What Gaming PC To Get?

[Ground Zer0]

Hey Guys I specifically want to get a new pc that all the Total War series work on specifically, I used to have an awful Dell pc that's motherboard had a graphics card built in so I couldn't upgrade. So now I want a Gaming PC - doesn't have to be state of the art, but a pc that will work for total war series and thats under... I drop a bombshell, under 600 smackaroons... I'm a complete noob to computers as I've been using 360 until it got the red ring of death so could anyone advise me on what kind of computer I'd have to buy bearing in mind I am computer retarded - would I have to build it by hand to save cash or what? thanks for your time, GZ

[eddy_purpus]

"Waits for either Freddie or WheelChair's advice"


Just wait a moment..
They will come to help you

[Roman Clone]

"Waits for either Freddie or WheelChair's advice"


Just wait a moment..
They will come to help you

Wow, there used to be a time where I was notorious for advice. Dammit, I gotta post more now.

OP, can you re-use anything from your old PC? HDD? Optical Drive? Possibly OS?

Try this:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Ground Zer0]

No unfortunately I had one of those moments where you just go crazy and reconfigure the whole thing with a hammer, it was worth it though, damn dell GZ

[Roman_Man#3]

By smackaroons I assume you mean USD? Do you need a monitor? Keyboard? Mouse? Operating System?

[Ground Zer0]

No GBP, yeah I need all that as well but I don't mind if that costs a bit more GZ

[Freddie]

No GBP, yeah I need all that as well but I don't mind if that costs a bit more GZ

That makes life a bit easier!

I'm sure I can rustle up something for £600.

edit:

Ok for £630.51 (inc VAT & Shipping) you could get the following

CPU - AMD Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition, 2.8GHz
Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-MA785GT-UD3H, AMD 785G, AM3, DDR3
Memory - 4GB (2x2GB) Corsair TwinX XMS3, DDR3 PC3-10666 Cas9
Video Card - 1GB XFX Radeon HD 4870
Case - Antec Three Hundred
Power Supply - 520W Corsair HX Series Modular PSU (Quiet) BTW don't be tempted to save money on the PSU, cheap nasty PSU's mean broken computer.
Opitcal Drive - Samsung SH-S223B/BEBE 22x DVD±R
Hard Drive - Western Digital 640Gb Blue
Operating System - Windows Vista Home Premium 64 Bit (but hold for for Windows 7, it should be the same price and make sure you get 64 Bit not 32 bit)

I know I've linked to Vista but I just put in there to give you an idea of what you can get for your money. BTW the time Windows 7 comes out next month the same PC will most likely be under £600. All the parts I've picked are all quaility parts inculding the case which has good airflow and cable management holes to reduce in case clutter.

[Wheelchair]

That's a solid system Freddie, It could easily play any game on the market.

[Jaketh]

yeah the Antec 300 is a great case for the price, im using it and its very good as long as you can squeeze everything into it, my GTX 260 barely fits in it

[eddy_purpus]

That's a solid system Freddie, It could easily play any game on the market.

I do agree with this!

That Freddie..
gets you my rep

[Wheelchair]

Orly

[Wheelchair]

Hey Guys I specifically want to get a new pc that all the Total War series work on specifically, I used to have an awful Dell pc that's motherboard had a graphics card built in so I couldn't upgrade. So now I want a Gaming PC - doesn't have to be state of the art, but a pc that will work for total war series and thats under... I drop a bombshell, under 600 smackaroons... I'm a complete noob to computers as I've been using 360 until it got the red ring of death so could anyone advise me on what kind of computer I'd have to buy bearing in mind I am computer retarded - would I have to build it by hand to save cash or what? thanks for your time, GZ

Hey, I'm actually in the stages of uploading a "How to build a computer" video on youtube, It will help you out ALOT. All you need to do is buy the parts, watch my video a few times, and you'll be able to build your pc

It'll probably be up in 2-3 days, when I find the time to upload it. It's already made.

Romanclone: You could probable save 70$ by taking the AMD route, and still get around the same performance, try switchin in a Athlon II X 245, 2.9ghz dualcore, it'll offer around the same performance for alot cheaper. Then you could use that extra cash to get a 4870.

[Jaketh]

ha double post fail

[Roman Clone]

ha double post fail

No need to point it out, and not all of us have perfect internet connections.

[Top-Tier-Tech]

No need to point it out, and not all of us have perfect internet connections.

No need to point out that there was no need for him to point that out. This could go on awhile...


@ OP: I agree with MoralOral that going with AMD / ATI would be a wise idea since you want to go with a sub $600 build. Also building it yourself will give you far more for your money, Moral's forthcoming guide will show you how easy it is to accomplish.

[Freddie]

No need to point out that there was no need for him to point that out. This could go on awhile...


@ OP: I agree with MoralOral that going with AMD / ATI would be a wise idea since you want to go with a sub $600 build. Also building it yourself will give you far more for your money, Moral's forthcoming guide will show you how easy it is to accomplish.

And there was no for you to point out that he shouldn't have pointed for him not to point it out. Damn sounds like a episode of Yes Minister.

$600 - For this kind of money you really ought to be looking at self build rather then a pre built system. Well you have to mark at least $100 of that to purchase a Windows licence, you might as well wait until next month for Windows 7 to come out I know you can get Vista with Windows 7 upgrades but the update takes ages and you won't want to repeat the process everything you format the hard drive.

So leaves a budget of $500, I agree with the previous posters your looking at a dual core setup rather then a quad core setup and you might as well go AMD. Their Phenom II dual cores CPU's are quick, overclockable, cheap and you can unlock extra cores if you want (but there no guarantee that it will work). In all your going to need the following base components.

- CPU
- Motherboard
- Ram
- Video Card
- Case
- PSU
- Hard Drive
- DVD+-RW

[Roman_Man#3]

ha nothing useful to add fail

Are you sure the Athlon 245 is going to be equivalent to the E7400?

If you want a quadcore you could also look at Athlons new quad core chips out, there is one for $99, and is supposed to match the performance of the Q8200 or Q8300.

[Ground Zer0]

Thanks for all the advice guys, I'd have been pretty screwed otherwise, you've all been a great help. Now I just need to think of a strategy of saving up some more cash... hmmm

[Ground Zer0]

Oh btw Freddie i've already got windows vista but I used it on this laptop, could I reinstall it on my desktop pc or would I have to buy another?

[Wheelchair]

You'll need to buy another, the Code that came with your laptop is "tied" to your motherboard, well, most of the time.