hello guys Im a pc gamer and i want to buy a new pc soon. I love games like Neverwinter nights, return to monkey island, myst, world of warcraft,etc.

Can you guys give me advice on what a good spec for a gaming PC? Not too expensive with those $500 video cards. Just decent enough to play games for the next 2-3 years and fast enough for videos and others.

I appreciate it a lot.

Intel COMBO (expensive) but worth it

ABIT IP35 Pro LGA 775

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813127030

Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 Conroe 2.13GHz 4M shared L2 Cache

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115016

Seagate 250GB

$70

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148144

OCZ Reaper HPC Edition 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800

$130

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227231

EVGA GeForce 8800GTS 320MB

$280

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130082

APEVIA X-Navigator ATXA8NW-AL

500W PSU

$ 140

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811144089

1000 $

AMD Not so expensive, VERY, VERY HIGH VALUE for the money COMBO

OR less expensive:

BIOSTAR TFORCE 550 Socket AM2

80$

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138026

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+

90$

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103741

Seagate 250GB

$70

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148144

G.SKILL 2GB DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800

100$

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231114

SAPPHIRE Radeon X1950XT 256MB

180$

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102067

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5

50$

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119068

TOPOWER XPT Series TOP-500XPT ATX12V 500W

50$

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817342010

620 $

I said I love playing those games but im not planning to stay on those. haha as i said i want something that can play new games for the next 2-3 years.

i need help more importantly on the processors since i dont know whats "hot or not".

I said I love playing those games but im not planning to stay on those. haha as i said i want something that can play new games for the next 2-3 years.

i need help more importantly on the processors since i dont know whats "hot or not".

Me_Ann

The real beasts are INTEL core 2 duos. (any time. Every single one is absolutely great from E2140-E6600 ... those quads and extremes are not worth their money till 22. july)

but that doesn't mean AMD x2 are BAD. They are extreme too. >They are great on low budget. Absolutely great preformance in a card, that doesn't even hit the 100$ mark.

I would go with a basic Intel Duo core system like Dell/HP/Gateway:

ON HP I configured:

Review your a6150y series

Price after rebate $794.99

Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista(TM) Home Premium (32-bit)
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo processor E4400 (2.0GHz)
Memory: 2GB DDR2-667MHz dual channel SDRAM (2x1024)
Graphics Card Integrated Intel(R) 950
Networking No Modem
Hard Drive 250GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive
Primary CD/DVD Drive LightScribe 16X DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti drive
Front Productivity Ports 2 USB, 1 FireWire IEEE 1394, audio ports
Sound Card Sound Blaster Audigy X-Fi, 24-bit Xtreme Fidelity

I would then spend $150 on a DX10 graphics card like this XFX Fatal1ty 8600GT:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150238

That should give you a decent uptodate gaming system for $950 - I think that would be a great system for a great price - minimum hassle - just swap out the graphics card.

If you really hunt, you could probably find a way to get a similar system for under $800, but it might mean more leg work or a brand without the service of a top 5 system builder.

JMHO

My bf and I are picking it piece by piece then have a computer shop assemble it for us.

So can you guys be more specific about the Intel Core 2? Which specific ones to get? That will last me a long time. And whats the fastest available, except those Extreme Editions that are way expensive that I heard.

My bf and I are picking it piece by piece then have a computer shop assemble it for us.

So can you guys be more specific about the Intel Core 2? Which specific ones to get? That will last me a long time. And whats the fastest available, except those Extreme Editions that are way expensive that I heard.

Me_Ann

ok, well when u look for performance in a gaming pc, the first thing is graphics card,, this is most important,,above all else,,so if ur goin to cut corners dont do it here,,,, it would be much more wiser to get a lower core 2 duo say e6320 then a inferior graphics card,,

basically if u want a gaming pc , one which runs new games at good frames, ur looking at a 8800gts 320, core 2 duo, 2 gigs of ddr2 ram, and a motherboard which supports these, ie 965p ds3, and a power supply which can power these things,,

Guys, can you tell me what is another term for E4400 or E6600. Like how many GHz they are coz im not really that familiar with them, and I want to know the "casual" terms when I go to the store so I wont get confused.

THANKS!

Conroe 2.0 GHZ (Core 2 Duo E4400)

Conroe 2.4 GHZ (Core 2 Duo E6600)

Conroe 2.0 GHZ (Core 2 Duo E4400)

Conroe 2.4 GHZ (Core 2 Duo E6600)

Miguel16

Thank you!

Guys, can you tell me what is another term for E4400 or E6600. Like how many GHz they are coz im not really that familiar with them, and I want to know the "casual" terms when I go to the store so I wont get confused.

THANKS!

Me_Ann

Knowing the model number of the processor is a lot better than knowing how many Gigahertz it puts out. The store might try to screw you guys on the processor if you don't sound like you know what you're talking about.

As for your machine, I'd say definitely try to get a motherboard with an Intel P35 chipset, probably an E4400 processor, 2x1GB of RAM, and something like the 8600GT. That should last you for a good while, and come next year you can pick up one of the 45nm Penryn processors and possibly a new graphics card, which should keep that computer good until 2009 at the very earliest.

[QUOTE="Miguel16"]

Conroe 2.0 GHZ (Core 2 Duo E4400)

Conroe 2.4 GHZ (Core 2 Duo E6600)

Me_Ann

Thank you!

np

[QUOTE="Me_Ann"]

Guys, can you tell me what is another term for E4400 or E6600. Like how many GHz they are coz im not really that familiar with them, and I want to know the "casual" terms when I go to the store so I wont get confused.

THANKS!

RayvinAzn

Knowing the model number of the processor is a lot better than knowing how many Gigahertz it puts out. The store might try to screw you guys on the processor if you don't sound like you know what you're talking about.

As for your machine, I'd say definitely try to get a motherboard with an Intel P35 chipset, probably an E4400 processor, 2x1GB of RAM, and something like the 8600GT. That should last you for a good while, and come next year you can pick up one of the 45nm Penryn processors and possibly a new graphics card, which should keep that computer good until 2009 at the very earliest.

Part of the reason you want to select a specific model number for the processor is that GHz is not as important as the type of processor it is. For example, a 2GHz Core 2 Duo will run circles around a 3 GHz P4.

Also, don't get the E4300 or E4400. Instead, get the E4320 or 4420 (if buying a processor in that price range), because they are the same price, the same speed (GHz) and have double the L2 cache. (Anotherway a retailer will rip you off if you ask for a CPU based on GHz)

OK thanks guys. So E6600 then. But whats a P35 chipset motherboard? sorry guys.

OK thanks guys. So E6600 then. But whats a P35 chipset motherboard? sorry guys.

Me_Ann

Also, don't get the E4300 or E4400. Instead, get the E4320 or 4420 (if buying a processor in that price range), because they are the same price, the same speed (GHz) and have double the L2 cache. (Anotherway a retailer will rip you off if you ask for a CPU based on GHz)

IAM-CA

E4320/E4420? When did this happen?

[QUOTE="IAM-CA"]

Also, don't get the E4300 or E4400. Instead, get the E4320 or 4420 (if buying a processor in that price range), because they are the same price, the same speed (GHz) and have double the L2 cache. (Anotherway a retailer will rip you off if you ask for a CPU based on GHz)

RayvinAzn

E4320/E4420? When did this happen?

Yeah...i think you're confused with the E6320 and E6420. The E4000 series don't come with --20 models :)