Building new one

[bassvax]

I'm thinking of going with this (http://www.bench-house.com/motherboard/asus/a7v266-e/a7v266-e_001.html) motherboard and grabbing a CPU out of the AMD XP series....gonna disable the onboard sound and put in a nice gaming card.

My question is really OS related...I've read all the good things about XP Prof...Is it a good OS for gamers? Mostly UT, RTCWolfenstein, Ghost Recon..those type games..intensive system demands. I will buy the OS when I buy some of the hardware Tuesday...should I stick with the Game tried and true Win 98 SE or pop in the XP Prof? I have no exp yet with XP.

Gonna put in an ASUS GF3 8200 Pure 64MB DDR as well..lol and some DDR RAM from crucial.

Any suggestions for a good gaming sound card? I hear of problems with Creative sound cards and ASUS/AMD stuff...but I have an ASUS mobo/AMD CPU and the SoundBlaster Live Platinum 5.1 and all is well http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

SO...

1) Is XP Prof better for gaming?
2) Sound card suggestions.

Thanks peeps http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

btw- this is for the kids...18 & 16...my son games like I do lol

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Careful With That Axe, Eugene

Flush 'N' Forget (http://www2.apex.net/users/hwuswtp)

[Jumby]

I almost bought that MB Bass; let me know haow it goes.

[iisbob]

have to say that i absolutely LOVE Xp for gaming!!

it has made both Quake, Unreal, Elite Force, and every other game i've installed just scream the best! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif

Because it is based on the NT kernel, software has no direct access to the hardware=less crashes and better memory management.

Awesome DirectX support.

Course the Geforce3 Ti 500 doesn't hurt either ( or the 512 PC2100 DDR ! ) http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

Just be aware Bass that ASUS has a rep for being extensively cranky!



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iisbob

CPU= 5mhz
Memory= 16 K
Storage=10.2MB's
Video=Onboard S3 4K
Modem=14.4 baud
Sound=ISA Yamaha 8bit
Mouse=2 button MS
Monitor=ACER 12.5"
OS= WIN 3.1

My ultimate gaming system :)

[ranchdog]

Man... Don't knock the on-board sound on this one until you have
tried it and are convinced it needs changing. Has 6 channel support
that will give SounBlaster a run.

SoundBlaster can be grief because of driver conflicts and IRQ issues.

With that being said: Turtle Beach.

BTW. You have chosen one of the best MB's on the present day market.
The only thing I may do differently is to choose the 333 series Mboard
'cause of the 333 series RAM that is coming on the market. Person should
be able to do some tough gaming with true 2700 DDR, etc.

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/cool.gif

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....How long is a minute... depends on which side of the Bathroom door you're on. ......
..........

[Jiggy]

hi bassvax, ive just built a new system for gaming and im using win98 and im running the games you speak of. only had one baft prob with Quake3, it wouldnt let me use a forward button in any way shape or form. no no, not at all.
it plays both SeriousSam games, and im waiting for Unreal 2, and Doom 3.
heres a link to my specs.
http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/Forum10/HTML/000278.html

forgive me, im young. Jiggy http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[bassvax]

Thank you folks for responding http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif I knew I could count on you for opinions and information.

It's not that I've ignored what I've read here in the previous months posts regarding choices of motherboards etc..I think I have this lucky, voodoo-ish conection with the ASUS motherboard...and Bob, I know full well from the complaining I see in the newsgroups, here and other pc forums that the ASUS can be a picky bugger...So I accept the challenge.

I was looking for that big nod...and got it...to use XP Pro...so that is what I plan to do...I've read elswhere good thoughts for XP Pro as a gaming OS http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

You all will hear about it if I run into problems...he he, so how's that for letting you know how things go http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Ranchdoggie...You really think that on-board sound will handle these 3D games, eh? Well, bubba I'll take your word for it and at least try it out before I go out and spend $$$ on a sound card..thanks http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

Nice rig Jiggy http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif Feels good don't it?

Again, Thank You All!

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Careful With That Axe, Eugene

Flush 'N' Forget (http://www2.apex.net/users/hwuswtp)

[Hobit]

bassvax

Re:
The only thing I may do differently is to choose the 333 series Mboard
'cause of the 333 series RAM that is coming on the market.

The ECS K7S6A DDR SiS 745 Chipset Socket A For AMD
Is currently available for $85 including shipping from Royal.

hobit

[iisbob]

Bass i'm going to give a nod to Hobit's unending SIS735 rant above http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif ( i use it and like it too-but it can be just as tricky an install for no-techies ).

Before anyone here get's the idea that i don't like ASUS, let me make clear that i have used many ASUS boards in the past ( my First Athlon board was one ) and when they work; Buddy they RULE !!

However, i got tired of IRQ confilct's, memory addressing error's and frequent full system crashes-not just Window's dieng-but an entire dump & reboot!

But!...i can say that next to the current SIS735 , i got the best benchmarks i've ever had using that vendor.

So go for it! And enjoy! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif You know where to come for help should you need it!! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif



+


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iisbob

CPU= 5mhz
Memory= 16 K
Storage=10.2MB's
Video=Onboard S3 4K
Modem=14.4 baud
Sound=ISA Yamaha 8bit
Mouse=2 button MS
Monitor=ACER 12.5"
OS= { dual boot }DOS 2.1 & WIN 3.1

My ultimate gaming system http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by iisbob (edited 01-27-2002).]

[Hobit]

Re:" Hobit's unending SIS735 rant."

for stability-Abit,
for performance-ECS,
for stability and performance-Epox,
For ease of setup-Gigabyte,
for pure, constant headaches { but great performance when they run }-Asus,
for excitement-PCChips
Issbob 1-19-02

Hey bassvax & issbob the SIS 735 is old news. Check this out.

SiS: New AMD-based chipsets in 2002
Chipset Architecture North bridge South bridge Note
SiS745 DDR333 IEEE 1394 961 chip
(Volume production expected in mid-February)
SiS746 DDR333 AGP 8X mode USB2.0 ATA-133-compliant 962 chip
(Updated version of SiS745)

Yes, the ECS K7S6A DDR SiS 745 Chipset Socket A For AMD supporting DDR333 is already available for $80.00 including shipping
@ http://www.goroyalpc.com/.
And yes, the SIS 746 is on the way?

hobit

[Hobit]

bassvax & issbob

Knew I'd seen this somewhere -- took me a while to find it again.
http://www.mrpcpro.com/reviews/pcchips/817lmr/817lmr-introduction.htm
Sunday, January 27, 2002 reviewed by Mr PC Pro
Here is something interesting before we start. Remember a while back when we reviewed the ECS K7VMA? I mentioned that ECS and PC Chips are now affiliated with each other. Although I was told ECS still produces its' own motherboards, I noticed that the ECS K7AMA is the exact same motherboard as the 817LMR! What I'm hoping this means is that ECS is helping PC Chips produce quality motherboards, and not PC Chips teaching ECS how to make cheapo motherboards. I guess we'll find out soon.

The last part just Mr. PC Pro's (whoever that is) opinion of course.

hobit