Re: OT: Worst PC Decision
 

LOL, you really shouldn't need a water cooled case... those are rather extreme.

Just add a fan which blows air over your video card's heatsink. Perhaps an extra casefan in case you have an unused fan 'port' http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Btw people, tomshardware.com has a recent 'build your own' sub-$1000 gaming pc article http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif Its near the bottom of his front page... enjoy !

Re: OT: Worst PC Decision
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Ok, I may seem totally computer illiterate (I'm not http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif ), but how do you disable the virtual memory swap file?? </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Cirvol answered this in a post below. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

*link to post*

Re: OT: Worst PC Decision
 

What is your guys call on the 64 bit processors, go with or wait?

Re: OT: Worst PC Decision
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Only if you Subscribe to that unenforceable EULA gobleygook. It is not a legally binding contract in any way. I purchased the software, I can put it on as many of my computers as I want. Nothing "illegit" about it. Software is purchased by a user. Not by an individual computer. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Actually, there are still copyright issues, even if EULA's are held unenforceable (as far as I know, they have never been challenged in court - until they have been, one cannot say for certain if the courts will hold EULA's as binding contracts or not) - if you purchase a book from the bookstore, you can read it at your house, you can let your neighbors read it at their house (or your house), but you can't read it at your house while you let your neighbors read it at their houses, as a book couldn't physically be in two places at once. As I recall (although I don't remember the source, so this may be false) the ruling on such readily copiable things as software, was that anything you would be capable of and permitted to do with a book, you are permitted to do with software - which means (assuming EULA's are held unenforceable in court, that is) you can install a single purchased OS on two machines, provided they aren't ever used simultaneously, as one physical book couldn't be in two places at once. Thus, you can't purchase one copy of Windows XP, install it on your custom machine (1), give your custom machine (1) away to your sister without doing anything to it, build another (2) and install your copy of Windows XP on it - the first machine is no longer under your control, so you can't be sure they won't be used simultaneously.

Re: OT: Worst PC Decision
 

Well, there is QUITE a difference between the standard athlon 64 vs the FX model... (price reflects this as well - and as a result, the standard athlon 64 is a better buy for optimizing price/performance)

But, FX is sweet.

The nvidia nforce3-250 chipset seems like the sweetest one so far, again, do a bit of research at tomshardware.com. If you do any type of scientific research, (SETI@home, folding@home (my favorite)) then the athlon FX's are really really nice.

One caveat, they are about to switch to a new pin (and socket) layout, called the 939 - it might make sense to wait for these mobo's and cpu's before you purchase, (and for that matter, if you're upgrading your vga card, wait for PCI express - which will replace the AGP slot)

cheers,
Cirvol

Re: OT: Worst PC Decision
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Actually, it is a common mod to do, what you have to do is find the right water cooling block that attaches to your particular parts (CPU and video card). After that all you need is to remove the regular heatsinks from both (might be tricky on the vcard) and attach them, with a tiny bit of silver heat gel (it really is optional, but a little won't hurt). Attaching the tubing is next, and all you need now is a pump and a resevoir, and a radiator. You can find premade kits at any PC mod site, or you can make your own if you're good with tools.

Re: OT: Worst PC Decision
 

guys, water cooling is OVERKILL, i swear

just take the heat sink off, make sure both surfaces are really smooth and flat, and use artec silver paste between them, and you'll be amazed at how well it works...

water cooling the card is just asking for trouble, honest

Re: OT: Worst PC Decision
 

Personally i'm of the belief that water + PC's = Trouble

A water cooled case just sounds practically insane considering what your computer is made of, and running on http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: OT: Worst PC Decision
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Well, water cooling is only a step up from air. Next you have evaporative water cooling with a cooling tower. Then if you’re a real hard core OC’r, you can go with electronic chilling (pelts) and water. And for insane OC’ing, you can go with compressed gas (Vapochill).

Re: OT: Worst PC Decision
 

The only reason for water cooling is the reduced noise. Air is perfectly ok and absolutely sufficient if there are enough and good fans, but more fans always = more noise, even if you buy expensive "silent" ones.