best tweaks and config for new XPS Gen 4??

[Illuvatar]

Hi, very happy to find this forum.
My new XPS should be here in a few days, and I was wondering if anyone could help with setting it up for optimal gaming performance? I want to play Doom 3, HL2, Far Cry, Battle for Middle Earth and similar games. What tweaking can I do with Win XP and video card software? Or any settings that help?
Should I update drivers as soon as I get the system or should I try to install and run the games first?

Thanks for any help,

Dimension XPS Gen 4
P4 650 (3.4) HT 2MB cache
1 GB DDR2 SDRAM 533MHz
74GB Serial ATA (10000RPM)
ATI X850XT PE PCI express
16xDVD-ROM 16x DVDRW
SB Audigy 2 ZS
24" ultrasharp widescreen flat panel (2405FPW)
Klipsch promedia Ultra 5.1 speakers
Logitech MX 500 optical mouse

[ben]

you shouldnt have to tweak at all, your system is bad ass. you could ( but dont necessarily need to) oc your x850 with atitool. most people here have either added more fans or changed the heat sink. it doesnt do a good job at cooling, especially the LGA 775 socket. it should come with the latest drivers so i wouldnt worry about that for awhile. congrats on you new system, i got my gen 4 about a month ago. im very happy with it.

[Illuvatar]

ben,
Thanks man. I hope it's going to be a good system. It's my first Dell. I priced a bunch of custom gaming systems and couldn't even come w/in a $1000 of the Dell.
Isn't the 850XT just an overclocked X800 ? I'm sortof a newbie, so not sure if I'm gonna oc or not.
What I'm really curious about is if my new machine will run Doom3 , ultra settings at 1920x1200?? I'm thinking it's gonna be a slide show! That's why i was wondering if stuff like turning off Win XP eye candy would help. Have you or anyone else had good luck w/ overclocking a X850XT PE? Don't want to burn up my new baby...

Thanks

[ben]

illuvatar,
x800 uses a r430 processor, which cant be oc very much if at all
x850 uses a r480, which can be oc pretty easily. best card on the market, beside 6800 ultra in sli, but who wants to pay almost $1000.
you did good on conf. you system, esspecially that 24" widesreen, thats gotta be nice
not too sure if you want to run the res that high, you might take a big porformance hit, i like 1280 1024 at 85 hz. i play half life 2 and get a steady 80 fps. you'll just have to play around and see what it can do

[Illuvatar]

Yea, looking forward to seeing wht fps I get at the native res.
It should be here this Fri

thanks for your help

[ben]

no problem. good to know i was helpful..... now if it were only friday..... ;D

[Pauly]

Doom 3 will have no problems in frame rate... I believe Ultra is not possible unless the video card is 512 meg. (or is that HL2?)Since none have 512 today Ultra will not enable.

I can run at 1600X1200 - smooth as a baby's butt!!

I did encounter a problem however that I would be curious if you encounter the same issue. Doom3 has a patch that came out - once I installed the patch my connectivity for on-line play went crazy. If I try to join any server on the web I cant move and have to disconnect. Activision gave up on me - the only way it will work with my XPS is if uninstall the entire program and reinstall without the patch... It works fine with the patch across my lan to another computer. All my other games work perfectly over my network (Call of Duty, America's Army, WOW, HL2-SOURCE, Battlefield Vietman, Far Cry) After numerous calls and e-mails to Activision tech support they gave up... My other Computer has no problems.... There is an issue.. Let me know if you encounter the same problem...

Anyone else have this problem??

I would be carefull overclocking that vid card - its pushing ther limits of the ram currently...

[Illuvatar]

Pauly,

I'll let you know if I encounter the patch issue, but unfortunately that won't be happening any time soon, since Dell sent me a delay notification this morning. ETA is now next Tues.
Someone else will probably help you w/ that Q.

As to overclocking the 850XT, I'm going to research it thoroughly, and will heed your cautions....I haven't made any decisions about doing it yet.

good luck w/ the patch issue

[Pauly]

Oh.... hope you get it soon..... it's worth the wait.

Your processor is a little more zippy than its older brother of the same speed (the 550) and I hear it runs a bit cooler.... You will appreciate that .. I have been considering applying cedar panels to my sons room so we could close the door and take a sauna with how much heat that thing puts out while gaming!
LOL

[Illuvatar]

LMAO......That is hilarious!!! ;D

[TRow]

That is funny, sad but true. Here comes the Summer heat too!

T.RoW