Need Computer Advice

Gary Childress

Student for and of life
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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
 
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?
 
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.
 
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.
 
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?
 
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.
:rolleyes: If by monster computer you mean 2GB of RAM.
 
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.
 
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.
 

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