Getting the most out of my PC

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LuffyTubby

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#1 LuffyTubby
Member since 2006 • 741 Posts
Here is the specs on my PC:


Motherboard:
ASUSTeK Computer Inc. P4P800-E ! It has an AGP 8X slot. So I can't use PCI Express cards:(
Version : Rev 1.xx
Serial Number : MB-1234567890
Support MP : Yes, 1 CPU(s)
Version MPS : 1.4
NorthBridge : Intel i865PE
SouthBridge : 82801EB/ER (ICH5/ICH5R) LPC Interface Bridge

NorthBridge Information :
Architecture : HUB
Manufacturer : Intel (ASUSTeK Computer Inc)
Codename : Springdale
Revision : A2
Bus Speed : 199.9 MHz
FSB Frequency : 799.7 MHz (QDR)
PAT Enabled : Yes
FSB max. Support : 800 MHz
RAM max. Support : DDR (400 MHz)

Memory Information :
Type : DDR-SDRAM PC3200
Frequency : 199.9 MHz
DRAM/FSB Ratio : 1/1
Supported Channels : Dual (128-bit)
Activated Channels : Dual
Mode : Linear
PAT Enabled : Yes
ECC Diagnostic : Nej
CAS Latency (tCL) : 3 clocks
RAS to CAS (tRCD) : 3 clocks
RAS Precharge (tRP) : 3 clocks
Cycle Time (tRAS) : 8 clocks

Bus Information :
Version : 3.0
Transfert Rate supported : 4x, 8x
Transfert Rate : 8x
Aperture Size : 64 MB
AGP enabled : Yes

APIC Information :
Version : 2.00
Maximum Interrupts : 24
IRQ Handler enabled : Yes

Hub Interface Information :
Version : 1.00
Time Slice : 0
Width : 8-bit
Full Duplex : Yes
Frequency : 4x (264 MHz)
Multiplier : 1/1x

Device Capabilities (PCI) :
I/O Access : No
Memory Access : Yes
Bus Master Capable : Yes
Special Cycle Recognition : No
Memory Write & Invalidate : No
VGA Palette Snoop : No
Parity Error Response : No
Cycle Wait : No
System Error Line : No
Fast Back-to-Back : No
Detects Parity Errors : No
User Defined Format : No
PCI 66Mhz Bus Support : No
New Capability List : Yes
PCI Support : Vendor-Dependant
PCI Support : AGP



Processor:
Intel Pentium 4 CPU 3.00GHz. It seems to support Hyper-threading. I don't know what it is though.
Codename : Prescott
Revision : E0
Technology : 0.09µ
CPU ID : F.4.1
CPU IDEx : F.4.1
Microcode : MU0F4112
Number of Logical Processors : 2
VME - Virtual Mode Ext. : Yes
DE - Debugging Extension : Yes
PSE - Page Size Extension : Yes
TSC - Time Stamp Counter : Yes
MSR - Model Specific Registers : Yes
PAE - Physical Address Extension : Yes
MCE - Machine Check Exception : Yes
APIC - Local APIC Built-in : Yes
SEP - Fast System Call : Yes
MTRR - Memory Type Range Reg. : Yes
PGE - Page Global Enable : Yes
MCA - Machine Check Architecture : Yes
PAT - Page Attribute Table : Yes
PSE36 - 36-bit Page Size Extension : Yes
PSN - Unique Serial Number : No
DS - Debug Trace & EMON Store : Yes
ACPI - Software Clock Control : Yes
SS - Self Snoop : Yes
TM - Thermal Monitor : Yes
HTT - Hyper-Threading : Yes
SBF - Signal Break on FERR : Yes
MON - Monitor/Mwait : Yes
DSCPL - CPL qualified Debug Store : Yes
TM2 - Thermal Monitor 2 : No
CID - Context ID : Yes
EST - Enhanced SpeedStep Tec... No
XD - No-execute Page : No
VT - Vanderpool Technology : No
LT - LaGrande Technology : No
FPU - Co-processor Built-in : Yes
CX8 - CMPXCHG8B : Yes
CX16 - CMPXCHG16B : No
CMOV - Conditionnal Move Inst. : Yes
CLF - Cache Line Flush : Yes
FXSR - Fast Float Save & Restore : Yes
xTPR - Send Task Priority : Yes
DCA - Direct Cache Access : No
DAZ - Denormals Are Zero : Yes
MMX Technology : Yes
SSE Technology : Yes
SSE2 Technology : Yes
SSE3 Technology : Yes
S-SSE3 : No
EM64T Technology : No
IA-64 Technology : No
PBE - Pend. Brk. EN. : Yes
LAHF - LAHF/SAHF Inst. : No
Technology Enabled : Yes
Physical Processor #1 : Apic ID 0
Logical Processor #1 : Apic ID 1
Physical Addressing max. : 36-bit
Linear Addressing max. : 32-bit
In Order Queue Depth : 12
Fast-Strings : Yes
x87 FPU Opcode : No
Thermal Monitor : Yes
Split-Lock : Yes
Performance Monitoring : Yes
Prefetch Queue : Yes
Branch Trace Storage : Yes
C1E - Enhanced Halt State : No
Temperature Control : 66 °C
PRB - Performance Requirement Bit : No
Socket/Slot : CPU 1
Upgrade interface : Socket 478
Supported Speed : 3600 MHz (or more)
Supported Voltage : 1.4V






GPU:
Manufacturer : Nvidia Corp (Leadtek Research)
Model : GeForce 7800 GS
Bus Type : AGP
Total Memory : 256 MB
Texture Memory : 299 MB
Processor : GeForce 7800 GS
Converter : Integrated RAMDAC
Refresh Rate (min/max) :
Number of GPU : 1
Codename : G71
Revision : A2
Bus : 256-bit
Memory Type : GDDR3
GPU Frequency : 275.4 MHz
Geometric Domain : 375 MHz
Shader Domain : 375 MHz
ROP Domain : 375 MHz
Memory Frequency GPU :
Pixel Pipelines : 16
Vertex Pipelines : 6
Texels : 15600 MTexels/s
DirectX Support : 9.0c
Pixel Shader Version : 3.0




I have two Hard Drives, 1, 160 GB(Drive C) and another 250 GB(Drive E).




My 2 Gig of RAM:
General Information :
DIMM A1 (RAS 1, RAS 0) : 512 (Double Bank)
DIMM A2 (RAS 3, RAS 2) : 512 (Double Bank)
DIMM B1 (RAS 5, RAS 4) : 512 (Double Bank)
DIMM B2 (RAS 7, RAS 6) : 512 (Double Bank)

Information SPD EEPROM (DIMM A1) :
Manufacturer : Samsung
Part Number : M3 68L6423ETM-CCC
Serial Number : F20252B6
Type : DDR-SDRAM PC-3200 (200 MHz) - [DDR-400]
Size : 512 MB (2 rows, 4 banks)
Module Buffered : No
Module Registered : No
Module EPP : No
Width : 64-bit
Error Correction Capability : No
Max. Burst Length : 8
Refresh : Reduced (.5x)7.8 µs, Self Refresh
Voltage : SSTL 2.5v
Prefetch Buffer : 2-bit
Manufacture : Week 3 of 2005
Supported Frequencies : 166 MHz, 200 MHz
CAS Latency (tCL) : 2.5 clocks @166 MHz, 3 clocks @200 MHz
RAS to CAS (tRCD) : 3 clocks @166 MHz, 3 clocks @200 MHz
RAS Precharge (tRP) : 3 clocks @166 MHz, 3 clocks @200 MHz
Cycle Time (tRAS) : 7 clocks @166 MHz, 8 clocks @200 MHz

Information SPD EEPROM (DIMM A2) :
Manufacturer : Samsung
Part Number : M3 68L6423ETM-CCC
Serial Number : F201358C
Type : DDR-SDRAM PC-3200 (200 MHz) - [DDR-400]
Size : 512 MB (2 rows, 4 banks)
Module Buffered : No
Module Registered : No
Module EPP : No
Width : 64-bit
Error Correction Capability : No
Max. Burst Length : 8
Refresh : Reduced (.5x)7.8 µs, Self Refresh
Voltage : SSTL 2.5v
Prefetch Buffer : 2-bit
Manufacture : Week 3 of 2005
Supported Frequencies : 166 MHz, 200 MHz
CAS Latency (tCL) : 2.5 clocks @166 MHz, 3 clocks @200 MHz
RAS to CAS (tRCD) : 3 clocks @166 MHz, 3 clocks @200 MHz
RAS Precharge (tRP) : 3 clocks @166 MHz, 3 clocks @200 MHz
Cycle Time (tRAS) : 7 clocks @166 MHz, 8 clocks @200 MHz

Information SPD EEPROM (DIMM B1) :
Manufacturer : Samsung
Part Number : M3 68L6423ETM-CCC
Serial Number : F2053560
Type : DDR-SDRAM PC-3200 (200 MHz) - [DDR-400]
Size : 512 MB (2 rows, 4 banks)
Module Buffered : No
Module Registered : No
Module EPP : No
Width : 64-bit
Error Correction Capability : No
Max. Burst Length : 8
Refresh : Reduced (.5x)7.8 µs, Self Refresh
Voltage : SSTL 2.5v
Prefetch Buffer : 2-bit
Manufacture : Week 3 of 2005
Supported Frequencies : 166 MHz, 200 MHz
CAS Latency (tCL) : 2.5 clocks @166 MHz, 3 clocks @200 MHz
RAS to CAS (tRCD) : 3 clocks @166 MHz, 3 clocks @200 MHz
RAS Precharge (tRP) : 3 clocks @166 MHz, 3 clocks @200 MHz
Cycle Time (tRAS) : 7 clocks @166 MHz, 8 clocks @200 MHz

Information SPD EEPROM (DIMM B2) :
Manufacturer : Samsung
Part Number : M3 68L6423FTN-CCC
Serial Number : F105BC30
Type : DDR-SDRAM PC-3200 (200 MHz) - [DDR-400]
Size : 512 MB (2 rows, 4 banks)
Module Buffered : No
Module Registered : No
Module EPP : No
Width : 64-bit
Error Correction Capability : No
Max. Burst Length : 8
Refresh : Reduced (.5x)7.8 µs, Self Refresh
Voltage : SSTL 2.5v
Prefetch Buffer : 2-bit
Manufacture : Week 2 of 2005
Supported Frequencies : 166 MHz, 200 MHz
CAS Latency (tCL) : 2.5 clocks @166 MHz, 3 clocks @200 MHz
RAS to CAS (tRCD) : 3 clocks @166 MHz, 3 clocks @200 MHz
RAS Precharge (tRP) : 3 clocks @166 MHz, 3 clocks @200 MHz
Cycle Time (tRAS) : 7 clocks @166 MHz, 8 clocks @200 MHz

Memory Controller Information :
Memory Controller : SIMM, DIMM, SDRAM
Number of connectors : 4
Max. Module Size : 1024 MB
Max. Memory Size : 4096 MB
Supported Speed : 70ns, 60ns, 50ns
Supported Voltages : 2.9v
Error Detection Method : No
Error Correction Capability : Unspecified
Current/Supported Interleave : 1-way/1-way


I have Windows XP Home.


I am looking to get the best out of my computer. Eventually I will have to get a new one, but I wanted to know if I could make upgrades to my current one, that would let it be able to play all the graphics intensive games that will be released in 07!


Should I ditch my 2 Gig of RAM, for 4 Gigs? And if so... what speed and what kind? Shouldn't I? Would it make a difference? Would the bottleneck the rest of the system?


If I wanted better sound in my computer, while watching movies, playing games and listening to music, what should I do? If I got a sound card would my peformance decrease? Would it help if I just got some really good speakers or head phones? How good is the on-board audio advice on my Mobo compared to a stand alone sound card?


Should I get Vista? would I get worse framerate in my games...? Would it help at all?


what about my graphics card... I seem unable to change the motherboard without changing the prosessor aswell. And they dont even seem to make Graphics card that uses AGP anymore...



I just want to get the best out of my computer... I got limited money but I want to upgrade it time by time. I wanna make getting the best out of it, my top priority and long term project. So please give me advice, on what to do...

Or is it a lost cause? Would I be better of just buying a new system? I am not saying that I want to play crysis maxed out on my system, but I would like to get better peformance...

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LuffyTubby

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#2 LuffyTubby
Member since 2006 • 741 Posts
please help... :(
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KSlater85

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#3 KSlater85
Member since 2003 • 19738 Posts
Well... Don't get vista.. For sure.. No point. It\s not better then XP. If you are going to upgrade that system... Changing the whole system seems to be a better idea... Because yea.... you need new memory and mobo and cpu and video card all at once... even just those 4 might be an idea... Wait for the 8300 video cards from Nvidia. They are not really a slouch like their 7300 brothers... And get a cheap Core 2 (e 4300 sort) some good cheap Geil ram (usually are the best price performance) and a Gigabyte 965 motherboard. If you must stay with that you can get a7600 GT video card or even a 7800 GS but they are rather pricy and you are still on a dead end... There is a little hope for you though... you can get an E4300 and this board... http://www.anitec.ca/product/6875/asrock_775i65g_rev._2_intel_865g_pentiumorceleron_agp8x_socket_775_motherboard/  Yes I know that is a canadian site but newegg did not seem to stock that board. but anyway... that will take the E4300 but still use your current AGP card and your current memory.
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raynimrod

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#4 raynimrod
Member since 2005 • 6861 Posts
Lol i doubt we needed THAT much information, but nonetheless your system is not bad (upper mid end rig).  However, if you want to increase performance you're probably going to have to start from scratch.  That means new mobo, and new video card.  A new processor mite be in order also, perhaps a Core 2 Duo.  The only thing is, if you're going to do this you may aswel buy a brand new system.  You won't really be able to do anything with your video card since its AGP, that technology is pretty much obsolete now.  Don't get me wrong, your computer should be able to run Crysis without any problems on medium settings at probably 1024 x 768.  If you're going to upgrade, start saving now to buy a brand new system in a year.  I wouldn't recommend spending any more money on your current rig.

Processor - outdated (Go Core 2 Duo)
RAM - DDR is outdated (DDR2 is what you'll need)
Video Card (Mid end performer by todays standards - AGP is obsolete)
Mobo - suitable for your system, but you may as well buy a new rig if you're going to have to change everything
Sound Card - If you're into your sound quality i suggest you do some research on this.  Im happy with Intergrated.

I don't know if i've been much help.  Other people may say different to what i've said.
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ulillillia

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#5 ulillillia
Member since 2006 • 685 Posts
Your CPU is a major weak point (which seems to be identical to the one I've got as I have the same weak point).  Your video card is fairly decent though, but it's your CPU that'll likely be bottlenecking the performance.  Unless you have a 64-bit CPU and a 64-bit operating system, you won't be able to use 4 GB of memory.  2 GB is already good enough and should last through the rest of 2007.

Getting a sound card would actually boost performance some since it would take less strain off the CPU (provided you're using onboard sound) and the sound quality is far better as well.  I would suggest the X-Fi Platinum for a good mid-range card.  Onboard sound is sufficient in some cases, but for games, not entirely recommended.  A sound card can support 192,000 Hz sample rates, 24-bit, and 8 channels audio (possibly even more channels).  Onboard may get to around 96,000 Hz, 16-bit, and 8 channels, but sounds around and lower than 16,000 Hz sample rates can sound awkward or off-tone (due to the speed changing slightly).  My X-Fi Platinum doesn't have any of these.  Good speakers do help.  I only use a 2-speaker setup, but 5.1 and 7.1 systems seem quite common.

Vista doesn't support many drivers and few games can run with it at the moment.  You should wait until the first service pack is released before getting it.

Between getting a sound card (which often would use a PCI slot (not PCI-express, just standard PCI, of which almost every motherboard has)) or just upgrading your motherboard and CPU would seem a better option.  However, upgrading the motherboard toward PCI-express is likely going to mean upgrading the video card at the same time (you could just stick with a cheap video card for a bit and when you save up, get the bigger, better stuff and sell your cheap one for around 1/3 to 1/2 the price).  I had a similar case, but it's my very low spending limit that hinders my choices.  Your biggest weak point is your CPU from what I can see.
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LuffyTubby

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#6 LuffyTubby
Member since 2006 • 741 Posts
thanks for the info mates:)

thats all I needed to hear:-D
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LuffyTubby

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#7 LuffyTubby
Member since 2006 • 741 Posts

*Bump*

I have decided to go and try and get a sound card, but it made me think. If a sound card can help peformance, is there anything else for PCI slots that can help aswell?

I mean... what about one of does new physics card? If I got one of does, would it boost peformance?

Is there anything else?

Also... My ram are DDR-2 3200. I know that it would not make a difference if I had 2 or 4 Gig, but... What if I got 2 gig of new good quality ram of a much better speed. would it help peformance allot?

also... If my CPU is really my bottleneck, do you think that I would be able to get some sort of 478 socket CPU that I can put in my system without changing everything else?

Please help. :)

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RayvinAzn

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#8 RayvinAzn
Member since 2004 • 12552 Posts

*Bump*

I have decided to go and try and get a sound card, but it made me think. If a sound card can help peformance, is there anything else for PCI slots that can help aswell?

I mean... what about one of does new physics card? If I got one of does, would it boost peformance?

Is there anything else?

Also... My ram are DDR-2 3200. I know that it would not make a difference if I had 2 or 4 Gig, but... What if I got 2 gig of new good quality ram of a much better speed. would it help peformance allot?

also... If my CPU is really my bottleneck, do you think that I would be able to get some sort of 478 socket CPU that I can put in my system without changing everything else?

Please help. :)

LuffyTubby
The PhysX card will not boost performance - they're a good idea, but rather gimmicky at this point in time. As for the RAM, you won't notice any real performance difference by switching to higher-speed, tighter-timing RAM, especially since that's DDR, not DDR2 RAM, and you won't be able to re-use it. As for better Socket 478 processors, there's not much - not enough for me to recommend going out and splurging on a new one, at any rate. I hate to say it, but that machine's about as good as it's going to get. I'd only buy parts that can carry over to your next build at this point. Sound card, power supply, speakers, monitor, etc.
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Cyborg-21

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#9 Cyborg-21
Member since 2007 • 2700 Posts
As for your graphics card, I think the Radeon X1950PRO performs better than the 7800GS. Although Nvidia may be releasing 8600 cards that are DX10 capable for AGP.