Need Computer Advice

[Gary Childress]

I hope it's OK to post this here.

I'm in the market for a new computer. I'd like to get one that will handle Civ IV reasonably well, Poser 7, Bryce 5.5 and of course Civ III. It's been a long time since I have been computer shopping and I'm just about lost in all this talk of dual and quad processors. What is good, what is bad? What I want is a machine that will handle graphics better than an old Pentium IV 2.6 ghz single processor which I now have. The machine I have now runs the programs above but it takes its good old time sometimes.

I prefer not to spend over $700-800.

Can anyone recommend some good machines, processors, etc considering my budget and my needs?

Many thanks

 

[timerover51]

I hope it's OK to post this here.

I'm in the market for a new computer. I'd like to get one that will handle Civ IV reasonably well, Poser 7, Bryce 5.5 and of course Civ III. It's been a long time since I have been computer shopping and I'm just about lost in all this talk of dual and quad processors. What is good, what is bad? What I want is a machine that will handle graphics better than an old Pentium IV 2.6 ghz single processor which I now have. The machine I have now runs the programs above but it takes its good old time sometimes.

I prefer not to spend over $700-800.

Can anyone recommend some good machines, processors, etc considering my budget and my needs?

Many thanks

A high-end Mac Mini would handle all of the nicely except maybe Civ 4, plus still run all of your Windows programs with either Bootcamp or Parellels. It would definitely run your graphics programs better in the Mac versions. If you stick with a Windows box, you might do best looking at an HP tower in your price range, Dell has major quality control and tech support issues, based on my son's high school headaches with them. Not sure you are going to notice that much increase in speed with a new processor. How much memory do you have in it now? And have you upgraded the video card?

 

[Gary Childress]

Current specs are 2.8ghz CPU, and 2.50 GB RAM. I put in a new video card some time ago, can't remember what type. It was a medium to low range video card I think, GeForce something or other.

 

[TheOverseer714]

Since you are on a budget, do a dual-core processor. Try to get 2 gigabytes of RAM and a decent video card 512megabyte if possible, and if you can find one, something that runs XP. I believe you can choose to "downgrade" to XP from Vista with some vendors. If you can get just the tower, you maximize your bargain.

 

[Gary Childress]

Since you are on a budget, do a dual-core processor. Try to get 2 gigabytes of RAM and a decent video card 512megabyte i possible, and if you can find one, something that runs XP. I believe you can choose to "downgrade" to XP from Vista with some vendors. If you can get just the tower, you maximize your bargain.

So is Vista much more demanding in CPU resources than XP?

 

[TheOverseer714]

So is Vista much more demanding in CPU resources than XP?

Most definitely. To do gaming, you need a monster computer if you have Vista.

 

[Padma]

We have a whole forum dedicated to this stuff. So ... Moderator Action: Thread moved.

 

[Aramazd]

Here's some stuff you should look for in a new computer:
high 2 Ghz Athlon or a Core 2 Duo if it fits in your budget
GeForce 8600GT or Radeon 2600XT
2GB+ DDR2 RAM
Vista Home Premium

Both the Athlon and Core 2 Duo will perform better at a lower clock than the Pentium 4. Either graphics card will perform well for just Civ4. http://www.newegg.com/ is a good place to look.

Most definitely. To do gaming, you need a monster computer if you have Vista.

If by monster computer you mean 2GB of RAM.

 

[Zelig]

So is Vista much more demanding in CPU resources than XP?

Most definitely. To do gaming, you need a monster computer if you have Vista.

It most definately is not.

Current uptime for my computer is 250 hours (10 days). The Windows process with the most CPU time is at 1 hour, 12 minutes, averaging to about 0.5% cpu usage. If I add every Windows process, it might make it to 3% usage.

Furthermore, Windows processes which use much cpu time tend to be low priority, so they aren't going to be running during gaming in any case.

 

[Zelig]

Here's a list of possible components for a system:

Motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128086
CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017
GPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121251
PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005
RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820141337
HDD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136076
Case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119106
OS:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116200

Totals to $808 or $778 after mail-in rebates.

 

[Ghost Ranger]

Most definitely. To do gaming, you need a monster computer if you have Vista.

Apparently though Oblivion actually runs better on Vista. And since it uses the exact same game engine as Civ IV (GameBryo), I wouldn't be surprised if that also ran better... plus, the difference between XP + Vista is only ~10%, which shouldn't make much of a difference in most games.

 

[Gary Childress]

Well, this is what I have to put toward a new computer which might save me some cost:

1. OS: Windows XP (NON OEM)
2. 500gb 7200rpm SATA HD
3. External DVD/CD burner
4. Plenty of internal CD-ROMs
5. Wireless Network Card (If it is still in good condition. I have to check)
6. 19" Flatscreen monitor

These are some things I know I will need:

1. Case
2. Motherboard
3. CPU, Fan, etc.
4. Graphics Card
5. Sound Card
6. RAM
7. Power Supply

Did I forget anything?

I need to come up with these additional components for no more than a combined cost of $700.

 

[Gary Childress]

Here's a list of possible components for a system:

Motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128086
CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017
GPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121251
PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005
RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820141337
HDD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136076
Case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119106
OS:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116200

Totals to $808 or $778 after mail-in rebates.

OK. So we have the following from the list above that I need:

Motherboard = $130 (approx)
CPU = $220
GPU = $110
PSU = $120
RAM = $80
Case = $60

Hard drive = Have that.
OS = Have that.

So new total here would be about $720

I'd like to see what else I can shave off the above cost. Maybe instead of a quad core processor get a duo core?

Although, for power supply I think I would like a 350 watt. I know some new high end graphics cards out there need 350 watt and I'd like to leave my doors open for possible expansion.

 

[Cutlass]

I would aim for not less than a 500 watt power supply. You really don't ever want to fall short there.

 

[Aramazd]

If you want I dual core:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037
I've heard it can overclock to 4Ghz on air if you plan on doing that. Actually, even if you don't overclock the E8400 it might perform better with its higher clock speed, than the Q6600.

 

[Gary Childress]

I would aim for not less than a 500 watt power supply. You really don't ever want to fall short there.

Oh, right. I was looking at the wrong number on the power supply which Zelig had posted. I thought it said 240 watt but it's actually 650 watt. Duh...

I've had a couple people tell me not to go skimpy on power so I will probably go with as much as I can afford.

 

[Gary Childress]

I've been rummaging around at home and found a case from an old 10 year old computer of mine. It is a micro-ATX I've been told. Are there any good motherboards anyone could recommend for Micro-ATX? Also what would people here recommend as far as Micro-ATX versus ATX? I guess Micro-ATX motherboards tend to have on board graphics and such. I assume on board graphics wouldn't be very good for Civ III or IV?

 

[Aramazd]

Onboard graphics would be fine for Civ3 and would work for Civ 4, both depend more on the processor and RAM.

I never built a micro ATX computer, but this looks good:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138101

And a PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817338009
Generally I would go for a good brand of PSU, but I don't know any of the brands of the micro ATX psus

 

[Gary Childress]

Well I will also be using it for Poser 7 and Bryce 5.5 besides Civ III and IV. I'm looking at the Micro-ATXs and I am just really suspicious of how well they would perform compared to other motherboards. I've always understood that the first thing you do when you get onboard graphics is disable it and throw in a better graphics card. I mean, I would like to salvage the old case but if it is going to limit my performance then I don't see any point in it.

Basically I'd like to get a middle range gaming machine that will be able to handle it if I stray into Best Buy one day and walk out with Tournament Unreal or something. There is always the possibility that I may expand my gaming horizons and need something high performance.

 

[Cutlass]

A lot of mobos are micro atx, but it leads to a very crowded case. better to just spend the money for a full size case. If nothing else, it allows room for a better cooling fan on the cpu and is easier to work with.