- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Okay, so here is a little testimony to how this forum has helped me:
Here is the system I started with, shortly before reading this forum:
2.0 celeron
512 mb pc 2700 (x 1)
PC Parts something or other MOBO
Radeon 9200se
Halo played like a skipping cd sounds... lots of pauses, major slowdown in battles- and absolutely NO eye candy turned on... just barebones, and even at that, lots of slowdown.
After starting with this forum and doing more research on my own, I upgraded/ built basically a new computer:
P4 2.8c 800fsb, 512 L2 (cooled with Coolmax adjustable rpm fan, Arctic Silver 5)
2x 256mb pc3200 Kingston RAM
Gigabyte GA-8ipe1100 (i865 chipset)
Radeon 9600 pro (oc'd to 9600 XT)
30 GB Maxtor, 120 GB Seagate HD
First upgrade was the graphics card... which really didn't do much on it's own, because the processor was bottlenecking the system so badly.
Then I got the MOBO (had to upgrade to get a better processor, and I wanted to be able to get a P4 with 800mhz fsb)... again- not a lot of difference yet...
Then came the new processor and ram... and WHAMO- immediate, instant, noticeable difference- in every way. I get virtually no slowdown right now- even in the heavist action.
Most of the parts I bought used or got a deal on:
9600 pro (online for $105)
Gigabyte GA-8ipe1100 (ebay for $60, used but fine)
P4 2.8c (ebay for $150, OEM)
2x 256 PC 3200 Kingston (ebay for $65, NIB)
30GB Maxtor, 120 GB Seagate
It wasn't hard to build everything- basically a brand new computer for under $400, with great specs, great overclocking potential, and rips it up with HALO. THANKS for all the posts- opened my eyes to a lot I never knew about gaming and my computer!