> Fellow racer's--
> I had been thinking about upgrading my 486/100 but have recently gotten a new
> job which will allow me to do the "real deal" upgrade to a whole new system.
> I'm planning on spending between $2,500.- $3,000. I've looked into a Dell 266
> w 64 meg ram, matrox mellinium. ect ect. Does anyone a similar system.
> Local computer stores are a little bit more but if the thing breaks down you
> can always throw it through the window. Not to mention some local stores have
> burned me in the past or simply do not know what they're talking about... I
> have yet to find one that knows the difference between a rendition based card
> and a 3dfx card. Anyhow your suggestions comments are welcome and needed.
> If I'm shootin too high looking at the 200+ machines let me know that to. I'm
> just trying to anticipate the future software and it's requirments so I don't
> wind up in the boat that I've been in with my current computer.
> Thanks
> R. Faust
> aka Xducer
Xducer,
three thousand bucks will buy a heck of alot of 'puter power these
days. In my own biased opinion, I would have someone build you a new
machine. I don't know where you are but if this is an option it is one I
would highly recommend.(That's what I do in my spare time.)
Heres what I would do for the money:
Intel 300mz Pentium 2 chipset on a Asus or Tyan motherboard, 128 megs of
SDRAM, about 10 gigs of drive space on two seperate drives, CD-ROM-RW
burner drive to write your own CD's and rewrite also. I would slam in a
tried and true Intergraph Intense 3d 100 for 2D and Rendition work
(racing sims!) and pair it with an Orchid Righteous 3d 3dfx card. You
may want to go with the new Canopus 6meg 3dfx card instead of the
Orchid. I would go for a AWE 64 gold Soundblaster card so you know it's
compatable with everything. A 17" monitor of your choice, whatever one
you like. Good quality Microsoft mouse and keyboard.
Oops, I almost forgot, throw in a LS120 drive as a second floppy drive,
they scream along pretty good and the 120 meg floppys are great.
For the speakers I would go with a Cambridge Soundworks setup with
Subwoofer.
There, I spent the three grand in no time flat. You would sure have a
smokin' system though. I know from experience, I'm typing on it.
All the best, Mike
P.S.- The Dell is a pretty sweet system in its own right, however tell
them to replace the Matrox card, or replace it yourself and use it as a
coaster for your Coffee cup.
--
Michael S. Davis
Creative Media-Works
Computer/Audio/Video Convergance
http://www.creativemedia-works.com
"From Creative Minds spring Creative Solutions."
