Help me buy a PC that will run it!

[Simo]

I currently have a P4 3ghz 1gig ram laptop that does everything I need (video editing, 3d CAD programs, rendering programs) except play a turn based strategy game that has suddenly turned into a graphics game! (my little dig at hoe frustrated I am at this once gameplay based game turning into a graphics hog!)

I will have to get a Desktop PC soon and was wondering what sort of system will be good for the uses I need (video editing, 3d CAD programs, rendering programs) plus manage to play civ iv.

Judging by those uses what spec's can computer people recomend for me, so when I start checking out shops I will know what to look for.

 

[Clown2TheLeft]

Apparently, something about four years old with the oldest drivers possible.

No, I'm not kidding.


It will be completely unsuitable for your video editing purposes, but it'll probably run Civ IV.


Later!

--the Clown to the Left

 

[dosage0]

A64 3000+ and overclock it (it will get 2.5 perfectly stable without any problems.. mines 2.6 and completely stable)
Nvidia graphics card 6600GT or better
A gig of mushkin ram
DFI Infinity Mainboard
BenQ 1640 (great CD/DVD RW for 40 dollars from newegg. Plextor uses their hardware exactly and just marks it up)

** MOST IMPORTANT AND WHY MINE WONT RUN**
A hardware sound card (get a soundblaster or something mainstream) I am using usb speakers.. and they work perfectly for everything else

Anything else is not really important and you can get whatever you want.

The whole system should set you back under a grand for one of the fastest systems available.

**EDIT: for CAD and rendering you're going to want a dual core opteron for $280. They overclock to 2.5-2.6 very easily as well. Almost all AMD chips hit the same speed wall at 2.7 GHz so you may as well get the cheapest***

Hope that helps...

Rob

 

[Civ4Fanatic]

My pc runs civ4 without any probs at all and can hold its own with video and cad type stuff:

i have Athlon64 3500+ (Winchester)
MSI K8N Diamond SKT939 nForce4 Onboard Sound/LAN DDR
Corsair RAM 1024mg (matched pair 512x2)
Western Digital Raptor 72gb E-sata - 10krps 5.2ms 8mb Cache
XFX GeForce 6800 GT 256MB DDR3 TV-Out/Dual DVI PCI-E
Pioneer DVR-109 16x Multiple Format DVD Writer in Black

while some of this is overkill on some of the games i play it really helps when playing with rendering graphics and the like.

Admittidly it did cost me around £800 and that was over easter so im sure now you could get a very similar spec for somewhat less.

Hope this helps