Re: Getting a new computer. Need advice.
I'm going to post some advice I've gotten from Something Awful since I too am in a market for a new computer.
First of all, future-proofing is impossible. Three years from now, what is top-of-the-line now won't be able to play anything. So buying super-high-end is never worth the value. Instead, buy cheaper mid-range parts that will do everything you want them to do now, and use the cash you save to upgrade that computer fairly regularly, or build a brand new system in two years or so.
Quad-core processors like the Core 2 Quad series and the i7 series aren't being properly utilized by today's applications. If you're not going to do much in the way of video encoding or other ridiculously processor-intensive tasks, you won't see much of a performance gain between a Core 2 Duo and an i7. Especially not in gaming.
It's a similar thing with video cards. The absolute best value card on the market right now is an ATi HD4850. It runs you less than $120 but can play anything you can throw at it at max or near-max settings with no problem at 1680x1050. Since you've said you're looking for a 24"-28" screen, however, you're going to be looking at some very high resolutions, in which case a 4890 or one of nVidia's higher-end offerings would be good to look into.
Additionally, SLi and Crossfire aren't exactly as good as you would think. Two cards does not mean double performance. In fact, the performance gains are usually only somewhat noticeable and you would have been much better served buying a single more powerful card.
That said, the computer build I'm currently putting together costs less than $800, yet it will run everything like a monster. It could run Crysis probably not at max settings, but close to them.
If you want more specific guides about which parts to pick, check out The Tech Report's Summer 2009 System Guide. It gives all the info you could ever want and suggested systems on every budget. TR also has a guide on how to put a computer together yourself, and it really isn't very hard. Look at it here.
I'm going to post some advice I've gotten from Something Awful since I too am in a market for a new computer.
First of all, future-proofing is impossible. Three years from now, what is top-of-the-line now won't be able to play anything. So buying super-high-end is never worth the value. Instead, buy cheaper mid-range parts that will do everything you want them to do now, and use the cash you save to upgrade that computer fairly regularly, or build a brand new system in two years or so.
Quad-core processors like the Core 2 Quad series and the i7 series aren't being properly utilized by today's applications. If you're not going to do much in the way of video encoding or other ridiculously processor-intensive tasks, you won't see much of a performance gain between a Core 2 Duo and an i7. Especially not in gaming.
It's a similar thing with video cards. The absolute best value card on the market right now is an ATi HD4850. It runs you less than $120 but can play anything you can throw at it at max or near-max settings with no problem at 1680x1050. Since you've said you're looking for a 24"-28" screen, however, you're going to be looking at some very high resolutions, in which case a 4890 or one of nVidia's higher-end offerings would be good to look into.
Additionally, SLi and Crossfire aren't exactly as good as you would think. Two cards does not mean double performance. In fact, the performance gains are usually only somewhat noticeable and you would have been much better served buying a single more powerful card.
That said, the computer build I'm currently putting together costs less than $800, yet it will run everything like a monster. It could run Crysis probably not at max settings, but close to them.
If you want more specific guides about which parts to pick, check out The Tech Report's Summer 2009 System Guide. It gives all the info you could ever want and suggested systems on every budget. TR also has a guide on how to put a computer together yourself, and it really isn't very hard. Look at it here.
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