My PNY 4400 works great, and it only cost me around $225 at the time. It
will accept and run at Ti4600 speed settings fine, but since I'm not into
overclocking I set it back to stock after testing it.
-Larry
The TBSC and GameTheater XP 5.1/6.1 are very, very similar cards.
They are based on the same chipset. They are based on the same reference
driver platform. Though it doesn't seem like it at first glance, they also
have the same basic input/output ports (but the TBSC doesn't have USB
ports - since they are unpowered in the XP not a great loss to me).
They both sound great.
I think TB does a better job with the drivers. Hercules has/had a REAL
tough time with WinXP and the GTXP drivers. TB had release XP drivers out a
month before XP even shipped. Hercules offered NO beta's whatsoever, and
didn't even have finals available until after XP was released. Odd since
they are based on the same reference driver set.
I have both cards. I took out the GTXP way back in September of last year
and bought the TBSC due only to the bad driver situation with the GTXP.
Even though they eventually resolved that, I've not been compelled to pull
out the TBSC and reinstall the GTXP because the TBSC just works too damned
well.
Both are great cards. The TBSC offers 90% of the features at a lower cost.
-Larry
> I am also using a Hercules Game Theater XP 6.1 sound card, and have had
> nothing but great results. The Turtle Beach Santa Cruz uses the same
basic
> audio chip, and can be found very reasonable now. Both cards offer the
> ability to leave your headphones connected along with your speaker system,
> and choose which to use via software. I have heard that the Santa Cruz
will
> also simulate 5.1 even if the game doesn't support it, but I can't say how
> that works, or if the others also do it.
> I believe you are getting a great video card. Lots will tell you that the
> Ti4200 is just as good, only underclocked, but there are reports that some
> companies are using lesser quality memory on the Ti4200 to keep people
from
> buying the cheap one and getting the same results as the more expensive
> units.
> Intel deserves a look though, as you can get certain 2.26Ghz chips and
> easily run them at 2.66 Ghz without increasing the VCore voltage any,
> according to most reviews.
> You didn't ask about the memory, but I would recommend the Samsung PC2700.
> It has proven to be stable near 200mhz FSB, where the default for an XP
chip
> is 133mhz.
> Hope this gives you a starting point, I'm sure it will give everyone else
> something to discuss<g>.
> Glen Pittman
> > ... should I get ?
> > Whats 'hot' and what's not these days?
> > I'm looking at putting together a whole new rig so any advices would be
> > welcomed....
> > It's been so long time since i "keept track of" hardware developements
so
> > I'm a bit unsure what to get..... Is AMD still the CPU get or have the
> > Intels fallen in price?
> > And what about mo/bo's? I just checked a few cards but I have no real
> idea
> > if what to get....
> > Does N2002 have any issues with any soundcards? Whats good to get there?
> > When it comes to video-card I think I've pretty much made up my mind...
> > I'll be gunning for a 128mb MSI GF4 Ti4400 card... The Radeon 9700 kick
> it
> > ass for sure - but sadly it's to expensive at the moment. :-(
> > Guess I'll go for XP this time tho... unless it's a huge nightmare to
> use
> > it for *** etc...
> > Any help is much appreciated (sp?)
> > --
> > ed_
Unless you want to use RDC, the Home version is fine. I have both, and run
Home right now (timing).
However, networking is _different_ in Home. It does the same things, it's
just set up differently. Frankly, I find it more confusing to deal with
than the old method. Nope, though it gets the job done, I do not really
like what they call "Simple Networking".
XP Pro installs, by default, in "Simple Networking" mode, but it can be
turned off. There's the difference. In Home, it can't be turned off.
-Larry
> No real need for XP pro in relation to home networking. Unless of course
> you are in a domain that requires authentication (which most home users
> don't). Home version does Peer to Peer just fine, in fact quite well.
> Mitch
> > >I have heard that the Santa Cruz will
> > > also simulate 5.1 even if the game doesn't support it, but I can't say
> how
> > > that works, or if the others also do it.
> > Yes it does, as well as the Philips AE/706 card. The TB is a god card,
but
> I
> > preferred the sound of the AE better. However the AE card, WinXP, and my
> > motherboard (ASUS A7M266) would not play nice together. If you gonna run
> > WinXP go with the Santa Cruz card, but if your gonna stick with the
older
> > O/S like Win9x then their is issues with the Santa Cruz.
> > As far as OS goes I do like WinXP for its stability. All my titles seem
to
> > run fine some run better in WinXP than the older OS. Ratbag's DTR for
> > example. I have not seen any real performance hits from it. If you have
a
> > home network you may want to consider getting XP pro. I have heard that
XP
> > Home can be a pain to get a network setup. One magazine even called it a
> set
> > backwards. No real experience on my end to know for sure since I'm
running
> > XP pro
> > MadDAWG
And lets not forget the P4 2.53 costs many hundreds more than the 2200+.
The just-released 2600+ evens things out a bit.
The announced P3 3Ghz is it's own animal. It is going to require new
motherboards, new power supplies, and who knows what else. None of the
current boards are compatible.
-Larry
I backed up all my Network Servers, job I had no possible means of
accomplishing until I got the iMac with that DVD Drive :)
-Larry
> Definetly get XP though. It's a no brainer.
> A dvd burned is nice to back up 9 gigs of stuff at once too, but most are
> still around $400 beans.
> > Good question Ed, lots of pros and cons.
> > If running N2002 is your main concern and you already own SE or ME, I'd
> stay
> > with SE or ME, there is no actual _need_ to get XP IMO. But if you have
to
> > buy a new OS anyway, XP is perhaps the more logical alternative. Your
new
> > machine should be powerful enough to run N2002 well under XP.
> > Achim
> > > "Joachim Trensz" said:
> > > > FS2002 and IL2 run fine in W2k/XP, but N2002 apparently runs up to
25%
> > > > slower according to a review I read on the web recently.
Unfortunately
> I
> > > > don't have the URL anymore.
> > > So I might aswell stick to Win98SE or ME then?
> > > --
> > > ed_
I have a dual boot setup, but with TWO boots of Windows XP :)
One is the general, every-day boot that has all the external peripheral
drivers installed for use.
The other is a ***-Only boot of XP that has NO drivers or devices
enabled. It's all disabled in the Device Manager (Scanner, Dymo
LabelWriter, etc...).
I also run NO virus software, firewall software (I have a router), utilities
(Norton, etc...) or anything else on the *** Boot.
It makes for a nice, stutter-free stable system for *** Only.
Those little tsr's for Scanners, camera's, etc... as well as NAV and other
utilities steal a lot of background time doing their thing. Don't need or
want it for ***.
-Larry
> I have since swapped to a WinXP only environment, and get 100fps at
> 1600x1200x32.
> That is with a Ti4600 and a XP2000+.
> > FS2002 and IL2 run fine in W2k/XP, but N2002 apparently runs up to 25%
> > slower according to a review I read on the web recently. Unfortunately I
> > don't have the URL anymore.
> > Achim
> > > ... should I get ?
> > > Whats 'hot' and what's not these days?
> > > I'm looking at putting together a whole new rig so any advices would
be
> > > welcomed....
> > > It's been so long time since i "keept track of" hardware developements
> so
> > > I'm a bit unsure what to get..... Is AMD still the CPU get or have
the
> > > Intels fallen in price?
> > > And what about mo/bo's? I just checked a few cards but I have no real
> > idea
> > > if what to get....
> > > Does N2002 have any issues with any soundcards? Whats good to get
there?
> > > When it comes to video-card I think I've pretty much made up my
mind...
> > > I'll be gunning for a 128mb MSI GF4 Ti4400 card... The Radeon 9700
kick
> > it
> > > ass for sure - but sadly it's to expensive at the moment. :-(
> > > Guess I'll go for XP this time tho... unless it's a huge nightmare
to
> > use
> > > it for *** etc...
> > > Any help is much appreciated (sp?)
> > > --
> > > ed_
"Larry"
Dang spending other people's money types........grrrrrrrr
dave henrie
- AMD XP2200+
- MSI KT3 Ultra VIAKT333
- 512mb Apacer PC2700 memory
- 80gb WD 7200HD - 8mb cache
- MSI GF4 Ti4400 - 128mb.
- Hercules Game Theather XP6.1
- Plextor CDRW + DVD
I also think I'll go for XP as OS...
I hope this system will kick some ass and that I can be able to enjoy the
games I play in more detail..
--
ed_
I just built similar system:
AMD XP 2100+
MSI KT3 Ultra VIA KT333
1.5 gig PC 2100
2 80 gig WD's w/8mb buffer
MSI GF Ti4600 128 mb
HP CDRW
XP Pro
Only advice I could give is to make sure you install XP as Admin for Pro or
Owner for XP home.
Bill
--
ed_
