Thoughts on New Computer

[Iced8383]

I've got three copies of Windows 7 Ultimate retail, take a look at the specs on two of the machines I'm using below.


I experimented with Windows 7 XP mode a long time ago but is not intended for running games as it is based on Virtual PC, not something you'd want to run performance applications on.

True, but Windows 7 was able to run TRS2004 with no problems for me. Chris Sawyer's Locomotion (which came out a few months later) did work with a bit of tweaking.

Again why would you want to be stuck with just running DirectX games with drivers that have spotty OpenGL support when you can run both with Nvidia?

Most games and applications will run better with DirectX rather than OpenGL. While Nvidia does have good OpenGL support, I've never really been fond of their cards considering that ATI's products tend to be cheaper and better. Compare ATI's Sapphire 5770 cards to a GTX 465 from Sparkle. You'll see what I mean.

 

[djt]

True, but Windows 7 was able to run TRS2004 with no problems for me. Chris Sawyer's Locomotion (which came out a few months later) did work with a bit of tweaking.

I have'nt had any problems running TRS2006, TRS2009 or TS2010 on Vista Ultimate 64 or Windows 7 Ultimate 64.


Are you saying that you are running TRS2004 in Windows 7 XP mode?

Most games and applications will run better with DirectX rather than OpenGL. While Nvidia does have good OpenGL support, I've never really been fond of their cards considering that ATI's products tend to be cheaper and better. Compare ATI's Sapphire 5770 cards to a GTX 465 from Sparkle. You'll see what I mean.

I have more than a few sims/games that are OpenGL only, Trainz is the only game other than Nascar 2003 that I've had with an option to use OpenGL or DirectX.


I've been using ATI video cards for as long as I've used Nvidia's and I usually try to keep two machines going with the highest end GPU's from both Nvidia and ATI. ATI's video cards took a little bit of nose dive after the AMD take over and as far as Catalyst driver development is concerned it has'nt come back yet so I don't find ATI's video cards “cheaper and better”.


Without a doubt Nvidia currently has an upper hand as far as image quality goes with older game engines (like Trainz) and transparency textures.

 

[Iced8383]

I have'nt had any problems running TRS2006, TRS2009 or TS2010 on Vista Ultimate 64 or Windows 7 Ultimate 64.
Are you saying that you are running TRS2004 in Windows 7 XP mode?

No. Windows 7 Home Premium doesn't have that option. TRS2004 will run fine. And whatever graphics card we go with, I'm sure Noel will be happy.

 

[djt]

No. Windows 7 Home Premium doesn't have that option. TRS2004 will run fine.

I must have missed the question about TRS2004 running on Windows 7?

 

[Red_Rattler]

HI everyone,

One of our members Noel (nbrettoner) computer has died and we had been talking about a new one for him. Between those talks when his computer was working and phone calls we have an idea now of parts for his new computer.

< blah, blah, blah, what Craig said in first post about computer specs >

I'm not sure if this computer will do, or if it may sound too cheap, nor am I endorsing their products, but a certain 4-letter worded store starting with "A" has a 1TB with dedicated graphics card (& 4GB RAM I think) for $A699. Not sure about buying a computer that only sells computers from time to time, with no support except for a telephone number.

 

[nbrettoner]

Hi everyone,

Wow!, thank you all for all your valued suggestions discussions & your various PC spec details.
Dum-dums here arrived at the library without my flash drive, so I can't give you the new PC's specs today. Hopefully I'll remember to bring it tomorrow!.
It's ordered, but as yet not paid for. I spent a fruitless 15 minutes of my 1 hour here trying to pay online, only to discover I was exceeding my daily online limit-of-payment from my Credit Union. Guess where I'm going in 1/2 an hour!.

Have heeps of daily emails to process so hope to be more forthcoming with details/comment tomorrow.
However allow me to at least say many thanks to everyone. It is greatly encouraging & much appreciated, for al the interest/support etc. :wave:

 

[nbrettoner]

Hi,

Well two very large boxes arrived after lunch last Wednesday & I've been busily working away at preparing the new PC for a huge migration of data etc.

However the past few days I've concentrated on installing some basic software. Trainz etc will have to wait awhile. :'(

Later I'll put up some pics, but for now the specs:-

1 x ASUS P7P55D-E-PRO MB: 233.00
1 x Intel CORE i5 760 2.8HGz CPU: 245.00
1 x Corsair CMX4GX3M2A1600C8 4GB (2x XMS3 2GB) PC-12800 (1600MHz) XMS KIT: 152.00
1 x Gigabyte GF GTX 460 PCI-E 2.0 1GB DDR5 256-bit, 715/3600MHz, 2x Dual-Link DVI, 1x mini HDMI, Fan: 298.00
1 x Western Digital WD10EARS 1TB 3.5" CAVIAR GREEN INTELIPOWER SATA HDD: 78.00
2 x Western Digital 500GB/CAVIAR BLACK/7200RPM/SATA 3GB/s /32MB CACHE/3.5/WD5001AALS: 148.00
1 x ICute SATA II HDD Mobile Rack: 35.00
1 x BenQ G2420HD 24.0" Widescreen LCD Monitor: 248.00
1 x Antec Nine Hundred Two Tower Gaming Case: 156.00
1 x Antec 850W TruePower Quattro ATX & EPS 12V Power Supply: 205.00
1 x Antec TriCool 120mm Blue LED Case Fan with 3-Speed Switch: 29.00
1 x Microsoft WINDOWS 7 PROFESSIONAL 64 OEM 1PK DVD VERSION:64-BIT: 172.00

I had my own sata II DVD burner, & an IDE cradle with cartridge for hard drives.
So I've mounted the sata II ICute cradle (see specs above) in the top slot, then the
sata II DVD burner, then the
IDE cradle in the 3rd slot down.
I had to do it this way, because the extra length of the IDE cradle interefered with internal PC wiring looms.

So far I haven't turned on the olde PC. Just been doing as much as I can before I do that.

One concern is how I can get to 'see' the olde PC's desktop, now that the OS for that no longer can start.
I believe that the desktop info is stored somewhere in XP. Any ideas/comments most welcome.
On the olde PC, I need to be able to see what programs I had shortcuts to, & in which desktop folders they're in.

Wow this thing's sooooo much better! :wave:

 

[RRSignal]

The "desktop" is in C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Desktop.

 

[nbrettoner]

Hi RRSignal,

Thanks for the path info. I should have remembered.
I appreciate your help. :wave: