Need Computer advice

[WOZ30BAT]

Wife is allowing to get a new cpu. I see where the Nvidia 8800's & Intel chipsets are the best right now, & I probably could get them. However, I'm thinking that instead of getting a higher end system, maybe getting a system that would've been a higher system like a year ago & with the money I save get CH rudder pedals & Track IR stuff. I basically use my cpu for AH about 90% of the time & occasionally may pick up a new game maybe 3 times a year. I guess what I am asking is what are minimum requirements to run AH like a scalded dog & does any1 know whether HTC is somehow going to employ DX10. I can't see wasting $$$ on it if its not going to be utilized. Thanx, Sidious

[Blammo]

What sort of budget are you looking at?  You can build a really decent system for around a $1000 (maybe less depending on what stuff you already have to salvage from the old one).

EDIT: DX10 is ok, but IMO it is not worth the hit to install/run Vista.

[WOZ30BAT]

I was going about $1500. So I was thinking maybe a 1000 for cpu & use rest for goodies. My cpu now is a Dell Dimension 4300 that I've had for almost 6 years & we going to let kids have that so they won't be touching mine lol.

[Balsy]

Originally posted by WOZ30BAT
Wife is allowing to get a new cpu. I see where the Nvidia 8800's & Intel chipsets are the best right now, & I probably could get them. However, I'm thinking that instead of getting a higher end system, maybe getting a system that would've been a higher system like a year ago & with the money I save get CH rudder pedals & Track IR stuff. I basically use my cpu for AH about 90% of the time & occasionally may pick up a new game maybe 3 times a year. I guess what I am asking is what are minimum requirements to run AH like a scalded dog & does any1 know whether HTC is somehow going to employ DX10. I can't see wasting $$$ on it if its not going to be utilized. Thanx, Sidious

You don't need an 8800 to run AH well.

I have a 6800 with an old FX53 and 2 gigs of ram and mine is smooth as silk.

Id get an intel dualcore, 2 gigs,  Win XP PRO, and get a not top of the line video  card.

[Fulmar]

For $1500 you can get a really nice system.  Definantly go intel on the CPU.  And since you want to play newer games it seems (although not a whole lot), 8800's aren't that expensive depending on the model you get.  If you budget is that big, I'd stick money into something like a 8800GT and that way you're not getting an old card that may run AH, but shows its age in new games.

RAM is cheap, a good $50 for 2gb.  22" LCD's are relatively cheap running about $220-350 depending on brand and how nice they are.  $60-70 gets you a good 250gb hard drive as well.  

Make sure you stick about $100 or more in a quality PSU.  Don't skimp on this often overlooked part.  A PSU is supplying power to every component in your computer.  Don't have a cheap $30 power supply wreck $1000 worth of equipment.

Brands I recommend:  Intel for CPU, BFG of EVGA for video cards (because they often lifetime warranties, there may be other companies that do this as well), Asus for motherboards, Seagate for hard drives.  For RAM, as long as you're not overclocking, any brand will do (as long as they have a lifetime warranty, as most do).  LCD's, you can't go wrong with ViewSonic or Samsung for so good quality screens.

[Krusty]

I'd skip the 8800GT and go with a ATI Radeon 3850 (or 3870 if you have the funds left over!) and any Core 2 Duo with 1333 MHz FSB.

Motherboard is about $90-110 on average, a CPU as mentioned will run about $200 (or less, maybe), and the vid card $180 (for 3850) to $250-ish (for 3870).

Add in hard drive, optical drive, power supply (very important), maybe sound, 2 GB of RAM (or more, it's cheap these days), case, and other minor goodies, and there you have it.

[Getback]

Woz,

You can build an extremely up to date system for that kind of money. I've been told to go with intel. I use an amd duo core 6000. I have no complaints. I also use the 3870 that Krusty was talking about, It's sweet! I paid around $250 for that. I purchased everything except the case and sound card for around 800 bucks. That included 2 gigs of memory and power supply but not the periphials like joystick, mouse, and kb.

Good luck with the build!

[GunRunner82]

I have this in another post but since u r looking for system specs vs budget i just brought the info into this post

Parts I am ordering on Tuesday:

MSI K9A2 Platinum AM2+/AM2 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard = $160

CORSAIR XMS2 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X4096-6400C5DHX - Retail =$129 after rebate

AMD Phenom 9600 Agena 2.3GHz Socket AM2+ 95W Quad-Core Black Edition Processor Model HD960ZWCGDBOX - Retail = $239

Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate Upgrade - Retail =$249

Parts already purchased:

NZXT Lexa case w/600w PSU = $200

ATI 1600pro PCI E = $52

120mm cpu fan w/copper heatsink =$40

So in all i spent $1069 for a amd/ati system (i prefer amd and ati over intel and nvidia)


Newegg.com has tons of great deals

Hope this helps

Gun

[Tigger29]

I used to prefer AMD over Intel...

Until I met the Core2Duo.

This is the COOLEST running CPU I've ever seen... and it holds up to just about anything I throw at it.  Sucker barely gets above room temperature - and this is with the stock heatsink/fan!

I used to love AMD, but heat was always an issue with those.  I did just about everything possible (aside from going to water cooling) and was still never comfortable.

[Getback]

How's that build going Woz?

[Dragon]

WOZ30BAT:

Asus P5N-E SLI
Intel 6750 2.66 + Coolermaster fan
2 Gig Ram
8600 GT 256 mb – 1 for now
300 Gig 7,200 sata2
800 W PS – overkill, but…
22” Samsung 2 ms
DVDR
CDR

Assembled in September, total $1100 after rebates
Newegg and Tiger Direct
Frame rate in tower – 60, in furball – 59

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Originally posted by Krusty
I'd skip the 8800GT and go with a ATI Radeon 3850 (or 3870 if you have the funds left over!)

Why? Quote from tomshardware:

Best PCI-E Card For ~$290

GeForce 8800 GT 512MB

The 8800 GT offers incredible Geforce 8800 GTX-class performance at almost half the price. It beats the Radeon 3870 by a notable margin, but it does tend to be a bit more expensive when available. That said, if you have $300 to spend on a graphics card, you can't do better than a nice 8800 GT.

As what goes for DX10 - steer away from it. It will bring your system to its knees along with Vista. Definately NOT worth it.

[Fulmar]

Originally posted by MrRiplEy[H]
Why? Quote from tomshardware:

Because we're all ATI or Nvidia fan boys at heart.