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Search Tech-Forums - link takes you to our Forum's search page. Note: The following is only a text archive! To view the actual forum discussion, please visit our website at http://www.tech-forums.net Pages:1 Alienware Questions:(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)Posted by: Sell224 Ok so i got an alienware (i know i got nice parents) about a year ago, and i never really did anything to it i just got it right out of the box. Here are the specs: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3500+ 2 gigs ram ASUSTeK Computer INC. motherboard NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Series GPU (256 MB) I do have a few questions though about what came with it. First of all it came with a ton of random chords and plug ins that look like they woudl go into the computer. I have no idea what any of these do haha, are they important? Also, when i was ordering my alienware, i was under the impression that it would be very silent because of this "alienware ice cooling system".. when in reality its very noisy indeed. Did i do something wrong when ordering? Did i not order the ice cooling system, cuz i hear some pretty noisy fans. I think it might be worth it to get the very silent cooling system for college and stuff , cuz as of now my computer is way too loud to keep on at night and stuff. Is there any way i could get it installed by alienware for more money? Also, I ended up getting one video card in my aurora instead of 2. I was under the impression that 2 was not necessary and was used for two monitor support, which i am pretty sure is wrong. Does it really matter to only have 1? Also.... I got an amd processor, as you can see. Its only clocked at 2.2 Ghz.. and thats not very high at all. Are AMD's measured differently? Cuz i payed a **** of a lot for this computer , and a 2.2 Ghz processor just isnt that great. Can someone please tell me.. what is BIOS? lol. I suck at computers. Im asking all these questions basically because, even though i do love my computer, it does have some problems. Running fraps in games TOTALLY kills my framerate.. and this really surprises me because of my specs on this computer. I was under the impression that this computer was going to be AMAZING, and even though it does run games very well, it does lag sometimes and hasn't exactly lived up to the standards i thought it would be. Can anyone answer these questions and maye point me in the right direction to make this computer more godly than it currently is haha. Posted by: curtcheese64 AMD and Intel architecture is completely different, AMD is more efficient. An Athlon 3500 is equal to a P4 3.5ghz and is way better for games. Posted by: wxt38 for definitions like BIOS, just google it and what's the question #1? i can't read man. Posted by: sickness 2.2 GHz isn't great? I wish I had a 2.2GHz proc right now. Posted by: BillGates Its the vid card that is slowing you down if you are running your games on high settings. You have enough ram and the processor shoudl eb fine for a while, but if you want a new vid card I would wait till the new ones come out. Posted by: Sell224 hmm the video card? I thought my video card was pretty good.. but i guess there are better ones out there. What woudl you suggest i do? The SLI stuff with dual video cards (i really dont know anything about it), or just getting a new better video cards when the "new ones" (?) come out. And how much would this cost. Posted by: Sell224 oh and i have another question... I want to learn about computers. I dont know much past the basic stuff, video cards, ram, processor... i want to know what the good stuff is, and i really dont know anything about computers. What would you guyst suggest? Magazines? Any good websites? Posted by: NosBoost300 okay well in amd... just think whatever the number... like 3700+ = too a 3.7 ghz pentium.... along with that, you wanna look at a l2 cache, why... i'm not too sure myself, but it seems to be a big deal, 1mb is awesome, 1mbx2 (which is dual core) is just dandy! i don't really know how to measure dual core number like 4400+ x2... that doesnt quiet work the same... uhh graphics cards, the 6800gt still has its moments, but the 7800gt/gtx is whats really doing the damage right now... if you wanna learn, do what i did... look around this forum, go to newegg or something compare alot of things... type in parts that you think you like and see what comes up ahh.. i forgot to mention the ati x1900xt... that is whats doing the best as of now... hopefully the 7900 gtx will overcome the ati beast.... and the geforce 8 is due around the time of vista.. that will be the beast of graphics cards... i can't wait :) i won't tell you i learned everything.. but i will tell you the first day i came here i was a complete idiot and didnt even know what integrated video was.... or that there was anything better than my compaqs "xpress200 chipset" Posted by: EndofSanity i won't tell you i learned everything.. but i will tell you the first day i came here i was a complete idiot and didnt even know what integrated video was.... or that there was anything better than my compaqs "xpress200 chipset" __________________ You just made it to my sig... ahahah Posted by: NosBoost300 hahaha... ya thast some pretty funny, stuff, i wouldnt mind at all.... i was a complete moron before... but i know much more now! reading is power! haha Posted by: cyrax Read some expensive computer magazines. :p Posted by: harley3344 [url]http://www.tomshardware.com/[/url] look there and google alot of stuff u want to know about, for any of the advanced stuff i would ask somoene whos been around a while, like someone said read the posts around here and other forums. try specalty forums for in dept suff. Posted by: RockyZ "Alienware" and "nice parents" don't fit into one sentence. They put fancy names like Alienice, its just some simple aftermarket fans. Lets not talk about how you got ripped off and talk about computers. My suggestion would be google. Google has everything you need to know. Read a few articles, then practice taking apart your computers and putting them back together. I only showed one of my computer-strupid friends how to put a computer together once, and they can do it themselves. That just goes to show how easy it is to build your own computers. If you want good overclock, you want new ram, I know Alienware gives you crap ram. 2.2ghz is pretty fast for AMD processors. Get some faster ram and do some overclocking, You can pull 2.8ghz easy. Your videocard should be fine. It is natural to have FRAPS lag your games. The problem is, windows is crap in itself, there are many things you need to tweak to get your computer running as fast as it could possibly be. Posted by: Sell224 thanks guys.. new questions: I recently hooked up two monitors to my computer just for the **** of it. Its fun to play around with and have just tons of desktop space.. but can someone tell me.. will this lag my computer at all or hurt its performance? Posted by: RockyZ I do it, it doesn't slow my computer down at all. Posted by: Sell224 [1] Aurora™ 7500 Processor: AMD Athlon™ 64 3500+ Processor with HyperTransport Technology Memory: 2GB Low-Latency Dual Channel DDR PC-3200 at 400MHz - 4 x 512MB Keyboard: Free Alienware® Microsoft® Multimedia Keyboard Mouse: Free Alienware® Microsoft® IntelliMouse Explorer Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster® Audigy® 2 ZS High Definition 7.1 Surround Firewire (IEEE® 1394) Warranty: 1-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support with Onsite Service Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2 Chassis: Alienware® Full-Tower Case (480-Watt PS) Motherboard: Alienware® nForce™4 SLI™ Chipset Motherboard PCI Express Floppy Drive: 3.5" 1.44 MB Floppy Disk Drive - Black Optical Drive One: NEC® ND-3520 16x Dual Layer DVD±R/W Drive Free Alienware T-Shirt: Free Alienware® T-Shirt - Black Display One: No Monitor Display Two: No Monitor Network Connection: Integrated High Performance Gigabit Ethernet Video Optimizer: AlienAdrenaline: Video Performance Optimizer System Drive: High Performance - Serial ATA - 80GB Seagate® Barracuda 7,200 RPM w/8MB Cache Security Software: Norton™ Internet Security ™ 2005 Alienware Exclusive Offers: Gamespot Complete - Free 90-day Trial (a $20.85 value) Alienware Exclusive Offers: 10% off your next EB Games online purchase Power Supply: PC Power Cooling 510 Express AlienRespawn: Alienware® Respawn Recovery Kit Free Alienware Mousepad: Free Alienware® Mousepad AlienWiring: AlienWiring - Exclusive Internal Wire Management - $99.99 Value - FREE! Desktop Enhancements: Exclusive AlienGUIse Theme Manager AlienInspection: AlienInspection - Exclusive Integration and Inspection - $99.99 Value - FREE! Graphics Processor: NVIDIA® GeForce™ 6800 Ultra PCI Express 256MB DDR3 w/Dual Digital and TV Out Chassis Upgrades: AlienIce™ 2.0 Video Cooling System - Astral Blue there we go.. thats everything on my computer.. Can someone tell me how with this setup.. fraps could make my computer go to **** in a hand basket? Posted by: RockyZ your fine, all the parts should be very good for now. Posted by: septoid2 Did your machine come with an extra 480W PSU? Sinceyou payed extra for that PCP&C PSU? Also, what is an AlienAdrenaline video optimizer?? Posted by: Sell224 [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by septoid2 [/i] [B]Did your machine come with an extra 480W PSU? Sinceyou payed extra for that PCP&C PSU? Also, what is an AlienAdrenaline video optimizer?? [/B][/QUOTE] i have no idea. lol Posted by: NosBoost300 if you ever upgrade and wanna sell the processor, you got a buyer right here! Posted by: sickness [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by NosBoost300 [/i] [B]okay well in amd... just think whatever the number... like 3700+ = too a 3.7 ghz pentium....[/b][/QUOTE] You're joking...right? This isn't correct at all. Is it? No, it can't be.... Posted by: NosBoost300 ya, thats what i thought too.... its something about more work per clock cycle.... Posted by: Sell224 Ok im realllly confused about this "liquid cooling" that they advertise. I dont understand.. my computer is noisy. And i remember ordering liquid cooling, or maybe i didnt!?!? With liquid cooling should my computer be silent? Do i not have it if its not silent? Or does liquid cooling just make it a little less noisy. Posted by: NickFas [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by sickness [/i] [B]You're joking...right? This isn't correct at all. Is it? No, it can't be.... [/B][/QUOTE] well supposedly this is correct. while i have not looked at any benchmarks myself i do not know this for a fact but that is what everyone says on TF so that what i am saying as well. As for learning about computers... i had no idea about anything other than you want a lot of mhz and gigabytes...lol...now my title is true techie or something like that...lol...it just takes some reading and a few weeks on these forums Posted by: NosBoost300 and as for semprons that goes with the celerons... 2700+ sempron is equal to a 2.7 ghz celeron Posted by: Vybuni Yes, the P-rating (3700, 3800, etc.) can ONLY be used to compare "equivalent" AMDs and Intels. The Alienice video cooling may be different than liquid cooling. I know it sounds like liquid cooling, but i remember checking it out once a while ago and it wasnt. Posted by: Theyoyokid303 no... alienice is just a fan ... on the side facing a vid card ....... i have it cause i also have alienware :D umm... nice rig there man .. if oyu have any more alienware spefic questions than pm me !!!!!;) Posted by: Theyoyokid303 oo and video optimers is an ampped up version of powerstrip ... tis should be on your task bar .. its for ocing and hotkeying and such Posted by: NickFas does alienware have an unlocked bios? Posted by: Theyoyokid303 yes .. its a normal mobo..... Posted by: Sell224 hey yoyo kid, thanks :). Well i just called alienware, it was actually really good customer support, i was happy with it. I talked to a guy and asked him about the cooling system and such.. he looked up my account and told me i did not buy the liquid cooling system (So there is one.. look on the site there are little pictures and stuff.) I was like.. dang, but at the same time i was happy because now i know i dont have it and possibly in the future upgrade it. The guy said as of now they cant offer upgrading, but to call back in 2-3 weeks to see if i can get a liquid cooling system installed. NOW i want to know, do any of you guys use computers that are liquid cooled? Anyone with ALIENWARE liquid cooling system? If so on either, coudl you guys tell me how it is. My computer is pretty noisy right now, and id love for it to be silent for when i go to college and study late nights and stuff. Are the liquid systems very silent? Do they cool just as well as fans? Oh and yoyo kid.. I have powerstrip on my toolbar, but i have no idea what video optimers is and it didnt show up in any search results of my comp. I can see an overclock option on the powerstrip toolbar.. but i seriously have no idea what to do. Anybody wanna point me in a direction of how and what overclocking exactly is? And lastly, (I know so many questions), to yoyo kid or any other alienware owners, what are all those chords and programs for that came with the comp? Are any of them helpfull at all in making my computer even better? Posted by: Theyoyokid303 for ocing go to the ocing part of this forum ocing vid cards is fairly simple ....... yes .. thanks for calling alienware because i wanna maybe get a new mobo ....... liuqid cooling cools just as good and or better i dont know what parts they us so i dont know but i bet if you called back :d and asked they would be happy to tell you .... i dont kow what cords your talking about mine came with the norm and an extra Psu cord .....if you could take pics of them and post um i would be able to help more ....... but the programs .. one is the driver set .. make sure you upgrade your drivers the ones they sent me were already 1 series outdated and you got the recovery dvd which makes it so if your pc crashes or jams or virus it will go back to factory clean state .. very good if you fill up your comp with junk and clean it every year .. it makes it alot simpler Posted by: Sell224 eh dont have a digital camera with me, but actually they arent really chords. Its just a bunch of stuff in packages that look like it woudl go in a computer :p. They arent chords at all. I guess its not that important. I did install most of the stuff i got off the disks, whatever it was. But can you tell me about drivers? I sorta know what drivers are, just that you want the latest drivers. But what drivers are there to get? Video card drivers i know.. but what else? Could you link me or tell me where i coudl find the drivers for download on the internet, cuz mine might be out of date. Are drivers really all that important? Thanks ill go check out the overclocking forums. And may I ask when did you get your computer? Posted by: Theyoyokid303 i got mine about 3 months ago ..... if you have ati then go to ati.com for nvidia go to nvidia.com get the vid drivers there.... that about it you should chekc if they have an update for your mobos bios ..... thats not that important and check microsodt for any updates to XP ..... the vid drivers are semi important .. if you also get more knowledgable in computers than oyu could even go with softmods drivers and aftermarket drivers Posted by: septoid2 dont bother with liquid cooling unless you want to overclock. Posted by: boomstick666 sell224. pls do some research and reading about basic computer. cuz right now if we even answer those questions u would not understand em. so go read past topics on this forums or some other good computer related furums. (dfi-street, tomshardware, hardforums, etc..) get some basic knowledge first. and id suggest u to open up ur comp and know what the components u have and how they r connected and stuff. its important if u want to know about computers. i had no idea at all like u even 3 months ago. ive only touched windows 98 twice in my life prior to that. but ive read a lot of furums articles and ive built a comp and OC'in it. so good luck! Posted by: Sell224 [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by septoid2 [/i] [B]dont bother with liquid cooling unless you want to overclock. [/B][/QUOTE] Why not bother with liquid cooling? The reason i wanted to get it in the first place is because its SILENT. and.. if i ever figure out how i will overclock. Posted by: NosBoost300 hrmmmm well based on my friends alienware with watercooling... it is not in anyway silent.... it is very loud... sounds like a hair dryer...... Posted by: Sell224 does it really??.. man i was under the impression that they are silent. Are you sure ur friend's alienware has water cooling cuz i thought mine did for a long time lol. Posted by: Theyoyokid303 umm ... i would see what alienwares prices are and if they are more than an AM kit than go for AM ... AM = after market Posted by: Sarah_J I have an alienware PC and highly recommend them for both look and specs and build ! Yes you have to pay for it, but given bad experiences with Mesh, its a relief to have a PC that has NO problems :) vBulletin Copyright ©2000 - 2003, Jelsoft Enterprises Limited. PPC Management vB Easy Archive Final - Created by Xenon |