According to Valve's hardware survey, most people still use CRT's, Few People Use the X-Fi.

[Googer]

Then it makes a good Mobile Car PC to stuff in your glove box for GPS, mp3, dvd movies, games, etc or low usage mail and print server or a Linux router or Whisky Bottle PC

http://www.carputerclub.com/

 

[Pariah]

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: Kakumba
Hmmm, that amount of ram is suspect. I mean, I dont even remember the last mavhine I ran with that little ram. it may have the been the Pentium, 100MHz. oh yeah, grunty baby.

Around 1995 a Standard Issue Classic Pentium came with around 16MB of ram and budget systems came with 8mb. 32MB home systems were very rare at a time when ram cost $50-70 per Megabyte. The price for a low end computer was about $1,800-2,000 and the middle line machine was about $2,800-3,600 in retail cost.

Back in 1995 EDO was the high performance ram of choice and it cost more to buy when compaired to non-edo, today you can buy 32MB of EDO for $30-35 retail or for $5 or less on ebay.

Your prices are no where near right. In 1995, I bought a fully loaded top of the line Pentium 133MHz system (fastest available at the time), with 32MB RAM, 17" monitor, and "giant" 1.6GB hard drive for under $3000. I also have a receipt from 1997 showing I bought 64MB of EDO RAM for $206, which comes out to about $3.25 per MB. I don't remember the exact prices of RAM in 1995 but I know for absolute certainty that prices did not drop from $50-70/MB (that's $1600-$2240 for 32MB) to $3.25 in 2 years. I don't think it was even anywhere near $10/MB let alone $50 or $70.

It shouldn't be any surprise that X-Fi's are so rare. Highend sound cards are a luxury few people are willing to pay for. For the vast majority of people, onboard is good enough. Do major vendors like Dell and HP even offer them as an option? I doubt it, and that's where the volume is, not in the DIY add in market which X-Fi is pretty much exclusive to.

I don't think any of those stats are surprising. The vast majority of computers in use were not purchased in the last couple of years. If anything, I'm surprised that nearly 2.5% of users have dual CPU systems. I'm almost certain that number includes dual core CPU's which are detected by windows as an SMP system, because there is no way that percentage of users could own dual CPU systems even among enthusiasts.

 

[imported_Tick]

Originally posted by: Googer
Then it makes a good Mobile Car PC to stuff in your glove box for GPS, mp3, dvd movies, games, etc or low usage mail and print server or a Linux router or Whisky Bottle PC

Now I have a reason to have a bottle of booze on my desk!

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: Pariah

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: Kakumba
Hmmm, that amount of ram is suspect. I mean, I dont even remember the last mavhine I ran with that little ram. it may have the been the Pentium, 100MHz. oh yeah, grunty baby.

Around 1995 a Standard Issue Classic Pentium came with around 16MB of ram and budget systems came with 8mb. 32MB home systems were very rare at a time when ram cost $50-70 per Megabyte. The price for a low end computer was about $1,800-2,000 and the middle line machine was about $2,800-3,600 in retail cost.

Back in 1995 EDO was the high performance ram of choice and it cost more to buy when compaired to non-edo, today you can buy 32MB of EDO for $30-35 retail or for $5 or less on ebay.

Your prices are no where near right. In 1995, I bought a fully loaded top of the line Pentium 133MHz system (fastest available at the time), with 32MB RAM, 17" monitor, and "giant" 1.6GB hard drive for under $3000. I also have a receipt from 1997 showing I bought 64MB of EDO RAM for $206, which comes out to about $3.25 per MB. I don't remember the exact prices of RAM in 1995 but I know for absolute certainty that prices did not drop from $50-70/MB (that's $1600-$2240 for 32MB) to $3.25 in 2 years. I don't think it was even anywhere near $10/MB let alone $50 or $70.

It shouldn't be any surprise that X-Fi's are so rare. Highend sound cards are a luxury few people are willing to pay for. For the vast majority of people, onboard is good enough. Do major vendors like Dell and HP even offer them as an option? I doubt it, and that's where the volume is, not in the DIY add in market which X-Fi is pretty much exclusive to.

I don't think any of those stats are surprising. The vast majority of computers in use were not purchased in the last couple of years. If anything, I'm surprised that nearly 2.5% of users have dual CPU systems. I'm almost certain that number includes dual core CPU's which are detected by windows as an SMP system, because there is no way that percentage of users could own dual CPU systems even among enthusiasts.

I do remember getting a Classic Pentium 100 with 8MB or ram and ESS sound with 1GB HDD for $2,300. the extra 8 MB would have cost $250 from the local computer shop. But you are right that $50 per MB is probably too high even though I do remember the day when it did cost that much.

 

[Boyo]

Originally posted by: DBSX

Originally posted by: Boyo

Originally posted by: importpsycho
what's wrong with CRT? lol
i'm using 21inch tube, i'm not going get smaller 17inch or 19inch LCD
21inch LCD is still too expensive

There is nothing wrong with a CRT in terms of performance. It's just the size of those beasts is unreal. Do you remember when cell phones first came out? You weren't going to put any of those in your pocket while walking around. And that is why I laugh at CRT's. They are enourmous, and a giant waste of space. I'd rather have a bottom of the line LCD than a top of the line CRT. If there is such a thing.

My only issue with the "waste of space" argument is when people put their slim new LCD in the same space the CRT was in. In otherwords, not using the so-called "saved" space for anything other than air... I'm not saying you are doing that, just making the point that was (I think) trying to be made. For example, the design of my desk is such that if I replaced my primary monitor with a LCD the space wold be just as "wasted" as it is now. Just wasted with nothing vs. wasted with a monitor. Here at work is another story. A CRT would be a monumental waste of the desk space vs. the nice Dell LCD we have.

\Dan

I understand your point regarding a CRT being replaced with an LCD in the same exact spot the CRT occupied. If you do not re-arrange your desk, then the open space that is left open by the LCD is wasted. In my situation, my desk is only 32" wide. The CRT was 17" deep, then add 10" for the keyboard. I was about 4 inches away from the screen. So for me, a CRT is not only and enormous waste of space, it is annoying and reminds me of the days of the Commodor 64....It is completely dated. It's about as usefull as VHS. If people like their CRT's, great. But I really don't care. I think they suck.

 

[Boyo]

Originally posted by: MDE

Originally posted by: Boyo

Originally posted by: importpsycho
what's wrong with CRT? lol
i'm using 21inch tube, i'm not going get smaller 17inch or 19inch LCD
21inch LCD is still too expensive

There is nothing wrong with a CRT in terms of performance. It's just the size of those beasts is unreal. Do you remember when cell phones first came out? You weren't going to put any of those in your pocket while walking around. And that is why I laugh at CRT's. They are enourmous, and a giant waste of space. I'd rather have a bottom of the line LCD than a top of the line CRT. If there is such a thing.

Which one is it?

I don't know. You tell me Dick Tracey..

 

[Pariah]

Number of users with 3.7GHz or faster AMD CPU's: 44
Number of users using Multi-GPU ATi Crossfire: 41

Ouch.

 

[imported_Tick]

Originally posted by: Pariah
Number of users with 3.7GHz or faster AMD CPU's: 44
Number of users using Multi-GPU ATi Crossfire: 41

Ouch.

 

[smopoim86]

I have crt, but just because it was cheap....$15
If you can find me a lcd(17") for under 150 I'll buy it

 

[aLeoN]

Who are the 44 people with 3.7+ Ghz AMDs?? That'd be so freakin amazing..

 

[StrangerGuy]

Originally posted by: aLeoN
Who are the 44 people with 3.7+ Ghz AMDs?? That'd be so freakin amazing..

Hardcore overclockers who forgot to disable Steam's automatic startup.

 

[0roo0roo]

yea the reality is most gamers don't run on anywhere near stateof the art systems. its just annoying that people assume many more do when argueing about pc vs console flame wars and such

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: zephyrprime
I can't believe this survey. It seems messed up to me. The LCD figures are especially suspicious. LCD sales have exceeded CRT sales for more than a year even on retail computers.

A lot of these computers are not new.

 

[imported_Tick]

Originally posted by: StrangerGuy

Originally posted by: aLeoN
Who are the 44 people with 3.7+ Ghz AMDs?? That'd be so freakin amazing..

Hardcore overclockers who forgot to disable Steam's automatic startup.

If I push it I can get to 3.3, 3.7 would be nuts.

 

[KoolDrew]

Originally posted by: Boyo
I wonder if the people using CRT's stilll have black & white televisions too.

:roll:

 

[acole1]

Why get an LCD if you have a good 17"/19" CRT?

My CRT looks a lot better (cleaner & crisper) than 90% of the LCD's out there, and I am not shackled to a fixed resolution, or obligated to buy a $500 LCD to get decent refresh times for gaming.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: acole1
Why get an LCD if you have a good 17"/19" CRT?

My CRT looks a lot better (cleaner & crisper) than 90% of the LCD's out there, and I am not shackled to a fixed resolution, or obligated to buy a $500 LCD to get decent refresh times for gaming.

:thumbsup:

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: Boyo

Originally posted by: Luckyboy1
No, wthe question is... what do you do with all the space you are saving? What sits in all that space you saved?

Oh, LOL....I put a 32" LCD flat panel HDTV on my desk.....so on a night like this, I can watch the NCAA tournament and answer ridiculous question in this forum. None the less, I really miss my 75lbs. CRT

i have a wall directly behind mine, so now i can look straigh at my monitor, oh and i have a lamp and a technics SL1800 DD turntable

 

[Doomguy]

Why would I want an LCD? I have the room for a CRT and an LCD can never match the color reproduction or black levels of a CRT.

 

[grant2]

Originally posted by: Pariah
I don't remember the exact prices of RAM in 1995 but I know for absolute certainty that prices did not drop from $50-70/MB (that's $1600-$2240 for 32MB) to $3.25 in 2 years. I don't think it was even anywhere near $10/MB let alone $50 or $70.

You were a very lucky man if you could buy ram in 1995 for $10/mb. In canada 1996 ram was about $30u.s./mb. However in 1991 ram was about $45u.s./mb, far from $70.

 

[StrangerGuy]

Originally posted by: KoolDrew

Originally posted by: Boyo
I wonder if the people using CRT's stilll have black & white televisions too.

:roll:

I'm viewing this thread with columns and rows of blinking LEDs.

 

[Bluestealth]

Originally posted by: Malak

Originally posted by: StrangerGuy
Creative gets owned by Realtek, Soundmax, C-media and even Nforce 2 integrated audio!

There's really little reason to get a creative soundcard. You will more often than not have issues with it compared to the onboard stuff like Realtek, and it doesn't make your sound any better. I have onboard 7.1 audio, and it has never caused me any problems.

Your absolutely right, a discrete high quality sound card WILL NOT make BAD speakers sound any better. In order to do that you need to get better speakers. Creatives latest drivers for the Audigy 1/2/4 are EXTREMELY stable, so much so I can't believe that creative made them. If the X-Fi's are anything like them it should be as well. I'll admit the EAX unified ones from last year were "bad" but no worse then ATI or Nvidias display drivers IMHO.

Realtek chips are pretty good now, but they are in no way better or even equal. They are simply good enough for some.

Also a lot of integrated audio will have pops, or other distorsions. Others have flakier drivers then creatives *looks at CMedia.

In closing my suggestion is to get new speakers and try your sound card again.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: KoolDrew

Originally posted by: Boyo
I wonder if the people using CRT's stilll have black & white televisions too.

:roll:

its becoming true lol. lcd's are dominating the market and crts..are dropping like rocks. soon they will be discontinued and lcd prices will become very reasonable.

 

[bob4432]

i would say that survey is probably pretty accurate. remember, that most of us here are not the "average gamer/computer user". what are you are seeing is what the "average" user has.

 

[CVSiN]

Originally posted by: Boyo
I wonder if the people using CRT's stilll have black & white televisions too.

You do know CRTs are still the top performer for the buck in resolution color and response..
I'll put my 21 inch CRT agsint any flatscreen POS.
until flatscreen technology can handle super high res and super fine dot pitch color replication and response without spending 800+ bucks for a 19..