Help with system specs for new comp*

[Maniacal]

I am going to get a new computer (that is NOT replacing my current one due to a little thing called two houses) and I am wondering about mostly the graphics card. I know I could go through another thread but I am tired and lazy right now and REALLY need to practise my typing. I spen most of my time playing games but I'm not hardcore and am not very good at RTS games and am better at rpg/fps but still have both. So I need a computer that can run games from all genres well and also old dos games (I have dosbox so that helps) to a few years in the future.

Decided:
2 gis of ram.
GF 7800GT

 

[Speedo]

The current upper end of the GPU lineup is pretty much:

High end - GF 7800GTX for about $500
Mid range - GF 7800GT for about $400
Lower end - GF 6800GT for about $300

Remember too though, that if you're going for a higher end video card you want to have the rest of the system powerful enough so that they aren't holding it back.

(I know someone will probably ask why I don't mention ATI... I don't because I've had too many experiences with ATI; I don't feel that I can recommend them)

 

[Dida]

I heard ATI cards are better, cheaper and faster than their nVidia counterparts. The current flagship from ATI is the X850XT PE, but I think a X800XL, which cost half as much as the former would be a wiser purchase.

From what I have seen though, ATI cards tends to have both higher clockspeed and memory bandwidth than similiarly priced nVida cards. Anyone care to explain this?

 

[Speedo]

I heard ATI cards are better, cheaper and faster than their nVidia counterparts. The current flagship from ATI is the X850XT PE, but I think a X800XL, which cost half as much as the former would be a wiser purchase.

As of today that changes to one of the x1800 models. It gives roughly comperable performance to a GF7800GTX but costs significantly more, since the 7800 has been on the market for almost 6 months.

From what I have seen though, ATI cards tends to have both higher clockspeed and memory bandwidth than similiarly priced nVida cards. Anyone care to explain this?

The same basic reasons that AMD CPUs can equal and out-perform Intel CPUs with significantly lower clock speeds.

 

[dannyevilcat]

I heard ATI cards are better, cheaper and faster than their nVidia counterparts.

"Better" is subjective, and they aren't usually cheaper. That was the case with the last gen, because ATI cards didn't feature shader model 3.0, and people weren't willing to pay the same price for a card with older tech.

I personally prefer ATI, but I've gone NVIDIA for my past 2 cards now. ATI's newest low (X1300) and mid-range (X1600) cards are poor, and their overdue high-end versions (X1800) are only on par with what NVIDIA has been offering for 2-3 months already, and once they settle into the market, they'll be about the same price, not cheaper.

 

[Maniacal]

High end - GF 7800GTX for about $500
OR
I was thinknig of the X800XL.

Processor?
Ram I think I'll get 2 gigs.
HArd Drive?
other?

 

[dannyevilcat]

unless you're playing at a 1600x1200 or higher resolution, a 7800GT or X1800 XL would be the highest end I'd recommend anyone go. A GTX wouldn't even give you double digit more frames per second, for a much higher price.

The X800XL would also be fine (especially cost-wise), but either of the above models would last you longer.

 

[Maniacal]

7800GT or X1800 XL or GF 7800GTX?
Hmm....

 

[Speedo]

Processor?

AMD Athlon 64, as fast as you're willing to pay for. With the gfx cards you're looking at, I would shoot for at least a 3500+

Ram I think I'll get 2 gigs.

Like I said in your other thread 2GB is really not going to be used that much, so it's just whether or not you want to spend the money... unless you do some specifc task(s) that are more memory intensive.

Any Socket 939 board you get should support dual channel, so you'll want a matched pair of DDR400 DIMMs. With my comp I got a pair of Corsair XMS Pro 1GB DIMMS with 3-3-3-8 timing, for just under $300. The absolute best available would be 2-2-2-5 timing, but they're not available in 1GB DIMMs (to my knowledge, 512MB is the best out there) and they basically double the price compared to what I bought. Not worth it IMO.

HArd Drive?

Shoot for a motherboard that supports SATA2, and be sure to get a SATA2 drive. If you can, go for a drive with a 16MB cache. Size is between you and your wallet.

other?

You'll want a PCI sound card, probably and Audigy 2.

You'll want a power supply that supports the ATX v2.0 standard, has connectors for PCIe gfx cards, and SATA power plugs. Most new PSUs should have all of that though. I would look at the Antec Neopower 480W.

 

[Maniacal]

Can you use a wee bit more english?

 

[Speedo]

Well... are you planning to build this system yourself, or buy it from Dell, HP, Alienware (whoever)? If you're not going to build it yourself, you won't need to worry about most of that stuff.

 

[Maniacal]

I'm thinknig of NOT building it myself, as I am the most computer-wise person I know excluding teachers. So, yeah. Definately NOT dell or HP. I have been looking at alienware. And I really don't know much else.

 

[Speedo]

Then just go for the AMD CPU like I said, get however much memory you want, however much HDD space you need, and be sure that it isn't using integrated sound.

 

[Dida]

AlienWare is good, but I think you should get a comp savvy friend and have him help you build this. Why pay alienware to do what you and your friends can easily accomplish?

 

[Maniacal]

Because I don't HAVE any friends like that?
Hre they are:
Actors, cinematographer, unhappy, suicidal teen age mother, computer gamer, wait, one of them went to computer camp... so MAYBE I can get her to help, MAYBE.
Ok, so, besides the info in 1st posat I've decided upon.. what kind of soundcard, gfx card (7800GT or X1800 XL or GF 7800GTX?) processors should I get? anything else? and please use plain english or sum it uo in english.

I don't know how accurate this is but I think I'll go with either the GF 7800GT or GF 7800GTX...
http://hardware.gamespot.com/Story-ST-23717-2610-x-x-x

 

[Dida]

X1800 isn't availible right now, so you should get 7800 GTX, which is the best in the market. for sound card, I would get audigy ZS, which is around 80 buck.

 

[dannyevilcat]

X1800 isn't availible right now, so you should get 7800 GTX, which is the best in the market.

Again, what resolution does Scamp use on his monitor? I highly doubt he's above 1280x1024, so a GTX would probably be a complete waste of money.

 

[Maniacal]

GF 7800GT then, thanks a LOT guys (and gals)!

Sound cards so far suggested: audigy ZS,

 

[FriendlyFire]

2 gis of ram.
GF 7800GT

Get a 6600 LE edition and then open up all pipes using a bios flush its much better value for money.

 

[Maniacal]

Get a 6600 LE edition and then open up all pipes using a bios flush its much better value for money.

Pipes? Bios flush?
You want me to flush it down a bio outhouse toilet thing??? Or are you calling my brain an outhouse!?