is later though.
PCI only (Score:2)
Re:PCI only (Score:1)
Re:PCI only (Score:2)
My brother got his a couple weeks ago with a fully functionaly up to 8X APG slot in it.
Re:PCI only (Score:2)
Well my 400SC came today. (Score:1)
Video card was NOT intergrated. So i don't have to worry about that.
I seem to have one more memory slot than was promised. thats good.
Promise SATA RAID Controller onboard.
Worth the $450 to me.
Re:Well my 400SC came today. (Score:2)
Plus I haven't gotten the new monitor, video card, or memory yet, so I better hop to it
Re:Well my 400SC came today. (Score:1)
Tried to get it to work with Knoppix and it all works except for the sound.
I couldn't find the how to get whatever sound driver it detected to actually work. It detected it but i don't get any sound.
I'm downloading the Mandrake iso's to see if it works better.
Later.
Re:Well my 400SC came today. (Score:1)
But if i'm going to use it as a workstation I'll need to go back to go back to a debian based setup.
Looking forward to hearing how your's turns out.