Now, I don’t know what all these terms mean, but this is what his new computer has:
AMD 64 3500+ processor
Asus A8N-SLI-Deluxe motherboard
4 Maxtor Diamond 10
250GB SATA hard drives
1G of OCR memory
Thermaltake Vulcan CPU cooling fan
It is set up in a RAID 5 configuration
He has the new 64-bit XP OS, but not all the peripherals or software will run properly. We tried to play Sid Meier’s Pirates, and the monitor kept shutting off and the game kept locking up. It’s almost like the computer is running too fast for the software?
Any suggestions before he loads on a slower OS? Did he do good?
So everythings fine until you play the game? You didn’t list the video card, but check for the latest drivers for it online it might just be a driver issue. Looks like a pretty sweet setup, I don’t have any experience with XP64 so I can’t offer any advice on that.
The game issue is almost certainly that the 64-bit drivers for your video card are not happy. The major issue with using WinXP64 is that the drivers for the peripherals are not mature yet, so you’ll have issues in that area for a while. It’s also the reason I’m waiting for Vista before I install a 64-bit OS, even though my Athlon64 is just chomping at the bit to reach its full potential.
Building a computer is fun, though…I’m on my second full system (my wife has #3, built shortly after I built this one), and it’s far more stable than any computer I’ve purchased from a store.
Now that I think about it…you did INSTALL the 64-bit drivers for your video card, right? Only drivers that are written for XP64 will work with XP64. The 32-bit drivers used on WinXP will cause all sorts of problems. If you are using the 64-bit drivers, my original post stands…they are very new, and are prone to lots of bugs. It has nothing to do with the computer being too fast. However, you might want to run a dual-boot setup with WinXP (32-bit) for greater compatibility until the driver situation is sorted out by the component manufacturers.
I’m wondering why he went with an A8N-SLI deluxe and two 6600GTs when for the same price he could get roughly equal performance with an A8N-E and a 6800GT, and have an easier upgrade path. It’s still a wonderful system, though. Other than the different video configuration and a slightly smaller hard drive, he’s got what I put together myself a week or two ago.
That’s why we have separate bank accounts…he has his money, and I have mine.
You know the old Charlie Brown cartoons, where the adults talked in a “Mwaa mwaa mwaa mwaa” voice? That’s about the level of comprehension I have on what you posted. I don’t know, I will ask.
When he started his original research the A8N-SLI-Deluxe was what two seperate computer shops reccommended. The 6800 was a little bit more expensive and since he went with two he decided the 6600 was the way to go.
After I built my first system years ago, my Mom took to telling all her friends that I could take a computer apart “chip by chip” and put it back together.
I still need to remind her that only half of that statement is true.
If it’s not the drivers, it could be the power supply. Two video cards, an Athlon 64 and 4 hard drives need a very good, very reliable, strong power supply.
His system sounds similar to mine, which I build back in December. I have the same motherboard (it is quite good, the shops didn’t lead him wrong) and a single 6600GT. I’ve got a 480 watt power supply and I’m somewhat worried about going SLI with a second 6600GT card (supposedly, I just make the grade). Sometime next year, I’m going dual core processor, dual boot with 64-bit OS, and a single 7800GT vid card. Only hard part will be sneaking them by Ms. D_Odds.
Oh, don’t get me wrong about the motherboard. The A8N-SLI Deluxe is indeed top of the line, but the only extra feature is has over an A8N-E is a second PCI-e 16x slot, which is necessary for dual video cards. The “problem” with a SLI setup is that your two video cards need to be identical - not just 6600GTs, but 6600GTs from the same manufacturer, with the same BIOS. If you buy them at the same time, that’s not an issue, but it can be a hassle adding a second card a year or two down the line.
Additionally, a year or two down the line when he wants to upgrade the video cards, it’d be cheaper to buy a single great card rather than two good cards for the same performance.
It’s a great system, it’s just not the way I would have built it.
lno, I understand that nVidia is working on that “problem”. Also, some vid cards’ bios can be updated.
I think you are right. One great graphics board trumps two good graphics boards, plus it has a lower power overhead. The only time two good graphics boards are a better deal is when $$$ are really tight at build time, and one doesn’t want to wait.
Just because it works well on lesser graphics doesn’t mean one should have to suffer. Crank up every last little graphical detail and enjoy that sucker.
I wasn’t condemning, I was trying to find out what the killer game or app was. That’s half the fun. I built my current computer several years ago to max out the play of WarCraft III.
Oh yeah I also needed to do some Mem & Processor intensive work with excel, but that was just the excuse. WC3 needed power, more power.
