I need your help

[Killermech]

So here's the situation. I've had this current comp for around 6 years now and decided it's time to get a new one.
The problem is though. I haven't been updated with times and tried reading here and there to fully know what's in atm.

What I mostly need help in is to know what kind of processors and graphic cards I should aim for atm (For gaming). I heard there was some kind of new graphic cards that takes most advantage of vista and the new directx as well.

Here's just an example, im not going to buy this one but I would need to know what kind of stuff you would personally change in it. Just so I get a brief overall idea.

http://www.elgiganten.se/is-bin/INTERSHOP....gory_tabcontent

Sorry for text being in swedish, hopefully you can understand the most important ones lol
Cheers

 

[nintendofreak]

If you can build you own, i would highly suggest you do. the intel core 2 duo series has the highest cost+performance ratio out there. (yeah theres quad core and stuff, but thats WAY to expensive ATM). The best cards right now are Nvidia's 8800 series (but expensive) so, id suggest getting at least a Nvidia 7900.

 

[Killermech]

Thanks for the fast reply. I've decided to go with the intel core 2 duo.
The only thing giving me a big '?' are the graphic cards now.
I found a site that is pretty nice as it lets you 'reconfigure' the computer packs they have to offer. So I could simply replace the graphic card it comes with.
The pack comes with this graphic card:

"NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT (540MHz), 256MB GDDR3 (1400MHz), PCIe x16, Dual-DVI / HDTV [Inno3D]"

Is it safe to assume that they go with 7700 and higher = better?
Or is there other stuff to think of?
I've noticed there are tons of prefixes as well such as GT, GTX, GST, GTZ (argh) etc.. are there some specific ones I should look out for? Like ones using budget pieces to trick customers or something like that.

Thanks again.

 

[fischju_original]

Get an 8800GTS, they are the best for cost-performance at $230, twice as fast as the $180 8600

 

[superkyre]

Don't get the 8600 series. Lab tests at hardwarezone.com and other sites have reported that the 8600 is nowhere near as powerful as the 8800, even the 8800GTS 320MB.

For the graphics card, I recommend getting the 8800GTS 320MB DDR3 if you're on a budget, or spring for the 768MB model (Palit, Inno3D, and MSI are good brands). If you don't care about future-proofing, the ATI X1950XTX 512MB DDR3 is a good choice (Powercolor or Gecube brand).

Personally though, I'm waiting for AMD-ATI to release their 2000 series of graphics cards, which is supposedly sometime this 3Q. More competition = more choices and price cuts.

 

[Killermech]

The cheapest 8800GTS at that store was 3x more expensive than the 8600 though

So I might have to check some other stores then or waiting for the 2000 series for pricecuts sounds like a good idea as well. Thanks for the help so far

 

[BoneMonkey]

whats your budget ?

 

[fischju_original]

The PNY XLR8 is pretty cheap, under $300, maybe $250

 

[FAST6191]

Buying a machine in Europe is no fun (expect to pay 40% more than our North American or Asian counterparts), I will however jump on the core2 bandwagon (make it an e6600 at least and the introduction of quad core is sure to herald some price cuts).

Now graphics, ATI seem to be dragging their heels of late (some stuff is promised but duke nukem forever is promised as well) so nvidia it is.
7xxx is one series with 8xxx the other, personally I see 7xxx as viable still (especially two nice overclocked ones in SLI) but 8xxx is the only way for directx10 (which in my opinion will not show its worth for at least a year, you will certainly not be hurting for it during that time).
You are right on about the letters indicating power, approximately it goes from cheapest to best GS GTS GT GTX GX GX2 and coupled with that you have to consider clock speeds of processor and onboard memory as well as onboard memory amounts.
Alas I do not have unlimited funds so graphics cards charts/comparissons like this one are likely the best route:
http://tomshardware.co.uk/2007/05/02/the_b...r_the_money_uk/

Oh and while we are at it hard drive, for all the bells and whistles on other sections it is hard drive access (I assume you play games with daemon tools), the best performance is arguebly still the WD raptor clocking in at 10000rpm, for your cash though you can get much larger drives. I suggest a couple of large drives using RAID (raid 5 is pretty good, RAID0 is good but corruption spells disaster).

Of course you will need a decent PSU to power this monster, 650W minimum (700W to be safe).

edit: talk about your too slow.

 

[BoneMonkey]

ok here is something i put togeather my self you can save more if you dont get a monitor
and find a "free" copy of vista

Antec LifeStyle SONATA II Piano Black Computer Case w/450 PSU - Retail 99.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16811129155

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6600 - Retail 227.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16819115003

ASUS P5B-E LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail 146.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813131070

CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory - Retail 129.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820145590

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 250GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM 69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16822148142

LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black - OEM 41.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16827106073

EVGA GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card 279.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814130082

Microsoft Black Basic Keyboard and Mouse - OEM 16.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16823109132

Microsoft Windows Vista 32-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM 111.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16832116202

SAMSUNG 941BW Black 19" 4 ms (GTG) Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail 184.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16824001088

Total 1306.94

 

[pikachucrackpipe]

sgadzookie80 picked some good parts but dont use vista!!!!

also get a dell 20 inch widescreen monitor - they are made by lg and are awesome and if you can find a good enough slickdeal - you can get it for under 180

 

[BoneMonkey]

why no vista love lol !

and your right that dell 20 inch is aweeeeeeeeeeesome ! if you can find it get it

 

[pikachucrackpipe]

because vista is crap lol

 

[BoneMonkey]

lol

 

[ndela007]

Thought I read somewhere that the next tier of gfx cards are comming out in June. If you wait until then prices all around should slump as they usually do.

 

[Killermech]

Thanks for that info FAST, helped alot.

Monitor is the least of my concerns, as well as vista.
Thanks for those links squad, helped me get an understanding on some other parts as well. But all in all, it seems it might be best to wait a few months to get the best of this.
Thanks all for the fast replies and very useful info

 

[pikachucrackpipe]

well you can always say you can wait a few months because something better is coming out. get something because you understand it and know its what you want, not because its new.

 

[spokenrope]

because vista is crap lol

I've got a friend who's building his own computer soon and is hell bent on having Vista. He says that he's going to need it to play some games that are coming out soon such as the new Lord of the Rings game. Is he right, or full of crap?

He also really wants a quad core processor. Is there any reason other than the inflated price that he should avoid it? It just doesn't seem like it's completely necessary to me, even though he is a pretty big gamer.

 

[pikachucrackpipe]

he's full of crap. vista uses the same engine as xp. it just looks "prettier" and kills your resources.

and unless he is running a full multimedia studio and isa firewall/web hosting and email box - he will never use all 4 cores up to what they are built to do. also he would need like 8 gigs of ram for it to run correctly and atleast 10k hdds for caching.

 

[BoneMonkey]

NO NO NO he is right there will be exculsive games that ONLY work on vista the first one will be HALO 2

as for that lord of the rings i dont know