My crumbling computer..

[DocBot]

Right, so it's not only my harddrive that's failing, it's also the graphics card. Luckily, the company that sold it to me will let me upgrade instead of getting the same one back. So now I'm in the jungle that is graphic cards.

What to buy?

I'm leaning towards an 8600. Now I can get the Gainward GT 256 mb with silentFX for nothing, or I can pay a little and get the Gainward GTS with noisy fan and also with 256 mb.

Or I could, technically, get a x1950 if anyone has a really good reason why.

Any opinions?

obviously, if you have a recommendation other than those two, and we're in that price range, =< 250 €, don't hesitate

 

[waterproofbob]

Its a little more than you're looking for but I just got myself a 8800 GTS, i think its about 270€.
It really is worth those extra pennies if you can afford to stretch to it. I'm soooooo glad i got mine. I was worried that it wouldn't be able to perform as well as my old 7900GTx which was a 512mb card. the 8800 GTS i have is only 320mb but it is stonking in every way.

But as far as going for a x1950 or a 8600 I'd have to say go for the 8600. I'd also go for the Gainward as i like to have more cooling even if it is a little louder.

My suggestion would defo be go rob someone for that extra 30€ and get the 8800GTS cos it is awesome.

 

[DeZmond]

Long term best option is a Geforce 8x00 card - DX10 capability will certainly be an advantage if and when you upgrade to Vista (I'd anticipate we all will eventually, once the compatibility level settles down).

Performance wise you'd be happy with a Radeon card but to be honest having the option of DX10 available is worth the extra price, and is certainly where I'd put my money, given the option.

 

[Haven]

*keeps his mouth shut as he'll only get shouted at and blamed otherwise*

 

[DocBot]

nono, that's only when it comes to RAM

 

[DocBot]

Right, stuffs off to be replaced. I've gone with the 8600 GTS. The difference in what I'm paying is way to big if I'm gonna get anything better. But I'm happy as can be either way expect me back on tuesday, with insurgency and what have you.

 

[Nanor]

I just got over Docbot blaming me for his woes

*expects Dobot to whip us into a game of Civ4*

 

[Ronin Storm]

Glad to read you're getting it sorted! See you in Insurgency, hopefully.

 

[DocBot]

extra update: It might not be tomorrow I'm getting it :/

on the up side: They're replacing my failed 200 gig maxtor with a 320 gig samsung spinpoint, no extra charge

 

[Ronin Storm]

Boo! And yay! Respectively.

 

[DocBot]

It lives! after a few characteristic BSOD's during windows installation (!) and some other minor flukes, it is now up and running. We'll see for how long.

Then again, I'll just name the up side again: upgrade 200 gig hd -> 320 gig + geforce 6800 gt -> 8600 GTS = Total price: 54 €

p.s. installing hl2 now, it keeps telling me files are corrupt. Is it the DVD drive or the ram, or maybe the motherboard this time? Find out in the continuing series, "How may times can DocBot's PC break down before he does?".

 

[elDiablo]

Then again, I'll just name the up side again: upgrade 200 gig hd -> 320 gig + geforce 6800 gt -> 8600 GTS = Total price: 54 €

I actually hate you...

 

[Traxata]

lol i think, someone is slightly jealous

 

[BiG D]

p.s. installing hl2 now, it keeps telling me files are corrupt. Is it the DVD drive or the ram, or maybe the motherboard this time? Find out in the continuing series, "How may times can DocBot's PC break down before he does?".

Are you by chance installing from the CDs, but unchecked counterstrike?

 

[DocBot]

yes... but it's the DVD.

 

[DocBot]

After a repair install of XP, I'm now trying to install HL2 again. Just got another BSOD. This time it was PFN_LIST_CORRUPT, seems the RAM is acting up again.

 

[Ronin Storm]

When you say you have some "characteristic BSOD's during windows installation" then I was worried right there. WinXP should only be blue screening when something is fubared, not as a matter of course. I managed to keep my WinXP system rock stable for a good year or more before gradual hardware failure (RAM, incidentally) started to kill it off with blue screens.

It almost speaks to an incompatibility between components. A while back I bought a soundcard that would work in one machine but would prevent POST in another. Soundcard was fine, just wasn't compatible with the motherboard for some weird reason.

 

[DocBot]

yeah I know. Another fun fact: I Downloaded HL2 through steam and it installed fine, but wouldn't run. Something is rotten in the state of denmark.

 

[thatbloke]

Something is rotten in the state of denmark.

No, something is rotten with the state of your computer

I think you should rip out that Mobo and get a replacement and new RAM

Of all the things you seem to have tried so far, IIRC the Mobo is the only thing that hasn't been replaced.

The fact that it did BSOD a number of times during the XP install seems to indicate that it isn't/wasn't your graphics card playing up after all...

 

[BiG D]

yes... but it's the DVD.

Well, Valve fucked up their installer (on the CD, anyway... though I wouldn't be surprised if the DVD had the same issue...) in such a way that HL2 will only install if you're also installing CS. Fuckers.

Of course, it sounds like it refuses to run for you anyway now, so