Products that aren’t so great after all
Posted by alan | Filed under Behind the Scenes, Editorials
We review many products here at [OC]ModShop, and try to be as honest as we possibly can. Sometimes we review a product that gets very high marks initially, but then we discover things about them that would make us re-think what we’ve stated about it. Either we discover something unexpected about the product, we find [...]
Tags: 5200;, analog;, Ceedo-based technologies;, Ceedo;, Good innovative product;, good product;, HDTV;, neat software progream;, nVidia;
OCMS Servers moved over
Posted by admin | Filed under Behind the Scenes
I know I’ve been talking about it for a while, but I finally moved the OCModShop servers over to fiber.
I’ve been getting prepared for this day for months by purchasing new hardware, server racks, firewalls, and getting the installation done, but had been taking my sweet time because I wanted everything to be “just right”.* [...]
Tags: 2 Duo processor;, car.*;, DNS;, electricity;, file downloads;, game servers;, Gigabit;, main web server;, nVidia;, RAID;, RAM;, stuff;, tested the*new server;, The Netherlands;, USD;, videos;, web server;
AMD and Intel Trump Each Other
Posted by alan | Filed under Editorials
go back and forth with which architecture to use as AMD and Intel trump each other.
I was hard-core Pentium until the Athlon XPs came out and I just could not resist the price point. I eventually upgraded to Athlon 64, but would only use nVidia chipsets (I stay away from VIA and SiS on with [...]
The 8800 is a Freakin’ Heater!
Posted by alan | Filed under Editorials, Hardware
I finally broke down and got an nVidia 8800 video card (only the 320MB version).
It performs great but is the hottest video card nVidia has ever put out! Since nVidia hasn’t had the greatest success introducing a new chip AND manufacturing process at the same time, they use the same 90mm fab process as the [...]
Tags: 8800 chip;, nVidia;
Chipset, not Motherboard Manufacturer
Posted by alan | Filed under Editorials, Hardware
For me, it’s usually the chipset that determines how stable a board is. I prefer Asus because they add a ton of great features and are rock solid. I can’t account for Asus’ nVidia-based boards, however.
Nearly every nVidia-based motherboard I have has failed in one way or another. Either the network port goes (which is [...]
Tags: nVidia;
AMD X2 and Intel Conrow
Posted by alan | Filed under Editorials, Hardware
The X2 3800+ was my favorite processor until the Intel Conroe came around. I understand that not alot of people can afford a new processor, because to upgrade now means you have to get a while new motherboard, DDR2, AND the new processor.
I was able to overclock the 3800+ a good bit (like a 4400+ [...]
Tags: favorite processor;, Hyper-Transport;, Intel;, nVidia;, RAM;
Buying PC Components
Posted by alan | Filed under Hardware
It’s usually better to get better components than you need for when you upgrade your gear.
For example, you may think a crap video card will get you by when using standard NTSC (which stands for Never Twice the Same Color), but what about when you upgrade? Will your new HDTV have DVI, HDMI or component in and [...]
Tags: HDMI;, HDTV;, Media Center;, nVidia;
nVidia PureVideo
Posted by alan | Filed under Editorials
Nvidia’s PureVideo is freakin awesome when playing back MPEG-2 content (DVDs or recorded tv) and does hardware accelleration of HDTV WMVs, but not every 6×00 supports it. Without hardware accelleration, a 1080i video stream would use 90% of an Athlon64 3000+. With PureVideo hardware accelleration on, the CPU was around 15%. You HAVE to use [...]
Best Aluminum Case?
Posted by alan | Filed under Hardware
I am looking to buy (or obtain for review) a new full-tower aluminum case. I currently have the popular black Chenming aluminum case and really love it, but it’s time to upgrade. My main system will go in this new case, and my server will get the old Chenming.
I would prefer the case have a side [...]
Tags: HDTV;, Media Center;, nVidia;, stuttering;, thick steel;
Futuremark 03 scores
Posted by alan | Filed under Hardware
I was eager to download and run Futuremark’s 3dMark ‘03, but was disappointed with the scores. I am running a Pentium 4 2Ghz with DDR333 RAM and GeForce 4 Ti4200, but only got a measly 950 points! I only got like 5fps during the ogre and sci-fi scenes.
A friend of mine is running a P4 [...]
