new computer
- Thread starter shearkhan
- Start date
BLACKWATCH
Mechanical Engineer
Zwabberaar
There can be only One!
Its a lot cheaper to place your computer in a refrigerator.
Hi johnwhelan
The reason I'm buying/upgrading my computer is as you can see from my specs (I think these are what you ask for) my whole system is at the low end(my machine is 5yrs old) my machine rund very slow,even starting up and shutting down takes for ever, it's even slower when I m running
trains,this why I am not sure whether to buy new or rebuild,anyway
we have an excellent computer shop that do upgrades /rebuilds and
repairs, their prices are quite reasonable as I have uesed them before.
anyway these are my specs.
CELERON(R) CPU2.20 GHz 512 MB RAM H D 57.2 GB INVIDIA GeFORCE
6200
The reason I'm buying/upgrading my computer is as you can see from my specs (I think these are what you ask for) my whole system is at the low end(my machine is 5yrs old) my machine rund very slow,even starting up and shutting down takes for ever, it's even slower when I m running
trains,this why I am not sure whether to buy new or rebuild,anyway
we have an excellent computer shop that do upgrades /rebuilds and
repairs, their prices are quite reasonable as I have uesed them before.
anyway these are my specs.
CELERON(R) CPU2.20 GHz 512 MB RAM H D 57.2 GB INVIDIA GeFORCE
6200
johnwhelan
Well-known member
I agree by the time you upgrade all the parts you'd be better off with a new machine.
Cheerio John
Hi John
Many thanks for that,at least I know which course of action to take,
just leaves the one headache,where to go,and which specs to look for
and which video card I need?
Hope that does'nt sound to sarcatic it was'nt meant to be, it's just that
I'm lost in this maze,so to speak,and I need some pointers to show the way out.
thanks once again for your advice
Many thanks for that,at least I know which course of action to take,
just leaves the one headache,where to go,and which specs to look for
and which video card I need?
Hope that does'nt sound to sarcatic it was'nt meant to be, it's just that
I'm lost in this maze,so to speak,and I need some pointers to show the way out.
thanks once again for your advice
Decisions:
Desktop or laptop? Trying to make Trainz run smoothly on a laptop is pushing your luck but some people on this forum have reported doing so.
Ready-made or build-it-yourself? The second requires the skill to do the job, either you or a friend.
XP or Vista? Not an easy decision, but once you've make it then you'll need at least 1GB of ram with XP and at least 2GB of ram with Vista. Vista also needs a more powerful processor according to most sources.
Sources of information:
Processors: I found a comparative list of processor powers here (most powerful at the top) but it's out of date I'm told. If anyone knows of a more up-to-date list please post!
Video boards: This is a very useful comparative list of video board powers (most powerful at the top). The GPU is at least as important as the amount of video ram the board has.
For explanations of jargon use Wikipedia.
For reviews use Tom's Hardware Guide and (with a large pinch of salt) comments by purchasers on the Internet retailers' web sites.
For detailed specifications use the manufacturers' and retailers' web sites. A cruise round the various expensive high-end gaming computers that Dell offer, and their multitude of customisation options, is time very well spent even if you then purchase elsewhere.
HTH, John
Desktop or laptop? Trying to make Trainz run smoothly on a laptop is pushing your luck but some people on this forum have reported doing so.
Ready-made or build-it-yourself? The second requires the skill to do the job, either you or a friend.
XP or Vista? Not an easy decision, but once you've make it then you'll need at least 1GB of ram with XP and at least 2GB of ram with Vista. Vista also needs a more powerful processor according to most sources.
Sources of information:
Processors: I found a comparative list of processor powers here (most powerful at the top) but it's out of date I'm told. If anyone knows of a more up-to-date list please post!
Video boards: This is a very useful comparative list of video board powers (most powerful at the top). The GPU is at least as important as the amount of video ram the board has.
For explanations of jargon use Wikipedia.
For reviews use Tom's Hardware Guide and (with a large pinch of salt) comments by purchasers on the Internet retailers' web sites.
For detailed specifications use the manufacturers' and retailers' web sites. A cruise round the various expensive high-end gaming computers that Dell offer, and their multitude of customisation options, is time very well spent even if you then purchase elsewhere.
HTH, John
Recommended specs (recommended by me, that is):
Processor: 3GHz total (possibly a dual-core)
Video card: 512MB DDR2 RAM (or faster) nVIDIA 8800GT or higher
RAM: 2GB DDR2
PSU: 500W or higher
These will run trainz at a great rate. Just make sure that the PSU can handle everything, as some graphics cards need more than 500W.
I would also recommend a visit to http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/, to look at their gaming computer for £600. There is an option to customise the PC near the bottom of the page, which may be useful as you could save a bit!
Processor: 3GHz total (possibly a dual-core)
Video card: 512MB DDR2 RAM (or faster) nVIDIA 8800GT or higher
RAM: 2GB DDR2
PSU: 500W or higher
These will run trainz at a great rate. Just make sure that the PSU can handle everything, as some graphics cards need more than 500W.
I would also recommend a visit to http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/, to look at their gaming computer for £600. There is an option to customise the PC near the bottom of the page, which may be useful as you could save a bit!
Last edited:
johnwhelan
Well-known member
I'd go a bit higher than 2 gigs of memory, 2.5 or 3.
Cheerio John
Cheerio John
johnwhelan
Well-known member
computer specs
Hi Lloyd
Many thanks for the specs, I have already checked out pcspecialist,also
arbico, so I can now go ahead .
Just a couple fo questions: which is the better motherboard, asrock (which I have at the moment) or asus,as pc use asus and arbico asrock?
also I'm not sure whether to go for vista,or stay with xp home.
Hi Lloyd
Many thanks for the specs, I have already checked out pcspecialist,also
arbico, so I can now go ahead .
Just a couple fo questions: which is the better motherboard, asrock (which I have at the moment) or asus,as pc use asus and arbico asrock?
also I'm not sure whether to go for vista,or stay with xp home.
BLACKWATCH
Mechanical Engineer
Not sure on the mb's, but I would stick with XP rather than Vista, the latter is more memory hungry than XP & you need as much of that memory as you can get for Trainz.
I've just had a look round, and most sites appear to say that XP 32-bit can handle 4GB of RAM, and 64-bit can handle 128GB (if you can get that on a motherboard!)
Hi Lloyd
Many thanks for the specs, I have already checked out pcspecialist,also
arbico, so I can now go ahead .
Just a couple fo questions: which is the better motherboard, asrock (which I have at the moment) or asus,as pc use asus and arbico asrock?
also I'm not sure whether to go for vista,or stay with xp home.
1. Personally, I would go for an ASUS motherboard, but it really won't make that much difference, I would guess.
2. Stick with XP! Look around for OEM software. This is the system builder's cheapo software. It is the same operating system, but not in a flashy retail box. All you get is a CD/DVD, a small manual, and a case sticker with a licence key. I got XP for £75 when I built my computer, but you can get it for £60 or even £50 these days.
johnwhelan
Well-known member
Quote:
Originally Posted by johnwhelan
But why? 32 bit XP or Vista can't use 4 gigs, 64 bit Vista can though.
Cheerio John
It's a basic hardware limitation to do with the number of address lines the processor can use and the operating system knows about.
Basically some memory addresses within the 4 gig addressable range are reserved so that the processor can talk to hard drives, video cards, keyboards and other such things. You can install 4 or even 8 gigs or more of memory on a motherboard and run 32 bit XP but the most memory XP will see is roughly 2.7 gigs. It does vary slightly according to the motherboard.
Cheerio John
Originally Posted by johnwhelan
But why? 32 bit XP or Vista can't use 4 gigs, 64 bit Vista can though.
Cheerio John
It's a basic hardware limitation to do with the number of address lines the processor can use and the operating system knows about.
Basically some memory addresses within the 4 gig addressable range are reserved so that the processor can talk to hard drives, video cards, keyboards and other such things. You can install 4 or even 8 gigs or more of memory on a motherboard and run 32 bit XP but the most memory XP will see is roughly 2.7 gigs. It does vary slightly according to the motherboard.
Cheerio John
computer specs
Hi Lloyd
Many thanks for the info on motherboard and windows, now I,m
aleady on windows xp home with sp2, Ive just had another look at pcspecialist,an I was wondering do I need to have that included on the specs listor not as I shall of course be transfering the data from thiis machine to the new one,as you may have gathered by now I'm all that bright when it comes to all this techno stuff.
peter taylor
Hi Lloyd
Many thanks for the info on motherboard and windows, now I,m
aleady on windows xp home with sp2, Ive just had another look at pcspecialist,an I was wondering do I need to have that included on the specs listor not as I shall of course be transfering the data from thiis machine to the new one,as you may have gathered by now I'm all that bright when it comes to all this techno stuff.
peter taylor