Also, here are some of the product reviews on Newegg. Am I encountering the same problem?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16814150254&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&SelectedRating=2&PurchaseMark=&VideoOnlyMark=False

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16814150254&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&SelectedRating=3&PurchaseMark=&VideoOnlyMark=False

This one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150254

I've been trying to fix this for quite some time. It wasn't so bad finishing the single-player campaign (I would just save frequently), but it's gotten really annoying playing online.

I read online reviews for the videocard I got and they mention something about artifacting that occurs due to the card overheating. "Red ants" was what someone called it. When I contacted tech support, I was told that the card could handle temperatures of around 80 and the game, being so old, couldn't push the card that hot.

So I downloaded RivaTuner and setup a profile to adjust the fan speed depending on the temperature, and still the same problem.

Any ideas what I can do? Any help appreciated.

What would you guys recommend? I'm planning on purchasing a card for my brother. He's still using a ATI 9800XT, a great card but it's around 3 years old now.

I was thinking of getting him the 2600 XT or Pro (so confusing), but I heard bad things about them. Tom's Hardware is recommending the 1950 XT, but they're getting a little hard to find and not quite the bargain anymore.

Any info appreciated.

I read somewhere that OEM versions of XP and Vista will not allow you to upgrade your computer without forcing you purchase another copy, whereas the retail versions (which usually cost $100 more?) allow you to install an unlimited number of times as long as it's only on one computer.

I'm thinking of building a new PC in another month and debating not only which version to get, but also whether to purchase OEm or retail.

At first I was pretty sure I wanted Vista thinking that future service packs and drivers would eliminate most, if not all, of the problems gamers are facing now. And I thought that, at the very worst, it only lowers your game by 2-5 fps; that is, if you play on DX9 (we do have that option, don't we?).

Now, I think I want XP for another year or two, and just buy Vista later. Don't like the idea of spending $100 on an O/S that I intend to throw away after just a year, but what can you do...I'll just purchase Vista and won't have to bother with buying another else for several more years, and I can use the same copy of Vista for numerous upgrades to my comp. Then I find out I'll have to buy new copies of the OEM version if I ever decide to upgrade the motherboard, cpu, and even videocard!

Is it any surprise that piracy exists with such extortionist behavior on the part of Microsoft.

The other thing about RAM speed is that DDR2-800 generally runs at something like 4-4-4-12 for timings, whereas DDR2-1066 runs 5-5-5-15. I don't know whether clock speed or latency is more important. Anyone care to enlighten us here? (Side note: OP, do you know of any Star Control unions around here? Because if there aren't any, I might as well correct that.)NamelessPlayer

You should start one. I read on the ToysforBob website that they're toying with the idea of releasing a melee version for Xbox Live and started talking to Activision on making another Star Control. Though, they're just in talks according to the website.

Sounds like there isn't a huge difference and that even 4 gigs is unnecessary regardless of the speed. I don't know. I heard or read somewhere that eventually you'll want 4 gigs for Vista in about 2 years. I don't like constantly upgrading my computer; my current desktop is about 5 years old now.

I think I'll get 2 gigs of DD2-800 and just wait. Probably get 4 gigs of DDR2-1066 in a year or two and just sold the old RAM on Ebay. I know it doesn't make a huge difference, but I like the idea of buying identical (brand and model) of RAM at one time.

Is there a big jump between these two? I'm planning on building a rig soon and I was wondering if it's better to get 4 gigs of DDR 2 800 than 2 gigs of DDR2 1066.

I haven't seen any benchmarks comparing the two.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150171

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150173

They seem almost identical except for the $30 price difference and differing clock speeds.

I don't know anything about overclocking, but in this case, can't the user just easily raise the clock speeds, on the cheaper one, to match the more expensive one?

6750 is $183 , and 6550 is like $163, i would get 6750 if i didnt have core 2 and wnating to upgrade and dont want quad core, but come on .. quad is like $100 more onlyWatsonC

Those are wholesale prices, aren't they?

Strangely, or expectedly, the whole sale price differences aren't the same for retail. I don't think I ever saw a $20 difference between a 6550 and 6750.

I think the whole point of my thread was just to point out a prior notion I had. Iwas expecting the retail price to go down noticeably after 7/22, but they haven't even gone down at all. At least not the CPU I was interested in getting and the quad coreeither sold-out orare sellingfor a price far above the new price of $266.

In the future, I don't think I'll give as much credence to a price-cut. Or at least take into account another month after a price-cut, for the retail price to really adjust.