Which system to buy [Archive] - NoGripRacing Forums

FamousAnus

18 May 07, 04:31

DucFreak

18 May 07, 05:07

My old 5 year old clunker of a computer has finally died due to the StarForce from GTL conflicting with Daemon, which just can't be fixed even with uninstalling both, running the Starforce uninstall patech etc (doesn't even recognise the DVD any more so I can't reinstall windows). Anyway, the computer won't go for more than a few minutes without shutting down so it gives me an excuse to buy a new system (and get a copy of GTR2 - I've read that it doesn't have StarForce).

I'm thinking of a mid-range system (mid range at May 2007 anyway) - E6600 Core 2 Duo, MB with 965 Chipset, possibly a 7900GS PCI Express graphics card, 2 Gig DDR2 RAM. Will be running Windows XP.

It's one thing to pick hardware from specs, but it could be a different matter when actually running a game. So, fishing for comments here - would you guys who are currently running the game on similar spec computers recommend anything changes to the above?

Can only comment on the graphics card; From the smalll list that you refer I have the GF7900GS (it's an Asus EN7900GS) .

I'll start my comment by saying Nvidia is getting closer to ATI's image quality but it isn't there yet, not even with the latest 8000 series it seems.

...this is really noticeable in racing-sims powered by ISI game-engines, such as GTR2, GTL, Race or Rfactor.
If these games are ones that you spend a good ammount of your free time, then ATI is almost a "must have".

If you were aiming for a 7900GS, take the advice of someone that has one...

....get the ATI X1950-Pro 256MB, tremendous "bang for the buck", it's about the same price as the GF7900GS (~180,00 €uros here in Portugal) and smokes any graphics card in the same price range out there atm, bouth for image quality and pure performance. ;)

Please notice that for most modern graphic cards you will need a good +400w power-suply, so make sure you have it before installing the graphics card.

JMSpeed

18 May 07, 05:08

I would think an 8600GT, if not a 8800GTS 320mb are middle-range now. Both are decently priced too.

You can cut down on the E6600 to a E6320/E6420 for the 4MB cache. The E6420 clocks as high as the E6600 too with good cooling and ram. But, you can wait till June 22nd when prices will AGAIN come down, bring the quad core Q6600 to $266.

You won't need anything more than 500w, and that includes over-clocking anything I have listed. Keep it to Seasonic, Corsair, Enermax, Silverstone, Antec.

If you aren't over clocking, ram is just ram I think. So, anything with good reviews would work? Someone correct me there. Even still, http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820231065 is good memory for the price.

The DS3 is a common overclocker's mobo, but I have been suggested against it. Don't know which 965 chipset to recommend sorry.

That's about it for the majority I think.

JMSpeed

18 May 07, 05:10

I'll start my comment by saying Nvidia is getting closer to ATI's image quality but it isn't there yet, not even with the latest 8000 series it seems.

I think the consensus is that the 8-series cards have matched or surpassed ATI's image quality. For GTR2 though, not sure. I get most my info from Hardforum reviews though.

FamousAnus

18 May 07, 05:22

Thanks for the info, this is what I was after. Based on your responses I might think of downgrading the CPU a step from what I'd planned and stepping up the graphics card instead. It will be a week or two before I get to the shop so the price of everything will probably have halved by then :)

Cheers

sunalp2

18 May 07, 06:25

I'll start my comment by saying Nvidia is getting closer to ATI's image quality but it isn't there yet, not even with the latest 8000 series it seems.
...

I'm sorry to hear this, I was never going to buy ATI again. I downloaded their latest drivers from their web site. "Radeon/9600/Windows XP'. Then next time I started my computer, I got a message telling me I needed to upgrade my Net.Framework from 1.1 to 2.1. (at this stage I didn't realise it was the ATI drivers asking for this). Ok, no problemo. Did that. Next time I booted up I got a Fatal Error message (No one wants to see that!), saying MOM.IMPLEMENTATION ERROR BLAH BLAH BLAH. So I googled that, came up with a software repair site, bought the software, it did a SPYWARE SCAN (ripped off). And I still had the problem. The one thing I gleaned from the repair site was that it was an ATI problem so off I went back to their site, did a search and low and behold: YES WE KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, IT'S A WINDOWS VISTA PROBLEM, SORRY NOTHING WE CAN DO AT THIS TIME.

Now why are Windows Vista drivers being distributed as XP drivers, and why leave them there available for download if you know there is a problem with them. :mad:

Now everytime I boot up, I get a fatal error message. Even though I've rolled back the drivers, and re-installed NET.Framework 1.1

Sorry to Hi Jack your thread FamousAnus, but this is a real pain in the A*RSE, no pun intended.

I'd say go for the quickest rig you can afford. One that will run Vista in the future after all the rich people have done the free Beta Testing for Microsoft and it's got it's first service pack. (And no I'm not a bitter man ;) )

F2kSel

18 May 07, 10:00

Intel are cutting the price of the Quad cores in July and this may bring down other chip prices.

Louike

18 May 07, 19:22

my advice would be the 8800 gts 320, its a performance beast and a bargain at 258 euro (holland).

with an SLI mobo you'll be sure of a future-proof setup for a couple of years.

sege

20 May 07, 09:57

FamousAnus I'm running exactly the setup you describe apart from the graphics card which is the 8800GTS 320 MB mentioned by Louike.

I'm happy with the system overall but gutted my fancy duo core is useless as GTR2 wasn't coded to use both cores. (currently I only use the PC for GTR2).
OC'ing would probably be the answer but personally I'm not techy enough!

Anyway, if buying again I would strongly consider saving money (I assume?) by buying a higher clock speed single core cpu, and get better performance out of GTR2 to boot!

redi

20 May 07, 12:48

Sege is right about GTL and GTR2 not using the dual core potential, BUT... even at lower clock speeds the Core2Duo processors shoot other (especially older type) processors with higher clock speeds out of the water due to better processor architecture. And you still have the advantage of dual core once it gets more support.

This link could provide some insight in current processor performance:
http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu.html?modelx=33&model1=432&model2=464&chart=171

File 1993

20 May 07, 13:02

See my signature for my configuration. It's not that high end but I love it. No fps problems at all at 1280x1024 with all details to max!

EDIT If you wanna compare something - www.tomshardware.com

LTShore

20 May 07, 13:12

Now everytime I boot up, I get a fatal error message. Even though I've rolled back the drivers, and re-installed NET.Framework 1.1

Easily fixed by downloading the Omega ATI drivers , as i did for my x1650 pro !

As for which card the 8800 if you can , but the x1950 is a great card and a lot cheaper !

FamousAnus

20 May 07, 23:33

Thanks for the info folks. Looks like I'll go for the '8 series' GeForce graphics card and drop the CPU to either a E6320 or E6420.

I'll stick with the dual core I think. I was aware of GTR2 not being coded for dual core but I was figuring that one core would run the game and the other could run all of the background windows type of stuff (I'm not techy so I could be completely wrong here - feel free to correct me).

sunalp2 - no problems, it wasn't a hijack. It's all good information, this is sort of the info that I was after - experiences from the people who actually own and use the hardware rather than just manufacturer specs. Also good to hear about fixes such as posted by LTShore.

I've been looking on Tomshardware which is a good resource - I figured I'd also post here to get opinions from you guys who actually use the hardware on a daily basis.

Cheers
Famous T Anus

Petty Andretti

21 May 07, 11:29

Looks like I'll go for the '8 series' GeForce graphics card

Do you own or plan on getting a widescreen monitor?

There are problems with flat panel scaling not being turned off with the 8800 series. There is currently a workaround (not a fix) for it but it doesn't work for all configurations.

Serach the Nvidia forums and you'll see what I'm talking about. Nvidia has claimed they've been trying to fix this issue all year. The problem is for both XP & Vista. Chances are, if they haven't fixed it by now, they never will.

If you run ALL applications at your monitor's native resolution then this won't be a problem. If don't own a widescreen monitor then don't worry. :)

FamousAnus

21 May 07, 22:38

Thanks Petty, wasn't planning on changing monitors at this stage, just the box.

Cheers,
Famous

psyfungi

22 May 07, 21:30

Do you own or plan on getting a widescreen monitor?

There are problems with flat panel scaling not being turned off with the 8800 series. There is currently a workaround (not a fix) for it but it doesn't work for all configurations.

This is an ongoing problem but from what I read about it last night on nvidia forums, as you say, it only is a problem if you don't run a game at the monitor's full resolution - eg some game that will only run at 4:3 aspect (eg 1024x768) gets stretched on a widescreen rather than getting black bars on either side.

Just clarifying an issue that had me worried but I didn't understand properly till reading up last night. GTL/GTR both work fine on widescreen.

sunalp2

25 May 07, 09:29

Easily fixed by downloading the Omega ATI drivers , as i did for my x1650 pro !

As for which card the 8800 if you can , but the x1950 is a great card and a lot cheaper !

Thanks for the advice, all sorted now.
:up::up::up: