Searching for another new gaming rig

[lord of the mark]

Well the budget laptop has been quite useful for POTM, but the powers that be, frustrated to have to use the dino, which creaks along even for websurfing, at times when POTM or I am using the laptop, and particularly distressed when the laptop went into the shop and we all had to fall back on the dino, has determined that we need another new PC, a desktop this time. Which I expected to happen, and am pleased with.

We will still not be looking at top of the line, but will probably go a bit over the bare bones $300 including monitor packages. The powers that be have also determined that a flat panel is a good idea. It seems that its possible to get some good deals on flat panels in packages, so Im cool with this. Budget end machines run from 2.7 Ghz to 3.) Ghz or so, some with hyperthreading. Usually have 512 MB Ram, though I saw at least one package with 1 gig Ram. Almost all have the dreaded integrated graphics. However several have ATI or Nvidia IG instead of Intel, and Intel now seems to be on a new gen of IG, past the reviled Intel Extreme. I cant judge the IG on the laptop that well, as the most modern game ive yet played on it was Victoria, which isnt particularly a graphics hog (though it sure is a RAM hog).

I will likely use this machine for gaming - though at first probably for the same games Id otherwise play on the laptop (the laptop BTW is 1.6Ghz, 256 Meg, and an ATI 128 Meg IG) IE games from 2001 to 2005 or so, mainly strategy games, not the more video intensive FPS' or RPGs.

On the other hand it would be nice if the new machine could play Civ4, AOE3, the latest citybuilders, maybe Sims2, etc.

Your thoughts and advice, as usual. And yes, I know I should consider a discrete video card instead of IG. Doesnt seem like the price point on such systems had dropped.

[Solver]

Integrated graphics suck, suck, suck.

Basically, if you buy a computer now with the lowest specs they'll give you, plus a real video card, you'll play the games. I think the lowest you can get is something like a 2.2 GHz with 512 MB RAM. That's enough for Civ4 and AoE3. Add a GeForce FX 5700, and you're set. The FX series were quite unsuccessful, but you don't mind it - it's generally a problem with FPS and other intensive games that they have.

Realistically, you probably don't want that very lowest computer. Buy a budget PC of 2.8 GHz or such, 512 MB of RAM (though 1 GB is better). And certainly a real video card, as said. You don't need the real fancy stuff such as dual-core CPUs or a 7xxx series GeForce .

[snoopy369]

Glancing at Dell prices, for under $600 you could get an E310 with a flat panel monitor (15") and a gig of ram ... intel integrated graphics is the main drawback here An E510 might have an ATI card option, not sure (dell's site is being maddeningly slow at the moment ) but would be another $200 or so (though with a 17" flat panel).

[Spaced Cowboy]

You need to time the Dell purchase right and you should be able to get a 3ghz machine with 1/2 gig of ram, IG, and a 17" flat for under $600. I priced one similar out a few weeks ago.

Then when the budget recovers, get a decent video card. In other words you don't have to get a video card right away, especially with the oldies that you favor.

Yes, the Dell site is always slowwww.

[snoopy369]

Actually, dell right now is cheapish - $100-150 off systems, a free flatpanel monitor, and a free printer ...

[CerberusIV]

Beware of Dell. Especially "free" printers. I don't know about the USA but over here they give away printers that only take their own ink cartridges - which are expensive to replace.

My comp runs Civ4 (and Warlords) very happily with a 2.4 processor so anything better than that will do. 512 RAM should be enough for now but plan to upgrade to 1G if it doesn't have that to start.

I picked up a FX5200 256MB Ati card from Amazon and that more than handles the graphics. It's good enough for FPS games from a couple of years ago so strategy games should be easily coped with.

[Adagio]

Originally posted by lord of the mark
We will still not be looking at top of the line, but will probably go a bit over the bare bones $300 including monitor packages.

Just come by my place next month, then you can get my computer for $300 (without monitor)
My computer is a little bit better than CerberusIV's computer (an fx 5900 GTX instead)

It plays Civ IV just fine. To play Civ IV you would need something like CerberusIV mentioned. You could probably go a little lower, but not by much

Maybe you should look around for used computers in you area, maybe you'll find a great deal there?

[DrSpike]

You know what I will say.

No to integrated graphics - get a bog standard card and 1GB RAM and even with an entry level processor you'll be fine for years to come.

[lord of the mark]

Dell indeed has some very tempting offers, and im much inclined to take one. All of the ones I looked at though had integrated graphics, apparently without the ability to upgrade.

As for a printer, we have two relatively late model ones, so I dont really care about whether or not theres a printer in the package.

[lord of the mark]

You know what I will say.

No to integrated graphics - get a bog standard card and 1GB RAM and even with an entry level processor you'll be fine for years to come.

And theres more reason to do that now, cause we're not as likely to have yet another replacement soon, as was the case when we got POTM her laptop.

[DrSpike]

You are finally making sense.

[pg]

I usually don't tell people to wait when upgrading but now might be a decent time to wait. With Vista "due" out around the start of 2007, there should be a lot of better priced hardware to be more compatible with it IMO. Probably better integrated graphics, and PCs with more ram to start, if not cheaper dual core CPUs. I'd recommend spending a bit more to get at least 1GB of ram, dual core CPU, and Vista Aero compatible graphics card be it integrated or a real GPU.

[DrSpike]

Nah, I think Vista will need some time to bed down anyway. Buy now!

[Spaced Cowboy]

In all honesty, I do not think that LOtM would upgrade his OS on this PC.

I can't remember seeing any PC (or mobos) that would not let you disable the on-board graphics.

However, with core duo 2 fresh on its launch and intel wanting its market share back, one might wait a bit to see if the older dual core pentium chips drop in price as predicted, plus dell will need to work through their inventory/contract term.

[Quillan]

Pentium Ds have already nose dived in price. Some are less than $100 now. The Athlon 64s have also gone down, though the X2s are still more expensive than the single core variants or the Pentium Ds. Don't wait too long if that's what you want, though. EOL on both the Socket 939 Athlon 64s and the Pentium Ds are the end of this year (Dec 31 for the Athlons, Dec 15 for the Intels).