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[Clevinger]

Hello everyone, it's time for yet another edition of "Zel asks a stupid fucking question"!!

*applause track plays*

So I'm taking a look at the motherboard specs I'm buying to see if it comes with SATA cables in the box since I don't currently own them, and I come across this little message:

"*Due to OS limitation, when installing total memory of 4GB capacity or more, Windows® 32-bit operation system may only recognize less than 3GB. Hence, a total installed memory of less than 3GB is recommended."

Now, since I'm buying a board that can support 4 x 4 GB DDR3 RAM, I figure it makes more sense to purchase one 4 GB stick instead of two 2 GB sticks so that I don't have to replace them should the day come where I want to max out the RAM. I was planning to install Windows XP which I already own the full version of, and then install a Windows 7 upgrade. However, the above makes it sound like if I tried to do so, it wouldn't recognize the RAM at all, and simply wouldn't work.

Is that what it means? Or am I misreading that?

I believe it would recognize the 4gb but only actually use 3gb of it while in the 32bit OS. I don't think you'll have a problem. In my old PC I had two sticks of 2gb (4gb total) in XP 32bit and it worked fine.

 

[brain_stew]

NVIDIA reveals Fermi's successor: Kepler at 28nm in 2011, Maxwell in 2013


Not a lot of details to be had, but NVIDIA wants you to know Fermi isn't the company's be-all, end-all GPU -- "hundreds of engineers" are already hard at work on Codename Kepler, expected to go to production this year and ship in 2011. Kepler's based on a 28nm process, we're told, and will thankfully deliver an estimated 3 to 4 times the performance per watt compared to Fermi, and hopefully run cool. If you built your last PC to last, however, you might wait for Maxwell in 2013, supposedly bringing a sixteen-fold increase in parallel graphics-based computing just two years after that, including advanced features like the ability to autonomously process some content independent of a CPU.

Update: Does this roadmap mean we should expect new GPUs from NVIDIA every two years? Jen-Hsun Huang wouldn't commit to that, but said that there will be "mid-life kicker" product launches in-between each new NVIDIA chip to keep the wheels turning.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/21/nvidia-reveals-fermis-successor-kepler-at-28nm-in-2011-maxwel/

Those are figures for DP floating point performance.

I.E. They mean precisely jack shit for gaming even if Nvidia surpass their goals. No game in the next decade is going to require dual precision.

 

[brain_stew]

Is xpadder worth the 10 bucks? I mean is it the best program for gamepad play?

There's a free version of Xpadder that works just fine. If I was going to pay for any mapping program, it'd be for Pinnacle as its much more fully featured and requires way less configuration.

 

[RurouniZel]

I believe it would recognize the 4gb but only actually use 3gb of it while in the 32bit OS. I don't think you'll have a problem. In my old PC I had two sticks of 2gb (4gb total) in XP 32bit and it worked fine.

You sure? Should I get 2 sticks of 2GB instead of 1 stick of 4GB to be safe? Or maybe I should just outright buy the full version of 7...

 

[Hazaro]

I know it's a long way off, but I end up feeling really guilty when I waste a lot of money on computer games haha. How important is the jump to quad core at this point? Is it not necessary if I'm content playing at 1280x800, medium or even low settings? Also, does anyone know what a step down from the GTX 460 is? That card is too much power for my uses so I'd like to shave some money off and get a weaker card. From the screenshots thread Alice 2 doesn't seem to be too demanding (textures look low quality), and I think that's the most demanding game I want to play.

I wouldn't worry about getting a quad if you don't really plan on upgrading (Buying new, get a quad. x4 635 sounds perfect for you) and you are content with those settings. Also the 460 doesn't use that much juice. Also remember that current generation cards run very low on idle wattage so it's not like its running 100% full blast all the time. If you bought a slower, older card, it's idle wattage would probably be higher than a newer faster card.

Refresh my memory on what you wanted again.

"*Due to OS limitation, when installing total memory of 4GB capacity or more, Windows® 32-bit operation system may only recognize less than 3GB. Hence, a total installed memory of less than 3GB is recommended."

Now, since I'm buying a board that can support 4 x 4 GB DDR3 RAM, I figure it makes more sense to purchase one 4 GB stick instead of two 2 GB sticks so that I don't have to replace them should the day come where I want to max out the RAM. I was planning to install Windows XP which I already own the full version of, and then install a Windows 7 upgrade. However, the above makes it sound like if I tried to do so, it wouldn't recognize the RAM at all, and simply wouldn't work.

Is that what it means? Or am I misreading that?

By using 1 stick you are halving your memory bandwidth. RAM is sold in dual-channel, so you can actually have 2x the data transfer. A 2x2GB kit is better. 4x2GB will put a bit extra load on your motherboard which may limit your overclock, but that is something far off and not a major impact if you are doing modest clocks.

Also if you are using Win 7 you want the 64 bit version. 32 bit OS is limited to 4GB of access period (consumer side). This turns out to be 3GB or 3.25GB in practice.

Thanks for the answers.

Anybody know what could be wrong if my PC keeps stuttering and takes forever to do simple things like deleting items or opening up a media file?

Most likely the hard drive.

Download the diagnostic tool from your vendor and give that a run.
Alternatively it can be a very intensive process such as an indexer (Google Desktop) or a virus scan running in the background.
You can also ballpark speed estimates using HDTach or Crystal Mark to see if something is serrverly affecting the speed of the drive.

 

[brain_stew]

No, there is none. Believe me, I know. But you can go with GT220 or GT240.

Completely false. A 5670 is a great little GPU and it'll run on your average 300w PSU without issue. Depending on how good it is, even something like a 5770 may not be out of the question, but that won't run on just any 300w PSU.

 

[RurouniZel]

By using 1 stick you are halving your memory bandwidth. RAM is sold in dual-channel, so you can actually have 2x the data transfer. A 2x2GB kit is better. 4x2GB will put a bit extra load on your motherboard which may limit your overclock, but that is something far off and not a major impact if you are doing modest clocks.

What about 2 x 4GB? Would that be better? The specs say it can take up to 16 GB of ram (4 x 4), and what I worry about is buying 2 x 2GB of RAM, then if I ever want to max out the RAM on the board it would involve removing the 2 x 2GB completely. Or is there something I'm missing/completely not understanding about how RAM works?

I apologize for all the questions, I'm just trying to get a better understanding of how this all works.

 

[The Big Rig]

5770 will be here tomorrow! Can't wait, should be a nice boost over my 8800gt. May end up crossfiring them (meaning two 5770 obviously), gunna make sure one works first though. New monitor incoming on Thursday as well!

Quite satisfied with my 5770. Once I save up enough, I'll get another card and put them in crossfire.

Btw, I was coming from the integrated graphics of my laptop, so this whole new realm of awesomeness.

 

[Jim Stark]

I wouldn't worry about getting a quad if you don't really plan on upgrading (Buying new, get a quad. x4 635 sounds perfect for you) and you are content with those settings. Also the 460 doesn't use that much juice. Also remember that current generation cards run very low on idle wattage so it's not like its running 100% full blast all the time. If you bought a slower, older card, it's idle wattage would probably be higher than a newer faster card.

Refresh my memory on what you wanted again.

I just want a system that will play Alice 2, Diablo 3, Starcraft 2, and Dawn of War 2 Retribution. I'm bouncing between a new system if I can get one for $500-700, or upgrading my current system. My current was made with some low quality parts so I would prefer to just get a whole new rig. The x4 635 does sound really nice. I have an Antec 300 a friend gave me, would that be a decent case to use?

 

[msv]

Is that what it means? Or am I misreading that?

A 32 bit OS can only handle a little more than 3GB of RAM,and not a drop more. Just install Win7 x64, and all will be well.

Watch out if you have really old not-supported equipment on your computer though, search for 64bit drivers of those before you decide.

 

[The Big Rig]

I just want a system that will play Alice 2, Diablo 3, Starcraft 2, and Dawn of War 2 Retribution. I'm bouncing between a new system if I can get one for $500-700, or upgrading my current system. My current was made with some low quality parts so I would prefer to just get a whole new rig. The x4 635 does sound really nice. I have an Antec 300 a friend gave me, would that be a decent case to use?

I've got an x4 640 in my antec 300. The case is great. Really good airflow and the ability to add 3 more fans for intake and gpu cooling.

 

[RurouniZel]

A 32 bit OS can only handle a little more than 3GB of RAM,and not a drop more. Just install Win7 x64, and all will be well.

Watch out if you have really old not-supported equipment on your computer though, search for 64bit drivers of those before you decide.

I'm going to pretty much be building this comp from scratch, so I don't think that will be an issue.

But could someone answer my question about the difference between 1 x 4GB ram vs. 2 x 2GB ram with a bit more detail? I'm just having trouble wrapping my head around how the two are different.

 

[Clevinger]

I'm going to pretty much be building this comp from scratch, so I don't think that will be an issue.

But could someone answer my question about the difference between 1 x 4GB ram vs. 2 x 2GB ram with a bit more detail? I'm just having trouble wrapping my head around how the two are different.

Having a two stick set of ram means it's dual channel. That's better than just the one stick with the same amount of memory.

 

[RurouniZel]

Having a two stick set of ram means it's dual channel. That's better than just the one stick with the same amount of memory.

Ah okay. So if I was going to go the route of 4 GB sticks, a better option would be 2 x 4GB ram. If I only go 4 GB, better to get 2 x 2GB, correct?

 

[Fredescu]

Correct. It's kinda overkill though. I would be surprised if having 16GB of RAM would be worthwhile during the functional life of your PC. Unless you're studying IT and want to muck around with virtual machines.

 

[RurouniZel]

Correct. It's kinda overkill though. I would be surprised if having 16GB of RAM would be worthwhile during the functional life of your PC. Unless you're studying IT and want to muck around with virtual machines.

I just worry because these things change so fast. 3 years ago 2GB of ram on my computer was blazing awesome, now I think most games require that as a bare minimum?

 

[msv]

I just worry because these things change so fast. 3 years ago 2GB of ram on my computer was blazing awesome, now I think most games require that as a bare minimum?

Hm, the user expectations go up as well with that, not as much, but bit by bit. By that I mean that, before, runnings games, one would expect to turn off other programs, and not be alt tabbing. Now, people do expect to be able to do that, and with relative ease as well.

With 2GB I could alt+tab 'properly' from SC2 to irc, skype, chrome etc., not all running at the same time mind. OTOH, SC2 load times were pretty high because it had to load from HD at times.

Now, with 4GB I can really notice the overhead, I can easily run all those apps together and notice no lag or diminished loading times in SC2.

Still, there's no harm in more RAM IMO, all the more things you can do at the same time with ease. For the moment, I'd advise spending the extra money on an SSD though, it will take a while for more than 4GB+ to be preferred.

 

[RurouniZel]

Hm, the user expectations go up as well with that, not as much, but bit by bit. By that I mean that, before, runnings games, one would expect to turn off other programs, and not be alt tabbing. Now, people do expect to be able to do that, and with relative ease as well.

With 2GB I could alt+tab 'properly' from SC2 to irc, skype, chrome etc., not all running at the same time mind. OTOH, SC2 load times were pretty high because it had to load from HD at times.

Now, with 4GB I can really notice the overhead, I can easily run all those apps together and notice no lag or diminished loading times in SC2.

Still, there's no harm in more RAM IMO, all the more things you can do at the same time with ease. For the moment, I'd advise spending the extra money on an SSD though, it will take a while for more than 4GB+ to be preferred.

But don't SSDs have lower life-spans due to less write/rewrite numbers? I'd like my computer to last more than a year or two...

EDIT: And HOLY SHIT THEY'RE EXPENSIVE!! Not a chance. I'm not spending $80 on a mere 32GB...

 

[Fredescu]

I just worry because these things change so fast. 3 years ago 2GB of ram on my computer was blazing awesome, now I think most games require that as a bare minimum?

It's not going to change much until a Windows desktop operating system is 64bit exclusively, and that operating system has a high enough uptake for a developer to ignore all the previous 32bit users. We're only just starting to see DirectX 10 only games, and Vista has been around for four years. I'd guess we're going to have 4GB max game sizes for quite some time, although certain games might have optional 64bit versions (like Crysis) for people that want to push those boundaries. More than say 6GB isn't going to be a requirement for years and years.

 

[RurouniZel]

It's not going to change much until a Windows desktop operating system is 64bit exclusively, and that operating system has a high enough uptake for a developer to ignore all the previous 32bit users. We're only just starting to see DirectX 10 only games, and Vista has been around for four years. I'd guess we're going to have 4GB max game sizes for quite some time, although certain games might have optional 64bit versions (like Crysis) for people that want to push those boundaries. More than say 6GB isn't going to be a requirement for years and years.

Alright, I'll take your word for it. 2 x 2GB it is.

 

[toastyToast]

I don't think memory requirements will increase too much, perhaps 6GBs will be standard in a couple of years (for gamers) although I don't see why for general use.

I've gotten pretty good mileage out of my 4GBs that I've had since late '07. I can count on one hand how many times my memory usage has gone over 3GB. I might go for 8 on my next build depending on price.

 

[msv]

But don't SSDs have lower life-spans due to less write/rewrite numbers? I'd like my computer to last more than a year or two...

No this isn't the case, depends on the type of FLASH, but with continuous writes it will still last very long. They are more reliable than HDD's.

EDIT: And HOLY SHIT THEY'RE EXPENSIVE!! Not a chance. I'm not spending $80 on a mere 32GB...

e100 for 64 GB. 2x64GB SSD in RAID0, that is so going to be my next upgrade. They're definitely worth it, check youtube to see load times and such.

 

[Kadey]

Most likely the hard drive.

Download the diagnostic tool from your vendor and give that a run.
Alternatively it can be a very intensive process such as an indexer (Google Desktop) or a virus scan running in the background.
You can also ballpark speed estimates using HDTach or Crystal Mark to see if something is serrverly affecting the speed of the drive.

Looks like I may have to get a new hard drive then. I just recently reformatted it because of the same problem. It was fine for like a month but now it's stuttering again. I do remember a message that keeps popping up saying something about the hard drive may go any minute or something and it's best to back up everything. Thing is, reformatting is a pain the ass. It took me a very long time to even get back to where I'm at now. Is there no way to avoid all that?

 

[RurouniZel]

Okay, I think I got something I'm happy with. Should I pull the trigger?

 

[Fredescu]

You have thermal compound but no custom cooler that I can see, unless I've missed it. If you're not going to get a custom cooler, you can remove it as the OEM heatsink has it's own thermal compound attached to it. I would recommend keeping the compound and adding a custom cooler though. Overclocking is a cheap performance boost, and you've got a black edition CPU which should be pretty simple to overclock.

The PSU seems like overkill at 700w, but I guess that's part of a bundle or something. I'm not really that familiar with newegg. You could easily get away with 600w or even less as long as you get a good brand.

Also, is that copy of Windows definitely 64 bit?

 

[RurouniZel]

You have thermal compound but no custom cooler that I can see, unless I've missed it. If you're not going to get a custom cooler, you can remove it as the OEM heatsink has it's own thermal compound attached to it. I would recommend keeping the compound and adding a custom cooler though. Overclocking is a cheap performance boost, and you've got a black edition CPU which should be pretty simple to overclock.

Also, is that copy of Windows definitely 64 bit?

I... think it is? The upgrade versions don't say in the name, the description reads

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116713

"Nowadays, fast-developing communication and information technologies trigger an explosion of data on a scale millions of times larger year-to-year, yet your effort and strain on data management also rises. So you might need to find ways to make your computer both more powerful and easier to use. That is what Microsoft's new Windows 7 Operating System was designed to do.

Windows 7 has better ways to find and manage files—like Jump Lists and improved taskbar previews—to help you speed through everyday tasks. It's designed for faster and more reliable performance, so your PC just works the way you want it to. With 64-bit support, you can take full advantage of the latest, most powerful processors. Great features like HomeGroup, Windows Media Center, and Windows Touch make new things possible.

Upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium, and enjoy all the new features today!"

EDIT: Also, I should be able to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7 64 bit yes? I'll have to install Windows XP first, then Windows 7 64 bit. Since it's a brand new HDD clean wipe of the drive for the install isn't a concern.

 

[Fredescu]

I... think it is? The upgrade versions don't say in the name, the description reads

Someone says in the comments: "Upgrade installation came with BOTH 32bit and 64bit CDs - woohoo!"

 

[RurouniZel]

Someone says in the comments: "Upgrade installation came with BOTH 32bit and 64bit CDs - woohoo!"

Then I guess that settles that.

I've never installed a cooler before though, is it difficult? Would it basically be

1) Install CPU
2) Apply Thermal Paste
3) Install Cooler

or

1) Install CPU
2) Apply Thermal Paste
3) Install Heat Sink/Fan (comes with processor)
4) Install Cooler

?

EDIT: I looked at the Hyper 212+ and I don't think it'll fit in the case I have, it's not wide enough (need 21 cm wide I guess?)

 

[Fredescu]

EDIT: Also, I should be able to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7 64 bit yes?

License wise it's allowed, but I'm not sure how it works physically. You might be able to forgo the XP install and just show the Win7 install your XP media. I'm not sure if it still works like that. A traditional upgrade from inside XP won't work because you're going from 32bit to 64bit.

 

[RurouniZel]

License wise it's allowed, but I'm not sure how it works physically. You might be able to forgo the XP install and just show the Win7 install your XP media. I'm not sure if it still works like that. A traditional upgrade from inside XP won't work because you're going from 32bit to 64bit.

Again, I'm going to be installing on a brand new HDD, so it's not like I'm taking the HDD out of this computer and upgrading from there. So I think I'd have to install XP first and then 7 afterward so that it'll recognize that a licensed version of Windows is on the machine which will allow 7 to install.

It'll be a 100% clean install yes, but other than the XP OS it won't have anything on there so I'm not too worried.

What cooler would you recommend for a case only 18.5" wide?

 

[Fredescu]

Then I guess that settles that.

I've never installed a cooler before though, is it difficult? Would it basically be

1) Install CPU
2) Apply Thermal Paste
3) Install Cooler

or

1) Install CPU
2) Apply Thermal Paste
3) Install Heat Sink/Fan (comes with processor)
4) Install Cooler

?

EDIT: I looked at the Hyper 212+ and I don't think it'll fit in the case I have, it's not wide enough (need 21 cm wide I guess?)

The first one. You don't use the cooler that comes with the processor if you get a custom one. Definitely worthwhile getting one.

I see in the comments of your case, someone mentioned that a Hyper 212+ just fit:

"Cons: Black mesh attracts/shows dust. Verify with of case will work with your CPU cooler- my Hyper 212+ was almost too tall."

If you want to be sure, you could get one with a 92mm fan like one of these:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103057
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835207006

Smaller fans tend to be louder though if that kind of thing bothers you.

 

[SamuraiX-]

Been having a recent overheating problem with one of my hardware components...

Check out the ITE IT87 - TMPIN2 temperature... 128 Celsius?! I know that can't be right.

I just built this rig a couple of weeks ago. Any idea what the problem could be? I don't do any kind of overclocking on this.

Edit: Eh... nvm. I just asked a friend who has a nearly identical build and he's getting the same readings. Apparently it's normal. :lol

 

[RurouniZel]

The first one. You don't use the cooler that comes with the processor if you get a custom one. Definitely worthwhile getting one.

I see in the comments of your case, someone mentioned that a Hyper 212+ just fit:

"Cons: Black mesh attracts/shows dust. Verify with of case will work with your CPU cooler- my Hyper 212+ was almost too tall."

If you want to be sure, you could get one with a 92mm fan like one of these:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103057
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835207006

Smaller fans tend to be louder though if that kind of thing bothers you.

Well, sounds like it fits in the case then. I'll add it. I guess the worst that happens is that I open it up, place the motherboard in the case and kind of place the cooler to see if it'll fit, if it's obvious it won't I take it out and return it and just use the standard one and wait to overclock for a while.

 

[msv]

There's probably something wrong with the readings. I have the same, on the same input as well (TMPIN2), but it's at 80 C with me. Look at value, min and max, they are all the same. So nothing to worry about most likely.

 

[Bii]

Been having a recent overheating problem with one of my hardware components...

Check out the ITE IT87 - TMPIN2 temperature... 128 Celsius?! I know that can't be right.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e255/SamuraiX-/GAF Stuff/ITEIT87Overheating.png

I just built this rig a couple of weeks ago. Any idea what the problem could be? I don't do any kind of overclocking on this.

Edit: Eh... nvm. I just asked a friend who has a nearly identical build and he's getting the same readings. Apparently it's normal. :lol

Yeah, don't worry about that. Mine says -39 C. :lol

 

[SamuraiX-]

Holy shit. I really feel better now. :lol :lol

Thanks guys.

 

[Fredescu]

Well, sounds like it fits in the case then. I'll add it. I guess the worst that happens is that I open it up, place the motherboard in the case and kind of place the cooler to see if it'll fit, if it's obvious it won't I take it out and return it and just use the standard one and wait to overclock for a while.

Bookmark this article on thermal paste application by the way: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.p...ask=view&id=170&Itemid=1&limit=1&limitstart=5

That's a link to the last page as I'm pretty sure the Hyper 212+ is a direct heatpipe cooler, so that's the method you should use. You don't have to lap the surface, but if you have some wet and dry lying around it doesn't hurt.

 

[RurouniZel]

Bookmark this article on thermal paste application by the way: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.p...ask=view&id=170&Itemid=1&limit=1&limitstart=5

That's a link to the last page as I'm pretty sure the Hyper 212+ is a direct heatpipe cooler, so that's the method you should use. You don't have to lap the surface, but if you have some wet and dry lying around it doesn't hurt.

Much obliged. Thanks for all of your help!

Okay, I think I've done just about everything I can. I'm gonna pull the trigger, wish me luck fellas (not that this will arrive tomorrow or anything :lol )

 

[CSampson]

For anyone who cares, turns out my problem with constant locking up of my computer was a dead RAM stick - despite the fact the RAM passed memory tests multiple times, even by professionals.

Moral of the story, always by credible RAM.

 

[Piano]

For anyone who cares, turns out my problem with constant locking up of my computer was a dead RAM stick - despite the fact the RAM passed memory tests multiple times, even by professionals.

Moral of the story, always by credible RAM.

What brand did you have?

 

[SamuraiX-]

For anyone who cares, turns out my problem with constant locking up of my computer was a dead RAM stick - despite the fact the RAM passed memory tests multiple times, even by professionals.

Moral of the story, always by credible RAM.

What brand of RAM did you have?

Edit: Beat. :lol

 

[Unknown Soldier]

SSDs are coming down in price but right now a Velociraptor is still a much better value for your money.

 

[CSampson]

Crucial, I think. I fixed the error, bought Kingston now. I was an idiot.

 

[IrishNinja]

GAF needs some more laptop questions from irishninja, i hurrd:lol

ok, so my purchase got pushed back due to finance - i was looking at this model, but a refurb at about 1k, and really liked most of the specs: 17" screen, i7, 6GB DDR3, ATI 5870, 500 GB @ 7200 rpm, etc. i figured this would suffice for current and (hopefully) big-release PC games for the next year or two.

thing is...again, i really want to take advantage of PCSX2 and dolphin emulators, and neither currently utilizes quad-core...so according to the specs on that system, that i7 would run at a meager 1.6mhz, with "turbo mode" boosting it to 2.8, still not sure how stable that is. a buddy of mine with that system got FF XII international running great most times, but Zelda: WW on dolphin was kinda crawling.
so my question, GAF, is this: for these purposes, would i be better off with a dualcore of say 3ghz or above? i'm hoping to not have to trade off too much with the vid card & other specs in so doing, but also: if that's the case (per these emus), can you guys find a good gaming laptop with such a processor & comparable specs, that's also 17" or above/desktop replacement? i know best buy's limited, but what ive searched on newegg didnt bring much better. i cant find anything faster than around 2.8ghz.

side-question: would i be better off with a rig like this that runs at a stable 2.4, for example? i fear i'm misunderstanding something about turbo boosts and how threads/cores work, specifically in apps/emus that dont currently utilize them or look to in the near future, far as i know. appreciate the help here as always, GAF.

 

[totowhoa]

OK GAF, I got my PC components in and put it together... but I didn't bench test it along the way. My monitor isn't getting a signal (OR post beep for that matter...)

I'm going to take it apart tomorrow and bench test it and check every damn thing out throughly because I only have 2 classes and no work. Quick question:

1. Will New Egg replace a part if something is not functioning properly (I've already knocked off a few possible candidates here)

and

2. Is this the right thread to come to whenever I have gone through the bench testing process and checked everything thoroughly for a bit of last minute troubleshooting? I don't want to shit this thread up with some PC questions if it's not the place. I've done a wee bit of troubleshooting so far, but tomorrow is the day that I'm going to set aside for going all out. Should I be unable to get it to work or locate an issue, may I come to this thread, or is there another? Thanks

 

[Fredescu]

(OR post beep for that matter...)

Most motherboards these days cheap out on the PC speaker. I wouldn't be surprised to find your lack of post beeps is also because there is nothing to beep. I have no idea about neweggs return policies, but most people ask troubleshooting questions in this thread so I think you should be ok.

so my question, GAF, is this: for these purposes, would i be better off with a dualcore of say 3ghz or above?

I don't know much about PCSX2, but everything I've read about Dolphin suggests that yes, you'd be better off with a fast dual core than a slower quad.

That G73 you were looking at can be configured with a faster CPU. These guys in Australia let you upgrade the CPU, http://www.logicalblueone.com.au/store/346-g73jh-fhd-tz155v.html and some of them go over the 3Ghz mark, but you pay a fair bit for the privilege. I don't think 200Mhz would really be worth $500AU.

There's a list of mobile CPUs in order of performance here: http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Processors-Benchmarklist.2436.0.html . You can click on the links for some of them to see which laptops have that CPU. Could come in handy when searching for a certain clock speed.

i fear i'm misunderstanding something about turbo boosts and how threads/cores work

Turbo boost is kind of automatic overclocking based on temperature. There's some info on it here: http://www.intel.com/support/processors/sb/cs-029908.htm . You'd have to read a review of specific laptops to see if they can stay at peak clock speeds forever as that would be something that varies with the cooling ability of the laptop.

As far as the benefit of extra cores go, more and more games are putting quad cores in their recommended specs, but you can get by with a dual for most things. For a desktop it doesn't make economic sense to go for less than a quad these days. Might be different for a laptop.

 

[C.Dark.DN]

The AM3 board in that $550 budget rig has poor upgradability?

I want to do Starcraft II, WoW, FFXIV, and The Old Republic, and Dolphin for $500

 

[IrishNinja]

ah...hey, thanks man.

I don't know much about PCSX2, but everything I've read about Dolphin suggests that yes, you'd be better off with a fast dual core than a slower quad.

There's a list of mobile CPUs in order of performance here: http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Processors-Benchmarklist.2436.0.html . You can click on the links for some of them to see which laptops have that CPU. Could come in handy when searching for a certain clock speed.


Turbo boost is kind of automatic overclocking based on temperature. There's some info on it here: http://www.intel.com/support/processors/sb/cs-029908.htm . You'd have to read a review of specific laptops to see if they can stay at peak clock speeds forever as that would be something that varies with the cooling ability of the laptop.

As far as the benefit of extra cores go, more and more games are putting quad cores in their recommended specs, but you can get by with a dual for most things. For a desktop it doesn't make economic sense to go for less than a quad these days. Might be different for a laptop.

some good links there...unfortunately, looking through all of newegg, best i could find on dual cores was 2.8ghz or so, and with that, a huge dropoff on the vid card's end. =(
found this but i dont know if the price increase is worth going from 1.6 to 2.8 (turbo) vs 1.73 to 2.93 (turbo). sucks, i was really hoping to find a catch-all desktop replacement for upcoming games and current emulation as well.

still looking for reviews on if the G73 can sustain turbo for long periods of time, but most reviews say it's great with cooling, as does my friend who's on it, might ask him to run some more tests/benchmarks & see what comes of it. am i better off waiting to see if and when the emu scene is able to take advantage of quads, or is that likely a far time from now? im debating seeing what drops at the end of the year, but i really cant go higher than what im currently looking at anyway.

 

[SamuraiX-]

The AM3 board in that $550 budget rig has poor upgradability?

I want to do Starcraft II, WoW, FFXIV, and The Old Republic, and Dolphin for $500

I think you're gonna need to go at least $800 to run everything smoothly.

I've never heard anything about the 4870... Wondering if it'll meet the standards. And is that CPU good enough to run all those games smoothly?

Maybe $700 would be ideal.

 

[IrishNinja]

ugh, this sucks. i just spent the last hour looking for any kind've laptop with 17"+ screen, dualcore around 2.5/turbo to 3.0ghz+, and a half-decent video card, and came up empty. tons of quads at like 1.6, nothing with numbers (even on turbo) close to or above 3.0...dell's page sucks, and i thought i had a good rig setup at HP until it said the only vid card option was Nvidia GT 230M, which reviews paint as fucking dismal for modern pc gaming:lol

am i being overly specific here? is there not much market/demand for desktop replacements with high-end GPUs and processors that are/can be made to be over 3ghz? still defaulting with the G73, but GAF's dolphin thread has several guys talking about running it at 3.4ghz/etc and i can't believe that's not an option with gaming laptops unless i want to take a massive hit to the GPU's power.