Who's system is 'better' than mine?

[Beeblequix]

important parts:
Asus A7V266-E
256Meg DDRSDRAM cl2.5@cl2
Athlon XP 1700 + with Volcano 6cu hs/fan
HiVal12x10x32cdrw
16/40 cddvdrom
Soundblaster Live Platinum 5.1
325W ps
IBM 40G 7200 hdd
MSI Geforce3Ti200 vid out
WindowsXP home

hardly important parts:
17"crt
Eastern sub&2sattellites
Dlink530tx NIC
Creative Modemblaster 56k modem

6747 3dmark2k1 default. over 7k when mem@450&core&200.

B.Quix

[rextex]

Yah but does it look as good as this?
http://www.modding.net/project.asp?projectID=2

[richard_cocks]

Eeek, You consider monitor and modem to be not so important.

You can get a 1k/sec difference across modems, at when the total is all around 4k/sec that is actually noticable. Not to mention if do you online gaming it can dramatically reduce ping if you get a good modem. And that doesn't even bring winmodems into the fray.

Also monitors are another often neglected thing, they are more important than one thinks. (I recently changed from a 10yr old 17" to a 2yr old 17" and there is a big difference in clarity and also ppl strive to get 100fps in a game when their monitor only outputs at 70Hz.

Monitors can subconciously change your experience because some can give bad headaches at certain resolutions.

Monitors and modems may not be the leading factors in benchmarking but they can seriously affect the overall feel of how your PC is and shouldn't be dismissed.

Speakers and NIC (especially NIC) I would agree aren't as important unless you are very serious (1GBps LAN or you want to produce music) and in that case you probably wouldn't ignore them anyway.

As for having better well I lack way behind at the moment (duron800 with TNT2) but I plan to upgrade soon :D

[Jimstep]

I can overclock my 1.4Ghz TB and G3Ti200 system and get in the 67xx range. You got the bragging rights today.

[Beeblequix]

That case mod was pretty cool to look at Rex. Unfortuneately an asthetic case for me would be a m00T point because my desk holds my case inside and is only visible from the front when I open the little door. I have thought about designing a new case not unlike that k00l 1, but I don't really have the need nor money to spend.

My system does sound like lowflying aircraft from all the fans inside (6 total including the gpu & cpu ones). Any ideas on how to take my existing stuff and make it more quiet?

You're right about the monitor. I actually thought that I should change that, but you posted first so I won't. My monitor does have good refresh rates. My standard resolution is 1024x768 and I do that at 75Hz. I'm not sure which resolutions it will display at 85Hz but I'm going to find out. Yeah, I'd like to have a good LCD display. I will someday. Headaches though...I can honestly say that I've never had a headache from a computer monitor. Never. Eyestrain though...hmm. Maybe, but not on my system. Just older POSes at work.

Modem...hmmm....I do online gaming and i SUCK, somewhat because of my slightly above 200 ping(mostly from my poor skillz:( )But I've discovered that it's not solely what kind of modem but where you live as to its performance. I used to live in an older phone line area where I'd never get more than 33.6. Where I live now I get 46667 most of the time, but hardly any faster. That's why I sent back the original usr faxmodem and replaced it with a cheaper(with friend's employee discount) one because it made *zero* difference in that old part of town. Would it really be worth it to buy a 'better' modem (especially considering that I can actually use the digital signal now)? Maybe I could tweak my modem. I don't really know. ?

cheers,
B.Quix

[InnovaZero]

Modded Apex P4 ATX400 Case
Athlon XP 2000+ running on a Volcano II with Arctic Silver II
EPoX 8kha+ DDR Mobo
512mb PC2100 DDR Ram (CAS 2.5)
21GB Barracuda Ultra ATA (7,200 RPM)
Radeon 8500 64mb OCed to 290/290 DDR
SoundBlaster Live! 5.1 X-Gamer
Cyber Acoustics 5 Piece Surround Sound System
50x CD-Rom/ 12x DVD-Rom (Creative)
Sony 19" Flat Screen (Not LCD)
Windows 2000
Dual Fan 400w PSU

Connection: 4mb Cable

This is accually a funny story, and I know alot of your are going wtf, how is a cable at 4mb??

Well I learned that cable companies at default limit cable to 2mb download and 800k upload. Well one of the installers knows a program and a little regestry hack that bypasses that "limit" the company has. We placed it on my server, messed with a few things and bing! Cable was really fast. My Download went from 350k/s to 1mb/s, Upload speeds went from 200k/s to 700k/s. It pays to know someone from the cable company.

3DMark 2001SE Scores (Default): 10,200 Marks

Total cost for anyone wants to build it: (Not including monitor)

$860 + Tax of $76 = $936 grand total

Sure as hell beats buying from Dell or Compaq with a price tag of $1500 and getting a machine only 1/3 as powerful.]

Peace!

[Volts]

Mine is not really that great, anyway here the spec :

AMD XP 2000+ @ Volcano 7
2x256MB PC2100 Crucial DDR ram @ CL2.5
Soyo K7V Dragon Plus! Mobo
40GB Maxtor HDD ATA 100 (7,200rpm)
Elsa Gladiac 516 Geforce 2 Ti 64MB DDR
Soundblaster Audigy Digital Entertainment
Creative 5.1 5300 Speaker
Windows 2000 SP2
ViewSonic GF773 17" Flat Screen Monitor
Enlight Classic 300W Casing

This is not exactly a completed system, as i have not purchased a CDRW drive and DVD-ROM yet. It has not been overclocked either. I just completed building the basic stuff and wanted to run it and see if it can run stable in the current configuration before I overclock it (Heat is an issue too).

I ran the 3dMark2001, i think i got something like 17xx, which is real bad. Oh well... test machine always is peachy i guess.

[Beeblequix]

hey Volts, you should really be getting a --->>>MUCH<<<--- higher score than 17xx on that system. My old PIII667wg256sdr system would consistently get that, and oc'ed video would get 19xx. I'm very curious as to what the freak is wrong on yours.

1. what video drivers r u using?
2. r u doing default 3dmark2k1 settings?
3. have you tried exploring your bios for performance-sucking settings?
4. which via 4-in-1's r u using if applicable?
5. how much stuff do u have running in the background (msconfig)?

According to your system you should be near what mine is at. You do have a faster cpu (j00rs is 1.6(?), mine 1.47) and you have the same chipset. My video is faster, so I might have an advantage in that benchmark.

okay, my system is no longer the most l33T. Oh well.

Have a pastry *hands everyone a raspberry filled danish*.

B.Quix

[Volts]

Umm... no i don't think i am running the default setting. The default setting is 640x480 right? Cause i have it follow my screen resolution which is 1024x768 and using 32bit color (I think i turned everything to the max). Anyway, both graphic driver, VIA driver are the latest. No i have not explored any perfomance tweaking yet, just wanted to see if running on base will cause any instability before i start turning up the heat. Something like break in period for me now. Nothing is running in the background, i hate those application anyway, so i disabled all of em.

[rlemieux]

Well I can compete with you I think

Pentium 4 1.8A Northwood
ThermalTake Dragon Orb 478
Asus P4T-E i850
512MB Samsung PC800 16 device ECC Rambus
PNY Geforce 3 Ti200 and ThermalTake Crystal Orb
Sound Blaster Audigy Planinum with live drive
2 20GB Western Digital 7200RPM
FPS1000 Cambrige Soundworks 4.1 Speakers(in about a week I will have my new Logitech Z-560's)
Netgear FA310tx 10/100 ethernet PCI
Efficient Networks DSL modem
2- ThermalTake Smart Case fans
and 1 expansion slot fan
12x Samsung DVD Rom
external Iomega Preditor CDRW
350watt power supply
19inch Veiwsonic .25 monitor
Hp Scanjet 6300Cxi
Hp Photosmart 1115
Windows XP and all the other software you could ever want!

[$1500-P4 gamer]

I get around 7000 on 3dmark 2001 se when I o'clock.Default settings of 1024x768 32bit colors.I get 6500 at stock.If you don't believe me I'm registered at madonions orb.Mine is just a P41.5 on AsusP4T-E !850-256mb syncmax ram and original G3.7000 is notheing to brag about dude.Go look at the madonion orb.Some guys getting 11000.Now that is bragging rights!I'm not impressed at all with 7000.Think you should do some tweaking before you claim king of the hill!This is not a flame I just thought someone should tell you that score is good but not wonderfull,and easily beaten.

[araaraara]

My system isn't too bad. I think that it's very good based on the $150-200 Can/month that I make delivering newspapers!

AthlonXP 1600(1.4ghz) @ 1900(1.6ghz)
MSI K7T266 Pro2
256mb DDR
Visiontek Xtasy 6564 Geforce3 Ti200 @ 240 core/540 mem
ESS Solo1 PCI AudioDrive/Avance onboard audio
Volcano 5
Some 17" ATX case w/ 350w PSU
Maxtor D740X 60gb
I/O Magic 16*10*40 CDRW (not made by I/O Magic)
I/O Magic 16X DVDROM (Made by LiteOn)
Zoltrix 17" monitor
MS Natural KB & Intellimouse Explorer (optical)
Custom built 300w stereo speakers

I don't have a 3dmark 2001 score handy, I will post one later. I know that I was getting about 6700 stock and about 7800 overclocked.


We all know that a Comcrap Deskpro/Prolinea 4/25 (486 SX25mhz, no cache, 512kb video) is still the unrivaled speed king. It's so good that 3dmark won't even run on it;)

[NDC]

Who's system is 'better' than mine?

For what purpose? For gaming, yours... For workstation, mine! :D

Abit VP6 - Dual P3 @ 1.09Ghz (http://www.xtremepccentral.com/vbforums/showthread.php?threadid=77)

[eFrisky]

My "entry level" bare-bones (i.e. pretty average, now) dual system:

Tyan TigerMP motherboard
x2 AthlonXP 1800+ processors
Thermaltake 6Cu heatsinks
256Mb Kinston registered PC2100 DDR memory
Antec 1240 full tower (14 drivebays, 400PSU)

for under 1,100 Euro (963.116 US Dollar).

Using old cards etc. right now, but all is ready for upgrades.

Nice to be able to do a DVD-rip and play a game simultaneously. Try that on a single cpu system. Dual is the only way to fly.

[Beeblequix]

I am and was absolutely positive I didn't have the greatest system in the world. I'm full aware that Geforce4's and really buggy & overclocked Radeon8500's are out there, not to mention (but i am) much faster Athlons & P4's. I'm also aware that 7000 isn't the best score out there. Tell you what though, it's higher than my 2k scores on my old p3.:D

The thing I'm most interested in is what people will interpret the word 'better' as. Ex: some people might define better by how much it cost vs. performance hence price/performance; some might define better as simply performance where money is no object; then you'll have people compartmentalize between tasks as to which is the better; and some who define better as quality of parts. Judging from the responses so far, many of these areas have been acknowledged. And since the interpretation is dependant on the person, no 'correct' answer exists.

I'm very curious to compare a system which is very near my specs to inquire as to which tweaks work the best.

Ex: I changed my mobo from an automatic cpu detection to manual, meaning based on fsb and multiplier. Doing that immediately made my system faster (my 3d2k1 marks went up from 6747 to 6829 at default settings).


P4gamer:that still sounds like a flame. But you know, 7000 IS bragging rights when everybody I know personally never get more than like 3000, plus my old system can't hold an unlit match to it. Gimme a break. And indulge on a pastry *hands jelly danish*.

I thought about getting a dually, but I really only play gamez on my home comp. All my serious stuff is done on an IBM 9672 w/>800GB storage.
iiiY@ |\/|/\N tH@ 7H1NgZ L33T!!!

BTW, I did check my resolutions and refresh rates and I'll be: it handles many resolutions up to 1280x1024 @85Hz, so that's what I'll use now.

B.Q.

[Volts]

Well.... i tested 3D Mark 2001 Pro yesterday on my machine again, this time i get about 48xx. So.... what the best way to get a higher numeral than 48xx? What do you guys normally tweak. Got my autodetect cpu turn to manual, set ram cas to 2, set AGP apature size to 128MB, Fast write enabled, 4x, what else? I am using Detonator XP driver version 2311. Anything else in particular i can tweak a lil bit more? Or is it the max for a G2Ti?

[jsfurball]

Just got me a Dell Dimension MT 8200 from their Outlet site - £915 for :

P4 1800
512MB PC 800 RD RAM
100GB 7200rpm Hard drive
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz sound card
Geoforce 3 Ti 500
DVD
CDRW
Subwoofer speaker system
10/100 Ethernet Card
V92 Modem
Keyboard, mouse, screen etc
Windows XP plus lots of other software
40 patched games that I borrowed from my mates.

Better for me means better than my old P3 500. It's not a competiton.

What sort of 3d mark score should I be getting ?

[dwalls32]

Well, I just built my new system, everything except video...
Antec 1040 case w/ 420w ps
Athlon xp 2000+
Soyo Dragon+
512 Crucial
75gig IBM ata100
20gig WD ata100
Plextor 12/10/32a
Pine 16x DVD
Radeon 64 DDR VIVO :(

I took out my Sounblaster live and I'm using onboard 6 channel audio right now, although I'll probably get an audigy later. Also plan on getting a GeForce 4 or new Radeon later. Only get a measly 4337 n 3dmark2001

[rextex]

I, and my (main) mere celeron II at 850MHZ am humbled.
I am modifying the look though I don't have pics yet.
I like that strange box I posted the url of.I have an old 486 around I might make into a box like that and run something on for kicks (what? I don't know,maybe security cameras or some kind of bridge controller).The experience and ideas I'm getting will be useful when I do built a later new "Extreme Machine".I'll probaly try overclocking and some crazy type of cooling system.
You guys modify?If not try it.Its very addicting.

--Only problem is it costs money you could have put into hardware.I paid about $100 for my motherboard and CPU and I just spent $100 on paint and gadgets to modify!If I hadn't of done that I could have got a newer sytem!

Beeblequix: Yes you could add any type of (non-melting!) sound absorbing material to the inside or exterior of the case.Much like a car will be noisy with no insulation under the hood and in the doors all computers are louder than they need be.
Here's one page to see:
http://www.directron.com/silence.html

My own idea (which I have not tried yet) is to try some of acoustic type spraypaint.
http://doitbest.com/shop/dept.asp?dept_id=3583
Or just the sound absorbing additive covered with an enamel.

[Jimstep]

mine is better than yours...

[flyingV]

Well, I've gotten the sharpest gear, high-tech

no name nor model case.
"I don't know what" main board
intel 80386 "lightspeed" Processor
4MB "huge" edo ram
two 5.5" floopy drive
two "high compacity" 1.44 M 3.25" floopy drive
non-windows keyboard
12 inch , can support up to 640 * 480 CRT monitor
31MB Maxtor Hard Drive.
two buttom wheel mouse
PCI graphic card with 1MB graphic Vram
no sound, just the pc-speaker


it still works, and never crashed once~:D

[wallie_x]

Who's system is better than mine?

Anyone who appreciates their machine in a greater measure than you do. We should all be thankful for what we have. In some developing countries, a Via Cyrix M III would be a dream machine.

[Alnath]

1.4GHz T-bird
512MB PC133 RAM
GF3 Ti-200
3DMark Score 7372 3D marks (Using 3D Mark 2001 SE @ default settings)
It seems it is not what you have got but it is how you use it ;)

I also happen to agree with wallie_x and any PC is better than no PC at all! at the end of the day if you are using an Office package the PC is only as fast as you can type and if you are only surfing the net on a 56K modem a Pentium 150 will do!