Curtdawg
Neophyte
Posts: 22
Loc: WV
Reg: 02-17-05
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12-04-05 02:48 PM - Post#24447
I just ordered a new Viewsonic VX922 19" LCD monitor to replace my old Dell flat CRT. I have had the Dell for a long time and have been wanting to replace it. I hope this thing is as good as it sounds. I also FINALLY decided get a sound card. I went with an X-Fi Platinum. Hopefully it all arrives by the end of this week. I can't wait to start playing 
| AMD Athlon 64 4000+ (San Diego)
XFX 7800 GTX
Asus A8N-SLI Premium
SoundBlaster X-Fi Platinum
2GB Corsair XMS Platinum
ViewSonic VX922 LCD
Lian Li PC-60 Case
Logitech Z-5500 speakers
Logitech G5 mouse |
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Peench
SPottie
Posts: 8460
Age: 37
Loc: San Diego
Reg: 01-22-05
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Re: New LCD monitor
12-04-05 06:11 PM - Post#24448
Very cool. I really like the look of the LCD monitors. That sound card sounds cool too. Make sure you keep us posted as your new toys arrive. Post some photos if you can and let us know how much of a difference the two new toys make to your system! 
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Curtdawg
Neophyte
Posts: 22
Loc: WV
Reg: 02-17-05
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Re: New LCD monitor
12-07-05 06:13 PM - Post#24449
Well, It finally showed up. This monitor is awesome. I had a 19" Dell Trinitron that I bought some years ago, it was definately tired and worn out! I can't believe how bright and crisp this LCD is. Native resolution is 1280x1024 which causes a slight problem when playing Quake 4 and Far Cry since my rig can't run those games that way with playable frame rates. Even with the resolution to a playable 1024x768 this thing still looks good. No ghosting that I have been able to detect so far. Overall, I am very happy with my purchase. The only thing I don't like is that I can not change the refresh rate. The only option in the list is 60Hz. I would like to bump it up to 75Hz at least. Oh well, it looks like I'm going to have to get one for my wife now, too.
| AMD Athlon 64 4000+ (San Diego)
XFX 7800 GTX
Asus A8N-SLI Premium
SoundBlaster X-Fi Platinum
2GB Corsair XMS Platinum
ViewSonic VX922 LCD
Lian Li PC-60 Case
Logitech Z-5500 speakers
Logitech G5 mouse |
|
Peench
SPottie
Posts: 8460
Age: 37
Loc: San Diego
Reg: 01-22-05
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Re: New LCD monitor
12-07-05 06:57 PM - Post#24450
That's good news. A little strange on the refresh rate. That's pretty low, but if it doesn't bother you then that's cool! Take a picture of the new toy and share with us! 
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Grenic
Tuque Meister
Posts: 358
Age: 40
Loc: Ontario, Canada
Reg: 02-24-05
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Re: New LCD monitor
12-08-05 04:34 AM - Post#24451
Hmmm... I didn't realize you could change the refresh rate on an LCD monitor. I was always under the assumption that you couldn't... What do I know, though 
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Peench
SPottie
Posts: 8460
Age: 37
Loc: San Diego
Reg: 01-22-05
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Re: New LCD monitor
12-08-05 06:06 AM - Post#24452
Quote:
Hmmm... I didn't realize you could change the refresh rate on an LCD monitor. I was always under the assumption that you couldn't... What do I know, though
I have no idea. I haven't used any LCD screens so I'm out of the loop on this one.
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Curtdawg
Neophyte
Posts: 22
Loc: WV
Reg: 02-17-05
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Re: New LCD monitor
12-08-05 01:35 PM - Post#24453
Quote:
Hmmm... I didn't realize you could change the refresh rate on an LCD monitor. I was always under the assumption that you couldn't... What do I know, though
The user guide that came with it said not to run it at anything higher than 75 Hz when it is in 1280x1024 and nothing higher than 85Hz when set to lower resolutions. The default is 60Hz. I assume this means the refresh rate can be changed. The only way I can get more choices is to uncheck the box that says "Hide modes that this monitor can not display". I'm scared to change it because I don't want to damage my BRAND NEW monitor. This is my first LCD so your guess is as good as mine. Anyway...pics attached.
Well, I seem to be having trouble attaching files....I threw them up on my website right quick. Check them out here: http://www.curtie44.com/Monitor.htm
| AMD Athlon 64 4000+ (San Diego)
XFX 7800 GTX
Asus A8N-SLI Premium
SoundBlaster X-Fi Platinum
2GB Corsair XMS Platinum
ViewSonic VX922 LCD
Lian Li PC-60 Case
Logitech Z-5500 speakers
Logitech G5 mouse |
|
Peench
SPottie
Posts: 8460
Age: 37
Loc: San Diego
Reg: 01-22-05
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Re: New LCD monitor
12-08-05 01:46 PM - Post#24454
oooooooh! Those look nice.
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Curtdawg
Neophyte
Posts: 22
Loc: WV
Reg: 02-17-05
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Re: New LCD monitor
12-31-05 05:49 AM - Post#24455
I just upgraded.....again. I bought an Asus A8n-SLI Premium mobo, Athalon 64 4000, and an XFX 7800 GTX. I can finally play Quake 4 at my monitors native resolution of 1280x1024, and Far Cry looks incredible. I have not tried Call of Duty 2 yet. It's a real pain in the ace to install that game. I guess they have a bug with their installer. It always freezes up on the second install disk. Turns out you have to use Nero's drive speed or something similar to SLOW down your CD-rom. I had to throttle back all the way to 12x to get the darn thing to load (according to FAQ on Activision's website) That makes for a very long install with 6 friggin disks! The main thing is that the new hardware rocks!!  Hmmmmm....now for a second 7800GTX!
| AMD Athlon 64 4000+ (San Diego)
XFX 7800 GTX
Asus A8N-SLI Premium
SoundBlaster X-Fi Platinum
2GB Corsair XMS Platinum
ViewSonic VX922 LCD
Lian Li PC-60 Case
Logitech Z-5500 speakers
Logitech G5 mouse |
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Peench
SPottie
Posts: 8460
Age: 37
Loc: San Diego
Reg: 01-22-05
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Re: New LCD monitor
01-03-06 07:36 AM - Post#24456
The upgrade bug strikes again! Awesome!
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Curtdawg
Neophyte
Posts: 22
Loc: WV
Reg: 02-17-05
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Re: New LCD monitor
01-03-06 04:12 PM - Post#24457
Well, I got COD2 loaded and have been playing for a few days. What a great game! I think this has replaced Far Cry for my daily Death Match fix.
I ran a few benchmarks on the system. 3dMark03 scores a 17,586. Then I overclocked the CPU to 2.5GHz from the 2.4GHz stock clock speed(I'm afraid to go too much higher with the stock cpu fan, temps under full load hovered around 45C and I don't know at what temp things start getting dangerous). The new 3dMark03 score comes in at 17,753. AquaMark3 Comes in with Gfx: 13,449 CPU: 10,654 Overall score: 82,454. 3dMark05 score was 8541. I have 2GB of Corsair XMS memory on the way so scores should improve once it is installed. I am going to see if I can increase the core and memory clocks on the Gfx card and see how the scores do. I will post the results. Hopefully nothing smokes!
| AMD Athlon 64 4000+ (San Diego)
XFX 7800 GTX
Asus A8N-SLI Premium
SoundBlaster X-Fi Platinum
2GB Corsair XMS Platinum
ViewSonic VX922 LCD
Lian Li PC-60 Case
Logitech Z-5500 speakers
Logitech G5 mouse |
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Peench
SPottie
Posts: 8460
Age: 37
Loc: San Diego
Reg: 01-22-05
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Re: New LCD monitor
01-03-06 07:59 PM - Post#24458
Sweet! Despite all my PC knowledge and tinkering, I was always afraid to overclock my systems. I guess I never really got that crazy! I love to hear the stories though. Keep us posted on how your system fares!
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Curtdawg
Neophyte
Posts: 22
Loc: WV
Reg: 02-17-05
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Re: New LCD monitor
01-05-06 06:27 PM - Post#24459
Well, that's no fun Peench! The memory showed up today and it is installed. Scores changed as follows... AquaMark3 from 82,454 to 84,709. 3dMark03 from 17,753 to 18,220. 3dmark05 from 8541 to 8738. Not happy enough with that I decided to ratchet up the HTT a bit more. Now the cpu is running at 2.604GHz. Idle temps are around 34C with full load temps staying below 46C. After the 2nd OC 3dMark03 score changed to 18,376. AquaMark3 score increased to 87,398. I haven't run 3dMark05 yet. Overall I am VERY pleased with the new proc and Gfx card. Nothin' like playing the latest games at 1280x1024 with all the bells and whistles turned on.
| AMD Athlon 64 4000+ (San Diego)
XFX 7800 GTX
Asus A8N-SLI Premium
SoundBlaster X-Fi Platinum
2GB Corsair XMS Platinum
ViewSonic VX922 LCD
Lian Li PC-60 Case
Logitech Z-5500 speakers
Logitech G5 mouse |
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Peench
SPottie
Posts: 8460
Age: 37
Loc: San Diego
Reg: 01-22-05
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Re: New LCD monitor
01-06-06 06:58 AM - Post#24460
Yeah, call me a wuss, but I always had to use my computers for school and work so I didn't want em carpping out on me!  
Sounds like you're taking a conservative enough approach that you probably won't have any problems. Very cool! Thanks for the updates on the scores.
What type of cooling system do you have? Have you tried any of the water cooling systems? You might be able to lower the temperature and allow yourself to increase the speed of the chip a bit mroe that way.
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Curtdawg
Neophyte
Posts: 22
Loc: WV
Reg: 02-17-05
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Re: New LCD monitor
01-06-06 02:40 PM - Post#24461
I hear ya Peench. I wouldn't be a happy camper either if my rig went up in smoke, and you are right, I am taking a conservative approach since I'm really just a novice Tweaker. Right now I am using the heatsink and fan that came with the processor. I was thinking about picking up a Cooler Master Hyper 6+. It's a beast but it is supposed to keep things nice and chilled inside your case. As for liquid cooling.....something about water and electricity just doesn't sound right! 
| AMD Athlon 64 4000+ (San Diego)
XFX 7800 GTX
Asus A8N-SLI Premium
SoundBlaster X-Fi Platinum
2GB Corsair XMS Platinum
ViewSonic VX922 LCD
Lian Li PC-60 Case
Logitech Z-5500 speakers
Logitech G5 mouse |
|
SpOoNmAn
Proud New XBOX 360 Owner
Posts: 3536
Age: 36
Loc: MS Land
Reg: 04-19-05
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Re: New LCD monitor
01-06-06 04:54 PM - Post#24462
Get into your Bios and change some settings, you'll notice an improvement in your 3dmark scores  Im sure you can gain access 2 some message boards where there are tweaks for your mobo.
The Bios settings is what scares people. The best change Ive made with mutliple mobos was to get the memory running at CAS 2. Most modern day memory is rated to atleast 2.5.
4 years ago when I built this rig, 2.5 was unheard of and you were risking overclocking.
Ive fried many a DIMM doing so
EDIT: I see you have an Asus, those are not super friendly as far as overclocking goes.
This message will self destruct in 3....
2...
1.... 
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Curtdawg
Neophyte
Posts: 22
Loc: WV
Reg: 02-17-05
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Re: New LCD monitor
01-06-06 06:10 PM - Post#24463
Memory timings are 2.5-3-3-6. The system was unstable at CAS 2(OC'd to 2.6Ghz). On the contrary, the Asus board has a ton of OC features built into the bios. All the usual stuff you find in enthusiast MB's (adjustable voltages for cpu, memory, agp, pci-e etc, various FSB options as well as memory timings) So far it has been a pleasant overclocker. I'll see once I try to push it a bit farther
| AMD Athlon 64 4000+ (San Diego)
XFX 7800 GTX
Asus A8N-SLI Premium
SoundBlaster X-Fi Platinum
2GB Corsair XMS Platinum
ViewSonic VX922 LCD
Lian Li PC-60 Case
Logitech Z-5500 speakers
Logitech G5 mouse |
|
SpOoNmAn
Proud New XBOX 360 Owner
Posts: 3536
Age: 36
Loc: MS Land
Reg: 04-19-05
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Re: New LCD monitor
01-06-06 09:04 PM - Post#24464
Cool. The 2 Asus mobos I had were limiting me as to what I could do. Actually the best board I ever had was an Iwill like 4 years ago. That thing let me do anything and everything. I got a little carried away, lol.
The other one I liked was the Soyo Dragon(I think thats what it was called).
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Curtdawg
Neophyte
Posts: 22
Loc: WV
Reg: 02-17-05
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Re: New LCD monitor
01-07-06 05:04 PM - Post#24465
I have had a couple of Asus boards and a Shuttle. This one is by far the best. The Shuttle was a VIA chipset and the Asus MB's were nVidia. I have had much better luck with the nVidia chipsets. Driver support has been much better with them than with VIA imo. I almost bought the Soyo Dragon but ultimately decided on the Shuttle AK35GT2. I guess I have been lucky, I haven't smoked anything in any of my OC attempts....well, I did loose a power supply, but I think it was just getting weak and pushing it hard finally caused it to 
| AMD Athlon 64 4000+ (San Diego)
XFX 7800 GTX
Asus A8N-SLI Premium
SoundBlaster X-Fi Platinum
2GB Corsair XMS Platinum
ViewSonic VX922 LCD
Lian Li PC-60 Case
Logitech Z-5500 speakers
Logitech G5 mouse |
|
