OT - Building a new computer for NWN

[Cullain]

http://www.arstechnica.com
has a really good PC buying guide. You don't all the components, but check out what they have listed as their hot rod machine.

Cullain

 

[hong]

I wouldn't use onboard sound at all. I also wouldn't use a Soundblaster card, as Creative pack your system full of add-ins that you never use and conflict with everything else. Consider springing for a Hercules Muse or Fortissimo, if you can.

 

[Welverin]

Not exactly. The GF4MXs have better memory controllers than the GF2 series (and the GF3 series), which, combined with higher clock speeds, makes them very nice cards for games that aren't seriously pushing the envelope in terms of using nifty graphics features. They're certainly a major step up from the GF2 MXs they replace as NVidia's budget (sub-$100) cards, and make Radeon 7500s look silly.

Yeah, but isn't the most significant part the fact that the G4MXs are lacking the newer effects (like the assorted shaders) that is the most important part and the reason to avoid them? Admittedly there aren't to many games that use the newer DirectX 8 effects yet, but for a new PC I don't see how you can suggest someone get a card that doesn't support them.

For anyone interested Gamespot posted a review of VisionTek's
Xtasy GeForce4 Ti 4200 128MB here.

 

[WizarDru]

less than $100, ignore the peanut gallery and get a 4MX.
$100-$150, GF3 Ti200.
$150-$200, GF4 Ti4200. (What I'm getting, possibly next month; would've been this month, but I got an Xbox instead)
$200-$250, GF4 Ti4400.
more than $250, GF4 Ti4600.

I haven't seen a true Radeon 8500 (retail, not OEM, and not an LE) for less than $150. So on the ATI side...

less than $100, Radeon 7500
$100-$150, Radeon 8500 LE
more than $150, Radeon 8500

See, you need to visit Pricewatch.com more often. I just bought a GF3-ti200 for $85. That gives me all the new graphics features, like Pixel Shading, for example, AND a budget price. The GF2MXs compared to the GF2s because you got equivalent performance for most applications....the GF4s don't do that. The GF4 label will confuse folks into thinking that they're better than GF3s, which they aren't.

 

[NeghVar]

Pricewatch is great - have been using them for years...

I would also recommend you check out your online vendor at www.resellerratings.com before purchasing anything. Nice to know before you order if you are going to get what you ordered and if you do get what you ordered how you will be treated if something does not work as advertised.

Later!
Art

 

[drothgery]

Yeah, but isn't the most significant part the fact that the G4MXs are lacking the newer effects (like the assorted shaders) that is the most important part and the reason to avoid them? Admittedly there aren't to many games that use the newer DirectX 8 effects yet, but for a new PC I don't see how you can suggest someone get a card that doesn't support them.

Because they're significantly cheaper, at least if you're looking at retail cards (not OEM cards) from reputable vendors, and because NVidia has a very good reputation for building high-quality, stable drivers (for much the same reasons, I'd go with an Intel chipset and CPU, running at the rated clock speed).

 

[orbitalfreak]

Since we're on the subject of upgrading...

...is there anything that an old P/S 2 can be used for? I and my family recently came across one for free, and were wondering if they could be resurrected into something useful.

 

[TBoarder]

Re: Since we're on the subject of upgrading...

...is there anything that an old P/S 2 can be used for? I and my family recently came across one for free, and were wondering if they could be resurrected into something useful.

A paperweight?

Seriously, just pop in a 56K modem and load up an early version of whatever web service you go through and you'll have an okay machine for surfing the web. Or you can look for an older version of MS Office (Or another office suite program), and use the computer for book-keeping and word processing. You could also buy a $200 laptop that will do both of these functions without taking up nearly the space as a P/S 2 will.