Computer advice

#1 Sounds good, but I would replace "Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition" with "Microsoft Windows XP PRO" and get a graphics card thats not Integrated... :)

#2 You'll want to add a video card to replace the "integrated graphics". In addition, the Media Center version of XP doesn't really add a lot - you're probably better off getting XP Pro. Everything else looks good for a middle-of-the-road rig.

#3 Man, you posted the same recommendation at the exact same time. Freaky.

#4 Well unless it was intended to be a media center... there is no such thing as a "right" computer, it depends what you plan to be using it for.

#5 I don't really care about the media center but it comes with the computer I want to buy. To add a new video card would I just put it in an empty PCI slot? Do you think it's powerful enough to make games with TSE?

#6 Cut the drive in half and put linux on it too.

#7 I was thinking about doing that. I'm not really sure how to partition the drive though.

#8 Oh, and the computer only costs $579. Thats pretty good isn't it?

#9 Don't put Linux on it unless you have a need for it. No use wasting half your drive if you don't need it.

Quote:To add a new video card would I just put it in an empty PCI slot?

They don't make a lot of PCI video cards anymore. While most machines with integrated graphics have a graphics slot (AGP or PCI Express), some don't. You're best bet is to contact the manufacturer and make sure you can upgrade it, and with what.

Quote:Do you think it's powerful enough to make games with TSE?

Maybe, maybe not. Depends on the integrated graphics. Best to replace the card.

#10 100 gb - primary partition - ntfs
100 gb - extended partition
512mb linux filesystem swap
44gb linux filesystem ext3
44gb linux filesystem ext3 - so you can try 2 different linux out
10gb fat32 so you can dump a file from linux and in windos3 you can use it.

you can do it with system commander/partitionmagic/
or a linux boot cd that has a partition resizing tool

#11 So in order to upgrade the graphics card I need an AGP slot?

#12 Dont go to school or read books either because you might learn something new.

#13 Huh??

#14

Quote:So in order to upgrade the graphics card I need an AGP slot?

Yes, that or PCI Express. PCI Express is faster, and is "the format of the future" at least according to intel. However, you can still get plenty of AGP cards, and they will probably be available for next generation of cards also.

#15

Quote:Huh??

I think he's referring to my recommendation to not install Linux unless you need it. Evidently he feels it is important to install, and that if you don't install it and learn it you are somehow failing yourself.

If you need it, then by all means install it. If not, don't bother. Seems like good advice for most anything.

#16 Jaimi,

There isn't any pci-x video cards...

I think you mean:
PCI Express

#17 Yep, you're right. I was erroneously using it as a shortcut for PCI Express. My only argument is that I have seen it used erroneously before. However, you, and the PCI-SIG website have set me straight. I shall not err in this way again.

#18 I use a $88 mobo with integrated graphics as my primary dev machine.

it's pretty sweet, because it has dual output integrated, and can run the tourque engine reasonablly at 800x600 res


you should check it out, the Asus A8N-VM

http://arstechnica.shopping.com/xPC-ASUS_Asus_Computer_Mainboard_A8N_VM_19051~PD-28162197~FD-1717~kworg-28162197~KW-28162197~linkin_id-3038560~DMT-1~VK-

#19 > empty PCI slot?
u will not find a video card powerful enough

> Do you think it's powerful enough to make games with TSE?

are you rich?

i would get tge first with a ok computer and then when you have a pile of money get a new system and tse.

I can run tge on a athlon xp with geforce2gts

you can buy a geforce2gts from pricewatch for $24.

I would save your money for the 4 torque books ( 2 out already), torque show tool pro, and content packs - because you can learn by taking them apart.

maybe spend a little and get a motherboard with pci express and a nice power supply and a good quiet cpu cooler.

#20

Quote:> empty PCI slot?
u will not find a video card powerful enough

I just found out that the motherboard does have one PCI Express X16 Slot. So if the integrated graphics aren't good enough I'll buy a new card.

Quote:> Do you think it's powerful enough to make games with TSE?

are you rich?

No, but sometime in the future I'm sure I'll buy TSE and I don't want to buy another computer for awhile.

Thanks for the advice!