About that new computer
... It's been running great. So great, in fact, that I've not taken the time to write more about it.
I've Installed Half-Life 2 on it, and played the game all the way through at 1024X768 resolution with all of the fancy graphics features turned up to their maximum setting.
It was like being in a movie. It was a TOTALLY different experience from my first play-through. It was perfect.
I now have been playing: America's Army, Battlefield 2, Battlefield 1942, Brothers in Arms, Dungeon Siege 2, Far Cry, Gunz, Half-Life 2, Mech Commander 2, and Wolfenstein - Enemy Territory
I can play games that used to CHOKE my old computer. At screen resolutions that would make my old machine sputter.
Some interesting tidbits:
1) with 2GB of RAM, the machine almost always has over 1GB of free, available RAM, even when playing games. I use the freeware program FreeRAM XP Pro to check.
2) the Athlon 64 3200+ easily overclocks from 2Ghz to 2.2Ghz. Nice little performance boost.
3) I can now play Battlefield 1942 with 63 bots on my machine and have zero slow-downs. Whoa. And the game looks better with the graphics settings raised up. I have learned when you blow things up, they actually explode in the game, and not just "break".
And now, since my game machine is "all growed up"... It's time for a new game server. While reading digg.com I learned that Gateway was selling a really cheap server machine for $199 (again - with no mail-in rebate!). The specs were pretty low: 256MB RAM, 80GB SATA Hard Drive, 2.8Ghz Celeron D CPU... but those were good starting places for a decent game server. I bought one... But not for $199.
It turns out that AAA members get a 10% discount at Gateway! I called in an order and saved $20 on it! The salesperson I talked to did not even know about the offer, but he conceded it was a great deal, and was then considering one for himself. The price including shipping and taxes was under $225.00. Now... I'm shopping for more RAM, and it'll be done.
Later everyone. Gotta burn me some more DVD-Rs.
posted by Jeff | 3:54 PM
2 Comments:
Hey, I seemed to have lost your email and you are never actually on AIM anymore it seems (mobile away only). I've been looking at getting a new system as well, and at first was looking at notebooks, for mobilities sake. Specifically I was interested in the HP ZV6000, but have recently decided that mobility isn't all that much of a factor in the end and I think I'd rather focus my monies towards a new desktop. Something flashy! And I'd actually been looking into getting a system (939 socket) similar to yours. I checked out Monarchcomputers.com after seeing your blog entry and thought that looks sweet, for a really nice price in the end. I was curious as to exactly which ram, processor, mobo etc your ended up getting for that price. Does your mobo in the end support later upgrades to the FX or X2 chips? It will at least go up to the later 64s that's for sure. I was thinking of getting the AMD 64bit 3200+ as well, and just letting the mobo allow for upgrading later on. Anyways, I was hoping you could inform me on what you had decided on. Sounds like a wicked system, makes you wonder how it will do under HL2's Lost Coast! Drop me an email if you can, if you lost my address send me an IM and i'll get back to you.
Hope you're enjoying Cleveland! Was just up there a few months ago for the Human Body Worlds exibit at the science center. Got lost trying to find the damn place, but that's beside the point.
TTYL! It's been too long!
What words... A fantasy
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