Hunt for New Computer

[Captain2]

My old computer of roughly 5 years has decided that its no longer interested in functioning and I'm kind of curious as to what kind of replacement could be found for it in terms of a gamers computer.

Essentially my goal for the new computer is for it to be the AK-47 of computers, Cheap as possible and as Reliable as possible. My old computer was first bought to play things like Warcraft 3 and Call of Duty 1 but still managed to handle itself up until Bioshock and Company of Heroes.

What should I try to get to meet this and what could it end up costing?

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Would you be willing to build your own? One of the better things to do as you can choose your own hardware, e.g. trading off that fancy blu-ray drive to afford more RAM, that sort of thing.

 

[Captain2]

sadly I believe that I'd break the poor thing and my extra ram money would be replacing a part I crammed in backwards or accidentally set on fire (it doesn't say anywhere to NOT apply liberal amounts of Petrol)

But yeah, I'm more hoping along the lines of recomending to whoever I get to build the thing what parts I would like in it.

 

[GoodGame]

Don't be scared!!! Build your own.

My currently unresearched biases for an 'Ak47 of gaming' would be about a:
$100 Nvidia card, I guess a GT or GTX version,
a Wolfdale dual core (Intel) <I suppose AMD is the ChiCom of computers, but I just prefer Intel, and Wolfdales could now be filed in the trusted but not really cutting edge folder). If you do go with wolfdales, I'd guess about 5000 series if you're really cheap, 7000 would be moderate, though I'd push for 8000 series myself (Maybe it's really an AK-74).

about 2 GB of ram, probably around 800mhz, probably DDR2.
$20-$30 audio card is and okay idea.

and a mobo that supported that with minimalist onboard graphics and audio (I guess in the under $70 range), but preferably a good maker like Asus, or Gigabyte, or even Intel. Should support PCI-E (express) 16x, 2.0 version. Ideally a slot for whatever sound card, if any.

And about $200 on 21.x" to 22" flat screen monitor. Another $50 on a good mouse and keyboard. And about $50 on speakers/headset.

And a nice roomy case with lots of fans. If it's an ak-47, it's fitting that the fans be louder.

If you're unsure about why you really want to build your own computer, compare components on a site like NewEgg plus a few books and your personel time versus what you might build through Dell/Gateway/HP + their warranty.

 

[Captain2]

So my utter lack of computer creation knowledge is no problem?

I will warn you, I'm unknowledgeable enough that if I feel the computer is running a little slow I'm more likely to paint it Red than give it additional RAM in an attempt to remedy the problem.

 

[GoodGame]

Painting your components would be pretty ignorant. I'd suggest you read a book before ordering any components if that's your natural inclination.

 

[Captain2]

yeah.... I guess that reference was a little reaching

 

[GoodGame]

I guess it's a Go fasta red Ork reference, but yeah that's kind of reaching. Still I wouldn't paint anything, other than maybe the outside of the case---and probably only then if it's plastic.