Getting a new computer. Need advice.

[Wineandbread]

Re: Getting a new computer. Need advice.

Damn that's pretty nice. O_O
Are you gonna buy a monitor too?

Like Nightfirecat said, 7200 rpm is pretty much the standard. Faster write speeds allow some game elements to load faster, but I don't really know how much of a difference it makes. If you really wanted to be fancy, you could fish out some money for a SSD, but they're kinda way overpriced right now.

[MrRubix]

Re: Getting a new computer. Need advice.

What is SLI'ing?

And yes I am going to have to get a monitor to go with this. My friends have some random flatscreens lying around, as does my mother's fiance, but at some point I'd like a huge, nice flatscreen.

[ninjaKIWI]

Re: Getting a new computer. Need advice.

I'm not familiar with AMD processors really, but the only thing as far as I know that's much better than the Intel i7 950 is the 965.

SLI (Scan Link Interface) Is basically connecting two graphics cards together for better/faster gameplay and/or better images or rendering or whatever you need it for.

[MrGiggles]

Re: Getting a new computer. Need advice.

What is SLI'ing?

What Kiwi said. With ATI cards it's called Crossfire.

12 GB of RAM is pretty overkill, but you could probably increase it to 24 if you upgraded each 2GB stick to a 4GB stick.

I'm pretty sure the the AMD Phenom II's haven't really been able to compete in gaming rigs when compared with i7's. They are a bit cheaper than equivalent i7's and use far less power when idling, but they don't overclock as well as i7's. tom's Hardware boosted a 3GHz i7 to about 3.8GHz without changing the voltage at all. An equivalent Phenom II won't be reasonably stable until you drop the speed to about 3.64GHz.

Here's the results for their gaming tests.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/overclock-phenom-ii,2119-8.html

So yeah, i7's are great for gaming and Phenom II's are great for, say, A/V editing.

[MrRubix]

Re: Getting a new computer. Need advice.

I just want to be able to run new games on absurdly high settings and not skip a beat
I figure there are no games right now that call for 12 GB RAM or this type of video card.

[Solid Dreams]

Re: Getting a new computer. Need advice.

Make sure you get at least a 24 inch monitor.

And actually, Crysis is still pretty stupidly high for requirements. I think yours will crush it without a sweat, but still.

If you wanted total overkill though, you'd want something like http://cgi.ebay.com/Core-i7-Extreme-...3A1%7C294%3A50

[MrRubix]

Re: Getting a new computer. Need advice.

Wow, that's pretty insane O.o;;;

What are the Crysis reqs for the best settings?

I'm googling but not really finding much. Mostly people asking if their specs will handle Crysis maxed out. I can't find, though a "you should have these settings if you want to completely rape Crysis and have enough left over to do whatever the hell else you want"

[Solid Dreams]

Re: Getting a new computer. Need advice.

#
# $1000 – AMD Phenom II X4 955 3.2GHz, ASUS M4A78T-E, Two Radeon 4870 1GB in Crossfire, 4GB RAM DDR3 1600
For 2560×1600 with medium/high settings, high/max at 1920×1200 and lower resolutions.

Even a computer that powerful is only medium/high.

[MrRubix]

Re: Getting a new computer. Need advice.

Hmmm will my computer's processor (Intel Core i7 950(3.06GHz)) be able to shred that at all at its highest settings?

[Solid Dreams]

Re: Getting a new computer. Need advice.

not in pure speed, but everything else, yah probably.

the 920 (2.66) outperforms most 3.x ghz quad processors.

[fido123]

Re: Getting a new computer. Need advice.

Hmmm will my computer's processor (Intel Core i7 950(3.06GHz)) be able to shred that at all at its highest settings?

Easy. The i7 has threaded cores...so it arguable has the ability of 8 cores, but not quite. It's a bit weird like that. For gaming you want to direct most of your attention to a video card. this can EASILY run Crysis at full. My card which is like half as powerful can, the NVIDEA GForce 9800GT. Also sorry to go against what a lot of people are saying but RAM doesn't make your computer go faster and you really shouldn't focus on it. You want to look for DDR3 RAM and make sure your motherboard will take DDR3 RAM (Tri-Channel if you can). 4GB will do more than good for gaming, and is probably a little overkill in itself but you should get at least 4GB so you can run 64-bit OSs. RAM is really easy to upgrade therefore if you ever run out, get another couple of gigs. You should really only be getting 8G+ if you're doing some hardcore rendering. If you have 4G of RAM, but you're only using 2 for a top end game, 2G isn't being used at all.

So basically

i7 Processor (Best one you can get really, there are 3 kinds)
4G of DDR3 Tri-Channle RAM
And this


And you have a beast of a machine.

[MrRubix]

Re: Getting a new computer. Need advice.

fido

What do you think of the computer I posted above?

[Solid Dreams]

Re: Getting a new computer. Need advice.

its overkill, to him.

[banditcom]

Re: Getting a new computer. Need advice.

That computer would be like 4.5k at Alienware... lol

Also, 12gb ram... rofl wtf? Christ....

My computer is 2 years old and I spent around $1400 on it. I did upgrade the graphics card recently to one that was a price-point graphics card, partly because my other one was screwing up.

It's NEVER worth it to get top of the line. You can get about 90-95% of the performance and save about 1/3rd of the cost.

2tb in HD is plenty too. I have a 120gb main HD that suites me just fine for system, games, and programs. I have an internal IDE that I made into an external USB 2.0 that is 180gb (all my files like movies, songs, etc), as well as another external that I just use for backup of my main external (this one stays completely unplugged). I only just ordered a 1tb drive since I'm out of DVD-Rs and it was a nice buy for $66.50! That will go inside my computer and my main external will now be another backup.

Other than that... I haven't kept up with things at all since I bought my computer. But as MrGiggles really pushed, the most one should spend is $1500 for the computer (excluding monitor, speakers, mouse, keyboard, external backup HD).

Really, that's definitely enough for a long time. The only possible upgrade would be in 2 years to add the same graphics card to SLI it.

I still think should aim for ~$1500 and get a nice monitor.

[Red_Comet]

Re: Getting a new computer. Need advice.

did somebody say REACTOR???? http://www.hardcorecomputer.com **** yeah.... anyways rubix if you're getting a pre-built system get it from the makers website, resellers like tigerdirect and newegg tend to mark it up because they wouldn't make money off a sale at the price the producers give it, just like it's better to go to the manufacturer for parts 95% of the time instead of a dealership as they tack on their own price to make profit.

It's a badass machine but you can get a comparable one for 255 bucks cheaper link: http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/C...y_8800_Pro_SE/ ) and still get the warranty, besides newegg doesn't have ALL that is available from cyberpowerPC, just what's profitable for them and hot on the market. If you ever need help budgeting for a new pc or upgrades talk to me.