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Alienware (Read 354 times)
May 5
th
, 2004 at 1:22am
forfun
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Colonel
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Posts: 216
Hey ppl
Who has heard of Alienware custom built machines and how do you reckon they run high demand games like FS2004. Cos i lookd through their site and thought jeez these are awesome.
Also there are two versions of Alienware, AMD and Intel and i can't chose, does anyone know from experience which one is better?
sorry to post a thread bout systems. wnt do it again
lol
forfun
Now if something goes without saying, then why do people say it??&&&&
http://www.homepages.mcb.net/bones/04fs/MP/9320.jpg
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Reply #1 -
May 5
th
, 2004 at 2:09am
Silver1SWA
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Morgan Hill, Ca. (SF Bay Area)
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Alienware machines are on pretty much every gamers wish list. It's like they are a gift from the gaming world gods. But then again...a top of the line computer, or better yet, a top of the line gaming computer, and a computer that can handle FS9 seem to be two different things. Haven't heard anything about them regarding FS9.
P4 3.20Ghz 800Mhz FSB&&1 GB PC3200 400Mhz DDR RAM (Dual Channel)&&Nvidia GeForce 6800GT 256MB 8X AGP&&SB Audigy MP3+&&Win XP Pro
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May 5
th
, 2004 at 9:06am
Fly2e
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It's 5 O'clock Somewhere!
KFRG
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Hey for fun, after this post, I need to move this to the hardware forum!
In my specs below, I have custom built an Alienware system, well sort of!
It is an Alienware chassis that has all the goodies installed. It is custom made for running FS9 but I have yet to use it as I am dealing with a UPS issue!
Anyway, after just receiving a machine, even if it has the best of the best, don't think that out of the box it will be incredible. There are allot of variables that go into "balancing" your system to run the sim.
Let me quote my friend Michael Greenblatt, "Ramsa 329" on something you need to be aware of.
Quote:
Around 4 years ago while working as a Network Administrator for a major speaker manufacturer in California I was given the job of setting up an entirely new division, which would be developing computer speaker systems from the ground up. During this time I came into contact with a brilliant Systems Engineer who introduced me to his concept of “Systems Unification”.
It was his idea that if we were to unify each unit within the division by purchasing machines from one manufacturer each with the same Operating System but each specifically set-up for the users needs and we were to couple that with servers loaded with the same Operating System from the same manufacturer than we would have a more efficient and cost effective network with less downtime and fewer system failures.
Since the company would be employing users who would span the spectrum from simple data entry to complex technical and graphic design we had to choose a company, which offered a wide range of machines that could be tailored to each of the users needs.
It was my job to research and find which software and hardware peripherals would best work with each machine. Taking into account reports of system crashes, efficient memory usage and a host of other factors. This became my training ground for learning how to blend elements together to make them work at their optimum. I had to know how each piece of software or hardware would interact with every other piece of hardware and software within the network and including our manufacturing division in China.
It took the two of us over two years to implement the entire plan. The final result became known as one of the most cost effective and an efficient network yet developed and was used as a model by many major companies throughout the world.
As I became more and more immersed in Flight simulators I discovered that the principals that I had learned could be applied to an individual machine which needed to be “unified” in order to get the maximum from particular software such as Fs2000 or Fs2002 and now FSCOF.
I researched every available website and forum until I had learned to understand the operating principals of the simulator and how it interacts with all of the available motherboards, processors, operating systems, video cards, video card drivers, sound cards and sound card drivers.
I built system after system seeking to come up with real world answers to making the simulator function at its max even on what many would consider systems incapable of doing so. I have researched and sought out answers from the best manufacturers and designers and I have learned from the users what they need and want from their machines and simulators.
The results to date have been scores of satisfied customers many of whom had given up on their machines believing them to be incapable of ever achieving satisfactory performance.
Users of all skill levels who had previously thought their systems obsolete and could not even consider expensive upgrades have found that “system unification” has given them the ability to enjoy their gaming experience on a par with users with “high end” systems. High end users benefit from the increased stability and functionality of their systems.
The answers that you will find here are not based on “unrealistic bench marks or test scores” but on real life experience and real time testing of this unique and “special” game.
If you have any further questions or would like to discuss these issues further , please contact us either by email or through our forum.
Michael Greenblatt
Head Technician
If you want to learn more, please click on the link in my Sig!
Good luck,
Dave 8)
Intel Core i7 Extreme Processor 965, 4.2GHz/8MB L3 Cache, Asus P6T Deluxe V2 Intel X58 Chipset Cross
Fire & SLI Supported, Mushkin Redline 6GB (3X2GB) Memory, eVGA NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285, Vista 64.
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May 5
th
, 2004 at 9:43am
congo
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Colonel
Make BIOS your Friend
Australia
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Posts: 3663
Or you could just build a kick-butt machine with one of the latest video cards (like the NV6800) install WnXP and FS9, that will work too.
Or lurk around a discount PC hardware retailer on a Satururday morning, sus out a nerdy type kid eyeing off all the expensive hardware, then hire him cheap to build it for you!
Mainboard: Asus P5K-Premium, CPU=Intel E6850 @ x8x450fsb 3.6ghz, RAM: 4gb PC8500 Team Dark, Video: NV8800GT, HDD: 2x1Tb Samsung F3 RAID-0 + 1Tb F3, PSU: Antec 550 Basiq, OS: Win7x64, Display: 24" WS LCD
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May 7
th
, 2004 at 7:59am
Fly2e
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Global Moderator
It's 5 O'clock Somewhere!
KFRG
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Posts: 199132
For Fun,
You might find this review about Alienware and PC set ups for the sim VERY, VERY informative!
http://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kds?$=main/review/alien.htm
Dave
Intel Core i7 Extreme Processor 965, 4.2GHz/8MB L3 Cache, Asus P6T Deluxe V2 Intel X58 Chipset Cross
Fire & SLI Supported, Mushkin Redline 6GB (3X2GB) Memory, eVGA NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285, Vista 64.
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Reply #5 -
May 7
th
, 2004 at 8:47am
Delta_
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Colonel
Woah!
London, UK
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Posts: 2032
The X800 is out, and it has already been hailed as the winner over the 6800, because it performs a little better in games but mainly because it does not require a PCI slot to be used up and a 550Watt non generic PSU, which would cost in excess of £90 on top of the price of the card. Where as the ATi card will work form the normal PSU that you already use.
My system:
Intel Q6600@3.6GHz, Corsair XMS2 4GB DDR2-6400 (4-4-4-12-1T) , Sapphire 7850 OC 2BG 920/5000, X-Fi Fatality, Corsair AX 750, 7 Pro x64
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May 7
th
, 2004 at 11:21am
Gixer
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Colonel
Lets go fly a kite!!
Posts: 1540
hehe the report I read said different on the comparison of the two. It was split really the Nvidia 6800 ultra was better in more games but the ATI was better in a few too.
True enough for the 6800 you will need a new psu if you don't have one powerful enough and yes it takes up two slots but who cares lol. One thing that was mentioned was they could only gain another 5mhz outta the ATI whilst another 20mhz was had from the 6800 so the overclocking potential appeared better on the 6800.
I think these two cards are gonna be extremely close performance wise. Some reviews will say the ATI is better some the Nvidia. Guess the deicder on this one is if your an Nvidia person or ATI!!
AMD64 3500+ @ 2200MHz 400FSB&&MSI K8N Neo 2 mobo nForce3 chipset&&1gig Corsair XMS PC3200 timings @ 10.2.2.2 &&XFX 6800 Ultra @ 450/1200&&80gig HDD&&Loadsa fans!!!
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Reply #7 -
May 7
th
, 2004 at 11:35am
congo
Offline
Colonel
Make BIOS your Friend
Australia
Gender:
Posts: 3663
Quote:
For Fun,
You might find this review about Alienware and PC set ups for the sim VERY, VERY informative!
http://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kds?$=main/review/alien.htm
Dave
I had a careful look there. I honestly think the whole page is a pretty good advertisement.
But it doesn't make me want to go out and by a computer. On the contrary, it's just a lot of hype over the current standard, (if you can afford it!)
The 875 chipset on that system is already outperformed by newer, readily available chipsets, but it's still a high performance chipset.
I don't think 64bit systems should be discounted offhand, I can't wait to try one myself a soon as I'm able.
The shear memory bandwidth (ie. Throughput) is much improved over ANY single processor 32bit system, hence the potential is awesome.
The I875 chipset requires expensive Registered RAM, (which is meant to be more stable for you astronauts), and the chipset is only very slightly faster than the economical I865 chipset.
The P4 3gig and 3.2gig CPU's are fast, and available anywhere at a price. They are not the only CPU's that will do the same job. I can vouch for the absolute smooth performance of the "Other CPU".
The video card is a GF FX5950, which is still one the the four top performers of "off the shelf cards" in the world now as far as I'm aware.
System RAM is standard stuff.
The Alienware system there gets it's performance from the combination of a good chipset with adequate supporting RAM, awesome video card and state of the art CPU.
This system is prone to the same everyday problems and configuration issues as any other and it is no magic cure for FS2004. It's far from unique, sharing it's technology with many current high end systems.
Just ask the kid down at the shop if you don't believe me.
Mainboard: Asus P5K-Premium, CPU=Intel E6850 @ x8x450fsb 3.6ghz, RAM: 4gb PC8500 Team Dark, Video: NV8800GT, HDD: 2x1Tb Samsung F3 RAID-0 + 1Tb F3, PSU: Antec 550 Basiq, OS: Win7x64, Display: 24" WS LCD
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Reply #8 -
May 7
th
, 2004 at 2:09pm
Delta_
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Colonel
Woah!
London, UK
Gender:
Posts: 2032
Well i have read many sources and seen many benchmarks of the two, and if you want to win, the best people you want behind your card is tomshardware.com (they sponsor all the biggest computer hardware events). You will find also that the X800 has notably better IQ aswell.
http://www.tomshardware.com/graphic/20040504/index.html
(Just thought i would give you the hard evidence of my comments, also the NV drivers were not rendering things properly aswell which was much noticed and if you look around guru3d you will see many NV to ATi converts because of all this.)
---------
Edit: ATi just broke the world record for 3DMark03:
http://www.megagames.com/news/html/hardware/aticlaims3dmark2003worldrecord.shtml
«
Last Edit: May 8
th
, 2004 at 1:01pm by Delta_
»
My system:
Intel Q6600@3.6GHz, Corsair XMS2 4GB DDR2-6400 (4-4-4-12-1T) , Sapphire 7850 OC 2BG 920/5000, X-Fi Fatality, Corsair AX 750, 7 Pro x64
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Reply #9 -
May 12
th
, 2004 at 9:56pm
Rivers
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Colonel
As Real As It Gets
São Paulo Brazil
Gender:
Posts: 513
Those Branded pc's are very expensive build a pc by your own you’ll get lower prices and better performance.
In this link I was suggesting a similar system than the alienware but for lower price, US$3854,93vs$4,279
http://forums.tweaktown.com/viewtopic.php?t=18273
PS: Those screen shots in the flight sim review look awful to me(Low AA and no Aniso at all with that set up even my pc gets those fps), Fly2e’s screens and Ramsa’s are 10000 times better.
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