Well I'll pop some pics up in a bit I guess, but I finally built our new rigs. I'd like to say it was a bed of roses but it wasn't... I've gone for GTSes instead of the 2900XT, I just couldn't deal with the AA performance hit on the ATi card... which is a shame because it had a few nice features.
Anyway, what a nightmare this has been, Vista does not like installing with X-Fi sound cards (or 4Gb of RAM in dual channel) I've had to swap bits in and out like no ones business to the installation to work. I have to admit I've become accustomed to Xp's solid stability the return of BSODs was not, and is not, welcome. :(
However, I've got the beasts to work now fairly trouble free. I say fairly trouble free, only nVidia still don't seem to have decent drivers out there, 650 mobo drivers currently make the HD click in an unnerving way after booting (a known and as yet unfixed issue). [EDIT] Scratch that, the most recent Vanguard BSODs are down to the X-Fi card and 4Gb of RAM issue. Fun huh? Still I can switch the sound off while I play and other games work fine... but you know I'm not too happy about seeing such catastrophic crashes. I'm hoping the most recent drivers from Creative will fix the problem.
It's a pity really, this OS really needs lots of work and if I could have put the upgrade off for another few months I would have. Trouble is when your current PCs are going to die you don't have much choice in the matter. Perhaps I'll feel better when I see Dx10 enhance Bioshock ;)
Grumble over!
Gift.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Monday, March 12, 2007
Well not much happening again...
Yup, I'm twiddling my thumbs between experiments again...
Still waiting for AMD to pull their collective finger out and release the R600. It's getting desperate now as the current windows boxes I'm running are starting to show their age. Two weeks running I had HD failures :/ most irritating. At this rate I may give up waiting to see what the R600 has to offer and go nVidia anyway, certainly I'll take the plunge if Creative get their driver support for Vista 64bit sorted soon.
Otherwise it's pretty slow going, no new games I'm interested in (until August when Bioshock comes out) and "all work" pretty much describes the rest of my time right now. Still having loads of fun playing Vanguard but I pine for a more powerful rig to show it off a bit :D
Ah its sad that I've come to this, moping over vapourware :D I should get out more.. :P
Still waiting for AMD to pull their collective finger out and release the R600. It's getting desperate now as the current windows boxes I'm running are starting to show their age. Two weeks running I had HD failures :/ most irritating. At this rate I may give up waiting to see what the R600 has to offer and go nVidia anyway, certainly I'll take the plunge if Creative get their driver support for Vista 64bit sorted soon.
Otherwise it's pretty slow going, no new games I'm interested in (until August when Bioshock comes out) and "all work" pretty much describes the rest of my time right now. Still having loads of fun playing Vanguard but I pine for a more powerful rig to show it off a bit :D
Ah its sad that I've come to this, moping over vapourware :D I should get out more.. :P
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Gimmme Expression!
Opps been a bit Lax... Ok I lied I've been rubbish. Truth is I've been a bit preoccupied playing Vanguard Saga of Heroes. The game has finally been released and you know it's not at all bad. Like most MMOs it's launched with a few quirks but it runs rather nicely on my ageing system (P4 2.53GHz, 1Gb RAM, x800AGP card). This is a good thing as it means I can put off upgrading for a little bit while I wait to see what AMD are going to offer Dx10 wise (and let Vista bed in before I give in to the inevitable).
Anyway, I digress, I'd just like to let you know the game is a whole lot o fun. I'm particularly taken with the diplomacy gaming sphere right now. It's very simple yet marvellously addictive card game that really adds a little extra to what can be a bit of a vanilla genre. In another nice little feature you can follow my halting progress here, as you can see I'm not big on combat right now :D Not that it isn't fun, but I'm on an RP server playing with my Fiancée, until we can share XP when she is off line (also a feature) I'm only clobbering things when she is there with me.
Other schtuffs in the pipes includes a visit to Star Wars Celebration Europe where we're going to be unashamedly geeky for a few days. I'm already looking forward to it months ahead of time and I'm really hoping we'll get a sneak peak at the forthcoming TV series at the convention.
Last but not least I'd like to finish up on a big thank you to Jim Burgess, the author of the excellent Able and Baker. I recently ordered a fine Quincy T-shirt from him and not only did I get it pretty quickly I was really pleased to get the unexpected bonus of a little sketch of Able and a little message included too! Cheers Jim!
Anyway, I digress, I'd just like to let you know the game is a whole lot o fun. I'm particularly taken with the diplomacy gaming sphere right now. It's very simple yet marvellously addictive card game that really adds a little extra to what can be a bit of a vanilla genre. In another nice little feature you can follow my halting progress here, as you can see I'm not big on combat right now :D Not that it isn't fun, but I'm on an RP server playing with my Fiancée, until we can share XP when she is off line (also a feature) I'm only clobbering things when she is there with me.
Other schtuffs in the pipes includes a visit to Star Wars Celebration Europe where we're going to be unashamedly geeky for a few days. I'm already looking forward to it months ahead of time and I'm really hoping we'll get a sneak peak at the forthcoming TV series at the convention.
Last but not least I'd like to finish up on a big thank you to Jim Burgess, the author of the excellent Able and Baker. I recently ordered a fine Quincy T-shirt from him and not only did I get it pretty quickly I was really pleased to get the unexpected bonus of a little sketch of Able and a little message included too! Cheers Jim!
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Ho hum...
I'm all work and little play right now, so I've very little to say except for the new generation of graphics cards have me eyeing my wallet again :D
The Geforce 8 looks pretty sweet, if a little odd when it comes to the irregular onboard memory sizes 768MB/640MB GTX/GTS... Truth be told though I'm awaiting the dreaded Vista before I upgrade, which will be February time (I hope). With any luck ATi-AMD will have a Dx10 card out by then too, which will make the purchase a little more interesting and hopefully a more power to cash end result (nothing wrong with a bit of healthy competition IMO). I'm also rather hoping AMD will pull their finger out and make CPU choice a little more exciting, as things stand now intel have the upper hand (who'd have thunk it?).
The Geforce 8 looks pretty sweet, if a little odd when it comes to the irregular onboard memory sizes 768MB/640MB GTX/GTS... Truth be told though I'm awaiting the dreaded Vista before I upgrade, which will be February time (I hope). With any luck ATi-AMD will have a Dx10 card out by then too, which will make the purchase a little more interesting and hopefully a more power to cash end result (nothing wrong with a bit of healthy competition IMO). I'm also rather hoping AMD will pull their finger out and make CPU choice a little more exciting, as things stand now intel have the upper hand (who'd have thunk it?).
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Tuesday, October 31, 2006
What a day!
Well today at work was something else, I've got a lot on right now (which is cool as it makes the day go quickly). However, I've also got two project students to look after and that really makes the day hectic. For those of you who don't know I'm a scientist, a biochemist/molecular biologist to be accurate, and I currently work in a university. Part of that involves having to look after final year students in the lab on the practical part of their course. They do real science for about 20 weeks of their degree and write the project up afterwards.
Well I've two of these students and they are quite a sharp bunch, but unfortunately not well practiced when it comes to microbiology. Given this work happens around a Bunsen burner and alcohol... well it's been a challenge. I've just about had kittens the number of times they've near set themselves alight and today was no different except it resulted in one burnt glove and an ethanol flashover. Poor things, they weren't hurt which is good, I make sure the chances of that happening are minimal, but their confidence has taken a bit of a knock. I'm going to have to figure out a way to reduce the chances of repeat toastings while they learn the ropes and a way to boost ther confidence around microbes... Bless 'em
Well I've two of these students and they are quite a sharp bunch, but unfortunately not well practiced when it comes to microbiology. Given this work happens around a Bunsen burner and alcohol... well it's been a challenge. I've just about had kittens the number of times they've near set themselves alight and today was no different except it resulted in one burnt glove and an ethanol flashover. Poor things, they weren't hurt which is good, I make sure the chances of that happening are minimal, but their confidence has taken a bit of a knock. I'm going to have to figure out a way to reduce the chances of repeat toastings while they learn the ropes and a way to boost ther confidence around microbes... Bless 'em
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Sunday, October 29, 2006
They're back!
Ah the excitement, Sam and Max is up for pre-order on Telltale's site. My favourite canine and psychotic lagomorph fighting crime again! Odd that Lucasarts let the franchise go, but wth... there's no accounting for taste!
Telltale Games - Sam & Max
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Telltale Games - Sam & Max
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Thursday, October 26, 2006
More about what entertains me.
So I suppose anyone reading this will have noticed the updated links, I have plenty to add including one or two friends sites (when they are ready), but the ub3r Star Wars geek within me wants to draw your attention to: IMPS - The Relentless. (thanks to Fraz BTW for telling me about I.M.P.S.) I do enjoy a good comedy spoof of my favourite films, and this is so lovingly done I want to tell anyone who will listen about it. Chapter 2 is coming soon, and I'm really looking forward to its arrival. Some Star Wars fans seem to have such enthusiasm for the films, they'll pour their free time into making their own and I'm endlessly impressed with the results. Do check out The Force net for more, lots of talented people have made some really commendable films. A big thanks to George for letting us play in the SW universe free of pesky lawyers!
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