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shroom_muncher
ex-dope fiend
Registered: 10/07/03
Posts: 426
Loc: The great white north
Last seen: 17 years, 20 days
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Is this a good computer?
#3465970 - 12/08/04 04:57 PM (19 years, 3 months ago) |
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I'm about to buy a bunch of parts and put together a computer for my fam. This is gonna be mostly for internet and work but I wanna be able to run games good too so whadoyou think?
Motherboard: Asus K8N-E Deluxe Athlon64, NForce 3 250GB Chipset CPU: AMD Athlon64 3200+ S754 Ram: 1 Ghz Pc3200 DDR400 64/64 Video: 128Mb MSI GeForce FX5700LE - TD128
Alright so what do you think of this? I've read some bad reviews for the FX5700 so do you know any other relatively cheap ($100-$200CDN) videocards that would be better? TIA
-------------------- peace sells but whos buyin?
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phi1618
old hand
Registered: 02/14/04
Posts: 4,102
Last seen: 13 years, 10 months
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Sounds almost identical to the computer I put together myself not long ago. I used Crucial memory, and a cheaper video card.
If you're interested in playing games as the most processor intensive application, you can probably save some money by buying a cheaper processor and motherboard. To run games better, you can use the money you saved to get a (slightly) better video card. I don't really have good advice on the specific video card.
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Catalysis
EtherealEngineer
Registered: 04/23/02
Posts: 1,742
Last seen: 15 years, 8 months
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I use radeon graphic cards. I mean, those are the only two that are really big cards amongst gamers. Radeon is technologically ahead of nvidia atm however it will cost you more for a radeon card.
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newuser1492
Registered: 06/12/03
Posts: 3,104
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Re: Is this a good computer? [Re: Catalysis]
#3466728 - 12/08/04 06:51 PM (19 years, 3 months ago) |
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Radeon's drivers screwed me a while ago on a Radeon 8500 I believe. At the time I found quite a few people experiencing problems with Radeon drivers. Also when I contacted support they were the most worthless people in the world.
I switched to nVidia and have had no problems running in XP Pro and Linux.
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AhronZombi
AhronZombi
Registered: 04/06/04
Posts: 1,265
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Re: Is this a good computer? [Re: newuser1492]
#3467417 - 12/08/04 09:03 PM (19 years, 3 months ago) |
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nvidias are way less bugy and work better on linux
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Vvellum
Stranger
Registered: 05/24/04
Posts: 10,920
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Re: Is this a good computer? [Re: AhronZombi]
#3468311 - 12/08/04 11:46 PM (19 years, 3 months ago) |
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yup, pick up a nvidia.
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z@z.com
Libertarian
Registered: 10/13/02
Posts: 2,876
Loc: ATL
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I say drop the athlon64 and get an athlon xp 3200+ and an nforce2 motherboard and spend a little bit more on the video card.
-------------------- "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis "I would rather be exposed to the inconveniencies attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it." - Thomas Jefferson
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RuNE
bomberman
Registered: 09/23/00
Posts: 2,331
Loc: tartarus
Last seen: 8 years, 1 month
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I'll have to disagree on the Nvidia issue. The FX line sucked. ATI is constantly bringing out new drivers to improve any bugs and to increase efficiency. No company is going to respond to individuals having problems with their video cards. They'd need millions just for tech support. Gotto a forum and look up a fix, or use the form on their site and they'll try and fix it in the next driver release.
Anyway. As i said in another thread, buy a Sapphire Radeon 9600 PRO. The pro overclocks right out of the box, no extra cooling needed, and its cheap as hell now. Its also a DX9 card...and does it well. Download the newest OMEGA drivers, they have Radlinker (OC software) built right into the control panel. I took mine up from 400mhz core/300mhz memory to 500/365. Thats the 128mb version, my gf's 256mb went up to 500/340... i think the memory was slower. Anyway, you can pump the CORE right up to 500 (dont worry, it wont burn) and the memory to around 350 and see if you get fucked up stuff happening in 3D Mark 200X tests. Just lower the memory bit by bit until weird stuff ceases. This card is a huge bang for the buck OCd! And you really dont risk anything....the core is done in tiny microns, runs very cool, even OCd. How can anyone beat a deal like that? Should be about $150 CAD or less by now. 'PRO' is very important.
Anyway, i say go with socket 939 if youre gonna do Athlon64. Theyre about the same price, and you'll be ready for future upgrades.
Also, instead of 1x1gig stick of ram, try getting 2 sticks of 512 and run it in dual channel mode. Your system will fly.
I'm building a PC right now thats almost the exact thing you're building. I've been doing a lot of reading lately on this junk.
-------------------- ~Happy sailing~
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GoaM
damaged
Registered: 08/14/04
Posts: 1,815
Loc: khole
Last seen: 8 years, 5 months
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Re: Is this a good computer? [Re: RuNE]
#3469258 - 12/09/04 07:15 AM (19 years, 3 months ago) |
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heres what I built about a year ago and am running now. Shuttle an35n board. Athalon XP 2500. I forget the brand of memory but 2 x 256mb for the dual chanel DDR. Radeon 9600 vid card. Plextor DVD-rw px-708a. Antec box. Plus spare parts: 40gig hdd, fdd, nics, etc. Works great with a corporate XP pro. I've had zero probs. The processor's not unlocked and overclocked so I have zero heat issues. Great reliable and cheap box. Cost about $500 to build. Good luck, building your own is the best! Definitely worth it.
Tweaker
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asd11
final sky
Registered: 08/02/04
Posts: 501
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Re: Is this a good computer? [Re: GoaM]
#3470061 - 12/09/04 11:04 AM (19 years, 3 months ago) |
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yes
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shroom_muncher
ex-dope fiend
Registered: 10/07/03
Posts: 426
Loc: The great white north
Last seen: 17 years, 20 days
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Okay i bought all the parts for my computer and put it together. Everything seems to be in order except when I try to turn it on, NOTHING happens. The you can't even hear the power supply fan going. The videocard fan gives a couple turns then stops like theres not enough power to keep it going or something. the switch on the back is on I so it should work. It also has a red switch on the back with the option of either 115V or 230V... I have no clue whats going on with it. i tried clearing the CMOS by taking the battery out for a few minutes but it didnt work. Any suggestions?
-------------------- peace sells but whos buyin?
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Phluck
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 04/10/99
Posts: 11,394
Loc: Canada
Last seen: 5 months, 3 days
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First, make sure the red switch on your power supply is set to 115, and don't even try it with it set to 220.
Try it without the video card in, and see if you get any beeps or anything.
If you don't get this one figured out by the 20th, send me a PM, I'll be in town then and I can come over and check it out.
-------------------- "I have no valid complaint against hustlers. No rational bitch. But the act of selling is repulsive to me. I harbor a secret urge to whack a salesman in the face, crack his teeth and put red bumps around his eyes." -Hunter S Thompson http://phluck.is-after.us
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newuser1492
Registered: 06/12/03
Posts: 3,104
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Re: Is this a good computer? [Re: Phluck]
#3475022 - 12/10/04 06:18 AM (19 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
and don't even try it with it set to 220.
Just wanted to mention that trying it at 220 wil cause absolutely not harm. The computer simply wouldn't work but it wouldn't fry the power supply.
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Phluck
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 04/10/99
Posts: 11,394
Loc: Canada
Last seen: 5 months, 3 days
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Re: Is this a good computer? [Re: newuser1492]
#3475569 - 12/10/04 10:48 AM (19 years, 3 months ago) |
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hrmm... I've heard stories of sparks flying and stuff, but maybe they weren't true.
Some of them did involve flipping the switch WHILE the computer was running.
-------------------- "I have no valid complaint against hustlers. No rational bitch. But the act of selling is repulsive to me. I harbor a secret urge to whack a salesman in the face, crack his teeth and put red bumps around his eyes." -Hunter S Thompson http://phluck.is-after.us
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shroom_muncher
ex-dope fiend
Registered: 10/07/03
Posts: 426
Loc: The great white north
Last seen: 17 years, 20 days
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Re: Is this a good computer? [Re: Phluck]
#3477230 - 12/10/04 03:59 PM (19 years, 3 months ago) |
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I did some tinkering and figured everything out. Its running perfectly now. Thanks for your replies though!!
-------------------- peace sells but whos buyin?
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abhi
Why not?
Registered: 10/11/03
Posts: 16,406
Loc: in some small dive
Last seen: 2 months, 13 days
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Out of curiosity, what fixed the problem?
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d33p
Welcome to Violence
Registered: 07/12/03
Posts: 5,381
Loc: the shores of Tripoli
Last seen: 10 years, 10 months
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Well instead of starting another thread on an AMD comp i will paste the parts im using to build my next comp. Any comments or helpful hints?
mobo: ASUS AV8 Deluxe Cpu: AMD Athlon 64 FX-55 Memory: 1 GB Corsair XMS low latency w/ platnium spreader (512x2) Videocard: ASUS x800 XT PE Soundcard: Soundblaster Audigy zs2 Gamer Harddrive: Western digital Raptor 10k rpm 36.7 GB Case: Aspire X-navigator I'm also getting a new 6mbps ADSL connection
Also i like the aspire case but i would perfer something else, more badass Anyone know of some really nice cases for less than $250 including the power source.
So after december, if any of you are CS:source players, its on.
-------------------- I'm a nihilist. Lets be friends. bang bang
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RuNE
bomberman
Registered: 09/23/00
Posts: 2,331
Loc: tartarus
Last seen: 8 years, 1 month
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Re: Is this a good computer? [Re: d33p]
#3499379 - 12/14/04 06:43 PM (19 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
helpful hints?
Yeah. Learn how to budget.
No seriously, why not go for the best bang for the buck, rather than all the newest stuff? A brand new video card is $500, but the 'amazing' vid card that came right before it will drop to half that from the same price. A la 9800 style.
I guess if you have cash to 'waste'..... but that can always be used for bigger and better things.
System looks sweet tho.
-------------------- ~Happy sailing~
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d33p
Welcome to Violence
Registered: 07/12/03
Posts: 5,381
Loc: the shores of Tripoli
Last seen: 10 years, 10 months
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Re: Is this a good computer? [Re: RuNE]
#3499432 - 12/14/04 06:50 PM (19 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
RuNE said:
Quote:
helpful hints?
Yeah. Learn how to budget.
No seriously, why not go for the best bang for the buck, rather than all the newest stuff? A brand new video card is $500, but the 'amazing' vid card that came right before it will drop to half that from the same price. A la 9800 style.
I guess if you have cash to 'waste'..... but that can always be used for bigger and better things.
System looks sweet tho.
I've just got cash to waste that i can only spend on something like this. Also I've never had a tricked out system like this so I'm excited.
-------------------- I'm a nihilist. Lets be friends. bang bang
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newuser1492
Registered: 06/12/03
Posts: 3,104
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Re: Is this a good computer? [Re: d33p]
#3503609 - 12/15/04 12:56 PM (19 years, 3 months ago) |
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I have a brushed aluminum Lian-Li case that I like a lot. Or you could get one of those clear acrylic cases.
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