rec.autos.simulators

<<< DISCLAIMER: The following post was written by a computer idiot.
AND... it's a bit long. >>>

At the risk of asking some things that you've had to answer over and
over again... here goes:

First off, it's been a LONG time since I've really been "into" sims. I
used to do N1, N2, N99, GP2, etc, etc. However, somewhere around GPL,
the games began to leave my aging computer behind. I doubt that I'll
ever be a "serious" simmer, and only race solo. This won't change. I
only "tinker" with racing sims. The only sim that survives on my hard
drive at this time is GP2. Mainly, because I don't find an "uninstall"
program! I'd still have N99 w/add ons installed if it weren't such a
huge program. (I don't have much hard drive space left.)

BTW, for chuckles, here's my current system (built by me through parts
purchased at a now-defunct Inca Indian computer shop):

P233MMX
"Titanium" MB
32 Meg SDram
1.2 GB HD
Virge S3(?) vid board
Win95

(Say, do you think my ancient machine is "collectible" yet? <g> )

Anyway, I think the time is nearing (a Christmas present perhaps?) for a
major upgrade. "Major Upgrade": As in replace all inward parts and
replace the OS system.

But my main questions:

Seeing as this machine is built using the "open architecture" platform,
would I still be better off (cost wise) to build my own spec machine
using this case... or simply buy one of the reasonably priced
feature-laden "disposable" machines such as Compac, etc... and do it
over again in a few years?

Oh yes, my monitor is a 17" Sony Trinitron "Multiscan 200ES", so will my
monitor will be okay with a high speed machine? Or have things changed
to where this will ***a new screamer machine?

I don't really want to build/buy a game specific computer, for it serves
mulitiple functions (word processing, some graphic work, internet), but
would like to be able to run such games as N4, and maybe GP3 w/add on.
(And Dirt Racer might be cool.)

What in the world do I need?  Computing has gone so far since I built
this machine (with help from this board by the way), that I'm totally
lost.

Any suggestions?

Thanks to any of you that will take your time to share some input.

Andre Ming

: Virge S3(?) vid board

Damn... I feel your pain.  I had a S3 Virge... as far as 3D *** went that
chipset was out-of-date before it was released.

--
Dale.
==================================================
GPL Rank: +106.12
DSM: www.dsm.org
CP990 Panorama Gallery:
http://www.racesimcentral.net/

Rafe Mc

On Tue, 21 Aug 2001 16:30:59 -0700, "Kirk House"

--

Fester

--
Biz

"Don't touch that please, your primitive intellect wouldn't understand
alloys and compositions and,......things with molecular structures,....and
the....." - Ash

All the best.

Lorne

--------------

Thanks for taking the time to give input to my questions. I've been out
of town the past week, and thus the reason for the slow response time on
my part.

<snip: good info>

I have printed those out for future reference, thanks guys!

Sad but true. This is the downside to me being a "bottom feeder" on the
computer food chain.

That's true. I live in Smalltown USA, with no known bonafide sim nuts.

It may come to that!

Thank you Lorne.

Some one else posted a reply (that my newsreader has flushed) wondering
if I have a wheel/pedals. Yes, I've completely worn out one of the
previous TM wheel/pedal offerings, and have been using a TM Nascar "Pro"
for the past couple years which still performs fine.

In the time between now and Upgrade Day, I hope to spend some time
trying to understand a bit more about today's computers. But man, things
have changed so much it's overwhelming.

FWIW, I would hope my future system can readily accomodate the following
sims on the upper end of the sim's performance abilities:

GPL
N3 or N4
GP3?
Rally Trophy (or some other nice Rally sim)

Andre Ming