Poll: Computers

[Lord Krunk]

I honestly can't believe this; Search didn't come up with anything. I'll bet it's been made anyway, but just to be sure...

For those who don't know, I'm looking at a new computer, so I can finally play any game since Source came around. You see, I bought my old one at the worst time humanly possible, and I wish to remedy this.

Any way, when I was getting recommendations on what to get, there was a great divide in people who swore by either Dual or Quad Core processors. It's left an internal debate for me, because I don't want to make a dodgy choice. What are your opinions?

But enough about me; what about you? What are your computer's specs? What parts (Processor, Graphics Card etc.) do you swear by? Any awesome-looking cases you have or want me to look at?

Oh, and please provide computer advice for... uninformed people like myself. I think myself, and any people in the forums would find this kind of help quite useful.

Thanks in advance.

 

[runtheplacered]

Q6600 OC'd to 3.2 ghz on air
4 gigs of ram
8800gts 512 (g92)

Plays anything I throw at it and it didn't break the bank (back in January). Quad-core is definitely the way to go.

 

[stompy]

Right now, I have a P4 2.8GHz, with a recent upgrade causing it to now have a 7600GT and 1.5GB RAM (though, it's only DDR400).

As for a processor, I'd probably go quad-core, though be aware that Intel is releasing it's new i7 cores in the very near future (I've seen X58 motherboards for sale in Australia), which basically means that most motherboards bought today won't be compatible with newer CPUs in the future.

Though, since you've brought together the tech heads, I have a question that I would like answered: would it better to wait for an i7 set-up, or buy a Quad-using system now and be done with it?

 

[perfectimo]

For now the following components are contained in my PC. I won't bother with full names.

2.66 celeron D
512mb ddr400
128mb 256 bit 9600/X1050

This may look really bad, and it is, but I should be getting a new computer over the end of year holidays. Only problem is I won't be able to optimise all the parts because of Windows 7.

Go the Quad-core for future-proofing your computer. People may have said the dual-core but that is only because quad-core aren't being fully utilised yet.


EDIT: I read the poll wrong -1 from dual and +1 to quad

 

[karmapolizei]

Core2Duo 7200 (@2.53Ghz)
2 GB RAM

Bought it just a few months ago. It still needs a proper graphics card (I bought it at Dell because it was a really good bargain, but the built-in graphics card [ATI Radeon 2400] doesn't go very far. I knew this, but I also knew that Dell charges you twice the card's value just for sticking it into a slot and installing a driver, which seems a bit steep to me) and the approriate power supply, but that's gonna come in the next few weeks.

As for which CPU to buy - it all depends on what kind of money you want to spend on your rig, and what kind of performance you want to see. Right now, I'd say QuadCore (or, Heaven forbid, Core i7) is only for people who have way to much money or are way to keen on seeing Crysis on a 1680 resolution with zillion-x-anti-aliasing, which, I think, is kind of daft. Come on, if you play any game on 1280 (or even 1024) with full detail, it still looks great, even on a 22" screen.
My point is: Right now, you're getting the most out of your money with a DualCore (preferrably Intel), mostly because there's only one or two games out there that make use of QuadCores in the first place. So if you buy one now, you'll be spending a lot more money on a QuadCore that currently has no advantage at all over a DualCore with the same core frequency. That will change in the long run. Not drastically however, because CPUs have long ceased to be the decisive factor for gaming perfomance, even mid-prive models are hardly ever maxed out.

Thus, you'll want to look out for proper video card, this will affect gaming perfomance the most. You'll also most probably want an ATI - try a 4830 for low-budet (it still kicks ass), if you really want performance, try a 4870. If you're crazy on spending money, get an nvidia GTX 280.

 

[Lord Krunk]

For now the following components are contained in my PC. I won't bother with full names.

2.66 celeron D
512mb ddr400
128mb 256 bit 9600/X1050

This may look really bad, and it is, but I should be getting a new computer over the end of year holidays. Only problem is I won't be able to optimise all the parts because of Windows 7.

Hey, if it's any consolation, mine's worse than that. But I did go and improve my Graphics Card a while back.

 

[orifice]

currently dual, getting a quad in the new year.(AMD)
4Gb corsair ddr2 800mhz (4.4.4.12)
radeon x1950 pro 512Mb (upgrading to HD4870 in the new year)

 

[perfectimo]

For now the following components are contained in my PC. I won't bother with full names.

2.66 celeron D
512mb ddr400
128mb 256 bit 9600/X1050

This may look really bad, and it is, but I should be getting a new computer over the end of year holidays. Only problem is I won't be able to optimise all the parts because of Windows 7.

Hey, if it's any consolation, mine's worse than that. But I did go and improve my Graphics Card a while back.

Here's the sad part, that gpu is upgraded.

 

[Dommyboy]

Quad because the Q6600 is easy to overclock so you can get a lot more bang for your buck.

 

[Lord Krunk]

For now the following components are contained in my PC. I won't bother with full names.

2.66 celeron D
512mb ddr400
128mb 256 bit 9600/X1050

This may look really bad, and it is, but I should be getting a new computer over the end of year holidays. Only problem is I won't be able to optimise all the parts because of Windows 7.

Hey, if it's any consolation, mine's worse than that. But I did go and improve my Graphics Card a while back.

Here's the sad part, that gpu is upgraded.

Ouch.

Well, I still have a Windows 95 upgrade package.

 

[perfectimo]

Here's the sad part, that gpu is upgraded.

Ouch.

Well, I still have a Windows 95 upgrade package.

You win. The worst part, my mobo only supports agp.

 

[Lord Krunk]

Here's the sad part, that gpu is upgraded.

Ouch.

Well, I still have a Windows 95 upgrade package.

You win. The worst part, my mobo only supports agp.

You too?

 

[perfectimo]

Ouch.

Well, I still have a Windows 95 upgrade package.

You win. The worst part, my mobo only supports agp.

You too?

Yes, I have suffered the same fate. Oh well, roll on new PC.

 

[Jamanticus]

Quads are going to be better in the long run. I might have a dual-core, but that's because I picked the wrong processor manufacturer this time around. I did intend to upgrade to a Phenom soon, but it would probably be more worth getting a new motherboard and an Intel quad-core.

Graphics card-wise, I've always preferred NVIDIA, usually because they have the best stuff on the market whenever I'm ready to upgrade, but ATI's current top-end graphics cards are very good, and if you're looking for something of worth, go for an HD4870.

I tend to find that the case is usually the thing I spend least on, simply because I don't see the point of having an aesthetically attractive computer when I'm not going to be lugging it about. I'd rather save the money for that, recycle my old case (or buy a cheap ATX case) and use the extra money for better internals. There will be people who probably say, "You can't skimp on a case!", but I ignore them - the internals are far more important, and you can modify a case, as long as it isn't too small.

There is one component that you should not, under any circumstances, skimp on - the power supply. The PSU is the cause of more problems with PCs than any other device, so get a good-quality PSU. I like Corsair, but Antec, Seasonic, Zalman and PCP&C are supposed to be good as well.

Also, this is a fantastic resource for would-be PC builders: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.71279

Both sub-$1000 and sub-$500, courtesy of Eggo.

Don't worry, RAK.....Another AMD user here.

Dual-core for me, but, like RAK, that's because I chose the wrong manufacturer of processors.

Might as well get a quad-core processor if you've got an Intel motherboard......Not completely sure if it's worth it to get a quad-core if it's AMD, though......Maybe if you want to do something other than games, like audio processing......

 

[Lord Krunk]

What should I look for in Motherboards? I've been recommended anything with SLI, but what are your thoughts?

 

[KSarty]

I wouldn't bother with a quad-core yet. It might be a few years before anyone really utilizes quad-core (especially gaming), and by then your CPU might be getting obsolete anyways. I'd just stay with a dual-core for now. If I'm wrong then I can upgrade, if I'm right then I didn't waste any money. I tried buying ahead of the curve with 64bit CPUs, and I went through 2 of them and moved onto a 3rd before anybody did anything with 64bit programming, so it was wasted money.

 

[Jamanticus]

What should I look for in Motherboards? I've been recommended anything with SLI, but what are your thoughts?

SLI is only worth it if you have a widescreen monitor and games that run better with it and such (some of the older games run worse on SLI setups).....

Even then...... I'd say it's more cost-effective to just use a single, really fantastic graphics card.

*these thoughts are the product of a person who owns an SLI motherboard, and started out with one 8800GTX, then added another several months later.*

 

[FireFly90]

I tend to find that the case is usually the thing I spend least on, simply because I don't see the point of having an aesthetically attractive computer when I'm not going to be lugging it about. I'd rather save the money for that, recycle my old case (or buy a cheap ATX case) and use the extra money for better internals. There will be people who probably say, "You can't skimp on a case!", but I ignore them - the internals are far more important, and you can modify a case, as long as it isn't too small.

I can see your resoning for this and i agree (partly), but you also want a case with good airflow or your precious internal parts won't run at their optimum levels.

Recently i went round a friend's house to look at his computer to see what was wrong with it. It turned out that it was overheating partly due to where it was placed (under the desk where little air goes) and partly cos the case design was so rubish, it had next to no vents at the back and front so what air there was just warmed up untill the cpu decided to cut out.
Now that the whole side of the case is off and its placed up to desk level it been fine ever since.

So if the airflow in your old cases is good then yeah i agree, keep the old case.