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Post by Al Heeley on Mar 13, 2007 4:06:47 GMT -5
My PC has recovered from a massive failure but it is plain to see it is really on its last legs now. I need to go shopping, but I wanted to check what specs was the norm now for a decent gaming and graphics machine. So many technologies move on since the last time I purchased a pc. I don't want £2000 top spec cutting edge, I want a good reliable high performance 6-months old spec type.
Processor type/speed? Graphics card? Soundcard? RAM? HD's?
Any advice/opinions would be welcome. Cheers, Al
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Post by moby45 on Mar 13, 2007 9:49:42 GMT -5
Creative sound audigy soundcards are always really great. I cant remember which one is the newest though...probably 4 or 5.
and at least 500mb of ram will be sufficiant.
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Post by MAGGOT on Mar 13, 2007 10:00:58 GMT -5
512 RAM? I'd recommend a gig. RAM Isn't super expensive any more, and doubly to a gig will yield positive results. Plus, I assume you want this to run newer games for the next couple years? You'll need that gig. For graphics, I'd recommend a top of the line ATI. Now, you said you don't want to pay a lot for the comp, so it's up to you, but the top 2 classes of ATI cars (X1800 and up really) are better than equivalent nVidia cards. Anything below the X1800, and I hear nVidia is best. Processor? AMD for sure. They beat intel in every respect pretty much. Run cooler, faster, better customer service should you ever need such a thing. HD? I know nothing about them, but I was told by one I trust I have the "Cadillac of Harddrives." I hope he meant that in a good way, not in the "GM-ruined-not-so-luxury-cheap-quality-overpriced" way. It's been good, and fast though. Dual 320 GIG drives is fun
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Post by Al Heeley on Mar 13, 2007 10:07:58 GMT -5
Thanks for the feedback. So AMD processors are better than the Intel dual core chips then? (Sorry i have an identical post going on in the LFS forum). i thought dual core was the way to go. I'd definitely go for a gig of ram. Interesting your comments on ATI versus nvidia, I'm out of touch with this.
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Post by MAGGOT on Mar 13, 2007 10:20:12 GMT -5
I've always been an ATI guy myself (never had a problem) but the guy who owns the store where i do all my computer related stuff has been an nVidia fanboy for years. He shoved his foot in his mouth when he did a benchmark test with his computer. Once with his nVidia card, once with my ATI X1800XT. Mine won. He then benchmarked my computer, and it scored over 9000 points in the test, verses the 7 sumthing one of his others got. Big jump from the mid-range ATIs which scored in 5s and 6s in his tests, which the nVidias blew away. It's got a pretty ingenious idea too; ALL of the air is blown out of the case via a plastic covering. Keeps the inside of the case cooler for the other compnents. For Dual-Core, AMD has a similar system as well. Look around on the AMD site a bit, and go into a local shop and ask. My new computer is not a top of line (damn close!) but it does not (and will not) have a pentium chip in. I'm pretty certain the top AMD can take out the top Pentium and it's dual cored arse. It's really just a buzz word now. Dual Core is the new VTec.
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Post by TsunamiSephi on Mar 13, 2007 10:30:00 GMT -5
I ave a custom built w/ 1 gig ram, Nvidia GeForce 620 W/ matching motherboard and a 120G Harddrive. It works very well. I can run iTunes, Photoshop and LFS without a hitch. My setup only cost about $1200 (bout 900 Eur or 600 GBP) Custom built is the way to go. No crappy preset spyware or any other programs plaguing your HD before you even turn it on. Good luck finding the perfect one!
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Post by Bunta on Mar 13, 2007 16:57:30 GMT -5
I built an AMD dual core system back in July. It would cost you much less than 1000 pounds. I'm very happy with gaming performance and all of my graphics programs work very well with it. Many people have said I'm mad for going dual core but they are wrong. I'm really happy with the system. It suits my needs perfectly.
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Post by MAGGOT on Mar 13, 2007 17:28:30 GMT -5
I went dual core as well with my new computer. I'll list all my specs for ya; AMD Athlon X2 5200+ 64BIT (AM2) CPU 320 GIG X2 SATA WD KS 7200 RPM Hard Drive (Two of those babies!) Creative X-FI 24 BIT 7.1 Sound W/Fiber Optics Sound Card ATI X1800XT 512MB PCI-E Graphics Card ASUS M2R32-MVP Mother Board ENERMAX 535W Real Power Power Supply Cooler Master Mystique MID Tower Plus a wireless keyboard and mouse, and a few other goodies (network adapter which comes standard on almost anything these days, and a universal memory card reader with a usb port as well, and the case I got it all in has 2 USB ports built in to the top of it. Conveniently enough as I can't get around to the back of it. I've never had to plug anything into the one in the front because of these two on the top. Also on the top is a MIC jack, headphone jack, and a firewire port) That all cost me a grand total of $2280 CAD. with taxes. ($2000 flat for the computer... stupid 14% Ontario tax rate! ) That's, with the current exchange rate, £1 006.61. After that, I Decided I needed a wireless adapter for it so I bought one of those, plus a surge protector (don't go without!). I had planned on using my old old old monitor until I could afford one for it, but the situation changed so I went in and bought a 19" LCD from Acer (Max resolution only 1440xsumthin though ) for just under $300 with tax. I love getting parts for cost! I don't think Paul even charged me for labour on the computer!
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