Configuration advice, GPL & N4

I'm taking the plunge and upgrading my home computer, and would appreciate your thoughts on whether I'm shooting my self in the foot with anything here (in terms of running N4 and GPL, with considerably more graphics addons than I run now ;-) This is a pre-built system, I know I may do cheaper rolling my own, but I've already decided it's worth it to me to pay somebody else to do the grunt work. My current system is in parentheses for comparison. MB - KT266 Chipset DDR ATX Processor - AMD Athlon XP 1700 (P3-433) RAM - 256mb 266 non-ecc DDR (128) HD - 40gb ultra ATA 7200 (13) Video - GeForce 3 64mb DDR (voodoo3-3000) Sound - SB Live 5.1 (same) OS - Win98se (same) Any thoughts on likely improvements I'll experience, or ideas on what might be better alternatives? Thanks, Don

Don, Sounds good, but shouldn't you be looking for the KT266*A* chipset (emphasis added)? It replaced the KT266 abt. 4 months ago...right after I bought just such a system. You'll need Papy's "speed" patch for a CPU that fast, which may impact a couple of add-ons (the 7-engine-sounds mod is the only one I can think of). The 40-Gb drive sounds a little small by today's standards, but that depends on what else you want to keep on there. Just make sure it isn't an IBM GXP model! --Steve Smith "Don Jennings" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:SH_78.6503$[email hidden]... > I'm taking the plunge and upgrading my home computer, and would appreciate > your thoughts on whether I'm shooting my self in the foot with anythinghere > (in terms of running N4 and GPL, with considerably more graphics addonsthan > I run now ;-) This is a pre-built system, I know I may do cheaper rolling > my own, but I've already decided it's worth it to me to pay somebody elseto

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> do the grunt work. My current system is in parentheses for comparison. > > MB - KT266 Chipset DDR ATX > Processor - AMD Athlon XP 1700 (P3-433) > RAM - 256mb 266 non-ecc DDR (128) > HD - 40gb ultra ATA 7200 (13) > Video - GeForce 3 64mb DDR (voodoo3-3000) > Sound - SB Live 5.1 (same) > OS - Win98se (same) > > Any thoughts on likely improvements I'll experience, or ideas on what

might

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> be better alternatives? > > Thanks, > Don > > > >

Thanks for responding, this is the second mention I've heard of the "A" chipset. This is a pre-built system, and I believe it's just the 266. In what areas would that handicap the box, and how much? "Stephen Smith" wrote ... | Don, | | Sounds good, but shouldn't you be looking for the KT266*A* chipset(emphasis | added)? It replaced the KT266 abt. 4 months ago...right after I boughtjust | such a system.

The kt266a is the successor to the kt266 , so it would make sense to want to go with the kt266a. I am running the EPoX 8KHA+ kt266a and absolutely love it. Don Burnette "Don Jennings" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:GA%78.6642$[email hidden]...

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> Thanks for responding, this is the second mention I've heard of the "A" > chipset. This is a pre-built system, and I believe it's just the 266. In > what areas would that handicap the box, and how much? > > "Stephen Smith" wrote ... > | Don, > | > | Sounds good, but shouldn't you be looking for the KT266*A* chipset > (emphasis > | added)? It replaced the KT266 abt. 4 months ago...right after I bought > just > | such a system. > > >

Just curious, why would you advise to stay away from the IBM drives? I have always run nothing but IBM, and have never had a problem. I am running their 60 gb 75GXP in this system, and it is doing very well. Don Burnette "Stephen Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:9k%78.37121$[email hidden]... > Don, > > Sounds good, but shouldn't you be looking for the KT266*A* chipset(emphasis > added)? It replaced the KT266 abt. 4 months ago...right after I boughtjust > such a system. > > You'll need Papy's "speed" patch for a CPU that fast, which may impact a > couple of add-ons (the 7-engine-sounds mod is the only one I can thinkof). > > The 40-Gb drive sounds a little small by today's standards, but thatdepends > on what else you want to keep on there. Just make sure it isn't an IBMGXP

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> model! > > --Steve Smith > > "Don Jennings" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:SH_78.6503$[email hidden]... > > I'm taking the plunge and upgrading my home computer, and would

appreciate > > your thoughts on whether I'm shooting my self in the foot with anything > here > > (in terms of running N4 and GPL, with considerably more graphics addons > than > > I run now ;-) This is a pre-built system, I know I may do cheaperrolling > > my own, but I've already decided it's worth it to me to pay somebodyelse

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> to > > do the grunt work. My current system is in parentheses for comparison. > > > > MB - KT266 Chipset DDR ATX > > Processor - AMD Athlon XP 1700 (P3-433) > > RAM - 256mb 266 non-ecc DDR (128) > > HD - 40gb ultra ATA 7200 (13) > > Video - GeForce 3 64mb DDR (voodoo3-3000) > > Sound - SB Live 5.1 (same) > > OS - Win98se (same) > > > > Any thoughts on likely improvements I'll experience, or ideas on what > might > > be better alternatives? > > > > Thanks, > > Don > > > > > > > > > >

Don, I just upgraded my system to one somewhat similar to what you're upgrading to. I'll follow the same format as you did: MB - Epox 8Kha+ (KT266A Chipset) (Abit BH6) CPU - AMD AthlonXP 1700+ (Celeron 566 o/ced to 850) RAM - 512 Megs DDR2100 (384 Megs SDRAM) Video - Voodoo5 (same) Sound - SBLive (same) OS - Win98SE (same) HD's - 40 Gig + 12 Gig (same) Did I experience any improvements? YOU BET! I don't play N4 much, but I do a lot of GPL (and just getting into F1 2001, including the new GT mod - excellent!). Although GPL framerates are capped at 36, I can now run it with a full field at 1024x768 with 2X FSAA, and full details -- very nice! To answer your question about the difference between KT266 and KT266A, I'm no expert, but from what I've read, the difference is in stability (I'll attest to that) and (I believe) compatibility. My system now runs rock stable and runs any software I've thrown at it (and I do throw a lot at it - games, photoediting, music apps, etc) I would recommend my configuration to anyone. I'm sure that the GeForce 3 (instead of my Voodoo5) would really make it fly, but I do like my center top rearview mirror in GPL. (See my previous thread of about 1 day ago). 8-) It sounds like a nice system that you're looking at, but I would agree that you should look for that "A" in the chipset. Good Luck, Bert Don Jennings wrote:

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> Thanks for responding, this is the second mention I've heard of the "A" > chipset. This is a pre-built system, and I believe it's just the 266. In > what areas would that handicap the box, and how much? > > "Stephen Smith" wrote ... > | Don, > | > | Sounds good, but shouldn't you be looking for the KT266*A* chipset > (emphasis > | added)? It replaced the KT266 abt. 4 months ago...right after I bought > just > | such a system.

Don, I just upgraded my system to one somewhat similar to what you're upgrading to. I'll follow the same format as you did: MB - Epox 8Kha+ (KT266A Chipset) (Abit BH6) CPU - AMD AthlonXP 1700+ (Celeron 566 o/ced to 850) RAM - 512 Megs DDR2100 (384 Megs SDRAM) Video - Voodoo5 (same) Sound - SBLive (same) OS - Win98SE (same) HD's - 40 Gig + 12 Gig (same) Did I experience any improvements? YOU BET! I don't play N4 much, but I do a lot of GPL (and just getting into F1 2001, including the new GT mod - excellent!). Although GPL framerates are capped at 36, I can now run it with a full field at 1024x768 with 2X FSAA, and full details -- very nice! To answer your question about the difference between KT266 and KT266A, I'm no expert, but from what I've read, the difference is in stability (I'll attest to that) and (I believe) compatibility. My system now runs rock stable and runs any software I've thrown at it (and I do throw a lot at it - games, photoediting, music apps, etc) I would recommend my configuration to anyone. I'm sure that the GeForce 3 (instead of my Voodoo5) would really make it fly, but I do like my center top rearview mirror in GPL. (See my previous thread of about 1 day ago). 8-) It sounds like a nice system that you're looking at, but I would agree that you should look for that "A" in the chipset. Good Luck, Bert

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> Thanks for responding, this is the second mention I've heard of the "A" > chipset. This is a pre-built system, and I believe it's just the 266. In > what areas would that handicap the box, and how much? > "Stephen Smith" wrote ... > | Don, > | > | Sounds good, but shouldn't you be looking for the KT266*A* chipset > (emphasis > | added)? It replaced the KT266 abt. 4 months ago...right after I bought > just > | such a system.

I own 4 IBM GXPs (a 75-Gb, two 60s and a 40). IBM became my HD vendor-of-choice after Micropolis went t.u. But a couple of months ago, the Net was awash in horror stories about how the GXPs (particularly the GXP 75s) were failing at an alarming rate. There's even a major class-action law suit pending, as if they were Ford Explorers on Firestone Wilderness ATs. I thought I had detected the death-rattle of my GXP moaning from within the box (like Iomega Zip Drives' "click of death") only it turned out to be a tiny fan on my GeForce video card. So far, I have had no trouble with any of the quartet...but the last HD I bought was a Maxtor. "Don Burnette" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:vW%78.432$[email hidden]... > Just curious, why would you advise to stay away from the IBM drives? Ihave > always run nothing but IBM, and have never had a problem. I am runningtheir

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> 60 gb 75GXP in this system, and it is doing very well. > > Don Burnette > > "Stephen Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:9k%78.37121$[email hidden]... > > Don, > > > > Sounds good, but shouldn't you be looking for the KT266*A* chipset > (emphasis > > added)? It replaced the KT266 abt. 4 months ago...right after I bought > just > > such a system. > > > > You'll need Papy's "speed" patch for a CPU that fast, which may impact a > > couple of add-ons (the 7-engine-sounds mod is the only one I can think > of). > > > > The 40-Gb drive sounds a little small by today's standards, but that > depends > > on what else you want to keep on there. Just make sure it isn't an IBM > GXP > > model! > > > > --Steve Smith > > > > "Don Jennings" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > news:SH_78.6503$[email hidden]... > > > I'm taking the plunge and upgrading my home computer, and would > appreciate > > > your thoughts on whether I'm shooting my self in the foot with

anything > > here > > > (in terms of running N4 and GPL, with considerably more graphicsaddons

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> > than > > > I run now ;-) This is a pre-built system, I know I may do cheaper > rolling > > > my own, but I've already decided it's worth it to me to pay somebody > else > > to > > > do the grunt work. My current system is in parentheses for

comparison.

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> > > > > > MB - KT266 Chipset DDR ATX > > > Processor - AMD Athlon XP 1700 (P3-433) > > > RAM - 256mb 266 non-ecc DDR (128) > > > HD - 40gb ultra ATA 7200 (13) > > > Video - GeForce 3 64mb DDR (voodoo3-3000) > > > Sound - SB Live 5.1 (same) > > > OS - Win98se (same) > > > > > > Any thoughts on likely improvements I'll experience, or ideas on what > > might > > > be better alternatives? > > > > > > Thanks, > > > Don > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

As Stepehn said, they seemed to be a premature failure problem on a batch of them, but haven't heard much new stuff about it, I heard they were quickly replacing any faulty drives for the customers so I don't understand how they can sue over potentially lost data. There are disclaimers all over the place about data is not covered, etc...but people will sue over anything and everything these days. -- Biz "Don't touch that please, your primitive intellect wouldn't understand alloys and compositions and,......things with molecular structures,....and the....." - Ash Stephen Smith <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:P5188.38463$[email hidden]... > I own 4 IBM GXPs (a 75-Gb, two 60s and a 40). IBM became my HD > vendor-of-choice after Micropolis went t.u. But a couple of months ago, the > Net was awash in horror stories about how the GXPs (particularly the GXP > 75s) were failing at an alarming rate. There's even a major class-action > law suit pending, as if they were Ford Explorers on Firestone Wilderness > ATs. I thought I had detected the death-rattle of my GXP moaning from > within the box (like Iomega Zip Drives' "click of death") only it turned out > to be a tiny fan on my GeForce video card. So far, I have had no trouble > with any of the quartet...but the last HD I bought was a Maxtor. > > "Don Burnette" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:vW%78.432$[email hidden]... > > Just curious, why would you advise to stay away from the IBM drives? I > have > > always run nothing but IBM, and have never had a problem. I am running > their > > 60 gb 75GXP in this system, and it is doing very well. > > > > Don Burnette > > > > "Stephen Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > news:9k%78.37121$[email hidden]... > > > Don, > > > > > > Sounds good, but shouldn't you be looking for the KT266*A* chipset > > (emphasis > > > added)? It replaced the KT266 abt. 4 months ago...right after I bought > > just > > > such a system. > > > > > > You'll need Papy's "speed" patch for a CPU that fast, which may impact a > > > couple of add-ons (the 7-engine-sounds mod is the only one I can think > > of). > > > > > > The 40-Gb drive sounds a little small by today's standards, but that > > depends > > > on what else you want to keep on there. Just make sure it isn't an IBM > > GXP > > > model! > > > > > > --Steve Smith > > > > > > "Don Jennings" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > > news:SH_78.6503$[email hidden]... > > > > I'm taking the plunge and upgrading my home computer, and would > > appreciate > > > > your thoughts on whether I'm shooting my self in the foot with > anything > > > here > > > > (in terms of running N4 and GPL, with considerably more graphics > addons > > > than > > > > I run now ;-) This is a pre-built system, I know I may do cheaper > > rolling > > > > my own, but I've already decided it's worth it to me to pay somebody > > else > > > to > > > > do the grunt work. My current system is in parentheses for > comparison. > > > > > > > > MB - KT266 Chipset DDR ATX > > > > Processor - AMD Athlon XP 1700 (P3-433) > > > > RAM - 256mb 266 non-ecc DDR (128) > > > > HD - 40gb ultra ATA 7200 (13) > > > > Video - GeForce 3 64mb DDR (voodoo3-3000) > > > > Sound - SB Live 5.1 (same) > > > > OS - Win98se (same) > > > > > > > > Any thoughts on likely improvements I'll experience, or ideas on what > > > might > > > > be better alternatives? > > > > > > > > Thanks, > > > > Don > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

took the words right outta my mouth... > Sounds good, but shouldn't you be looking for the KT266*A* chipset(emphasis > added)? It replaced the KT266 abt. 4 months ago...right after I boughtjust > such a system. >