What's so wrong with this??

[gradius]

Coming from having a 486DX2 as my top of the line system, then moving to a Cyrix P150, I've been plauged with bad, slow systems all my life. (by the way, I'm only 17; been in the computer scene for about 5 years) Finally getting a decent job and making (almost) a decent amount of money, I set out to custom build me a gaming machine. Looking at places like Alienware-pc.com just got me very discouraged. Well, needless to say, a few $$$ and packages later, I had built me a lost-cost high performing machine.

Intel Celeron 333a Retail
PC-Chips M748mr Mobo Bxcell chipset
-Using built in A3d sound
32MB of PC-100 RAM and 32MB of PC-66 RAM
1gig Seagate Drive (it's over 4 years old)
16MB Voodoo Banshee PCI
8x Mitsumi Cd-rom
56k x2 USR Modem
17" Northgate Monitor
Labtec 3dSound Speakers w/Subwoofer (acutally, the woofer is my guitar amp, but hey, I get GREAT bass with it)

I know alot of people look at this computer and frown. "Oh, I'll never use anything other than my P3 550 and my Voodoo3 AGP". Why?! This baby rocks! I have never had a problem running anything I wanted to. Admittedly, the a new drive would almost double performance. I run Quake2 in 800x600 with almost 45-50fps. Adobe Photoshop editing is fast loading and responsive.
My sound isn't all the bad either. Maybe beacuse I've never used a DM Mx300.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is, I've spent a lot of time working around computer shops, and I see people go in there not knowing what there doing, and leave with a system that's FAR more than they need. Same with gamers or other users, I think a lot of people just get the "best" because it's out there and because it is the best.

Well, that's just my dime a minute for today. Now, I'm ready for the angry responses http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[CMonster]

If you are happy with it that is what matters - if you were building anything just to impress others I would have to question where your self esteem was.

Personally I can hardly tell the difference bewteen 400 and 500 mhz, but it is fun to see just how far we can push the envelope of technology - and being that we humans tend to be highly competitive and egocentric, we naturally bring that into it.

Who cares what drives it? Tomorrow your children may laugh at the antique PIII550s as they use their wrist computers that use an ionized nitrogen and laser image display made out of thin air...

While electro-gravitation steered micro lasers may read stationary square disks at nearly the speed of light...

My P55C MMX with a good video card and plenty of ram is plenty fast for most stuff - but hey if you could afford anything would you be driving a "Geo?"

[gradius]

Finally, someone with common sense agrees http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif I'm guess I'm just frustrated with those knuckle-heads at my work that act like they are high class compu-geeks..

"Oh darling, look at that little kiddie there, he's one of those Celeron users. ::scoffs:: I only use Pentium 2's."

"psssstt.. The Pentium 3's just came out"

"Pentium 3's? Who? What? I have to get it! Who uses those old junky Pentium 2's anyway."

::sighs::

[socalgal]

Ditto CMonster here (but he lost me after wrist computers...)

If you love it and it works for you, then keep embracing it. March to your own drum. You become encaged when you start thinking about what others think about you.

[Perce]

I had to laugh at some of these posts!!!! Good remarks all. Good observations, but I disagree,you never, never, ever have a system with far more than you need!!! If that is the case, in 6 months time it won't be http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif I had a potential customer a while back, 3 PCS, samll network, wanted NT, no problem. Then the guy get's hung up on USB!!! Adios!!! LOL He called me last week, wanted to know how much it work take to redo his PCs with 98!!!! ROFL But if your working in a shop that sells PCs, if the customer can afford it, do the overkill, never can go wrong there, that way they can brag to their friends, and maybe their friends will come and see you for some parts that are faster than the ones you sold to the other guy http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[skywalker[TSG]]

i allways go for overkill but when i think of it i say to myself did i really need 512mb ram the answer is no but i want it anyway

some times i get my good o´l ABC comp with a whopping 1.2mhz from the closet and i think back to the time when computers where computers not toys
but what the hell i dont see any diference in my p2 300 and my p3 550 they are both fast enough but then again u cant brag with a p2 300 LOL

u guys want to know why we are´nt still using 486class machines i tell u WINDOWS 95/98 !!

[socalgal]

<edit> nope, not going there... </edit>



[This message has been edited by socalgal (edited 07-29-99).]

[dawgtuff]

gradius....There's a term I learned a long time ago.It's called "Diminishing Returns".Unless you have money to burn,why should you invest 100% to get back a 30% performance gain? You made a good move from your P150.Add some more Ram,a new HD,and a faster CD when you can,and you'll be sittin' pretty good.........DawgTuff.

[gradius]

That's the goal! I guess when you don't have very much money to spend, you get more creative http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

My hard drive definitely needs upgrading. In fact, after four years of tourture testing and using, I'm suprised the old thing still work (and pretty well) I really wanted to get a Udma/66 drive, but a lot of people tell me to shoot for SCSI. Money money money..

(thanks for all the great posts!)

[Ed_S]

You're smarter to do it this way. You might not have "state of the art" but so what if it fills your needs! If & when you upgrade, you'll be able to get a P3, still have the Cel, and have spent less total than if you bought one now. I never push overkill, although I usually wind up with it. Mine are generally 2 behind top end, or at least 1 step ahead of my buddy's! (yeah, a little competitive there!) Truth is, I can't tell much difference between my 233MMX and my K6/2-400 @ 450, but it's faster than his 350!

Now having said that, let me point out that he and I can both afford to play this game. If you can't, you should ignore those at work giving you static. Tell em you've got better things to do with your money!

[CMonster]

Real Life has the Ultimate Graphics!

[gradius]

I had problem viewing graphics and getting decent resolutions while trying Real Life. I went to the eye doctor, and he upgraded me to 20/20 vison with bilinear focusing.

But beware, Real Life does contain viruses. I believe I've contracted the Flu Virus. I tried talking to a guy I know named Norton, didn't really help any. I also think that the virus has overclocked my processor somehow, because I seem to be developing a fever. Ahh, but no fear, I've put myself in low power down mode, and I'm thinking about straping some heatsinks to my head for added cooling. Any suggestions? http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[socalgal]

http://www.sysopt.com/forum/biggrin.gif

[geekd]

the only drawback to your system that I see is that the Celeron 333 runs at 66Mhz, instead of 100Mhz... I notice a huge difference between my 66Mhz AMD 300 system at work and my 100Mhz AMD 350 system at home. Way more than the slight increase in processor speed would explain.

But as far as gaming goes, I thing your Video card has more effect on performance than anything else, and it looks like you got a pretty good video card.. my cousin has one of those (16MB Banshee) and it rocks!

-geekd

P.S. I have HEARD (but not seen or done) that the celeron 333 can be overclocked very well...

[gradius]

I have everything ready to tape up b21 to run it at 500, but I can't get the processor out of the slot!

I didn't think overclocking was possible with the 333 otherwise. The multiplier is locked at 5. However, I have read people actually getting to 500 with a 2.2v.

Who knows..

[Joel Kleppinger]

geekd: The reason you see such improvements is because the cache speed of the K6/K6-2 goes up by 50% from 66 to 100 MHz. It has a vast difference on the overall system speed. However, for a Celeron, whose cache already flies at the same speed of the CPU (in this case: 333 MHz), the boost doesn't come from the FSB, but from the clock rate in general.

gradius: I suggest looking on your motherboard or in your manual for 75 or 83 MHz FSB settings. You're far more likely to get 83 MHz rather than 100 MHz FSB, since 500 MHz on a C333 comes less than 50% of the time. There is a pretty nice speed jump at 416 MHz over 333 MHz. Not incredible, but still nice.

Good luck,

Joel

[gradius]

Thanks for the reply Mr Kleppinger

I have a PCChips M748mr motherboard. And yes, it does support every bus speed from 66, 75, 83, 90, and 100Mhz. I've been trying forever to change the FSB in the BIOS, but it will only allow me to select 66 or 100Mhz. I flash upgraded my BIOS, and still nothing. (i'm using the original BIOS ver. now) I have, what I think to be decent cooling (CPU runs at 100% load for 10-20hrs @ 40-42C) I just can't get the FSB to change. Like I said before, I would tape b21, but I can't get the CPU out of the slot, and I don't see any screws to undo the retention chip.

[CMonster]

Gently now, don't break it!

What a great idea - heatsinks for a fever! Maybe we could market that, a flexible forehead heatsink with a little fan on it-maybe dual fans! Ha! -I'm gonna be rich!!!!! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif - and then there is that other project of mine, that lifts the toilet seat when you step on the little button and automatically lets it back down slowly when you remove your foot - married folks think of the arguments it will spare you!

[This message has been edited by CMonster (edited 07-30-99).]

[Joel Kleppinger]

Oh CMonster, I'm way ahead of you. I'm thinking water cooling. What you do is this:

Get a 6"x6" square piece of cloth and a 10" diameter basin and verify their cleanliness. Once verified to be pure, pour purified water or melted snow into the basin, and dip the cloth in the basin every 3 minutes on the button and apply it to face for exactly 2 minutes and 56 seconds. You can also put a heatsink and fan on the basin to keep the temperature of it down. Continue application until overheating has quit.

It is possible for a cloth to be burned out, and in this case, replace it with another, equivalent cloth bought from Fabrico Shack - cuz they have all the best cloths that are the easiest to modify for any given situation.

DOH. I just gave my idea to the world... there goes my millions. :-/

[MrT]

geekd:
I bought a Celeron 333 and overclocked it to 417 MHz. Took place of my Pentium II 350. It blew away the Pentium II. The difference was unbelievable.