› ›

Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!

Sign In Register

Quick Links

Computer Component Noob

kdoane12kdoane12 Member Posts: 71
in Hardware

Looking to get myself a gaming computer. I usually buy computers based on RAM/HD/Video card with very little thought to anything else. This is the set up I am currently looking at -

 

CPU: AMD Athlon™ X2 4400+ Dual-Core CPU w/ HyperTransport Technology

MOTHERBOARD: Asus M2N SLI NVIDIA nForce 560 SLI MCP Chipset DDR2/800 SATA RAID PCI-Express MBoard w/GbLAN, IEEE1394, USB2.0, &7.1Audio

MEMORY: (Req.DDR2 MainBoard)2GB (2x1GB) PC6400 DDR2/800 Dual Channel Memory (Corsair or Major Brand)

VIDEO CARD: NVIDIA GeForce 8500 GT 512MB 16X PCI Express (Major Brand Powered by NVIDIA)

HARD DRIVE: Single Hard Drive (320GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 16MB Cache 7200RPM HDD)

Data Hard Drive: NONE

Optical Drive: (Special Price) LG 20X DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW DRIVE DUAL LAYER (BLACK COLOR)

Optical Drive 2: NONE

SOUND: HIGH DEFINITION ON-BOARD 7.1 AUDIO

 

My goal is to play Warhammer Online on MAX settings. Given the recent release of computer requirements, I tried to make choices that I thought could handle max settings. Please let me know what I need to upgrade or can afford to downgrade in order to do this. Thanks in advance!

WHEN DID CREATIVITY DIE

Comments

  • jdkskipjdkskip Member UncommonPosts: 120

    What are you willing to spend on a gaming computer?  If I were you, I would be looking towards the future. Building or buying a computer for a game now, could mean that you will be up-grading for the next game you want to play, which could be as soon as a year. The parts you have listed now are already out dated as far as the MB and GPU go. Not sure about the processor, since I go with Intel, but I'm sure someone else will let you know about that. In other words, go with the newest parts/system that you can afford.

  • AethiosAethios Member Posts: 1,527

    You could do with another GB or two of RAM, and seeing the actual speed of the processor would help (since all the labels they apply to stuff like that is pretty meaningless) but aside from that it looks solid.

    For future reference, I personally use a (loose) rule of considering the CPU, RAM and video card to be of equal importance, and then get whatever I need to match those in the other components, since they are typically a fraction of the cost.

  • nonjonronnonjonron Member Posts: 139

    In response to a prior reply, I think most people would agree there are two approaches to a new PC purchase:

    1.  Go in for a low cost decent performance PC that will meet your needs now and perhaps for the next two or three years.  Plan on replacing the PC in 3 years.

    2.  Go for a cutting edge PC that will meet you needs for hopefully 4-5 years.  You can't expect more than 5 years.

    I believe in approach 1 if you are concerned about cash.  You will get more benefit for your cost over time if you take approach 1.  That said however, it will also be less convenient.  You will have to transfer files between computers, and go through the pain of shopping every three years.  I've had my current p4 for three years and am now looking for an equivalent replacement that will do the same job with current games that my P4 did three years ago with then-current games.  I paid a little more than $1000 for my p4 three years ago.  I will pay around $1000 for a new dual or quad machine now to handle current games.  That means in three years I have paid $2000 dollars for 5-6 years worth of PC usage. 

    Now, if you spend $2000 today on a PC, will it last you 6 years?  I think you will wind up upgrading in 3 or 4 years anyway. 

    Of course, if I had money to burn I would just spend $4000 on a new PC.  I don't have that kind of money.  Maybe you do.

  • ThunderballsThunderballs Member Posts: 365
    Originally posted by Aethios


    You could do with another GB or two of RAM, and seeing the actual speed of the processor would help (since all the labels they apply to stuff like that is pretty meaningless) but aside from that it looks solid.
    For future reference, I personally use a (loose) rule of considering the CPU, RAM and video card to be of equal importance, and then get whatever I need to match those in the other components, since they are typically a fraction of the cost.

     

    Aye spot on.

    Id say hisspecs are a little below par and he needstostretch his budget a bit more.   There is a point where it isnt worth building a pc from new components at the pricepoint they are at and you are better off buying a second hand pc and adding to it for less.

    I imagine this pc is borderline that situation especially considering you are wanting to play on max settings - a better goal if you are on a tight budget would be to see if your existing pc will run it on average settings and wait till you got more cash/prices of better processors fall.

    You really are going to a lot of trouble and expense for little benefit if your existing pc will play the game or can be made to do so wit ha little extra ram and a new card etc.

    a few hundred $ more and you can by a much much better flexible pc with fairly upto date components.

    Caveat Emptor

Sign In or Register to comment.