Need system recommendations

[Antiochene]

I hope that some of you can help me out with a problem. My wife has final broken down and agreed that we need a new computer. (This was after about an hour of cussing out our current one.)

I want to get a tower and monitor for around $1000. that will be good (not uber) at gaming. The only software I will need is Vista. I prefer AMD over Intel. I would like at least 3GB of Ram. What would you recommend for me as a good computer that will be able to play WAR for a few years?

I have another question that someone could answer that would help me in deciding a computer. Would AMD's Phenom triple or quad core's be better than a similarly priced Athalon Dual Core?

[Isak]

3 cores v 2 cores, really depends on the software. I think for the most part you won't notice much of a difference between three cores and two cores.

With ram since you say you want at least 3GB go with 4, makes dual channel easy. Also with that make sure you run the 64bit version of Vista otherwise the extra ram is a total waste.

I'd also say go with the Intel core 2's since this time around they are a pretty good cpu.

[Wazdakka]

I'd also say go with the Intel core 2's since this time around they are a pretty good cpu.

I was an AMD fanboy for years. Sadly, I have to agree that you should get an c2 duo, probably an e8400.

[Kestrel_Trebor]

I just ordered a system from cyberpowerpc -- heard good things about them, and they have great prices. Of course, you'll always save $100-200 if you build it yourself, but that wasn't worth it for me -- too much time and hassle ;)

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/Gamer_Infinity_9000_GS/

The system I linked you to comes in at $1015 if you configure it with 3 GB of RAM.

Unless you're getting Windows Vista 64-bit, one thing to remember is that the system will only recognize 3.3 GB of RAM I think -- so paying for 4 GB will mean you're "wasting" 70% of what you paid for, unless you upgrade to Vista 64. Luckily, the Vista 64 upgrade is only $19.

If you do go with Vista 64, also bear in mind that you may have compatibility issues with programs and drivers, most of which are still 32-bit and will be for a few years. Vista has a compatibility mode but whether it works with your particular application(s) is anyone's guess.

[Drakhon]

Unless you're getting Windows Vista 64-bit, one thing to remember is that the system will only recognize 3.3 GB of RAM I think -- so paying for 4 GB will mean you're "wasting" 70% of what you paid for, unless you upgrade to Vista 64. Luckily, the Vista 64 upgrade is only $19.

If you do go with Vista 64, also bear in mind that you may have compatibility issues with programs and drivers, most of which are still 32-bit and will be for a few years. Vista has a compatibility mode but whether it works with your particular application(s) is anyone's guess.


32-bit will recognize 4GB, but it is limited to addressing a total of 4GB - including any RAM on your video card(s) and anything else that has addressable memory. With most video cards now having 512MB to 1GB of RAM, it will severely cut down on the amount of system RAM you can actually use.

In my experience, I haven't really run into any more problems with Vista64 than Vista in general. Largely poorly updated drivers (mostly fixed now) and old software. Most 32-bit applications that I've seen run just fine on Vista64 and the number than have a 64-bit version is increasing all the time. And, as long as you are getting newer hardware, you should be just fine for the most part. It's worth making sure the hardware you intend to get has 64-bit drivers to make everything as smooth as possible, though.

[Matael]

Sorry, I only give tech support to Intel CPU owners. If I gave it out to AMD owners then it would be a conflict of interests.

[Wolvan]

Like the other's said, you can build a pretty nice computer now for around $1000. And you can always build it upgrade ready if you wanted to tweak something up later.

Go with the Intel CPU...the new 45 NM core dual/quad cores are very reasonably priced and are top performers.

I'll be doing another computer upgrade myself soon. (My plans to build a whole new one from scratch got Wifed in the back...so now I get to do another frankenstien upgrade) I have a 2.6 core 2 duo (E6600 I think) so its a pretty nice cpu, but have an AGP based motherboard...so I'm going to get new mobo/videocard/memory and use the rest of my exisiting components. Going from a Nvidia 7800 GT (AGP) to a Nvidia GTX 280 (pciE) should be a nice jump. :)

[Antiochene]

I am looking at a system and I can get the 2x NVIDIA GeForce 8500GT 1GB w/DVI + TV Out Video - running SLI mode for $69.00 more than the non-SLI. I can also get a NVIDIA GeForce 9500GT 1GB w/DVI + TV Out Video for $42.00 less than the SLI card.


My question is how good is the SLI and which card should I go for?

[Drakhon]

Depending on application and specific chips/cards, you're looking at around a 70% performance increase from adding the second card in SLI. Typically you are better off going for a single card that is around the same price as the combined total of the two lesser cards, if possible.

As you didn't give actual prices there, a little looking shows me around $100 for 2x 8500GT. For that, you're better off with something like this EVGA Superclocked 9600GT (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130328). You're not going to be playing anything at settings where 1GB of video RAM would make a difference over the 512MB on that card.

[Cali]

Right now War does not support SLI , so I agree to go with a better single card. It also set you up for a better upgrade down the line.

[Gisli]

So, if I want to spend around $100 or so on a video card, you think that EVGA superclocked 9600GT is a good choice for Warhammer?

[Kestrel_Trebor]

Check www.tomshardware.com (http://www.tomshardware.com) for benchmarks of the various video cards you're looking for. You should be able to find information in his charts about how the cards you're considering perform in SLI mode as compared to single versions of the cards.

Personally, I decided on a single video card instead of SLI b/c I don't think WAR will benefit that much from SLI. Have not seen any benchmarks, just my hunch, So my theory was that throwing a little more into a single GPU was more worth it -- especially since my Motherboard supports 2 cards so I can just add another later if needed anyway. . .

It really depends as well on what resolutions you'll be running the game in. If you're on a big monitor and will be running high resolutions, you may notice more of a benefit from running SLI.

And keep in mind when looking at the benchmarks that if it's a difference of 5 FPS performance or something and you're already over 30-40 fps, you probably won't be able to "see" a difference.

Finally, it also depends on whether you're going to run the game with all graphics options enabled or not.

EDIT: Just noticed the comments that were made as I left the computer and came back to finish this post, lol! So seems like no for the SLI, and at least one person agrees with me on getting the best single GPU you can get ;)

Tom's is still a good link for checking how the cards you're considering perform. . . :)

[Cillbo]

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/nvidia-geforce-9600-gt,1780.html

[Drakhon]

WAR will have good support for SLI by release and will get better. However, a single card solution for the same price will still almost always result in better performance. It's mostly a scaling issue. SLI is only really useful when you already have a card that you can double up on or there is no price-equivalent single card.

Note that, with ATI finally back in the game, this is not always the case when comparing across brand lines as two Radeon HD 4850's in Crossfire (ATI's multi-GPU technology) at $310 can meet and often surpass the performance of a single GeForce GTX 280 at $390 (lowest prices including mail-in rebates that I found with a quick search). However, in that situation, I would suggest getting a single Radeon HD 4870 for $260 and waiting until you need the power to buy an additional 4870 for Crossfire.

Of course, it all depends on what your motherboard supports in terms of multiple cards as well as SLI and Crossfire.

[Drakhon]

So, if I want to spend around $100 or so on a video card, you think that EVGA superclocked 9600GT is a good choice for Warhammer?

Yes, though if you can push to the ~$160 price of the Radeon HD 4850, I would suggest doing so as it will have a longer lifespan. Your current motherboard only supports one card and it's not an nForce chipset anyway, so Crossfire vs SLI isn't an issue.

[Cali]

One of the main things that is overlooked when upgrading to the newer vid cards is the powersupply unit. Make sure yoou have a min of 450 watts and you have all the power connector you need.

[Olaaff]

I built most of my PC with stuff from Cyperpower. I was very happy with them.

I'd buy from them again for sure.

[Drakhon]

Any PC builder like that is going to have a 30-50% markup over the price of the components, so I always recommend people do it themselves if they can or get a knowledgeable friend to do so (even paying them a small fee).

The only time I suggest using a retailer is if you want a laptop (possible to build, but much harder and the hassle really isn't worth it) or you just know next to nothing about computers and really need the retail support.

[Kestrel_Trebor]

Cyberpowerpc.com, which Olaf mentioned above and which I just ordered from as well, only runs a few hundred dollars above what you'd pay if you bought all the components separately and put it together yourself. Well worth it, to me, to save the hours it would take to assemble it, and considering you're also getting a 1 year parts/3 year labor arranty and lifetime tech support to boot.

[Drakhon]

Well, out of curiosity, I just configured a nearly identical system from Cyberpowerpc as I will soon be building myself. Only a few items were slightly different, but the specs are very close and the prices of those items when purchased on their own are within $15 with the more expensive one usually being the one I intend to purchase. Note that this includes a 24" widescreen monitor (TN panel, so around $365 in both cases) as well as shipping.

My cost: $1750 - $80 in mail-in rebates = $1670
Cyberpowerpc: $2267

That's a ~36% premium ($600) for a couple hours of work (provided the hardware is not defective). True, you do get the service agreement as well as an overall warranty for the whole system (as opposed to just the individual parts) with the retailer and you do avoid the possibility of simply DOA parts, but later failures are just as common with either choice.

To me, it's simply not worth that much extra money. Like I said, though, it all depends on your own desires and situation.

[Aoann]

My roommate just bought a 8800 GTS 640 online for 80.00. :D I am trying to convince him to give it to me to upgrade my card which is 8800 GTS 250

[Kestrel_Trebor]

Well, out of curiosity, I just configured a nearly identical system from Cyberpowerpc as I will soon be building myself. Only a few items were slightly different, but the specs are very close and the prices of those items when purchased on their own are within $15 with the more expensive one usually being the one I intend to purchase. Note that this includes a 24" widescreen monitor (TN panel, so around $365 in both cases) as well as shipping.

My cost: $1750 - $80 in mail-in rebates = $1670
Cyberpowerpc: $2267

That's a ~36% premium ($600) for a couple hours of work (provided the hardware is not defective). True, you do get the service agreement as well as an overall warranty for the whole system (as opposed to just the individual parts) with the retailer and you do avoid the possibility of simply DOA parts, but later failures are just as common with either choice.

To me, it's simply not worth that much extra money. Like I said, though, it all depends on your own desires and situation.

Yeah, that's a lot. If my configuration would have cost that much more, I probably would have built it myself as well :)

[Boltinheigmer]

I was gonna piece togeather a rig for ya. I have such a hard time staying within a 1000 bucks though :D


In your budget I'd get a Pentium 8400 dual core. Dual core is more utilized than quad for now.So that would be a very nice budget processor still very fast.

Now with the video cards I'd stick with either the 8800 seriers or 9800 series.
They are both droping in price pretty quick sense Ati has released there low budger power house cards. Some people don't like ati though. If you are more of a ati fan the 4850 is a VERY nice card for the price. One good card is better than two. The hardware tech is way ahead of the software (like usual).


Cyberpowerpc.com is a good site I hear. I just ordered a computer from there myself will be picking it up wed or thurs (hopefully). Only gripe I have is how much they gouge you on the ram, least in my set up. They wanted 150+ for 2 2gb stick of standard corsair ram (ouch). So I just ordered 2 1gbs and will later buy another 4 (2 2gbs) for less than 100 from Newegg.com.

Should easy be able to build a nice rig to run WaR for 1000 bucks. Heck 1000 rig would smoke on WaR.

[grindle]

Hi guys,

I don't know anything about computers so I don't know if I have/should to upgrade my computer. Here is what I have:

-AMD Athlon 64 Processor 4,000+, MMX, 3DNow, 2.4ghz (whatever that means)
- 2gb ram
- ATI Radeon X1650 Series

I use Windows XP.

Should I do anything or will I be ok?

[Boltinheigmer]

Your on the lower end but you should be ok to run it with some settings turned down.

You'll probably drag with a lot of people on screen.

If can't build a new rig now that one should last you a bit longer. :D

New rigg is inevitable though.

[Necodamus]

I'm looking to rehaul my current system. I think it will be able to just barely run WAR. This is what I'm currently looking at.

Motherboard, $108 :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128345&Tpk=Gigabyte%2bGA-EP45-DS3L

Processor, $120 :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115052

Ram (2GB), $57 (32 after MIR) :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145034

Power supply (430W) $59 (29 after MIR) :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371006

Video card $187 (157 after MIR):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121253

A bit over 500 if you don't do the MIRs.

[Dall dies to much]

^--- that will work good for war

all I'll say is watch the ram if using XP... go 4 gig and vista 64 if you can

[Necodamus]

I'm sticking with XP for now still. I guess I could go to Vista, but I really have very little interest with all the stuff people say about it. So I'm just going with 2 gigs of ram for now.