Author Topic: The $750 Vista Tower Challenge (Read 435 times)

eskimo2 · « **on:** August 12, 2007, 12:05:20 PM »

Yes, I already know that it will suck and will only get 2.3 frames per second, but if you had to build an upgradeable tower capable of running AH and running Vista for under $750, what parts would you get?
Are there any prebuilt deals out there at Newegg or wherever?

Please, don’t tell me that it can’t be done and you have to spend at least $1300 or whatever. Pretend you only have $750.

P.S. – I absolutely must have Vista, not by choice but because of work.

Fulmar · « **Reply #1 on:** August 12, 2007, 03:22:26 PM »

It's possible. You can do it for a lot less than $750, if you run Home Basic

1 gb is a requirement for RAM, but everything I've read and experience says 2gb minimum. A lower end E4xxx processor would be find and maybe your basic motherboard. If you're going to game, this is a different story.

I couldn't tell you if you need a DirectX 10 card to properly run Aero, but its possible to turn Aero off.

2gb of ram can he had for $75. I paid $220 for 2gb back in January, pick the same pair again in May for $85.

Do you need a monitor, keyboard, mouse? You can get cheaper 19"-21" Widescreen LCDs for $170-$250. Which is a lot less than what I paid for my $500 17" Hercules Prophetview circa 2004.

eskimo2 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 12, 2007, 05:14:57 PM »

I just bought a 22 inch Westinghouse LCD monitor at Best Buy for $180; I hooked it up to my old machine. I’m planning on spending about $250 for another LCD monitor, ordinary keyboard and mouse on sale wherever for cheap. That’ll keep the whole thing under $1,000. Basically, I need a new/another machine. If it’ll run AH, great. If not I’m canceling my account; I haven’t played in a year or two anyway.

eskimo2 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 12, 2007, 05:26:40 PM »

Here’s an Office Max ad I’m looking at:
HP AMD Live Pavilion
AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 5000+
3 GB DDR2 RAM
400 GB HD
19’ Widescreen monitor
Photosmart C4280 all in one printer
Vista Home Premium
LightScribe DVD Burner
And I assume keyboard, mouse and speakers.

That’s in today’s ad: $799 + 100 upgrade.

How poorly would that run AH?
I have no idea what the video card is, probably integrated.

I’ve got three HP 932 C printers. They are old but work well. I also have an old mongo sized HP6P laser printer. I’ve got a decent scanner too. So I really don’t care what it has for printing/scanning, but wouldn’t mind something newer/combo.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #4 on:** August 13, 2007, 06:52:03 AM »

I would avoid the AMD dual core CPU if you must run Vista. It will not run Aces High II without setting the game to run in Windows 98/ME compatibility mode. The same bug in XP exists in Vista, but AMD has not bothered to issue a patch for it. Just FYI.

eskimo2 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 13, 2007, 08:00:42 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Skuzzy
I owuld avoid the AMD dual core CPU if you must run Vista. It will not run Aces High II without setting the game to run in Windows 98/ME compatibility mode. The same bug in XP exists in Vista, but AMD has not bothered to issue a patch for it. Just FYI.

So are you saying go with single core AMD or Intel dual, or ???

How hard is it to set the game to Win 98/ME compatability? If it will run that way, what's the problem?

Can you point to a recent thread or set of parts/specs that show a working machine for under $750?

FYI Skuzzy, most of the time I played AH I had an older inferior machine. My standards are lower because they must be. I don’t need frame rates of 400 to play like many others seem to need. One time, way back, you guys did a system survey and then published the results. My PC ranked in the bottom 2 percentile.

I’m about ready to give up on the idea of playing again if I can’t find a budget machine that will run AH.

Krusty · « **Reply #6 on:** August 13, 2007, 09:59:43 AM »

450W PSU: $60
Intel E6420: $220 ($180 for E6320)
ASRock Dual-775Vista: ~$75
2x1GB Corsair DDR2: ~$85
Video card: $130 (the mobo listed takes AGP or PCIe, I have it on my PC)
SATA HD, 160GB or so: ~$150
Soundcard: onboard sound ($0)

Depends no if you need all the "extras" -- CDROMs, keyboards, speakers, etc... For this "baseline" of parts, you only spend $720 ($680 if you go with E6320). If you already have a vid card, shave off $130 (it'll take what you've got). If you already have a SATA HD, shave off another $150. If you already have DDR2 (mobo also takes DDR1, 2 slots each type, 2 GB max each type, only one type at a time) shave off another $85.

So, if you are "upgrading" and have RAM, Vid card, HD, etc, just the essentials come to:

450W PSU: $60
Intel E6420: $220 ($180 for E6320)
ASRock Dual-775Vista: ~$75

That's $355 ($315 for E6320)

I'd avoid the Intel E4000 series of chips, personally.

TequilaChaser · « **Reply #7 on:** August 13, 2007, 11:09:05 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by eskimo2
So are you saying go with single core AMD or Intel dual, or ???

How hard is it to set the game to Win 98/ME compatability? If it will run that way, what's the problem?

Can you point to a recent thread or set of parts/specs that show a working machine for under $750?

FYI Skuzzy, most of the time I played AH I had an older inferior machine. My standards are lower because they must be. I don’t need frame rates of 400 to play like many others seem to need. One time, way back, you guys did a system survey and then published the results. My PC ranked in the bottom 2 percentile.

I’m about ready to give up on the idea of playing again if I can’t find a budget machine that will run AH.

it only takes a few mouse clicks to set to play 98/ME compatibility

don't give up, we all miss you in the AvsA, eskimo!!! I am positive you could build a machine for less than the 750.00 you mentioned or even keep it all under a grand, as u mentioned..........

talk about sub par, I am on an old AMD athlon XP2800 , 1 gig ram, ATI X800pro 256 meg card....

and I have everything maxed out at 1280x1024 hi res pack 19" LCD refresh set to 70 mhz.and 90% of the time I am pegged at 70 fps........

you prob could build this same machine for less than 300 bucks.except not sure if it would run vista or not.I use WinXPpro........

Krusty · « **Reply #8 on:** August 13, 2007, 11:52:10 AM »

Heh, see my previous post: ~$315 for the core parts. That mobo works with Vista (says it on stickers, and even in the name), and the CPU will help crunch all the cycles Vista requires, and it'll support 2GB of either type of ram, and AGP or PCIe (and yes, Vista will work with DX9 vid cards. DX10 still functions, just won't get any of the new features)

Roscoroo · « **Reply #9 on:** August 14, 2007, 12:04:37 PM »

get a spare harddrive /vista and setup a dual boot .

Easyscor · « **Reply #10 on:** August 14, 2007, 12:58:12 PM »

I'd stay away from HP unless you're willing to purchase and make a retail version of Vista run on it. The HP bloat-ware will kill you and it sounds like that box isn't up to AH anyway.

wabbit · « **Reply #11 on:** August 14, 2007, 01:04:20 PM »

Eskimo,

Check your email. I sent you a system spec for about $800.00, not including an OS, just the hardware, no monitor.

I would not waste my money on a brand-name system. You can do better building it yourself.

Asus P5B-Plus mtb (Vista ready according to Asus)

Note: For $10.00 extra Mwave will put the CPU/Fan on the mtb and test it fer ya. Saves possible problems for first time system builders.

For another $100.00 or so , you could get the Asus P5k, which is supposed to be an excellent game machine and would last a number of years fer ya, (but not the 20 years you'd like...)

Intel Core-duo E6700 2.66G CPU
2gb ram 1066mhz (Kensington)
Geforce 8600GT 256mb 128bit DDR3 pci-e (Asus)
Dvd/cd burner with lightscribe (Asus)
mid-tower
550W P/S with 20amps on 12v legs (needed for vid card)
Keyboard/Mouse combo (Logitech)

Vista Basic is only around $30.00 cheaper then Vista ultimate, if you get oem version. Mwave has oem ultimate for $180.00. No sense in buying basic when you can have ultimate for $30.00 more.

Wabbit
Morals Officer
Whitey's Buccaneers