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One more 7405GX review

post #1 of 15
12/27/04 at 11:38pm
Thread Starter 
I got mine earlier this month.

the usual specs:

A64 3200+
15.4" ultrabrite @ 1280*800
512 ddr 333 mhz
64 mb ATi Radeon 9600 mobility
80 gb 4200 rpm harddrive
Multiformat DVD writer
4 USB 2.0
1 FireWireVga and S video out
BroadCom 802g wireless
Conexant modem
AC97 audio

I'm not gonna lapse into a long narrative...these are the points on note:

- regular desktop performance is awesome...great multitasking, couldnt ask for more
- getting rid of Norton Antivirus did lots of good things for system speed
- very nice and responsive input (keyboard and mouse)..not too many annoying shortcut keys
- the display is very crisp bright and clear, guess only a Vaio can beat this one
- trouble free fast wireless (even with a crappy belkin router)
- RUNS doom 3 and half life 2 at playable smooth framerates

doom 3 demo@ 800*600 at medium detail
half life2 demo in widescreen mode 800*600 (approx)...everything on highest except textures
unreal tournament 2003 @ 1024*768 everything turned to high

- 7.5 pounds is really not all that much, u wont mind luggin it around if know what this baby does.

big questions:

- how much of a performance boost would a 5400 rpm drive be?
- can it handle far cry/ S.T.A.L.K.E.R?

Final word: am one happy camper! go for it
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post #2 of 15
12/28/04 at 12:15am
yes it'll handle farcry just fine

ps get the omega drivers. /remove the ati control panel first if you do! OC the GPU to 400/ mem to 210 and you'll be running smooth!

here's the link:

http://www.omegadrivers.net/
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post #3 of 15
12/28/04 at 2:14am
Quote:
- trouble free fast wireless (even with a crappy belkin router)
Easy on the Belkin routers I love mine!
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post #4 of 15
12/28/04 at 2:55am
I'll second that review!

One of my favorite parts is the wireless. It just works! Nothing else in my house just works. This does, tho. It's great!

As for the weight...I got an Ogio Metro laptop backpack, which is awesome. It fits the laptop, AC brick, mouse, and even my Sennheiser HD570 headphones, plus books.

I also have a Fellowes 15" Body Glove coming in the mail from CompUSA. I'll let you guys know if it fits well (it should, from what I read). If you're interested, do a google - I found a coupon and got 15% or 25% off, plus CompUSA was having penny shipping, so it came out to less than $8. Useful if you're just toting it around or will have it in a messenger bag sometimes, like me
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post #5 of 15
1/4/05 at 3:06pm
Thread Starter 
sorry about the belkin, thunder. it needed a lot of fussing over but its working fine now

i dunno if i wanna OC the vid card just yet - do the omega drivers do anything other than give you the ability to overclock the video card? i'll install the drivers anyway.

am thinking of a 60 gb 5400 rpm HDD when i can get the cashola for it..

happy fraggin'
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post #6 of 15
1/4/05 at 3:52pm
ive always used norton--what would you recommend if norton slows things down???
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post #7 of 15
1/4/05 at 4:24pm
Avg is less memory intensive.
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post #8 of 15
1/4/05 at 10:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by fireface
sorry about the belkin, thunder. it needed a lot of fussing over but its working fine now

i dunno if i wanna OC the vid card just yet - do the omega drivers do anything other than give you the ability to overclock the video card? i'll install the drivers anyway.

am thinking of a 60 gb 5400 rpm HDD when i can get the cashola for it..

happy fraggin'
LOL , no apology needed, just funnin'

The Omega driver do have other "changes" internally in them to optimize for image quality without sacrificing speed. The Radlinker included is a bonus for those looking to boost performance at the risk of overclocking.
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post #9 of 15
1/5/05 at 2:41am
Quote:
ive always used norton--what would you recommend if norton slows things down???
I've always been quite happy with Trend Micro's PC Cillin.

BB
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post #10 of 15
1/5/05 at 9:44am
is this a known issue with norton, and suckers like me that don't know any better just keep using it? are these other virus scanners/checkers just as good? i gotta say i am suprised that having norton running would affect the total system speed........
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post #11 of 15
1/5/05 at 10:47am
I use to be a big proponent of AVG. I recently ran across a trojan that AVG let's slide through, but Norton and Avast both picked up (those are the only three I tested on). I am now done with AVG and use Avast instead.
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post #12 of 15
1/5/05 at 11:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thunder_PC
I use to be a big proponent of AVG. I recently ran across a trojan that AVG let's slide through, but Norton and Avast both picked up (those are the only three I tested on). I am now done with AVG and use Avast instead.
interesting--but is there any credence to the fact that norton slows the system down??

and do you use the free home version of avast? i have never had a virus problem with norton so i am hesitent to give it up.
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post #13 of 15
1/5/05 at 11:32am
Anthing memory resident will slow the system down. I have never myself actually benchmarked before and after to see. I know with older versions it was a very tangible slow down immediately upon installing. This of course was on slower systems also. I honestly haven't noticed much of a tangible slowdown with 2003 and up. Again, on newer systems though.

Yes, the version of Avast I use is the free version. I also have norton on a couple of machines still.
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post #14 of 15
1/5/05 at 12:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thunder_PC
Anthing memory resident will slow the system down. I have never myself actually benchmarked before and after to see. I know with older versions it was a very tangible slow down immediately upon installing. This of course was on slower systems also. I honestly haven't noticed much of a tangible slowdown with 2003 and up. Again, on newer systems though.

Yes, the version of Avast I use is the free version. I also have norton on a couple of machines still.
ok, i think i am sticking with norton. i've had good success, and even though avast won't cost me anything (i think norton is like $20 a year) i feel better with norton........
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post #15 of 15
1/5/05 at 4:44pm
Thread Starter 
i'm using mcafee 8 corporate edition. its a free download for people attending my university......

guess i'll get those omega drivers pretty soon.

btw anybody heard of the 7405gx giving USB trouble AFTER getting the newest 4-in-1 drivers?
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