Know nothing about computers: what kind of PC should I buy to get it to work?

[OBizz]

I know nothing about PC's and usually only use it for internet. The only game I've really ever played have been all three civs. I have a really crappy computer that I've had for three years and am looking to upgrade just so I can play civ. What do I need to have the game run very smooth.

I'm looking at Dell right now. Here are the specs I'm looking at:

Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 521 w/HT Technology (2.8GHz,800FSB)

1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 400MHz -2DIMMs (should I upgrade to 2 gigs for about $150 more or is 1GB plenty)

80GB Serial ATA Hard Drive

Single Drive: 16X DVD-ROM Drive (would a faster CD drive make the game go faster at all)

17 inch E173FP Analog Flat Panel


This PC adds up to a little under $700. Is anything else important? I didn't see anything about a graphic card. Thanks a lot in advance, I apprecaite the help and can't wait to play this game

 

[dosage0]

You'll get better quality stuff if you have someone who knows how to build a computer to put one together for you. That computer will work alright, but you'll need a decent video card and I dont see one listed.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814145098

$135 dollars and will run most anything you throw at it just fine. Just put it in th e dell if thats what you end up getting. Its really not all that complicated to install a graphics card yourself.

You may want to try Hewlett Packard as they sell AMD chips which are a bit faster.

My 2 cents,

Rob

 

[one_hoop]

I do have knowledge of computers, but my home pc is from 98 or 99 and is not upgradeable. I was planning on purchasing a new computer early next year and was going to use the C.IV requirements as the baseline for what I needed to get. At this point, I may buy a OSX machine, as I have grown accustomed to (and fond of!) that operating system at work. However, I suspect that I could still get C.IV up and running on a cheaper system through the PC. I'd also like to keep a PC for extracing audio (no EAC equivalent that I'm aware of) but my needs are minimal enough that I could still do that at work.

Has anyone put together a new system explicitly for C.IV and how cheap are you able to do so? I have sufficient confidence that I could put a system together from parts if I knew which ones to get and knew that they were all compatable with each other.

It seemed like this fit under this thread sufficiently well not to start a new thread?


M@

 

[dosage0]

You could get a Civ system fairly cheap. This is all off ww.Newegg.com. Try Tiger direct or any of the others and look for rebates.

Athlon 64 3000 135.00
Gig of Ram from OCZ Premier $95
939 socket motherboard $75 (DFI is sweet and can O/C well, but its about 120)
6600GT by any manufacturer $140
Any Harddrive 50-75 depending. There is a good deal on Western Digital Raptors at 140.
BenQ 1640 CDRW DVDRW 40 dollars (sweet deal)
OCZ modstream power supply $75
Creative Labs 24 bit soundcard 30 dollars

Use an old case, your old monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
This can be overclocked from 1.8 to 2.4 GHz without upgrading anything if you felt like it. All AMD chips hit between 2.4-2.7 GHz regardless of what speed they are sold at.

Total: 665.00 estimate without upgrading any of the choices.

That computer will run anything you can throw at it.

Rob

 

[JasonX]

Use an old case

I'd advise against that if your old case is from a really old computer (like P2-P3 days old). Alot of the really old cases don't have good air full, usually just a single duct in the back and this can lead to overheating issues with newer components as they usually run hotter and require decent air flow to vent out hot air.

Like everyone else said if you can get someone to build the computer for you, you can get better quaility parts for less. Some sites (even some stores) will sometimes offer to put together the parts you buy for a fee (somethings for free if you spend more then a certain amount). The PC listed above me is great.

This PC adds up to a little under $700. Is anything else important? I didn't see anything about a graphic card. Thanks a lot in advance, I apprecaite the help and can't wait to play this game

Video card is really important, especially for games (and Civ4). My rule of thumb is that if it doesn't list a graphics card or it just something generic (like AGP 32mg video card, no model #/manufactor), i'd assume it's an intel based graphics and therefore not good enough for running most 3d games.