Gaming PC question.

[ThaMan]

I have a friend that asked me about this system. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883229076) But since I am an AMD person, I have no clue what this Intel chip does, or whether it is any good. Help!

Also, since I'm an ATI guy, I know nothing about the nVidia card either ;) I'm just about worthless when it comes to Intel / nVidia.

Everything else looks good though. Power supply won't let you upgrade too much, but for the price, you can afford to buy a new power supply when and if you upgrade.

[Walterus]

I checked with the company where I bought the components for my new PC. Both the processor and the graphics card are "old". But for that price it's ok.

[Amond]

Most site the 9500 GT video card as entry level. (~$65 ) Biggest bang for buck for gaming is to upgrade it. A 400W PS will push a decent video card upgrade. I run a similar rig 2.4Ghz core2Quad (Q6600) with 3GB and ati 2400HD video. It does decent, although video card kills my windows vista rating. I would suspect the 9500 would be a similar week point. I would recommend if its a gaming box to upgrade video to something a little better. A ($90-120 range) video card of either ATI or nvidia will dramatically improve playability.

[Landro]

I agree with Amond. The video card and PSU would need an upgrade. Other then that, the Q6600 is an amazing CPU. It's what I use and I can push anything with no problems at all. My only flaw is that I don't have 64bit Vista so my RAM destroys my rating lol. Everything else runs 5.9+

[Barbedweir]

This is the one (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=pcmprd106900050010&skuId=9999107000050010&type=product&childSku=9180423&count=1)I found last night that has my interest....dont need the monitor or printer...but for an extra $100 why not.

The graphic card seems better than the one that ThaMan posted that I asked about and being able to run up to 12 gig of ram is crazy.
Would this system be one that I could run for a while before upgrading much? I would like to add ram if I get this system eventually. (going to have to get it past the wife aggro)

Just read the reviews...some good some complaints that it only has a 350w PSU....so that would have to be changed out.
One review said that he took the above back for one of these (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9180432&st=HP+m9515y+&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1218046803721)and it was a better unit...but I still couldnt find the PSU in the specs.

[Freejack]

I have strong feelings against using quad core CPUs on machines used primarily for gaming. Games won't take effective use of all those cores and it's going to suck roughly twice the power of a dual core CPU. Basically, you're paying for more than you can use in both up front costs and electricity usage when you'd be much better served by investing that money in a higher end dual core CPU. I realize, in this case, we're talking about a pre-built machine, but in more general terms, it would be MUCH better to get, say, a 3.1GHz dual core over a 2.4GHz quad core.

As far as this particular machine goes, I think you're spending $500 on a case as you will probably want to replace everything else in it to get a satisfying experience.

[ceafo]

I agree with FJ on the CPU part. There really isnt any games out there pushing computers hard right now. I am running a Core2 CPU 6600 @ 2.40GHz with 4gb of memory and don't have an issue maxing the settings on anything I play including AoC and I'm using an older nvidia 8800gts card also.

[Barbedweir]

Is This (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9191545&type=product&id=1218052148213) more what I would be looking for knowing that it will need a PSU and Vid Card upgrade right away?

[Savistik]

Games won't take effective use of all those cores
This isn't quite as true as it used to be. There are an increasing number of games that see results from quad core processors.

However, the majority right now, do play about equally well on a similarly clocked and cached dual core.

[cluck]

my next gaming pc is going to come from gateway. I'm becoming partial to gateway systems.

edit:

a cheap, easy, and affordable gaming rig can be found on the page below

http://www.gateway.com/systems/series/529598086.php

i have a 512mb ati card that I can throw in there and make it quite the powerhouse.

[Freejack]

This isn't quite as true as it used to be. There are an increasing number of games that see results from quad core processors.

However, the majority right now, do play about equally well on a similarly clocked and cached dual core.

And that's the point. If the vast majority of games are going to perform equally well on quad vs dual core systems, why spend the extra money on a quad core? Just get a faster dual core and, for the money, you'll get a much better and perceptible boost in performance.

[ThaMan]

And that's the point. If the vast majority of games are going to perform equally well on quad vs dual core systems, why spend the extra money on a quad core? Just get a faster dual core and, for the money, you'll get a much better and perceptible boost in performance.

I think this is the important part.


There are an increasing number of games that see results from quad core processors.

Unless all you want to play is old games that don't support any boost in performance. If newer games are supporting, somewhat, the newer quad core CPU's, you would be purchasing for the future, instead of purchasing for the past with a Dual Core. I believe more and more games will support the Quad Core CPU's, so I don't think it is a waste.

[Amond]

Additional reason why the more cores the better: Windows runs lots of crap in the background while your gaming so multiple cores help there. Then throw on top, you might have a web browser or two up, playing a CD or MP3 through itunes, downloading the "next" cool beta, all while your virus scanner is active.

I don't know about you all but I am doing all those things at once. And to back up theMan, buy for tomorrow not yesterday. A good PC should last you 4 to 5 years, a cheap one at least 3.

[Jerith|Tony]

Computers are not like cars. A bigger engine or more engines isn't always better.

Or maybe computers are exactly like cars... since you know, a bigger engine or more engines isn't always better.

I can't imagine why I expect anyone to understand computers any better than I understand cars. (I can comprehend internal combustion, but the fine details elude me. My car just works.)

I also can't understand why I care who wastes their money on what or why I keep bothering to express my opinions on the internet about Quad Core CPU's.

It's not future proof if it's more than 4-5 years for it to even matter, and that's what you're looking at. At least.

[Freejack]

"The future" where games really start taking advantage of many cores is currently further off than the useful life of today's CPUs. And that's the catch. The quad core push is mostly marketing (at least when it comes to gaming). The CPU manufacturers push them on the "more is better" line while competing with each other to see who can get more cores on a die, but the benefits to real consumers are limited at best unless you're doing professional photo manipulation and video editing and other such activities that might eat multiple cores for breakfast. While gaming is certainly CPU intensive, game developers are still trying to work out multi-threaded programming and have been since I was in the industry five years ago and probably will for another five years at least. It's extremely difficult to work out and still isn't easy using today's tools. So yeah, it's about marketing and whether you want to be taken in by that.

[Methus]

I also can't understand why I care who wastes their money on what or why I keep bothering to express my opinions on the internet about Quad Core CPU's.
.

It's a valid question for many of us (regarding quad core) and so we definitely appreciate the opinions of those in the know. I like to hear both sides of the argument and thanks for taking the time to express those opinions.

[ThaMan]

I'm like Amond I guess. When I game, that's not the only thing I am running. All I know is I have a Quad core CPU meter running, and while gaming, all 4 of my cores are running around the same intensity. If only two of them were being utilized, it would show up there.

I run most of my games in "Windowed" mode, and maximize it. Then on my other monitor, I have web browsers (multiple pages = multiple processes), Adobe reader reading hints, etc. If I had a dual core, I'm confident, my games would run slower.

[Namoric]

Guess I'm just one of those wierd people who actually just play the game when I log in. I'll sometimes fire up the laptop with IRC on it or maybe fling some food at people on Facebook - but that's on the old Linux machine ...

[Morning]

Guess I'm just one of those wierd people who actually just play the game when I log in...

Same here. That said I have a Q6600 quadcore b/c newegg had some kind of deal on them when I built my pc. I'm pretty sure it increased my paladin's run speed. ;)

[ThaMan]

Guess I'm just one of those wierd people who actually just play the game when I log in.I only have about 8-10 hours a week, max, to play games. I want the shortest way to get where I'm going. I don't have time to learn all the crap myself. If I didn't use some help, I'd still be level 25 in Wow.

[Barbedweir]

I think I am still confused.....LOL.

When I play ...thats what I do. Turn everything off that is not essential to maximize my pc's performance, the less running the better on my WM special.

In the end I think it comes down to personal preference and what I can find the best deal on. More than likely I will try to find something at BestBuy so if there is an issue I can take it in since I am not a computer literate person. That and they run the 18 Months no interest....can get that by the wife easier. I would prefer something with a good PSU so that I dont have to upgrade that and possibly void the warranty. Now to find a really good deal and get the wife to OK it.

[Balt]

Now to find a really good deal and get the wife to OK it.

That's far, far more complicated than deciphering the strengths and weaknesses of various computer configurations. :D

[ThaMan]

I think I am still confused.....LOL.

When I play ...thats what I do. Turn everything off that is not essential to maximize my pc's performance, the less running the better on my WM special.

In the end I think it comes down to personal preference and what I can find the best deal on. More than likely I will try to find something at BestBuy so if there is an issue I can take it in since I am not a computer literate person. That and they run the 18 Months no interest....can get that by the wife easier. I would prefer something with a good PSU so that I dont have to upgrade that and possibly void the warranty. Now to find a really good deal and get the wife to OK it.If you don't run anything in the background, while you game, then you MAY be better off with the dual core CPU. If you don't multi-task, you don't need quad cores. ;)

Now, one thing to remember, 50-75% of the time, if you get a branded PC from Best Buy, you WON'T be able to upgrade the PSU in it, because they use proprietary parts. And asking the sales person if this is the case, is like asking the backed up toilet. It's hard to tell what kind of shit will spew forth from the thing.

[Barbedweir]

Now, one thing to remember, 50-75% of the time, if you get a branded PC from Best Buy, you WON'T be able to upgrade the PSU in it, because they use proprietary parts. And asking the sales person if this is the case, is like asking the backed up toilet. It's hard to tell what kind of shit will spew forth from the thing.


Didnt know that...thought you could upgrade most any of them.
So if I go that route I need to make sure the PSU is at least how big?
I know that depends on how much I plan on upgrading.... is 450-500 going
to handle most things I will add to it? (Good/decent Vid Card and more Ram)

On a side note: I never added a Sound card to my current Low Budget PC.
Will buying a basic Sound Card ($30) help with my system...since it wont be using
the onboard anymore?

[Balt]

Now, one thing to remember, 50-75% of the time, if you get a branded PC from Best Buy, you WON'T be able to upgrade the PSU in it, because they use proprietary parts. And asking the sales person if this is the case, is like asking the backed up toilet. It's hard to tell what kind of shit will spew forth from the thing.


While that may have been the case a few years ago, I'm not sure it still is. Last summer I upgraded the PSU in an HP computer I bought from Best Buy a few years back. Just have to watch the size of the new PSU to make sure it will fit in the box.

[Savistik]

And that's the point. If the vast majority of games are going to perform equally well on quad vs dual core systems, why spend the extra money on a quad core? Just get a faster dual core and, for the money, you'll get a much better and perceptible boost in performance.
If you play the "vast majority of games" then that's quite true. Though it also depends on how much extra money it takes to match the dual core single thread performance in a quad core.

If you play one of the admittedly few games that do support multithreading well, you can see performance boosts. It comes down to what you're playing at what resolution with what graphics card as to what core is the best.

If buying off-the-shelf, the future (at least the lifespan) of the computer should be considered at purchase time. If building, then an upgrade can usually be dropped into the system later on which is not always or often true for off-the-shelf systems.

[ThaMan]

While that may have been the case a few years ago, I'm not sure it still is. Last summer I upgraded the PSU in an HP computer I bought from Best Buy a few years back. Just have to watch the size of the new PSU to make sure it will fit in the box.Maybe most of the full towers are interchangeable, but the smaller footprint systems are still proprietary in my experience.

If you get a full size tower, you SHOULD be ok.

450-500W should be fine unless you plan on adding 5 HD's and SLI, which most store bought computers won't support, so you don't have to worry.

[Barbedweir]

When I buy something I want a full size tower unless it comes with enough stuff that I wont have to upgrade. I like the larger size towers as they are easier to put new things in and easier to get in to vacum out the dust-bunnies that reproduce in there.

[Freejack]

My gaming rig is just for gaming. I don't install virus protection. I don't even install an IM client on it. I don't want anything running in he background that isn't directly related to the game I'm playing. Of course, I have all that other crap running on my other machine(s) so I'm not missing out either.

[Namoric]

My gaming rig is just for gaming. I don't install virus protection. I don't even install an IM client on it. I don't want anything running in he background that isn't directly related to the game I'm playing. Of course, I have all that other crap running on my other machine(s) so I'm not missing out either.
That's what I do. I just play on one PC then have the old Linux box that I'm still learning on that I use for IM, IRC, quest help, etc...

Then Morri has that nifty new NetBook to do crap like that on now, too.

That being said, think Morri went with Quad Core CPU's on the rigs she built.

[Jerith|Tony]

I realize my little tirade came across angry sounding.

It was intended to be more sarcastic/ironic. I apologize to anyone who mistook my tone.

I happen to agree with Freejack on the topic.

[ThaMan]

I happen to agree with Freejack on the topic.I couldn't tell. :tongue: