OT: New PC!

AgentZero · #1 May 3rd, 2006, 01:24 PM

Well, I'm going to be connecting the new machine via a D-Link 524 wireless router (on a wired connection), and it's got a built in firewall so that should be fine.
I just have to wait until Saturday when my dad gets back, since mother dearest can't remember the passwords for it.

AgentZero · #2 May 3rd, 2006, 11:20 PM

Well, I've got the machine, and it's up and running nicely. I'm still getting all the applications etc set up, but the basics are there, and I found enough time to fire up Half-Life 2. I have to say, that warm, pleasent sensation didn't last long. But only because pee-soaked trousers go cold fast.
Holy CRAP! I had no idea things could look this good! It's one thing to look at screenshots, but to actually SEE it. Wow.
Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to spend the next few hours shouting "Holy crap! Lookit that!!!"

Although there is one thing I'm wondering. I went to download the free version of 3DMark, and it was about 570MB. Is that normal or did I do something wrong? And why the devil does it need to be so big?

NullAshton · #3 May 4th, 2006, 08:15 AM

Because it's basically a video game, without the game? That's mostly the graphics engine, textures, blah blah blah...

AgentZero · #4 May 10th, 2006, 12:37 AM

I see... Well, once I get it down, I'll be sure to come back and gloat.
In the meantime, I seem to be suffering from a variation of the Half-Life 2 stuttering bug. Video as well as audio is affected and the 'stutters' last on average 4-6 seconds, but every now & then I get one that's 20-30 seconds. The closest I could compare it to would be as if it's trying to read from a CD that's skipping (it doesn't run from CD, and the disc isn't even in the drive). I've tried every single offered solution on the Steam forums & elsewhere, and nothing works. Using the ATI Omega drivers got me about 5 minutes of flawless play time, but after the first loading screen, the stuttering came back.
I suffered through the audio stuttering on my old machine, and it was annoying but I still got through the game, but it's unplayable on my new machine, which is just bloody irritating.
Somehow, I don't think there's a solution for me, but if anyone can think of anything, that'd be great. Otherwise, Sin: Episodes looks kinda cool, anyone know if it uses the Source engine?

Thermodyne · #5 May 17th, 2006, 01:22 AM

Well, you should have the rough edges rubbed off by now, so it's time for some benchmarks

AgentZero · #6 May 17th, 2006, 01:57 AM

Well, only benchmark I know of is 3D Mark, and I scored 5328 on that with no tweaking done and I think it was Trillian still running in the background, so I don't know what effect that would have had. If you have any other benchmarks, or suggestions on tweaking, I'd love to hear em.

Thermodyne · #7 May 17th, 2006, 03:48 AM

CPU-Z
Sandra 2005
3D mark 01
Super Pi
All of the newer future mark stuff
Cinebench 2003

That should keep you busy for a few hours.