Building New Pc - 1 Question - Help Please!

[DivHunter]

A 64 Bit OS is really required to run 4GB of RAM, though don't expect everything to run on a 64 Bit OS if you plan on running it as a primary OS.

Vista will be better once it matures and programs/games are built around it. Just like the transition from 98 to XP. Vista actually multiple threads and CPU cycles better than XP does (an article on AtomicMPC explains this better). Hence why a Quad Core CPU would be better value than a Dual Core once applications really start to take advantage of the multiple cores. Also particularly with quads being a lot better value than they were half a year ago, the demand for applications / games to better utilise them is now higher and would put more pressure on developers to take advantage of it.

Vista is required for DX10 gaming, though I believe that an update for DX 9 would basically emulate DX10? It's been a while I've been in the PC Gaming/Enthusiast scene so that may need a bit of clarification. For now I would use XP where possible for gaming due to the lower system usage..though if your a bit of a techy you'll know that there are a lot of ways to make Vista run a lot more efficiently and disable a lot of things that you may not need.

Vista is the next incarnation of WinME

Any idea of how i can make vista run more efficiently, i really want to ramp up the graphics on Crysis! hehehe

Upgrade to XP

[N-DAWG]

Vista is the next incarnation of WinME

I really don't think anything can be as bad as WinME...even Micro$oft does a good job at acting as though it never existed lol WinME was a disaster as they just built up more on a bug-filled OS and made it a lot harder for technicians and enthusiasts to get into the core of the system. Vista was built from the ground up. Just give it time. I'm not saying Vista is the best and greatest...my main PC doesn't have Vista, my laptop however does so I just left it. Eventually XP will phase out as has 98 cause Microsoft will do everything they can to push their new OS.

[DivHunter]

I really don't think anything can be as bad as WinME...even Micro$oft does a good job at acting as though it never existed lol WinME was a disaster as they just built up more on a bug-filled OS and made it a lot harder for technicians and enthusiasts to get into the core of the system. Vista was built from the ground up. Just give it time. I'm not saying Vista is the best and greatest...my main PC doesn't have Vista, my laptop however does so I just left it. Eventually XP will phase out as has 98 cause Microsoft will do everything they can to push their new OS.

You're delusional. Uptake of Vista per sales of new PCs and hardware rollover is well down on XP and most business environments avoid it like the plague and will do so indefinately until Windows 7 is released. The fact that XP has been around So long already and that Windows 7 is due out next year should tell you all you need to know about Vista. It was most definately NOT ground up. 7 is seeing as even the complete kernel was re-written to weigh in at around 20 odd MB. Vista is garbage and one day you'll laugh that you ever had to endure it.

[N-DAWG]

You're delusional. Uptake of Vista per sales of new PCs and hardware rollover is well down on XP and most business environments avoid it like the plague and will do so indefinately until Windows 7 is released. The fact that XP has been around So long already and that Windows 7 is due out next year should tell you all you need to know about Vista. It was most definately NOT ground up. 7 is seeing as even the complete kernel was re-written to weigh in at around 20 odd MB. Vista is garbage and one day you'll laugh that you ever had to endure it.

Lucky I don't have to endure it much =] Most businesses would avoid it as upgrading to vista generally means upgrading other software packages which in some cases can result in massive dollars. Not to mention retraining of not so adaptable staff. Suddenly the cost and benefit of going to Vista aren't as great and having different platforms all over the company can become more of a headache than it's worth when buying new computers. This is one of the reasons why the company I work for still runs Windows 2000 as their server. I wasn't aware that Windows 7 was due for release next year...it's been about 2 years that I've worked in a technician capacity and I haven't been as much into the I.T side of things for a while. Though given the way that the Vista was release date was pushed months ahead time and time again, it wouldn't suprise me if the same happens for Windows 7. Microsoft is also going to have a hard time trying to push out yet another OS in such a short time period..by that I mean justifying it all based on the flaming that they got for their short time period releases of Windows between 95 and XP.

Anyways, getting a bit of the original topic. Either way I think it's best to go for a Quad Core regardless of what OS is being used due to the benefits in multi-threading to having less cores and higher speed, regardless of which OS you use, applications and games will simply adapt to multiple cores.

[25GTT]

good info guys, so does anyone have any good pc shopping websites such as the ones i listed below, I have a budget of about 2k and am looking to purchase one in the next two months so am interested in looking at some good bargains if you know of any.

Quad core and dual core systems info is welcome :-)

[Owgasm]

Windows 7 is coming out next year?

I heard 2010.

Well, i'm not a very big gamer, i just need a quick pc.

I may just go the Quad Core so it doesn't get outdated so quickly.

I may just be running XP again, as i've heard Vista is just sh!T.

But 4gb ram will be in the bundle...

and the 8600 silent pipe should be able to handle any small games i've got.

wah 2K spending. Thats heaps

[DivHunter]

DX10 on XP - http://www.technospot.net/blogs/download-d...m-alky-project/

DO NOT get an 8600, they only have a 128bit memory bus like the 8500, get at least an 8800GT.

[wizard2k]

ok the bus works as a multiple of the system frequency, late model intel chips have fun a quad pumped bus (4x) the frequency

so 800mhz bus is 4x 200mhz fsb

so a 1066mhz is 266mhz quadpumped and 1333mhz is 333mhz quadpumped, the 1333mhz bus will have benefits in some situations but the chip only having 2 cores will lag behind the quad in more multithreading applications.

That being said if its only gonna be a gaming machine the dual core with a decent vid card and 2gig ram will put a nice big smile on your face and save a little cash in your wallet

[DivHunter]

Assassin's Creed System Requirements:

Supported OS: Windows XP / Vista (only)

Processor: Dual core processor 2.6 GHz Intel Pentium D or AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ (Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2 GHz or AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ or better recommended)

RAM: 2 GB (3 GB recommended)

Video Card: 256 MB DirectX 10.0–compliant video card or DirectX 9.0–compliant card with Shader Model 3.0 or higher (512 MB video card recommended) (see supported list)*

Sound Card: DirectX 9.0 or 10.0 compliant sound card (5.1 sound card recommended)

DirectX Version: DirectX 10.0 libraries (included on disc)

DVD-ROM: DVD-ROM dual-layer drive

Hard Drive Space: 12 GB

Peripherals Supported: Keyboard, mouse, optional controller (Xbox 360 Controller for Windows recommended)

*Supported Video Cards at Time of Release:

ATI RADEON X1300-1950 / HD 2000 / 3000 series

NVIDIA GeForce 6600-6800 / 7 / 8 / 9 series

Laptop versions of these cards may work but are NOT supported. These chipsets are the only ones that will run this game.

NOTICE: This game contains technology intended to prevent copying that may conflict with some disc and virtual drives.

Maybe I'll upgrade soon.

[Scottydoo]

DX10 on XP - http://www.technospot.net/blogs/download-d...m-alky-project/

DO NOT get an 8600, they only have a 128bit memory bus like the 8500, get at least an 8800GT.

x2

I had an 8600gts and its was ok but not great, upgraded to an Albatron 8800gts 512mb and its so so so much better, worth the extra cash if you can afford it. It actually made vista run better too as it took some load off the cpu.

Im running a core duo quad [email protected] , 4gb ram, 8800gts, p5b motherboard, dual 320gb hdd's, vista, etc and its handles pretty much anything. And i havent really tried overclocking it properly yet.

Vista isnt so bad in my experience...but im not really a techno geek

[DivHunter]

Even 2 8500/8600 in SLi can't compare with a 8800.

[Owgasm]

Good info.

I don't think i play enough to need 8800.

so the 8600 is alright.

Thanks fellas.

Heres whats planned...so far:

Intel Q6600 2.4

4GB Intel ECC Dual Ram

Intel DP35DPM ATX P35

MSI GeForce 8600GT 512Mb

Samsung 500G 7200RPM SATAII

LG DVD20X+- DUAL LAYER

...

Will run xp though.

and a 22"

[GoldZilla]

For good pricing, check out http://staticice.com.au/

[RusH_]

good places to buy? game dude is ok... they have a site somewhere...

best place in my opinion is www.umart.com.au

choose your store, order your parts, pick them up when you get the email... and they are cheap

[LoNg_ShaNks]

yep gamedude & umart are the pc stores i have used in the past for great value on all pc components, however umart is probably my most favourite due to ease of convenience & quality of service.

ps. good info guys... thanks for bringing me up to date with some of the new technologies available!

[kralster]

Good info.

I don't think i play enough to need 8800.

so the 8600 is alright.

Thanks fellas.

Heres whats planned...so far:

Intel Q6600 2.4

4GB Intel ECC Dual Ram

Intel DP35DPM ATX P35

MSI GeForce 8600GT 512Mb

Samsung 500G 7200RPM SATAII

LG DVD20X+- DUAL LAYER

...

Will run xp though.

and a 22"

So why bother getting a damn good cpu and 4 gig of ram??

It's like getting your engine completly stripped down, rebuilt with forged internals, bottom end toughened up, blue printed, dropping titanium valves in it.

Then you say "Oh i'll just run the standard turbo, i don't boost it much"

Waste of money full stop.

[Mayuri Krab]

Good info.

I don't think i play enough to need 8800.

so the 8600 is alright.

Thanks fellas.

Heres whats planned...so far:

Intel Q6600 2.4

4GB Intel ECC Dual Ram

Intel DP35DPM ATX P35

MSI GeForce 8600GT 512Mb

Samsung 500G 7200RPM SATAII

LG DVD20X+- DUAL LAYER

...

Will run xp though.

and a 22"

I would recommand u get the new E8xxx dual cores instead, they are faster than the old aging Q6xxxs in 99% of normal applications (including most games) only time quads are faster is in stuff like video encoding & CAD. Also when people say the cpu is more "future proofing" its kinda pointless, coz by the time when Quads are turely being used properly, the Q6600 will be too slow for the task anyway. Intel is releasing new Quads next month or so (the Q9xxxs).

For the ram, no point in ECC, the motherboard can't use it anyway, ECC ram is desgined with extra error check & correction for sever computers (ie the Intel Xeons & stuff), if you are overclocking the CPU, get DDR 2 1066mhz or 800mhz ram otherwise just go with 667mhz ram.

Also are you using 32bit XP or the 64bit one? coz 4gig will only show up as ~3.5Gb on a 32bit OS.

For the mother board, if you are NOT overclocking then, that board is fine, otherwise consider a Gigabyte or Asus one as they are more suited for overclocking. (like Gigabyte P35 DS3 or ASUS p5K).

For video card, what kind of games are you going to play? and do you intend to play on your 22" native resolution? (for a 22" I belive they are most 1680 x 1050) If yes then the 8600GT probably won't be up the task for the more current games. 8800GT is the best bang for the buck atm. And if you are only a casual gamer & getting the 8600GT then, just get the 256mb version, 512mb is a waste as the GPU is too slow to make much use of the extra memory anyway (like puting 2Gb ram with a Intel P2)

Hard drive is fine, maybe consider a Western Digital one?

Burner is fine.

So why bother getting a damn good cpu and 4 gig of ram??

Waste of money full stop.

LOL, are you serious? Q6600 is a good value for money CPU atm (but the new E8400 is still better in my opinion), it is by no means a "dam good CPU" (QX9650 is that CPU).

Edited February 20, 2008 by Mayuri Krab

[lingeringsoul]

Funny why people keep saying Vista is shit.........i've been using it for close to a year now, not once did it ever crash. The hibernate function is wonderful. All that run on 1 gig of ram.

Well I'm in the process of upgrading a computer as well. I used to be pretty into this but these days, I really can't be f**ked studying the ins and outs of computers. Just gimme a fast one and be done with it.

[Scratch]

Heres whats planned...so far:

Intel Q6600 2.4

4GB Intel ECC Dual Ram

Intel DP35DPM ATX P35

MSI GeForce 8600GT 512Mb

Samsung 500G 7200RPM SATAII

LG DVD20X+- DUAL LAYER

...

Will run xp though.

and a 22"

[\quote]

my advice:

get another brand of hardrives, the samsung drives i worked with were not very reliable.. MTF was relatively short.

4 gigs of RAM on a 32 bit OS is wasted.. it wont even be addressed.

your total ram will be 4gigs minus video card memory.

I'd re-think your ram type as well (you're prolly spending 400+ just for ram), getting ECC ram on a standard PC isnt worth it.

the quad core is a awesome CPU but only when over clocked. if you're not savvy enough to OC, the default 2.4 is pretty shabby. Even if you wanted you OC it, your intel board wont be helping. Get a faster spec dual core out of the box, and you'll see bigger benefits. Dont get caught up in the Future-spec hype, there are only a handful of programs acctually using multi threading.. even after the technology has been around for dog years. By the time the quad core becomes mainstream, you're CPU wont even be sold on ebay. Infact whatever top spec you buy now will be outdated by this time next year.

As a guide: i spent about 1800 on the following spec machine in december:

(www.ple.com.au)

Q6600 quad core

ASUS P5K mobo (p35 chipset)

Asus EN8800GTS 640mb

Thermaltake armour junior

Corsair modular 520W psu

Western Digital 500Gb hd

Asus DVDR with light scribe, dual layer.. blah blah

4 gigs of Kingston ddr2 667

Samsung 940N 19" LCD

you can get even better parts at cheaper prices now, for your 2 grand mark including your 22".

Spec your machine so the parts compliment each other, exactly like building an engine.

Edited February 27, 2008 by Scratch

[lingeringsoul]

Mr scratch....what would be a good motherboard match for E4600? I'm building one as well but I really don't know what to go for when it comes to m/b. I don't need anything over the top just a regular good value one.........and by good value I don't mean cheap.