rec.autos.simulators

   Hi, guys, long time no see.  I've been off flying competition model
rockets this summer, but I'm preparing to get back to the track with
GPL.  I'm going to be upgrading my PC for GPL.  What I'd like is your
evaluation of these upgrades re: frame rate performance of GPL.  My
primary "need for speed" is in Papyrus racing sims (and maybe Red
Baron 2) -- it's fine for other more mundane tasks.  While ICR2/CART
and NASCAR2 are fine, it's starting to look sluggish with SODA and the
GPL demo.

   Here's my old system:
Pentium 133
Supermicro P5STE mb in AT mid-tower case
2x 16 meg EDO SIMMs (32 meg total)
Intergraph Reactor/Intense 3d (Rendition V1000) 4 meg
using 3 ISA slots

   I'll probably buy a new PC in a year or two, so I'd like to limit
the cost of the upgrade to $300US or so.  Thus, I'd like to use as
many old components as I can (case, memory, video, etc).

   I've been looking at two basic approaches:

1. Drop in a new processor.  This MB *should* handle a Pentium 233 MMX
(it's two years old and was supposedly one of the first to be modified
to use that clock speed and MMX voltages).  Cost would be about $150.
I'd take a SWAG at a 40% frame rate increase over the 133 (although
I'd welcome the opinion of anyone with first-hand experience).  

2. A new Super7 processor & MB.  Looking at what is available (AT
case, wanting to use my old SIMMs at 66MHz), the FIC VA-503+ or Tyan
S1590S Trinity MBs look good, coupled with an AMD K6-2/300MHz CPU.
The cost would be about $250.  I have *no* idea what kind of
performance I would get (too many apples and oranges in the fruit
basket :), so I'd be interested in opinions on frame rate performance
(did I mention I'd be running the memory at 66MHz? :).  An advantage
of this upgrade is that it isn't a dead end like the other one, and
for a few bucks more at a later date I could substitute PC100 memory
or an AGP card (Hercules Thriller or Rendition 3xxx...).

   So, how much bang can I get for my buck?  Or does anyone have any
other suggestions?  

   Thanks in advance, guys!

NAR Northeast Regional Contest Board site - points and more...

Hi Jeff,

Search around for a 200MMX ($100~115), overclock as needed.
Pick up a Hercules Thriller 8Mb ($130~150?)
Get another 32Mb RAM ($60~75)

This will give you a nice lil' hot-rod 'til next year when you can get
that spaceship you've been dreamin' of.  =)

Cheers!

Marc

--
Marc J. Nelson
The Sim Project - http://www.simproject.com

* No animals were harmed in the making of this e-mail *

Hi Jeff,

Search around for a 200MMX ($100~115), overclock as needed.
Pick up a Hercules Thriller 8Mb ($130~150?)
Get another 32Mb RAM ($60~75)

This will give you a nice lil' hot-rod 'til next year when you can get
that spaceship you've been dreamin' of.  =)

Cheers!

Marc

--
Marc J. Nelson
The Sim Project - http://www.simproject.com

* No animals were harmed in the making of this e-mail *

definitely get the 8 meg thriller much faster than the, cost 150 or less. drop
in an amd 300 chip, cost 115. more ram 64 min. thats 300 bucks total. options -
celeron A

If you aren't playing Quake or something, get a "old" AMD 233 for 88, almost
any 2200 Rendition card, from anywhere to 100 to 150, or you can try a
Monster 1, for 119.00+29=148.00 for a 2d card, because I have not been able
to get it to work with the Intense  3D. Also get a  32MB SDRAM (4X64)
DIMM(its so cheap and is also very fast) for about 38 bucks. That equals 274
+ shipping. The phone number for Microworx Direct, INC, where all these
prices are quoted from is (800) 996-0050. If you have anymore questions,
just e-mail me.
Cya,
Stuart Becktell