NationStates Jolt Archive

yeah since ive done it everywhere else lets do it here

instead of getting custom or premade (custom) but not big name brand, i bought an HP a810n

instead of looknig that up its like this
AMD 64 3300+
512MB RAM
128MB Sis Mirage 2 vid (built in)
DVD/CD-RW

final total: $629+tax

What's your OS gonna be?

Do NOT get an HP - HP is pure evil.

If you get an AMD, you MUST overclock it. It's a sin if you have an AMD and it's not overclocked.

What's your OS gonna be?
i think you missed the part where i said i got an HP (Helwett-Packard) unless you assume im uber wiz and will plan on installnig dif OS, no ill stick with XP

Good choice. I'd probably go for a gig of RAM, but I live without it.

Make sure it has sufficient fans, Athlons get warm.

yeah since ive done it everywhere else lets do it here

instead of getting custom or premade (custom) but not big name brand, i bought an HP a810n

instead of looknig that up its like this
AMD 64 3300+
512MB RAM
128MB Sis Mirage 2 vid (built in)
DVD/CD-RW

final total: $629+tax

*lunges at Chess Squares' computer with a battleaxe*

Good choice. I'd probably go for a gig of RAM, but I live without it.

Make sure it has sufficient fans, Athlons get warm.
it has decent ventilation for HPs crappy towers and the processor has a fan on it

yeah since ive done it everywhere else lets do it here

instead of getting custom or premade (custom) but not big name brand, i bought an HP a810n

instead of looknig that up its like this
AMD 64 3300+
512MB RAM
128MB Sis Mirage 2 vid (built in)
DVD/CD-RW

final total: $629+tax

Seems fine to me. I hope you are happy together.

yeah since ive done it everywhere else lets do it here

instead of getting custom or premade (custom) but not big name brand, i bought an HP a810n

instead of looknig that up its like this
AMD 64 3300+
512MB RAM
128MB Sis Mirage 2 vid (built in)
DVD/CD-RW

final total: $629+tax

Sounds like a good deal. I keep seeing these remanufactured Compaq computers in Microcenter and in Fry's for a couple hundred bucks. Has anyone bought one? Are they as good as new? If so, it really sounds like a cheap way to get a good CPU.

*sob* I know nothing about computers. What do all those specs mean?!

If you get an AMD, you MUST overclock it. It's a sin if you have an AMD and it's not overclocked.

Does this mean that if I have a Porsche Carrera, it is a sin if I drive at less than 170mph? How about leaving a little spare capacity to improve the functioning lifetime.

yeah since ive done it everywhere else lets do it here

instead of getting custom or premade (custom) but not big name brand, i bought an HP a810n

instead of looknig that up its like this
AMD 64 3300+
512MB RAM
128MB Sis Mirage 2 vid (built in)
DVD/CD-RW

final total: $629+tax
Why do I need to attack it. The same computer in the UK is about £600. I hate you, but I won't attack your computer. I'm planning to steal it...

Why do I need to attack it. The same computer in the UK is about £600. I hate you, but I won't attack your computer. I'm planning to steal it...
sucks for you, i can get one all custom with like a gig of ram and 256mb vid card and cool case for that amount

sucks for you, i can get one all custom with like a gig of ram and 256mb vid card and cool case for that amount
So I'll steal the one yu just bought, sell it, then steal the one you make. Simple :D

Chess, most people who claim to have been politically Left, or at the very least true Democrats, own a Mac.

*sob* I know nothing about computers. What do all those specs mean?!

OK.. here goes..

512MB RAM

RAM is a memory stick plugged into your computer's motherboard (think of the motherboard as the main instrument that houses all the computer's gizmos). The more MB (or Mega Byte) your RAM has, the faster your computer can run and manage video-editing programs and other memory-consuming applications. It is not uber-necessary for survival. 512 is currently standard on most computers, but some people choose to upgrade to 1 (or even 4) GIGA bytes.

128MB Sis Mirage 2 vid (built in)

This is the video card. The video card also helps your computer by taking some of the load off the computer when it comes to graphically demanding applications (think of the new generation of wonderful graphics in video games.. those require high-end video cards)

128 is the choice for normal users right now. Up to 256MB is available on the market. The best X800 ATI cards right now are worth somewhere around 600 bucks if I recall correctly.

DVD/CD-RW

This is the drive you use to play your discs. DVD means that it can play DVD discs. CD-RW means that the drive can burn CDs Compact Disc - ReWritable

AMD

AMD is a company that makes CPUs, or central processing units. These are the heart of your computer. They run everything, and are located on the motherboard. AMD Athlon is just a type of processor.. Like Intel Pentium.


Chess Squares - Adequate set-up. I would go for 1 gig of RAM, just to keep up with current developments, but 512 is awesome as well :) And put it in a well-ventilated area. Hell, buy a few add-on fans and install them correctly if you can.. cooling the computer is extremely important, take it from me.. a person who fried two fucking motherboards in two fucking months.. :(

Chess, most people who claim to have been politically Left, or at the very least true Democrats, own a Mac.
only a right wing nut job like you can turn any thread into a political discussion

and i use political in the loosest of meanings

And what's wrong with a Mac?

yeah since ive done it everywhere else lets do it here

instead of getting custom or premade (custom) but not big name brand, i bought an HP a810n

instead of looknig that up its like this
AMD 64 3300+
512MB RAM
128MB Sis Mirage 2 vid (built in)
DVD/CD-RW

final total: $629+tax


Attack it? ou areally want me too? Ok......

AMD 64 3300+ really only runs at 2.0Ghz and only has a 333Mhz Front side bus.
A P4, on the other hand, has an 800Mhz front side bus and is caplible of hyperthreading, which is very useful if you multitask processor intesive programs. Obviously, the AMD prrocessor is inferior.

512 MB RAM
I use it and I'm fine, but I also use Windows 98SE and pay close attention to my software processes. A new computer will come with Windows XP and a computer running XP should have 1GB or more of RAM.

Built in video sucks. On board video uses "shared" VRAM. In other words, it just eats up a chunk of your system RAM because it doesn't have its on VRAM. This really slows down your system when you are running graphics intensive aplications. Get a Radeon 9200 at least, they are cheap.

DVD/CD-RW
It is okay but, for only about 30 dollars more you can get a DVD+/-RW/CD-RW drive.

it IS dvd-rw cd-rw
and amd 64 DOES have hyperthreading and some other funny features, also athlon has adifferent architecture than intel chips as i understand it

and yeah i agree built in video is lame but will cost me 100+$ to get a new card with 128+mb, ill jsut stick my other 256mb stick of rma in it since i cant use it on my other computer and should be decently covered

Good choice. I'd probably go for a gig of RAM, but I live without it.

Make sure it has sufficient fans, Athlons get warm.
Yeah, but they have a better tolerance for heat than P4s.

Fortunately for me, my brother loves having top of the range hardware on his machine, so I used his left overs for my Linux Box.

Oh and Chess Squares. It's is significant if it's DVD-R, DVD+R, or DVD+RW (I think that was the other standard). Hopefully it supports all three. :)

"Attack my choice for new computer "

Ok ... your choice of a new computer SUCKS!

How's that? :)

yeah since ive done it everywhere else lets do it here

instead of getting custom or premade (custom) but not big name brand, i bought an HP a810n

instead of looknig that up its like this
AMD 64 3300+
512MB RAM
128MB Sis Mirage 2 vid (built in)
DVD/CD-RW

final total: $629+tax

Why don't you just get two rocks, some twigs and some vine, put it all together and call that a computer?

Yeah, but they have a better tolerance for heat than P4s.

Fortunately for me, my brother loves having top of the range hardware on his machine, so I used his left overs for my Linux Box.

Oh and Chess Squares. It's is significant if it's DVD-R, DVD+R, or DVD+RW (I think that was the other standard). Hopefully it supports all three. :)
i think its dvd and cd +- RW

Good choice. I'd probably go for a gig of RAM, but I live without it.

Make sure it has sufficient fans, Athlons get warm.

But they cruise if you cankeep them cool.

AMD 64 3300+ really only runs at 2.0Ghz and only has a 333Mhz Front side bus. A P4, on the other hand, has an 800Mhz front side bus and is caplible of hyperthreading, which is very useful if you multitask processor intesive programs. Obviously, the AMD prrocessor is inferior.

...

512 MB RAM
I use it and I'm fine, but I also use Windows 98SE and pay close attention to my software processes. A new computer will come with Windows XP and a computer running XP should have 1GB or more of RAM.

Eerm. That's so very wrong that I don't know where to start. If you cared to do research or check benchmarks -- at all, ever -- you'd see that the Athlon 64 is a very solid chip, beating out any Intel competition in the same price band. I could start getting in to detailed discussion of things like DDR multipliers, but that's not necessary -- just trust me when I say that the Athlon 64 is a worthwhile purchase.

[Edited to explain about the clock speed] AMDs have lower clockspeeds than the Intel equivalent, but a processor's clock isn't a true measure of performance. Don't sound off without hard evidence.

As for the RAM... well, Windows XP will run perfectly serviceably with 256 megs. A gig is only necessary if you intend to run either very memory-intensive programs or you're a gamer. Other than that, 256 is fine, though 512 /is/ better.

However, the comment about on-board video is correct -- a video card is a damn good investment.

Also, whoever made the comment about being able to afford a 256 meg card -- card memory != performance. It's possible to buy a GF5200 -- a limp-wristed and feeble graphics card -- with 256 megs of RAM, which it doesn't have the power to even begin to utilise. 256 megs doesn't begin to be worthwhile until you get into the levels of '9800 Pro' or more.

Basically, yer computer is a solid one. It could do with a video card, but, other than that, it's excellent for the price. ;)

Hey it sounds fine to me. Just for comparisons, I bought a new computer last July, and its a 2.7 ghz 256megs of ram 40 gig HD cd-rw. I added a nvidia geforce fx5200 (fx5300?) and it is plenty fast enough. The only times it bogs down are during really graphic intense games, like Halo. Your computer should be plenty fast enough for awhile anyway. Though, my last computer was a Gateway2000, with a 166mhz processor and a 1.6 gig hard drive. That one lasted 8 years!

Sounds like a good deal. I keep seeing these remanufactured Compaq computers in Microcenter and in Fry's for a couple hundred bucks. Has anyone bought one? Are they as good as new? If so, it really sounds like a cheap way to get a good CPU.

I don't know about those, but when my parents' last computer died I managed to find them a used PC with a PII for $120. I added some spare RAM I had lying around to get them up to 1G, and with their cable modem you wouldn't even know the difference.

Chess, most people who claim to have been politically Left, or at the very least true Democrats, own a Mac.
I do own ONE MAC,
But I also own 3 PCs
Does that make me left?

I am left, but thats not the point here.


Anyway, make sure you get a decent motherboard to back it up. I reccoment Gigabyte.

i think you missed the part where i said i got an HP (Helwett-Packard) unless you assume im uber wiz and will plan on installnig dif OS, no ill stick with XP

Installing a different OS doesn't require you to be a whiz. If you know your computer's specs, you're more than qualified to install other OS's.

Installing a different OS doesn't require you to be a whiz. If you know your computer's specs, you're more than qualified to install other OS's.
I can't believe I'll stand with Chessie on this, but here goes. Why should he want another OS? He plays games. He doesn't write server code. WinXP is more than sufficient to run all the games worth playing.

What will Linux get you besides a free operating system that takes more knowledge to tweak than any other popular OS out there? Of course, if you were referring to QNX, I aplogize. That's a different argument based on Canadian inferiority.

Why do I need to attack it. The same computer in the UK is about £600. I hate you, but I won't attack your computer. I'm planning to steal it...

I've been meaning to ask, where is the pound sign key on your keyboard? Is it SHIFT-4 like the dollar sign on mine? If so, do you have a dollar sign? Whats the deal?

I have an HP Laptop with an AMD 64 Athlon 3400, and I have to make sure that it doesn't get too hot. Of course, that's easy to tell, because when it gets too hot, the airvent is right next to my mousepad, and whew, it's warm.

I've been meaning to ask, where is the pound sign key on your keyboard? Is it SHIFT-4 like the dollar sign on mine? If so, do you have a dollar sign? Whats the deal?

On a british english keyboard layout, the pound sign is shift-3, and the dollar stays at shift-4. ;)

I've been meaning to ask, where is the pound sign key on your keyboard? Is it SHIFT-4 like the dollar sign on mine? If so, do you have a dollar sign? Whats the deal?

This has nothing to do with your post, well maybe a little. I was stuck in the DeGaulle airport -- before it collapsed -- and I went to check my company email. It took me five minutes to get something simple like https://xyz.com typed in because the French have screwed up keyboards. They have all those squiggly characters where things like : and / should be. I think even . was misplaced. I think I finally found the / character, but it was something weird like Alt-Ctrl-1 to get to it!

Hey it sounds fine to me. Just for comparisons, I bought a new computer last July, and its a 2.7 ghz 256megs of ram 40 gig HD cd-rw. I added a nvidia geforce fx5200 (fx5300?) and it is plenty fast enough. The only times it bogs down are during really graphic intense games, like Halo. Your computer should be plenty fast enough for awhile anyway. Though, my last computer was a Gateway2000, with a 166mhz processor and a 1.6 gig hard drive. That one lasted 8 years!

Dude, I have the same computer (at least same stats) except I couldn't afford a graphics card. The most graphics intensive game I play is ATITD and it runs that fine. Since you added a video card, I'm guessing yours had an AGP slot (mine doesn't)

On a british english keyboard layout, the pound sign is shift-3, and the dollar stays at shift-4. ;)

Which begs the question, since I have a # sign on my shift-3, where is your #?

:-)

I can't believe I'll stand with Chessie on this, but here goes. Why should he want another OS? He plays games. He doesn't write server code. WinXP is more than sufficient to run all the games worth playing.

What will Linux get you besides a free operating system that takes more knowledge to tweak than any other popular OS out there? Of course, if you were referring to QNX, I aplogize. That's a different argument based on Canadian inferiority.

I wasn't saying he should want a different one. I'm saying that installing a different one isn't hard. I've installed a couple of different Linuxes and it was easy. Linuxes are actually quite user-friendly now, but you're right about games, you need windows to play most PC games. Of course, one could just get a games console for much cheaper, but let's not get into that debate!

Which begs the question, since I have a # sign on my shift-3, where is your #?

:-)

Not pressing shift, the keys go like this: j k l ; ' #

Which begs the question, since I have a # sign on my shift-3, where is your #?

:-)

It would be hard to explain, as I believe your '~' key might be in a different place too. So, I won't explain. I'll give you a link to a photo of a basic UK-layout keyboard instead:

http://rjbs.manxome.org/images/2002/exile/matts/keyboard.jpg

I wasn't saying he should want a different one. I'm saying that installing a different one isn't hard. I've installed a couple of different Linuxes and it was easy. Linuxes are actually quite user-friendly now, but you're right about games, you need windows to play most PC games. Of course, one could just get a games console for much cheaper, but let's not get into that debate!

I agree completely about Linux being easy to install. There are still enough unix features that make administering the system a pain in the butt. I loaded RedHat 7.something on a Sparc IPC. I was going to use it for network address translation on my home network. It was so difficult to set up as a router/gateway/whatever term is proper, that I just bit the bullet and bought a $100 wireless router.

if i wanted a dif os i would install the linspire copy i have from the thing they did with deviantart and mess around with it but i dont want to

I bought an Hp last year. I've made my own PCs though the years, but damn if it wasn't cheaper to buy the HP. Even better it was an open box special from Circuit City so it was $200 off, it only cost me $400.

it IS dvd-rw cd-rw
and amd 64 DOES have hyperthreading and some other funny features, also athlon has adifferent architecture than intel chips as i understand it

and yeah i agree built in video is lame but will cost me 100+$ to get a new card with 128+mb, ill jsut stick my other 256mb stick of rma in it since i cant use it on my other computer and should be decently covered

A 128 MB Radeon 9200 costs about $35.

A 128 MB Radeon 9200 costs about $35.
yeah... in wonderland

and besides that i spent all my cash on this computer, and that was with my mom paying for about half of it

Eerm. That's so very wrong that I don't know where to start. If you cared to do research or check benchmarks -- at all, ever -- you'd see that the Athlon 64 is a very solid chip, beating out any Intel competition in the same price band. I could start getting in to detailed discussion of things like DDR multipliers, but that's not necessary -- just trust me when I say that the Athlon 64 is a worthwhile purchase.

[Edited to explain about the clock speed] AMDs have lower clockspeeds than the Intel equivalent, but a processor's clock isn't a true measure of performance. Don't sound off without hard evidence.

As for the RAM... well, Windows XP will run perfectly serviceably with 256 megs. A gig is only necessary if you intend to run either very memory-intensive programs or you're a gamer. Other than that, 256 is fine, though 512 /is/ better.

However, the comment about on-board video is correct -- a video card is a damn good investment.

Also, whoever made the comment about being able to afford a 256 meg card -- card memory != performance. It's possible to buy a GF5200 -- a limp-wristed and feeble graphics card -- with 256 megs of RAM, which it doesn't have the power to even begin to utilise. 256 megs doesn't begin to be worthwhile until you get into the levels of '9800 Pro' or more.

Basically, yer computer is a solid one. It could do with a video card, but, other than that, it's excellent for the price. ;)

You forgot to mention the inherant inefficiency of the P4 due to its 31 stage pipe as opposed to the 14 stage used by the AMD 64 (up from the 12 stages used in the Athalons). And that both brands don't reflect the true bus speed (AMD Athalons double theirs internally, Intel quadruples) The true bus speeds are usually 100, 133, 166 or 200 MHz. That and AMD 64's run at a 1600 FSB.

As a happy ex-owner (read: I'm glad that hell-forged crate is gone) of an HP, I can tell you this: they are a royal pain in the ass to upgrade. HP assumes (rightfully so in most cases I suppose) that its end users know absolutely bubcass (sp?) about computer hardware and build their systems for optimum stabillity. I went from onboard video to a PCI video card (back in 2000 or so) and wouldn't you know it, the thing doesn't like ATI cards. Black screen, no POST, nothing. Do yourself a favour and spring for the video card, at the very least, as Malabranche said, an entry level card. There are some mobos being made right now that still don't have AGP, mostly for companies like HP/Compaq, Dell, and the like. No AGP doesn't necessarily mean no upgradability. Usually you can allocate more system RAM to video RAM but then you needlessly tie up the RAM bus while with a video card the chipset handles the signal transmission to the CPU.

Side note, I can't find an AMD64 3300+ on any of the sites I check for hardware.

As a happy ex-owner (read: I'm glad that hell-forged crate is gone) of an HP, I can tell you this: they are a royal pain in the ass to upgrade. HP assumes (rightfully so in most cases I suppose) that its end users know absolutely bubcass (sp?) about computer hardware and build their systems for optimum stabillity.

actually hp has gotten progressively better(we own 3 hps: this 2005, the other is 2000ish and the first is like 1999 or so)
the first one the one using windows 98 is IMPOSSIBLE to upgrade, its as much shit as possible in a small a case as possible. its like middle small case and the ram is under the barely movable floppy and cd drives and the harddrive is unremovable. teh expansion slots are barely accessible. mine was a bit better, everything was removable but all teh wires bunches together and fit kind snugly but stuff went in and out ok. and this one is really open and everything is EASILY accessible, wires all over everything or anything


Side note, I can't find an AMD64 3300+ on any of the sites I check for hardware.
tell me about it, even athlon does not mention 3300, they go 3200, 3400-3700 yet this IS 3300. its weird shit

yeah... in wonderland

and besides that i spent all my cash on this computer, and that was with my mom paying for about half of it
I've seen them for as low as 60 dollars.

I reccoment the GeForce FX 5200, It's a bit more stable than the 9200.

I've seen them for as low as 60 dollars.

I reccoment the GeForce FX 5200, It's a bit more stable than the 9200.
it doesnt matter how much it costs unless its FREE, i have NO MONEY

actually hp has gotten progressively better(we own 3 hps: this 2005, the other is 2000ish and the first is like 1999 or so)
the first one the one using windows 98 is IMPOSSIBLE to upgrade, its as much shit as possible in a small a case as possible. its like middle small case and the ram is under the barely movable floppy and cd drives and the harddrive is unremovable. teh expansion slots are barely accessible. mine was a bit better, everything was removable but all teh wires bunches together and fit kind snugly but stuff went in and out ok. and this one is really open and everything is EASILY accessible, wires all over everything or anything



tell me about it, even athlon does not mention 3300, they go 3200, 3400-3700 yet this IS 3300. its weird shit

Hey Chess,
I think I have somewhat the same computer you have, HP 1999.
Only mine is slightly newer, To upgrade that computer, the easy way. You need to pull off the motherboard plate on the side, and pull it down, it's ALOT easyer (SP?) to get to the guts of it.

it doesnt matter how much it costs unless its FREE, i have NO MONEY

Don't call this man a lier, I'm in the same situation. Is it possible to say I have negative money I'm so broke?

it doesnt matter how much it costs unless its FREE, i have NO MONEY
Well TG me if your interested,
My AIM name is East Federation


If you need a video card THAT BAD.
I'll mail you a 16mbfdfx Voodooo Rush, Free of Charge.

Well TG me if your interested,
My AIM name is East Federation


If you need a video card THAT BAD.
I'll mail you a 16mbfdfx Voodooo Rush, Free of Charge.
ill stick with the built in one until i amas more money, which rmeinds me ima have to get some money before gw is released

I wasn't saying he should want a different one. I'm saying that installing a different one isn't hard. I've installed a couple of different Linuxes and it was easy. Linuxes are actually quite user-friendly now, but you're right about games, you need windows to play most PC games. Of course, one could just get a games console for much cheaper, but let's not get into that debate!
Hrm, well, you could get WINE, that might handle the games well enough (with the proprietary bits).

Don't call this man a lier, I'm in the same situation. Is it possible to say I have negative money I'm so broke? Yes, it's called debt.

yeah since ive done it everywhere else lets do it here

instead of getting custom or premade (custom) but not big name brand, i bought an HP a810n

instead of looknig that up its like this
AMD 64 3300+
512MB RAM
128MB Sis Mirage 2 vid (built in)
DVD/CD-RW

final total: $629+tax
Nice ... that seems alright ... thoes stats are from the HP right? if so seems very solid

Mind if I ask how much?