Author Topic: My future computer. (Read 3097 times)

azile0 · **on:** February 11, 2009, 10:22:41 am

Well, I've chosen my next computer. It's about $400 USD, and it's got great specs. At least, I think so.

I'm not too tech-savvy. Can I get feedback on this?

Rodo · **Reply #1 on:** February 11, 2009, 10:34:43 am

why don't you search for a mother without on board video if you are buying the video card separately?
I'm also a little lost about this, so maybe is not the case but if your pc has more that 4GB ram then you are in the needs of Vista right?? or is XP supporting +3GB now?

by the way... those are good specs for a new pc, congrats!

Jeff Vader · **Reply #2 on:** February 11, 2009, 10:36:16 am

Quote from: Rodo on February 11, 2009, 10:34:43 am

if your pc have more that 4GB ram then you are in the needs of Vista right?? or is XP supporting +3GB now?

+3GB requires a 64-bit OS for maximum efficiency.

Wobble73 · **Reply #3 on:** February 11, 2009, 10:48:25 am

XP64 bit will see all 4gb of ram (IIRC)!

azile0 · **Reply #4 on:** February 11, 2009, 10:59:11 am

I'm have a 32-bit XP. I'm going to see if I can remove some of the RAM. Maybe I can get a discount. Then again, I might just keep it in there for when Vista entices me enough to get it. But unfortunately, I'm a gamer. I've heard too many tales of gaming woe to risk it.

Fury · **Reply #5 on:** February 11, 2009, 11:17:33 am

A modern computer running Vista 64 has negligible performance deficit if any over XP when running otherwise identical settings. If the PC has only 4GB RAM, reducing the amount of RAM just because you don't have 64-bit OS available right now would be silly, you can still make use of 3GB out of that 4GB and upgrade to a 64-bit OS later.

If you're a gamer, then this PC setup really isn't for you. Your budget just doesn't cut it. If you get this PC, you will soon have to start upgrading because all the individual components are low-end (or mid-range at best) today. You have two choices; 1) Get a console. 2) Wait until you can double your budget.

Galemp · **Reply #6 on:** February 11, 2009, 12:15:09 pm

Or he could do what I do: get a really expandable mobo and a fast processor, then cannibalize components from your old computer. Add RAM, new hard drives, and video cards later as required and it'll last you five years.

General Battuta · **Reply #7 on:** February 11, 2009, 12:47:19 pm

For that price, you'd probably get more fun out of an Xbox and a Live subscription.

You'll need to shell out more to get a strong gaming rig.

castor · **Reply #8 on:** February 11, 2009, 01:12:59 pm

Some of the components are a bit strange for the price group - 160GT WD HD? 600W PSU, Deluxe Black Tower Case...
They seem to be quality parts, but you could get more punch for the buck by swapping those.

Daniel P · **Reply #9 on:** February 11, 2009, 01:32:38 pm

Get a cheap computer and upgraded it.

IT more cheaper just to build/upgrade the computer then buying one.

That what I di on my brother computer.

azile0 · **Reply #10 on:** February 11, 2009, 10:16:52 pm

Well, I think this is still a decent gaming rig. My last computer ran with 3gigs of RAM, an 3Ghtz or so processor, and a GeForce 6800. I could run Freespace SCP with the MediaVPs on, I could play Mount&Blade with the Graphics Enhancements on full, and I could even play Crysis, on low settings. A GeForce 9600 is a huge bump-up for me. I said I'm a gamer. Doesn't mean I live in my tower.

But I asked for criticism. But honestly, I'm still in High School. My income is oddjobs in the house and around town. I have $300 on hand right now. It'd take another 2-3 months of work to be able to rack up $800-$1000 to buy a higher-end computer. I'm thinking of buying this one, and then when I need to, buy upgrades for it.

General Battuta · **Reply #11 on:** February 11, 2009, 11:16:54 pm

Quote from: azile0 on February 11, 2009, 10:16:52 pm

Well, I think this is still a decent gaming rig. My last computer ran with 3gigs of RAM, an 3Ghtz or so processor, and a GeForce 6800. I could run Freespace SCP with the MediaVPs on, I could play Mount&Blade with the Graphics Enhancements on full, and I could even play Crysis, on low settings. A GeForce 9600 is a huge bump-up for me. I said I'm a gamer. Doesn't mean I live in my tower.

But I asked for criticism. But honestly, I'm still in High School. My income is oddjobs in the house and around town. I have $300 on hand right now. It'd take another 2-3 months of work to be able to rack up $800-$1000 to buy a higher-end computer. I'm thinking of buying this one, and then when I need to, buy upgrades for it.

That could work. Make sure you get a solid processor and a good motherboard.

Fury · **Reply #12 on:** February 12, 2009, 01:19:31 am

Some feedback of the PC you linked to:
- Motherboard: The mobo in your setup is poor IMHO, only two RAM slots doesn't bode well. Get your mobo from one of the big three; Asus P5Q SE2 / Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3L / MSI P45 NEO-F would be my choices. Those three shouldn't leave you out cold when you want to upgrade other parts in your computer. They are more expensive than the ECS motherboard, but ECS is just that poor IMHO.
- Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E5200. It's one of the cheapest, if not the cheapest C2D currently sold. Definitely kicks Athlon X2's ass and lets you upgrade to its bigger brothers later.
- Memory: The RAM sticks in the setup you linked to were fine. Make sure you buy 2GB sticks, don't get 1GB sticks. 4GB sticks would be fine too but they're a bit expensive still. 2x2GB is about perfect, allows you to get additional 2x2GB later when you get 64-bit OS if you want to. Assuming you get a motherboard with at least 4 RAM slots.
- Hard Drive: Go for Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB. Cheaper alternative would be Western Digital Caviar SE16 500GB. 160GB runs out so fast with just few games installed.
- Video: Get ATI Radeon 4830 or 4850 if your budget allows. Both offer better performance for price than 9600GT, or any other NVIDIA card at same price points.
- Power Supply: When unsure, get Antec EarthWatts 500W. There are plenty of other good power supplies out there, but you can't go wrong with Antec EarthWatts when it comes to quality for reasonable price. The 500W EarthWatts will be plenty enough for you, without letting you down when you want to upgrade to components that need more power. Don't get no-name power supplies at the very least, no matter how much watts they advertise.

Now, these components would give you a great mid-range PC for fair price to play games with and still leaves you much better upgrade options than the setup you linked to.

Bob-san · **Reply #13 on:** February 12, 2009, 08:14:53 am

azile0 · **Reply #14 on:** February 12, 2009, 11:04:26 am

Wow, Bob-san! Thanks! I'll check those links out!

General Battuta · **Reply #15 on:** February 12, 2009, 11:23:03 am

Quote from: azile0 on February 12, 2009, 11:04:26 am

Wow, Bob-san! Thanks! I'll check those links out!

Newegg is definitely the way to go. Make sure you either have the knowledge to put the components together yourself, or someone to help out -- it's tricky, but definitely worth it once you get your system stable.

Davros · **Reply #16 on:** February 13, 2009, 12:00:46 am

Quote from: Fury on February 12, 2009, 01:19:31 am

- Hard Drive: Go for Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB. Cheaper alternative would be Western Digital Caviar SE16 500GB. 160GB runs out so fast with just few games installed.

bigger is better you can only fit 269 games on a 1tb drive

Bob-san · **Reply #17 on:** February 13, 2009, 12:52:16 am

Quote from: Davros on February 13, 2009, 12:00:46 am

Quote from: Fury on February 12, 2009, 01:19:31 am

- Hard Drive: Go for Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB. Cheaper alternative would be Western Digital Caviar SE16 500GB. 160GB runs out so fast with just few games installed.

bigger is better you can only fit 269 games on a 1tb drive

Those Black drives are really slick. The Green drives are pretty fast too but not fast enough for me. Anyways--the Samsung drives are supposed to be pretty darn good.

azile0 · **Reply #18 on:** February 13, 2009, 11:21:02 am

Me and my dad have been building computers for a while. We can set it up. Just got another $20 today. Woohoo. I'm going to start ordering some parts next week. I'm going to try and get the bare-bones. Tower, mobo, CPU, RAM.

General Battuta · **Reply #19 on:** February 13, 2009, 11:35:11 am

Quote from: azile0 on February 13, 2009, 11:21:02 am

Me and my dad have been building computers for a while. We can set it up. Just got another $20 today. Woohoo. I'm going to start ordering some parts next week. I'm going to try and get the bare-bones. Tower, mobo, CPU, RAM.

PSU!

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Author Topic: My future computer. (Read 3097 times)

My future computer.

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