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Gaming comp needed - Help please!
Hey guys,
I'm looking to buy a new desktop soon but I don't know much about computers. I'm looking to go to the store and make a clone since thats what everyone does now a days but I need some help on what hardware to get. I'm looking for a good enough PC to play current games on high-settings and hopefully it can support some future games.
I heard quad-core isn't too great right now for gaming but it will be for future games that support it? How much ram is necessary now a days, 4g? Video card? Im looking to spend probably 1k-1.5k max. I've seen some pretty good ones (I think) for about 1k.
Thanks a lot for the help!! 
Comments
The most important hardware for gaming is the video card followed by the processor. I would recommend aiming to get an HD4870 and an Intel Core 2 Duo E8400. Both these parts should run around $450 and will run all games currently out on thier highest settings.
What else you get really will only effect gaming performance by about 10%, you can cheap out on the motherboard, ram, hard drives, optical drives, and operating system. A good PSU that runs in the range of $100+ is recommended though so you don't get power failures or surges.
To start off, cloning a cumputer isn't nessesary, and may not be the best idea. Many large stores sell computers that are built around common misconseptions, advertising only certain parts in order to maximize profits.
Regardless, the first question you need to ask yourself is how long are you willing to wait before you buy your system. I ask because intel will be releasing Nehalem, their new proccesor, within the next few months. If you buy a system now, you will not be able to upgrade it in the future without basically buying a whole new system.
If you dont want to wait, here are some recomendations... Stay away from Vista. While some will defend it, it's not worth the problems it will bring you. 4 gigs of ram is nice, and current ram is inexpensive, so it is very obtainable. Problem is windows XP wont recognise 4 gigs, and in reality it is not nessasary, 2 gigs should do just fine. The 4870, as mentioned above, is a great choice for a midrange card. Its' price to performace ratio is great. Now if you want a killer card, the consider 4970X2 that will be released next week.
Quad cores have limited use today, as many applications and games do not take advantage of teh extra 2 cores. However those that do will see a big performace hike. While it's impossible to know for sure, I would say that within a year or two mostly all games and apps will be written for 4 or more cores.
Do not cheap out on a power supply. It was already said, but the last thing you wont is crappy power feed. Also, dont get a crap motherboard. You dont need a 500 buck mosnter thats 400% overpriced, but pick up a good mainstream board.
I just wrote this up quick. If you want sudgestions for specific parts or if you have any questions feel free to message me.
Also, perhaps you could post some of the system specs you have seen, so that we can see more of what your aiming for.
Canadian Dollars
Asus P5E3 Deluxe 327.00 www.canadacomputers.com/index.php
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 370.00 www.canadacomputers.com/index.php
XFX GeForce 9800GTX 300.00 www.canadacomputers.com/index.php
Corsair XMS3 DHX 4GB 229.00 www.canadacomputers.com/index.php
OCZ GameXStream 700W Power Supply 130.00 www.canadacomputers.com/index.php
Thermaltake Soprano DX VE7000BWS 128.00 www.canadacomputers.com/index.php
This isn't bad advise. The quad core processor in this system is probably the best quad core in terms of bang for your buck. Even better, you can pick it up for $40 cheaper on Newegg.
Now looking at the motherboard... This is a good quality board, however quite expensive. If you are lookign at purchasing an enthusiast board suck as this, then dish out an extra $30 and pick up the ASUS P5E3 Premium. It has the newer X48 chipset and should show a nice improvement in performance and stability. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131276
As for the case, I dont really like many thermaltakes. They are ussually cheaper quality than other brands. Look at the Antec P182 or Antec 900 for example. They are both good quality cases in the same price range.
The ram is a great choice. It's a good quality product and performs great. You can pick that up on Newegg for the same price. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145200
Here's the big problem. I would stay away from the 9800GTX and definately get a 4870 with GDRR5. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103061 These have much better performace and are actually a tad cheaper.
Other than that it looks solid. Those power supplies are solid. Any questions let me know.
WOAH!! Just in case your gonam go buy all this stuff soon your in luck. Intel just dropped their quad core prices today!! Yopu camn now get the Q9550 for the same price as the Q9450 was before!!! http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115041
I just swapped those two cpu's on my wishlist. Much better deal.