Dressler Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 Considering it to replace my ancient Gateway with a PentIII and 900Mhz processor. Gateway 835GM Media Center. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hpt. Lisse Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 Well, replace that crappy 266-watt power supply and upgrade the on-board Intel graphics chip with a decent graphics card, and you're off and running... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwolf Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 The Intel Dual-Cores produce enormous amounts of heat, consuming equivalent power. This PSU in that machine is insufficient and the cooling in that small case is probably insifficient to make it stable and/or very very loud. Graphics of course not gameable. For game, AMD systems at the same price perform better in any case. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dressler Posted January 16, 2006 Author Share Posted January 16, 2006 What size power supply would you recommend? I didn't think the onboard graphics spec'ed out all that bad... what card would you suggest? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dressler Posted January 16, 2006 Author Share Posted January 16, 2006 By the way, the case is BTX, which is supposed to improve heat dissipation. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hpt. Lisse Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 With an eye on the near future, something 500 watts or more. Your potential machine specs a PCI-express slot, and assuming you want an NVidia card... (this gives you visible fog in battles that have fog, ATI cards won't...) 6600GT - 8 pipes, ~ $115 6800GS - 12 pipes, ~ $190 7800GT - 20 pipes, ~ $275 7800GTX - 24 pipes, ~ $450 I have played CM with on-board IntelExtreme Graphics2, and it's possible, just ugly. Like, I mistook that sheep for my girlfriend ugly... [ January 16, 2006, 12:26 AM: Message edited by: Hpt. Lisse ] 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dressler Posted January 16, 2006 Author Share Posted January 16, 2006 Ahhh...gotcha. I wasn't really familiar with the Intel GMA 950, thought it might be decent. I have an Nvidia GeForce FX 5700LE in my current machine and I like it OK, but it's an AGP card. I'd want something at the very least comparible to that, performance-wise. The 6800GS looks like it might be the one. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dressler Posted January 16, 2006 Author Share Posted January 16, 2006 Looks like I'd probably upgrade with these: Coolmax PSU and possibly this graphics card. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hpt. Lisse Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 Yeah, the XFX factory-overclocked 6800GS is the way to go, unless you can get a 7800GT. PS looks good. I did buy my laptop from TigerDirect, but do all my shopping at NewEgg now, mostly because of the $ combined with excellent service. They don't blink an eye when you need to return a stick of memory, etc. Let us know how you make out... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dressler Posted January 16, 2006 Author Share Posted January 16, 2006 I can't see any reason this PS wouldn't work in the new one. It's SATA ready, SLI ready, 20+4 connector, supports PCI Express... looks like a nice match. I'm thinking about getting everything in one shot so I don't have to wait around. I'll let ya know how it works out and I appreciate the recommendations. Thanks! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dressler Posted January 16, 2006 Author Share Posted January 16, 2006 I'm hearing some rumors that Nvidia has another big launch coming out soon and the 7x00 series cards are going to come WAY down in price. Might be worth waiting to see if that happens... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hpt. Lisse Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 Yeah, not sure if it's about the 8xxx cards or not - they should be launching the 16-pipe 7800GS any time now. Same goes for the AMD 940 socket update - Q2 '06- introducing DD2 mem support and other improvements. I'm about to do a big mobo/vid/CPU crossover, but may get a AGP 6800GS (current is a FX5900, Barton XP, NForce2 mobo) as an interim solution. Still want to purchase a San Diego(or maybe dual? 4400x2?), 939 mobo, 7800GT setup but will be 1/2 price when M2 AMD procs & mobos are released... The real question is also - big update for what? Still waiting for 1C/Maddox's "WWII RTS", CM's only true competition, which won't be released for another few months. Will play the demo for CMSF, but not truly interested in modern warfare (please, no hate mail.) Not a flight sim guy, so... not desperate for the hardware. The 6800GS would get me by for awhile... [ January 16, 2006, 11:10 PM: Message edited by: Hpt. Lisse ] 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dressler Posted January 17, 2006 Author Share Posted January 17, 2006 Yeah, I'm probably going to go ahead with the 6800GS. People have been talking about the 7800 cards coming down in price for a few months now. Don't wanna try to muddle through with the onboard graphics for very long. I haven't even been able to try CoD2 or BiA yet due to system limitations... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dressler Posted January 19, 2006 Author Share Posted January 19, 2006 I got the XFX 6800GS and the instructions suck out loud. There's a power dongle that splits to two molex connectors, but there's no mention of what to do with it in the instructions. I don't even know if it's needed or not. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schrullenhaft Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 From what I can see, XFX is providing a molex power splitter. If you have an unused molex power connection, then it isn't necessary. If you don't, then you can plug this splitter into a currently used connection (by unconnecting what it is connected to) and plugging the splitter on and then plugging one of the plugs back into the device and then the other one onto the GeForce 6800GS. If you already have a spare molex connection, then you can just store this splitter away for whenever you may need it. You definitely need to plug in a molex power connector onto the videocard. Without it, the videocard will not get enough power. This could result in shutdowns at any point, but particularly when attempting to play a 3D game. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dressler Posted January 19, 2006 Author Share Posted January 19, 2006 I was curious if that might be the case, but they're both male connectors. Maybe this card is just a big power hog and needs both hooked up? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwolf Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 If the video card has two molex connectors it needs both connected. If it only has one they only included the splitter in case you don't have a spare connectors. About the PSU: to judge anything I would need the vendor who actually built it and the individual power ratings for 12 V, 5 V and 3.3 V. There should be a sticker on the PSU telling this. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dressler Posted January 19, 2006 Author Share Posted January 19, 2006 The connector has two molex 4 pin connectors going to a single PCIe 6 pin connector. I just noticed that the psu I ordered has a PCIe connector, so the cord isn't even necessary I guess. The psu was made by Coolmax: 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwolf Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 That's a good PSU. I am surprised it comes in such a gateway machine. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TufenHuden Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 I wouldn't get a gateway-crap PC-I'm surprised you lasted this long with that p-111-900MHZ. Even with a baseline AMD64 singlecore with AGP would beet that piece of crap. But as said-AMD64-X2-4400 DC- 7800GT-$300.00 Mobo-PCI-E-Asus-Nforce4-SLI Premiun.skt-939 That bad boy with combine 2-7800GT's with 16x x 2=32x plus 40-pipelines- Geil-ram from new egg-PC3200DC 1-Gig $80.00 2-Gigs-$170.00. Even id you didn't go with that-you still can go single-PCI-E-with 7800GTX/GT... PCpower&cooling.com 510Deluxe is the best power supply @ about $180.00... Gateway crap-I suggest not to go with them.. I've known poeple with gateways and nothing but problems... If you go prepitory PC maker-go with Dell with Pent-D's... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dressler Posted January 20, 2006 Author Share Posted January 20, 2006 Originally posted by Redwolf: That's a good PSU. I am surprised it comes in such a gateway machine. It didn't. I bought it to replace the $10 266w Hipro PSU that came stock. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dressler Posted January 20, 2006 Author Share Posted January 20, 2006 Originally posted by TufenHuden: I wouldn't get a gateway-crap PC-I'm surprised you lasted this long with that p-111-900MHZ. Even with a baseline AMD64 singlecore with AGP would beet that piece of crap. But as said-AMD64-X2-4400 DC- 7800GT-$300.00 Mobo-PCI-E-Asus-Nforce4-SLI Premiun.skt-939 That bad boy with combine 2-7800GT's with 16x x 2=32x plus 40-pipelines- Geil-ram from new egg-PC3200DC 1-Gig $80.00 2-Gigs-$170.00. Even id you didn't go with that-you still can go single-PCI-E-with 7800GTX/GT... PCpower&cooling.com 510Deluxe is the best power supply @ about $180.00... Gateway crap-I suggest not to go with them.. I've known poeple with gateways and nothing but problems... If you go prepitory PC maker-go with Dell with Pent-D's... Well...it may be a piece of crap, but it's running good so far. :cool: 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TufenHuden Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 Well you are one of the lucky ones just wanted to make sure you don't waste your money.. I've known just about 5-2 just recently have had problems-also we had a gateway PC store about 5miles from me-but it closed... I do hope that your PC runs a long time- With all do respect.... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dressler Posted January 20, 2006 Author Share Posted January 20, 2006 Originally posted by TufenHuden: Well you are one of the lucky ones just wanted to make sure you don't waste your money.. I've known just about 5-2 just recently have had problems-also we had a gateway PC store about 5miles from me-but it closed... I do hope that your PC runs a long time- With all do respect.... No worries... I'm used to hearing "Gateways are crap" by now. My old one lasted over five years though, so I'm not quite so down on 'em. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwolf Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 What kind of temperatures do you get on the CPU now? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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