Upgraded my computer today

[Biker Dash]

Well, I have been wanting to upgrade my computer for a while, and I finally got some of that done today. I swapped out the old 250W power supply that vibed and rattled like a Harley for a nice and quiet 500W job. Then I replaced the nVidia GForce 6800 graphics card with a GForce 9600GT card. Now, the 6800 had only 256M of DDR2 RAM (or was it the older DDR) while the new one has 1024M od DDR3 clocked at 1800Mhz.The rest of the spec improvements are equally impressive. Finally, I swapped my old 19" CRT monitor for a new 25" widescreen 1080p HD LCD monitor.

Needless to say, this has givin me quite an improvement. It's not the level of going from DVD to Blu-Ray. It's more like going from Analog TV to Blu-Ray! Being a part-time gamer, as well as occasionally editing video and 3D drafting, I should be very happy with this set-up. after I got it all set up, I did a performance test, and my gaming score jumped from a 4.8 (anything over 3 is good) to a 5.9! (The scale does not go any higher)

[750killshin]

I recently had a similar experience when I was given a slightly used Dell XPSM1330. I was previously using a 2004 Sony Vaio. Talk about speed! Unlimited RAM (for all intensive purposes)...

[Biker Dash]

Well, my next upgrades will be goin from the AMD Athalonx2 DuoCore 4800 to a 6000 series, upgrading my 4G of RAM from 667MHz to 800MHz, Adding a ton more cooling, overclocking a bit, installing the biggest Velociraptor HDD I can get, and adding a Blu-Ray drive. Oh, I'm thinking about doin a little overclocking as well.

[Goliath616]

instead of overclocking, go with the AMD Phenom series CPU's (Quad core) you can pick them up for a decent price now, for example http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0325874

this is from Micro Center (they have locations all over the country, and sell online) there is one about 30 miles from me....

[Biker Dash]

I would consider a Phenom chip, but then I'd have to get a totally different mb, cause the sockets are different between the two model chips. That and a quad core chip, from what I am to understand, is totally wasted on a 32 bit system...

[cscheatum]

:thumbsup:
You should buy a mac

[justin68106]

:thumbsup:
You should buy a mac

If you're doing that just give me the money, it'll be about as worthwhile and I could go get a brand new 09 bike :D

[Biker Dash]

:thumbsup:
You should buy a mac

Why would I want to buy another toilet?

[750killshin]

Why would I want to buy another toilet?

In a shocking turn of events :coffeescreen: I agree with ADD.

[cscheatum]

Why would I want to buy another toilet?

WHAT?!?!? Dude my mac does waaaay more than the pc's I used to own

[justin68106]

WHAT?!?!? Dude my mac does waaaay more than the pc's I used to own

Probably true, I've yet to own a PC that can flush. :p

[Biker Dash]

WHAT?!?!? Dude my mac does waaaay more than the pc's I used to own

Funny, but approximately 95% of the programs that I run, or would be interested in running, or the games that I enjoy playing, will not work on a Mac, so, for me, I might as well use it's manual as toilet paper, cause thats all it is to me.

My PC was doin just fine before I upgraded, and now, it's doin even better than ever. Heck, about one of the only things that I have found that Mac does better than a PC is video editing, and my PC actually does that plenty well enough for my purposes.

[porange]

I think to say that a Mac actually does more than a PC is a bold-faced lie. Mac's have their place and certainly suit specific situations better, but they don't "do more."

And everyone I've known to own a Mac has partitioned the hard drive and dual boots to Windows as well, so... Go Microsoft!

[justin68106]

Don't get me wrong, Windows sucks too, but it's the lesser of the evils (don't forget Linux). If Linux had Windows compatibility I'd use it in a heartbeat, it's FAR better at managing resources.

[Dodsfall]

Don't get me wrong, Windows sucks too, but it's the lesser of the evils (don't forget Linux). If Linux had Windows compatibility I'd use it in a heartbeat, it's FAR better at managing resources.

It really depends on what you are using the machine for. Linux is probably the most secure system, and is great for servers and web servers. If you want to play video games, you need Windows. Yes, I know they make games for Linux and Mac as well, but the selection just isn't there. Mac machines are great for audio and video creation and editing. All of them can do email and web surfing just fine.

[YamahaFan]

I heard that the 9600GT does not utilize all 1G DRAM so it'd be a waste, the later GTX2xx's do, but since they're a bit over the top you could have gone with G92 8800GTS since they're faster and about the same price.

[justin68106]

I never get an Nvidia card that isn't a 9800 series anymore. I had an 8600 and it ran like crap, now I have an 8800GT with I think 512MB, but it runs just as good or better than any 9800 series card... you just can't find them anymore really.

[cscheatum]

Funny, but approximately 95% of the programs that I run, or would be interested in running, or the games that I enjoy playing, will not work on a Mac, so, for me, I might as well use it's manual as toilet paper, cause thats all it is to me.

My PC was doin just fine before I upgraded, and now, it's doin even better than ever. Heck, about one of the only things that I have found that Mac does better than a PC is video editing, and my PC actually does that plenty well enough for my purposes.

Well I run Windows 7 on my mac. My PC can't run OSX. So therefore I own a
PC and a MAC

Thus

MAC > PC

[jordanhoff]

Well I run Windows 7 on my mac. My PC can't run OSX. So therefore I own a
PC and a MAC

Thus

MAC > PC

I do the same on my MacBook.

[cscheatum]

I think to say that a Mac actually does more than a PC is a bold-faced lie. Mac's have their place and certainly suit specific situations better, but they don't "do more."

And everyone I've known to own a Mac has partitioned the hard drive and dual boots to Windows as well, so... Go Microsoft!

Wait did I read that right?

If Mac can put Windows on it, but Microsoft can't put OSX on it, how does that make Microsoft better?

By the way every PC I've owned (a lot of them) either died from hard drive failures, or because my battery gave out within a year. I've had my Macbook for 2 years and my battery still goes 4-5 hours without being charged.

[750killshin]

Macs just aren't versatile... it's not customizable or upgradeable. Only one company makes computers that run it... that alone is reason enough to not buy it. There's so much more diversity in the PC world. (pun?) you must conform to the mac, not the other way around. I say SCREW THAT. I'm going to tell my computer what to do and it had better do it.

[cscheatum]

Macs just aren't versatile... it's not customizable or upgradeable. Only one company makes computers that run it... that alone is reason enough to not buy it. There's so much more diversity in the PC world. (pun?) you must conform to the mac, not the other way around. I say SCREW THAT. I'm going to tell my computer what to do and it had better do it.

I will give you that Macs are not as upgradeable, and PC wins that. But I don't need to upgrade my Mac. Ever.:biggrin:

[Biker Dash]

If Mac can put Windows on it, but Microsoft can't put OSX on it, how does that make Microsoft better?


The reason that People put Windows on their Mac is to make it so their Mac is actually more useful than a broken hammer...

[porange]

By the way every PC I've owned (a lot of them) either died from hard drive failures, or because my battery gave out within a year. I've had my Macbook for 2 years and my battery still goes 4-5 hours without being charged.

Come on dude.. Microsoft makes the software, not the hardware. What sense does it make to bash Windows for hard drive failures and bad batteries? If you want to praise Apple's hardware prowess that's fine and dandy, but don't compare apples and oranges.. so to speak


If Mac can put Windows on it, but Microsoft can't put OSX on it, how does that make Microsoft better?

And it's not Microsoft's lack of expertise that makes it so OSX can't be put on a PC, It's Apple's legal and business reasons, so that point is invalid.

[YamahaFan]

here's my stab:

- Linux = advanced users
- Windows = moderate user
- MAC = beginners

What I'm saying is, MAC is more user friendly than the other 2, so even a caveman can do it (ripped shamelessly from Geico). The reason I don't like MAC is it's like an all in one machine, and I like to pick the options myself. Of course as stated above anyone can surf the web on all those systems, but to go to configuration it's different from OSes. Believe it or not it took me a while to change resolution on a Linux system, and I still don't know how to configure dual monitors on Suse and Redhat

[Biker Dash]

Thats what I like about Windows. It's adaptable, but not so user intensive that you have to have a degree to use it. Well, that and the fact that there is just so much more available for it than there is for Mac. Heck, with some of the programs out now, and with a really good graphics card, even the difference between a PC and a Mac when it comes to video and audio editing becomes negligable.

[vicaphit]

Macs are all about form over function.

You can't do this, or this, or this, or this, but it looks cool! It has a shiny light on the top of the laptop that has an apple on it!

Windows are like Jeeps, they may not be the most beautiful things, but they do what you want them to do.

[67fire]

For non-Mac users, here is what you are MISSING!:
http://www.apple.com/findouthow/mac/#switcher

Just picked up one of these:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC413LL/A?mco=MTU0MzQ1NzA

BTW, J.E.E.P.= Junk Each and Every Part. I know, I have two! :wink:

Eric :)

[justin68106]

For non-Mac users, here is what you are MISSING!:
http://www.apple.com/findouthow/mac/#switcher

Just picked up one of these:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC413LL/A?mco=MTU0MzQ1NzA

BTW, J.E.E.P.= Junk Each and Every Part. I know, I have two! :wink:

Eric :)

My computer has a 3.2GHz processor (and it's not overclocked yet) 4GB RAM, 2 320GB HDDs, an Nvidia 8800GT, and I can hook it up to my 37" TV and it cost me half of what that refurbished Mac costs and I got all my stuff new. Only good thing about Macs is their warranty.

[Biker Dash]

What you running for a CPU Justin? Also, those twin HHDs hooked up in RAID? How many RPM? The RAM, DDR2 or 3? How many MHz?

The TV, is it CRT, LCD, Plasma, or projection? What style of hookup do you use?

[justin68106]

AMD Athlon X2 6400+ (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103228)(mobo (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157134) is socket AM2+ so I could put socket AM3 processors in it) HDDs aren't in raid, they're 7200 RPM, 4GB DDR2 1066 RAM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166) (PC8500) and I've got windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (paid $30 for it) And I've got probably one of the best towers (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021) I've ever used
TV is a Vizio LCD (goes up to 1080P) and I can hook it up either via a VGA cable and a regular 3.5mm jack or a DVI to HDMI and use either computer speakers or plug it in to a stereo.

[Biker Dash]

Thats one disadvantage of my computer, it's socket is AM2, not AM2+. :( If I had a MB that had either had AM2+ or AM3, and supported RAID, I would be styling!

I'm plugged into my monitor with DVI. (Thats the only option with my card, but it works great!) I just wanna get a better soundcard and plug into a good surround sound system.

[justin68106]

ASRock makes great Mobos, I paid $160 for mine when I ordered it last February and have yet to have a problem *knocks on wood*

[Biker Dash]

I'll have to look it up. My biggest problem is finances. I also have my motorcycle that I am customizing, and a car in need of repair. I am sure you can guess what takes priority... ~.^

[ChriswithaHawk]

Sigh.. you guys are talking about some awesome systems.. i still run windows xp on a 1.6 gig processor with 1 gig of ram.. its old but it keeps turning on and i dont feel i "need" anything bigger or better.

[Biker Dash]

lol... while I'm one who would try overclocking a Cray....

[justin68106]

I upgraded the PC after I got my tax return last year, before I got the bike :P now the PC really only gets used for homework and not so much for games anymore. All my money goes towards the bank now, trying to save up for a bigger bike, and for beer / partying.

[Biker Dash]

I hardly drink anymore, so I don't have to worry about my money disappearing on me that way. (now, if I could just quit smoking...)

As for my computer, it's a sizable part of my life, between all the forums I do, my gaming, researching bike stuff, and writing. Still, it's good enough that I should not have to upgrade immediately, allowing me to save for all the goodies I want.

[Warden]

I usually upgrade my PC every 3-4 years and I am making sure it will have enough power to run games and apps even 3 years from now.

Here is specs of my new Alienware computer. Its not top of the line but it is powerful machine.

Intel Core i7 960 (3.2GHz, 8MB Cache)
9GB Triple Channel 1333Mhz DDR3
ATI Radeon HD 5970, 2GB GDDR5 videocard
2TB RAID 0 (2x 1TB SATA-II, 7,200 RPM, 32MB Cache HDDs) harddrives
Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium
Alienware Aurora Chassis, 875W PSU

I also run triple monitor setup with ATI eyefinity. I use three 22" LCD monitors as single monitor with combine resolution 5760x1080

Something like this
http://www.brightsideofnews.com/Data/2009_11_13/AMDs-new-look/AMD_ATI_Eyefinity_3LCD_675.jpg

[750killshin]

This weekend my wife came home with a macbook. Sheesh... she is obsessed with it.4946 Machines comparable in performance on the PC side were $5-700 but she paid $900 for the mac. Oh well... to each their own. I just thought it was ironic that my wife bought a mac while I was having a conversation online about how I don't like macs.

[Biker Dash]

Warden, that is just SICK!:71baldboy:

[cscheatum]

This weekend my wife came home with a macbook. Sheesh... she is obsessed with it.4946 Machines comparable in performance on the PC side were $5-700 but she paid $900 for the mac. Oh well... to each their own. I just thought it was ironic that my wife bought a mac while I was having a conversation online about how I don't like macs.

As funny as this situation is, it will be even more funny when you bring one home.

MUAHAHAHAHAHA

[Biker Dash]

As funny as this situation is, it will be even more funny when you bring one home.

MUAHAHAHAHAHA

I am sure that he could find less painful ways to hurt himself...

Like double-date Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton