Good computer?

[TheDarkKnight]

Alright, my computer recently started acting like crap, and it got me thinking about getting a new one.

The one I currently have can't run this game, but can run RTW and those mods fairly well (until recently).

I'm wondering, what would be a good budget computer that could play this game on decent settings, while also being good for other stuff. I figured you guys would know better and be less biased than me going to a local store where they would just be wanting me to buy any computer.

By budget computer, I mean less than a thousand bucks, including all the extra crap they have to put on and charge me more for.

If you help me a lot, you'll get a cookie

edit: I mean a laptop, not a desktop

[Dea Paladin]

Alright, my computer recently started acting like crap, and it got me thinking about getting a new one.

The one I currently have can't run this game, but can run RTW and those mods fairly well (until recently).

I'm wondering, what would be a good budget computer that could play this game on decent settings, while also being good for other stuff. I figured you guys would know better and be less biased than me going to a local store where they would just be wanting me to buy any computer.

By budget computer, I mean less than a thousand bucks, including all the extra crap they have to put on and charge me more for.

If you help me a lot, you'll get a cookie

Well for Medieval II Total War maxed out you can get pretty much any computer. If you go to your local electronics store they will probably only have the newest computers, and they cost about 1600dollars.

But you can get a "not so good" computer for about 600bucks, usually 2nd hand then. But it should run M2TW without problems. So maybe you should have a look around on ebay. Look at this computer:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://cgi.ebay.com/AMD-ATHLON-II-26...ht_7146wt_1141

I found it on ebay, $488. Without operating system though but that should only cost around 100bucks for XP.

[Excellion]

Look at this computer:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://cgi.ebay.com/AMD-ATHLON-II-26...ht_7146wt_1141

I found it on ebay, $488. Without operating system though but that should only cost around 100bucks for XP.

How I love communists. Because of them, a computer like this cost over 2 grands here in Brazil, while the average worker make less then 700 bucks/month.
Of course we still give 40% of our wages to government, so they can wisely spent it on bribes, pop singers private shows, civilian disarming propaganda and referendum, fully-armed bodyguards for themselves and many more...

And I can only play battles with less than 5k soldiers.

[TheDarkKnight]

I should have said I meant a laptop.

I like having a portable system, and a clunky desktop doesn't help all that much.

But thank you for the reply, here's your cookie

[DemaSlasher]

Im a fan of HP Envy´s so here:

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/sh...tegory&v1=ENVY

[Gigantus]

Moved to the basement forum

[Muffer Nl]

Get a desktop, much cheaper.

[Crazyeyesreaper]

$ 650 self build desktop can run all pc games out there with around 75-80% of them maxxed out,

a laptop to keep it up to date and able to play games now and in the future, good luck hope you got $1500-2000 even then it will only be comparable to a $750-800 desktop for gaming.

[TheDarkKnight]

Okay, say I get a desktop...650 bucks...Does that include all the extra stuff or is that just the cost before the anti-virus, Microsoft Office, and all that crap?

[Crazyeyesreaper]

anti virus is free genius only morons pay for it same with office apps

Microsoft Security essentials free antivirus that uses less system resources then every other AV out there, and as long as your not an idiot it serves its purpose and does the job
Open Office.org, oh man wait whats this power point excel, word etc all for free? and its compatibile with microsofts office apps as well oh me oh my.

$650 would include

Case
powersupply
motherboard
cpu
ram
gpu
dvd drive
hdd
Windows 7 64bit

windows is $100 for an OEM lic
Case $35-45 for a NZXT beta Evo or similar
PSU XFX core edition 450w $55
Ram 4gb 2x2gb $50
Motherboard Gigabyte GA880GMA AM3+ supports bulldozer 32nm cpus and 45nm Phenom II athlon II lines $95
CPU Phenom II 840 3.2ghz quadcore $110
Dvd dual layer burner $20
HDD Samsung Spinpoint F4 320gb $42 (fastest 7200rpm drive currently available, if you need more space save up buy a larger storage drive down the road)
GPU: EVGA 460 SE 1gb $140

Total Cost $657

you would need to reuse your monitor keyboard and mouse and would have to learn how to build a PC, but then again i dare you or anyone else tell me they can buy a PC as fast as the above for less or equal value, same applies to any laptop as well lol not to mention has an upgrade path due to it being socket AM3+ the mobo will support AMDs new cpus due out in June so you could eventually upgrade to an 8 core CPU and a better gpu down the road. if you keep specs in mind the psu unit isnt the greatest ever seen but it does have 1 6pin and 1 6+2 pin so it can roughly support most gpus on the market, up to a 6950 from ati or a 560 Ti from nvidia of this current generation.

[TheDarkKnight]

anti virus is free genius only morons pay for it same with office apps

Microsoft Security essentials free antivirus that uses less system resources then every other AV out there, and as long as your not an idiot it serves its purpose and does the job
Open Office.org, oh man wait whats this power point excel, word etc all for free? and its compatibile with microsofts office apps as well oh me oh my.

$650 would include

Case
powersupply
motherboard
cpu
ram
gpu
dvd drive
hdd
Windows 7 64bit

windows is $100 for an OEM lic
Case $35-45 for a NZXT beta Evo or similar
PSU XFX core edition 450w $55
Ram 4gb 2x2gb $50
Motherboard Gigabyte GA880GMA AM3+ supports bulldozer 32nm cpus and 45nm Phenom II athlon II lines $95
CPU Phenom II 840 3.2ghz quadcore $110
Dvd dual layer burner $20
HDD Samsung Spinpoint F4 320gb $42 (fastest 7200rpm drive currently available, if you need more space save up buy a larger storage drive down the road)
GPU: EVGA 460 SE 1gb $140

Total Cost $657

you would need to reuse your monitor keyboard and mouse and would have to learn how to build a PC, but then again i dare you or anyone else tell me they can buy a PC as fast as the above for less or equal value, same applies to any laptop as well lol not to mention has an upgrade path due to it being socket AM3+ the mobo will support AMDs new cpus due out in June so you could eventually upgrade to an 8 core CPU and a better gpu down the road. if you keep specs in mind the psu unit isnt the greatest ever seen but it does have 1 6pin and 1 6+2 pin so it can roughly support most gpus on the market, up to a 6950 from ati or a 560 Ti from nvidia of this current generation.

I'm not a moron..I have never bought a computer on my own. Only computers I have ever had was an XP back in 2002 and now this one, and someone else bought it both times. How would I know? lol

As for building it, I got a step brother who has built his own a couple times. He could probably do it for me.

[Crazyeyesreaper]

there you go if your in the USA i can do a complete actual build on newegg for you aka gives prices shipping etc, because the above price and probably be dropped using newegg combo deals which i was to lazy to find before just grabbing good parts at good prices.

[Ataegina]

i'm not expert but a 450w psu is weak for that build, i would recommend the minimum of 600w to make sure all works at full potential

[Top-Tier-Tech]

i'm not expert but a 450w psu is weak for that build, i would recommend the minimum of 600w to make sure all works at full potential

Remember... you're not an expert.

Actual power consumption and recommended power supplies differ greatly. Having a 450 watt PSU with a single rail delivering the power beats a 550 watt PSU with multiple rails in most cases.

I recently tested a 400 watt single rail Corsair PSU with an i5-2500 (powerful 3.7ghz. quad core 95 watt CPU) and a 6870 for which AMD makes a 500 watt minimum power supply claim. And I ran Furmark to stress the snot out of the system with no problem at all. The main thing is to buy a high quality single rail PSU to get away with these low wattages, some cheap 400 watt PSU would not be able to handle the same components.

[karamazovmm]

Alright, my computer recently started acting like crap, and it got me thinking about getting a new one.

The one I currently have can't run this game, but can run RTW and those mods fairly well (until recently).

I'm wondering, what would be a good budget computer that could play this game on decent settings, while also being good for other stuff. I figured you guys would know better and be less biased than me going to a local store where they would just be wanting me to buy any computer.

By budget computer, I mean less than a thousand bucks, including all the extra crap they have to put on and charge me more for.

If you help me a lot, you'll get a cookie

edit: I mean a laptop, not a desktop

OK,

1) what are your uses?

2) What size do you want?

3) what is the battery life that you want?

4) What is the weight?

5) how much are you on the go?

6) Are looks important to you?

But right of the bat, I would say the DV6 from HP, which sports a 6770m. The quad edition can be had for about 1000 with some coupons that are always floating around.

[Ataegina]

i would like to see that by myself. isnt needed to be expert to make simple maths of every component and how much it takes at full load, as simple example a stock gtx 460 takes allmost half of that psu capacity, now all the rest i would say its bad deal. not even a low end desktop uses that anymore

but seems its laptop so the psu doesnt matter.

[Top-Tier-Tech]

i would like to see that by myself. isnt needed to be expert to make simple maths of every component and how much it takes at full load, as simple example a stock gtx 460 takes allmost half of that psu capacity, now all the rest i would say its bad deal. not even a low end desktop uses that anymore

but seems its laptop so the psu doesnt matter.

Dude, you really don't know what you're talking about. The GTX460 doesn't even come close to using 50% of a 450watt PSU, check out crazyeyesreaper's graph, that is a completely realistic representation of a complete system under full load.

Even your system could easily be run by a Corsair 400watt PSU will power to spare. Future CPU's and GPU's using 28nm and smaller wafers are going to use even less power for the same performance as today's GPU's.

[Bolkonsky]

It all depends on the rails. If you've got good 12v rails then you're probably fine. I'd still recommend always going 100w higher than the minimum just in case you ever want to upgrade something in the future, though, get more case-fans, or power hungry USB devices. (Though those would still have to go through the motherboard.)

[Crazyeyesreaper]

For the nay sayers on the PSU
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php...tory4&reid=224

the above link says it all not the greatest unit around but good enough compared to cheaper and like priced alternatives.

and again the OP will never actually tap the PSUs max load, hitting on average 240-275 when gaming. if that.

Core 450 PRO by XFX is more then enough 408w on the 12v rail by itself its 80+ certified meaning it should be good for about 440-450w on the 12v rail safely and reliably, most units with 80+ bronze or higher certification can give more wattage then there rated for, as they have to actually pass some tests and standards

the cpu uses 95w gpu 146 MAX average peak when actually gaming is 116

thats 95 + 146 + 10for the HDD + 50 for misc items that comes to 100 + 150 + 10 + 50 or tada 310w out of a 450w unit thats of a reputable maker XFX units are based on the same platform as Corsair units not to mention the XFX unit above gets higher marks then the Corsair CX series.

The below total system power usage is on an i7 920 overclocked to 4ghz so for those who do not understand proper component power usage you have your evidence now move along

now an overclocked i7 920 can hit nearly 240w of power usage itself, vs 95 of the stock Phenom II i posted above, and the now unless the OP is going to overclock his system balls to the wall then i might suggest going for a 550w but i doubt he will even then Phenom II will usually only pull 150w when overclocked unless pushing voltages to the extreme, and a 460 SE still wont push past 170w when overclocked meaning even at worse case senario the OP would only hit 300w out of 450 leaving 150w of headroom at stock the OP has around 200w of headroom

Actual GPU power consumption in this review here
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/G...460_SE/25.html

now if the ATi 5850 extreme by sapphire was instock id have suggested that as its better value for money and uses less power on average gaming etc. eitherway. My point has been made, once the OP gives me the location hes from

USA, Canada, UK, etc etc i can do an actual part list and who knows probably fit a better PSU and GPU, the above i posted was 5 mins of google searching with 0 effort.

Not to mention im looking at the thread and im seeing next to 0 contributions from anyone else to be blunt.

and the PSU could be swapped with an Enermax NAXN 450w with the same power cable arrangment but its not 80+ certified and has no actual reviews from reputable tech sites.

Id also suggest a 430CX as the newer version are 80+ but it has only 1 6+2pin and can only push 336w max on a single 12v rail a far cry lower then the XFX unit so for the same price nothing really beats the XFX core Pro 450w


Eitherway if the OP posts where hes from ill post a better PC build till then its all speculation as prices and availability vary by region or location.

[Crazyeyesreaper]

correct a 460 uses less power today then the 8800GTS did 4 years ago, and ppl run those cards off dell 350w units people have an over inflated idea that they NEED 750w to 1000w psu for simple ass computers, hell my system could easily get by at stock clocks on a good 650w unit, but since i overclock i need 850w as my cpu went from 125w to 200w, gpus went from 280 each max in furmark to 320w max in furmark actually gaming tho, its 170-190 per gpu and 90-100 on the cpu far less then the max,

People just believe the things there spoonfed, ive learned the hardware the hardway by catching things on fire lol, a 450w unit for a stock gaming rig is fine, as long as it has the proper cables, as adaptors can be well, hazardous.

just for reference

Below is Furmark power usage aka the highest power draw and GPU will possibly draw,

a GTS 250 is more power efficient then the 9800GTX + 9800GTX and 8800GTS 512 that its based on meaning 2-3 years ago ppl were running 200w 8000 series cards are powersupplies then i listed above, in OEM rigs around the world