Minimum specs for a PC (advice needed)

**kro** · 24th January 2007, 21:34

http://www1.ap.dell.com/content/prod...=dhs&cs=nzdhs1

That's what I would go for, unless you know someone who can build you one from scratch. Dell aren't the gruntiest thing out there, but they are upgradeable, and you get an LCD monitor, and a good set of speakers etc.

Unless you can get PC parts at trade prices, you are very hard pressed to match a Dell price.

My only major gripe with Dells are the lack of graphics cards, but for another $145.00 you can slap a good 6600GT in there, and it will eat any strategy game, and a good number of action/shooters too.

**boomer** · 24th January 2007, 21:38

Good old Dell.. cheap as chips, 24*7 cover and marketed for the masses! WHY NOT?

**madandy** · 24th January 2007, 21:49

Avoid Celron! I play strategy games, AOE3 wont run too well and the warcheifs upgrade has my 2600celron right up on 100%...slow as hell.

Anyone wanna shoot some advice for upgrading RAM, maybe that's my issue only have 256!

**boomer** · 24th January 2007, 22:08

Originally Posted by madandy

maybe that's my issue only have 256!

No, your issue is that you play strategy games.,.. geek

**N4CR** · 24th January 2007, 23:15

go for.. hrmrmr

okay

cpu: amd athlon x2 3600+ or 3800+ (dualcore) cheap as chips and spanks the pants off about 65-70% of intels total current production lineup apart from core2.. haha. and again it's cheaper than almost the entire lineup.

ram 1gb kingston valueram or corsair valueram... lifetime warranty and cheap and effective. ram speed ain't a big deal on amd platforms. but it's not no name dodgy crap ram so yeah.. all good.

hard drive well video editing chews it go get a 320gb 7200rpm sata seagate/wd/samsung etc. last check (last month) was best $$ for gb (320gb)

graphics/gpu.. hrrmmmm basically gf 7600gt/6600gt or x1600xt both 256mb. often the 512mb versions for similar price have slower memory so in the end actually run slower.. funny stuff. get a pci-e 16x card.. not agp as motherbaord dont support it.

motherboard.. go get an asus socket am2 or the like. asustek socket am2 m2n-mx nvidia geforce6100 (integrated graphics solution) would be good as you don't have to initially get a graphics card. wait and then get one cheaper down the line. ddr2 baord and pci 16x etc etc
don't get gigabyte have had multiple bad experiences with their stuff. asrock is also cheap and is an asus subsidary.

case well hell anything goes really. cooling ain't a problem with these modern cpus so go for cheap and not too flashy (flashy = $$). don't get integrated psu option they are all rubbish.

power supply enermax noisetaker 485w. psu is one of the most critical components in a computer.. with a bad one it can cause problems across the entire thing.. it's the first port of call. 485w means you can chuck in a friggen decent graphics card and it'll take it fine. i have two of these 485's in the house. one is run 24/7 the other is used occasionally.. both are perfect and in reviews spanked all the rest in that class. another 465 in another computer that has regular use is still going strong after 3 years. and that's just me.. mates have many of htem and they have no problems what so ever.

anything else just shoot mate i build computers for people all the time

edit: kro's reccomendation is great too, dells don't have the build quality but hey have warranty to back it up.. as he said chuck a 6600gt in and you'd be sweet as! and its easier than homebuilding.. as much as i hate to say it. you learn more homebuilding htough!

**Deviant Esq** · 25th January 2007, 01:19

Originally Posted by oldguy

what ever you do don't go to Dick Smiths or Noel Leemings.

Why not? I worked for Noel Leeming not so long ago, and there's nothing wrong with the computer stuff we sold. I'd sooner buy shit from there than a Dell. Not like I'm trying to say it was a wonderful place to work, because it really wasn't all that wonderful, but if you'd come and bought a computer from me you'd have walked away happy with the product and the service.

**Brian d marge** · 25th January 2007, 03:09

Oldies like me cant think that fast , so an older/slower computer may be ok !

My old clunker, is 1100 amd chip 750 ram and an newer agp graphics card ,125meg?

I use ubuntu, 6.10 and it works like a charm, The Only small gripe is that some of the newer flash and codecs arnt supported by ubuntu

they probably are, just i cant be arsed looking for them. I was looking at up grading, but this thing has been as stable as a rock , and only comes under pressure when I render a acad drawing, not often

I was playing Americas army it was fine ,, ( for me ) ...

Future next year is a big screen monitor ( 23 inch and maybe an upgrade,,,)

Stephen

**madandy** · 25th January 2007, 04:23

Originally Posted by boomer

No, your issue is that you play strategy games.,.. geek

BAAhahahaha....................................... .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. ....fair call

**kro** · 25th January 2007, 05:35

Madandy, the bottleneck in your system sounds like the lack of RAM. I would perhaps stick another 256mb, or even better, splash out on $75.00, and slap 512 in, and I would suggest you'd see a marked improvement.

AOE minimum specs.
- WinXP

- 1.4ghz Processor

- 256 RAM

- 64 MB Video Card that supports HW T&L

- Approximately 370MB of Hard Drive space (not including installer).

- DirectX 9c

You're right on the bottom end with RAM matey, so that would be my first thing to address. Note the processor is actually specs are actually quite low, and that's a nother reason the RAM should be the 1st port of call.

**Lias** · 25th January 2007, 10:40

You really need 256mb of RAM just for the OS if your running XP.

1GB of ram is cheap these days, and IMHO is entry level.

Most gaming rigs have 2 or more GB now.