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| Thread ID: 23595 | 2002-08-20 01:40:00 | Price versus Performance Gaming PC? | robo (205) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 72533 | 2002-08-20 01:40:00 | Question: If I am going to relent and get on the gaming PC treadmill, how carried away do I get? If it is going to be used for basically splatter games (Return to Wolfenstein, Jedi Knight 2, Warcraft III) without going bonkers on textures on the walls, what does one really need? In particular: How much ram in the video card? How much ram? What sort of processor? I am looking for balance of capability versus cost. The Warcraft III box (which I haven't even opened) says minimum is 400MHz PII, 128Mb Ram, 8Mb 3D video card. Recommended is 600MHz, 256Mb Ram, 32Mb 3D video. Sounds like the processor requirements are almost unimportant. I am leaning AMD direction. Sound card again sounds largely unimportant. Emphasis is not OTT, but bang for buck. Ideas? (please give rough idea of cost with item you suggest) robo. (being cheap) |
robo (205) | ||
| 72534 | 2002-08-20 01:47:00 | > If it is going to be used for basically splatter > games (Return to Wolfenstein, Jedi Knight 2, Warcraft > III) without going bonkers on textures on the walls, > what does one really need? > > In particular: > How much ram in the video card? > How much ram? > What sort of processor? Well I don't have any idea on cost as I just buy new stuff as I get the money - it's been a long time since this was a new machine (it used to be a Gateway LOL... not much left of it now, besides the box and the screen). However I do know that running JK2 on this really uses every resource it can find - the tin (didn't come in a box, it came in a tin) says Pentium II or Athlon 350 or higher, 64mb RAM, 16mb Open GL video card. I'd be very surprised if someone with those specs could run JK2 without getting utterly annoyed at it - I've got a 750 with 256mb and 32mb vid and I have to run it on almost minimum settings to get it to play smoothly. Now I know that most new computers come with better specs than that, but it won't be long until your system is struggling to keep up with your games :) Mike. |
Mike (15) | ||
| 72535 | 2002-08-20 01:57:00 | I would suggest: AMD Athlon 1800+ (approx $265) 512 Mb RAM (approx $350) Geforce4 TI4200 64Mb DDR (approx $415) More video ram would be better, but in the interests of cost :( Of course, you can't go past a MS Sidewinder FF & Logitech FF Racing Wheel B-) |
antmannz (28) | ||
| 72536 | 2002-08-20 02:44:00 | That's good advice . Robo . . . don't get anything less than a 64MB video card or you'll regret it sooner than you'd think . Besides, GeForce 4 Ti4200/Ti4600's are well cheap these days . Those 3 games you mentioned will all run beautifully on a system using an AthlonXP and a GF4 . Check out http://www . pricespy . co . nz before you shop . . . |
Scott Bartley (836) | ||
| 72537 | 2002-08-20 02:53:00 | Buy 2nd hand on trademe.co .nz anything over 1 gighertz is fine with 256 memory and a good graphics card geforce 256 32 meg ddr upwards is fine warcraft 3 will run fine on most systems the software has to catch up to the hardware at the moment so bleeding edge technology is wasted really dont over spend next year there will always be a better faster PC out there but really do you need it?? | kiwibeat (304) | ||
| 72538 | 2002-08-20 02:57:00 | Pay for the video card - a moderate GeForce 4 in a P4 1GHz is a better bet that a crap GeForce2 in a P4/AMD 2.4GHz. I've been focusing on upgrading main RAM and the video card first and CPU last for a while and have maintained a decent games rig this way. Not knock your socks off games rig, but does the work required. | Biggles (121) | ||
| 72539 | 2002-08-20 03:02:00 | Whoa! Are you encouraging me Scott? I told you I was going to wait a little but now I am not sure I can! Pricespy rocks. I have put it on my links bar already. Someone should mention this in an internet magazine or PC World or somewhere :p I am finding it very hard to resist the temptation. According to pricespy I can get the bits I need for about $400 bucks (If I don't get that outrageous video card you mentioned and stick to one a bit cheaper). robo. |
robo (205) | ||
| 72540 | 2002-08-20 03:04:00 | So is a $100 GeForce2 MX400 64Mb AGP a waste of space? That was what I was wondering about in Scott's list as the card he mentions is about $350. robo |
robo (205) | ||
| 72541 | 2002-08-20 03:06:00 | Bearing in mind I don't want to be able to recognise the type of mould on the wallpaper when I smash into a room in Wolfenstein. I just want to be able to buy a game and be sure that I can run the bugger, even if I have to turn down the graphics. BTW, Bruce, I just finished a PS2 adventure-style game where you go up levels and stuff (Drakan Ancients Gate) and I have to say it sucked. It just doesn't allow the flexibility of a PC game. PS2 still has it's place, though. robo. |
robo (205) | ||
| 72542 | 2002-08-20 03:14:00 | If you can spend more on the video card do so. I wouldn't get a Geforce 2. I lve with a 64Mb GeForce2 right now and it is the next component I want to upgrade. It is fine now, but withthign slike Doom III and Combat Flight Sim 3 coming along, it will be past it's day. A purist would say get a high-end card, not a MX card (just ask Tweake), but I'd certainly rather have a GeForce4 MX than a GeForce2. | Biggles (121) | ||
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