Topic: What are you playing? (games)

[chrisfranklin]

I was probably going to stop with the 9800GTX plus SLI Im doing and swap one of those out for a new 2 chip card with an HDMI out.  I've got a Yamaha YSP setup that could benefit from the HDMI connection (if Im getting it correctly that you can use the video card for audio output) 

[sharpxmen]

I was probably going to stop with the 9800GTX plus SLI Im doing and swap one of those out for a new 2 chip card with an HDMI out.  I've got a Yamaha YSP setup that could benefit from the HDMI connection (if Im getting it correctly that you can use the video card for audio output) 

i have audio over HDMI for my media PC in the living room - works well - it's a built-in ATI though, didn't try it with any of my NVIDIA cards but it should work if the card supports audio over HDMI feature, you need to select the audio output device as HDMI if i remember correctly (or whatever is listed in the properties).

[Jeffy]

I was probably going to stop with the 9800GTX plus SLI Im doing and swap one of those out for a new 2 chip card with an HDMI out.  I've got a Yamaha YSP setup that could benefit from the HDMI connection (if Im getting it correctly that you can use the video card for audio output) 

9800GTX?  That's a really old card.  I have never tried pushing audio out.  I have a Creative Fatality Pro card.  Don't have it connected to the home theater just headphones.

Supposedly the 460 SLI is faster then the 580.  Also, I can get two SC EVGA's for $375 for both.  That's something like $175 less then a reflex 580.  Seems like a good deal.  I still get good FPS's with my 280SSC though.  100 FPS for Resident Evil 5.  L4D2 is also pretty fast as well.  The only downside is Arma 2 OA puts the beatdown on just about any card out there.  Doesn't officially support SLI either.  Good thing is, my friends haven't been playing!  Bastards!

I think I'll be passing on Black Ops and the new MOH.

I should have Dirt 2 setup tomorrow maybe...

[chrisfranklin]

9800GTX?  That's a really old card.  I have never tried pushing audio out.  I have a Creative Fatality Pro card.  Don't have it connected to the home theater just headphones.

Supposedly the 460 SLI is faster then the 580.  Also, I can get two SC EVGA's for $375 for both.  That's something like $175 less then a reflex 580.  Seems like a good deal.  I still get good FPS's with my 280SSC though.  100 FPS for Resident Evil 5.  L4D2 is also pretty fast as well.  The only downside is Arma 2 OA puts the beatdown on just about any card out there.  Doesn't officially support SLI either.  Good thing is, my friends haven't been playing!  Bastards!

I think I'll be passing on Black Ops and the new MOH.

I should have Dirt 2 setup tomorrow maybe...

The 9800GTX+ was mid-range a year and a half ago when I got the pair of them.  But it's on the low end now.  My setup could go for a 400 or 500 series NVidia card...maybe a pair. 

[Jeffy]

The 9800GTX+ was mid-range a year and a half ago when I got the pair of them.  But it's on the low end now.  My setup could go for a 400 or 500 series NVidia card...maybe a pair. 

The 9800 was outdated when it shipped.  It's old technology.  It was basically an 8800 with a fancy new name.  The 8800 was new back in 2006.  In SLI, it's a bit faster then a single 280 GTX though.  Two 280's is about as fast as a single 480.  580 is overpriced as it's brand new.  The 460 in SLI is faster and cheaper which is why I've been looking at them.  The downside is that I won't have an upgrade path but then I've never upgraded with SLI.  I've almost ended up buying the next single solution since by that time my card is so old that you can't find them anymore.

So I'd save $200 on the initial purchase then say I save $100 a year and by the time my stuff is out dated, I would have enough to buy card.

[Jeffy]

Ah, cool!  L4D2 has two new campaigns with the L4D crew.

[chardrc]

Ah, cool!  L4D2 has two new campaigns with the L4D crew.

i was just playing that last night... at-least 1 new weapon also... also played the mutation mode for the first time. interesting running around with unlimited ammo m60's although i was left wishing i could bring the gun up to my shoulder and actually aim after playing BC2.

[chrisfranklin]

The 9800 was outdated when it shipped.  It's old technology.  It was basically an 8800 with a fancy new name. 

  I saw that mentioned by a tech writer in some review of the 9800s I'd read early last year before I built my current system.  Still even for what was basically a 3 year old card, the 9800 was still getting strong reviews last year (even the new reviews for it then at NewEgg were 5 for 5). 

And the pair I've got did the job of getting a signal to three separate monitors, working in SLI for games on high to highest settings on one 2560x1600 screen, and keeping the price to about $250 total for both cards. 

Could have spent $400-500 for one card -- maybe a 280 or 295 -- when I was doing the build last year.  But then I'd probably have two of those in SLI now and wouldn't be interested in moving up to the 400 or 500 card(s)   

[Jeffy]

i was just playing that last night... at-least 1 new weapon also... also played the mutation mode for the first time. interesting running around with unlimited ammo m60's although i was left wishing i could bring the gun up to my shoulder and actually aim after playing BC2.

Yeah, I'm playing it now and found that the bridge on the first campaign is tough!  So many tanks.  I tried hitting all three generators quickly then running to the bridge and it was a no-go.  I think 4 tanks came out at the same time!  The SPAZ12 is pretty cool but reloading is SO SLOW.  I haven't seen anything else yet.

  I saw that mentioned by a tech writer in some review of the 9800s I'd read early last year before I built my current system.  Still even for what was basically a 3 year old card, the 9800 was still getting strong reviews last year (even the new reviews for it then at NewEgg were 5 for 5). 

And the pair I've got did the job of getting a signal to three separate monitors, working in SLI for games on high to highest settings on one 2560x1600 screen, and keeping the price to about $250 total for both cards. 

Could have spent $400-500 for one card -- maybe a 280 or 295 -- when I was doing the build last year.  But then I'd probably have two of those in SLI now and wouldn't be interested in moving up to the 400 or 500 card(s)   

My Nephew is running my old GTX 8800 OC in his computer (my old one).  Seems to do fine but if he ever pays me back, I'll give him my GTX280 SSC when I go with some 460 SLI's.

I'm only running 1440x900 on a 19" 16:10.  I'll probably get a 24" sooner or later as they are dirt cheap.

[Jeffy]

So, I've been playing a lot of Dirt 2.  I haven't done any online stuff yet.  I'm playing casual and the AI still seems to be pretty aggressive.  Not to bad though.  My favorite car so far is the MG Metro 6R4.  it's quite quick which makes it great for carrying your speed through the turn and into the straightaway.  Oh and I'm getting around 133FPS with everything cranked up to High or Ultra which is really good.

[sharpxmen]

So, I've been playing a lot of Dirt 2.  I haven't done any online stuff yet.  I'm playing casual and the AI still seems to be pretty aggressive.  Not to bad though.  My favorite car so far is the MG Metro 6R4.  it's quite quick which makes it great for carrying your speed through the turn and into the straightaway.  Oh and I'm getting around 133FPS with everything cranked up to High or Ultra which is really good.

me too (playing Dirt2) - got to level 60 but nothing else happens once you get to about 40 (i think) same tracks. I like the trailblazer at Utah, pretty cool. the open wheel kicks ass on that track, if you keep the speed up you can take any corner at high speed with no skidding, if you slow down you're off the road pretty quick. Graphics are good but the game get's old once you went thru all the tracks (they have different events but really not much of a difference between them). What i don't like is that no matter what you set your gearbox at they alway beat you off the start (even on manual transmission). Didn't play online either. Oh, and i played to level "Serious", i should probably up that as i get 5 to 15 seconds over the second place usually, maybe will make it more interesting.

I still didn't get to play Black Ops, doesn't work - a lot of people have the same problem, I wish i could return the stupid thing.

[Jeffy]

I could probably bump the difficulty up a level or two but I'm usually playing between watching TV and checking up online.  Hence casual.  I like to play clean with very little bumping.  It's impossible to do that on the higher levels it seams until you get a good lead.

I've noticed the huge lead they get off the line, too.  It seems to get diminished if you shorten up the gearing but then you're screwed if there are fast straights.

[jfrabat]

I just finished God Of War, Ghost of Sparta on my PSP...

[sharpxmen]

I've noticed the huge lead they get off the line, too.  It seems to get diminished if you shorten up the gearing but then you're screwed if there are fast straights.

that's the thing, even with the lowest gearing possible (i tried both ways) and even with the vehicle marked with the highest acceleration the AI still gets a jump on you at the start. It is more obvious on the trucks, with the cars I get pretty even or close to what AI is accelerating from a standing start.

[chrisfranklin]

Haven't had a chance to play in a while, but found that some multiplayer rally races on Dirt 2 would let you start in higher gears -- 2nd or 3rd in manual.  Forget the race type/start type though that lets you do this.  You want to start in 2nd in all races but some don't seem to let you do this.