The (new) Official PC building thread!

OK. My friend on another board told me oughta get two 8800 GTX GPUs and have them both at SLI mode. Is that a good idea?

Also, which is better, GTX or GTS?

 

@mphsbelle
Replacing a Hard Drive in a laptop is generally pretty simple. On most newer laptops, there are panels on the bottom of the computer in which memory, network cards, modems, and hard drives are tucked away. On some occasions they are accessed from the side of the laptop. Also there are no separate power cables for laptop drives either, they are "built-in" to the ribbon cable, well at least the non-SATA drives that I've changed out anyways. Just remove the old, and replace with the new. Have your operating CD and a CD of all the drivers for your laptop..and you should be good to go.

As for your DSL modem is it not working or is the wireless signal just weak? If your are talking about the wireless portion of it then the modem part of it should be fine..I'm guessing you went with the upgrade 2wire modem/router thing...it is fine as a modem but lacks in signal strength for the wireless signal. If this is indeed the case...you may be better off getting a separate wi-fi router (ie. Linksys, Netgear, D-Link, etc.) to handle the wireless needs you have for your two story home.

Cheers!

 

mphsbelle,

If it's a weak signal you can get higher gain antennas as well. they aren't very expensive. Tigerdirect has a sale going on with Netgear re-certified routers for cheap. 108Mbps!

I bought one of these:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2437881&Sku=N100-1499
And one of these that plugs in the usb. Works great!
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3144962&CatId=2688
4 wired ports as well. Warranty is only 30 days but it's a lot cheaper than a brand new one. If I'm working on a computer I just plug it in and run it from anywhere in the house! I don't have to load ISP software as my ISP address is already in the router!

Clock On,
theone :>}

 

theonjrs.

thats what i do i love it.

 

billybob,

Sure makes working on computers a lot easier. Before I used to have to install my ISP software and then take it out again when I was done. Pain in the butt! Now I just either plug in a lan cable or plug the wireless in and it's up and running! Simple and fast!

BTW, I guessed you were a pipe man! LOL!!

Best Regards,
theone :>)

 

HAHA!

Is that a bad thing?

 

billybob,

Not from my side of the fence! LOL!!


Roll On,
Russ :>)

 

OmriSama: Only if you're rich, two 8800GTXs is about $1000 just for the graphics cards, and you need a decent power supply for them, so that makes it up to $1200 just for two parts of the system.
GTX is better than GTS.
mphsbelle: Replacing a hard drive is one of the simplest things to do in a laptop, the only difficult bit is working out which panel you have to take off!

 

So a single GTX costs 500 bucks?

 

Yep. That's the cheapest one too.

 

Oh man... but the GTX is improved by alot from the GTS?

 

Yes, a lot. In Oblivion at 1920x1200, with all settings turned up to maximum outside, the 8800GTS gets 21fps, whereas the 8800GTX gets 29fps. That's probably the difference between playable and unplayable for a lot of people.

 

Well... i always put my games on 640x480 resolution so they'll work fast, but if Oblivion runs in 29 fps at that resoulution... damn, this is gonna be great. Finally having a computer that actually runs good games

 

For that cost I should hope so!
I can't believe you live with 640x480 resolution...

 

@Omrisama

You are definitely missing out gaming only at 640x480 but if you continue to do so, even with your new setup...you should just forget about getting a pair of GTX', even one would be overkill. Stick with a 7950 or 8800 GTS, this way you can save a ton of money and/or spend it on other parts for your setup.

 

Indeed, I used to play some games at 1920x1200 on the graphics card before the one I have now.

 

Lol, i have to put Halo: Combat Evolved on Low Textures, and turn off many settings + put it on 640x480 to get it work fast. It also works with all the settings on plus highest resolution but it works slow.

Question, what if i get 2 GTSs and SLI them? Will that be good?

 

Two 8800GTSs in SLI I thinkk are overkill. Are you underestimating their performance?

 

Like Sam said it would still be overkill. If you plan to turn up the resolution, let's say 1600x1200 then you'd be getting better use out of them...but if you plan on staying with 640x480 it's truly wasting money. As Sam pointed out Oblivion @ 1920x1200 with a GTS is 21FPS and GTX 29FPS. And that is with everything on...turn a few details to medium and you can easily attain 30FPS on a GTS @ 1920x1200.

 

My graphics card is not even as powerful as a GTS, but turn a couple of settings off, and I got over 40fps at 2560x1600.