What all are you doing to optimize your pc?

[aFireInside0016]

I did about everything on IGNs list, but what else are you guys doing, besides reformatting? Maybe any good Windows tweaks, anything goes, just as long as it helps to optimize your pc. I heard of making a new user to logon as and disable services or something...

 

[Marius]

My main rig may be ok with it, but I'll probably end up running it on my Superbeast laptop.

 

[Valve_Assassin]

Just bought another 512MB chip of RAM. gonna upgrade vid card or CPU when I get some more cash saved up.

 

[frusion]

my rig owns i have 2 one with intel and one with amd

 

[Absinthe]

Deleting unnecessary program/files, fixing errors, defragging... The usual routine I go through every weekend. So I'm not really preparing my system for Half-Life 2 or doing anything special for it. I ran the Alpha just fine and my rig (aside from the card) matches the reccomended system requirements.

 

[D@rko]

i pray!

 

[lemmingzappa]

im gonna defrag the night before, so the next day it will quick and crisp

 

[Atari]

1) Open up my pc, strip it down and clean out all the dust etc
2) Remove any unwanted programs
3) Get latest drivers for hardware
4) defrag Hard drive

 

[BlackMesaDude]

My rig is ok, i have adaware , antivirus and i do some defrags time to time because i play alot of doom3.

 

[Adrien C]

1: Open my rig and clean it and install 2 new fans
2: Install my new vid card
3:Format comp
4: Get the latest updates

 

[God[TM]]

I'll be rebuilding my PC from the ground up

I'm thinking of going with one of those hornet systems from Monarch Computers (Athlon FX model).

Getting back to the question at hand, check out this site for some optimizations utilizing what you currently have:

http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/supertweaks.htm

They also have info on W2K, etc...

 

[Sashswash]

Well, hopefully i'll sell my current system (it's not bad at all) and get a build a really nice one come Christmas. Here are my current specs:

-Ati All-in-Wonder 9700 pro
-512 megs ram
-120gb hard drive
-2.8 p4
-Windows XP Home

I'm hoping to build one with these core components:

-Amd athlon 64 3400+
-1 gb ddr400 ram
-256meg ati x800 xt
-300gb hard drive space
-DVD burner
-Windows XP Pro

Yea, it should be a nice upgrade, if i can sell my computer. I already have a person thinking about buying it for $1000.00.

 

[BrimStone04]

i just went out and bought a new pc in preparation for hl2, it worked out pretty good too cuz i got it and turned it on and downloded steam and the cs source had been released so i been doing that with 160fps...
i spend my money from my job on nothing so i said screw it i had the cash so i went and bought the alienware aurora extreme, i know it was expensive but i went for it anyway, been worth every penny.

 

[gesto21]

getting (on the way from newegg now w00t)

Athlon64 3200
MSI K8N neo platinum mobo
1 gb corsair xms ram
6800 gt

sweet

 

[DoctorGordon]

Crap Cleaner
Xcleaner
Latest Drivers
Defrag using diskeeper (including boot time defrag)

 

[Cunni]

I'm buying a new one.

 

[poseyjmac]

probably not much as i never get the system too dirty. winxp pro splash screen stays on screen for about 2 seconds, then slides right into the login screen. as long as it does that im usually fine. unattended xp installs are nice

 

[staticprimer]

I gotta find a way to cool down my card! CS:S crashes once the temp reaches 86C and I'm afraid that the problem will transfer to hl2.

 

[clarky003]

What all are you doing to optimize your pc?

well first of all, im unhooking the mains, then using 3 gerbals to generate enough electricity to run my seperate mains unit for the PC,

Ive also decided to install a mini fridge inside the casing, to keep the processor and mother board Ice cool, along with the beer, and Coke.

Finally im overclocking my hardrive and G card till they both make a high pitch, sssSSSWISH, sound, also might put some speed holes in them to increase the speed further.

Swwoosh

 

[DoctorGordon]

I gotta find a way to cool down my card! CS:S crashes once the temp reaches 86C and I'm afraid that the problem will transfer to hl2.

86....Celsius?!

 

[mayfer]

clean install + new graphics drivers + windows patches

 

[staticprimer]

86....Celsius?!

Yea I'm serious. Ive seen temps as high as 100 in some games. I idle at 50C. I can't understand why! My card isnt overclocked, Ive got very clean wiring, and 3 case fans. Ill try moving my sound card to a further away PCI slot, but I may have to put down $50 for new cooling. Ugh just my luck!

 

[wilka91]

first I got a x800 pro
then Im gonna get an A64 3400+, more RAM

 

[T.H.C.138]

need new cpu and more (better) RAM...I have 2500+,and 512DDR...damn cpu is locked so its stock 1.83GHz..want at least 1GB of dual channel DDR..and probably just a 3200+,because the cpu I really want I don't have the $800+ to buy it,let alone a newer motherboard that supports it

 

[MiccyNarc]

My computer = ready

 

[mjrhzrd]

If you are reinstalling Windows, and wiping your system hard drive, a partition that is 2 X the size of the amount of RAM in your PC after creating a system partition for Windows and programs. After installing Windows format the partition and create your paging file there, then delete the on the sytem partition (usually C). This creates and unfragmented paging file where it is completely contiguous and does not have to hunt all over your hard drive.

Good Performance boost unless you have 2GB+ of RAM and never page to the hard drive.

 

[A2597]

I'll be doing....


nothing aside from a defrag actually.
I already run CS:Source at 1280x960 with max AA/AF on my 9800 Pro. looks sweet.

 

[roguepacket]

Thermal Problems Fixed

Yea I'm serious. Ive seen temps as high as 100 in some games. I idle at 50C. I can't understand why! My card isnt overclocked, Ive got very clean wiring, and 3 case fans. Ill try moving my sound card to a further away PCI slot, but I may have to put down $50 for new cooling. Ugh just my luck!

Static,
Make sure the fan on the heatsink is working properly and is pointed towards the chip.
If that isn't the case, it sounds like the heat isn't being conducted from the chip to the heatsink properly. Try replacing the thermal grease between the chip in question and the heatsink/fan assembly. A thin layer will do. Your temperatures should instantly drop down to ~40C and should not go above 70C during gaming.
Thermal grease is cheap and you can get it at any pc mod shop. Heck, just tell them your situation and they will probably give a small tube for free.

 

[DavE0r]

yer, i need to strip mine down, got a little bit of dust on some of the stuff. I mean the Zalman hsa fair bit, and well i think the case could do with a clean. Me thinks a jet wash will do it. Strip the case...leave the bits on my desk so i can use it..then take a few days over it. I need to mod it a little..so its a nice excuse. **Cleaning** it!

 

[crabonhead]

super spectaculaire!

just bought myself a gig of ram, a new videocard, a 120 gig SATA harddrive, a 64 bit processor and mobo, a top o' the line soundcard, and a superior case. as a matter of fact, i was just waiting for an excuse to buy myself a computer.

 

[DavE0r]

just bought myself a gig of ram, a new videocard, a 120 gig SATA harddrive, a 64 bit processor and mobo, a top o' the line soundcard, and a superior case. as a matter of fact, i was just waiting for an excuse to buy myself a computer.

welcome to the forums btw!!

I jsut got a 6800GT...used hl2 as an excuse really..then again used HL2 as an excuse to overclock it.

Simmilar to Farcry...that was an excuse to buy another 512mb stick..and have it in dual channel with the other...mmmmm EXCUSES!!

 

[Mujuro]

Umm...just remove programs and such, can't do much on the hardware end.

 

[Silic0nJ3sus]

I simply bought a new pc, I needed a new one anyway.

 

[staticprimer]

Static,
Make sure the fan on the heatsink is working properly and is pointed towards the chip.
If that isn't the case, it sounds like the heat isn't being conducted from the chip to the heatsink properly. Try replacing the thermal grease between the chip in question and the heatsink/fan assembly. A thin layer will do. Your temperatures should instantly drop down to ~40C and should not go above 70C during gaming.
Thermal grease is cheap and you can get it at any pc mod shop. Heck, just tell them your situation and they will probably give a small tube for free.

The fan is on and is blowing a lot of hot air, but I gotta get a screwdriver before I can tell if its pointed at the chip. The heatsink on the back of the card is only mildly warm, so I am thinking it might not be conducting all of the heat it should be. I'll probably get some AS5 but I have to order online, unless walmart sells it. (thats what I get for going to a remote college) Also, I have my sound card in the PCI slot right next to my gfx card. I'd bet moving the soundcard imporve airflow around the gfx card. I'll get this worked out yet!

 

[roguepacket]

The fan is on and is blowing a lot of hot air, but I gotta get a screwdriver before I can tell if its pointed at the chip. The heatsink on the back of the card is only mildly warm, so I am thinking it might not be conducting all of the heat it should be. I'll probably get some AS5 but I have to order online, unless walmart sells it. (thats what I get for going to a remote college) Also, I have my sound card in the PCI slot right next to my gfx card. I'd bet moving the soundcard imporve airflow around the gfx card. I'll get this worked out yet!

Yeah, moving the PCI card would help. You should consider moving the soundcard to the very last PCI slot... the further away it is from fans, the less background noise it will pick up.

Due to the extreme nature of your temperature problems, I'd suggest that you don't play any games that send your graphics card above 80C... I know it sounds like torture, but when your card goes above that point, the electrical flow becomes increasingly unstable, and you could not only destroy your card, but also short out your motherboard.

 

[Alientank]

FYI defrag doesn't do much at all unless you haven't done it in 2 years or more, and do a lot of file moving around, deleting, etc.

I just did a fresh XP Pro install with SP2.

 

[bizzy420]

heres what i did:
2 years ago i bought a
2.4c
abit is7
1gb of ddr400
52x cdrw
had 9700pro ( sold for same price i bought it at)
tower+psu------------------this setup cost me i think close to 650 at the time.

i sold my system for 700 (minus video card) a few days ago.
built a sytem for a guy at work, and he let me keep what was left
over- $190.
when i sold my system i made $50 profit+$190=$240

im planning to buy AMD64 3500+ 90nm= 325
tower+psu= 145
mobo= 145
videocard= 500

tax included in those numbers.

total for amd system is $1115.
take $1115-$240(my profit)=$875

$875 thats the total cost of my system. thats the total cost i have spent over the last 2 years...not too bad, well atleast i dont think so. already have the memory so its covered.

HL2 here i come

 

[papa jake]

• ~AMD A64 3200+ (Stock)
  ~Gigabyte k8ns pro MB
  ~512 pc3200 DDR Kingston HyperX Ram
  ~Gainward 6800 GT o/c'd to 375/1025 (could push it to ultra, but right now there's no need)
  ~120 GB Maxtor Boot drive (XP Pro)
  ~200 GB Maxtor Backup drive (handy for all the sweet mods that will be popping up)
  ~TTGI Superflower 550w
  ~Moderately sized e-penor

All I'll do is disc cleanup and a defrag before I install. I keep my rig squeaky clean and up to date on everything.:thumbs: I can't wait!

 

[fez]

upgrading from athlon XP 2000+, 1.2gb ram, 9800 pro
to athlon 64 3200+, 1gb ram, 9800 pro

should make things run a bit nicer

 

[papa jake]

upgrading from athlon XP 2000+, 1.2gb ram, 9800 pro
to athlon 64 3200+, 1gb ram, 9800 pro

should make things run a bit nicer

If you can find one (They are a pain to find because AMD is phasing them out) try to get the clawhammer version of that CPU. It has 1 meg of L2 cache. It's clocked at 2.0 GHz rather than 2.2, but shows about a 10% - 15% improvement in performance due to the larger cache.:thumbs:
If you can't find one don't sweat it (I couldn't find one either). My A64 3200+ (Newcastle 512 kb L2) still smokes.