rec.autos.simulators

Fellow Sim Freaks...

Looking for some opinions (and I DID come to right place for that,
didn't I?) about a possible CPU upgrade I'm thinking about.  First off,
*** is about the top priority on the ol' 'puter. (Sad but true.)
And, seeing as I just don't have the $$$ to buy the "deluxe" package
right now (new system w/P8000MMX with 22G HD etc) I'm thinking about
upgrading my PBell P75 with one of the P155MMX Overdrive chips that's
available for it.  As it sits now with N2, with almost all textures off,
I only get about the mid-***s on frame rate... the barest of
adequate... and that only on certain tracks. (Forget Martinsville!)
Needless to say, there's a lot in the game that I just can't experience,
to say nothing of drivabilty at some of the more graphic demanding
tracks.  So... in your opinion, what kind of N2 improvement could I
expect should I go with the 155MMX Overdrive chip?  Also, GP2 runs in
the mid-***s... any ideas what I can see on that as well?

Second question:  Does the Rendition based card (I looked at a
Screamin'#D, but now may wait until the V2200's are out) HAVE to have
WIN95?  Or, can you install one with only WIN 3.11?  

Thanks and God Bless,

Andre

            Hello Andre, I just upgraded my Gateway P133 with a new P200
w/ Monster3D card and I would HIGHLY recomend an upgrade. I saw a major
improvement in all areas with a P200 and Monster combonation. I am
selling my P133 if your interested. The chip is a year old and works
fine, I just have the extra from the upgrade. If your interested I am
going to sell the chip for $75.00. Get back to me if you are interested
Andre. Thanks for the time - Tony Gaylord - Portland, OR

I'm not sure what an overdrive chip runs, but a new intel 200mmx is down to
around $260 right now.  Of course if your p75 is like mine was, you'll need
a new motherboard which will probably run another $100.  I'd guess a 166 is
probably around $200.  Just a thought.

--
Brian Fox

Geocities' MotorCity Community Leader
Get your own free homepage at http://www.racesimcentral.net/

The Fox Den:  Nascar 1 and 2, ICR2, GP2 and my Streetrod.
http://www.racesimcentral.net/
http://www.racesimcentral.net/

Just thought I would add a word of warning. As you have a P75 the
chances are that you may only have a socket 5, rather than a socket 7.
If this is the case the max you could go to is a P133 so perhaps Tony's
offer may be worth considering/bartering.

I know this as I intended upgrading my P100 to a P166 overdrive, as I
thought was possible as per the bumph that came with my PC.

If your PC/manual doesn't say which socket you have, I advise you to
lift out your existing CPU (P75) to see what it is (it is plainly
written under where the chip lives) before parting with any cash for
anything bigger than P133.

Anyways, good luck.  :-)
--
Geoff Webber                                        

Geoff:  I think you have just pinpointed why the upgrade salesman told
me that I could only go faster by using the "P155MMX Overdrive" chip
that's made exclusively for MY machine.  Now I understand in plain
english why I'm in deep doo-doo insofar as hardware flexibility is
concerned.  As for my future purchase of a Packard Bell system:  "Quoath
the Raven: NEVERMORE!"

God Bless...

Andre

I would definitely consider a new motherboard with cpu. You can get some
pretty good deals buying direct from folks like Motherboard Express. If I'm
not mistaken, you PB motherboard with the p75 chip is operating at a bus
speed of 60 mhz, you can get a 166 or 200 mmx pretty reasonable, with
motherboard, which runs at a bus speed of 66 mhz. Makes a big difference.
You would see some performance increase with the overdrive chip, but
nothing as drastic as you would see with a 166 chip with new motherboard.
DonB.