rec.autos.simulators

I am looking at a Compaq from the local Best Buy with the following-
380MHz K6-2
64 MB 100MHz SynchDRAM memory
8 Gig hard drive
32x max CD ROM
120 MB SuperDisk drive
56K V.90 modem
512K pipeline burst cache
ATI Rage Pro 2XAGP graphics
4MB 100MHz SyncGraaphics memory
Digital flat-panel port
14" .28 Monitor
Lexmark 5220 color printer

I currently run with most graphics off on my current system.  Is this a
reasonable system for *** needs.

Doug.........Lifelong die hard Boston Bruins fan....Driving Sim racer....avid
Sam Adams drinker....3 Stooges fan....Proud American !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was told to either go up to a K6-2 400, or drop down to a or down to the 350
as they both use the 100mhz bus and can put that 100mhz memory to better
use.

The price to go up is an extra $300, with an extra 2 gig in the hard drive, and a
40x cdrom.  I don't know if they (BestBuy) carry the 350.  Any feedback is
appreciated - so I can spend my money wisely.

You need at least 128 MEG

too small, if not now, then very soon.

What kind is it?  no-name drives are often prone to failure.

waste of money.  get a regular floppy.

find out what kind. a 33,6 USR/3com modem is a better buy than a sh*t-brand
56K.  Also find out if you can even get 56K where you live.

Pentium2 computers dont have off-chip cache memory. Sounds like a
proprietary motherboard design, which means roadblocks to future upgrades.

For *** you will need a better D3D card or a VooDoo 2

4 meg on the ATI card?  not enough.  Onboard video?  YUCK.

you can't afford one, doesn't much matter.

this is a joke.  17" is the minimum.

a printer isn't part of a computer.  Unless it is an incredible deal, don't
take bundled printers or scanners.

We don't know what your needs are, so that's pretty hard to say  :o)  I
probably run most of the games you will want to run and it sounds totally
inadequate to me.

The best place to buy a computer is generally NOT in a retail store unless
you like being screwed by commisioned salespeople and need to have your hand
held after the sale.  Try pricing a system online with the same specs or
better from any of the dozens of companies that do mail order, something
like  www.tccomputers.com

daxe

-----------== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News ==----------
 http://www.racesimcentral.net/;     The Largest Usenet Servers in the World!
-----------== Over 66,000 Groups, Plus  a  Dedicated  Binaries Server ==----------

These 3 items will effect *** performance more than anything else.
If that 14" digital flat panel display is LCD - forget it! They don't work
well for games. Get as large a standard monitor as possible.
Celerons are also a good choice since they're cheaper than Pentium 2's by a
whole bunch and almost as fast at the same clock rate.

For more info visit www.tomshardware.com and checkout the vast CPU, mobo,
and graphics review areas.

Doug

Hi Gary,

Heh, I see you don't mention the performance of the AMD K-2 FPU. Too
bad, now I've trouble to believe you. It looks like you made such a
selection of CPU feature's, so that AMD comes out best. Tsk tsk tsk.

Remco

IMHO, Compaq computers are far too proprietary to suit me.

Also, I can almost guarantee you that modem is a Winmodem, which you
find performs horribly.

I personally prefer to build my own systems using the best of the
available industry standard componenets.  I fully understand this is not
an option for everyone.

I recommend either Dell or Gateway.  They are fairly standard in their
use of componenents, and you can upgrade them to your hearts content.

Watch the modems.  Even these folks will sneak a Winmodem in on you if
you aren't carefull.

Winmodems are software based modems.  The card is nothing but a DSP that
runs software to _emulate_ a modem.

The REALLY suck.  They use them because they are cheap.

They also won't work in DOS, if that's an issue.

If you can build your own, here is what I recommend:

1.  ASUS P2B Main Board.
2.  Diamond Viper 550.
3.  Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 7200 RPM Drive.
4.  SoundBlaster Live card.
5.  128MB of PC100 Ram.  Use Quality stuff only!
6.  Add a VooDoo 2 board if your needs warrant.
7.  USR Courier V.90 Modem.
8.  Pentium II or III processor.  I don't like Celerons.

NOTE - Yes, I know about the Overclocking of 300A's, etc... but that's
not my style :)

9.  A good, solid, LARGE well ventilated case with a 250 watt or larger
Power Supply and at least 2 fans.

This is a high-end system.  However, you would be suprised how
inexpensively it can be built.  The biggest stumbling block is Intels
greed and the overpriced Pentium II/III chips.

FWIW

Building your own is not that hard, and I bet you have a friend that has
experience and can help you if you need it.

It also brings a certain level of satisfaction, and you will also have a
system that you can upgrade piecemeal in the future should the need
arise, instead of buying a whole new system.

If you get the Compaq, you can count on having to replace the entire
machine at some point due to it's difficulties with uprades.

-Larry