Getting a new PC - what it can run help

[Elegost]

Hello there,

I could really do with some help!

I am guessing that some of you guys are Computer wiz's? Anyway I would like to get myself a PC, but I don't want to spend more than £500 but I may go a bit more if I must.

I intend to use it for the following Programs/Games, I would like to run these at top Graphics Levels.


Cyber Link Power Director 8

Age of Empires 3 - http://www.ensemblestudios.com/system_r ... ts_xp.aspx

Battle for Middle Earth 1 & 2 -

http://gamesystemrequirements.com/games.php?id=263

Company of Heroes 1 & 2 -

http://www.videogamer.com/pc/company_of ... ments.html

http://digitalbattle.com/company-of-her ... uirements/

Rise of Nations - http://gamesystemrequirements.com/games.php?id=144

Could someone please tell me the ideal PC I could use from:

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/index.html

I am grateful for any help as I am no Computer wiz.

Best Regards

-Chris

[Archea47]

Laptop or desktop? Do you already have a monitor/screen?

[Elegost]

Ok I feel realy stupid for forgetting that! A desktop, and I already have a monitor thanks,

Also Company of Heroes 2, being a new game may be alot higher than the other ones in terms of requirements, if so I don't want to spend £££ more for one game being able to run.

Thanks for your reply

[Archea47]

Well that website you posted doesn't really have any computers in your price range with dedicated video cards

At 589 pounds you could get this one http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/hp-pavili ... 8-pdt.html but the video card still isn't very good - it has half the power of my current video card that I'd like to replace. The 7570 it has isn't a 'true' 7000 series. Ignore this one http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/advent-dt ... 6-pdt.html at ~599 pounds because its card is half the power yet of the HP I linked. The HP will probably play the Company of Heroes game 2 at high settings but you wont be able to play modern games very well.

Unfortunately for pre-built PCs you usually get ripped off when shopping for anything really useful for gaming. If you start watching some videos on building PCs you'll see it's a pretty easy thing to do and that way you can get a lot more bang for your buck

[Elegost]

Thanks for the reply, This looks like what I am going to have to go for:

HPPavilion p6-2388ea Desktop PC

As for building a PC, I'd rather not, being that I am not skilled.

Thats fine, I don't want to play Modern Games, just what I have listed thanks.

Any other opinions would be great

[Elegost]

I found these two cheap gaming PC's are they any good?

http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/view/Vort ... gaming-pc/

http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/view/Fusi ... aming-pc-/

[Archea47]

Now we're talkin!! These are both way better than the HP

Being an AMD guy I would go with this one:
http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/view/Fusi ... aming-pc-/

The processor that the Intel one starts off with isn't all that great - I would go with a quad core. If you do that, the Intel one gets more expensive than the AMD.

I'm a fan of the proc that comes in the AMD (the link above) - I want to upgrade to one similar myself.

So then you have 2 decisions ... video card.

You don't want to stick with the APU on the CPU long-term. It might get you by for now with the games you play, or you can make yourself forward compatible now by having them put in a real video/graphics card.

Either way, change the power supply from 300 to 450 or 600 (450 will prob be enough - and according to them it is). Then if you want to get a video card now, I would choose the nVidia 650*ti*. That all comes out to 469/563 pre/post VAT. Without the video card (but with the better p/s) it's 373/448. If you don't buy the video card now though you could add it in the future.

With the 650*ti* and AMD box (the 650ti is considerably better than the regular 650) at 496 pounds (563 post-VAT) you'll have a machine that can play almost any modern game at 1080p with max video settings and it'll be able to play games that come out for a few years ahead. Also ... I will be jealous

[Elegost]

Thanks for the reply, sorry for being thick but could you make it a bit more clear on what specs I need to adjust? I just want to make sure I do the right thing!

Regards and thanks

[Elegost]

Hello all,

I am a little unsure about buying from PC specialist, what about this Rig: http://www.dell.com/uk/p/alienware-x51/ ... enware-x51

Will it run the games I have listed?

Thank you for anyones time, it is much appericated!!!

[Archea47]

Will it run the games I have listed?

Without a problem - they're all not very demanding. Note that at the base price you don't get the hardware they mention in the marketing material but it should have no problem running the games you list. Other than the next-day warranty it seems like it's priced kind of steep

I don't understand why they say "Enjoy amazing visuals with desktop graphics card options, including the powerful 1.5GB GDDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 660 and speedy Intel® Core™ i7-3770 processor" when those parts aren't even an option when you click customize. They have numbers and asterisks on a few questionable claims on that page that aren't referenced

[Taters]

Hello all,

I am a little unsure about buying from PC specialist, what about this Rig: http://www.dell.com/uk/p/alienware-x51/ ... enware-x51

Will it run the games I have listed?

Thank you for anyones time, it is much appericated!!!

Though I can't really speak to your specific wants, I would personally recommend any Alienware product. They tend to be a bit more expensive than you absolutely have to spend, but they're well put together and the customer service is really great. (Plus, they look hella cool )

[Elegost]

Hey Jedi Taters Thanks for the extra input I'm going with Alienware now! Thanks again. And thanks
Archea47

-Chris