Upgrade System

longam · 11-06-08, 06:31 PM

Well after 6 long years of this tired old P4, I went and took the plunge and bought me a game rig. I contemplated building my own again and shopped around at different sites for pre-built systems and decided to go with the XPS. This is the middle system but its light years ahead of what I have, and I didn't want to spend 3k on a system.

Specs:
Intel Core2 E8400 (6MB,3.0 GHz, 1333FSB)
4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz - 4 DIMMs
nVidia GeForce 9800 GT 512MB
500GB - 7200RPM, SATA 3.0Gb/s, 16MB Cache
Genuine Windows Vista Ultimate Service Pack 1
Single Drive: 16X CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) w/double layer write capability
Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
Hauppauge HVR1250 Hybrid TV Tuner with Remote

I like to have TV running on my PC so I put a new tuner card in there.
The integrated sound is cool by me, I've been using that on the current system I have and it sounds just fine.
I'm glad I already bought my monitor.

Now the waiting game begins

baggygreen · 11-06-08, 07:51 PM

How much did this puppy set you back????

longam · 11-06-08, 08:54 PM

$1534 US with taxes.

Hylander_1314 · 11-06-08, 09:01 PM

Looks like a good system there Longam. It should handle SH4 just fine. And it leaves you room for improving the system with upgrades when the prices become affordable like a Core2 Extreme processor, or a better video card, and ram.

With Vista you may wish to go here: http://www.blackviper.com/

It will help you set up vista to run better than the stock settings by showing you what you can turn off to reduce the resource gobbling power of vista.

longam · 11-06-08, 09:16 PM

Thanks Hylander, been running Vista on this P4 for a few months now so I don't think I'll have much trouble with the new one. I have all the tricks down now to run it smooth. (ok smooth as u can until they fix everything)

I was considering going with a dual vid card setup but it just wasn't worth the extra cash in my book. I currently run a 7800 and if the performance is even better with the 9800 I won't complain. Also I noticed the bus speed is around 1300 on the MB and I'm currently at 600 or so.

I'll do some comparison test when its all said and done because I'll still have this one online for my daughter.

Edit: and the improvement part is so true, I have upgraded this system so many times.....

11-07-08, 02:41 AM

As for playing games I would rather choose AMD phenom class CPU instead on Intel, no matter how many core it has.

And of course speaking of saving bucks, cheaper but not the worse option was to leave max 2 GB of ram with Win XP

McBeck · 11-07-08, 03:11 AM

Moved to correct forum - Have a nice day!

longam · 11-07-08, 07:12 AM

Ah, didn't know they had this one open yet.

longam · 11-13-08, 06:56 PM

Well the system shipped from Texas and should arrive around the 18th.

Edit: And don't get me wrong I have been an dedicated builder for the last 15 years or more, I just did I.T. for 4 years and got burnt on the whole keep up with the latest thing. Doing IT now but in a smaller scale and only part of my job.

longam · 11-18-08, 06:21 PM

The beast has arrived and I'm posting from it now. Very impressed with the quality and looks, it reminds me of our dell server at work as far as the case size and interior setup.

The polished aluminum case with black front and blue LED's is a very nice touch and not to distracting for normal use. Every inch of the case was covered in protective plastic.

I have noticed is how quiet it is. I'm use to my 3 fans blazing with the vid card running its fan up and down. Going to take some time getting use to that. Installation of my spare hard drive was way to easy, no tools needed.

Anyway, just getting into it and I know this will give me many years of gaming and upgrades. Install - Install - setup - time to watch progress bars for a few days....

longam · 11-19-08, 09:30 PM

Last Update:

I never did know how the TC would be above 2400. Now I know! No more do I watch the blip cross the screen, fantastic.

Signing off.

11-06-08, 06:31 PM	#1
longam Admiral Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,014 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	Upgrade System Well after 6 long years of this tired old P4, I went and took the plunge and bought me a game rig. I contemplated building my own again and shopped around at different sites for pre-built systems and decided to go with the XPS. This is the middle system but its light years ahead of what I have, and I didn't want to spend 3k on a system. Specs: Intel Core2 E8400 (6MB,3.0 GHz, 1333FSB) 4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz - 4 DIMMs nVidia GeForce 9800 GT 512MB 500GB - 7200RPM, SATA 3.0Gb/s, 16MB Cache Genuine Windows Vista Ultimate Service Pack 1 Single Drive: 16X CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) w/double layer write capability Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio Hauppauge HVR1250 Hybrid TV Tuner with Remote I like to have TV running on my PC so I put a new tuner card in there. The integrated sound is cool by me, I've been using that on the current system I have and it sounds just fine. I'm glad I already bought my monitor. Now the waiting game begins

11-06-08, 08:54 PM	#3
longam Admiral Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,014 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	$1534 US with taxes. Last edited by longam; 11-06-08 at 09:47 PM.

11-06-08, 09:01 PM	#4
Hylander_1314 Sea Lord Join Date: May 2006 Location: 5 Miles Inland West Of Lake Huron Posts: 1,936 Downloads: 139 Uploads: 0	Looks like a good system there Longam. It should handle SH4 just fine. And it leaves you room for improving the system with upgrades when the prices become affordable like a Core2 Extreme processor, or a better video card, and ram. With Vista you may wish to go here: http://www.blackviper.com/ It will help you set up vista to run better than the stock settings by showing you what you can turn off to reduce the resource gobbling power of vista. __________________ A legislative act contrary to the Constitution is not law. -John Marshall Chief Justice of the Supreme Court ---------------------

11-06-08, 09:16 PM	#5
longam Admiral Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,014 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	Thanks Hylander, been running Vista on this P4 for a few months now so I don't think I'll have much trouble with the new one. I have all the tricks down now to run it smooth. (ok smooth as u can until they fix everything) I was considering going with a dual vid card setup but it just wasn't worth the extra cash in my book. I currently run a 7800 and if the performance is even better with the 9800 I won't complain. Also I noticed the bus speed is around 1300 on the MB and I'm currently at 600 or so. I'll do some comparison test when its all said and done because I'll still have this one online for my daughter. Edit: and the improvement part is so true, I have upgraded this system so many times..... Last edited by longam; 11-06-08 at 09:17 PM.

11-07-08, 02:41 AM	#6
Contact Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	As for playing games I would rather choose AMD phenom class CPU instead on Intel, no matter how many core it has. And of course speaking of saving bucks, cheaper but not the worse option was to leave max 2 GB of ram with Win XP Last edited by Contact; 11-07-08 at 02:52 AM.

11-06-08, 07:51 PM	#2
baggygreen Sea Lord Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canberra, ACT, Down Under (really On Top) Posts: 1,880 Downloads: 7 Uploads: 0	How much did this puppy set you back????

11-07-08, 03:11 AM	#7
McBeck Admiral Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Denmark Posts: 2,027 Downloads: 15 Uploads: 0	Moved to correct forum - Have a nice day! __________________ "I like subcommanders...they dont have time for bull**!" Proud member of the Subsim army of zombies Becks website

11-07-08, 07:12 AM	#8
longam Admiral Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,014 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	Ah, didn't know they had this one open yet.

11-13-08, 06:56 PM	#9
longam Admiral Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,014 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	Well the system shipped from Texas and should arrive around the 18th. Edit: And don't get me wrong I have been an dedicated builder for the last 15 years or more, I just did I.T. for 4 years and got burnt on the whole keep up with the latest thing. Doing IT now but in a smaller scale and only part of my job. Last edited by longam; 11-13-08 at 07:01 PM.

11-18-08, 06:21 PM	#10
longam Admiral Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,014 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	The beast has arrived and I'm posting from it now. Very impressed with the quality and looks, it reminds me of our dell server at work as far as the case size and interior setup. The polished aluminum case with black front and blue LED's is a very nice touch and not to distracting for normal use. Every inch of the case was covered in protective plastic. I have noticed is how quiet it is. I'm use to my 3 fans blazing with the vid card running its fan up and down. Going to take some time getting use to that. Installation of my spare hard drive was way to easy, no tools needed. Anyway, just getting into it and I know this will give me many years of gaming and upgrades. Install - Install - setup - time to watch progress bars for a few days....

11-19-08, 09:30 PM	#11
longam Admiral Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,014 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	Last Update: I never did know how the TC would be above 2400. Now I know! No more do I watch the blip cross the screen, fantastic. Signing off.