After building the new computer last night, I had to install all the software and updates on it as usual. And even though I installed a brand new copy of Windows XP with SP2 already slip-streamed, there were a whopping 68 critical security updates to install. After installing those, I installed the optional components - ASP.net, DirectX, etc. and then installed all the updates to those components. It took a while, but it's done and the computer breezes through anything I throw at it.
To put the system to the test, I fired up Quicktime and tried playing one of the many trailers I've downloaded at 1080 resolution (hi-def). Even on my old computer, with dual cores and 2GB of RAM, the 1080 videos would stutter at times. But they play without a hitch on the new computer. It's a beautiful sight to behold. And the Creative X-Fi that I've had sitting on my shelf for a year now since it didn't like to work with my old motherboard performs like a charm outputting gorgeous sound quality to go along with the 1080 videos.
I've yet to play any games on the new computer as I don't have the World of Warcraft installation CDs (though I might install F.E.A.R. to see how the system can handle one of the most graphically intense games out there right now - it came free with my network card), but I have a feeling already that it won't have a problem with anything I throw at it. Combined with the blazing fast processor, ample amounts of RAM, high-end video card, and dedicated network and sound cards, there should be nothing holding this system back.
As it stands right now, there's very few components which I can upgrade.
The processor is an E6700 - it can be upgraded one step to an X6800 (2.93 GHz vs. 2.67 GHz for twice the cost).
The RAM is 2GB and I will be upgrading to 4GB in the near future.
The video card is an eVGA 7900 GT CO. It could be upgraded to a 7950 which would increase performance, but at this point, I'm going to wait for the GeForce8 cards to come out later this year.
The soundcard is an X-Fi Xtreme Music and could be upgraded, but I don't edit music, so the Xtreme Music is the most card I need.
The network card is a Bigfoot Networks Killer NIC. The
only dedicated network card on the market for gaming.
The hard drive is a 74GB Raptor Drive. Sure there's a 150GB Raptor out there, but 74 gigs for a main drive is enough - I just started filling up my old drive after 1.5 years using it - and there was tons of stuff I could move to storage drives.
The DVD±RW is a Plextor 715SA - the only SATA DVD±RW on the market when I bought it - there's others out there now, but I've had
zero problems with it and it burns flawlessly.
So right now, it's pretty much top-of-the-line - could use a couple more gigs of RAM and an upgraded video card when the 8 series comes out. Until then, I can't spend any more on computers.
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