You know you're a computer addict when:

TerryMathews

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,464
2
0
You've got it all and still want more. Check my system rig out, Dually in specific. Just upgraded it today, and just now I caught myself eyeballing a new video card. :ugh:
 

Paulson

Elite Member
Feb 27, 2001
10,689
0
0
www.ifixidevices.com
I've learned to quit doing upgrades and what not... I just get stuff when I find the need for it.

For instance... I just finally retired my voodoo 3 2000 after many years of service...
 

MournSanity

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2002
3,126
0
0
I'm still running on a T-bird/512 PC2100/Prosavage4(Used to be a Ti200). I'm holding out for Athlon 64 to ramp up in clock speed.
 

TerryMathews

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,464
2
0
Originally posted by: notfred
What for? To play games?

Well, I do play some games. BF1942 and SFC3 specifically. I'm also a CEG student, so I spend a fair amount of time in Visual C++. I also tinker around with DVD video.

I didn't really want the space so much as the speed. The 40 gigers were the highest performing cheap drives I could find (~$25/pc through For Sale/Trade). Let me tell you, this computer feels like liquid gold for running Windows apps. Frame rate in games is good, but not great.

For example, right now while I'm suring the web, Norton Anti-Virus is running the background along with SpamPal and NovaTracker (BitTorrent). Task manager says I'm using ~25% of the total CPU power and no page file. The system is as responsive right now as it is when it's not doing anything. 'Tis the power of SMP.
 

JohnAn2112

Diamond Member
May 8, 2003
4,895
1
81
Dude I totally hear ya. Check out my system specs. I still eye the Radeon 9800 Pro everytime I walk into Best Buy. I'm also eyeing 2 Athlon 2800 MP's. To do what with them, I don't know. I know my system is fine in terms of speed but you can't help wanting new stuff I guess.
 

thatsright

Diamond Member
May 1, 2001
3,004
3
81
Perhaps I've 'started' to become one after building my new rig back in June but here are a few things I've noticed. Not me, but other folks of course. Here they are:

-You go online at 12:01AM local time Sunday Morning to try and look up the local sales for the upcoming week.
-You think, 'yeah this is the 8973th Hard Drive deal of the year I've seen this month, but why not'?
-You start to wonder first, how much you can get for your pc parts on eBay, even thought they are only two or 3 months old so you can go out and buy something new.
-Your ATF post count per day has gone WAY up
-Your mouse hand starts to twitch/convulse on a regular basis
-Your online for 4+ Hours a day (maybe this is too conservative a #) for Non-Work stuff

I'm sure there could be more for a 'check list' but I'm not trying to start a 12-Step recovery program here
rolleye.gif
 

sharkeeper

Lifer
Jan 13, 2001
10,886
2
0
How about these?

- You're not happy with the current choice in SCSI RAID controllers. Highly proprietary solutions are expensive and it's hard to justify spending $25k for a storage system that may satisfy your needs (until you utilise its capabilities to 101% LOL) for a month or less.

- You have 500 Mbit/S connection to the world and complain when it takes over a minute to download 35 MB worth of Windoze Updates. All the sites seem to slow down yet the speed tests say otherwise!

- You have to use Physical Address Extensions because you're running over 3GB of RAM and some programs do strange things that tech support has never heard of because they claim nobody has that much memory! They think you're confusing memory with disk space! :|

- After working nearly 16 hours you "settle down" to a session of TW2003 only to be rudely interrupted by a power anomaly that causes an entire wing of the building to go off line! You spend another six hours sweating over a 1GHz notebook fixing the problem. People returning in the AM make remarks about they never see you in to work so early!

- You buy a new mainboard because your existing one has a problem and waiting for the manufacturer to come out with a fix is not an option. Six months later when the board works, you build another system and hand it off to your brother in law. Ditto for Video and Sound Cards.

- You have an extensive collection of heat sinks and fans that if bolted together and powered on all at once, could probably function as a hovercraft!

- You have enough syringes of Arctic Silver (both empty and partially filled) to build a playhouse.

- You have enough screws, mainboard standoffs, and other extra hardware that comes from cases to fill a five gallon water jug.

- You have enough static bags that you never have to buy kitchen bags again. Your wife packs your lunch in them. Just remember to take the food OUT before microwaving! :Q

The list goes on and on...

-DAK-
 

ProviaFan

Lifer
Mar 17, 2001
14,993
1
0
Wow, awesome list, DAK! :Q

My personal one is:
  • You make sure to get up early every morning to check on the status of the F@H clients on your local network, post a few things on AT, and check your news feeds in your RSS reader (before eating breakfast, going to the restroom, or anything else).
:eek:

BTW, Terry, I think your system is fine, but of course you could always have another 1GB of RAM, a SCSI RAID 5 array (just ask DAK about those things ;)), or a faster video card (as you mentioned). :D
 

moonshinemadness

Platinum Member
Jan 28, 2003
2,254
1
0
Originally posted by: TerryMathews
Originally posted by: notfred
What for? To play games?

For example, right now while I'm suring the web, Norton Anti-Virus is running the background along with SpamPal and NovaTracker (BitTorrent). Task manager says I'm using ~25% of the total CPU power and no page file. The system is as responsive right now as it is when it's not doing anything. 'Tis the power of SMP.

Only 25%? You need Seti ;)
 

ProviaFan

Lifer
Mar 17, 2001
14,993
1
0
Originally posted by: moonshinemadness
Only 25%? You need Seti ;)
YES! Duallys are great for DC (as are single processor machines, quad processor systems, six-way and even eight-way units). :D
 

Chaotic42

Lifer
Jun 15, 2001
34,895
2,055
126
I've lost a lot of interest in computers. I have two dually systems and a third dually board just screaming to be repaired.

I just can't justify the cost of two new MP procs.
 

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,353
1,862
126
You need more drives ... I would run out of space in like 2 weeks with only 160GB of hd space.

Also You should get 1GB of ram for each CPU :)

Nice Rig