The New (and Improved) Desktop Thread!

[MrBunsy]

That should just cause it to cut out/down due to overheating, rather than make any difference to performance. If it all runs smoothly it shouldn't matter.

[Vader]

I wouldn't be so sure. My Xbox runs XBMC and since I've fitted better cooling it performs better. There are fewer pauses between screens and so on. Mind you, I think the GPU has a lot to do with that ut its architecture isn't so far removed from a PC anyway.

I could be wrong, of course. I may have updated XBMC around the same time as fitting the bigger fan and forgotten/overlooked it as the cause. I'm not saying I did but I could have. Who knows? You? I didn't think so and that makes you wrong. All of you. ;)

[SupSuper]

And my personal testing on a Vista makes me feel like I'm being insulted on most stuff. Most stuff changed places to the most awkward places, and some visuals, even though they feel pretty, make me feel like it's wasting CPU...By definition, any visuals are a waste of CPU. :p

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/2413/win1.png

Or, to elaborate, y'see those diagonal shading effects on the window borders, that move with the window? Those aren't so much effects as they are a second background with transparency values too!...you only figured out Vista windows are transparent now?

Windows 7 is also better benchmark wise than Vista, to varying degrees depending on what you're measuring and which review you read, but it's faster and more responsive in almost every respect. Thus, if I really feel the need for DX10, I'll wait for 7.Although 7 will come with DX11.

It's still specs? Windows should care about the box how?Laptop hardware is completely different from desktop hardware. Laptop hardware has to be much smaller, cooler and power-savvy, so it will not perform as well as the equivalent desktop hardware.

This is a desktop 8600GT:
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/7213/img5568nvidiageforce860.jpg
Core clock max: 540 MHz

Peak Fillrate
Billion pixel/s: 4.3
Billion bilinear texel/s: 8.6
Billion bilinear FP16 texel/s: 4.3
Billion bilinear FP32 texel/s: 1.0

Shaders
Stream Processors: 32
Clock: 1190 MHz
Bandwidth max: 22.4 (GB/s)

Memory
DRAM type: GDDR3
Bus width: 128 bit
Megabytes: 256 / 512
Effective (Real) Memory Clock: 1400 (700) Mhz

Texture Units: 16
Raster Operators: 8
Power Consumption: 43 Watts
Transistor Count: 289 Millions
Theoretical Shader Processing Rate: 114.2 Gigaflops

This is a mobile 8600GT:
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/7073/109045.jpg
Core clock max: 475 MHz

Peak Fillrate
Billion pixel/s: 3.8
Billion bilinear texel/s: 7.6
Billion bilinear FP16 texel/s: 3.8

Shaders
Stream Processors: 32
Clock: 950 Mhz
Bandwidth max (GB/s): 12.8/22.4

Memory
DRAM type: DDR2/GDDR3
Bus width: 128 bit
Megabytes: 128/256/512
Effective DDR Clock: 800/1400 Mhz

Power Consumption: 22 Watts
Transistor Count: 289 Millions
Theoretical Shader Processing Rate: 91.2 Gigaflops

[Plasma]

...you only figured out Vista windows are transparent now?
Not the windows, the hidden background thing! If you want it to be. ...wait, how did you get 'the window borders are transparent' from what I said anyway?

[MrBunsy]

Laptop hardware is completely different from desktop hardware. Laptop hardware has to be much smaller, cooler and power-savvy, so it will not perform as well as the equivalent desktop hardware.

True, but if it's still powerful, it's still powerful regardless of being in a laptop case.

[yakuza]

True, but if it's still powerful, it's still powerful regardless of being in a laptop case.

I'm just saying, it's not strange that your laptop slows down and has low framerates or whatever in new games.

You were talking about needing lots of money to run Vista properly, well, you can spend half the money you spent on that laptop on a tower PC and have Vista fly.

So yeah, it's a laptop, doesn't really apply, Laptops in gaming discussions are meh.

[Vader]

I'd like a laptop to draw on, just a crappy lappy which runs flash and photoshop would do me, with a bit of 'net browsing thrown in.

I don't understand people who work/play solely on a laptop. It's like being a professional runner but with a midget's legs. Sure they'll get you there eventually and sometimes it might be preferable to have a midget's legs (for getting under stuff), but really, when you're sprinting 100m against Daley Thompson, you need legs like the Nile.

[Plasma]

I don't understand people who work/play solely on a laptop. It's like being a professional runner but with a midget's legs. Sure they'll get you there eventually and sometimes it might be preferable to have a midget's legs (for getting under stuff), but really, when you're sprinting 100m against Daley Thompson, you need legs like the Nile.
It's mostly because some of us can't afford two high-end computers at once, y'know! And a laptop that runs games at medium is still far more useful than a desktop that runs games at its best.


Butt anyway Bunsy, I agree with the others: your PC there is actually a fairly low-spec machine by today's standards.

[yakuza]

And a laptop that runs games at medium is still far more useful than a desktop that runs games at its best.




Depends on your job how useful a laptop is, if you travel, or if you're into the multimedia market were towers are still infinitely superior. With today's cellphone devices, I'd say a tower PC is still generally a better idea, specially since you can upgrade it with ease. Don't get me wrong, I have both, but I find that I could do the same thing with a Blackberry, which is write and receive e-mails or browse the internet. That's just me, though.

[Vader]

10
It's mostly because some of us can't afford two high-end computers at once, y'know!

I was referring to people who work/play solely on a laptop. Not people who have both, as that is quite sensible. Look:
I don't understand people who work/play solely on a laptop.

And a laptop that runs games at medium is still far more useful than a desktop that runs games at its best.

It sounds like you're saying a great laptop is better than a mediocre PC, but that's a stupid thing to say because it's a) stating the obvious and b) irrelevant to the topic. SupSuper did a very good job of comparing like for like in desktop and laptop, thereby proving that desktops are superior in a like for like situation.

I think laptops are fine. See my previous post. I want one to supplement my desktop usage. What I don't understand is why people go out to buy a laptop as their only PC.

20 GOTO 10

[Plasma]

I was referring to people who work/play solely on a laptop. Not people who have both, as that is quite sensible.
I... what? I-I'm confused, didn't I just say that some people can't have both, and not the other way around?

It sounds like you're saying a great laptop is better than a mediocre PC
...what? That's not what I said at all! Unless 'medium' is somehow better than 'best' in your dictionary.

I'm pretty much convinced you're doing this on purpose now!

[Vader]

I... what? I-I'm confused, didn't I just say that some people can't have both, and not the other way around?

You did but someone who can't afford both would opt for the cheaper option (a desktop).


...what? That's not what I said at all! Unless 'medium' is somehow better than 'best' in your dictionary.

"A laptop which runs games at medium is better than a desktop which runs games at its best" is what you said. The way it reads suggests a laptop which runs games without much effort is better than a which runs games with all of its resources being decked. What did you mean? A laptop running games at 800x600 is better than a desktop running games in 1280x1024, type of thing? You have to admit it's a confusing sentence. I mean, I don't know how your gauging usefulness for starters, because games aren't really 'useful', they're fun/engaging/challenging/etc.

I'm pretty much convinced you're doing this on purpose now!

I'm pretty much convinced you're unable to put your point across clearly.

[yakuza]

Plasma's original (and wrong) point is that a laptop that plays games with medium settings is better than a desktop that runs them on high settings because you can move laptops around the house. Obviously, he is not taking into account the price, performance, fact that you can upgrade it etc when doing his comparison and is only focusing on the things he likes (playing spore in his bed while touching himself)

[Vader]

That's where you're quite clearly wrong, yakuza.

Nobody likes touching Plasma. Not even Plasma.

[Plasma]

You did but someone who can't afford both would opt for the cheaper option (a desktop).
Hence the second sentence in that line.

"A laptop which runs games at medium is better than a desktop which runs games at its best" is what you said. The way it reads suggests a laptop which runs games without much effort is better than a which runs games with all of its resources being decked.
Settings! Running the games with medium and best settings! You're the first person I've met not to think I was talking about the game quality in that kinda sentence.

Edit: Oh wait, I said a plural pronoun instead of a singular pronoun when I was supposed to be referring to 'games'. Oooh...

[Vader]

Hence the second sentence in that line.

What you're saying seems to be:

If you can't afford 2 PCs, get a laptop (more expensive) so you can play games on it (at medium settings), rather than buying a desktop (cheaper) so you can play games on it (at high settings).

Is that correct?


Edit: Oh wait, I said a plural pronoun instead of a singular pronoun when I was supposed to be referring to 'games'. Oooh...

Yes... clearly that was your downfall.

[MrBunsy]

What you're saying seems to be:

If you can't afford 2 PCs, get a laptop (more expensive) so you can play games on it (at medium settings), rather than buying a desktop (cheaper) so you can play games on it (at high settings).

Is that correct?

Dunno about plasma, but that was more or less my reasoning. I really wanted something portable, and something to play games. I decided to make them the same thing. I'm not sure I'd do it again - I think an EEE and a desktop might have been a better choice.

As to Vista, I'll have to try it on really top end stuff some day, then. But for me and anyone without top end stuff I still can't see the point of it.

[Vader]

I'm not sure I'd do it again - I think an EEE and a desktop might have been a better choice.

Possibly, but those things are still a few hundred quid. In terms of value for money I think the EEE is overrated, though a nifty gadget if you've got the cash floating about.

I use my PSP for browsing a fair bit. It's far from ideal but it's better than my phone by a long shot. Still, you'd not be able to run any Adobe CS4 stuff on an EEE, so I'd never consider it. I bet you could put Worms on there, though :cool:

[Metal Alex]

Considering the stuff I usually do on my laptop is either playing or rendering 3D house models, I guess it counts for both :p

Sure, laptop, not as powerful, but I can take it to my university anytime. Works fine, not ground breaking, but the stuff I've seen about Vista was just slightly annoying. Like useless buttons :p

But if Windows 7 is fixing those, I don't see why it should annoy me anymore (If I get to upgrade, that is).

[SupSuper]

Not the windows, the hidden background thing! If you want it to be. ...wait, how did you get 'the window borders are transparent' from what I said anyway?Because that's what they are. Semi-transparent-and-blurred-with-diagonal-bars window borders, if you prefer.

[Kelster23]

My background :D

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/3084/backgroundpbm.jpg

[Paul.Power]

24 FPS was good enough for film, and it's good enough for me, dammit!

(plus watching cricket in the living room and checking the internet at the same time :))

[Alien King]

24 FPS was good enough for film, and it's good enough for me, dammit!

But senseless murder occurs more easily and naturally with at least 60 FPS.

[Paul.Power]

But senseless murder occurs more easily and naturally with at least 60 FPS.

I know it's annoying when my framerate drops to about ten. Really hard to direct the Medigun in TF2 at that sort of rate. Oh well.

[Alien King]

Ah well, it's not too bad in TF2. Aim isn't as highly valued there as it is with other games - what with headshots being redundant and all.

[Paul.Power]

Ah well, it's not too bad in TF2. Aim isn't as highly valued there as it is with other games - what with headshots being redundant and all.

Why do you think I like it so much? :p

(and for that matter, why I like playing Pyro so much :p)

[WormOfFire]

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/628/harharhar.jpg
camera ftw.

[MtlAngelus]

Behold, the awesome.
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/3481/programmanager.png

[Alien King]

Behold, the awesome.
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/3481/programmanager.png

Aww. The Kratos one is so cute.


http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/1008/akdm21680x1050.th.jpg (http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/1008/akdm21680x1050.jpg)

Over 4 and a half years now I've had that wallpaper. Although I had to retake the screenshot to get it to work with my new monitor.
The real file is a PNG but I converted to JPG to upload for obvious reasons.
1680x1050

[Kelster23]

This one's mine :cool:

http://i50.tinypic.com/2cnfa14.jpg

[GrimOswald]

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w220/GrimOswald/BraidWallpaperSmall.png

Its actual size isn't quite the right ratio for my screen (Not tall enough) but I forgive it that for being so awesome.

[Akuryou13]

that IS quite classy.

I'm currently feeling Zen: http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/5356/balancewallpaper.th.jpg (http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/5356/balancewallpaper.jpg/)

[Melon]

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w220/GrimOswald/BraidWallpaperSmall.png

Its actual size isn't quite the right ratio for my screen (Not tall enough) but I forgive it that for being so awesome.Is that from Braid?

Anyway, this is mine:

http://www.jump-leads.com/wallpaper/jungle-wide.jpg

[GrimOswald]

Is that from Braid?

It is indeed. I love me some Braid.

[shadowman]

Aww. The Kratos one is so cute.


http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/1008/akdm21680x1050.th.jpg (http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/1008/akdm21680x1050.jpg)

Over 4 and a half years now I've had that wallpaper. Although I had to retake the screenshot to get it to work with my new monitor.
The real file is a PNG but I converted to JPG to upload for obvious reasons.
1680x1050

Either I was reading the old desktop thread here or someone at Posty has the same wallpaper as you.

[Alien King]

Either I was reading the old desktop thread here or someone at Posty has the same wallpaper as you.

It's entirely possible. As I said, I've had that for years now and I've posted it many times before. Or perhaps they took a very similar screenshot of this [link] (http://doom3.filefront.com/file/AKDM2_Hells_Arena;37796).

Or you were reading the old desktop thread.

[Melon]

My new desktop wallpaper:
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/7592/batxmassmall.jpg

[Plasma]

As a wise man once said... "Batman makes anything funny!"


Pity he died and all that.


Followed by turning into a zombie. (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/23/Black_Lantern_Batman.jpg)
Then went back to being dead.

[Shadowmoon]

My predictable background.

http://i47.tinypic.com/whcryg.png

[Paul.Power]

My unpredictable background

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt45/paulpower_2009/wormsbackdrop.png

(Courtesy of an SA photoshop thread)

[Plasma]

I would like to question why you're using Windows 98 there!

[thomasp]

I would like to question why you're using Windows 98 there!
That looks more like the XP-era start menu icon, rather than Win98. Looks more like a Win98 skin for XP to me.

[MrBunsy]

Or XP with the themes service turned off.

edit: Heh, or windows 7, which also looks like that when you turn themes off.

[Paul.Power]

As it happens, it's Vista with the Windows Classic skin.

I love my grey boxiness :)

[Plasma]

Paul, I think this counts as conclusive proof that you are, in fact, OLD!



Oh right, desktops? I've got about 6 of them! Woop for Windows7's slideshow desktop feature!
Buut because half of them are of me girlfriend, here's only one (http://therewillbebrawl.com/images/downloads/wallpaper/Luigi_Wallpaper1600x1200.jpg).

[Alien King]

here's only one (http://therewillbebrawl.com/images/downloads/wallpaper/Luigi_Wallpaper1600x1200.jpg).

The City and Wario ones are better. :p

[Paul.Power]

Paul, I think this counts as conclusive proof that you are, in fact, OLD!

These young whippersnappers with their colours and their curves... in my day it was white text on a black background and we TYPED what we wanted to do! And we liked it!

[MrBunsy]

Then Xerox came along.

[Xinos]

Currently using the Fusion wallpaper from Nvidia's collection (http://www.nvidia.co.uk/object/cool_stuff_uk.html#/wallpapers). Most of them are nice.

[Alien King]

For the first time in what must be close to 5 years, I'm using a different wallpaper.
Or indeed, lots of different wallpapers due to Windows 7's wallpaper changing thing.

I still have the old one in there though.