HOW DOES THIS SYSTEM STACK UP?

[cappy18]

Hi I just bought a new Gateway Essential and i am just wondering how it will stack up for gaming, here is its configuration:Processor: Intel® Celeron(tm) Processor 700MHz with 128K Cache
Memory: 64MB 100MHZ SDRAM expandable to 512MB
Monitor: EV700 17" Color Monitor (15.9" viewable area) added: US$80
Video: Intel® 3D Graphics
Hard Drive: 10GB Ultra ATA hard drive
Floppy Drive: 3.5" 1.44MB diskette drive
CD-ROM: 20X min./48X max. CD-ROM drive
Sound System: Integrated Enhanced Audio
Modem: 56K Voice Modem
Case: Gateway Flex Case
Keyboard: Multi-function USB Keyboard
Mouse: USB Mouse and Gateway Mouse Pad
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® Millennium Edition
Application Software: Microsoft® Works Suite 2001 - Including Microsoft®
Word and Encarta
Additional Software: Quicken 2001 New User Edition
Anti-Virus Software: Norton Anti-Virus Software
ISP: 1 Year America Online Internet Access
Expansion Slots: 2 Low Profile PCI
Limited Warranty Program: 1 Year Limited Warranty, 1 Year On-Site Service, 1
Year Hardware Limited Tech Support & 90 Day Software Limited Tech Support
Speakers: Boston Acoustics BA265 Speakers

----------------------------------------------------------------------------Any help would be appreciated I play alot of racing titles nascarheat, etc it says intel 3d graphics but I belive its all software rendering can anyone help?

[sea69]

hi cappy18 and welcome to the forum http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

#1 I dont want to sound 'mean', but this is a question u should have asked BEFORE u purchased this pc.. not after. We can tell u all kinds of things like.. u should have a minimum of 128 RAM, u need a video card that has a chip on it ( not one thats integrated) w/ ur cpu this uses additional system resources....., "56k Voice Modem" this is most likely a WinModem (which is a Modem that uses ur system and is NOT a harware/chip modem)...... aol bites!! and finnaly... Win ME has been reported to have trouble with some games (among other things such as being a resorce HOG and freezing and crashing alot)

#2 I am not a 'gamer'.. so many others here can say whats better on that.

#3 The reason that in the beggining I said u should have asked this 1st is because now in order to change ur pc to what u want u will have to Void that expensive warranty that u purchased,( if u decide to do all the things that will most likely be suggested)

*perhaps take a test @ pcpitstop (http://www.pcpitstop.com)*
this is only a test to see if there r any settings that need to be 'fixed' or improved.

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"re-inventing the hammer.. why I oughtta..."



[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 01-10-2001).]

[BigBlue66]

Hey Cappy,

Sea69 is right about checking with someone before you bought the computer. However, that is neither here nor there now. Fact is that you have bought it and now we need to figure out how to make it better. Actually, except for a few things, it's a nice computer and should do you well for many years.

However, first thing you need to do is purchase more RAM. You now have what is considered the very minimum for a computer nowadays. WIN ME is indeed a resource hog, so more memory will help in that respect. Buy as much RAM as you can afford at this point. If you can go with the total amount of 512meg that it will support, then that would be dandy. Half of that would suffice as well. If you are in a cash flow crunch right now, then at least consider getting another 64megs.

Sounds like you have both integrated video and sound. While it might suffice for simple computing jobs, if you are into heavy gaming, you will need to make use of those PCI slots that you have vacant. There is usually a way to disable both the onboard video and sound, in case you decide to go with actual video and sound controller boards. GeForce makes very nice video cards for gaming and SoundBlaster is one of the best in the business.

As for your modem, if it is indeed a software modem, (you can tell by the product code ID. Usually has HSF, HCF, Lucent, etc. in the name)you will want to invest in a good hardware modem. 3 Com U.S. Robotics makes outstanding hardware modems that will not eat up your precious resources.

Now, as for the resources. You have a couple of things going against you in that department. First, you need more RAM. Second, the integrated video and sound will drag you down. Third, if the modem is a software modem, that too will eat up resources. Fourth, you are using WIN ME, which is purported to be a resource hog.

Best thing you can do at this very moment is to buy more RAM. Have the store where you bought it install it, and hopefully that won't affect your warranty. If you can spring for some of the other items mentioned, then go for it.

Next best thing you can do is to disable any programs that you have running that you really don't use or need. Systray and explorer are the only executable files that you really need to see when you choose the Close Program Box. (Ctrl,Alt,Del - ONCE) Anything else you have running will of course use up those scant resources that you have.

Hope this helps to answer your question. Don't get me wrong. Sounds like a very decent system, but a few things should be kept in mind either for upgrading this computer, or for your next purchase.


Cheers,

Big Blue 66

[sea69]

hehe BB http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

Also I have "starter" in my start up (in contrl.alt.del) It is an exe that loads my (ensonique) sound mixer for my soundblaster card. This cant be disabled(easily) and shouldnt be if I want sound http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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"re-inventing the hammer.. why I oughtta..."

[BigBlue66]

Alright Sea, ya got me. I gave that advice assuming all other things equal. However, http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif , I believe I did say something about things that he doesn't need or use. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif

Cheers,

BB 66

[sea69]

ohhhhhhhh nooooooo BB_66

Your advice was as usuall sound and complete http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

And Im hoping the point u made wasnt lost, being that there r often many things running or loading @ start that we dont need there !!

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"re-inventing the hammer.. why I oughtta..."

[xor_chad]

Howdy
On the subject of disabling start up programs.

First of all, many of these programs are suprisingly small consuming less than a K or so of memory.

Of course remove the ones that you obviously dont need, like real player and stupid things like that.

As you probably know, win98 has a nifty utility for making this very easy.

From the RUN utility type 'msconfig'.
This utility shows you everything that is loaded from run services in the registry and from the startup menu.

All you have to do is uncheck the things you want disabled and it moves the item to an alternate location. This is very cool, because instead of just deleting things from startup and from the reg, they are only moved somewhere else where they wont get loaded. Good if you decide later to restore it.

Anyway, i suggest removing one or two at a time, rebooting, and making sure they were not essential to any devices or programs.

One thing i do is to search for the file name. Where you find it may give a good idea of what the file actually is.

If it is in some common directory like SYSTEM then you can view its file properties and check the Version tab for who developed the program. This too sheds light on what the file does.

Hope this helps someone. Laters...



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Chad Wilson
C++/ASM Programmer
PC Support Technician

[hiredgoonz]

Hey, everybody has to start somewhere, your computer should be ok for all but extremely intense 3d games...if you're happy with it and you got a good price, don't regret your decision...

Like has been said, definitely up your ram, find out how many mem slots you have and how big the chips will be when you're maxed out and then try really hard not to buy anything smaller than that...I'm not saying to go buy 512 right now, but let's say you have 2 mem slots, to get the 512 you'll need two 256 mb chips, so if you buy a 64 right now and then want to go higher later, you'll essentially have a useless 64 mb dimm...

And not to disagree with anybody, but the integrated sound card isn't that big a deal unless you need surround sound...most built in cards I've seen have at least a mic in, line in and line out...and the card is probably a sound blaster anyway, don't sweat it...

The built in vidcard is going to be your biggest challenge in the future...you'll be stuck with only pci vidcards as your options and sometimes it is impossible to disable the onboard card, most of the time you can work something out, but it's more difficult than just replacing a card. It's a shame that 3dfx is going out of business, they were the only company that made competitive pci cards...

As far as winME, that's prety much all you can get now preinstalled, so that's not really an issue...as far as the modem, of course a hardware modem is better, but also much more expensive and tougher to get preinstalled...trust me, your system isn't even gonna breathe hard doing webbrowsing or email, so you have plenty of power left for the winmodem...

Have fun with your system, it should be more than you need for awhile...anything faster than 600 mhz is almost a negligible performance boost in most applications...

[cappy18]

Thanx guys gals for all the info it will be helpful, just one more thing the pci slots are micro pci slots does anyone make vcards that will fit? The case is that new flex case which is small and cannot use larger size cards. I do plan on getting more ram, I have had bad luck with the wins me upgrade I now use the disk for a coaster for my coffee cup, but the sales rep said i should not format and install wins98 because the hardware was tested for me????? Is this a typical sales pitch? Thank you anyway you have been a great help, I guess I'll save the gaming for my ps2 when i get it. thanx again

[sleddog]

Well, on the downside I dislike the onboard video and sound.

On the upside I've used three Gateway's -- all 486 vintage -- and found them to be very well-built machines with quality components. One of them is next to me now. Originally a 486DX-2 66, it has an upgraded processor (DX5-133), harddrives (2.2gb and 2.1gb) and more memory (32mb vs 8mb). It's running Linux as a web-server, Internet gateway, etc. I've never had a minute's headache with it -- it's almost become a piece of furniture http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif