[Grey Wolf]

Originally posted by StratComm


"At least a Pentium" as in not a 386.  A Celeron is a less expensive chip in most cases, but a good one is faster than anything below a P4 (and some early P4's too).  It's a server processor isn't it?  Not quite as fast but with a bigger cache?B]

Ack. No. Celeron IS inferior. Celeron is EVIL! Celerons are what they do with P4s that fail testing, but are salvagable. They disable most of the cache, killing off performance.
The only good Celeron is one based on the Tualatin core. All the modern ones are rather horrible.
If you're on a budget, get and AXP. If you have actual money, have fun and choose between an A64 and a P4

And Hippo, here's a nice cheap comp part list for you:
Biostar M7NCD: $61.50
Athlon XP 1700+: $49
ATI Radeon 9500: $119 ($135 for the 128MB version)
512MB PC2700 RAM (2 256MB sticks): $83
Total: $312.50

[Ashrak]

ok you probly need a mobo about 1.5 ghz cpu and i would recommend a Ti4200

[Kamikaze]

Originally posted by StratComm
It's a server processor isn't it?

Nah, those are the Xeons (for Symmetric Multi Processing) or the Itaniums (sucky 64 bit bastards).

For the most longevity for your money, I'd say you want a cheap nforce 2 (You can get one with integrated graphics or not, I'd recommend a separate AGP vid card for performance) and a 2500+Barton (100 USD). The big ouch for upgrading now is the new BTX form factor coming next year. That'll instantly make your case, mobo, and graphics card obsolete.

[Turnsky]

No offence hippo, but you should've looked at the reccomened system specs on the back or the bottom of the box before buying the game in the first place.

[Hippo]

Originally posted by GalacticEmperor
*smacks Hippo*

I TOLD you it wouldn't run it! But you went out and bought it anyway!

*smacks Hippo again*

I bought it before anyone knew the system specs... I only found them on microsoft after the guy shipped it...

Biostar M7NCD: $61.50
Athlon XP 1700+: $49
ATI Radeon 9500: $119 ($135 for the 128MB version)
512MB PC2700 RAM (2 256MB sticks): $83
Total: $312.50

I don't need ram, and my computer only takes 128 sticks, I know the ATI is the vid card, but what are the Biostar and Athlon?

[kasperl]

athlon=processor.
biostar=mobo

[Hippo]

ok, i'll see what prices gateway gives me, and hen see if ebay is cheaper...

[vyper]

Try local small shops too.

[magatsu1]

the very idea of "minimum requirements" is a joke.

look at the "recommended requirements" or you'll always be dissapointed Hippo.

[Hippo]

Small local shops? There are none in this forsaken, blighted town...

It only tells me that one group of specs... It doesn't say required or reccomended...

[magatsu1]

have a sly look in magazines while your in the shop. That's whay I do when I'm not sure.

[Shadow_jdct]

On the Halo PC box it only has the required, not the recommended specs. I read somewhere that the comp needed to play Halo at best graphics perfectly will exist sometime in a year or so.

[Galemp]

Originally posted by Shadow_jdct
On the Halo PC box it only has the required, not the recommended specs. I read somewhere that the comp needed to play Halo at best graphics perfectly will exist sometime in a year or so.

Or you could buy a bloody X-Box.

[aldo_14]

I just got some stuff a coupla weeks ago;

Abit nforce2 motherboard, Athlon 2400XP+ (wi' fan), 512MB DDR400 (single stick - buying a second when I settle on a new case) & a GF FX5600 (Gainward, Ultra 760 or something) off of Dabs.com - came to about £350 all in all....

Unfortunately, my PSu in the old case appears to be dodgy (getitng voltage errors in the health check app), and the case itself - whilst being an ATX one - is so poorly designed that the drive cages actually obscure all but the slowest DIMM slot, and also make it extremely difficult to fit in the floppy cable (eventually had to tuck it in behind the drive cable)........

NB: - Athlon is the CPU (AMD - actually runs at around 1.5GHz but has comparable performance to  a P4 of 1.7GHz, hence the 1700+ bit), and Biostar will be the Motherboard.

[Hippo]

well, gateway said it would be easier to buy a new computer, which is not going to happen according to my parents... So, i don't know who i hate more... my parents, or gateway...

[Kamikaze]

It would be easier, but not cheaper.

You can probably salvage the PSU (depends on wattage/voltage), Case, RAM, fans, sound card (depends on if it's integrated) and IDE/SCSI drives.

You'll need a new motherboard, new processor, and new video card.

A new computer wouldn't cost as much as those three (unless you go for a sucky cheap one that's made for hardcore emailers).

[aldo_14]

I have the PcGamer with the Halo review.... on the subject of min specs, it gives;

Min:P3 733, 128MB RAM, 32MB T&L 3d card
Recommended: P4 1.4GHz, 512MB RAM

To quote from the little box detailing system specs;

Anything over basic X-box stats (i.e. a Geforce 3 and an 800MHz processor) will ensure a decent performance.  if there are problems, lower aprticle density or similar.  you may get the odd lags in frame rate, but that makes it an even more accurate conversion:  the Xbox had terrible slowdown, too. (Note: set specs at their lowest and the game may crash)

Hope thats of use.... although I'd suggest holding fire a few months, to see if the likes of the new AMD 64 bit chips and the ATI cards (plus nVidias counterattack) force another price drop....plus you'll be able to see the specs required for the likes of Doom3 & HL2, and there may even be a Halo-beater released by then (i'm holding out to see if Breed does turn out to be as good as I hope).  I slightly regret not holding off a few months before I bought my stuff - but then again, I'd already put it off since about january

[magatsu1]

I hate slow down (and poor frame rates)
pretty much every N64 ganme had 'em both.

be better to have poor, but more stable, visuals.

[Grey Wolf]

Originally posted by Kamikaze
It would be easier, but not cheaper.

You can probably salvage the PSU (depends on wattage/voltage), Case, RAM, fans, sound card (depends on if it's integrated) and IDE/SCSI drives.

You'll need a new motherboard, new processor, and new video card.

A new computer wouldn't cost as much as those three (unless you go for a sucky cheap one that's made for hardcore emailers).

RAM will probably have to be replaced, considering it's most likely SDRAM, not DDR SDRAM. And PSU you might want to replace too. I know Dell had screwy PSUs at one point (they rearranged the wires so it wasn't ATX standard), not sure about the other OEMs though.