New Computer?

[Taligaro]

Right now I've got a Sony VAIO Desktop with Windows XP Home.

Its got:
Intel Pentium 4 processor 2.40B GHz
80GB (20GB on C: drive and 60GB on D: drive) 7200 rpm hard drive
512MB DDR333 (PC2700) SDRAM
DVD & CD burner drive supporting CD-R/RW & DVD+R/+RW/-R/-RW
40x CD-ROM drive
NVIDIA GeForce4 MX440 graphics chip w/ 64 MB VRAM
Six USB 2.0 ports
Two i.LINK (IEEE1394) digital interfaces


I'm into RTS games(big ones at that, most are over 2GBs without addon crap) and 3D programs such as Bryce 5, Poser 4or5, DAZ|Studio, and 3D Studio Max 5or6. I've also got Photoshop 7 and a few sound editing/making programs that came with this thing, Screenblast Sound Forge and Screenblast ACID 2.

I'm starting to tax this machine's abilities... I keep getting "Virtual Memory is Low" messages when working with the major 3D programs like 3dsm and DAZ|Studio! I've cleaned out my HDs of unwanted and unneeded files and saved every other program that I don't need but don't know if I want it or not to CDs and removed them from the HDs. Yet I keep getting those messages!

I think it may be time for a new PC, although this one is only 1-2 years old. I've got my eye on an AlienWare... If anyone has a better idea of what PC I should look into getting, please say so...

I want serious answers people. No bullshit posts.

 

[Kao]

If you have enough knowledge, or just good luck with computer parts, build one. I'll be getting an Alienware because I have had horrible luck with lemon parts, so their warranty is godly for me.

On another note.

 

[Taligaro]

I've got my eye on an Aurora ALX (see this), but I'll have it customized to what I need.

 

[RoaCh of DisCord]

-Moved to techforums.

You may get better help/suggestions here.

 

[OMGLOLWTFPWN]

If you like to waste money Alienware is the way to go, otherwise don't be an idiot and either build it yourself or get it somewhere else.

 

[Taligaro]

If you like to waste money Alienware is the way to go, otherwise don't be an idiot and either build it yourself or get it somewhere else.

I don't know anything about building a PC. I see your point about AWs being a waste, but you see mine buddy, the TOP gaming PC made, except for custom built ones that people make on their own!

I could have a friend build a PC for me, but I would have to spend money to get the crap for it in the first place wouldn't I!?

If you have a useful suggestion on what parts to get and where to get them, say so! Don't post bullshit that does not help me!

 

[SweatyOgre]

People are just trying to help you, stop saying not to post "bullshit." No one will sit down and tell you exactly what to use to build your computer, That's part of building it YOURSELF. You don't even need a new comp, just more RAM. 512 isn't jack shit for what you're doing. Find out what type you need and buy as much as your mobo can support, probably 2 gigs.

 

[antitheus]

go for real power and get a G5

 

[Taligaro]

People are just trying to help you, stop saying not to post "bullshit." No one will sit down and tell you exactly what to use to build your computer, That's part of building it YOURSELF. You don't even need a new comp, just more RAM. 512 isn't jack shit for what you're doing. Find out what type you need and buy as much as your mobo can support, probably 2 gigs.

How do I go about finding out how much RAM I need? All the programs and games I use and play need less then 512, except for one game that needs exactly 512 but when playing it, it doesn't slow the PC down, it doesnt crash, it runs smoothly, I can even have Photoshop running as I play, I take screenshots alot...

A friend said that the slowness is caused by the fact that my C: Drive has just over 2.2GBs left on it. (D: has over 54GBs left...) Not sure if that is true or not, tis why I'm asking if I should get a new PC...

I'm sorry for the bullshit about no bullshit. I was in a bad mood because this POS pc kept crashing DAZ|Studio when rendering complex images and it was starting to really piss me off. I've cooled down by playin SC, so there shall be no more bullshit about no bullshit.

 

[SweatyOgre]

In the manual for your comp it should tell what type of memory you need. Once you find that, search for it on google or at circuitcity.com or somewhere similar. www.pricewatch.com may also have it at a very reasonable price.

 

[ChrisH36]

Get a power supply that can support it. By the looks of your specifications, a 450W or greater should give you all the energy you need. Why a PSU? Well, if its a jack shit brand; then it will crash your computer all the time with STOP 0x8E errors and eventually your PSU will explode or stop functioning. Hey, it happens.

 

[jd-inflames]

2Gigs is far more than overkill...You can render just find with 256mb if you know what you are doing. 512 is absolutely perfect for just about anything you can do unless you are a heavy multitasker or if you run some sort of server, be it gaming, file, web, whatever. It takes much more processor to do renders than RAM, but then again, for simple Bryce renders, anything over a ghz should suffice.

It's not really how much money you slap into your rig, it's how you use it. I can do anything you guys are trying to do, and I run an Athlon XP 1700+ with 768MB of ram with a GeForce 2 Ti. I can play almost any game out there smoothly and looking decent...it's all how you manage your machine, seriously.

 

[TonyR1788]

Response to Original Message

Hey man,
From what I see on your computer specs. I would say that you're all good except that video card of yours.. Get rid of that and get a 128 MB video card like a GForce Fx 5200 or something... they usually rin for about $50-$100 (it all depends on where you get it..). Your 512 memory is fine, more than enough in most gaming cases and your precessor is definately good enough. If you're running games off of your Cd-ROM drive then i would suggest maybe buying one with a faster read speed (today it's up to around 52X). But I would stick with getting a better video card first before anything, then go from there. Also, you mentioned that your "Virtual Memory" was low. Do you get an exclamation yellow triangle on your taskbar next to your clock when that happens? If so, I can tell you how to fix that too. Right-click on your MY COMPUTER icon and go to PROPERTIES. Then go to the ADVANCED tab and then under the "Performance" blue text, click on SETTINGS. Next, you'll have a new window that will pop up and there will be two tabs there: "Visual Effects" and "Advanced". Click on the "Advanced" tab and then go down to the bottom portion of that window that says "Virtual Memory" in blue text and click on the "Change" button. In the new window that it brings up, click on the bubble that says "Custom Size" and then type in " 1536 " in both the top and bottom text boxes (this value is supposed to be 1.5 to 3 times the ammount of the MB of your total memory), but type in 1536. Do that for both of your Hard Drives and click "Set" and then OK. That will get rid of the "Virtual Memory" error message, but will not neccessarily get rid of choppy graphics. Other than following what I just told you about setting the virtual memory and getting a new 128 mb graphics card, you should be all set. And by the way, YOU DO NOT NEED A NEW COMPUTER.

 

[Nearby-Stalker]

I didnt bother reading all the crap that was in this thread, but upgrade from home to pro. That is the BIGGEST most REQUIRED jump you need to do.

 

[Aragorn7]

I'm starting to tax this machine's abilities... I keep getting "Virtual Memory is Low" messages when working with the major 3D programs like 3dsm and DAZ|Studio! I've cleaned out my HDs of unwanted and unneeded files and saved every other program that I don't need but don't know if I want it or not to CDs and removed them from the HDs. Yet I keep getting those messages!

You are going about this the wrong way....cleaning your hard drives will NOT help remove this message. Get another 512 stick of memory and that will help...512 mb of memory is kind of bad anyways. I wouldn't dream of anything less than a gig.

Do not go out and buy a computer, just buy more memory. That is the solution.

 

[Taligaro]

You are going about this the wrong way....cleaning your hard drives will NOT help remove this message. Get another 512 stick of memory and that will help...512 mb of memory is kind of bad anyways. I wouldn't dream of anything less than a gig.

Do not go out and buy a computer, just buy more memory. That is the solution.

I just got done putting in more memory, have almost 1.5GB, everything is running smooth! No errors, except for the BETA program I'm using for my renders. Serves me right for using a BETA program, but until they release a final version, I'll just have to put up with it won't I?

Anyways, Problem fixed. Thanks for the help guys!

 

[Aragorn7]

I just got done putting in more memory, have almost 1.5GB, everything is running smooth! No errors, except for the BETA program I'm using for my renders. Serves me right for using a BETA program, but until they release a final version, I'll just have to put up with it won't I?

Anyways, Problem fixed. Thanks for the help guys!

Teh w00tage, another happy customer.