Upgrading My Computer

[Amund]

I'm not sure if this is the right forum or not, but I'll post here anyway.

I'm upgrading my computer from basic model, to able to play computer games. So far I've upgraded my ram from half a gig, to a gig and a half. Next I'm going to be upgrading my hard drive and video card. Of course I'm going to be getting more ram in the future as well. So my first question would be about if the hardware I'm going to buy, is good hardware.

I plan to play games like Saints Row 2, Painkiller, GTA IV and Last Remnant.

First up, is this video card any good? http://www.4allmemory.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=upgrades.details&product_id=238649

Second is this hard drive any good? http://www.4allmemory.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=upgrades.details&product_id=238003

I'm well aware a Terra-byte is a little overkill, but I want it. Also what makes a hard drive good? And how do I go about transferring my files from one hard drive to the next?

 

[McBurks]

Why don't you get an Alienware PC?

 

[Amund]

Why don't you get an Alienware PC?

Too much money to drop all at once. I need my computer upgraded so I can play something until I get enough for either Alienware or MainGear computer Ephex. Attack of the Show said it was the fastest gaming computer they have ever seen.

 

[Laughing Man]

First up, is this video card any good? http://www.4allmemory.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=upgrades.details&product_id=238649

Nope, pay £30 more and get at least a 98 series card.

Second is this hard drive any good? http://www.4allmemory.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=upgrades.details&product_id=238003

It's a hard drive to be honest the only thing you'll notice is how much space it has. No one in the real world can tell the difference between drives that claim to be fast and those that aren't so it comes down to price per gigabyte and any known issues with specific drives.

 

[oliveira8]

Use this thread:

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.105715

 

[Arcticflame]

I'm not sure if this is the right forum or not, but I'll post here anyway.

I'm upgrading my computer from basic model, to able to play computer games. So far I've upgraded my ram from half a gig, to a gig and a half. Next I'm going to be upgrading my hard drive and video card. Of course I'm going to be getting more ram in the future as well. So my first question would be about if the hardware I'm going to buy, is good hardware.

I plan to play games like Saints Row 2, Painkiller, GTA IV and Last Remnant.

First up, is this video card any good? http://www.4allmemory.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=upgrades.details&product_id=238649

Second is this hard drive any good? http://www.4allmemory.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=upgrades.details&product_id=238003

I'm well aware a Terra-byte is a little overkill, but I want it. Also what makes a hard drive good? And how do I go about transferring my files from one hard drive to the next?

For GTAIV, that graphics card needs to be better I think. It'll only run at like 20fps average on low.

The Hard-Drive is ok. But Seagate are a bit iffy for me at the moment. Should be fine though.

And alienware is overpriced crap, don't buy them.

 

[aussiesniper]

I'm not sure if this is the right forum or not, but I'll post here anyway.

I'm upgrading my computer from basic model, to able to play computer games. So far I've upgraded my ram from half a gig, to a gig and a half. Next I'm going to be upgrading my hard drive and video card. Of course I'm going to be getting more ram in the future as well. So my first question would be about if the hardware I'm going to buy, is good hardware.

I plan to play games like Saints Row 2, Painkiller, GTA IV and Last Remnant.

First up, is this video card any good? http://www.4allmemory.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=upgrades.details&product_id=238649

Second is this hard drive any good? http://www.4allmemory.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=upgrades.details&product_id=238003

I'm well aware a Terra-byte is a little overkill, but I want it. Also what makes a hard drive good? And how do I go about transferring my files from one hard drive to the next?

Firstly: That graphics card isn't good. It's awful. Truly, truly awful. However, the good news is that a significantly better card is only $30 - $60 away (9600GT cards are pretty decent, as are 8800GTS/GTX cards).

Secondly: That's a great hard drive, with a good RPM rate and masses of storage space (I'm still using a 320GB HDD).

 

[Phenakist]

I would highly recommend a 9600GT, I've been running one for over a year and it's worth spending a little extra for.

 

[Amund]

so would this be a decent video card: http://www.4allmemory.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=upgrades.details&product_id=238670

 

[Amund]

Use this thread:

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.105715

thanks dude, I've bookmarked it.

 

[tk1989]

Get this baby http://www.nvidia.com/object/product_geforce_9800_gx2_us.html

My friend go it a while back when he had a lot of spare cash around. It was so big he actually had to bend his PC case to put it in...

It looks like a fucking bomb and its about the size of my arm.

 

[Liverandbacon]

Why don't you get an Alienware PC?

No, no, no, no, NO.

Alienware makes overpriced crap. Never buy Alienware. Ever.

I just saw them recommended in yet another thread and I think it's time to really sit down and sully this terrible company already crappy name.

So why do people still talk about them in any manner which doesn't end with "is truly and utterly horrid?" Console gamers, I'd love to hear your opinions as well on this matter. What is it about the perception of this company which leads them to still being around and (shudder) relevant?

I've narrowed it down to three possible reasons:

1) marketing: they've been around a while so they must be good!
2) related to number two: they're really expensive so they must be good!
3) the design aesthetic

If you don't know what an extraterrestrial abortion looks like if it went on Pimp My Ride and somehow transformed into a computer case, here you go:

http://www.alienware.com/products/desktop-computers.aspx

Now, I understand that there is a certain demographic which actually enjoys the aesthetics behind the design of the Alienware cases (although I will never particularly understand that aesthetic), but it's not like as if Alienware holds an exclusive monopoly on garish rice rocket cases. A quick look at Newegg produces a bevy of equally gaudy and rice-y choices for the strapping young gentlegamer:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010090007&bop=And&Order=REVIEWS

I'm not even going to talk about how you could build better systems for half as much or anything; I think everyone knows that by now and it isn't worth extensively fleshing out any longer. So what else is there?

So, yet again, here's something which I'll have to add to my "stock repeat thread/post answers" thread.

Thank you. Finally someone agrees with me. Buying an Alienware requires a person with much more money than sense. Even people who are terrified of building their own pc should at least buy from a company that offers a better price/performance ratio.

And OP, I'd suggest getting a better graphics card. Also, what settings do you want to play these games on? It's impossible to reccomend a card that would fit your needs best without knowing your needs.

 

[Amund]

Why don't you get an Alienware PC?

No, no, no, no, NO.

Alienware makes overpriced crap. Never buy Alienware. Ever.

I just saw them recommended in yet another thread and I think it's time to really sit down and sully this terrible company already crappy name.

So why do people still talk about them in any manner which doesn't end with "is truly and utterly horrid?" Console gamers, I'd love to hear your opinions as well on this matter. What is it about the perception of this company which leads them to still being around and (shudder) relevant?

I've narrowed it down to three possible reasons:

1) marketing: they've been around a while so they must be good!
2) related to number two: they're really expensive so they must be good!
3) the design aesthetic

If you don't know what an extraterrestrial abortion looks like if it went on Pimp My Ride and somehow transformed into a computer case, here you go:

http://www.alienware.com/products/desktop-computers.aspx

Now, I understand that there is a certain demographic which actually enjoys the aesthetics behind the design of the Alienware cases (although I will never particularly understand that aesthetic), but it's not like as if Alienware holds an exclusive monopoly on garish rice rocket cases. A quick look at Newegg produces a bevy of equally gaudy and rice-y choices for the strapping young gentlegamer:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010090007&bop=And&Order=REVIEWS

I'm not even going to talk about how you could build better systems for half as much or anything; I think everyone knows that by now and it isn't worth extensively fleshing out any longer. So what else is there?

So, yet again, here's something which I'll have to add to my "stock repeat thread/post answers" thread.

Thank you. Finally someone agrees with me. Buying an Alienware requires a person with much more money than sense. Even people who are terrified of building their own pc should at least buy from a company that offers a better price/performance ratio.

And OP, I'd suggest getting a better graphics card. Also, what settings do you want to play these games on? It's impossible to reccomend a card that would fit your needs best without knowing your needs.

As long as I can play the game, I'm good. Meaning, I don't care if I'm playing on the lowest settings.

 

[Amund]

Get this baby http://www.nvidia.com/object/product_geforce_9800_gx2_us.html

My friend go it a while back when he had a lot of spare cash around. It was so big he actually had to bend his PC case to put it in...

It looks like a fucking bomb and its about the size of my arm.

I'm pretty sure it's not compatible with my computer.

 

[Amund]

the 9600GT is compatible with my computer. So, how much better is the 9800 version? Will I see a major difference?

 

[Weaver]

I think you'll be much happier if you don't skimp on parts

Also I agree with everyone, alienware is pointlessly overpriced.

 

[Theo Samaritan]

I plan to play games like Saints Row 2, Painkiller, GTA IV and Last Remnant.

I hate to break it to you, but Saints Row 2 and GTAIV are incredibly iffy ports, you need an incredible PC to run them at a decent framerate on higher settings, and I'm talking blowing $400 on a grasphics card alone here.

 

[out0v0rder]

woah someone quoted eggo

 

[randomsix]

I talked to a friend about this recently. Instead of going for a terabyte of memory on one hard drive, get two drives with about half the space and set them up in raid 0. That way, everything should load faster.

 

[Amund]

I plan to play games like Saints Row 2, Painkiller, GTA IV and Last Remnant.

I hate to break it to you, but Saints Row 2 and GTAIV are incredibly iffy ports, you need an incredible PC to run them at a decent framerate on higher settings, and I'm talking blowing $400 on a grasphics card alone here.

Well then replace them with The Sims 3, Final Fantasy XI, Infamous and that one game thats like gta meets spiderman... its a guy who kills people then becomes them... some weird name.