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[Lachp30]

Hi

Just wondering if these specs will be good enough for N64 emulation and high speed gaming

DELL

2.0Ghz Intel Pentuim 4
128mb DDR SD-RAM
64mb Geforce 2 MX AGP
80gig hardrive
Windows XP

Cost - around $2500 Australian
- around $1700 American

Now before you say, get a AMD, i cant. I have to stick with Intel:(

[Slougi]

Propably yes, although I cannot say for sure. P4 has an extremely weak fpu unit. An Athlon 800Mhz outperforms a P4 1.6 Ghz quite easily in that department, which is also the most decisive for n64 emulation speed.

[Macca]

more ram for sure you ahould have at least double that, i've got a p III 500 with 448 and xp

[Lachp30]

Ok..thanks

[Dabba_Deh]

For High Speed gaming, DEFINETELY. Maybe a little tiny bit more Ram, but that's all. And don't buy from Dell...They're a rip off. My computer was bought at a place called PCW http://www.pcwent.com And it cost me...you know how much? $650 plus tax...CANADIAN! This is a WAAAAY better deal than buying from dell. But, Dell has much better support, so that isn't necessarily a bad choice...But if it's value you want, custom PC's are the way to go!

[Eagle]

I have to agree with you on the Intel thing. AMD makes great processors, but you can't buy a halfway decent motherboard for them, go figure. I've had nothing but trouble with AMD mobos

[Lachp30]

So DELL it is. And INTEL it is.

[sk8bloke22]

i wouldnt go with dell. they're really limited in some respects, like they still only do Soundblaster Live5.1's, (no audigy's) and u hav no choice but to get those darn Harmon Karnan (spelling is completely wrong) speakers.

[Squall Leonhart]

Yeah, and all the PC's for a decent price only have a lousy ATI Rage Ultra GFX-card. Weak.

[Lachp30]

Actaully..I challenge you both about that. Harmon Karden are one of the best speaker brands on the market. It beats the crap out of getting some cheap imported brand like 'SORNY' and 'Panaphonic'..lol. +, the graphics card in the DELL is fine.

[Squall Leonhart]

I'm just saying that an ATI Rage 128 suckz for N64-emu...
U know that don't u?
Well, u can get a nice Nvidia chip GeForce 2 MX 400 or anything, but at a higer prize...

[Lachp30]

The problem with buying computer clones is that there support is crap. Also, could someone go to www.perplus.com.au and tell me weather these people have good computers.

Thanks

[sk8bloke22]

Originally posted by Lachp30
Actaully..I challenge you both about that. Harmon Karden are one of the best speaker brands on the market. It beats the crap out of getting some cheap imported brand like 'SORNY' and 'Panaphonic'..lol. +, the graphics card in the DELL is fine.

ur probably right, but i prefer the more high street sorta speaker that u can get with other companies, as its just like selecting the perfect accessories, u would later upgrade ur pc with anyway. wateva, speakers are really personal preference. and i think Dell tweak their NVIDIA chips...not sure on that though.

[Lachp30]

tweak??

[Trotterwatch]

Some OEMS (ie Dell) used to Underclock their graphics cards from what I have heard. If they still do it, I don't know - but it's a simple enough thing to change default clockspeeds.

[sk8bloke22]

i think Dell was the first company to produce/release a 64mb Geforce2 card (this was when the first geforce 2's were released).

[Lachp30]

Yeh, but is tweaking a good thing or a bad thing?

[Lachp30]

I have no idea what to buy,

People are telling me intel suck, but on the same token they tell me that you can't get a half decent motherboard for AMD

What should i do??

[Trotterwatch]

You can get plenty of decent Motherboards for the Athlon. A while back that wasn't the case, but nowadays as long as you keep the board drivers and/or Bios up to date, you'll be fine.

The only problem I have ever had with my Motherboard in which an Athlon sits is that it didn't like SB Live! Cards. That was solved though via a very simple patch available from: http://www.viahardware.com

[Lachp30]

Ok, thanks alot. I think im going to go with Intel though.

[Trotterwatch]

If you get a later Intel Processor something like a 2ghz + then performance wise it will be on a par (sometimes even better) than an Athlon (in most things).

The problem is, the price is also much higher.... Also ensure you get more than 128mb Ram with the P4, as well as a GF2 MX400 as a minimum spec graphics card.

Perhaps it would be worth your while to see if Dell could bundle in a GF3 Ti200 instead of the MX, and perhaps accomodate the price increase associated with that, by getting a processor of 100mhz or so less than you wanted.

[Slougi]

If you go the Intel route, be sure to get a cpu wih Northwood core instead of the old Willamete. Much faster and runs cooler as well. And make sure the mobo is socket 478.

[sytaylor]

Originally posted by Eagle
I have to agree with you on the Intel thing. AMD makes great processors, but you can't buy a halfway decent motherboard for them, go figure. I've had nothing but trouble with AMD mobos

one word "ABIT" this mobo has taken EVERYTHING i've thrown at it and laughed, when i overclock too far it just refuses to start, reset the cmos, go back to a lower setting and BAM back where u were with no damage caused, its great :inlove:

[Lachp30]

That graphics card with the dell im planning on getting is a GF2 AGP...i dunno what the hell that is, but lets hope it does the job eh? Besides, im ordering in three days.

[Eagle]

Originally posted by sytaylor


one word "ABIT" this mobo has taken EVERYTHING i've thrown at it and laughed, when i overclock too far it just refuses to start, reset the cmos, go back to a lower setting and BAM back where u were with no damage caused, its great :inlove:

Nope, my dad has an Abit athlon, and it works like a stubborn mule. (Yes, we do have three computers in my house by the way) :P My Dad's and brothers are faster than mine, have faster memory, and yet mine runs the best of all three.

EDIT: Not to mention the quietest, but thats another problem