the new Dell Dimension 4100 line of PCs start at $1299 for a PIII 733 and
128MB of PC133 SDRAM. The standard video card is the 32MB NVIDIA TNT2 M64.
You can upgrade the video card to a 32MB NVIDIA GeForce AGP for $90, or a
32MB DDR GeForce2 4X AGP for $190. You can upgrade the processor to a PIII
800 for $80.
The sims I use now are GPL, Nascar 3, SCGT, CPR, DTR, Viper Racing, and
Midtown Madness. With the new system, I'd also like to get F1200, NFS
Porsche Unleashed, Mobil 1 Rally Championship, and Nascar 4 when it's
released.
I'm configuring a new system now, and am already up to about $1900 before
upgrading the processor or the video. Which would be the better upgrade for
the sims listed? Or should I get the system as is and add a Voodoo 3 or 5
later on my own?
--
<remove 7of9 for e-mail replies>
--
Bill Jones e-mail addresses:
Computer Sciences Corp. (work) [email hidden]
New London, Connecticut (play) [email hidden]
(860) 701-1201 WWW: http://pages.cthome.net/billj
That isn't the best vid card for newer sims....it is now a 3rd generation
old compared to the GeeWhizzes ...(geforce2 gs)ddr....
However...the CPU should always be the first item for system speed.
Get as much cpu as you can afford and then cobble together whatever else you
can scrounge...
here is a example...
Don't get a modem or soundcard in your system. CompUSA has SQ2500 Aureals
on sale this week for $30 bucks. Yeah the company is gone but the cards are
topnotch. The only card I know of that can do A3d 2.0 AND EAX.
And any modem included with a low end system is gonna be a win-modem.
which, to put it mildly, SUCK for gaming. They hog resources like you won't
believe. Check on ebay for used 56k modems or find a discontinued product
from a major manufacturer if possible. Just make sure it isn't a winmodem.
And...if you can upgrade that tnt2 to the first Geforce then the maxed out
cpu purchase will have something that will almost keep up.
dave henrie
"Bill Jones" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:8lsesi$gkr$[email hidden]...
> the new Dell Dimension 4100 line of PCs start at $1299 for a PIII 733 and
> 128MB of PC133 SDRAM. The standard video card is the 32MB NVIDIA TNT2M64.
> You can upgrade the video card to a 32MB NVIDIA GeForce AGP for $90, or a
> 32MB DDR GeForce2 4X AGP for $190. You can upgrade the processor to aPIII
for
Quoted text (9 lines)
> 800 for $80. > > The sims I use now are GPL, Nascar 3, SCGT, CPR, DTR, Viper Racing, and > Midtown Madness. With the new system, I'd also like to get F1200, NFS > Porsche Unleashed, Mobil 1 Rally Championship, and Nascar 4 when it's > released. > > I'm configuring a new system now, and am already up to about $1900 before > upgrading the processor or the video. Which would be the better upgradeQuoted text (16 lines)
> the sims listed? Or should I get the system as is and add a Voodoo 3 or 5 > later on my own? > > > > -- > <remove 7of9 for e-mail replies> > > -- > Bill Jones e-mail addresses: > Computer Sciences Corp. (work) [email hidden] > New London, Connecticut (play) [email hidden] > (860) 701-1201 WWW: http://pages.cthome.net/billj > > >The processor upgrade in that case is very minor (66mhz) and would probably
not do a thing to boast fps performance. You will get more raw game power by
upgrading to the GeForce 1 card for about the same price.
For $100 more you could rock out with the GeForce 2 but you will pay quite a
bit more money for only a few frames more than the GF1 can produce. For the
value the GeForce 1 is your best move. Check to see if that $90 GeForce has
SDR or DDR memory - DDR would make it an even better score.
If you really have money to burn I would check out a PC from alienware.com .
Bill Jones <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:8lsesi$gkr$[email hidden]...
> the new Dell Dimension 4100 line of PCs start at $1299 for a PIII 733 and
> 128MB of PC133 SDRAM. The standard video card is the 32MB NVIDIA TNT2M64.
> You can upgrade the video card to a 32MB NVIDIA GeForce AGP for $90, or a
> 32MB DDR GeForce2 4X AGP for $190. You can upgrade the processor to aPIII
for
