New Computer

[The Diabolical Biz]

My computer is acting up again, and I would like advise on an affordable computer that can play games etc...

Edit: Below £500, can run most games smoothly, hopefully works every once in a while, and looks quite nice?

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Full on gaming PC that can run Crysis with ease? Moderately good PC? What are you looking for in specifics?

 

[SturmDolch]

Full on gaming PC that can run Crysis with ease? Moderately good PC? What are you looking for in specifics?

Also, what is "affordable" to you? For me, affordable is the computer I'm going to buy when I save up 3 grand.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

Besides wanting a PC that has tons of RAM and Memory what else are you looking for in your purchasing decision?

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Don't use whatever I have. As I have said on multiple occasions, my computer is a large rock covered in plastic that simply pretends that it's a computer.

What are you typing on? A bunch of pebbles in dirt?

 

[The Heik]

Just get a Mac. You can then add on any PC platform you want with Bootcamp

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

Don't use whatever I have. As I have said on multiple occasions, my computer is a large rock covered in plastic that simply pretends that it's a computer.

I bet it's sturdy though.

What are you looking to do with your computer? Game? Take notes in class? Play HD movies? How much are you willing to spend? $500? $1000? More?

 

[thenumberthirteen]

Well I got a new Gaming desktop from PC World. It was really cheap for the specs. <url=http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1878072956.1266362470@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccfgadejjfdflelcflgceggdhhmdgmh.0&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=667070&category_oid=-37526>This one is quite cool, and powerful. It doesn't include a monitor, but you can hook it up to most modern HDTVs with a VGA or HDMI cable. I would also recommend <url=http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1878072956.1266362470@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccfgadejjfdflelcflgceggdhhmdgmh.0&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=033768&category_oid=-37532>This PC as it is the one I got. It's 1gb dedicated video card and Quad core processor means it can run Left4Dead 2, etc like a dream; all for £400. You may want a different Keyboard/Mouse as the ones it comes with are awful.

 

[mikecoulter]

Hmm, go to PC World. £500 there would get you a really decent computer.

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

Just get a Mac. You can then add on any PC platform you want with Bootcamp

You're telling him to buy an expensive computer (highend prices for sub-midrange specs) and then load another expensive operating system on it. Not the smart move for power or pocketmoney. The only reason to get a mac is if you need OS X. Telling someone to get a mac and then bootcamp... kinda defeats the purpose.

 

[The Diabolical Biz]

My rock has decided that it is no longer compatible with any form of computer mouse.

As has my piece of crap

It also finds it amusing to switch itself off every 10 or so minutes

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

My rock has decided that it is no longer compatible with any form of computer mouse.

As has my piece of crap

It also finds it amusing to switch itself off every 10 or so minutes

Eh, that's probably overheating. Try HWMonitor, and if the temps are above 90 (Celsius), consider cleaning the vents. If you're handy, you might want to reseat the heatsinks and apply a tiny drop of thermal paste.

http://www.cpuid.com/hwmonitor.php

 

[The Heik]

Just get a Mac. You can then add on any PC platform you want with Bootcamp

You're telling him to buy an expensive computer (highend prices for sub-midrange specs) and then load another expensive operating system on it. Not the smart move for power or pocketmoney. The only reason to get a mac is if you need OS X. Telling someone to get a mac and then bootcamp... kinda defeats the purpose.

Well it means I get all the visual advantages that the Mac has to offer on the Windows platform, and it's way less likely to crash.

Though admittedly it would be pricey. He only changed the price thing after I posted and left. But in my defence I got the whole thing (Mac 10.5, Bootcamp and Windows XP home (plus an ipod touch)) for only 700 dollars(canadian), all brand new, so I may just be financially skewed.

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

Just get a Mac. You can then add on any PC platform you want with Bootcamp

You're telling him to buy an expensive computer (highend prices for sub-midrange specs) and then load another expensive operating system on it. Not the smart move for power or pocketmoney. The only reason to get a mac is if you need OS X. Telling someone to get a mac and then bootcamp... kinda defeats the purpose.

Well it means I get all the visual advantages that the Mac has to offer on the Windows platform, and it's way less likely to crash.

I can't remember the last time my computer crashed. FYI, new systems don't run on Windows 98.

 

[markstit]

If your willing to build it (and the price mite be a bit high)

CPU: AMD Athlon 2 X4 620
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-MA74GM-s2
RAM: Patriot 4GB DDR2/800
GPU: Radeon HD 5750
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 500GB
OS: Ubuntu or any other linux distro GO LINUX!

Im guessing you have a monitor and the case and optic drives are your choice

(if anything, keep the CPU, GPU, and at least 2GB of RAM and pick the other parts your self at newegg or something to better match price and needs, them alone will let you play almost any game out there. even fallout 3 with tons of mods on ULTRA HIGH! yes, that is the setting lol)

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

If your willing to build it (and the price mite be a bit high)

CPU: AMD Athlon 2 X4 620
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-MA74GM-s2
RAM: Patriot 4GB DDR2/800
GPU: Radeon HD 5750
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 500GB
OS: Ubuntu or any other linux distro GO LINUX!

Im guessing you have a monitor and the case and optic drives are your choice

(if anything, keep the CPU, GPU, and at least 2GB of RAM and pick the other parts your self at newegg or something to better match price and needs, them alone will let you play almost any game out there. even fallout 3 with tons of mods on ULTRA HIGH! yes, that is the setting lol)

But mainstream games like fallout generally don't get released for linux. Even with wine (or crossover games), you're not going to get great compatibility. And then there are driver issues. Linux requires a few afternoons of geekery getting everything to work, which is great for someone like me, but it's not something I'd recommend for gaming.

 

[The Heik]

Just get a Mac. You can then add on any PC platform you want with Bootcamp

You're telling him to buy an expensive computer (highend prices for sub-midrange specs) and then load another expensive operating system on it. Not the smart move for power or pocketmoney. The only reason to get a mac is if you need OS X. Telling someone to get a mac and then bootcamp... kinda defeats the purpose.

Well it means I get all the visual advantages that the Mac has to offer[HEADING=1],[/HEADING] on the Windows platform, and it's way less likely to crash.

I can't remember the last time my computer crashed. FYI, new systems don't run on Windows 98.

When did I mention windows 98?

 

[markstit]

If your willing to build it (and the price mite be a bit high)

CPU: AMD Athlon 2 X4 620
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-MA74GM-s2
RAM: Patriot 4GB DDR2/800
GPU: Radeon HD 5750
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 500GB
OS: Ubuntu or any other linux distro GO LINUX!

Im guessing you have a monitor and the case and optic drives are your choice

(if anything, keep the CPU, GPU, and at least 2GB of RAM and pick the other parts your self at newegg or something to better match price and needs, them alone will let you play almost any game out there. even fallout 3 with tons of mods on ULTRA HIGH! yes, that is the setting lol)

But mainstream games like fallout generally don't get released for linux. Even with wine (or crossover games), you're not going to get great compatibility. And then there are driver issues. Linux requires a few afternoons of geekery getting everything to work, which is great for someone like me, but it's not something I'd recommend for gaming.

Unfortunately this is true but he can use the copy of windows that he already had along with linux. I dual boot and everything works fine, as long as you install windows first lol

 

[The Heik]

Just get a Mac. You can then add on any PC platform you want with Bootcamp

...

i hope this is a troll.

Actually I was quite serious. The mac was designed for high visual capabilities, and while it's now an invalid option due to the price range edit that limited the cost to 500 pounds, any Windows platform Bootcamped on to it would gain the hardware capabilities of the Mac.

And shame on you for thinking that the option of using a Mac is considered trolling.

 

[Horticulture]

Answering a few questions will allow us to give more helpful advice:

Do you already have a Windows license, or will you need to buy a copy?
Do you already have a monitor? If so, what is its resolution?
Are there any particular games you have in mind?
Are you comfortable building the computer from parts?