I'm going to buy a new computer and I would appreciate it if someone could tell me what basic specs I should look for to be able to play newer games like the new MCF game.

Kim

First thing to know is what is your budget? Laptop or desktop?

But like Jenny and Inland have mentioned before, make sure you get dedicated graphics. The new Sandy Bridge (or 2nd Generation) processors have graphics built into the processor. I'm seeing a lot of the new computers sold with that for the only graphics. I'm not sure how well they work for gaming or how they compare with the older graphics chips that were integrated into the motherboard. I've built a couple of low-end computers only using the processor graphics and they look gorgeous, but I'm thinking they won't be sufficient for gaming and you will still need dedicated graphics. I'm Jenny or Inland will know more.

At least 4 GB of RAM for sure.

Hi Drac my budget is low, about $350 and I prefer a desktop. Not sure what dedicated graphics are?

Kim

For games, the main things are the video card and the RAM. If you get a computer with Windows 7, I'd agree with Draclvr that 4GB RAM would be the minimum amount of RAM.

I think you should save up more money before buying a computer. You won't get much for $350, and what you do get at that price probably won't be upgradable. If you get a computer with a weak video card and power supply that can't be upgraded, you'll be throwing your money away (assuming you want the computer for gaming).

If you like games and you are with a low budget, haven't considered to buy a PS3 or XBOX that will be able to play any game released for them?

Console games are a little bit more expensive but it is easy to get them pre-owed at much cheaper price and can be traded in.

I agree with Jenny - you won't get a computer that can play new games like the new MCF for $350. I'd start saving up for a new computer or do like mcc suggests although I don't think you can play BFG on an XBox.

Integrated graphics are built in to the motherboard and share video memory with the computer memory. A dedicated video card means just that - it has its own video memory and is a stand-alone video card.

A good way to find out what you need is to look at the ecollegePC website. They build computers for you. I put together the most rock bottom computer desktop with a dedicated video card I could and it came up to $512.

Intel Dual-Core E5800 3.2Ghz 2MB Cache FSB 800
Stock Intel LGA775 Heatsink and Fan
ASUS P5G41T-M LX (Intel X4500 Video G41, PCI-E, 4xSATA, 2xDDR3)
4GB (2GBx2) PC3 10666 DDR3 1333Mhz Memory Lifetime Warranty
500GB 7200RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA3 (Major Brand)
24X LG SATA Dual Layer DVD /-RW/CDRW w/Nero
1GB ATI Radeon HD6450 GDDR3 PCI-E DVI/HDMI (Major Brand)
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
Foxconn Black TLM436 (2 5.25, 6 3.5) Fan, Front Audio/USB
ISO400 Foxconn Stock Power Supply
Onboard LAN included
Onboard Sound included
Wires and Cables neatly tied up away from fans
3 Year Parts and Labor Warranty

Thnaks guys for your input. Special thanks to you Drac for the extra effort. This is obviously a site you trust so I'll check it out. Maybe able to come up with extra $.
Kim

Be sure to come back here for further suggestions from others, Kim!

Kim, I got my computer from ecollege and I'm very happy with it.

Gil.

Does ecollege customize laptops?

No, they don't Winfrey. The do sell a few Asus laptops. A couple of places I know of that customize laptops are Cyberpower and Sager. Sager has some pretty good Black Friday deals...

Thanks guys, I'll keep checking back

Kim

does this sound like a good computer :

Acer desktop
Intel pentium dual core processor E6700
4GB DDR3 memory
1TB hard drive
Intergrated Intel graphics
can be bought at HH Gregg for $389.

I am still looking into ecollege but wanted to know what you think about this one
Kim

This one is good for internet browsing, email and light usage, but would not be a good one if you plan on doing any gaming - even casual gaming such as Big Fish Games.

As Jenny said earlier in this thread, you will not get a computer that will do any gaming in this price range. The problem here is the Intel Integrated Graphics - this is something you should stay away from.

Yeah, integrated isn't what you want for basically anything. The rest seems like a pretty good system. Perhaps you could get it but also get a good graphics card..make sure your system has an AGP or PCI-express slot. You can get a decent(not terrific, but decent) card for $90 that'll way outperform that integrated graphics chipset.

Pci-e gpu's are the standard now . AGP gpu's were rendered obsolete when pci-e was introduced in 2004 , & production on agp based gpu's were ceased not much longer after that . An AGP motherboard can be located occasionally on sites such as ebay , as well as agp gpu's . I believe Newegg may still have pci based gpu's , but I am not sure . A used pci-e gpu , depending on the age , can be had relatively cheap on ebay or Amazon . I have seen Nvidia 9 series gpu's on ebay going for about $60 to $75 on average .

But you may also have to upgrade the power supply along with the video card if the computer comes with a low wattage power supply.

Ok guys, here's my quote from ecollege:

3.1 Ghz Intel Core i3-2100 3mb cache dual core
stock intel LGA1155 Heatsonk and fan
Biostar H61ML (Intel H61, VGA,dvi,PCI-E, 4xSATa 2xDDDr3
8gb 9$gbx2) PC3 10666 DDR3 1333Mhz memory lifetime
500 GB 7200RPM 16mb cache serial ATa3
24xLG SATA Dual layr DVD/rw/cdrw w/ nero
1GB ati radeon HD6450 GDDR3 PCI-E DVI/hdmi
Fozconn Black TLM436 fan, front audio/usb
iso400 Foxconn stock power
onboard LAN included onboard sound included
wires and cables tied
3 year parts and labor
Win 7 OS

the cost is $600. I have no idea what all this stuff is but what do you guys think?

Kim

If the money is really tight, you could save a few bucks by sticking with only 4 GB of RAM for now. That's something you could always upgrade to later. If I would suggest upgrading anything, it would be the power supply. I would go for the 500 watt Cooler Master Pro. And it's not so much for the increased wattage, it's that I haven't been impressed with that 400 watt Foxconn stock power supply. I've already had to replace one of them and it didn't seem to be a very good quality power supply. Serviceable, but not the best.

Using the Value Series builder and those components and specs, I come up with $631, not $600. If I reduce the RAM to 4 GB and upgrade the power supply, I come up with $648.

I will let Jenny and Inland weigh in on the video card. I don't know enough about it.

Thanks Draclvr
Kim

Would I be correct in saying that you are attempting to build a new pc on a limited budget ? That is not a bad thing by any means . However , in looking at what you have listed , I would suggest the following : Upgrade the cpu to a quad core . A dual core cpu is fine for light use , such as browsing the internet or light work on the pc , or casual games . Adventure gaming might be ok , but may also cause some stability issues , such as long load times or lag in game play . If you play anything other than adventure games , a dual core cpu would likely cause a bottleneck , making the game a pain to play . Upgrade the gpu . Your choice of gpu is on the lower end of things . It would be adequate for casual games , possibly adventures , but woefully inadequate for anything else . Upgrade the psu . What you have listed is the minimum requirement for the gpu you have listed . It is always advisable to have a bit more power than minimum requirements . Perhaps something in the 600 watt range . Upgrade the case . The case you have chosen would do well for a business machine , but appears to lack adequate cooling options for a gaming pc . Adequate cooling will help to enable your pc to run more adequately for a longer amount of time .


Please understand , I am not trying to discourage you in any way , shape or form from getting a pc that works for you . What I am attempting to do , is to give recommendations that would , in the end , make your gaming that much more enjoyable , so you can spend more time gaming , instead of being in a pc repair center , or fuming at your desk .

I don't know of any adventure games that require more than a dual core processor, but if you play other genres ("Darkside" games) you may run into a problem in the future if not now.

The HD6450 with DDR3 is a low end video card. If you play games other than adventure or casual, you will have problems with it. You will probably also get "sticky cursor" aggravations with some of the newer, more demanding adventure games, though they should play.

If you do as Draclvr and Creeping_Doom suggest and get a better power supply, you can always upgrade your video card in the future if you find it isn't meeting your needs. Don't scrimp on a borderline power supply. A poor power supply that can't reliably meet the load of the computer's components can cause all kinds of weird problems -- including sudden shutdowns and reboots that can damage Windows files.

You are probably correct about adventures and dual core cpu's Jenny100 . Perhaps I should have stated that the first time .

For Adventure games I have no issues at all on my dual core laptop, purchased back when dual core processors were fairly new. It also shipped with a 7600GT video processor with discrete memory, which really helps IGP’s. There are times when I do see lag however, generally with the more demanding games. For a new purchase I’d look for something a bit more powerful, but if it’s not in the budget… an i3 will do.

A larger PSU will add a bit of white space for growth, so I'd definitely opt for that. If you've got any additional room in the budget, see it you can locate something like a GTX 460 (in the 1 MB GDDR5 flavor). I purchased one for just under $130.00 (USD) - it's been a great card as far as adventure gaming goes (and it runs oh so cool). Most OEM’s generally recommend a 450 watt PSU for these cards.

The gtx 460 1gb would be an excellent choice , and with the chosen cpu , it should do well for adventures ! Also , depending on the monitor's resolution , it should be decent enough for some darkside games that are not too cpu intensive (if darkside games are of interest) . According to Nvidia , a 450 watt psu is the minimum recommendation (the recommended minimum psu wattage is for all operating system components operating at the same time , while also keeping in mind , the gpu's recommended amps on the positive 12 volt rails). A 450 watt psu should be ok , but on the other hand , leaves little room for expandability later on . A higher wattage psu , a 500 watt or better , would perhaps be more ideal . The system would perhaps run a bit more efficiently , and the pc would in turn last a bit longer .

You've got that right I typically like to leave a minimum of 20% white space (with everything installed). Pushing a PSU to the top not only lowers its life span, it can also take a few other components with it when it goes.

The GTX 460 does quite well by me - but then again, I rarely play anything more intensive than Alice: Madness Returns or Tomb Raider.

I know people who use a gtx 460 , and they highly recommend them ! At the present , I'm using a 2gb version of a gtx 285 , with an Antec Earth Watts 750 watt psu . I realize my gpu is a bit on the older side , but it does it's job well . I play a fair share of darkside games , and the extra ram helps quite a bit . I have intentions to build a new pc this coming spring or summer , and I am contemplating using 2 gtx 570 (2.5 gb version) cards in sli . By the time late spring or summer comes , hopefully , the new gtx 6 series will release , and a price drop on the gtx 5 series will happen . That could be wishful thinking on my part though .

Hey, I'm using a GTX 260 which has served me better than well, although it's getting a bit long it the tooth! Two GTX 570's in SLI? Holy cow, that's better than... ummm, whatever!

So, exalthim2, we're having a great time spending your money, but I agree with everything here. I've had them do one build with that case with it's puny single fan. It was perfect for Sherwood, 78, who can make a dime squeak from 20 paces, who wanted a computer for $400. We put an old E5800 dual core processor in it and used the integrated graphics and sound card - great for someone who only does email, a bit of surfing and watches the occasional movie.

So, if you keep the case that is recommended for this build (which has 3 fans for cooling), stay with 4 GB of RAM, go for the 500 watt Cooler Master Pro power supply and put in a GTX 450 (for some strange reason they don't have a 460), the build is still only $640. If you can eke out a few more bucks, a bump up in the power supply is always better.

3.1Ghz Intel Core i3-2100 3MB Cache Dual-Core
Stock Intel LGA1155 Heatsink and Fan
BIOSTAR TH67B (Intel H67, HDMI, DVI, 2xPCI-E, 6xSATA, 4xDDR3)
4GB (2GBx2) PC3 10666 DDR3 1333Mhz Memory Lifetime Warranty
500GB 7200RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA3 (Major Brand)
24X LG SATA Dual Layer DVD /-RW/CDRW w/Nero
1GB GeForce GTS 450 GDDR5 PCI-E DVI/HDMI (Major Brand)
Apevia Black X-Dreamer 3 (4 5.25, 5 3.5) 3 Fans, Front Audio/USB/eSATA
500watt Cooler Master Extreme Power Plus
Onboard LAN included
Onboard Sound included
Wires and Cables neatly tied up away from fans
3 Year Parts and Labor Warranty

Ah yes ! The venerable gtx 260 ! A very good card ! A bit long in the tooth ? Perhaps . I have noticed that , especially for darkside games , the gtx 260 is starting to age some , but as long as it works for you , then that is all that matters ! Yes , 2 gtx 570 (2.5gb) in sli . It may be overkill , but as long as I am able , then I might as well do so . That may change before the times comes around to build however .

What you have quoted sounds like a winner for the money !

Oh, I'm lusting after some upgrades, Creeping Doom. I did this build 2 years ago and the "itch" is starting! But I'm hoping to get at least another year out of it. It's playing Alice Madness Returns and Witcher 2 beautifully, so I'm just ignoring the itch.

I'm on year three myself , three and a half to be more accurate . I tell you , once you get the "itch" , it can be difficult to ignore ! I take my hat off to you for having the fortitude to ignore it ! I'm getting the itch , & I don't think I can ignore it , or want to !

ok, I've got some extra cash so I can now spend about $650. I was looking at the Dell XPS 8300. What do you guys think.

Kim

Huge dead end at the beginning of game here:
SPOILER ALERT maybe.
You can actually leave the space station w/o 2 inventory items. I can't go forward now.
Maybe I'll start over...
caz

The stock video card in the XPS 8300 is a Raedon HD 6450 1 GB DDR3. Someone else will have to weigh in on whether that card is enough for gaming.

The Radeon HD6450 operates on just a 64 bit memory interface . The amount of ram on that particular card is sufficient , but the small bitrate of the memory interface is a quite serious bottleneck . The only real benefit is DirectX 11 capability . The HD 6450 would be sufficient for general internet surfing and games on facebook , but in a gaming capacity , is low end . A better choice , if AMD is your choice , would be an HD 5570 or 5770 . They both utilize DDR5 ram (the HD 6450 utilizes DDR3 ram) and the memory interface birate is twice the rate of the HD 6450 . There is absolutely nothing wrong with DDR3 ram (my gpu utilizes DDR3). The 64 bit memory bitrate just isn't enough .

Very true, expect to se a bit a lagging.

Thanks guys

I think I'm going to order the computer from ecollege that Draclvr suggested earlier in this post unless there is some more things I need to get on the computer.
Kim

I don't think I included the operating system on that one. These both have that bottom of the line power supply, so if there is any way to scrape up another $38 and upgrade the power supply, I would highly suggest it. See what the others here think about either of these.

Here is a build with a quad core processor for $680... You could get this same one with a dual core E6700 3.32 Ghtz processor for $601 leaving room for that power supply upgrade. But I don't know if that E6700 processor would serve you that well. My processor is an E8400 at 3.0 Ghtz and I can play Witcher 2, Alice Madness Returns and all the new adventure and Big Fish games. If I got Skyrim, I would have to play on reduced settings. Someone who knows more than I do will have to weigh in on this.

Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 2.66Ghz 4MB Cache FSB 1333
Stock Intel LGA775 Heatsink and Fan
MSI G41M-P34 (Intel X4500 Video HDMI, G41, PCI-E, 4xSATA, 2xDDR3)
4GB (2GBx2) PC3 10666 DDR3 1333Mhz Memory Lifetime Warranty
500GB 7200RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA3 (Major Brand)
24X LG SATA Lightscribe Dual Layer DVD+/-RW DVD-RAM w/Nero
1GB GeForce GTS 450 GDDR5 PCI-E DVI/HDMI (Major Brand)
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
Foxconn Black TLM436 (2 5.25, 6 3.5) Fan, Front Audio/USB
ISO400 Foxconn Stock Power Supply
Onboard LAN included
Onboard Sound included
Wires and Cables neatly tied up away from fans
3 Year Parts and Labor Warranty


And here is one with the newer Core i3 processor for $641...

3.1Ghz Intel Core i3-2100 3MB Cache Dual-Core
Stock Intel LGA1155 Heatsink and Fan
BIOSTAR H61ML (Intel H61, VGA, DVI, PCI-E, 4xSATA, 2xDDR3)
4GB (2GBx2) PC3 10666 DDR3 1333Mhz Memory Lifetime Warranty
500GB 7200RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA3 (Major Brand)
24X LG SATA Lightscribe Dual Layer DVD+/-RW DVD-RAM w/Nero
1GB GeForce GTS 450 GDDR5 PCI-E DVI/HDMI (Major Brand)
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
Foxconn Black TLM436 (2 5.25, 6 3.5) Fan, Front Audio/USB
ISO400 Foxconn Stock Power Supply
Onboard LAN included
Onboard Sound included
Wires and Cables neatly tied up away from fans
3 Year Parts and Labor Warranty

is this second from ecollege as well? And I do have the extra $38, so of the 2 which is the best?

kim

They are both eCollegePC options. I would lean towards the one with the Core i3 and upgrade the power supply to the Cooler Master 500 watt. But, hopefully someone who knows more than I do will weigh in with some advice. I'm leery of the E6700 processor for gaming which is less expensive than the quad core, but I might be wrong. The Core i3 is newer technology.