A good gaming computer?

TruckerNuts · 03-08-2003, 06:26 AM

I dont know all that much about computers, but I found out that mine cant handle Splinter Cell or any decent new games. The graphics card sucks and the comp is getting pretty old.

Can anyone suggest a decent gaming computer with good value? Nothing top o' the line but something that will play highly detailed games well. Also looking for something with a nice, big monitor. I'm 17 and have a well paying part time job. I have about $400 saved up right now (after blowing it all on a trip to Ireland) and my Dad said he'd pay for half. Saving up to about $700 would be no problem. So budget is around $800-1400. Any tips would help. Thanks.

SendaSteel · 03-08-2003, 07:40 AM

Build your own...

www.newegg.com

Xrathos · 03-08-2003, 07:42 AM

About 3 months ago (I think) I built myself a very nice gaming machine, here's the specs:

2.0Ghz Athlon
1GB PC2700 333Mhz DDRAM
ATI Raedon 9700 PRO 128MB
Ga-7VAX Motherboard with onboard network and 5.1 sound
80GB 7200 RPM HD
19inch Monitor (don't know the brand or anything, but it's a decent one...buddy of mine picked it up for me really cheap)

Anyway all in all with KB / mouse, etc etc, I spent around $1200. I started with 512 RAM and without the upgrade it was about $1050..and I noticed no dif with the extra RAM, so I see no real need to get more. Obviously I built it myself and ordered the parts online.

The computer system smokes serious ass, but it never played EQ well (using EQW it could only handle 2 windows for some reason), EQ doesn't like my video card but every other game I've played LOVES the Raedon 9700.

Prices have probably come down a tad since I bought mine, although I wouldn't expect a dramatic drop in anything...so if you're looking to get yourself a very sweet machine, do what I did..you'll probably shell out about 1Grand WITH monitor, although that's just a guess based on what I paid about 3 months ago. Oh but if you're looking to get a good EQ machine, I wouldn't recommend the vid card I got, get a high end GeForce 4 or something...they won't run other games as well but it'll run EQ a lot better.

Well I hope this gives ya some insight.

-Xrathos, 65th Archon, Xev....retired

lektor · 03-09-2003, 04:04 PM

Depending on what u have already (Monitor, keyboard, mouse etc), you can get a nice gaming machine for about 500-600 if u buy the parts. A good start would be to go to www.pricewatch.com . That is one of many sites that have many updates per day on prices nation wide(U.S.).
If u want a little more info, start with a decent motherboard like MSI. That is the board those alien PC's are made from. Then see what type of limits it has as far as processors and ram , and go from there. GL.

Minimoi Binimoi LFG · 03-09-2003, 04:23 PM

mine is almost the same as xrathos', mine has 3.2ghz (had to custom order that bitch) other then that the exact same specs and same video card are on the gaming computer.

WarderX · 03-09-2003, 04:48 PM

Don't buy from Compaq, Dell, Gateway, any Infomercial, Shop at home.

Wait for the 9800 128 meg AGP. (april at the latest)

Those are the two most important things i can say.

Physics Theory · 03-09-2003, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Minimoi Binimoi LFG
mine is almost the same as xrathos', mine has 3.2ghz (had to custom order that bitch) other then that the exact same specs and same video card are on the gaming computer.

Which chip? and what was it's original clock-speed rating?

WarderX · 03-09-2003, 06:23 PM

He probably means a barton 3200+.

Which technically doesnt exist yet.

Worfless · 03-09-2003, 08:25 PM

Say it, say Mr.Beefy!

Cybsled · 03-10-2003, 12:23 AM

If you got the cash, Alienware tends to get alot of the high end vid cards before they hit the open market ;p

TruckerNuts · 03-10-2003, 06:07 AM

I was thinking along the lines of a nice Alienware laptop so I could take it to class in college for note-taking. Problem is, it doesn't seem to come with much useful software. Then again, it is called a gaming computer for a reason. If not that, then a Dell with good gaming capabilities.

BTW Why should I not buy from Dell? I really dont know enough to build my own computer so that isn't really a viable option.

SendaSteel · 03-10-2003, 06:55 AM

Buying a pre-built computer usually means you get ripped off. Whatever you pay Dell to make you a computer, one of us could most likely build for a helluva lot less.

Also, you never know what kind of gear your getting when you buy a Dell. You could have 'b0b's RAM' and a Pete's Taco Shack motherboard inside your machine, and you would never know. Dell tends to just post numbers and not names when concerning anything else other than the video card and processor.

If you absolutely MUST buy a pre-built, easy to get, cheap ass computer. Then Dell is probably your best bet. Gateway sucks and can rot in the bottom of hell. Alienware and Northwest are good also, if you care to deal out shitloads of money for a fancy looking machine.

Hope that helps.

Hwed · 03-10-2003, 07:16 AM

Agreed on Gateway. (Dell's no better though.)

I just spent a glorious weekend upgrading an old 700 mhz Gateway machine with a new motherboard and processor, and I'm pretty sure I heard the old motherboard chanting "Why upgrade for $150 when you can BUY A NEW GATEWAY FOR $2000, YOU DUMB BASTARD!"

I'd done a few upgrades on the machine before, but not until I took out the motherboard did I realize how thoroughly I'd been shafted.

Oh boy, this OEM "Only For Distribution with a New PC" Windows install disc doesn't like the new motherboard because it doesn't say Gateway on it!

When I bought the system, the GeForce 2 GTS was the best card on the market. Gateway was more than happy to sell it to me... on a motherboard with a 1X AGP slot, effectively crippling it.

Some of the connectors were designed to only work with the POS board too, I had to buy new cables for the power/reset switches and LEDs.

Pain in the arse.

What did I learn?

Make sure you know everything about each piece that goes in your system... if you're going to buy that fancypants RAM, make sure it plays well with the mobo and processor, lest ye be faced with crippling your system in the BIOS just to make it work.

Do a google search for the motherboard model# before you buy, hit the hardware forums and see what complaints other folks have had about it.

Oh yeah, and new Gateway computers even now come standard with a 250watt power supply, which is painfully inadequate for the systems they put them in.

Good luck.

Lenardo · 03-10-2003, 10:20 AM

Seriously build your own. you have keyboard mouse and monitor so you can skip those

Cpu - amd athlonxp 2000 ~90bucks retail (comes with fan)

motherboard - any motherboard that has the Nforce2 chipset- i'd go asus personally - the basic is ~120 deluxe(which i own) is 144.
that comes with built in sound (works great imo comparable to a good soundblaster setup) built in nic, built in firewire etc. so 144 for the deluxe

1 gig pc 2100(whichever is 266mhz to match the cpu) ram 150 (edit i just checked prices they are dropping ALOT)

80 gig 7200 rpm hdd - 100 bucks if you have a relatively new/good hdd you can leave it out

cd-rom type(dvdrom cdrw whatever) -50-100 bucks - if you have one, you can leave it out and use existing.

geoforce4 ti 4200 128 meg3.3 ns 160

case 100 - antec full tower with a 300w or greater power supply

few extra fans 20

total 864 if you have to buy everything except for the monitor keyboard and mouse.

can save about 40 if you get another version of the motherboard
save 100 if you use existing cdrom type device
another hundred if you use existing hard drive (note you probably WILL have to reinstall/reformat the hdd)

i spent 600 dollars for my last upgrade- that was for

mb/chip/ram/hdd and i have a new computer-. took all of 40 minutes to build it all and have it up and running.

Jaryen · 03-10-2003, 11:03 AM

www.pricewatch.com for a list of what companies sell each part for the cheapest. I just built another computer and found all the parts cheap using the site.

If you don't know how to build computers, just go to target-usa.com or tigerdirect.com

03-08-2003, 06:26 AM	#1 (permalink)
TruckerNuts Ejaculating Penis Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 99 -1 Internets	A good gaming computer? I dont know all that much about computers, but I found out that mine cant handle Splinter Cell or any decent new games. The graphics card sucks and the comp is getting pretty old. Can anyone suggest a decent gaming computer with good value? Nothing top o' the line but something that will play highly detailed games well. Also looking for something with a nice, big monitor. I'm 17 and have a well paying part time job. I have about $400 saved up right now (after blowing it all on a trip to Ireland) and my Dad said he'd pay for half. Saving up to about $700 would be no problem. So budget is around $800-1400. Any tips would help. Thanks. Last edited by TruckerNuts : 03-08-2003 at 06:32 AM.

03-08-2003, 07:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
SendaSteel Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 74 -1 Internets	... Build your own... www.newegg.com

03-08-2003, 07:42 AM	#3 (permalink)
Xrathos Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 1 +0 Internets	Here's what I got About 3 months ago (I think) I built myself a very nice gaming machine, here's the specs: 2.0Ghz Athlon 1GB PC2700 333Mhz DDRAM ATI Raedon 9700 PRO 128MB Ga-7VAX Motherboard with onboard network and 5.1 sound 80GB 7200 RPM HD 19inch Monitor (don't know the brand or anything, but it's a decent one...buddy of mine picked it up for me really cheap) Anyway all in all with KB / mouse, etc etc, I spent around $1200. I started with 512 RAM and without the upgrade it was about $1050..and I noticed no dif with the extra RAM, so I see no real need to get more. Obviously I built it myself and ordered the parts online. The computer system smokes serious ass, but it never played EQ well (using EQW it could only handle 2 windows for some reason), EQ doesn't like my video card but every other game I've played LOVES the Raedon 9700. Prices have probably come down a tad since I bought mine, although I wouldn't expect a dramatic drop in anything...so if you're looking to get yourself a very sweet machine, do what I did..you'll probably shell out about 1Grand WITH monitor, although that's just a guess based on what I paid about 3 months ago. Oh but if you're looking to get a good EQ machine, I wouldn't recommend the vid card I got, get a high end GeForce 4 or something...they won't run other games as well but it'll run EQ a lot better. Well I hope this gives ya some insight. -Xrathos, 65th Archon, Xev....retired

03-09-2003, 04:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
lektor Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3 -1 Internets	PC Depending on what u have already (Monitor, keyboard, mouse etc), you can get a nice gaming machine for about 500-600 if u buy the parts. A good start would be to go to www.pricewatch.com . That is one of many sites that have many updates per day on prices nation wide(U.S.). If u want a little more info, start with a decent motherboard like MSI. That is the board those alien PC's are made from. Then see what type of limits it has as far as processors and ram , and go from there. GL.

03-10-2003, 12:23 AM	#10 (permalink)
Cybsled Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 9,439 +16 Internets	If you got the cash, Alienware tends to get alot of the high end vid cards before they hit the open market ;p __________________ Training the citizens of Norrath from 1999-2003!

03-09-2003, 04:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
Minimoi Binimoi LFG Banned Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 325 +0 Internets	mine is almost the same as xrathos', mine has 3.2ghz (had to custom order that bitch) other then that the exact same specs and same video card are on the gaming computer.

03-09-2003, 04:48 PM	#6 (permalink)
WarderX Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,593 +1 Internets	Don't buy from Compaq, Dell, Gateway, any Infomercial, Shop at home. Wait for the 9800 128 meg AGP. (april at the latest) Those are the two most important things i can say.

03-09-2003, 06:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
WarderX Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,593 +1 Internets	He probably means a barton 3200+. Which technically doesnt exist yet.

03-09-2003, 08:25 PM	#9 (permalink)
Worfless Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,680 -1 Internets	Say it, say Mr.Beefy!

03-10-2003, 06:07 AM	#11 (permalink)
TruckerNuts Ejaculating Penis Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 99 -1 Internets	I was thinking along the lines of a nice Alienware laptop so I could take it to class in college for note-taking. Problem is, it doesn't seem to come with much useful software. Then again, it is called a gaming computer for a reason. If not that, then a Dell with good gaming capabilities. BTW Why should I not buy from Dell? I really dont know enough to build my own computer so that isn't really a viable option.

03-10-2003, 06:55 AM	#12 (permalink)
SendaSteel Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 74 -1 Internets	.... Buying a pre-built computer usually means you get ripped off. Whatever you pay Dell to make you a computer, one of us could most likely build for a helluva lot less. Also, you never know what kind of gear your getting when you buy a Dell. You could have 'b0b's RAM' and a Pete's Taco Shack motherboard inside your machine, and you would never know. Dell tends to just post numbers and not names when concerning anything else other than the video card and processor. If you absolutely MUST buy a pre-built, easy to get, cheap ass computer. Then Dell is probably your best bet. Gateway sucks and can rot in the bottom of hell. Alienware and Northwest are good also, if you care to deal out shitloads of money for a fancy looking machine. Hope that helps.

03-10-2003, 07:16 AM	#13 (permalink)
Hwed Lighter of Poots Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Behind you... with an axe. Posts: 222 -1 Internets	Agreed on Gateway. (Dell's no better though.) I just spent a glorious weekend upgrading an old 700 mhz Gateway machine with a new motherboard and processor, and I'm pretty sure I heard the old motherboard chanting "Why upgrade for $150 when you can BUY A NEW GATEWAY FOR $2000, YOU DUMB BASTARD!" I'd done a few upgrades on the machine before, but not until I took out the motherboard did I realize how thoroughly I'd been shafted. Oh boy, this OEM "Only For Distribution with a New PC" Windows install disc doesn't like the new motherboard because it doesn't say Gateway on it! When I bought the system, the GeForce 2 GTS was the best card on the market. Gateway was more than happy to sell it to me... on a motherboard with a 1X AGP slot, effectively crippling it. Some of the connectors were designed to only work with the POS board too, I had to buy new cables for the power/reset switches and LEDs. Pain in the arse. What did I learn? Make sure you know everything about each piece that goes in your system... if you're going to buy that fancypants RAM, make sure it plays well with the mobo and processor, lest ye be faced with crippling your system in the BIOS just to make it work. Do a google search for the motherboard model# before you buy, hit the hardware forums and see what complaints other folks have had about it. Oh yeah, and new Gateway computers even now come standard with a 250watt power supply, which is painfully inadequate for the systems they put them in. Good luck.

03-10-2003, 10:20 AM	#14 (permalink)
Lenardo Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 2,327 -11 Internets	build your own Seriously build your own. you have keyboard mouse and monitor so you can skip those Cpu - amd athlonxp 2000 ~90bucks retail (comes with fan) motherboard - any motherboard that has the Nforce2 chipset- i'd go asus personally - the basic is ~120 deluxe(which i own) is 144. that comes with built in sound (works great imo comparable to a good soundblaster setup) built in nic, built in firewire etc. so 144 for the deluxe 1 gig pc 2100(whichever is 266mhz to match the cpu) ram 150 (edit i just checked prices they are dropping ALOT) 80 gig 7200 rpm hdd - 100 bucks if you have a relatively new/good hdd you can leave it out cd-rom type(dvdrom cdrw whatever) -50-100 bucks - if you have one, you can leave it out and use existing. geoforce4 ti 4200 128 meg3.3 ns 160 case 100 - antec full tower with a 300w or greater power supply few extra fans 20 total 864 if you have to buy everything except for the monitor keyboard and mouse. can save about 40 if you get another version of the motherboard save 100 if you use existing cdrom type device another hundred if you use existing hard drive (note you probably WILL have to reinstall/reformat the hdd) i spent 600 dollars for my last upgrade- that was for mb/chip/ram/hdd and i have a new computer-. took all of 40 minutes to build it all and have it up and running. Last edited by Lenardo : 03-10-2003 at 10:38 AM.

03-10-2003, 11:03 AM	#15 (permalink)
Jaryen Cleric Mafia Boss Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Povar Posts: 9 -1 Internets	www.pricewatch.com for a list of what companies sell each part for the cheapest. I just built another computer and found all the parts cheap using the site. If you don't know how to build computers, just go to target-usa.com or tigerdirect.com

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