I'm taking the plunge...

[Nefarious]

I am going to buy a system from magicmicro.com after a colleague recommended them...

I am thinking about this:

http://magicmicro.com/smoreinfo.asp?iid=2761

or even this:

http://magicmicro.com/smoreinfo.asp?iid=2331

Should I go with Windoze 7 or keep XP? Would appreciate any input. I like XP and I could always upgrade to 7 down the road...

[Spikes]

As always prebuilts , even custom ones, lack on the video card. IMO I'd get at least a GTX260/HD5770 (depending if you want ATI or Nvidia).

But as the custom person in me I must ask. Would you consider building your own? It's quite simple to do...

[Nefarious]

I knew your question would arise. I have never tried and really don't feel comfortable in doing so. I've put new 3D cards in my old compaq presario, that's about it.

As for 3D cards... What would be good for running Aces High and the Silent Hunter Series at full blast with hi-res textures?

[guncrasher]

power supplies will barely run the vc that comes with it.  if you update vc then ps must be updated too.  look at these site too.  heard good things about it from a couple of guys and their puters seem a little better for the same money.

http://www.ibuypower.com/

semp

[Spikes]

I knew your question would arise. I have never tried and really don't feel comfortable in doing so. I've put new 3D cards in my old compaq presario, that's about it.

As for 3D cards... What would be good for running Aces High and the Silent Hunter Series at full blast with hi-res textures?

Believe it or not putting it together is sort of like Legos. Intel's can be a bugger with the heat sink fan, but AMD's are simple and I put together a system in about 20 minutes. The 'hardest' part is getting the parts compatible with each other (which we'll help with). There are many walk-throughs online and you get a sense of accomplishment when you look over and say "I built that!". But that's MHO.

When I had my single HD5770 it ran AH full bore with no problems, but when I turned full shadow textures on at 8000, it started to dip from 60 to 57...but hardly noticeable. I've never tried hi-res graphics, but I'm sure it wouldn't be too much worse. I now run two 5770s and it flies in any game. But I'd assume that's out of your price range by then. Never played SH but Im' sure it's in the ballpark of AH yet a bit better graphics wise.

But I seriously suggest considering doing it yourself. You can save a bit of money, and the guys here can walk you through it.

[Nefarious]

What compounds my problem is that I don't know anything about Motherboards or the internals enough to actually select what I need.

If I had a parts list, that would build specified computer it may be easier and less confusing for me.

[Ghastly]

...
Should I go with Windoze 7 or keep XP? Would appreciate any input. I like XP and I could always upgrade to 7 down the road...

Except... you can't.  There's no in place upgrade from XP to Windows 7 - it's a full re-install to go from XP to 7.

<S>

[Spikes]

What compounds my problem is that I don't know anything about Motherboards or the internals enough to actually select what I need.

If I had a parts list, that would build specified computer it may be easier and less confusing for me.

With a budget I'm sure a few people on here can help you out with a parts list. Also just some general info if you'll need monitor, keyboard, etc. as well as if an OS will also be included in the price.

[DREDIOCK]

What compounds my problem is that I don't know anything about Motherboards or the internals enough to actually select what I need.

Well your in the right forum to find out. Some real good help to be found here.

If you ever put together a model as a kid. You can put your own rig together. As someone mentioned. the hardest thing is the heat sink fans for the Intel CPUs. Can be a bit frustrating. But even that is more then doable. After that its justa matter of this plugs in her and that plugs in there and putting it in the case.

Most motherboards are pretty well documented these days. If you can read and follow directions. you shouldnt have much of a problem

[Nefarious]

With a budget I'm sure a few people on here can help you out with a parts list. Also just some general info if you'll need monitor, keyboard, etc. as well as if an OS will also be included in the price.

$1000... Would like to stay with XP.

[Spikes]

$1000... Would like to stay with XP.

This meaning you already have XP? I doubt it is 64bit XP however, which isn't great considering  such a system can only handle 3gb's of Ram. The system I've got spec'ed has 4GB's and another 1GB video card.

I will get you a part list by tomorrow evening for sure. I've got it mapped out a bit right now and here is what I'm looking at:
i5 750 Quad Core - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215
Evga P55 LE mobo - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188054
A-DATA 4GB DDR3 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211423
Gigabyte HD5830 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125317
Spinpoint F3 500GB hdd - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181
Corsair 750TX - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006
M59 case - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146058

This is just a quick list I put together in 5-10 minutes. This is 934 total w/o extra fans, cables, etc. I will refine it tomorrow when I have some more time....if anyone else wants to add or subtract to this list please do so. The more thoughts the better. 

[Nefarious]

This meaning you already have XP? I doubt it is 64bit XP however, which isn't great considering  such a system can only handle 3gb's of Ram.

No. I would have to buy this separately. I meant I would like to stay with XP, as everything I play/use works in my current setup.

My main problem now is I have to play Aces High on the most Min settings and Silent Hunter III craps out on me constantly. This didn't happen until recently.

I was considering moving my current 3D card to my Sony Vaio, which is dated itself but at least it has 2 Gigs of Ram.

[guncrasher]

what is going to happen to your current computer, u gonna sell it? give it away?  u can reuse some components depending on conditions.  somethings, like sound cards/cd, hd or the xp os can be installed on your new computer.  that might save you some money.  and if they dont work, well u can always buy another later.  except for the hd buy one now, use your old for extra junk storage.

semp

[Ghosth]

Actually if he set it up properly (with a spare partition) for a dual boot, yes he could add Win 7 at virtually any point he desired. AND maintain the ability to go back to XP.

Except... you can't.  There's no in place upgrade from XP to Windows 7 - it's a full re-install to go from XP to 7.

<S>

[TequilaChaser]

Actually if he set it up properly (with a spare partition) for a dual boot, yes he could add Win 7 at virtually any point he desired. AND maintain the ability to go back to XP.

   this is a great route to take....... ( or at least plan for by making "2" partitions before loading the WinXP OS, and keeping the 2nd partition for future instal of win 7 64 bit OS )

it even saved "me behind" this past weekend, I was cleaning up some folders using the "DOD 5 times stripping /erasing method" ( <--- or whatever it is going by memory ) and I was like only 1/4 way awake friday morning... I accidently highlited (2) complete seperate AH game installs and even my AH backup folder on my WinXP install of my dualboot system.....

to keep it short.... I never realized what I did until I went to logon for FSO friday night..... thank goodness I had Windows 7 installed on the same HD set in dualboot mode.. I was able to reboot and logon to Win7 and play FSO friday night.... ( actually I have 3 HD's and can boot to 4 different installed OS's depending on what I am wanting to do, along with an extra "hotswap HD set up" as well )

and I even have most of my backup files I can copy back over to my WinXP OS after I re-install the game..... ( lost nearly 7 gigs worth of stuff with a very simple mis-click of the mouse.... on that particular partition )

if you going to have at least 4 gigs of memory & a dual core CPU....... you will really benefit with windows 7 64 bit..... even if though most everything the majority uses is 32 bit oriented