Time to upgrade...

onelifecrisis · 10-02-09, 09:12 AM

I really wasn't sure where to post this.

It's not got anything to do with SH3 Mods, but I figure the mods forum is where the techy types hang out.

Anyway it's time to replace my 5YO rig, but I'm a bit baffled by the new hardware options. Which is better - a standalone HD4850 graphics card, or a HD4550 in hybrid crossfire with a HD3200? Also, how much more powerful is a Phenom II X4 when compared with an Athlon II X4? Help plz.

ReallyDedPoet · 10-02-09, 09:32 AM

Moved it here

Have fun with the upgrade. Plan to do the same sometime next year. I
will wait until after SH 5 comes out.

onelifecrisis · 10-02-09, 09:34 AM

Oh, duh, I didn't even see this forum here. Thanks RDP!

ReallyDedPoet · 10-02-09, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onelifecrisis

Oh, duh, I didn't even see this forum here. Thanks RDP!

No problem, have a good one

AVGWarhawk · 10-02-09, 09:46 AM

Look at the speeds of the processors. Such as my Phenom X4 9850 are 2.5Ghz in speed. However, I believe that is x4 now as you have 4 processors working for you. I'm not an ATI fan and like Nvidia. Go no lower than a 9800GT in my opinion. Do not be afraid of a 64bit OS. I run it and love 64bit. I run 8 gig of RAM with the 64bit. Question for you, wait for windows 7 or use Vista? I have Vista and it is a good OS in my opinion. I do not have troubles with it at all. Windows 7 will be out shortly so maybe spend the time getting your hardware then purchase when 7 is out.

onelifecrisis · 10-02-09, 09:49 AM

7 won't run older games, so I'll be sticking with Vista (which, hopefully, will). If I could have it my way I'd have XP with DX10, but M$ decided to make DX10 Vista only so I guess I'll have to wave goodbye to XP.

Raptor1 · 10-02-09, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onelifecrisis

7 won't run older games, so I'll be sticking with Vista (which, hopefully, will).

Why won't 7 run games which Vista can? AFAIK 7 is nothing but Vista improved.

AVGWarhawk · 10-02-09, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onelifecrisis

7 won't run older games, so I'll be sticking with Vista (which, hopefully, will).

Not true, 7 will run in XP mode. Vista does not that I'm aware of. However, Vista does play a lot of older games.

onelifecrisis · 10-02-09, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Not true, 7 will run in XP mode. Vista does not that I'm aware of. However, Vista does play a lot of older games.

Are you 100% sure? Can anyone else confirm that? If so, Windows 7 sounds perfect.

AVGWarhawk · 10-02-09, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Microsoft said Thursday it has signed off on Windows 7's add-on capability to provide Windows XP application compatibility and the code will be ready for download when Windows 7 ships later this month.

http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/ent...de-XP-Mode.htm

onelifecrisis · 10-02-09, 10:09 AM

Thanks AVG.

Having read the article I must say I have my doubts about this XP Mode being able to run older games. Running old windows business apps is one thing, but running games is another.

A techy I spoke to today, who has been testing W7 for months, said that it currently won't run hardly any games that are more than 2 years old.

onelifecrisis · 10-02-09, 10:20 AM

A motherboard I'm looking at has these graphics ports:
1 x PCIe x16
1 x PCIe x1

It says the first slot is a "x16" slot and the other is a "x1" slot. My question is, can I run two nVidia cards in SLI mode on a board like that?

AVGWarhawk · 10-02-09, 10:20 AM

Get a hold of Dowly. I think he has been running older games on it. I will dig further. Vista does play games over than 2 years. I was playing B-17 by I think Microprose. It played fine for a game like 8 years old.

AVGWarhawk · 10-02-09, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onelifecrisis

A motherboard I'm looking at has these graphics ports:
1 x PCIe x16
1 x PCIe x1

It says the first slot is a "x16" slot and the other is a "x1" slot. My question is, can I run two nVidia cards in SLI mode on a board like that?

Need a board that is set up for SLI. You will also use the X16 slots.

Think about a duel boot for your system. One for XP and the other hard drive for 7.

onelifecrisis · 10-02-09, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Need a board that is set up for SLI. You will also use the X16 slots.

Okay, how do I know if a board is setup for SLI or not?

10-02-09, 09:12 AM	#1
onelifecrisis Maverick Modder Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: England Posts: 3,895 Downloads: 65 Uploads: 3	Time to upgrade... I really wasn't sure where to post this. It's not got anything to do with SH3 Mods, but I figure the mods forum is where the techy types hang out. Anyway it's time to replace my 5YO rig, but I'm a bit baffled by the new hardware options. Which is better - a standalone HD4850 graphics card, or a HD4550 in hybrid crossfire with a HD3200? Also, how much more powerful is a Phenom II X4 when compared with an Athlon II X4? Help plz. __________________ Freedom of speech - priceless. For everything else there's Mastercard.

10-02-09, 09:32 AM	#2
ReallyDedPoet Canadian Wolf Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: The one and only East Coast Posts: 10,775 Downloads: 946 Uploads: 5	Moved it here Have fun with the upgrade. Plan to do the same sometime next year. I will wait until after SH 5 comes out. __________________ Back in the Day

10-02-09, 09:34 AM	#3
onelifecrisis Maverick Modder Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: England Posts: 3,895 Downloads: 65 Uploads: 3	Oh, duh, I didn't even see this forum here. Thanks RDP! __________________ Freedom of speech - priceless. For everything else there's Mastercard.

10-02-09, 09:46 AM	#5
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 27,343 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Look at the speeds of the processors. Such as my Phenom X4 9850 are 2.5Ghz in speed. However, I believe that is x4 now as you have 4 processors working for you. I'm not an ATI fan and like Nvidia. Go no lower than a 9800GT in my opinion. Do not be afraid of a 64bit OS. I run it and love 64bit. I run 8 gig of RAM with the 64bit. Question for you, wait for windows 7 or use Vista? I have Vista and it is a good OS in my opinion. I do not have troubles with it at all. Windows 7 will be out shortly so maybe spend the time getting your hardware then purchase when 7 is out. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

10-02-09, 09:49 AM	#6
onelifecrisis Maverick Modder Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: England Posts: 3,895 Downloads: 65 Uploads: 3	7 won't run older games, so I'll be sticking with Vista (which, hopefully, will). If I could have it my way I'd have XP with DX10, but M$ decided to make DX10 Vista only so I guess I'll have to wave goodbye to XP. __________________ Freedom of speech - priceless. For everything else there's Mastercard.

10-02-09, 10:09 AM	#11
onelifecrisis Maverick Modder Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: England Posts: 3,895 Downloads: 65 Uploads: 3	Thanks AVG. Having read the article I must say I have my doubts about this XP Mode being able to run older games. Running old windows business apps is one thing, but running games is another. A techy I spoke to today, who has been testing W7 for months, said that it currently won't run hardly any games that are more than 2 years old. __________________ Freedom of speech - priceless. For everything else there's Mastercard.

10-02-09, 10:20 AM	#12
onelifecrisis Maverick Modder Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: England Posts: 3,895 Downloads: 65 Uploads: 3	A motherboard I'm looking at has these graphics ports: 1 x PCIe x16 1 x PCIe x1 It says the first slot is a "x16" slot and the other is a "x1" slot. My question is, can I run two nVidia cards in SLI mode on a board like that? __________________ Freedom of speech - priceless. For everything else there's Mastercard.