..::THE COMMUNITY TECH THREAD No. 96::.. : Othor Games

» Tue May 17, 2011 7:41 am

2.0GHz processor with MMX and 3dNow, Geforce 4 128MB and 1 GB RAM? You may be able to salvage the power cord, that thing is ancient.

we plan on putting parts into it, to upgrade it, the deal was just to good to pass up though

» Tue May 17, 2011 7:13 am

can anyone tell me what parts are compatible with my computer.

for graphics cards, im looking for something within the 200-250 dollar range, same with the CPU

» Tue May 17, 2011 3:50 am

can anyone tell me what parts are compatible with my computer.

for graphics cards, im looking for something within the 200-250 dollar range, same with the CPU

New graphics cards and CPUs are just not compatible with that old motherboard/PSU.

» Tue May 17, 2011 9:33 am

1. Do you have a 32-bit or 64-bit processor?

2. Is this a laptop?

1. I am using windows 7 64-bit

2. This is a desktop

» Tue May 17, 2011 11:19 am

we plan on putting parts into it, to upgrade it, the deal was just to good to pass up though

I would reckon it's good for a few suicide runs and thats it.

Can't really salvage anything from it.

» Tue May 17, 2011 4:28 am

New graphics cards and CPUs are just not compatible with that old motherboard/PSU.

hmm how much would a new motherboard go for

» Tue May 17, 2011 9:18 am

1. I am using windows 7 64-bit

2. This is a desktop

I dunno. Dxdiag is telling me I have 2798MB on my 1GB card so I guess it's not too accurate.

» Tue May 17, 2011 4:28 am

for GPU memory use GPU-z

» Tue May 17, 2011 10:16 am

hmm how much would a new motherboard go for

You're probably going to end up just about gutting everything from that thing. New motherboard, processor, graphics card, RAM, and the power supply in that thing probably can't power anything good.

» Tue May 17, 2011 5:22 am

You're probably going to end up just about gutting everything from that thing. New motherboard, processor, graphics card, RAM, and the power supply in that thing probably can't power anything good.

Also the case, if it's too small or doesn't have enough airflow.

» Tue May 17, 2011 10:05 am

You're probably going to end up just about gutting everything from that thing. New motherboard, processor, graphics card, RAM, and the power supply in that thing probably can't power anything good.

well this was a huge waste of money :facepalm:

edit, its a tower case, i could post some pics tommorow.

» Tue May 17, 2011 3:02 am

well this was a huge waste of money :facepalm:

edit, its a tower case, i could post some pics tommorow.

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1160717-the-community-tech-thread-no-96/page__view__findpost__p__17069362 :sweat:

» Tue May 17, 2011 4:32 am

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1160717-the-community-tech-thread-no-96/page__view__findpost__p__17069362 :sweat:

well even for what we got, it was still a good deal, 100 dollars for 19 inch widescreen monitor' sound system, mouse and keyboard, and a desktop.

» Tue May 17, 2011 9:55 am

Hey guys. I have an AMD 6950 with 2 gigabytes of VRAM, but websites like canyourunit and the program dxdiag are saying its at 1007MB. GPU-Z claims I have 2 gigabytes. Why am I getting conflicting reports?

And also are there any video cards now or in the near future that have a chance of being bottle-necked by a AMD Phenom? II X6 1075T Processor ?

Wouldn't worry about the dxdiag reporting error...it hasn't really reported the correct VRAM for modern video cards for a while. I'm not at my system right now, but I'll run a dxdiag to see what it reports my 2GB Radeon 6950 at the next chance I get. Another forum member, iGuess I think, has a a 2GB 6950 as well so maybe he'll chime in with his findings. GPU-Z is a good utility to use for card specs. Plans on unlocking the shaders for the card?

Pretty nice performance increase.

As for the 1075T I would say the GTX 580 and Radeon 5970 would be held back by it. But at high resolutions, most games become GPU-Bound anyways to really not matter. With the right video card, the framerate may be high enough to also make it not matter. Not that the 1075T isn't a decent processor, but unless you're rendering, encoding, or hardcoe folding...2 of those cores go largely unused.

well even for what we got, it was still a good deal, 100 dollars for 19 inch widescreen monitor' sound system, mouse and keyboard, and a desktop.

Well, for a $100..that's not too bad. Working computer with accessories and monitor. But you can't expect much for $100.

Based on the dxdiag which didn't report CPU information fully, I'm guessing this system has a Socket A motherboard with a Athlon XP 2400+ processor, both of which are rather old and obsolete. If you really wanted to upgrade this thing for light gaming, you could just add some RAM and a better video card....but that processor is a huge bottleneck for majority of modern cards today. And AGP cards are becoming far and few.

You'd honestly be better off saving that money for an entirely new system than upgrading this one.

» Tue May 17, 2011 6:10 am

Hey guys throwing together a new PC for a friend of mine... Only problem is I know enough to get myself into trouble, but not always out

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131619
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103920
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231274
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121393
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811815004
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118039
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182199
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754

Anyway this is what Ive got so far, mainly this is to play stuff like Diablo3, Guild Wars 2, Skyrim, Dragon Age 2(aiming for med-high settings but probably not very high resolutions). Im not so much worried if this run games well, but more if its all compatible. Trying to keep costs down by not doing crossfire or SLI, but Im open to suggestions. Its Canada so its really either Newegg.ca(honestly didnt know they shipped to here until recently) or NCIX.

Oh and the case is sorta "meh" not set on it. Cheap and looked like its got good airflow.

I know dust is going to be an issue too, moreso than for most people, and Id heard about "fan filters". I searched and they look like they just fit between the fan and the case, but do they really work? Dont want to do anything more fancy than a few fans, no overclocking or water cooling either.

» Tue May 17, 2011 5:14 am

Hey guys throwing together a new PC for a friend of mine... Only problem is I know enough to get myself into trouble, but not always out

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131619
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103920
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231274
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121393
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811815004
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118039
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182199
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754

Anyway this is what Ive got so far, mainly this is to play stuff like Diablo3, Guild Wars 2, Skyrim, Dragon Age 2(aiming for med-high settings but probably not very high resolutions). Im not so much worried if this run games well, but more if its all compatible. Trying to keep costs down by not doing crossfire or SLI, but Im open to suggestions. Its Canada so its really either Newegg.ca(honestly didnt know they shipped to here until recently) or NCIX.

Oh and the case is sorta "meh" not set on it. Cheap and looked like its got good airflow.

I know dust is going to be an issue too, moreso than for most people, and Id heard about "fan filters". I searched and they look like they just fit between the fan and the case, but do they really work? Dont want to do anything more fancy than a few fans, no overclocking or water cooling either.

Does look like a very budget build. I don't see too much bad there, but I don't like the power supply. Rosewill is a mix-bag PSU vendor...some units ok, some units junk...I just avoid them entirely.

Also, take advantage of newegg combo deals if available at the bottom of each product page....you could easily save a few bucks here and there and use it towards something better. Any reason for the NVidia preference? The Radeon 5770 is a better card than the GTS 450 for gaming purposes. If you're folding, then the GTS 450 is the better option. With that said, see if these interest you...

PSU Alternative: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371030&cm_re=antec_eco-_-17-371-030-_-Product
GPU: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102898&cm_re=radeon_5770-_-14-102-898-_-Product

I think everything else looks for the most part good though.

» Tue May 17, 2011 10:47 am

Does look like a very budget build. I don't see too much bad there, but I don't like the power supply. Rosewill is a mix-bag PSU vendor...some units ok, some units junk...I just avoid them entirely.

A couple weeks ago my mom came into my room asking what smelled like burning rubber, but I didn't smell anything. About 1 or 2 hours later my computer died, specifically my Rosewill PSU. :facepalm:

Now I am 90 bucks poorer, but with a shiny new Corsair.

» Tue May 17, 2011 1:27 am

Apparently roses don't have strong wills

My system has an Antec Earthwatts, over three years old and still powers my system without hitches.

Speaking of, it is getting old. Is there any way to monitor it's condition, or are signs that tell if it's about to give up?

» Tue May 17, 2011 2:14 pm

I could use some recommendations here. I am now out of space on my secondary hard drive. I'm planning to use my primary for storage and am open to suggestions on a new HDD (New one will be used for my OS), hoping to increase performance. Not sure whether or not I trust ssd yet though. (I have about $300-350 to spend on this...American)

Secondly, I am looking for a good sound card. Never had a dedicated sound card with this pc. - (under $100 would be preferable)

Also a question regarding GPU's. I have a gtx 470 installed now, but also have my old gtx 260 (black edition) stored in my closet. Would it be possible to use both of them together, or not?

» Tue May 17, 2011 11:05 am

I could use some recommendations here. I am now out of space on my secondary hard drive. I'm planning to use my primary for storage and am open to suggestions on a new HDD (New one will be used for my OS), hoping to increase performance. Not sure whether or not I trust ssd yet though. (I have about $300-350 to spend on this...American)

Secondly, I am looking for a good sound card. Never had a dedicated sound card with this pc. - (under $100 would be preferable)

Also a question regarding GPU's. I have a gtx 470 installed now, but also have my old gtx 260 (black edition) stored in my closet. Would it be possible to use both of them together, or not?

If you want greater performance with a smaller life expectancy get the SSD. If you want storage just get a normal hard drive. As far as recommendations go I've been happy with my 640 GB Western Digital, but as long as the HDD is from a good brand and the reviews for it are favorable you should be fine.

» Tue May 17, 2011 12:20 pm

Does look like a very budget build. I don't see too much bad there, but I don't like the power supply. Rosewill is a mix-bag PSU vendor...some units ok, some units junk...I just avoid them entirely.

Also, take advantage of newegg combo deals if available at the bottom of each product page....you could easily save a few bucks here and there and use it towards something better. Any reason for the NVidia preference? The Radeon 5770 is a better card than the GTS 450 for gaming purposes. If you're folding, then the GTS 450 is the better option. With that said, see if these interest you...

PSU Alternative: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371030&cm_re=antec_eco-_-17-371-030-_-Product
GPU: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102898&cm_re=radeon_5770-_-14-102-898-_-Product

I think everything else looks for the most part good though.

Nah I just grabbed nVidia because Im more familiar with them. Im using an HD 3870X2 myself right now and its got horrible driver support if you ask me lol, especially when it comes to fan controls(or lack thereof). Budgets an issue as hes more a console gamer but needs a new PC for a lot of the great games coming out this year, but his monitor is only 1280x1024 so he wont be running any of the high resolutions.

» Tue May 17, 2011 1:18 pm

I could use some recommendations here. I am now out of space on my secondary hard drive. I'm planning to use my primary for storage and am open to suggestions on a new HDD (New one will be used for my OS), hoping to increase performance. Not sure whether or not I trust ssd yet though. (I have about $300-350 to spend on this...American)

Secondly, I am looking for a good sound card. Never had a dedicated sound card with this pc. - (under $100 would be preferable)

Also a question regarding GPU's. I have a gtx 470 installed now, but also have my old gtx 260 (black edition) stored in my closet. Would it be possible to use both of them together, or not?

Don't really need that much to spend on a HDD. The 1TB Samsung's F3 hard drives can commonly be found in the low $50 range. Western Digital's Caviar Black are a decent option too for around $80. SSD is still too little capacity for me for such a high price, but with your budget you may want to look into one.

For soundcard, the Asus Xonar DX is a great card with much better driver support than what Creative has going for it these days.

The GTX 470 and GTX 260 cannot be in SLI if that's what you're asking. The GTX 260 can be treated as the seperate PhysX card though.

» Tue May 17, 2011 12:56 am

Another forum member, iGuess I think, has a a 2GB 6950 as well so maybe he'll chime in with his findings. GPU-Z is a good utility to use for card specs. Plans on unlocking the shaders for the card?

Mine says 3822MB in the dxdiag. IF ONLY THIS WERE TRUE.

» Tue May 17, 2011 3:55 am

Plans on unlocking the shaders for the card?

Pretty nice performance increase.

You mean flashing it to a 6970? Would this lower the lifespan of the video card? Are there any disadvantages to this?

» Tue May 17, 2011 9:12 am

You mean flashing it to a 6970? Would this lower the lifespan of the video card? Are there any disadvantages to this?

You don't have to flash it to a 6970, which could potentially cause problems. You can flash a 6950 bios that has the shaders unlocked, and then clock it to 6970 speeds, and get very close to the same performance, without overvolting.