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Home > Archive > alt.certification.a-plus > January 2003 > Hardware configuration question
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Hardware configuration question
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| Mr Ed 2003-01-21, 12:24 pm |
| I have an AMD XP1800 with an Asus A7N266 mainboard and one 512 PC2100
DDR dimm installed. I'm currently using the on board video nVidia
nForce420 chipset but I'm considering buying an AGP video card
probably with 64mb's ram. The mainboard user manual states that it has
"TwinBank Technology" capabilities. To quote "To function at 128 bit,
4.2 GB/second Dual channel DDR mode, at least 2 or more DIMM modules
must be installed; with only one DIMM installed, the memory functions
at only 64 bit, normal mode." My question is what would I get the
better performance boost from, adding a video card or another 512
DIMM? I don't play games on this machine, I use it mainly for photo
restorations where the file size can be be very large.
Thanks
Mr Ed
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| Steven L Umbach 2003-01-21, 7:23 pm |
| Thats a tough call. I would probably do both. If I had to do only one I
would get a better video card because you have a fair amount of memory right
now (I am not so sure you would see a big increase in performance with "twin
bank" enabled, though extra memory is always nice) and the video card will
probably be doing most of the work with your photo program.. Your built in
video is basically a Geforce 2MX 32 mb. I would suggest something like a
Geforce 3 TI-200 with 128mb. Newegg sells one for $105 shipped right now.
That is my gut feel and I may be wrong, but that is my two cents.--- Steve
"Mr Ed" <a@b.com> wrote in message
news:ee2r2votnfcgdtnllp17fbh1q
0ubcasvn4@4ax.com...
> I have an AMD XP1800 with an Asus A7N266 mainboard and one 512 PC2100
> DDR dimm installed. I'm currently using the on board video nVidia
> nForce420 chipset but I'm considering buying an AGP video card
> probably with 64mb's ram. The mainboard user manual states that it has
> "TwinBank Technology" capabilities. To quote "To function at 128 bit,
> 4.2 GB/second Dual channel DDR mode, at least 2 or more DIMM modules
> must be installed; with only one DIMM installed, the memory functions
> at only 64 bit, normal mode." My question is what would I get the
> better performance boost from, adding a video card or another 512
> DIMM? I don't play games on this machine, I use it mainly for photo
> restorations where the file size can be be very large.
>
> Thanks
>
> Mr Ed
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| james yi 2003-01-21, 8:23 pm |
| if he aint gonna play games or anything which requires a better video card,
my opinion get the extra 512 ram. im not sure if his photo restoration
program really uses the video cards power, just guessing not.
"Steven L Umbach" <n9rou@attbi.com> wrote in message
news:5KlX9.36966$4u5.23689@rwcrnsc52.ops.asp.att.net...
> Thats a tough call. I would probably do both. If I had to do only one
I
> would get a better video card because you have a fair amount of memory
right
> now (I am not so sure you would see a big increase in performance with
"twin
> bank" enabled, though extra memory is always nice) and the video card will
> probably be doing most of the work with your photo program.. Your built in
> video is basically a Geforce 2MX 32 mb. I would suggest something like a
> Geforce 3 TI-200 with 128mb. Newegg sells one for $105 shipped right now.
> That is my gut feel and I may be wrong, but that is my two cents.--- Steve
>
> "Mr Ed" <a@b.com> wrote in message
> news:ee2r2votnfcgdtnllp17fbh1q
0ubcasvn4@4ax.com...
> > I have an AMD XP1800 with an Asus A7N266 mainboard and one 512 PC2100
> > DDR dimm installed. I'm currently using the on board video nVidia
> > nForce420 chipset but I'm considering buying an AGP video card
> > probably with 64mb's ram. The mainboard user manual states that it has
> > "TwinBank Technology" capabilities. To quote "To function at 128 bit,
> > 4.2 GB/second Dual channel DDR mode, at least 2 or more DIMM modules
> > must be installed; with only one DIMM installed, the memory functions
> > at only 64 bit, normal mode." My question is what would I get the
> > better performance boost from, adding a video card or another 512
> > DIMM? I don't play games on this machine, I use it mainly for photo
> > restorations where the file size can be be very large.
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Mr Ed
>
>
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| JohnnyVee 2003-01-22, 9:23 pm |
| Forget about the extra RAM. Spend some $$ on a decent AGP GeForce 4 card
and rock....Upgrading RAM is a waste of money with the pathetic video card
you have in there now...Plus AGP will take advantage of some of your system
ram to increase performance even more..
"Mr Ed" <a@b.com> wrote in message
news:ee2r2votnfcgdtnllp17fbh1q
0ubcasvn4@4ax.com...
> I have an AMD XP1800 with an Asus A7N266 mainboard and one 512 PC2100
> DDR dimm installed. I'm currently using the on board video nVidia
> nForce420 chipset but I'm considering buying an AGP video card
> probably with 64mb's ram. The mainboard user manual states that it has
> "TwinBank Technology" capabilities. To quote "To function at 128 bit,
> 4.2 GB/second Dual channel DDR mode, at least 2 or more DIMM modules
> must be installed; with only one DIMM installed, the memory functions
> at only 64 bit, normal mode." My question is what would I get the
> better performance boost from, adding a video card or another 512
> DIMM? I don't play games on this machine, I use it mainly for photo
> restorations where the file size can be be very large.
>
> Thanks
>
> Mr Ed
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| Michael E 2003-01-23, 3:23 am |
| I agree. Spend the money on a quality video card first. It will not only
make the difference in the processing of your images. 512 is definitely
enough right now for altering photos in Photoshop.
I got my Geforce off of ebay brand new.. and I am super happy with it. Id
say get the top of the line nvidia video card.
"JohnnyVee" <whatever123@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:CtIX9.258$0L3.119703@news2.news.adelphia.net...
> Forget about the extra RAM. Spend some $$ on a decent AGP GeForce 4 card
> and rock....Upgrading RAM is a waste of money with the pathetic video card
> you have in there now...Plus AGP will take advantage of some of your
system
> ram to increase performance even more..
>
> "Mr Ed" <a@b.com> wrote in message
> news:ee2r2votnfcgdtnllp17fbh1q
0ubcasvn4@4ax.com...
> > I have an AMD XP1800 with an Asus A7N266 mainboard and one 512 PC2100
> > DDR dimm installed. I'm currently using the on board video nVidia
> > nForce420 chipset but I'm considering buying an AGP video card
> > probably with 64mb's ram. The mainboard user manual states that it has
> > "TwinBank Technology" capabilities. To quote "To function at 128 bit,
> > 4.2 GB/second Dual channel DDR mode, at least 2 or more DIMM modules
> > must be installed; with only one DIMM installed, the memory functions
> > at only 64 bit, normal mode." My question is what would I get the
> > better performance boost from, adding a video card or another 512
> > DIMM? I don't play games on this machine, I use it mainly for photo
> > restorations where the file size can be be very large.
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Mr Ed
>
>
| |
| Jason Whorton 2003-01-24, 4:24 pm |
|
"Mr Ed" <a@b.com> wrote in message
news:ee2r2votnfcgdtnllp17fbh1q
0ubcasvn4@4ax.com...
> I have an AMD XP1800 with an Asus A7N266 mainboard and one 512 PC2100
> DDR dimm installed. I'm currently using the on board video nVidia
> nForce420 chipset but I'm considering buying an AGP video card
> probably with 64mb's ram. The mainboard user manual states that it has
> "TwinBank Technology" capabilities. To quote "To function at 128 bit,
> 4.2 GB/second Dual channel DDR mode, at least 2 or more DIMM modules
> must be installed; with only one DIMM installed, the memory functions
> at only 64 bit, normal mode." My question is what would I get the
> better performance boost from, adding a video card or another 512
> DIMM? I don't play games on this machine, I use it mainly for photo
> restorations where the file size can be be very large.
>
> Thanks
>
> Mr Ed
Hello. If you are wanting to increase your performance in photo restoration
of 2-D photos, I don't think that buying a video card whose main focus is
3-D acceleration will help you. Is it so slow that you must have an upgrade
or are you just wanting a little boost? I would like to know what hard disk
drive you have. Depending on current performance level and what level you
want to take it to, I would be looking at increasing data throughput from
the hard drive(s), increasing memory bandwidth (such as your mention of
adding another 512 to jump to 128 bit) or a possible CPU upgrade. You
didn't mention your operating system, but if you have Windows 2000, you may
want to check under Task Manager for CPU and memory usage when using your
photo restoration program.
Hope this helps,
Jasno Whorton
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