I'm about to buy a new PC and I need help with a few questions.

I'm about to buy a new PC but I'm concerned about windows Vista and all the issues I've heard about it so I'd like to ask some questions and I hope someone can help me.

1) Are older PC games made for windows XP or earlier and 32-bit CPUs compatible with Vista and a quad core 64-bit processor?

2) Is firefox and thunderbird compatible with vista/64-bit CPU?

3) Does anyone know if the anti-spyware program CounterSpy is compatible with Vista/64-CPU?

4) Does Vista have allot of major and annoying issues and should I avoid it like a plague?

5) If you answered yes to question 4 is windows XP compatible with 64-bit CPUs?

Also I'd like to know if I can run Crysis at high settings? Here's the specs on the PC I'll be buying..

CPU: (Quad Core) Intel core 2 quad Q6700 2.66GHz 8mb L2 cache 64-bit

GPU: SLI both GPUs are Nvidia GeForce 8600 GTS 512MB 16X PCI express

RAM: 4GB PC6400 DDR2/800 dual channel memory Corsair

HDD: 500GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 16mb cache 7200 RPM

OS: Unsure??

I don't own Vista so I can't comment on your questions...

But I assume you're buying this computer assembled for you? Do you have any options beside the SLi'd 8600GTS? Your money would be much better spent on a single better card, like the 8800 GT. The 8800GT is around $250 and cheaper than two 8600 GTS and would yield much better performance.

1. Generally, yes. However, there are some compatability errors, so YMMV

2. Yes

3. Dunno

4. There are lots of major issues, however, most of the actively annoying ones can be turned off

5. Yes.. the 64 bit edition

Good luck and happy gaming!

Well, that will run Crysis on high, yeskruesader

what? on an 8600gts? isnt crysis a pushy game even for the biggest, baddest rigs, high would be achievable with a better video card i reckon

[QUOTE="kruesader"]Well, that will run Crysis on high, yesDancing_Panda

what? on an 8600gts? isnt crysis a pushy game even for the biggest, baddest rigs, high would be achievable with a better video card i reckon

You underestimate the power of SLI.... IT'S OVER 9000!

ooh *shudder* I don't know what came over me... I think I need a cold shower

I don't own Vista so I can't comment on your questions...

But I assume you're buying this computer assembled for you? Do you have any options beside the SLi'd 8600GTS? Your money would be much better spent on a single better card, like the 8800 GT. The 8800GT is around $250 and cheaper than two 8600 GTS and would yield much better performance.

Fignewton50

Yeah I'm buying a PC from cyberpowerpc.com but I can customize it how I want. So I should buy a PC with a single more powerful GPU? Is this better for the short term will future games take better advantage of SLI setups?

[QUOTE="Fignewton50"]

I don't own Vista so I can't comment on your questions...

But I assume you're buying this computer assembled for you? Do you have any options beside the SLi'd 8600GTS? Your money would be much better spent on a single better card, like the 8800 GT. The 8800GT is around $250 and cheaper than two 8600 GTS and would yield much better performance.

jdt532

Yeah I'm buying a PC from cyberpowerpc.com but I can customize it how I want. So I should buy a PC with a single more powerful GPU? Is this better for the short term will future games take better advantage of SLI setups?

Yes, a single more powerful GPU is usually better than two weaker cards. SLi does not provide double the performance, it's usually anywhere from 30-50% increase I believe. I'm not sure how SLi will develop in the future, but going with a single 8800GT right now is definitely not going to be replaced anytime soon.

[QUOTE="kruesader"]Well, that will run Crysis on high, yesDancing_Panda

what? on an 8600gts? isnt crysis a pushy game even for the biggest, baddest rigs, high would be achievable with a better video card i reckon

oops sorry, i misread that at 8800GTS , my bad

[QUOTE="Dancing_Panda"]

[QUOTE="kruesader"]Well, that will run Crysis on high, yeskruesader

what? on an 8600gts? isnt crysis a pushy game even for the biggest, baddest rigs, high would be achievable with a better video card i reckon

oops sorry, i misread that at 8800GTS , my bad

2 8600GTS' should be able to run it on high... very high is probably out of the question though

[QUOTE="Fignewton50"]

I don't own Vista so I can't comment on your questions...

But I assume you're buying this computer assembled for you? Do you have any options beside the SLi'd 8600GTS? Your money would be much better spent on a single better card, like the 8800 GT. The 8800GT is around $250 and cheaper than two 8600 GTS and would yield much better performance.

jdt532

Yeah I'm buying a PC from cyberpowerpc.com but I can customize it how I want. So I should buy a PC with a single more powerful GPU? Is this better for the short term will future games take better advantage of SLI setups?

well when you get your rig theres like 90% chance it will fail on you

cyberpower and ibuypower have the worst pc's most of the time there pc dont work parts are DOA's and have the worst customer support on the planet

if i were you i would build a pc and you can save a couple hundred bucks

if not then buy a pc from AVAdirect.com you can customize it also on avadirect.com

[QUOTE="jdt532"][QUOTE="Fignewton50"]

I don't own Vista so I can't comment on your questions...

But I assume you're buying this computer assembled for you? Do you have any options beside the SLi'd 8600GTS? Your money would be much better spent on a single better card, like the 8800 GT. The 8800GT is around $250 and cheaper than two 8600 GTS and would yield much better performance.

sabbath2gamer

Yeah I'm buying a PC from cyberpowerpc.com but I can customize it how I want. So I should buy a PC with a single more powerful GPU? Is this better for the short term will future games take better advantage of SLI setups?

well when you get your rig theres like 90% chance it will fail on you

cyberpower and ibuypower have the worst pc's most of the time there pc dont work parts are DOA's and have the worst customer support on the planet

if i were you i would build a pc and you can save a couple hundred bucks

if not then buy a pc from AVAdirect.com you can customize it also on avadirect.com

Do you have evidence to back that up?

I could get a PC with one 8800 ultra 768mb now and then buy another one later when a game comes out that will take advantage of that...

So if the motherboard supports SLI I can still use a single GPU?

I could get a PC with one 8800 ultra 768mb now and then buy another one later when a game comes out that will take advantage of that...

So if the motherboard supports SLI I can still use a single GPU?

jdt532

yes, you can use one card on an SLI mobo, all SLI means is you can add a second one if you want

I could get a PC with one 8800 ultra 768mb now and then buy another one later when a game comes out that will take advantage of that...

So if the motherboard supports SLI I can still use a single GPU?

jdt532

SLI mobos do support single GPU configurations.... and if you don't mind paying for it I'd go with the 8800ultra over 2 8600GTS cards any day of the week. Also consider that the Ultra isn't all that much of an upgrade over the GTX, but costs more money.

[QUOTE="sabbath2gamer"][QUOTE="jdt532"][QUOTE="Fignewton50"]

I don't own Vista so I can't comment on your questions...

But I assume you're buying this computer assembled for you? Do you have any options beside the SLi'd 8600GTS? Your money would be much better spent on a single better card, like the 8800 GT. The 8800GT is around $250 and cheaper than two 8600 GTS and would yield much better performance.

killtheponies

Yeah I'm buying a PC from cyberpowerpc.com but I can customize it how I want. So I should buy a PC with a single more powerful GPU? Is this better for the short term will future games take better advantage of SLI setups?

well when you get your rig theres like 90% chance it will fail on you

cyberpower and ibuypower have the worst pc's most of the time there pc dont work parts are DOA's and have the worst customer support on the planet

if i were you i would build a pc and you can save a couple hundred bucks

if not then buy a pc from AVAdirect.com you can customize it also on avadirect.com

Do you have evidence to back that up?

googles your friend ;)

but you cant honestly say you have never heard that before can you

im just trying to help the guy out

[QUOTE="jdt532"]

I could get a PC with one 8800 ultra 768mb now and then buy another one later when a game comes out that will take advantage of that...

So if the motherboard supports SLI I can still use a single GPU?

killtheponies

SLI mobos do support single GPU configurations.... and if you don't mind paying for it I'd go with the 8800ultra over 2 8600GTS cards any day of the week. Also consider that the Ultra isn't all that much of an upgrade over the GTX, but costs more money.

Yeah, the Ultra is not a good use of money. I'd look at the GTX, GTS 512MB, or GT. Otherwise that money you spend on an Ultra will really start to sting when they start coming out with the 9-series cards this year.

I'm about to buy a new PC but I'm concerned about windows Vista and all the issues I've heard about it so I'd like to ask some questions and I hope someone can help me.

1) Are older PC games made for windows XP or earlier and 32-bit CPUs compatible with Vista and a quad core 64-bit processor? Everyone I have tried so far has worked, I am sure there are some, so the games that really matter to you search to see if people are having problems.

2) Is firefox and thunderbird compatible with vista/64-bit CPU? Yup, I am running Firefox right now on Vista 64, have not tried thunderbird yet.

3) Does anyone know if the anti-spyware program CounterSpy is compatible with Vista/64-CPU? I have no clue

4) Does Vista have allot of major and annoying issues and should I avoid it like a plague? I have came across very few problems with Vista. I am running Vista premium 64bit. Been running it for over 6 months now.

5) If you answered yes to question 4 is windows XP compatible with 64-bit CPUs? While I answered no, Yes XP is compatible with a 64 bit CPU. And you do not need XP 64 to use one. 64bit CPU's have been around for quite a while, it just mean they can do 64 bit also, not only.

Also I'd like to know if I can run Crysis at high settings? Here's the specs on the PC I'll be buying.. Depending on the resolution you might have to crank a few setting to medium.

CPU: (Quad Core) Intel core 2 quad Q6700 2.66GHz 8mb L2 cache 64-bit

GPU: SLI both GPUs are Nvidia GeForce 8600 GTS 512MB 16X PCI express

RAM: 4GB PC6400 DDR2/800 dual channel memory Corsair

HDD: 500GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 16mb cache 7200 RPM

OS: Unsure??

jdt532

[QUOTE="killtheponies"][QUOTE="sabbath2gamer"][QUOTE="jdt532"][QUOTE="Fignewton50"]

I don't own Vista so I can't comment on your questions...

But I assume you're buying this computer assembled for you? Do you have any options beside the SLi'd 8600GTS? Your money would be much better spent on a single better card, like the 8800 GT. The 8800GT is around $250 and cheaper than two 8600 GTS and would yield much better performance.

sabbath2gamer

Yeah I'm buying a PC from cyberpowerpc.com but I can customize it how I want. So I should buy a PC with a single more powerful GPU? Is this better for the short term will future games take better advantage of SLI setups?

well when you get your rig theres like 90% chance it will fail on you

cyberpower and ibuypower have the worst pc's most of the time there pc dont work parts are DOA's and have the worst customer support on the planet

if i were you i would build a pc and you can save a couple hundred bucks

if not then buy a pc from AVAdirect.com you can customize it also on avadirect.com

Do you have evidence to back that up?

googles your friend ;)

but you cant honestly say you have never heard that before can you

im just trying to help the guy out

I've heard of ibuypower being crappy but not cyberpower and I've not heard of avadirect.... I never buy retail computers though... so I'm kinda out of it on that subject.

I can answer your Vista questions, seems like everyone else helped you with the rest:

1. Many are. Every game I have tryed works. If you want to list some titles I can see if I have played those.

2. Yes

3. Yes

4. No. Most of the "problems" are overblown by people that run the OS on older hardware.

[QUOTE="jdt532"][QUOTE="Fignewton50"]

I don't own Vista so I can't comment on your questions...

But I assume you're buying this computer assembled for you? Do you have any options beside the SLi'd 8600GTS? Your money would be much better spent on a single better card, like the 8800 GT. The 8800GT is around $250 and cheaper than two 8600 GTS and would yield much better performance.

sabbath2gamer

Yeah I'm buying a PC from cyberpowerpc.com but I can customize it how I want. So I should buy a PC with a single more powerful GPU? Is this better for the short term will future games take better advantage of SLI setups?

well when you get your rig theres like 90% chance it will fail on you

cyberpower and ibuypower have the worst pc's most of the time there pc dont work parts are DOA's and have the worst customer support on the planet

if i were you i would build a pc and you can save a couple hundred bucks

if not then buy a pc from AVAdirect.com you can customize it also on avadirect.com

I have my doubts about the 90% failure rate of their PCs and they do have a warranty and if the PC is DOA they will give you a full refund or replacement with the same specs. I'm sure every PC maker has a failure rate but I doubt they will sell me a brick and then refuse to give me a refund or replacement...

didnt say they wouldnt replace it just saying it has horrible customer support and iv heard alot of angry customers

your money dude do whatever you want

didnt say they wouldnt replace it just saying it has horrible customer support and iv heard alot of angry customers

your money dude do whatever you want

sabbath2gamer

After doing some research with google I've read allot of bad cyberpower reviews with people getting dead systems, crooked disk drives, broken cables and screws, brackets, etc.... I don't know what to do now I definitely don't have the skills to build a PC and I've tried reading up about building PCs before and my head was spinning... It seems all the PC building companies like cyberpower have negative reviews about their products and customers support... DELL, Gateway, Alienware and I wounder if this AVAdirect.com is really any better... Then there's store bought PCs where at least I could easily go back to the store for a refund or replacement but storebought PCs are average at best...

[QUOTE="sabbath2gamer"]

didnt say they wouldnt replace it just saying it has horrible customer support and iv heard alot of angry customers

your money dude do whatever you want

jdt532

After doing some research with google I've read allot of bad cyberpower reviews with people getting dead systems, crooked disk drives, broken cables and screws, brackets, etc.... I don't know what to do now I definitely don't have the skills to build a PC and I've tried reading up about building PCs before and my head was spinning... It seems all the PC building companies like cyberpower have negative reviews about their products and customers support... DELL, Gateway, Alienware and I wounder if this AVAdirect.com is really any better... Then there's store bought PCs where at least I could easily go back to the store for a refund or replacement but storebought PCs are average at best...

avadirect is really good and have better brand products