Computer help for Medieval II:Total War

[Frankish Warlord]

I am a college student on a limited budget and am in the market for a new computer. The total war series is the best thing that ever happened to computing, it is my absolute favorite, and in being so, I purchased a copy of Medieval II and I don't have a computer that can play it. With a max budget for a computer at around $2000, what components (ie. processors, video cards sound cards etc..) would be best to play the game? A second question, what companies out there that have the best gaming comnputers?:hmmm:

[CIaagent11]

Thats a way too big question to get it answered here. I had the same one some months ago and I got great help at overclock.net.
I would recommend a single core CPU, because the other processor doesn't do anything for M2TW performance. (Or any game exept far cry.)
Also, I recommend you to buy a direct x 9 graphics card.
A dx 10 card doesn't do anything for medieval 2 and unless you need it for other games it will cost you without doing any good, since M2TW is a dx9 game.
Go to overclock.net and ask them the same question. They are pretty good at giving good tips of that kind.
For the budget you named you should get a pretty fine gaming pc.
EDIT: Welcome to the forums.

[vikrant]

to basement

[Spart]

Whoa there, with that budget you'll get an insane PC. Don't fall for some crappy Dell package computer, assemble your own. Or choose the parts at least and let someone else to assemble it.
I'm not building the whole thing here, but try something like:
-Fine Core 2 Duo processor
-Couple of gigs of DDR2
-Gf8800-series graphics card

You won't even have to use $2000. And you'll be fine a couple of years. With other games too, since M2 probably won't be the only one you play.
If this is, umm.. Too powerful, you could try something cheaper, sure. Depends on whether you're an active gamer or not.
Well, just what I would do

Welcome to the forums.

[shadowarmy75]

I would recommend a single core CPU, because the other processor doesn't do anything for M2TW performance. (Or any game exept far cry.)
Also, I recommend you to buy a direct x 9 graphics card.
A dx 10 card doesn't do anything for medieval 2 and unless you need it for other games it will cost you without doing any good, since M2TW is a dx9 game.

I disagree. Dual core is clearly the way to go for the future since with that kind of budget he should at least get 3 or 4 years of solid performance from it. I say get a medium 8800 like this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814186011

A good Dual Core like the 6600

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115003

And some good RAM with tight timings to keep up with the GPU. You can always put in another gig later.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231077

That's around 1k if I am counting correctly right now and all you would need is the Mobo and a decent case and a good psu. Not a bad price for a very good system.