HEM2 - Do I/Don't I ?

[bobAlike]

if you have an ssd it will just improve performance exponentially compared to a normal hd.

dbs can get big quick, and hem2 tried to be clever by doing more stuff but that in turn made it really resource intensive.

I've waited a while for HEM2 to get a little less buggy; recently I started looking at it again. I took the opportunity to get the recommended specs of their website - and then e-mailled it to a specialist PC builder for their thoughts. This was their response:

Firstly a solid state hard drive is a definite requirement, RAID we would suggest is not  -  spreading everything across two drives just leads to your losing everything if one fails.  The solid state hard drives boot up the whole system in a matter of seconds so we would recommend a 256Gb Samsung 840 Pro Solid State Hard Drive and a 2Tb Seagate Barracuda SATA hard drive.  We would also recommend 16Gb RAM.  The processor could be either a core i5 or an i7 depending on your budget.
 
With regard to using four screens, we recommend an AMD Radeon Gigabyte HD 7970 3072MB graphics card with windforce anti turbulence cooling. The Operating System could be Windows 8 or Windows 7, whichever is your preference.
 
This kind of spec, to include water cooling, is obviously not going to come cheap and would include DVDRW, triple aerial wireless, usb2 and 3, network point etc. If you are not already fixed up, we would be happy to quote you properly.

Oh. This sounds like it's way to techy & expensive.........

I just bought a Dell system with that spec but with only dual screen capability. I went for the i7 processor. From pressing the on button it only takes 20 seconds to be ready for use. Cost me just under 1k. Not the cheapest but I'm smiling all the way.

[titaniumbean]

no need for raid lolz.

16 gb is also a tad excessive, 8 is still lots really but obv errryone loves ram.

it also seems kinda weird to be asking for advice on a setup then be getting such a top end one with 4 monitors imo.

[outragous76]

I don't use a HUD atm

do PT4 and HEM2 track speed poker on I poker?

[titaniumbean]

why 4 monitors?

why not 2 with proper resolution?


raid? Why do you think you need it?

are you a government department, or a large office, or someone with terabytes of data to be stored and backed up if not lol utterly no need.

[titaniumbean]

Ah i see. nah the recommended spec on hem forum states raid! U reckon 2?

What size n resolution?

Raid, is a methodology to have multiple harddrives working in conjunction so that you can never lose stuff without literally everything going tits up at once.

really isn't worth it just for a poker pc. similarly 2 monitors running high res will be more than enough, I can 18-30 table very easily on 2 screens running 1920x1080. you want specifically computer screens not TVs, tvs have much worse resolution relative to their size.

[titaniumbean]

Appreciate the advice. i run 2 monitors but resolution must be poor...what size screens u use??

had 2x 28" widescreen hans gs which were joke cheap and lasted for ages.

got 2x 27" phillips now, both are fine, not super cheap but w/e.

got a 32" tv on the wall and it's just balls to use as a pc screen, so terrible compared to the 27s.

[Supernova]

Ive heard very good things from a few friends about pokertracker 4, maybe you should check that out too.

As for should you/shouldn't you there are alot of top players who don't use a HUD, however it is a small price to pay when it gives you so much information and are able to use the data to your advantage. I don't know how many tables you play but if you play lets say under 6 then you can get along without it (but just take extensive notes imo) anything more than 6 tables and HEM/PT become very useful imo when taking notes becomes a little harder in game.

Thanks TL, 6 max at the moment but better on 4, I'm not the greatest note taker in the world so I used Notecaddy which ran off my HEM as a back up. This is now in one of the options on HEM2.

Will have a look at PT4 but have to say I'm used to HEM, if I could fix my HEM1 I'd be happy tbh. I now have HEM2 running happily on the main sites I use, but have o idea what's wrong with my HEM1.  Abso stumped on why it won't work now.

[titaniumbean]

obv suggestions are obv.

full uninstall/reinstall of hem1, download newest updates etc.

recheck all file locations/for importing/saving etc

then go through hem support pages, think 1 gets alot less help now but they were still excellent at getting back to people/communication and even teamviewering to fix problems.


what problems are you having exactly?

[Supernova]

First off I didn't have a HUD/stats on Stars, then all the ipoker/Boss. I've had to reinstall a couple of sites, maybe they are now being saved in different places. I didn't try the uninstall/reinstall - sounds easy, scares the crap out of me!
It was saving the files I just didn't have the pop ups. think. The HEM peeps are obv more geared to HEM1 and I emailed them a copy of my config folder. I'm still waiting for a response.

I don't get an error code. Just no pop ups. As soon as I switched hm1 off as they instructed and installed hm2 - I have pop ups!

[Supernova]

Well after what seems like a lifetime of emails back and forth after a near 4 hour Teamviewer session with one of their support team my h1 is fixed. The HUD is back to the very basic level but it works. Apparently my firewall (Avast) did a huge update in April and caused a huge amount of problems with HM and managed to kill mine off. I have issues now with the resolution of alot of things i.e. writing this seems smaller and Notecaddy doesn't work as it is over a screen and a half tall & I don't know how/why/what but will probably get to it later.

The HEM guy was very helpful and we had a chat about what was needed for h2, I'd be fine for now but as Beany said as the database grew the guy said I'd need to look at a total of 8gb of ram and an SSD would be ideal.

He did send me a couple of links to posts in their forum, if anyone wants them please pm me & I'll happily pass them on.

Thanks for your help & discussion guys, I'm still sitting on the fence for now!

  

[titaniumbean]

their support are the absolutes tbf

[jgcblack]

Ah i see. nah the recommended spec on hem forum states raid! U reckon 2?

What size n resolution?

Raid, is a methodology to have multiple harddrives working in conjunction so that you can never lose stuff without literally everything going tits up at once.

really isn't worth it just for a poker pc. similarly 2 monitors running high res will be more than enough, I can 18-30 table very easily on 2 screens running 1920x1080. you want specifically computer screens not TVs, tvs have much worse resolution relative to their size.

this... I went for an ott option of 3 on a stand.  Works like a dream and the monitors are something to not scrimp on!!!

I have 3x HP 24 inch puppies with every connector known to man, also have extra usb ports (handy)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001FS1LLI/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/188-6098805-8256959

Not cheap... but like any real 'spend' - there should be a balance.... people so often underspend on cooling, monitors, seating, mouse etc....
(Having had them for a year now... id never have or recommend anything else... bout £400 each tho... )

glgl im probably going to look to get a ssd and another 8gb ram to see if I can get it working quick enough for my tastes.


got some friends at work who are sql wizzards, experimenting with running hem2 in a virtual machine to restrict its ability to take over and slow the whole pc down.