Could someone take a look at this configuration and tell me how good it is for a gaming PC? Any improvements? I am trying to keep the price below 1500.
Operating System: Genuine Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005 (Update Rollup 2) w/ XP Media Center Backup CD Processor: Intel® Core™2 Duo E6400 (2.13GHz 1066MHz FSB 2MB cache, non-HT) ........[ +US$50.00] Memory: 1024MB PC5300 dual-channel DDR2 667MHz SDRAM (2-512MB modules) Video: NVIDIA® GeForce 7600GS 256MB Dual DVI - Dual Link w/ HDCP & TV-Out ........[ +US$81.00] Sound System: Sound Blaster Audigy 4 sound card ........[ +US$49.00] Application Software: Microsoft® Works Suite 2006 – Including Microsoft® Word and Encarta ........[ +US$39.99] Hard Drive: 320GB 7200rpm SATA II hard drive w/ 8MB cache ........[ +US$59.00] Optical Drive: 16x Double-Layer Multi-Format DVD Writer (DVD±/R±RW/CD-R/RW) and 48x/32x/48x CD-RW/DVD combo drive ........[ +US$39.00] Floppy Drive: 9-in-1 media card reader and floppy drive ........[ +US$29.00] Extended Service Plan Including Limited Warranty: Desktop Value Service Plan -- 1 year parts/labor/no on-site/1 year technical support Monitors: Gateway 22" Widescreen LCD Display Speakers: Gateway 2.0 Speakers Keyboard and Mouse: Gateway Premium Wireless Keyboard & Mouse ........[ +US$19.99] Additional External Ports: No Parallel or Serial Port Selected Security Software: No Security Subscription Selected Integrated Wireless Networking Adapter: Not Selected Additional Software: Adobe® Acrobat Reader® 7.0 and Google Toolbar Additional Software : Free Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter-While Supplies Last Answers by Gateway Support Cards: Answers by Gateway Per Incident support card Chipset: Intel® P965 Chipset with DDR2 and Intel® Core™ Duo support Case: Gateway 6-bay micro-BTX case Controller: Integrated Serial ATA controller Expansion Slots: (2) PCI expansion slots (1 slot available), (1) PCI-E x4 expansion slot (available). (1) PCI-E x16 expansion slot External Ports: (8) USB 2.0 (2 front, 6 rear), (2) IEEE 1394 firewire (1 front, 1 rear), audio ports and (2) PS/2 Certification: Energy Star® compliant Modem: 56K PCI data/fax modem Network Adapter: Integrated Realtek® 10/100 twisted pair Ethernet Internet Service Provider: Six months America Online® Internet access Part Number: 1009194 Desktop Technology: Intel® Viiv™ Technology Standard Software: Napster Trial Subscription
Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
That should be fine for most every game on the market currently. It's not bleeding edge, but should be fine for at least a year, at which point the graphics card will be dated. Also, you may want to look into more than a gig of RAM, although not necessarily through Dell or whomever you're purchasing through, as they will gouge you on price.
Posted by MrSquicky (Member # 1802) on :
I know bugger all about gaming PCs, but I'm pretty sure gaming on vanilla wireless mice and keyboards is still sub-optimal.
Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
It is, but the entire system is sub-optimal, so it sort of makes sense, especially when you consider that the premium gaming wireless keyboard/mouse setups cost over $300.
Posted by ricree101 (Member # 7749) on :
This isn't a gaming problem, but personally I would be concerned by only having one PCI slot available. I might be unusual in this regard, but I have had to fill several of the slots in my computer since I first bought it.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
I bought a computer almost three years ago, and it will play any game out there.
I did upgrade a few things though, but upgrading is often cheaper than buying it that way from the store.
Memory is cheap these days.
Posted by dantesparadigm (Member # 8756) on :
I'd second getting more RAM, although you can always do that in stride. Personally I have no problem with wired mice and keyboards, but if you want to go wireless you're probably not going to see enough of a difference in the basic and high end models to justify the extra cost.
Posted by Lupus (Member # 6516) on :
If I were you I would upgrade the Video Card to a GeForce 8800 and double your ram.
If you have to choose between the two because of price, I would go with the RAM...since the 7600 is a decent card, it is just not the best. Though, I would try at the very least to get a 7800 if possible.
I would also get a wireless networking card. It makes setting up a home network much easier. You don't have to deal with running cords all over the place.
Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
get an ATI x850 will take care of your needs.
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
Switch to a slightly less performant, much cheaper AMD-64 (X2 or not) system, and add a gig of RAM.
My current system is probably considered low-end gaming now (it was mid-ish range a year and a half ago), but I can play any game out there... Just not at the highest settings.
-Bok
Posted by ricree101 (Member # 7749) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lupus: If I were you I would upgrade the Video Card to a GeForce 8800 and double your ram.
If you have to choose between the two because of price, I would go with the RAM...since the 7600 is a decent card, it is just not the best. Though, I would try at the very least to get a 7800 if possible.
I have to disagree. In general, when upgrading the RAM you can still get use out of the current memory. However, if you upgrade your video card later you are replacing the whole thing. In my opinion, it makes more sense to get a good video card from the start and worry about the RAM later.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Get a decent card....but get it at newegg.com.
Seriously, RAM is cheap now, you can always upgrade it.
Posted by ladyday (Member # 1069) on :
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Posted by Mucus (Member # 9735) on :
I echo most of the advice so far except switching Intel to AMD (even though I'm running AMD, benchmarks on the Core Duo systems, are really good)
I'm going to give you the only advice that will save you money so far Toss the Audigy, overpriced, crummy drivers. Just use integrated sound and then if you feel like you need the "features" an Audigy provides, then get one.
Posted by Eldrad (Member # 8578) on :
From the looks of the format of your post, it looks like you're looking into buying a manufactured computer instead of building a rig yourself. You're going to get gouged if you do that, and you can build a very near-top-of-the-line gaming computer if you do it yourself. Also, you should definitely get 2 gigs of RAM. 1 gig is considered average now, and higher-quality games are going to require more RAM to run well. I'd also have to disagree with ricree; if you don't have enough RAM or a good enough graphics card in a gaming PC, one or the other will act as a bottleneck.
Personally, if I were you, I'd spend more on your peripherals. You're going to get the quality you pay for, and it'll be evident. For example, what's the point of buying a separate sound card if you're going to have sub-par speakers? That keyboard and mouse will probably do, but I'd still take a look around. Logitech makes some really great and well-priced products; my speaker set-up, keyboard, and mouse all came from there, and they're quite good.
Posted by Gecko (Member # 8160) on :
Appreciate all the tips so far.
I actually plan on using headphones. I don't really like using speakers, so that shouldn't be an issue, I think.
And, yeah, I will upgrade to another gig of Ram. Though the graphics card is a steep upgrade.
Anyone have any good company recommendations? I've been looking at Gateway, they seem to have the best value, since they throw in a 22 inch flat screen monitor for free with the purchase.
Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
A 22" flatscreen is a pretty big perk.
Here's the big question: how computer savvy are you? If you're capable enough to do your own diagnosis, maintenance and upgrades, then assembling your own will likely still be cheaper, even factoring in the monitor.
There's something to be said, however, for being able to call a tech support line and have them do whatever is necessary to get your stuff fixed if it breaks.
Posted by Saephon (Member # 9623) on :
1. Add 1 GB of RAM 2. Ditch any wireless peripherals 3. ??????? 4. Profit (well not really, but you'll have a nice computer.)
One last thing; ask yourself how long you want this to last you. If another slight upgrade in a year is fine, then keep the config. If not, I recommend either upgrading the video card to a 7800 or 8--- series....orrrrrrr, getting a second video card with SLI (if they give you that option). Either choice should land you a great computer for several years. Worth the extra money I think.
Posted by ricree101 (Member # 7749) on :
I still stand by my earlier recommendation that if you need to choose between either a better video card or more ram, go with the video card.
Posted by Euripides (Member # 9315) on :
I bought mine from @Xi and am pretty happy with it. I can't say whether you'll get the best deal there (since I haven't been following the news on computer hardware recently), but it might be worth a look. They let you customize almost every aspect of your machine.
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
Mucus, I only menton the AMD because of the price constraint. Without the price constraint I wouldn't mention it
-Bok
Posted by Euripides (Member # 9315) on :
Gecko, in case you're worried about switching to the AMD; I'm running on an AMD-64, and with 2GB of RAM and a good graphics card, it can play most games at high (maybe not highest) settings.
It could easily be a part of a mid-range gaming rig.
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