New Computer

[Shoat]

Meh...I really don't like SATA cables any more..one popped off my RAID 5 and caused a lot of problems not that long ago.

[Cpl Boden]

I guess the vibrations within the system work it loose.  I had it happen about a year and a half ago also.  A visual inspection will not do.  You have to unplug and replug the sata cord.  Major,  everything is working fine with the HD.  It is the connection only at least for this.  I think the other problems have to do with my Mobo because my memory checked out fine.

[Shoat]

Yeah...i'm thinking of using some tape or something to hold it in this time around =/

[Major Tom]

Some silicone adhesive would work well for that.
Put a small bead on the connection AFTER you plug it in. Should hold it indefinitely and easy to remove (just peel it off.)

[Shoat]

Oooh...good tip...now to find some...  =)

[Cpl Boden]

All my parts are in now.  I'll start building, installing the OS, and other programs during my days off this week.  Hopefully, I'll be up and running sometime this weekend.

[Major Tom]

Cool.
Did you keep the CS card? You probably be ok with new hardware.
Good luck.

[Cpl Boden]

Cool.
Did you keep the CS card? You probably be ok with new hardware.
Good luck.

Yes, I kept it.

[Major Tom]

Boden,
How is the CS card working out?

[Cpl Boden]

No problems so far.

[Major Tom]

-1680x1050 resolution (16:10 widescreen)

What res do you run BF2 in.
How about CS:S and other titles?
Any ghosting on dark maps like CS:S and really dark maps like Doom and CS:S Hidden?

I trying to make a decision on a new LCD but this whole native resolution thing got me wondering how BF2 and other games that don't support the native res look like.
Hellstorm is still chasing me... 

[Major Tom]

Boden,
How is the CS card working out?

I found my crashing issue...and it wasn't the Creative X-fi.
Ended up being my USB2 PCI card - found a capacitor that got dislodged and had a bad connection which caused the lockups - now that was a lucky find - was taking parts out to do some addition runtime testing and discovered that.

That explains why my N52 would freak out and x-files like mouse activity.
[me=Major Tom]ordering parts this weekend.[/me]

[Cpl Boden]

Now that is truly luck.  I'm glad it will work for you now.  I'm loving it.  The sound quality is so much better than my last computer. 

[Hellstorm]

Well I guess its time for me to upgrade now, especially since Athena's computer is on its last leg. I went ahead an ordered a computer this time around instead of building one. I decided to go with the DELL XPS 700 Gaming System (before you gasp, they do get very good ratings from PC Mag, Maximum PC, etc...). Its a pretty high-end computer and would likely cost me just as much if I bought the parts seperately. I will be passing on my current system to Athena, but most likely at some point I will be building her an Athlon FX-62 or something near-about equivalent to what I purchased. Anyway, here are my specs:

DELL XPS 700, Special Edition Formula Red
Processor: Pentium D Processor 940 with Dual Core Technology (3.20GHz, 800FSB)
RAM: 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 2 DIMMs
Video Cards:       Dual 1GB NVIDIA GeForce 7950 GX2 Dual-GPU Graphics Cards, Quad SLI
Hard Drive: 160GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Hard Drive (10,000RPM) w/DataBurst Cache
2nd Hard Drive:      160GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Hard Drive (10,000RPM) w/DataBurst Cache
Operating System:  Windows® XP Media Center 2005 Edition; Windows Vista™ Capable
Optical Drives: Dual 16x DVD-ROM Drive + 16x DVD+/-RW w/ dbl layer write capable
Sound Cards:       Sound Blaster® X-Fi™ XtremeMusic (D), w/Dolby® Digital 5.1

2.5MM aluminum thickness Chassis with front & back customizable LEDs
7-slot, BTX design motherboard
1000 Watt Power Supply
Tower Six-heat pipe, Copper base Heat Sink with aluminum fans
Two 120mm x 38mm front fans

Not too shabby considering Quad SLI; 10,000 RPM drives; and dual core processor. Do you think it will run BF2 at Maximum? 

[atamanch]

Dude you could have waited a couple weeks, Conroe is about to be released.