Yay.. A new computer on it's way!

For those who remember, I have been having a problem that has been stopping my NL (in-game) playing for a few weeks now... Ive been very sad [;)] Anytime in game I would play, I would get the windows black screen of death or whatever and would have to reboot... No matter what it always happens... Found it our hard drive is failing and all so we gave in to an offer from Dell...

19" Flatscreen moniter
3.0Ghz Pentium 4 Processor
1GB DDR2 Ram
160GB harddrive

And my new baby - Radeon X1600 PRO 512MB PCI-E Graphics card.


Ive been using...
1.47Ghz AMD processor
768 Ram
Radeon 9600XT AGP graphics card (128MB)

The new computer alltogether will cost a little over $1k, but it will be worth it and cannot wait to play NL again! I never had issues though with my comp now though before it failed... I had all my settings MAX'd out, all the antiscopic (sp?) filtering and such maxed... Never really got choppy and rarley dropped below 45FPS... So this new processor, more ram, and hopefully killer new graphics card will set me for a while!

Just excited and wanted to tell the good news!

Lol, graphics cards dont last more than 2 years the rate things are going with them. Still can't believe how many cards got the 512 onboard ram so quickly. Seemed like overnight the number jumped from 3 to 50+ cards that have that much.

Very true... Which is why I find it pointless that people buy new graphics cards ever time a better one comes out.. Wait a few years, then upgrade!

I would of transfered my 9600XT to the new comp, but since the 9600 is a AGP port, and the new computer uses PCI-E ports, I needed to buy a new card... My 9600 served me well though!

that is a good boundle deal and that sound like a good computer 1 thing to say u should take it its a good deal

[Brtnboarder495]

Nooooo why did you buy from Dell ... I hope your PSU is strong enough to support that X1600PRO, and it's not exactly the best gaming video card so good luck with that. You definitely should of waited for Intel's new CPU's or Socket AM2.

But still, nice rig, have fun

[coolbeans326]

^ Intel's new CPU won't be that good when it comes out, but it will have a better technology overall than the P4, so over time it will improve.[;)]

Wow, nice setup you got the....PENTIUM?!?!! *GASP* ITS NOT CALLED PENTIUM ANYMORE! lol, silly intel. But yea, I would've looked more into AMD, their processors are all-around faster and have better value.

If you are someone who needs to have the very best video card on the market thats a 500$ plus purchase every few months = not worth it. The 1600 is a very good card for the price.

[Brtnboarder495]

Wow, nice setup you got the....PENTIUM?!?!! *GASP* ITS NOT CALLED PENTIUM ANYMORE! lol, silly intel. But yea, I would've looked more into AMD, their processors are all-around faster and have better value.

It's more then a "re-name", it's been completely redeveloped. The new desktop CPU's are actually going to be more based on the Pentium III's then the Pentium IV's, and also run at lower frequencies then the current P IV's. Hmm Intel has finally caught onto AMD's ideas. To bad Socket AM2 is looking poor though.

Im not one to play games that need the best graphics card and such... NL is my only game I play! With my AMD 1.5Ghz processor and 9600XT (128) graphics card it plays extremely well with all settings maxed. It can only imrpove with a better processor, more memory, better graphics card. Yeah it's not the best, but in a year the best of today becomes out-dated anyway, so why keep up with it!

Well I got the comp last week and NL is amazing.

Computer is extremely nice! NL runs fantastic as well. My FPS on most rides just stick at 75FPS, rarley going below 55-60 unless it is a massive woodie with very close distance, but even then, doesn't chop and stays above 35. I have every graphic and filtering maxed out in the game and on the graphics card and it hauls, even at the 1280x1024 resolution! Ahhh, it's nice to have NL back!

The main thing that helps on NL is the gfx card as it does not use much RAM nor processing power, unless you have a lot of vehicles for whatever reason, and the scene is very massive. (you should only need up to 768 for NL) But of course, that isn't so for other, slightly more modern programs that use much more memory and processing power.

Originally posted by Brtnboarder495

Nooooo why did you buy from Dell ... I hope your PSU is strong enough to support that X1600PRO, and it's not exactly the best gaming video card so good luck with that. You definitely should of waited for Intel's new CPU's or Socket AM2.

But still, nice rig, have fun

look at what he's been using. I mean I'd say its worth the buy. And I'm pretty sure that even dell would make sure their PSU's are strong enough. One thing companies hate is to have to recall stuff.

[Brtnboarder495]

No, Dell has "custom-made" PSUs with odd adapters so that you can't use normal PSUs on them.

That's how it was a few months ago, doubt that's changed. The airflow in Dell's cases is poor, the components aren't made by a real company, their massed produced just for Dell, and they come loaded with unneeded sofware.

Reformat your HD when you get it, your gauranteed at least a 10-20% performance jump.

Dell cases are plastic POS. But I suppose they are good for the non-hardcore user. It really is a good idea to reformat first thing.

[Brtnboarder495]

The one thing I've hated about prebuilt companies is that they charge you the MSRP of a video card when upgrading from a mid ranged card. They should charge you the difference, not the MSRP ...

But there are other issues I have with prebuilding companies I won't get into.

Eww, Dell stinks. My mom has had hers for like 2 years, and she constantly gets problems. There good for rich, pompous people who buy a new computer every year, but for one of us, bleh. I have a custom computer myself.