Here comes the $500 PC which destroys the ps3 and 360!

When I see threads like this I promise myself I will not comment because its such a waste of time, but here I am again...

The TC has created an interesting PC, I myself would not install some of the listed componants in my home computer, but again I would imagine the point of the thread was to address the cost issue rather then the quality componant issue.

As a gamer who enjoys games on any platform be it PC or Console, I find that this is a very interesting "attack" on the PC is expensive debate, and looks to prove a point and is successful...assuming that the person reading knows nothing about PC's.

The TC is correct, or at least seems to be correct the $500PC built from February 2008 pricing does in fact look to be quite the beast when compared to 360 which launched in 2005 and PS3 which launced in 2006.

And based on the spec's I would imagine it would run Crysis.

However, what about in February 2009? Will I still be able to run whatever the latest and greatest titles are? With the listed PC I would highly doubt it. This is a PC built for right now, not for a year from now.

When Crysis hit the market, I was stoked and my PC that I had built not more then 18 months or so prior now required a new video card to take full advantage of Crysis, and rather then shopping for the bare minimum I opt for a PNY GeForce 8800 GTX which will assure I don't need to get a new video card in another 18 months (I hope) at a cost of roughly 500 bucks CDN.

So basically over two years of owning my new PC, I have absorbed:

1200 bucks for the first build (900 if we back out the monitor)

That was my tower, HDD, Ram, Processor, OS, Keyboard, Mouse, Wireless, Sound Card, Cooling etc (the basics)

Then 89.99 in june of last year for Ram

Then my new Video Card PNY GeForce 8800 GTX (January 2008) 500.00CDN or so (There was a mail in rebate so after taxes and the rebate it came out to roughly 500 or so)

Lets assume that I am now set till January-April 2009 without having to buy anything new for the tower itself

I have still spent more over the course of three years on PC gaming then I have spent on every console I have bought this generation, and within a year or so I will need to turn over the box to examine the system requirements if I want to take full advantage of the game to assure that I meet the optimal requirements.

This is something that I don't have to do with console games,

No one in the right mind should be buying a PC that is barely able to play the highest end games of today (IE Crysis) because what happen when the next high end title comes out? Well you join me in line at Tiger Direct getting a new video card, or ram, or whatever.

PC gaming is a high upkeep cost, high reward way of gaming.

Console gaming is as plug and play as it comes,

Each has its perks, as well as its cons.

cosmostein77

First off other than the HDD all those are top notch brands for PC. Secondly..... you upgraded not because your PC was obsolete but because you wanted to play crysis at max?... Crysis is the only game that required that yet you say PC gaming has upkeep cost when coming to high end titles... tell me how many high end titles do you know of other than crysis. Then tell me if shelling out 500 canadian for an upgraded you probably didn't need is practical?

[QUOTE="Tiefster"]You forgot a monitor...assuming people already have a widescreen LCD is bad.Thinker_145

I aprove this ownage :D

Good good i might build a pc myself hhehehe

[QUOTE="anshul89"][QUOTE="flowdee79"][QUOTE="anshul89"][QUOTE="Jaysonguy"][QUOTE="Thinker_145"][QUOTE="flowdee79"]

Whats the point of getting a PC like that with average specs?

[QUOTE="Jaysonguy"]

No thank you

Most of those are below average parts and will result in a computer that's "ok" for about three months

I certainly wouldn't spend that much money on a computer that gives me that little in return.

blackace

Exactly. Id rather get a high end rig.

No, you're being fooled by thinking low quality parts are high end.

No one said it did..............the point being made is that if you are going to splash out on a rig you might as well go all out and buy one that isnt high end.

Reading helps

That problem is, even with those $500 parts, he won't even be able to play a game. No O/S, no keyboard or mouse. No sound card, no cable modem or ethernet card. No controllers. No monitor. The XBox 360 comes with 2 games, what games does that $500 PC with no internet access come with? No, it's not a better value. Sorry, this thread has failed miserably.

*****************************************************************

When you sit both the console of your choice and that gaming PC side by side and hook them up to the same HDTV or monitor, which one do you think will produce the better visuals???

I love how some of you consolites are bringing in things like reliability, size and periferals.

I notice none of you addressed my post on how both consoles and PCs alike need either a SDTV, HDTV or PC Monitor!! But you have shut up about it! :lol:

DAZZER7

Dude, you're completely off topic, which is probably why no one addressed your post. Everyone knows a high-end PC will produce better visuals on a HDTV or PC monitor then a game console. No one is arguing that. It's a given as PC's can be upgrading to better technology and game consoles CAN'T. We are arguing at the TC $500 computer parts that wouldn't even run a game because he's missing a crap load of critical components. What he listed wouldn't be better then a PS3 or XBox 360 because without an O/S you wouldn't be able to RUN a game. Without speakers you wouldn't be able to HEAR a game. That's the facts.

[QUOTE="Thinker_145"]

[QUOTE="Ninja-Vox"]Honestly, you CAN get a PC for $500-$600 which would do Crysis proud. This guy has just done a terrible job showing it. He's get second-rate componants, and left out a whole bunch of essential things which he just yells as "damage control!!111" whenever you point it out.Ninja-Vox

You are probably upset that you spent a 1k on your rig and now this PC for $500 comes close to the performance of your PC.

Ok so two minutes ago i was a damage controlling console owner and now i'm a sad PC gamer who's upset because your rig is better than mine? Which is it? You do realise you're being owned from every conceivable direction? Give it up.

My PC cost $1200. I'm fine with that, because unlike the stuff you've posted, it's not a second rate penny-job with two thirds of the componants made out of old stuff i apparently have lying around already, with stuff like an OS, network componants, cooling, all missing.

My PC is water cooled and still needed to have a fan fitted after about two months because it was over heating. That's an issue you get when the componants you're using aren't made out of tinfoil and NES cartridges. :roll:

[QUOTE="Thinker_145"][QUOTE="blackace"][QUOTE="Thinker_145"][QUOTE="blackace"]

Where's the O/S, keyboard, speakers, sound card, mouse, game controllers, etc... ?

That's another $250 right there. You lose. :lol:

blackace

Dont you have to buy extra controllers for your console.:roll:

This PC has 5.1 surround sound support.Ya nothing fancy but what does your console have.Does it come with a built in high quality sound card.:roll:

And oh ya i forget your console comes with speakers.Hmmm.....

If you're building a PC from scratch, you're not going to have a keyboard. That's what you are talking about, building a PC from scratche. :roll: The XBox 360 and PS3 both come with controllers, so if you're comparing making a PC to a game console, it means you would need to buy a controller/mouse. :roll: Man, you are in damage control. :lol:

Yes, the game consoles support 5.1 and surround sound. It's already built in dude. Do some research before you post crap you know nothing about. You've been owned to the 3rd degree. My T.V. comes with speakers. LMAO!! :lol: How are you going to hear your games without SPEAKERS? :lol: Ownage approved!!! :lol: :lol:

And my monitor came with speakers.MUHAHAHAH!!:roll:

Why didn't you include the price of the Monitor then? LMAO!! :lol: :roll: Like I said, OWNED TO THE 3RD DEGREE!!

NO O/S. NO Keyboard. No Mouse/Controllers. No Cable Modem. No Ethernet Card. Mo Ethernet Cable. No Monitor. No Sound Card. OWNED!!

[QUOTE="blackace"]That problem is, even with those $500 parts, he won't even be able to play a game. No O/S, no keyboard or mouse. No sound card, no cable modem or ethernet card. No controllers. No monitor. The XBox 360 comes with 2 games, what games does that $500 PC with no internet access come with? No, it's not a better value. Sorry, this thread has failed miserably. Bgrngod

Recycling old components dude. It's pretty freakin' simple.

I've been rocking the same copy of XP I've had since 2002. Sound card is ON the motherboard. Cable modem? Anyone with broadband already has this taken care of, which is ALSO a requirement of playing consoles online. Controllers = Mouse/Keyboard... yup, already got those too, as well as a monitor. Ethernet card.. holy crap those have been integrated on motherboards for AGES. What era of PC gaming did you write this post in?

And what 2 games are you bragging about the 360 coming with? Arcade games? Well, XP comes with Minesweeper and a host of other games.

[QUOTE="patriots7672"]I like playing on my 65" HDTV with PS3. 4p split-screen games. Let's see the PC do that. PCs are for other things. jangojay

Other than the spilt screen, the pc can do what you just said.

No split-screen?

No switch for me then I love split-screen more than anything.

[QUOTE="SecretPolice"]

If one was going for the PC gaming experience not the on par with console game experience they would be looking into something more like this !

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883102035

Thinker_145

Why do you feel the need to evangelize a budget PC gaming experience to console gamers ?

Heck at least try and point out the good things about PC gaming - there's nothing so hot about a below average PC gaming experience. :P

When I see threads like this I promise myself I will not comment because its such a waste of time, but here I am again...

The TC has created an interesting PC, I myself would not install some of the listed componants in my home computer, but again I would imagine the point of the thread was to address the cost issue rather then the quality componant issue.

As a gamer who enjoys games on any platform be it PC or Console, I find that this is a very interesting "attack" on the PC is expensive debate, and looks to prove a point and is successful...assuming that the person reading knows nothing about PC's.

The TC is correct, or at least seems to be correct the $500PC built from February 2008 pricing does in fact look to be quite the beast when compared to 360 which launched in 2005 and PS3 which launced in 2006.

And based on the spec's I would imagine it would run Crysis.

However, what about in February 2009? Will I still be able to run whatever the latest and greatest titles are? With the listed PC I would highly doubt it. This is a PC built for right now, not for a year from now.

When Crysis hit the market, I was stoked and my PC that I had built not more then 18 months or so prior now required a new video card to take full advantage of Crysis, and rather then shopping for the bare minimum I opt for a PNY GeForce 8800 GTX which will assure I don't need to get a new video card in another 18 months (I hope) at a cost of roughly 500 bucks CDN.

So basically over two years of owning my new PC, I have absorbed:

1200 bucks for the first build (900 if we back out the monitor)

That was my tower, HDD, Ram, Processor, OS, Keyboard, Mouse, Wireless, Sound Card, Cooling etc (the basics)

Then 89.99 in june of last year for Ram

Then my new Video Card PNY GeForce 8800 GTX (January 2008) 500.00CDN or so (There was a mail in rebate so after taxes and the rebate it came out to roughly 500 or so)

Lets assume that I am now set till January-April 2009 without having to buy anything new for the tower itself

I have still spent more over the course of three years on PC gaming then I have spent on every console I have bought this generation, and within a year or so I will need to turn over the box to examine the system requirements if I want to take full advantage of the game to assure that I meet the optimal requirements.

This is something that I don't have to do with console games,

No one in the right mind should be buying a PC that is barely able to play the highest end games of today (IE Crysis) because what happen when the next high end title comes out? Well you join me in line at Tiger Direct getting a new video card, or ram, or whatever.

PC gaming is a high upkeep cost, high reward way of gaming.

Console gaming is as plug and play as it comes,

Each has its perks, as well as its cons.

cosmostein77

Ya sure in order to max games you have to upgrade your PC but you dont have to if you dont want to max every game.You can still play games beter than the consoles you know.Just bump the resolution down just like the consoles do.

And you talk about maxing games?Well your 8800GTX doesnt max crysis you know so according to your logic the 8800GTX is obsolete.And it cost you $500 you do realize that the 3850 is $180?This saves you $320 which you can spend later and that will UNQUESTIONABLY last you a longer time within $500 than a 8800GTX.

[QUOTE="blackace"]That problem is, even with those $500 parts, he won't even be able to play a game. No O/S, no keyboard or mouse. No sound card, no cable modem or ethernet card. No controllers. No monitor. The XBox 360 comes with 2 games, what games does that $500 PC with no internet access come with? No, it's not a better value. Sorry, this thread has failed miserably. Bgrngod

Recycling old components dude. It's pretty freakin' simple.

I've been rocking the same copy of XP I've had since 2002. Sound card is ON the motherboard. Cable modem? Anyone with broadband already has this taken care of, which is ALSO a requirement of playing consoles online. Controllers = Mouse/Keyboard... yup, already got those too, as well as a monitor. Ethernet card.. holy crap those have been integrated on motherboards for AGES. What era of PC gaming did you write this post in?

And what 2 games are you bragging about the 360 coming with? Arcade games? Well, XP comes with Minesweeper and a host of other games.

That's the mistake you hermits keep making. The point is he is building a computer from scratch and DON'T HAVE ANY PC PARTS AT ALL. When a person buys a new games console the only thing they really have is the T.V. If you're building a PC for the first time, you're not going to already have those things. Stop making excuses. Just more damage control. That's all I see. There is still a lot of things a user would need to buy if they are building a PC and start with absolutely nothing. Sorry, you lose. The games are Forza 2 and Marvel: UA. They usually retail for $59.99 a piece, but comes with the XBox 360 Pro.

******************************************************

[QUOTE="blackace"]Why didn't you include the price of the Monitor then? LMAO!! :lol: :roll: Like I said, OWNED TO THE 3RD DEGREE!!

NO O/S. NO Keyboard. No Mouse/Controllers. No Cable Modem. No Ethernet Card. Mo Ethernet Cable. No Monitor. No Sound Card. OWNED!! No free games or movies.

Bgrngod

Wow.. you need to drop this line of thinking right away. It's making you look foolish.

I don't think so. Stop assuming a person who is building a PC for the very first time automatically has PC parts and accessories scattered in their homes. The TC is looking foolish right about now I think. He's already been proven wrong about 1000 x's by everyone including my self. No need to even continue wasting my time here. I'm done with this thread. I've proven my point.

This brooks another argument. Someone with no prior PC can be safely assumed to have no prior PC experience. That makes him/her significantly unqualified to build a PC and probably won't even know where to turn to get the parts assembled. They'll need a console-like approach to a PC--already assembled (and with the OS preinstalled). Let's see a prebuilt-in-the-box PC for less than $500 that can satisfy the claims.

This one seems to come close, but it might need a graphics boost. And you can buy it at Wal-Mart.

He is talking about HARDWARE not software.

He listened HARDWARE.

OS=Software

Got it?

displays do not enter the discussion, if they did they would favor the PC camp.

it is obvious that PC is the best choice. Not only can you game on that system, you can do a 1000 other things that consoles cant do.

MetalContra

[QUOTE="MetalContra"]

displays do not enter the discussion, if they did they would favor the PC camp.

it is obvious that PC is the best choice. Not only can you game on that system, you can do a 1000 other things that consoles cant do.

cell1138

RROD for x360

Inferior multiplats and extreme install times for the ps3

Teh kiddy for the wii.

Like all those?

You forgot a monitor...assuming people already have a widescreen LCD is bad.Tiefster

Um my old CRT monitor supports up to 1080p which came with my piece of crap computer 4 years ago. And consoles can only do 1080p.

[QUOTE="Thinker_145"][QUOTE="Tiefster"]You forgot a monitor...assuming people already have a widescreen LCD is bad.Tiefster

[QUOTE="Tiefster"][QUOTE="Thinker_145"][QUOTE="Tiefster"]You forgot a monitor...assuming people already have a widescreen LCD is bad.Lazy_Boy88

Plus LCD monitors are standard with all computer now.

That hardware is going to need upgrading in less than 16 months. He should have spent a liitle more money.

That problem is, even with those $500 parts, he won't even be able to play a game. No O/S, no keyboard or mouse. No sound card, no cable modem or ethernet card. No controllers. No monitor. The XBox 360 comes with 2 games, what games does that $500 PC with no internet access come with? No, it's not a better value. Sorry, this thread has failed miserably.

O/S - Linux!

Sound - Motherboard on board sound FTW

Ethernet - On board lol

Keyboard / Mouse - You can get these in the UK for like £2-50 etc lol, thats like $5!!

Monitor -I've already explained this one time and time again. If you learned to comprehend!!! Whether you have a 360 straight out the box or a PC, you need to play it on either a SDTV, a HDTV or a PC Monitor!!!

*****************************************************************

[QUOTE="DAZZER7"]

When you sit both the console of your choice and that gaming PC side by side and hook them up to the same HDTV or monitor, which one do you think will produce the better visuals???

I love how some of you consolites are bringing in things like reliability, size and periferals.

I notice none of you addressed my post on how both consoles and PCs alike need either a SDTV, HDTV or PC Monitor!! But you have shut up about it! :lol:

blackace

Dude, you're completely off topic, which is probably why no one addressed your post. Everyone knows a high-end PC will produce better visuals on a HDTV or PC monitor then a game console. No one is arguing that. It's a given as PC's can be upgrading to better technology and game consoles CAN'T. We are arguing at the TC $500 computer parts that wouldn't even run a game because he's missing a crap load of critical components. What he listed wouldn't be better then a PS3 or XBox 360 because without an O/S you wouldn't be able to RUN a game. Without speakers you wouldn't be able to HEAR a game. That's the facts.

Look at what I posted above!!Sorry but you=fail to comprehend

That hardware is going to need upgrading in less than 16 months. He should have spent a liitle more money.

Marka1700

[QUOTE="MetalContra"]

displays do not enter the discussion, if they did they would favor the PC camp.

it is obvious that PC is the best choice. Not only can you game on that system, you can do a 1000 other things that consoles cant do.

cell1138

Posted in another thread:

BSOD?

Console fanboys are as out of date as the hardware they play on! :lol:mjarantilla

True then, and true now. BSODs don't exist anymore, and you can always recover from one, unlike RROD.

[QUOTE="blackace"]

Where's the O/S, keyboard, speakers, sound card, mouse, game controllers, etc... ?

That's another $250 right there. You lose. :lol:

deadmeat59

Holy crap, both of these posts fail.

[QUOTE="Lazy_Boy88"][QUOTE="Tiefster"][QUOTE="Thinker_145"][QUOTE="Tiefster"]You forgot a monitor...assuming people already have a widescreen LCD is bad.Killfox

Plus LCD monitors are standard with all computer now.

Just like HDTVs are with consoles?

Thats great and all but Consoles have better games and better controls for the majority of them aswell.
TPS,Sports,Fighting,RPG,JRPG,Adventure,Side Scrollers,Action.

Resident Evil 5 News
He explained he's just returned from a trip to Japan where he met with producers on games coming in the next two years, and later sparked speculation about Resident Evil 5's release date.

When asked what's coming up from Capcom, he replied, "We have a really fantastic year ahead of us, a year that's going to include games like... Resident Evil 5...".

Alluding to a release in 2008, or simply the fact that we'll get hands-on reports this year? Surely the latter.

Yeah you are forgetting windows for another $200. I wish Linux ran games.wooooode

Cool people know how to get Windows for free.

[QUOTE="wooooode"]Yeah you are forgetting windows for another $200. I wish Linux ran games.shadyd1717

Cool people know how to get Windows for free.

And OEM Windows is only $100, not $200.

It's too bad you did all that work and no one cares. :|DisPimpin

totally. i can hear the crickets in this thread.

[QUOTE="Thinker_145"][QUOTE="flowdee79"]

Whats the point of getting a PC like that with average specs?

[QUOTE="Jaysonguy"]

No thank you

Most of those are below average parts and will result in a computer that's "ok" for about three months

I certainly wouldn't spend that much money on a computer that gives me that little in return.

Jaysonguy

Exactly. Id rather get a high end rig.

No, you're being fooled by thinking low quality parts are high end.

Low quality parts? :lol: You don't know a bit about PC gaming.

On a side note, no matter how much more powerfull PC's get, they'll never top consoles in the area of Gaming without big name games.Re5ident_Evil

:|

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or being serious, given the PC's history.

[QUOTE="Re5ident_Evil"]On a side note, no matter how much more powerfull PC's get, they'll never top consoles in the area of Gaming without big name games.mjarantilla

:|

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or being serious, given the PC's history.

console sells easily crush pc in all areas software, and hardware its not even close

[QUOTE="mjarantilla"]

[QUOTE="Re5ident_Evil"]On a side note, no matter how much more powerfull PC's get, they'll never top consoles in the area of Gaming without big name games.Nameless-Hero

:|

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or being serious, given the PC's history.

console sells easily crush pc in all areas software, and hardware its not even close

Oh, SALES. Ok, then.

And NO this aint no weak PC which barely beats the consoles.This PC will run most games maxed out and it WILL run crysis in high settings in 720p.Here we go,

DVD burner. $25

Rosewill Casing. $21

160GB 7200RPM HDD. $46

ASUS AMD motherboard. $49

ATI Radeon HD3850 512MB. $185

Thermaltake 500W Power Supply. $40

2GB DDR2 RAM. $40

2.6Ghz AMD Dual Core CPU. $100

Total=$505.

There you go the PC is complete.And this PC does NOT include extremely cheap and unreliable components.As i said it isnt a PC that will play games in medium settings but it will max out most games and will play crysis in high settings.

And chances are that most people here who donot game on their PC have a DVD player in it and they have a casing that can do the job.This reduces the cost to $450 which means you can pop in an 8800GT and still kepp it at $500.But rest assured the 3850 512MB has capabilites far beyond any console.

So consolietes what's your excuse now since teh PC is no longer TEH expensive as you think.Infact this PC has a better price performance ratio than the xbox 360.

Thinker_145

Solid huh?

not i dont think that this could play Crysis on high hell my PC has a hard enough time with it

I have 2 Gigs Of DDR2, An intel QX7000(Discontinued, 2 8800 Gtx's,2 raptors (150 Gigs each)in Raid 0

listen no doubt that a 3850 is more powerfull then the consoles GPU its just that its not enough to run crysis on high

[QUOTE="Thinker_145"]

And NO this aint no weak PC which barely beats the consoles.This PC will run most games maxed out and it WILL run crysis in high settings in 720p.Here we go,

DVD burner. $25

Rosewill Casing. $21

160GB 7200RPM HDD. $46

ASUS AMD motherboard. $49

ATI Radeon HD3850 512MB. $185

Thermaltake 500W Power Supply. $40

2GB DDR2 RAM. $40

2.6Ghz AMD Dual Core CPU. $100

Total=$505.

There you go the PC is complete.And this PC does NOT include extremely cheap and unreliable components.As i said it isnt a PC that will play games in medium settings but it will max out most games and will play crysis in high settings.

And chances are that most people here who donot game on their PC have a DVD player in it and they have a casing that can do the job.This reduces the cost to $450 which means you can pop in an 8800GT and still kepp it at $500.But rest assured the 3850 512MB has capabilites far beyond any console.

So consolietes what's your excuse now since teh PC is no longer TEH expensive as you think.Infact this PC has a better price performance ratio than the xbox 360.

wdave92

Solid huh?

not i dont think that this could play Crysis on high hell my PC has a hard enough time with it

I have 2 Gigs Of DDR2, An intel QX7000(Discontinued, 2 8800 Gtx's,2 raptors (150 Gigs each)in Raid 0

listen no doubt that a 3850 is more powerfull then the consoles GPU its just that its not enough to run crysis on high

Depends largely on the resolution. With standard HD resolution, 1280x720, he could conceivably run Crysis on Medium to Medium-High at a steady 25-35 framerate.

Yeah you are forgetting windows for another $200. I wish Linux ran games.wooooode

Wow its really a shame when hermits have no clue what there talking about. The fact is that video card sucks and would struggle to run PS3 or 360 quality games. Go look up the benchmarks its equivlent to that of a 8600gt. Polaris_choice

Yeah, you're wrong.

[QUOTE="Polaris_choice"]Wow its really a shame when hermits have no clue what there talking about. The fact is that video card sucks and would struggle to run PS3 or 360 quality games. Go look up the benchmarks its equivlent to that of a 8600gt. mjarantilla

Yeah, you're wrong.

http://www.pcreview.co.uk/news/3312340.php No not really. It was desighned to compete with the 8600gt as I said and although it may be better the slow ram will do nothing but bottleneck the crap out of that pc . Who is using DDR2 with DX10? And I would love to see benchmarks for other games like Assasins Creed or Lost Planet that card will not outperform the consoles with that setup he has listed.

[QUOTE="mjarantilla"]

[QUOTE="Polaris_choice"]Wow its really a shame when hermits have no clue what there talking about. The fact is that video card sucks and would struggle to run PS3 or 360 quality games. Go look up the benchmarks its equivlent to that of a 8600gt. Polaris_choice

Yeah, you're wrong.

http://www.pcreview.co.uk/news/3312340.php No not really. It was desighned to compete with the 8600gt as I said and although it may be better the slow ram will do nothing but bottleneck the crap out of that pc . Who is using DDR2 with DX10? And I would love to see benchmarks for other games like Assasins Creed or Lost Planet that card will not outperform the consoles with that setup he has listed.

"This card is aimed at competing with the 8600GTS."

Nice try, ace.

And try LOOKING at those benchmarks, genius. The 3850 smacks the 8600GTS every which way, and still has the power to give it a swirly and an atomic wedgie while it's at it. It's below the 8800GT, of course, but then again it's a sub-$200 card.

I got 3 xp home keys with Cd laying around. 3 xp pro and CD laying around. I can reuse it in my new PC this year. Either one is fine for gaming.