shassouneh

Quote: Quote: Why not get P4 perfomance at Celeron price and get an AMD XP systems? Probably because all of the supporting hardware (good motherboard, good PSU, etc.) will add up to about the same most of the time anyway. In addition, many people still have stability issues (heat management) and compatibility issues (running different OSs and even some applications may exhibit problems when running non-Intel hardware). This isn't meant as a pointless AMD vs. Intel debate, but this is what I have seen with many, many combinations of hardware and software over the years. If you are running an application that is to be available 24/7, these issues become paramount. This is not entirely true. AMD processors AND p4 processors alike are BOTH 32 bit processors. They are "essentially" Intel 386s with architectural and design improvements that are incorporated into them over the years. Each of them has similar capabilities. AMD processor offer P4-like performance at celeron-like pricing. The ONE thing to keep in mind with AMD systems though is components. I have noticed that even if u use brand names like an Asus or an Abit but mix and match with generic components then you are plain asking for trouble. The BEST thing to do is visit AMD's web site. They have COMEPLETE listing of AMD processors and AMD-certifiied motherboards and components. I have FINALLY managed to acheive stability with a SoYo board, and I highly recommend them for Athlon XP systems. Also, Have you considered Multiple processor Systems? A system with 2 or more processors can offer performance and stability unlike the processors it runs. For example: An Athlon MP setup with 2600+ might be more stable than an Athlon XP 2600+ single processor setup (just something to ponder on). With the prices of P4s way up in the sky, you can get a start on building multi-processor athlon systems rather than spending extra cash for P4s.

It seems like you either do not have a Windows 2000 driver for this modem, OR you are trying to use a Windows 98 driver for this modem. In either case, it will nto work. What make/model is your modem? Did u try www.driverguide.com ???

HI All. Every Time I shut down or try to reboot, I get a STOP error (BSOD), and a "writing memory dump...". This ONLY happens at shut down. The Windows "report this error..." suggests it may be a driver problem, but fails to identify WHICH driver is the cause. Can anyone help? Thanx

This is the EXACT STOP error I get: STOP: 0x0000007F (0x0000000D,0x00000000,0x00000000,0x0000000) I checked out the links you gave me, and here is what I found: STOP 0x0000007F (UNEXPECTED_KERNEL_MODE_TRAP) Quote: Stop 0x0000007F or UNEXPECTED_KERNEL_MODE_TRAP The Stop 0x7F message indicates that one of three types of problems occurred in kernel-mode: * A condition that the kernel is not allowed to have or intercept (also known as a bound trap). * Software problems. * Hardware failures. Interpreting the Message This Stop message has four parameters: 1. Processor exception code. 2. This value is 0x00000000 (zero). 3. This value is 0x00000000 (zero). 4. This value is 0x00000000 (zero). The first parameter is the most important and can have several different values, indicating different causes of this error. You can find all conditions that cause a Stop 0x7F in any x86 microprocessor reference manual because they are specific to the x86 platform. Here are some of the most common exception codes: * 0x00000000, or a divide by zero error, occurs when a divide (DIV) instruction is run and the divisor is 0. Memory corruption, other hardware failures, or software problems can cause this message. * 0x00000004, or Overflow, occurs when the processor carries out a call to an interrupt handler when the overflow (OF) flag is set. * 0x00000005, or Bounds Check Fault, indicates that the processor, while carrying out a BOUND instruction, found that the operand exceeded the specified limits. BOUND instructions are used to ensure that a signed array index is within a certain range. * 0x00000006, or Invalid Opcode, is generated when the processor attempts to run an invalid instruction. This typically occurs when the instruction pointer is corrupted due to a hardware memory problem and is pointing to a wrong location. * 0x00000008, or Double Fault, indicates an exception while trying to call the handler for a prior exception. Normally, two exceptions can be handled serially, but there are certain exceptions (almost always caused by hardware problems) that cause the processor to signal a double fault. Less common codes include: * 0x00000001: A system-debugger call. * 0x00000003: A debugger breakpoint. * 0x0000000A: A corrupted Task State Segment. * 0x0000000B: An access to a memory segment that was not present. * 0x0000000C:An access to memory beyond the limits of a stack. * 0x0000000D: An exception not covered by some other exception; a protection fault that pertains to access violations for applications. Also, I have checked my ram chip (by trying my other ram chips) and the problem is NOT memory related. I get the stop error regardless of which memory chip is installed. Can anyone please help? Please Note: The stop error ONLY occurs when I shut down or reboot. I do NOT get the message at boot time or when I use the computer!!! Also Note: This seems to be a Windows driver problem. This problem DOES NOT EXIST on Linux If anmyone has any feedback, please do not hesitate as help is much appreciated : D

Yes but what do u think of the card above (there is a link to it) ?

Hey Guys, Check this link out 256MB 9600 This is a REALLY good price for a 256 MB card. What do u guys think?

No. It just says STOP error, and a bunch of memoery addresses. No VXD/DLL/EXE is given. The Event Viewer shows this: Save Dump Quote: The computer has rebooted from a bugcheck. The bugcheck was: 0x0000004e (0x00000099, 0x00014c97, 0x00000000, 0x00000000). A dump was saved in: C:\WINNT\Minidump\Mini121303-02.dmp. For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

Fear not... Shassouneh is here. LOL Check this page out: Some Guy's web page This page was in french, but I used google to translate it to english. It SUPPOSEDLY has links to webcam drivers for XP (Kensington webcam). good luck!

Quote: The brand of mainboard is a mute point if the chipset on it is crap. My last system had a Gigabyte board with some VIA rubbish chipset (693A I think). IDE controllers MAX out at 20MB/sec and it is an ATA66 controller configured correctly. Also using both IDE channels at the same time caused the CPU usage to goto 100%. PCI performance was rubbish too. My current system uses an ECS board with the SiS 735 chipset. It's far better. Proper IDE controllers and a real PCI bus. WATCH OUT! I was running that same board and that same chip set. It failed me and went out like a candle! I was running an ECS k75SA (SiS 735 chipset). It turned out to be a crappy and horrible board. DO NOT BE SURPRISED IF IT FAILS ON YOU!

Quote: For what ever reason, I've had issues with MSI motherboards going out on me. One now has to be sent back for the third time, same problem As for ECS, well since they are the company behind such names as: PC-Chips, Amptron, Fugu Tek and others, you can imagine their main goal is on the cheap I'd recommend the Asus board first then the Abit. Thank you. MSI Is HORRIBLE and ECS is even worse. BOTH boards died out on me!

What most people do not realize is that MOST linux people tend to use either RedHat, or Mandrake. Don't get me started on those 2. Each of them suck big time! I personally use SuSE. Have been happy with it ever since 7.3 (and now they're at 9.0). Unlike windows, the "quality" of linux varies EXPONANTIALLY with the distribution you use. I have foud SuSE to be the most hardware-compatible, easiest to run, and look the nicest. You must also realize this fundamental fact: Linux is NOT for games. It was NEVER designed to be a game OS. You find Linux in some research projects, some enterprise number crunching, some networked systems, etc. Linux has many advantages over Windows. Windows has introduced true multi-user capabilties in windows 2000. but only got it down right in windows XP. Linux has supported multiple concurrent users form the get-go. This is just one example. Each WIndows and Linux has their own advantages. For ease of use, gaming, etc.. Go for windows. For Dedicated servers, networked systems, and larger projects go with Linux. PS: Also, people claim Linux is a non-standard OS. That is PRECISELY the point. Windows runs on an i386,486,pentium,pentium pro, .... P4, Athlon, etc... And as far as we know its opne huge ugly kernel. The linux approach is much different. A kernel is provided for each architecture, which makes the kernel much smaller in size, much more efficient, and less prone to kernel problems I was a faithful Windows users for years and years, until I discovered Linux and began to shy away from Windows. This is just my 2 cents

I HIGHLY recommend Soyo (for a motherboard). Solid, reliable, and decent performance. Also, their pricing might be very attractive too PS: STAY AWAY FROM MSI OR ECS I speak from experience. They are horrible!

Quote: But I switch to ATI because of Geforce FX's disappointing performance I did not relize FX had such bad ratings. Also I did not check the driver thingy, so i stand corrected., Ok, so lets say I want to get a Radeon, which card should I get that meetts ALL of requirements 1, 2 ,3 and 4 (mentioned earlier)?

Quote: Quote: I have two bones to pick with Ati 1.) They have HORRIBLE support (if any at all) under *nix 2.) They put LOTS of garbage and trash on widnwos like Ati Control Center etc.. LOL Also, Atis have nice bells and whistles which my system probably can't take advantage of! 1. Check out ATI driver page, they do have linux drivers. URL: http://www.ati.com/support/drivers/linux...&submit.y=8 2. - You mean ATI control panel is trash? then how bout nvidia? their newest "forceware" 50 series driver have lots of "useless" options as well.......so they're both the same deal - actually i never find any video driver's control panel as "trash and garbage", as they provides lots of useful options to tweak video card performance - besides you can install ati drivers by itself if you think control panel is not useful...ATI have give option to uninstall smartgart as well, as some ppl dun like it much Those drivers look generic. THey do not look like they provide any 3D functionality. Also, they do not say WHICH cards these drivers are for. As for the stuff that Ati/Nvidia installs, Ati (as you said) gives you the option to un install. Which means it INSTALLS it (whther u like it or not) then you have to manually remove it I am still not convinced that radeon cards are supported under Linux. General opinion states they seem to lack good reliable support for linux. The way I look at it is if I pay hard earned cash for a video card, then I don't want a company that says we're too lazy to support Linux. As for the tools and control panel items that you do not find to be garbage, they ug the heck out of me. I want my desktop nice and clean, with nothing running in the background or in my system tray, consuming resources, while providing functionality I rarely ever need. The way I see it is, WHEN i do need the functionality of these annoying programs, I can install them and use them form the Windows control panel manually. That's just my 2 cents

Pricewatch does have pictures of them. Here is the picture of the eVGA one. Does it really matter which brand I get?

yeeeouch! Geforce FX 5600 runs at $93, FX 5800 at $193! I might have to live with my MX 440 a little longer The brands are all generic. There is one called AGPTEK, one called Inno3d, and one called eVGA. I have tried evGA before for my GeForce 2. Does it matter which brand I pick?

Thanx for the input. So What you are saying Is I should be looking for either an Nvidia Geforce 4 FX 5600 or Nvidia geForce 4 FX 5700 128MB AGP 4/8x ? (note the workding: GeForce 4...)

I have two bones to pick with Ati 1.) They have HORRIBLE support (if any at all) under *nix 2.) They put LOTS of garbage and trash on widnwos like Ati Control Center etc.. LOL Also, Atis have nice bells and whistles which my system probably can't take advantage of!

Quote: 9600PRO or XT. Or 9500 PRo or non pro. Or 9600 non pro. these will all be excellent, wil last a long time, and will be a good price. They are all full DX 9 parts, so you won't get the MX 400 deal where it doesnt have the needed features. Are these Ati or Nvidia? Also, I need to make sure the fulfill requirements 1 through 4 (above)

Quote: I think the nVidia GPU's are needed due to better(?) compatibility with *nix so this is why none of the ATi GPU cards were mentioned Also pricing seems to be an issue too... Yes. That's What I heard too. I also like the ability to go to Nvidia.com and download drivers form there. No hassle of writing, compiling, or hunting down drivers. I still need some recommendations for good video cards. It looks like the FX5200 is not the one. I need a card that will satisfy all of the 4 requirements above.

I c. Thanx dor all the valuable input everyone. Here are the requirements I look for in a video card. I would really appreciate it if someone can point me towards a video card that's optimum for them: 1.) Intensive Game play: I intend to play heavy graphics games (Command And Conquer Generals Zero Hour, Prince Of Persia Sands OF Time, Medal OF honor series, etc...) However I do NOT have a nice fast gaming machine. My machines is OK but not superb or anything. So I don't want to spend too much $ on a card that will be bottlenecked by the rest of my sysem. Here is yet again, a reminder of what my system is: Soyo Dragon Plus k7V motherboard (266MHZ FSB) For complete information on my mtoherboard's specs and capabilities, click here 512 to 1 GB DDR 2100 (266MHZ) RAM [video card needs to fit here] PLENTY of hard drive space Athlon XP 2000+ (1.66GHz) PALOMINO CORE 4x AGP. My motherboard only has 4X AGP. I am sure it will accept 8x too. 2.) Windows 2000 SP4 Compatibility is a MUST. I do NOT intend on running WIndows XP in the future simply because I personally beleive its not a good OS (but Pleeeeease lets not get into this discussion right now) 3.) Linux compatibility is a MUST. I run Linux frequently enough to justify a card that is somewhat Linux-compatible. I am no authority on this, but I heard Nvidia is more compatible with linux than Ati 4.) Buying just a small "upgrade" card is out of the question. I had bought a GeForce 4 MX 440 thinking I am UPGRADING from a Geforce 2 MX 400. This is obviously not true. I need a good solid reliable and powerful card (see number 1 above). If someone has his/her 2 cents, kindly do not hesitate to let me know. All input is appreciated. Thanx

Quote: Sorry about that, it's just another name for the local video memory on the graphics card Yes I understand the dilema here, I'd say stick with the 5200 since the price is right, but if you can find a 5600 for a little more then it may indeed be worth it, just because the GPU and memory run faster. So the 5600 IS a better card? From the look of the prices, looks like I might go for a 5200

Quote: local frame buffer size of 128MB instead of 64MB What does that mean? I was intending on buying a 128MB card (64 is too outdated). Also, what is the difference between the 5200 and 5600? I DON'T want to fall in Nvidia's trap twice (where the Geforce 4 is nothing but a Geforce 2)

Quote: I found a nice FX 5200 for $55 shipped.

I found a nice FX 5200 for $55 shipped. Should I look foir a slightly mor epowerful card, or is my hardware pretty much maxed out with an FX 5200? Quote: House Brand - ONLINE ORDER ONLY - nVidia GeForce FX5200 128MB DDR dual head AGP8X TV & DVI-Out Details: Nvidia Geforce FX 5200 128MB DDR Bus:AGP 8X/ 4X AGP support 256-bit graphics architecture Updated - 12/6, 4:13 PM Price Quote from Pricewatch.com I figure If i can get a slightly more powerful card for around $70 then why not. But I don't want to waste $15 if I won't be able to take advantage of a better card due to my hardware. Let me know what you think