criticize me!

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Jul 26th, 2001, 09:43 AM
JungleMan

criticize me!

because I'm preparing to build my NEW system!

I've done extensive research, asked many questions at a wonderful site called www.amdmb.com and www.windrivers.com, and I've given this all a lot of thought. here's my config. Please tell me if the cooling isn't adequate, if some of the hardware sucks, etc..

Antec SX840 case
MSI K7T266
Athlon 1.4Ghz
256 MB PC2100 DDR RAM
4 Panaflo 47 CFM fans
1 30CFM Delta processor Fan
40GB 7200rpm IBM hard drive
Plextor PlexWriter 16x CDRW (IDE)
ATI Radeon All In Wonder
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz sound card

Compatibility issues? Cheap ass hardware? Inadequate cooling? Please tell before I buy these parts :)
Jul 26th, 2001, 12:55 PM
JungleMan

Hmm lots of views no replies

Can I take that as a "yes, this system 0wnz"?? :p
Jul 26th, 2001, 01:08 PM
filburt1

I have 512 MB of RAM, DVD, and a SoundBlaster Live! card with Harmon/Kardon HK-595 speakers that have a subwoofer the size of my monitor, no joke. :)

And I have 1 year NBD service, 3 year parts warantee from a real manufacturer, Dell.

Price a system from Dell first. They are constantly offering free shipping, DVD upgrades etc. When I bought my Dimension 4100 system from them, I got free shipping, DVD, and burner! Wow! :eek:
Jul 26th, 2001, 01:12 PM
JungleMan

Quote:

Originally posted by filburt1
I have 512 MB of RAM, DVD, and a SoundBlaster Live! card with Harmon/Kardon HK-595 speakers that have a subwoofer the size of my monitor, no joke. :)

And I have 1 year NBD service, 3 year parts warantee from a real manufacturer, Dell.

Price a system from Dell first. They are constantly offering free shipping, DVD upgrades etc. When I bought my Dimension 4100 system from them, I got free shipping, DVD, and burner! Wow! :eek:

*sighs* every halfway proficient PC enthusiast knows Custom Built beats Dell..:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
Jul 26th, 2001, 01:13 PM
filburt1

No, seriously, check the price on a Dell. They buy parts by the 1000s and will certainly have a similar or better deal. And also your parts are officially covered, by two companies!
Jul 26th, 2001, 01:24 PM
JungleMan

7 reasons NOT to buy factory built:

1) proprietary parts...let's say a lightning storm blows out your PSU, you have to call DELL for another one instead of heading to your local computer shop
2) less choice..I have no need for a modem because i have cable..so why spend extra money on a modem?
3) lower quailty parts- you think dell gives a damn how much cooling their cases have? **** no all they care about is marketing
4) AMD processors-- DELL DOESN"T EVEN SELL AMD PROCESSORS!
5) drive bays- can I get many drive bays with dell? no, the low end model doesn't have ANY...and besides adding in a white drive in a black case is BUTT UGLY
6) Bad cooling...ALL OEMs have crappy cooling...try putting a GeForce3 and several drives in there see how hot it runs
7) I HAVE sampled Dell...the price was about the same if not a little more, not worth it..

Please don't dispute my choice in system..if you can help me do so but if not don't bother!

sorry if that came out as a flame, ur cool with us :D :D :D :D
Jul 26th, 2001, 01:33 PM
filburt1

Well, I respect your opinion, but I am very satisfied with my Dell. You don't need to get a modem, or anything like that. You ARE forced to get either MS Works or Office. I disputed it, but in the end you do not really pay for MS Works, so I got that.

BTW, I have a surge protector, and please watch your language. :D
Jul 26th, 2001, 01:34 PM
parksie

SB Live! rocks - I bought one from a computer fair for £24 and subsequently saw the SAME (player 1024) on sale for £50 :D Laughing all the way to the amplifier :D

The 5.1 model looks pretty good - play a bit of HalfLife on that :cool:
Jul 26th, 2001, 01:35 PM
filburt1

My speakers are cool, too. Hook them up to the SBLive and play some loud Q3A or MP3s and YEAH!
Jul 26th, 2001, 01:37 PM
RyeBread

I would get a second CD drive, so you can duplicate a CD.

I think a DVD would be good, the ATI has hardware decoding. Even if you don't watch movies on the PC, you may want it some day...

PS - I love my Dell. With INTEL!
Jul 26th, 2001, 01:38 PM
parksie

I'm sitting on a cushion in the lounge with my PC on the floor, hooked up to our hifi - 2 amps, 4 speakers (2x Kef Q35s front, 2x heathkit diddy ones back) - very loud :D
Jul 26th, 2001, 01:39 PM
parksie

My Voodoo3 has hardware motion compensation - I know that's not MPEG-2 decoding, so what the hell IS it? :confused:
Jul 26th, 2001, 01:41 PM
JungleMan

I might get a DVD drive later.

Maybe I should make this more clear.

NO OEM RECOMMENDATIONS PLEASE, I HAVE ALREADY DECIDED ON CUSTOM BUILT!!!!!!
Jul 26th, 2001, 01:42 PM
parksie

Those combo drives look bloody good I think. Also, custom built machines can hijack all the other bits from your older PCs.
Jul 26th, 2001, 01:45 PM
JungleMan

Quote:

Originally posted by parksie
Those combo drives look bloody good I think. Also, custom built machines can hijack all the other bits from your older PCs.

exactly what i'm doin

this also has a shitload of stuff i already own

ANYWAY..anyone want to criticize the HARDWARE i'm using or does it kick ass?
Jul 26th, 2001, 01:53 PM
parksie

I've not heard of the Santa Cruz before - what does it do that's particularly special?
Jul 26th, 2001, 01:54 PM
JungleMan

Have you heard of any turtle beach cards?

I like it because it comes with a ton of software...is the SB Live better??
Jul 26th, 2001, 02:01 PM
parksie

The Montego II I've heard of. A3D support (not sure if 1.0 or 2.0) and lots of DMA channels (great for sound recording).

The Live doesn't come with that much software, but I really like the digital output, digital CD input, and SPDIF input.
Jul 26th, 2001, 02:02 PM
filburt1

Quote:

Originally posted by jpbtennisman

exactly what i'm doin

this also has a shitload of stuff i already own

ANYWAY..anyone want to criticize the HARDWARE i'm using or does it kick ass?

Personally, I would get the SBLive instead. But other than that, wicked. :) And get the 3Com 100BaseT network card if you will be doing a home network sometime.

BTW, what speed is your current computer?
Jul 26th, 2001, 02:31 PM
JungleMan

Quote:

Originally posted by filburt1

Personally, I would get the SBLive instead. But other than that, wicked. :) And get the 3Com 100BaseT network card if you will be doing a home network sometime.

BTW, what speed is your current computer?

550mhz Sony, AMD Notebook :o

I've got a piece of **** Realtek card I paid $5 bucks for (hehe) that does 100Mbps OR SO IT SAYS...and yea i do have a home network

but it doesn't seem to transfer at 100mbps

same with my Linksys and DLink cards, they aren't going at 100mbps either...

I will look into the SB Live cards, and the Santa Cruz is more than the Montego so it must be better :p :p
Jul 26th, 2001, 02:33 PM
filburt1

You only really need 100BaseT if you are transfering massive files. I use my home network to share net connection (duh) but also to play my 2 GB of MP3s on different computers. :)

I'll take the notebook. :)
Jul 26th, 2001, 02:35 PM
RyeBread

Stay away from Linksys NICs!!!

The drivers are crap.

I use 3COM, never gone wrong.
Jul 26th, 2001, 02:37 PM
filburt1

They make nice routers, though. :cool:

THERE ARE NO CRAPPIER DRIVERS THAN THOSE WRITTEN BY ATI! They suck so much! Cool hardware, crappy software.
Jul 26th, 2001, 02:41 PM
JungleMan

Quote:

Originally posted by filburt1
They make nice routers, though. :cool:

THERE ARE NO CRAPPIER DRIVERS THAN THOSE WRITTEN BY ATI! They suck so much! Cool hardware, crappy software.

So wouldn't that realistically make the hardware crappy if the drivers are crappy??? Since you can't GET any other drivers for ATI devices other than ATI drivers, how else can you use it?

Like havin a Ferrari with a bad driver glued to the seat..ok that's a stupid comparison but i'm not creative :)
Jul 26th, 2001, 02:46 PM
filburt1

Arg. Sorta. Their hardware is nice and speedy, but their drivers suck, that's all. I have an ATI TV Wonder and the program constantly locks up/crashes and just generally has a bad UI.
Jul 26th, 2001, 05:36 PM
RyeBread

I like my ATI boards, usually the drivers are pretty good. Can't blame them when Microsoft comes up with new versions of DirectX every third eye blink.

Yes, Linksys routers rock! I have one. It's just that their NIC has problems - many IRQ_NOT_LESS_THAN BSOD's in NT!! I've seen it on many systems, upgrading the driver helps though.

I just bought another drive, a 20GB ATA/100 7200rpm. Only $90! Formatting now....