Attempting a comeback

[Pannono]

This summer I plan to get a job, mainly to pay for college, but I plan on spending some of it to get back into AH. My current VISTA computer runs 21 fps at the lowest graphics settings. I probably will need a new computer for the upgrade to Windows 7. Should I buy a new Windows 7 computer with high-end performance or keep the Vista and update the equipment? Also, my joystick is sadly outdated. My joystick has 13 buttons, no twist function, and no hat switch. What is the best stick out there for leftys?

[Spikes]

Well first of all, what do you have spec wise now? And what is your budget?  W7 is the way to go either way.

I am also a lefty but personally didnt think twice about getting a lefty stick...always flown righty.

[Pannono]

Windows Vista Home Premium
Manufacturer: HP
Model: a6242n
Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4800+ 2.50 GHz
32-bit OS

Vid Card: GeForce 6150SE nForce 430
PSU: 250W

Edit: Budget depends on what kind of job i can find

[Krusty]

CPU should be able to run AH okay, as long as you trim back a lot of the stuff that Vista runs by default. It will suck the performance out of your system if you let it.

Your main problem is your video card. That's the kind of card that can barely run spreadsheets, let alone games. It's integrated onto the motherboard and will only cause headaches if you try gaming with it.

The easiest, most cost-effective way to get back into the game is to research what kind of add-in video card you can currently support, get one, and disable the onboard video.

Chances are that you won't be able to do that with a 250W power supply, though, so you'll need a new PSU along with the new video card.

[Spikes]

And budget is what we'll need. Definitely going to need a vid card and PSU. Like Krusty said the CPU should be decent...also how much ram you got?  I can't imagine more than 3GBs...3 is fine, but you'd probably want 2gb minimum.

[Pannono]

And budget is what we'll need. Definitely going to need a vid card and PSU. Like Krusty said the CPU should be decent...also how much ram you got?  I can't imagine more than 3GBs...3 is fine, but you'd probably want 2gb minimum.

3GB
Well, the minimum wage in AZ is $7.25, so I figure that 7.25 an hour x 7 hours a day x 5 days a week x 12 weeks of summer = about $3100. And its a possibility i might make more than $7.25 so that number might be higher
Edit: About $1000-1500 will be my budget hopefully. Dont want to spend too much, college is more important

[cattb]

 I am budget minded and if you want to get by fairly cheap watch the specials at newegg. You will want to watch some of the bundles but beware the components might not match up.
 Personally on a budget I would build AMD but, if I was going to spend towards the 1000 range I would go for Intel. 2GB RAM should be plenty unless you plan on running RAM extensive application software ( might want more RAM if running 64 bit, have to talk to someone that runs 64 bit). I would go with ddr3 and whatever I built I would like it to be upgradeable in the future.
 You mentioned going to school. You could get a academic upgrade of Windows 7 on the cheap with your student ID as long as you go fulltime. I paid 42 dollars for my upgrade and that came as a disk with serial.

[Bino]

...What is the best stick out there for leftys?

Do a search here on the AH BBS for posts by HomeBoy.  He makes a lefty flight sim setup that's garnered lots of positive comments. 

[Boozeman]

Edit: About $1000-1500 will be my budget hopefully. Dont want to spend too much, college is more important

All you need is a video card in the $100 range and a sufficient PSU which should be available for way under $100 to run AH at enjoyable settings.
 

[Bino]

Here's a link to HomeBoy's web page:  http://snomhf.exofire.net/

[Krusty]

All you need is a video card in the $100 range and a sufficient PSU which should be available for way under $100 to run AH at enjoyable settings.
 

I would be careful saying that. There are a number of cards near the $100 range that really aren't too hot for gaming. The lower end cards get "1.5 GB of RAM" (like the latest 9600 GSO) but overall the performance isn't too hot.

Will run the game? Yes. Run it well? heheh, maybe not. If unsure, I'd suggest getting feedback on the forums here before hitting the "submit order" button.

[skribetm]

some folks have been doing pretty good on HD5770 gpu's.
ask spikes. 

that cpu + HD5770 + 2x1GB DDRAM + win7 64-bit + a good psu

[Masherbrum]

some folks have been doing pretty good on HD5770 gpu's.
ask spikes. 

that cpu + HD5770 + 2x1GB DDRAM + win7 64-bit + a good psu

Waste of money getting 2GB of RAM and 64 bit OS.   4GB min. + GPU for 64 bit, or you might as well stick with/purchase 32 bit.   

[skribetm]

Waste of money getting 2GB of RAM and 64 bit OS.   4GB min. + GPU for 64 bit, or you might as well stick with/purchase 32 bit.   

2x1GB is cheaper, 64-bit will still address 2GB and x86_64 instruction set offers noticeable speed-up compared to legacy x86.
never buy 32-bit software. most, if not all, programs today are optimized for 64-bit. im using 64-bit and DDRAM rarely goes up to as much as 1.5GB when gaming AH2.

[BaldEagl]

I'd just get something like a 9800GT, a 500W PSU and Windows 7 all for under $400 and save the rest for college.  You're going to need it.