Gaming a long ways from computer

598 Views 17 Replies 8 Participants Last post by turt, Jan 28, 2004

turt

Discussion Starter · Jan 22, 2004

I've got the bug to play bf1942 on my plasma. I don't have the $ to get another computer and the one I have can not be put in the family room. It's located in an adjacent room and sits about 12 feet from the plasma (through a wall), with another 10 feet to my viewing/gaming position. So I'm hoping to:

1. get either microsoft or logitech bluetooth keyboard/mouse. I should be able to leave the receiver in the office and use them in either room.

2. get a vga switcher such as this extron to run the video.

3. run audio cable

4. The joystick has me stumped. If I get the Logitech cordless I could possibly use 1 USB extension but the receiver might still be too far from the joystick. I'm not against using my corded joystick with some type of extension, but can it be run 20 feet without loss? I've read about the Logitech cordless "2 minute sleep" issue but I think I can handle that. Can anyone confirm a distance they're using it at reliably?

5. From what I've read, I'll have to get and learn powerstrip to get widescreen.

I appreciate hearing anyone's experiences or thoughts on any of the above as I jump into this new endeavor.

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Dean Martin

· #2 · Jan 23, 2004

My plan is to buy the Apextreme when it is released in April. This will solve the gaming in the living room issues and not be too hard on the old wallet.
www.discoverconsole.com
www.apextreme.com

spelosi

· #3 · Jan 23, 2004

Is 1400 mhz really going to be enough for games like battlefield 1942 with the details turned up in 720p mode?

Komoto

· #4 · Jan 23, 2004

You shouldn't play FPS with all the details up anyway

I was playing in tournament level bf1942 with a 1GHz proc, 1600x1200, no fsaa, no af. Only had to notch it back to 1280x1024 on 40+ player servers.

But my advice? Build a pc.

turt

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 24, 2004

The AP extreme looks very interesting. What about price, thogh? I'm really trying to keep this to $300. Obviously building a pc will be the best solution, but not for my wallet (or marriage).

Dean Martin

· #6 · Jan 24, 2004

Whatever you read about the Apextreme, don't count on those specs as being final. Supposedly VIA will not be making the chipset and other comapnies are still in the running. Don't be surprised to find an AMD 1.67 mhz chip in the final design. Then again, Intel and nVidia could pull something out of the hat as well.

MaxC

· #7 · Jan 24, 2004

I was in the same boat as you.

1. Do not get the microsoft one! The Logitech is soooo much better and they have a newer one coming out with a seperate keypad that will double as a remote control. It really works effortlessly from 20ft away from what I have tried. The Bluetooth receiver is much bigger on the Logitech and I believe that translate to more distance and stability.

2. For games with EAX and older CPU you will probably have to pass analog cables from your sound card to your reciever. Not coax or optical. This will not work for games. I am not sure how easy it is to find a long run of miniplug to analog cables.

4. For other connections I am currently trying out a Belkin USB2 Hub. You can buy an extention cord to get the hub closer then connect the joystick/wheel/controller to the hub. I am sure now that Logitech has bluetooth up and running, that they will be making some blutetooth joysticks in the future which is another reason to go with logitech.

5. Good luck.

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spelosi

· #8 · Jan 24, 2004

Quote:

You shouldn't play FPS with all the details up anyway

I guess its about priorities. I made sure my machine had enough juice to run my FPS games at 1776x1000 smoothly. If I wanted to play watered down versions of games, I would play them on xbox

.

turt

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 24, 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by MaxC
I was in the same boat as you.

1. Do not get the microsoft one! The Logitech is soooo much better and they have a newer one coming out with a seperate keypad that will double as a remote control. It really works effortlessly from 20ft away from what I have tried. The Bluetooth receiver is much bigger on the Logitech and I believe that translate to more distance and stability.

2. For games with EAX and older CPU you will probably have to pass analog cables from your sound card to your reciever. Not coax or optical. This will not work for games. I am not sure how easy it is to find a long run of miniplug to analog cables.

4. For other connections I am currently trying out a Belkin USB2 Hub. You can buy an extention cord to get the hub closer then connect the joystick/wheel/controller to the hub. I am sure now that Logitech has bluetooth up and running, that they will be making some blutetooth joysticks in the future which is another reason to go with logitech.

5. Good luck.

Thanks for the advice

Now I have more questions:

1. Why do you say the Logitech one is better? Do you try the MS one and it was less reliable?

2. I'm running a Pentium 4 2.26 GHz. I've never used the digital audio out so I'm not clear on its use. Won't the computer output 2.0 digital stereo just like analog stereo? Then if/when more games come out with DD, I'm set up. If I have to go analog, I can use a miniplug-rca adapter then just run regular audio cables.

I'm not familiar with EAX - I assume it's an electronic arts simulated surround sound. Correct?

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MaxC

· #10 · Jan 25, 2004

1. Several reasons. The MS bluetooth was not reliable. It constantly had to be re-connected. The logitech has a much larger receiver base that is also the charger for the mouse. The mouse is better (IMHO) and the whole thing worked without a glitch. The reciever also connects into the keyboard slot in the back so that you can enter the Bios mode which MS could not. It also means that you can use the keyboard to turn on/wake from sleep mode.

I also tried Gyration which would be my second choice over MS. They have a very unique gyro mouse. Here are links to Gyration and the new Logitech:

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm?pa...9&languageid=1

http://www.gyration.com/ultragt-fsk.htm

2. EAX is from Soundblaster. They used to be the only way to get "live" discrete 7.1 sound from a game. However this requires an all analog connection. If all you need for now is stereo, then yes, you can use the digital out and it will result in a PCM stereo setup.

akm3

· #11 · Jan 25, 2004

I worked in a Microsoft technical support center (supporting Microsoft Money, incidentally) and was next to the hardware guys who supported the bluetooth peripherals ... From THEIR mouths "They are trash, they don't work, they are unreliable"

I'm sure newer ones will be better, but since my job got outsourced to India, I guess I can't ask can I?

-Allen

brh986

· #12 · Jan 25, 2004

I've had alot of luck with the microsoft bluetooth keyboard and mouse. It does go thruogh batteries more frequently than expected but for $100 it was a good buy I think.

What is this bf1942 you speak of?

turt

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jan 25, 2004

Lots of good info. Gotta love Microsoft's commitment to excellence. I have a friend who uses Interlink at work and recommends it. It's a fair amount cheaper than the Logitech and boasts a 30 ft. range. I think I'll try that or the gyration first since there is a huge price difference.

I don't have a soundblaster soundcard, so I guess I won't have EAX. Oh well.

Now I plugged the vga splitter in and got a pretty good image on the plasma (with a bit of overscan)... I'll ask my video questions in a new thread.

MaxC

· #14 · Jan 28, 2004

You can get Logitech at Newegg for a pretty good price ($149). Just make sure your phone isn't 900Mhz for the Interlink.

Does your plama have a DVI input?

DarthChucks

· #15 · Jan 28, 2004

I just got the diNovo from Logitech. The main reason I went with the Logitech over the Microsoft solution was because Logitech's bluetooth stack supports more device types. I'm looking at getting a bluetooth headset for in game voice com, and the Microsoft bluetooth stack does not support the headset profile. Logitech's does.

Rob

MaxC

· #16 · Jan 28, 2004

DarthChucks,

Have you used the keypad yet? What exactly can it do? I was thinking about trading mine in for the new one and using the keypad for gaming....have you tried this?

DarthChucks

· #17 · Jan 28, 2004

Heh yes I have, and I just replied to your post on the subject. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...hreadid=355947

Rob

turt

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jan 28, 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by MaxC
You can get Logitech at Newegg for a pretty good price ($149). Just make sure your phone isn't 900Mhz for the Interlink.

Does your plama have a DVI input?

I think I'll buy it locally to make returning easier. If it does work out and I'm feeling really cheap, I'll return it and then buy it online. I don't normally do that but it is BB.

My plasma does have a DVI input, but my current video card does not. I am going to get either an NVidia 5700 plus or a Radeon 9600 pro to utilize DVI and dual monitor support, thus avoiding the splitter.

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