My Computer has problems running new update...

[TwentyFo]

and I'm fine with it. Lets face it, the system I have now is outdated and I am budgeting to buy a new motherboard and graphics card. The thing is, HTC is trying to stay competitive in an industry that constantly evolves. There is no way in hell that they should wait for some of us with lesser computers to upgrade. That is just the way it is. Live with it, deal with it.

Anyways, my father found a middle of the road quad core processor, motherboard, and ram for around $600. Any other suggestions for some new hardware?

[AirFlyer]

A DX Diag. report would be useful, with any luck you may be able to upgrade without replacing so much. If you do decide on that route and other thing to watch is your PSU (Power Supply Unit) as new GPUs (Graphics Processing Units) are power hogs. All that aside I would recommend a Intel Duo (perhaps an E7400?) over any quad core, you'll save money and it will easily be enough for this game.

[TwentyFo]

A DX Diag. report would be useful, with any luck you may be able to upgrade without replacing so much.

Hopefully this is the DxDiag report you mentioned...
------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 8/3/2009, 11:56:28
   Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.090206-1234)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
       System Model: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
               BIOS: BIOS Date: 09/05/05 16:00:33 Ver: 08.00.09
          Processor: Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU 3.06GHz
             Memory: 2048MB RAM
          Page File: 484MB used, 3458MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
  DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: The file ctaud2k.sys is not digitally signed, which means that it has not been tested by Microsoft's Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL).  You may be able to get a WHQL logo'd driver from the hardware manufacturer.
        Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
          Music Tab: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.
        Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS
     Manufacturer: NVIDIA
        Chip type: GeForce 7600 GS
         DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC

[A8Jaraxl]

A DX Diag. report would be useful, with any luck you may be able to upgrade without replacing so much. If you do decide on that route and other thing to watch is your PSU (Power Supply Unit) as new GPUs (Graphics Processing Units) are power hogs. All that aside I would recommend a Intel Duo (perhaps an E7400?) over any quad core, you'll save money and it will easily be enough for this game.

I agree with AirFlyer, a quad core really is overkill for most people. There are only a few games on the market that can even make use of a quad core. Most will not even use a Dual Core.
Let me know what your power supply is TwentyFo, and I can give you link to a pretty good priced combo deal that will save you some cash. For $600 I could almost rebuild your entire PC .

[AirFlyer]

Odd, any chance you can get us your motherboard model? For some reason it didn't list in the DX Diag and all it has is "System Model: To Be Filled By O.E.M."

An other thing I forget to mention is if you could get your PSU Specs. to see if you have to replace it.

[Die Hard]

Why not just link to your very nice thread AirFlyer?

http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,270181.0.html

[TwentyFo]

Odd, any chance you can get us your motherboard model? For some reason it didn't list in the DX Diag and all it has is "System Model: To Be Filled By O.E.M."

An other thing I forget to mention is if you could get your PSU Specs. to see if you have to replace it.

Motherboard is an ASUS P4P 800E Deluxe

Power Supply is an Atec True Power 2.0 430W

[A8Jaraxl]

and I'm fine with it. Lets face it, the system I have now is outdated and I am budgeting to buy a new motherboard and graphics card. The thing is, HTC is trying to stay competitive in an industry that constantly evolves. There is no way in hell that they should wait for some of us with lesser computers to upgrade. That is just the way it is. Live with it, deal with it.

Anyways, my father found a middle of the road quad core processor, motherboard, and ram for around $600. Any other suggestions for some new hardware?

For your CPU/MB

Try this on for size.  http://www.portatech.com/catalog/viewitem.asp?ID=25355&O=26644     $201.91

For your memory try this   http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145197   $95.00 (with $20 mail in rebate)

for a total of $296.91 or $276.91 after the rebate.

I would also suggest this Cooling fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118046  for an additional $79.89 if this will fit in your case. That would bring you to a total of $376.80 (plus any shipping fee's) before the $20 rebate.

I can go cheaper then this if you like. I would not suggest skimping on the memory. Corsair and Kingston both have great customer service departments as well as awesome memory. Any that I have bought from then have lasted a very long time. As I have said else where, cheap memory could last you a couple years or only a couple months.

[A8Jaraxl]

Motherboard is an ASUS P4P 800E Deluxe

Power Supply is an Atec True Power 2.0 430W

You should be able to get by with the PSU unless you want to start running dual cards.

[A8Jaraxl]

Why not just link to your very nice thread AirFlyer?

http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,270181.0.html

BTW that is a really good base computer for anyone running a PC that is comparable to a Commidor 128 to start with. As Flyer said, ensuring you free up all of your computers resources is crucial in gaming a system under or close to minimal spec requirements.

[AirFlyer]

Alright, here's is what I pulled up on that PSU, from the looks of it you should be able to re-use it.

PSU Specs
+5V       15.0A
+12V1    16.0A
+12V2    16.0A
+12V3    16.0A   
-12V      0.8A
+5VSB    3A
+3.3V     22.0A

Your motherboard on the other hand is dated so you'll have to replace it, that along with the GPU and CPU like you planned. One thing that you will also have to get due to the new motherboard is new RAM. My suggestions would be the following...

GPU: 9800GT, 109$... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130450
CPU: Inel Core 2 Duo E7400, 109$... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115206
RAM: OCZ Reaper HPC 2GB PC2-8500, 39$... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227191
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX, 120$... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E1681312835

In the end your practically replacing your entire computer now unfortunately. The good news is you've only totaled 377$ which is under your (what I'm assuming) 600$ limit. With all the new hardware though you may run into cooling issues depending on your old case which will likely run you more money, so this is becoming a rather large project now and I'll stop and let you decide.

On the other hand, from the specs I've seen you should be able to get relatively good performance out of your current computer, and if you want to give that a try here is some suggested reading. http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,270596.0.html

[TwentyFo]

Alright, here's is what I pulled up on that PSU, from the looks of it you should be able to re-use it.

PSU Specs
+5V       15.0A
+12V1    16.0A
+12V2    16.0A
+12V3    16.0A   
-12V      0.8A
+5VSB    3A
+3.3V     22.0A

Your motherboard on the other hand is dated so you'll have to replace it, that along with the GPU and CPU like you planned. One thing that you will also have to get due to the new motherboard is new RAM. My suggestions would be the following...

GPU: 9800GT, 109$... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130450
CPU: Inel Core 2 Duo E7400, 109$... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115206
RAM: OCZ Reaper HPC 2GB PC2-8500, 39$... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227191
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX, 120$... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E1681312835

In the end your practically replacing your entire computer now unfortunately. The good news is you've only totaled 377$ which is under your (what I'm assuming) 600$ limit. With all the new hardware though you may run into cooling issues depending on your old case which will likely run you more money, so this is becoming a rather large project now and I'll stop and let you decide.

On the other hand, from the specs I've seen you should be able to get relatively good performance out of your current computer, and if you want to give that a try here is some suggested reading. http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,270596.0.html

Thanks a bunch, I'll let you know what I go with. <S> 

[AirFlyer]

Thanks a bunch, I'll let you know what I go with. <S> 

No problem, glad I could help.

[Madkow]

and I'm fine with it. Lets face it, the system I have now is outdated and I am budgeting to buy a new motherboard and graphics card. The thing is, HTC is trying to stay competitive in an industry that constantly evolves. There is no way in hell that they should wait for some of us with lesser computers to upgrade. That is just the way it is. Live with it, deal with it.

Anyways, my father found a middle of the road quad core processor, motherboard, and ram for around $600. Any other suggestions for some new hardware?

If you didn't spend your money on midget porn you could have had it already.

[A8Jaraxl]

Thanks a bunch, I'll let you know what I go with. <S> 

Ahh forgot to mention the video card. The one Flyer posted is probably the best bang for your buck. The CPU and Motherboards we both posted (CPU's are the same) are pretty much alike. The combo deal I link just comes about $20 cheaper.

I know you where considering the deal your father found that was about $600 you said. If you can manage to grab either set of MB/CPU/Memory combination along with the 9800GT ( as I am sure Both me and Flyer will agree these are the best bang for your buck) and still have some money to play with I do suggest you get either the Heatsink/Fan I posted or another after market one. Ensure they fit the socket set your using (775).
A good heatsink and fan will extend the life of your CPU dramatically. The standard ones that come with the CPU normally just do the bare minimum as far as cooling.

It is just my opinion but I am pretty strange about memory. The memory Flyer linked I have no experience with and I tend to stay away from other brands until I see some extensive reports about them. Not saying its not good memory, but what I will tell you is do some research on each brand and let the information you find help you choose which way to go.

Try and find third party testers like Tom's Hardware  http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/gaming-graphics-charts-2009/3DMark06-v1.1.0-3DMark-Score,1195.html
Here is the 2009 Graphics card comparison for 3D. Stuff like this can help you find the best bang for your buck.

The Gigabite Motherboards are awesome, they produce a good quality motherboard for a reasonable price, always have. Their customer support is pretty decent and their on-line support is very well done.

Video cards really is all about personal preference. Both ATI and Nvidia make some extremely powerful cards. As I said in one post it is the difference of 1000HP 4cyl and a 1000HP V8. They get the horsepower in different ways but can do that same amount of work.