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2900xt goes on Sale - $320 at Best Buy [ooS now]
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nullpointerus
Golden Member
The situation's changed since then, but it can still be a mess depending on your hardware/software. I'm running 64-bit 24/7, and, except for the few remaining issues left for me to troubleshoot, everything in my rig is working just fine.
Keysplayr
Elite Member
That's good. But what are the true advantages in running 64 bit over 32? Does the OS run faster? Does it manage memory usage better? Is it a world of difference, or just barely noticeable? Or are we all just being forced, if we adopt Vista which runs "best" on 4GB of memory and being able to address and use that memory requires 64bit? The only one's I see that benefits from all this, is Microsoft, and memory vendors. And even USB 2.0 flash drive manufacturers if everyone makes the mistake apoppin almost did.
So, what I'm really asking is, what can you do better in 64 bit than someone else can in 32 besides more memory access (which is needed for Vista anyway)?
And what I'm also really asking is, what advantage does Vista64 have over XP32?
Yeah yeah, DX10. Anything else?
DISCLAIMER: These are good, practical questions. All Vista users need not get defensive in their choice to use Vista. My questions are not designed to make you feel bad, or good. They are just questions I need to ask. Keep it civil. -Thanks.
evolucion8
Platinum Member
A review from a Hard Drive from Newegg
Sorry to Hijack the Topic, But I remember that a couple of weeks ago, someone in Newegg bought 2 7600GS to make SLI which would offer Exceptional PowerPoint Performance, and now look at this, a setup with 2 Radeon X1300PRO in Crossfire, will be able keep up with the 7600GS in Powerpoint Performance?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822135106
Dax
Tech Level: somewhat high
Ownership: 1 day to 1 week 5/3/2007 6:57:44 PM
Pros: This is my first SATA HD. Will be using it on my new home built PC. this HD will be for OS only and some apps. Will definitely buy again from "HuevoNuevo" in the near future.
Cons: none
Other Thoughts: I was very impressed with the way they shipped it especially how it got to me so fast. Very satisfied with Newegg service. My first buily PC🙂 Bad Axe 2 Intel, E6400 Core 2 Duo, Mushkin 2GB (2 x 1GB) 800MHz, Cooler master Centurion 5 ATX Case, 450Watt power supply, Sony CD ROM and DVD Burner, WD 80 GB SATA Hard Drive, Ati Radeon X1300 Pro Crossfire setup.
Sorry to Hijack the Topic, But I remember that a couple of weeks ago, someone in Newegg bought 2 7600GS to make SLI which would offer Exceptional PowerPoint Performance, and now look at this, a setup with 2 Radeon X1300PRO in Crossfire, will be able keep up with the 7600GS in Powerpoint Performance?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822135106
Dax
Tech Level: somewhat high
Ownership: 1 day to 1 week 5/3/2007 6:57:44 PM
Pros: This is my first SATA HD. Will be using it on my new home built PC. this HD will be for OS only and some apps. Will definitely buy again from "HuevoNuevo" in the near future.
Cons: none
Other Thoughts: I was very impressed with the way they shipped it especially how it got to me so fast. Very satisfied with Newegg service. My first buily PC🙂 Bad Axe 2 Intel, E6400 Core 2 Duo, Mushkin 2GB (2 x 1GB) 800MHz, Cooler master Centurion 5 ATX Case, 450Watt power supply, Sony CD ROM and DVD Burner, WD 80 GB SATA Hard Drive, Ati Radeon X1300 Pro Crossfire setup.
n7
Elite Member
True advantage?
It's the future, & we all know it.
You can delay all you want, but that's all you're doing.
You're also hurting your upgrade path [for RAM] in the process.
I went 64-bit primarily because of Superfetch.
Things ran just fine w/ 2 GB + 2 GB Readyboost for me, but i felt that 4 GB would be a bit faster, somewhat due to more appz cached, & i was right.
I also don't think Readyboost is a waste, though it won't be an overly perceptible performance difference if you have 2+ GB of RAM.
Advantages of Vista 64 over XP?!
Too many to get into.
However, I didn't get Vista for DX10.
I got Vista for Vista, as i've preferred it to XP for almost a year now (since RC1).
DX10 & very decent functionality in 64-bit are just bonuses.
apoppin
Lifer
well, the *only* reason i am getting Vista [now] is because my old Win2K probably won't accept the very latest Cats required to run HD2900xt right ... and i don't want to run XP [on "principle", now]
as to the 2GB vs 4GB limitation ... i *really* don't know .. i am a gamer ... i don't think we see ANY games that use over 2GB for quite awhile
... and i don't know if 4GB won't ever be able to run properly in Vista 32-bit or not ... but i do know that the complaints i hear about 64-bit are enough to keep me away from it
.. with a 1 GB [or 2GB flash booster] i think i can manage alright
as to getting the OEM version of Vista, i understand that MS is sued so much they are allowing MB changes [practically] ... but you have to remember that his MB should also support Penryn so i will be using it for the next two years or so ...
[yeah ... Penryn is my NEXT upgrade ... maybe with a 2nd HD 2900xt ... and likely with a 2nd LCD - i am thinking of the 20.1" 10x16 as my No 1 monitor]
NEXT year 😛
ANYway, i have the weekend to work on it ... if i hate it ... i can eat the restocking fee on the MB and send the HD2900xt back .... the Vista upgrade is a "given" ... i have to ... sooner-or-later [and NOT for Halo2]
tuteja1986
Diamond Member
appoppin don't bother getting more than 2GB of ram... 2GB of DDR 800 micron ram and oc to 1000Mhz 4.4.4.8.
ArchAngel777
Diamond Member
The more memory on the graphics card, the less potential usable system ram on a 32-bit system. With graphics cards aproaching 1GB of onboard memory, high end gaming will be pushed right into the 64-bit arena within the next year, possibly two. Also, due to the fact that only Vista (officially) is going to support DX10, then 64-bit 'Vista' is the only reasonable choice for building a gaming rig next year.
Right now we are in libmo, which makes it difficult to recomend anything. 64-Bit Vista is good, but is still has some issues to work out, so potentially some games may not run that well, or at all for that matter. 32-bit XP works perfectly, but it isn't that future proof (nothing is, for that matter) as you will likely hit the memory limit with some of the future games coming out in the year or two, not to mention the lack of DX10 support. Of course you could always build a new rig, but that isn't something a lot of people have the money to do on a yearly basis.
Although it is said that with computers something new is around the corner, and while true, there are in fact right and wrong times to buy new hardware. Timing is critical for those without deep pockets.
My opinion is that anyone looking to purchase a retail version of Vista should no doubt be purchasing the 64-bit version, as the 32-bit version would just be a waste of money for a gaming rig. I do not believe this applies to the "Ultimate Edition" since it has both versions on it, IIRC.
Back on Topic:
Apop, I am really looking forward to your review of the 2900XT. I was going to *buy* it, but by the time I got home and checked out the website it was "Sold Out"... What a bummer, because I could have ordered it online before I left Sunday morning... :-(
Right now we are in libmo, which makes it difficult to recomend anything. 64-Bit Vista is good, but is still has some issues to work out, so potentially some games may not run that well, or at all for that matter. 32-bit XP works perfectly, but it isn't that future proof (nothing is, for that matter) as you will likely hit the memory limit with some of the future games coming out in the year or two, not to mention the lack of DX10 support. Of course you could always build a new rig, but that isn't something a lot of people have the money to do on a yearly basis.
Although it is said that with computers something new is around the corner, and while true, there are in fact right and wrong times to buy new hardware. Timing is critical for those without deep pockets.
My opinion is that anyone looking to purchase a retail version of Vista should no doubt be purchasing the 64-bit version, as the 32-bit version would just be a waste of money for a gaming rig. I do not believe this applies to the "Ultimate Edition" since it has both versions on it, IIRC.
Back on Topic:
Apop, I am really looking forward to your review of the 2900XT. I was going to *buy* it, but by the time I got home and checked out the website it was "Sold Out"... What a bummer, because I could have ordered it online before I left Sunday morning... :-(
apoppin
Lifer
the way i look at it ... Vista 32-bit costs me $111 right now instead of $229 ... it IS tied to my MB ... which should "hold me" for 2 more years
BY *then* ... who cares? either i will be so broke, i might be homeless ... or doing very well ...
... in the meantime, i will enjoy my rig
i do know that - right now - Vista 64-bit is unnecessary and buggy ... and my new GPU *only* has 512MB vRAM ... anything more than 2GB can be 'helped' by the 1GB flash drive ...
and "suggestions" [please] for a SATA drive that is cheap [now] and i can buy a 2nd one later for RAID
thank-you ...yes ... it sold out in a few hours ... i got up [strangely] at 5AM Sunday Morning and got on it very early
and it's back at BB ... BUT
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/ol...mp=++&id=1178926024172
NOT on sale .... $399.99
How is this HD?
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3250820AS 250GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $66.99
can i do better for cheap[er]?
BY *then* ... who cares? either i will be so broke, i might be homeless ... or doing very well ...
... in the meantime, i will enjoy my rig
i do know that - right now - Vista 64-bit is unnecessary and buggy ... and my new GPU *only* has 512MB vRAM ... anything more than 2GB can be 'helped' by the 1GB flash drive ...
and "suggestions" [please] for a SATA drive that is cheap [now] and i can buy a 2nd one later for RAID
they sold out *quick*
thank-you ...yes ... it sold out in a few hours ... i got up [strangely] at 5AM Sunday Morning and got on it very early
and it's back at BB ... BUT
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/ol...mp=++&id=1178926024172
NOT on sale .... $399.99
How is this HD?
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3250820AS 250GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $66.99
can i do better for cheap[er]?
ArchAngel777
Diamond Member
Yeah, since you went OEM Vista, then 32 bit is the best choice.
When will you be receiving the 2900?
When will you be receiving the 2900?
apoppin
Lifer
Friday ... this friday ... in time for the Weekend's build
and ... How is this HD?
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3250820AS 250GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $66.99
can i do better for cheap[er]?
... 250 GB seems "about right"
[not too big, not too small ... just right ... my current PATA HD is 120GB]
no additional cables, just plugs right into my new MB, right?
do i need two?
ArchAngel777
Diamond Member
For the money, I would say you will not likely do any better for a less ammount of money. It is a 7900.10, so it is a solid and up to date drive.
Edit ** Two? You want to RAID 0, right? Two would not be bad... I wouldn't say you will *need* it though.
ArchAngel777
Diamond Member
If your goal is to RAID0 eventually, get it now. The price will not drop much more
... Hard Drives only drop so low. There is a "sweet spot" As an example, look on newegg.com for the cheapest Hard Drive they have, I think you may find a 40gb for maybe $40 bucks. You *might* find your model for $50 in two years, but that is probably the best you are going to get, even that I doubt...
Yes, certainly, if you are going to RAID0, do it now, not later.
ArchAngel777
Diamond Member
Short prayer to the almighty that nothing arrives DoA? 😀
apoppin
Lifer
the almighty stopped accepeting my collect calls
ANYWAY, all i *need* to work is my HD2900xt ... my MB will do fine with it's 4x PCIe slot for gaming ... i WILL get a substantial performance increase over x1950p ... and i can always set up [one] new SATA HD drive with Vista ... so you guys are stuck with one of my reviews
here's how i make myself feel better about spending SO much this year
[when i blabbered on and on [and on and on] about "waiting" responsibly for SP1/DX10 and a new GPU and telling others "how" to do it ... sorry]
. . . i am making more money this year .. and i need an "offset" for my income taxes
this IS a real "business deduction", you know ... gaming is "incidental"
RussianSensation
Elite Member
That's still ways off my friend's *real* "business car deduction" - F430 tax benefit >>> HD 2900XT tax benefit 🙂.
Congrats on the new parts.
You can still get these instore. Even if they store doesn't carry them, they can do a customer fullfillment for you. That way you can use your 12% Fathers Day coupons. I bought 2 instore for 281.59 a piece plus tax. They'll either ship it to the store or to your house for free. Pretty sweet deal, mine should be here on the 15th...crossfire 2900XTs for 563 is a hell of a deal.
ArchAngel777
Diamond Member
More info? I might do this.... I can't believe it can be done...
imported_BS
Senior member
I have it in hand.
Praying on this one as its my 4th try at a working video card in the last month and a half.
2 8800GTS's and 1 2900XT
ArchAngel777
Diamond Member
I don't really trust BS benchmark's... 😀 Heheh.... Let us know how it turns out.
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