Really doesn't matter anyway, cuz 99% of people are not gonna drop more than a grand on graphics cards.

1/29/2009 11:39:55 PM

Quote :

"edit: ^^actually, I'm still a Intel fan for sure, but a Phenom II clocked at around 6.5 holds the 3DMark05 Record currently. It was set at CES IIRC."

uh... no it doesn't, yes they claimed that, but they don't, it's an intel i7, the record was set 8 days before the 6.5Ghz stunt...
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm05=4682755

This is the world-record. Highest 3dMark05 score for an AMD? Yes.
Highest frequency for a quad-core OC in public? Yes.
But not a world record for 3dMark05.

Funny thing is the record holder was only at 5203mhz / (i7), 80% of the frequency of the AMD and AFAIK, didn't need liquid helium to do it.

ok, so they weren't recognized because they didn't use a WHQL display drivers, dumb.

[Edited on January 30, 2009 at 12:18 AM. Reason : .]

1/30/2009 12:16:29 AM

Do you by any chance know what the current highest i7 clock? I bet that shit would be batshit insane if 6+ was/is possible.

1/30/2009 5:58:44 PM

so my current desktop (about three and a half years old) died yesterday, and this seems like a pretty good excuse for a new one.

I've been looking at some prebuilt systems, especially Dell's Studio XPS. The thing that concerns me about all the <$1000 systems I'm seeing is that the power supplies are weak, and I'd be planning to add a better video card for gaming. If I have to change the power supply anyway, it wouldn't be all that much more work just to build a new box from scratch.

What's the best option for something that would last for a few years? I want to play newer games, but they just need to be playable, not hardcore maxed-out settings.

2/10/2009 3:05:41 PM

^ build a core2 system and throw in a gtx285

2/10/2009 4:29:43 PM

Quote :

"but they just need to be playable, not hardcore maxed-out settings"

gtx285 is more than overkill.

9800GTX+
GTX260
HD4850
HD4870

are all more than enough for his needs and 1/2 or 1/3 the cost of a gtx285

if you are buying new i'd look at the new core i7 920 processor (since it is a motherboard/memory/processor upgrade path), there is no upgrade path in the future if you build a new core2duo

2/10/2009 4:48:53 PM

http://bensbargains.net/deal/93180/?referrer=rss

Quote :

"Dell Home has the Seagate 1.5TB SATA Hard Drive for $143 - $60 off coupon code HNP1LLLS?ZKS48 [Exp 2/18] = $83 with free shipping. This drive uses their 2nd generation Perpendicular Recording technology. Here's Seagate's site pimping this drive."

2/12/2009 1:47:21 PM

just went from an old pd 930 system to a core i7.....kept my 4830 (which is an amazing gpu...esp for the 80 bucks)...
yeah, i already made a thread..im excited...lol

2/12/2009 2:23:39 PM

Just got my $83 1.5TB!!!!

2/16/2009 5:50:56 PM

^ any idea where I can get a working code?

2/16/2009 7:28:05 PM

^code doesn't work anymore? Don't know.

2/16/2009 7:49:59 PM

code stopped working on the 12th

2/16/2009 10:06:14 PM

Pretty good sale going right now on Lenovo laptops. I think this one represents the best deal if youre interested in a bargain laptop with the highest qualtiy.

Lenovo IdeaPad Y530 - 40516AU
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T6400 ( 2GHz 800MHz 2MB)
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
3 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1066MHz
15.4 " WXGA TFT with integrated camera LCD Glossy 1280x800
320GB 5400
DVD Recordable (Dual Layer)
Intel Wireless Wi-Fi Link 5100
Bluetooth Version 2.0 + EDR
HDMI out
Intel Integrated Graphics X4500

Select this laptop at their website and enter USP48HOURSALE coupon code at the cart screen and the price goes from $699 to $594. Free shipping also.

I know people are going to argue "but you can get a dell with those specs for $50 less". Probably even find an Acer at best buy for $100 less. I think this one is more worth the money because Lenovo laptops are quality. They use quality parts (ie 1066 mhz ram instead of 667), and they're built very solid. You can pick these up by the corner with one hand and it won't feel like its going to bend in half. It's very similar to a macbook. Granted, integrated graphics is lame, but this is the sub-$600 pricepoint.

2/17/2009 10:30:11 AM

My 7600GT blew up, so its budget replacement, an 8600GT, should be arriving today
Guess I'll use a PCI slot cooler now

2/17/2009 10:37:01 AM

it's not that big of a difference.

2/17/2009 11:20:30 AM

Shoulda gotten a 4670 or 9600GSO instead of that craptastic 8600GT.

2/17/2009 3:20:41 PM

If he bought an 8600gt he probably doesn't game at all, so it really doesn't matter.

2/17/2009 5:03:20 PM

should budget laptops be able to handle x264 720p mkv tv show files?

given it has a shitty graphics adapter, because i don't use it to game, but when i try to play an mkv on my laptop it can't go more than 5-10 seconds without the audio and video going out of sync using mplayer classic. using vlc i get boxes in the video - like a motion blur of the areas that are changing (i.e. if the dude is speaking, the boxes are 1inch by 1inch and appear around the edges of his face and over the area of his mouth). regular xvid files play fine.

what are the min requirements to be able to watch 720p mkv files do you think?

2/17/2009 6:53:55 PM

My 5 year old dell inspiron 9100 laptop will play 720p mkv files at ~5mbit. Any laptop today should be able to do this. Minus netbooks.

2/17/2009 7:02:27 PM

then wtfgraphicsadapter?

i have an hp dv4-1114nr
Core2 Duo T5800 2GHz, 3GB DDR2, 160GB Hard Drive, DVD+-RW
Intel GMA 4500MHD, Webcam/Microphone, 802.11b/g, Vista Ultimate
14.1" WXGA, 1280x800 pixels

2/17/2009 7:35:00 PM

Quote :

"A new feature of the GMA chip, are the integrated HD video-decoding functions. The GM45 is able to decode HD-videos in the formats AVC, VC-2, and MPEG-2 to help the CPU. This way a Blu-Ray playback should also be possible with a low end CPU."

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Graphics-Media-Accelerator-4500MHD-GMA-X4500MHD.9883.0.html

4500GMAHD should play 5mbit .mkv files just fine. Don't know what the issue is.

[Edited on February 17, 2009 at 8:03 PM. Reason : .]

2/17/2009 8:02:11 PM

ya "using vlc i get boxes in the video - like a motion blur of the areas that are changing (i.e. if the dude is speaking, the boxes are 1inch by 1inch and appear around the edges of his face and over the area of his mouth). "

2/17/2009 8:03:21 PM

Weird. The Intel x3100 will play 720p files. Yours is better than that. You've tried multiple files? Did you check if any power saving cpu utilization programs are running? That scale back the cpu?

2/17/2009 8:04:59 PM

yea, if you're running off of batteries, chances are your CPU is underclocked to save power.

2/18/2009 3:32:54 AM

nah it was plugged in and i can't find any trace of a speed regulating program

i was only trying one file though - lemme try another and post back

2/18/2009 3:56:22 AM

it seems to just have been that one file thx

2/20/2009 10:54:14 PM

any agp card suggestions?

i know that there is pretty much no more innovation on the agp side but i need something, dual dvi is the primary requirement

2/27/2009 10:19:58 PM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102730

2/27/2009 10:24:31 PM

yeah, that is the one that i added to my cart earlier today

im just pissed at newegg shipping

i got two dvd+/-r drives and a 500 gb hard drive this past week, and the box was falling apart, the hard drive has a busted plastic piece near the power connector

im really disappointed in the shipping, if things are going to be bouncing around and the box isnt going to be sealed, id rather order from somewhere else, even if it more expensive

2/27/2009 10:31:01 PM

I guess go this route then
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00145CQUC/ref=asc_df_B00145CQUC729654?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=cnet-ce-20&linkCode=asn

2/28/2009 1:31:01 AM

Can someone recommend me a new graphic's card?

I do not run a SLI configuration, so I only need one card. My current card is a xfx 9600 gts. I want to switch this out and put it on my old computer.

I'm looking for something a bit better.

3/4/2009 10:08:56 PM

I'm thinking about getting this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130433

EVGA 896-P3-1257-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 Superclocked Edition

3/9/2009 5:24:37 PM

^Neighbor just got that. Sweet card. He also just built an i7 OCed it to 3.6, with 6 gigs ddr3, veloci-raptor, and gtx260. Crazy fast.

3/9/2009 5:27:59 PM

Looking for a deal on an Antec MX-1 - let me know if anyone finds a good one

3/9/2009 9:52:24 PM

4870 just got a price drop

but it all depends on what level of card you are looking for (coming from) and your budget

3/10/2009 1:34:56 AM

Just built myself a computer and I need to stress it. What free programs are out there?

3/18/2009 9:23:06 PM

OCCT is an excellent tool, my favorite for sure.

http://www.ocbase.com/download.php?fileext=exe

3/18/2009 9:41:35 PM

Ok so i'm pretty sure my 8800gtx is overheating. It'll crash after about 30 minutes of game play. I've turned the fan to 100%, and under clocked it to factory settings but this still happens. I decided to do a test. I used a portable AC unit to blow cold air into the case (making sure nothing goes below ambient obviously). The gpu now is around 45-50 load compared to in the 70's+ and it hasn't crashed yet. How easy is it to reseat a gpu heatsink?

3/18/2009 9:49:41 PM

how come occt's website looks like it's its sponsored by the russians?

[Edited on March 18, 2009 at 10:00 PM. Reason : .]

3/18/2009 10:00:33 PM

^^ Resetting it won't do much good, G80s are insanely hot.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186026&Tpk=artic%20cooling%208800
I reeeeally want this for my G80 GTS, but can't bring myself to it considering the price of cards these days, but it may be worth it in your case.

3/19/2009 12:22:47 AM

Yeah it is. That might be worth the investment. Is it that hard to swap out heatsinks? I thought you had to worry not just about the one chip but about the memory pads too. That heatsink looks like it only has the one heat sink.

-just did some research and ordered that one. 100% positive reviews accept for the one guy who had a 8800gt and complained because it wouldn't fit on his card.

[Edited on March 19, 2009 at 1:03 AM. Reason : .]

3/19/2009 12:45:31 AM

yea, I don't think it has VRM cooling issues either. And LOL, dude thought that shit worked on a 8800GT. It is a really sweet looking cooler though, you should report back whenever you get it up and running.

edit: yea, it apparently comes with VRM sinks anyway.

[Edited on March 19, 2009 at 1:11 AM. Reason : .]

3/19/2009 1:09:06 AM

I've never messed with gpu cooling before just cpu cooling. The VRM sinks are separate from the chip cooler/sink? Should i replace the existing VRM sinks with these? I assume you just take the old ones off, clean the ram, then apply new paste and screw the sinks on? Then the chip cooler goes on top?

3/19/2009 1:15:11 AM

yea, pretty much. Make sure you take the one review's advice and clean the vrms with a small amount of rubbing alcohol to make sure the supplied adhesive actually sticks.

[Edited on March 19, 2009 at 1:18 AM. Reason : ,]

3/19/2009 1:17:42 AM

Yeah so the ram uses adhesive pads, and i should just use arctic silver for the chip?

3/19/2009 1:47:02 AM

yep

3/19/2009 2:01:17 AM

Yeah i just bench marked it and it hit 90+. That has to be why it's crashing.

http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=256418

Quote :

"There was a bug with some of the original 8800GTX's that if it went over 80C it would cause crashes and freezing. Try to get your temps to stay below 80C and see if it still happens. If it does, RMA it and tell them you want the revision 2 or 3 8800GTX that fixed the issue. I had that problem when I first got mine, but since I upgraded to water cooling now I have no issues "

According to Nvidia the 8800GTX G80 cards are tested to run at temperatures of 150C. Hopefully this will solve my problem though.

[Edited on March 19, 2009 at 6:03 PM. Reason : .]

3/19/2009 5:43:53 PM

Well I finally put together a new computer after gf complained of sluggishness. Had a 2600xt laying around so didn't purchase a video card. Specs are.


MB GIGABYTE GA-G31M-ES2L 775 G31 RT 1 52.99
PSU CORSAIR|CMPSU-620HX RT 1 149.99
MEM 2Gx2|CRUC BL2KIT25664AA80A R 1 49.99
HD 640G|WD 7K 16M WD6400AAKS % 1 74.99
DVD BURN LG|GH22NS30 22X SATA % 1 24.99
CPU INTEL|C2D E8400 3G 775 45N R 1 164.99
CASE SILVERSTONE|SG01-BF RT 1 99.99

Total came out to be around $640 with shipping. But theres about $40 in rebates so it comes out to be $600.

3/20/2009 2:28:41 PM

Do you guys put your extra PSU cables behind the mobo?

3/20/2009 4:29:53 PM

^Depends on the case. If the back side panel is removable then yeah.

Just installed my new GPU heat sink. Idles at 44 now compared to 60!!! About to bench mark it.

3/20/2009 4:41:39 PM