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Thoughts on a new computer #1190967
07/10/19 12:09 PM
07/10/19 12:09 PM
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The Haze Offline OP
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My computer is about six years old and still is running Windows 7. I have gotten lots of valuable and much-appreciated advice here. However, I am now considering a new computer and making a few other adjustments (Like a new Video card and its other "Stuff".) I have found a small, independent computer shop which will build what I want; has asked the questions I thought were important: and will create and sell me a "Rebuilt" computer with all the things I think I need for several dollars less than a big-box store and a brand name computer. Several people I know are appalled that I would buy an unbranded, rebuilt, computer. They claim I'm wasting my money. (Oddly, a few get really intense about it.) Does anyone have some knowledgeable opinion on this situation?

NOTE; This is a real, commercial business. It's not a guy in a garage.


If all the people were heroes, there would be no one to watch the parades.
Re: Thoughts on a new computer [Re: The Haze] #1190968
07/10/19 12:30 PM
07/10/19 12:30 PM
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Draclvr Offline
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Not sure what you mean by "rebuilt." Is this a computer built with used parts? Or a place which will simply build a new computer for you such as http://www.ecollegepc.com/? Are you talking about a laptop or a desktop?

If they are building a computer with used parts, I would also have a problem with that as you have no way of knowing how long the parts were used etc.

What kind of "specs" are they quoting for you? I mean, what video card; what motherboard; what power supply; how much RAM; what processor; what kind of case etc....


Now, if you're talking about a company which will build a new computer for you, I would HIGHLY recommend this. You will usually get a much better machine with better components and no garbage on it than a so-called "branded" computer


Gardens put to bed for the winter. Time for some gaming!
Re: Thoughts on a new computer [Re: The Haze] #1190970
07/10/19 12:40 PM
07/10/19 12:40 PM
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Jenny100 Offline
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I'm not sure what to say based on the information you've provided.
You can certainly put a new motherboard and other new parts in an old computer case and end up what is essentially a new computer in an old case, and that's perfectly fine.

If you're talking about keeping the same 6-year-old motherboard, adding RAM to whatever capacity that motherboard has, and adding a new video card, that's something else and depends a lot on the quality of your current motherboard. For example, if it can only accomodate a maximum of 8 GB of RAM or less, that's going to be a disadvantage.

What we need to know is this --
What are the specs of this proposed computer?
What motherboard brand and model?
What video card brand and model?
What hard drive or SSD?

If you can get a list of the parts, we can look them up and get an idea of how "modern" the computer will be inside.
What you don't want is a computer with "new" (as in unused) parts that were manufactured 6 years ago or new "bargain" (as in low end) parts. I don't know that that's what the shop is offering you, but you need to make sure that the parts you're getting will be up to playing your games and doing whatever else you need it to do for the next few years.

Re: Thoughts on a new computer [Re: The Haze] #1190971
07/10/19 12:40 PM
07/10/19 12:40 PM
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I just got a rebuild refurbished computer and it runs great (hyper fast.) It has Windows 10 Professional computer with 4x the speed and power of my previous one (2x ram to 8x ram now), a 4 core processor. a 500 GB internal hard drive and a 4 terabyte and 8 terabyte external hard drive . I got this computer for 249.00. ( this is the price for the computer, the external drives were bought separtately).
So far I'm playing Still Life 2 and Kathy Rain on it and they're running with no problem.

Last edited by Barry; 07/10/19 12:43 PM.

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Re: Thoughts on a new computer [Re: The Haze] #1190973
07/10/19 12:49 PM
07/10/19 12:49 PM
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Glad you are loving your "new" computer, Barry! The main thing is what kind of video card does it have? What wattage is the power supply? What kind of 4 core processer is it? There are some good ones out there, but also some older slower ones are still 4 core. Most new, fast processors have 8 cores. And 8 GB of Ram is a bare minimum for gaming - even adventure gaming. Not putting your computer down, because I'm sure it is perfect for you. Just want to make sure The Haze knows this is a low end computer for gaming.


Gardens put to bed for the winter. Time for some gaming!
Re: Thoughts on a new computer [Re: The Haze] #1190974
07/10/19 12:58 PM
07/10/19 12:58 PM
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The video card is the Intel HD Graphics 3000. I was told by the site I got it from and my son in law who is an IT professional that the computer I got is fine for any adventure game. I don;t play RPG, action or FPS games.


I've seen God, and his name is iPad. Let us pray
yes, I do use my Hairbrush as a Microphone and Dance around in my Underwear. Thank you very much.

Re: Thoughts on a new computer [Re: Barry] #1190977
07/10/19 01:10 PM
07/10/19 01:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Barry
The video card is the Intel HD Graphics 3000. I was told by the site I got it from and my son in law who is an IT professional that the computer I got is fine for any adventure game. I don't play RPG, action or FPS games.

That won't play many current adventure games, let alone future ones.
Unless you only play casual games, pixel art games, and games made from photos like the Carol Reeds, you're going to be very limited.
Here are MINIMUM requirements from some recent and slightly older adventure games:
Quote
Here are the Obduction System Requirements (Minimum)

CPU: CPU Intel i5-2500 equivalent or better
RAM: 8 GB
OS: Windows 7 SP1 64 bit or newer
VIDEO CARD: GeForce 660 GTX w/1GB / AMD 7700 series w/1GB equivalent or better
PIXEL SHADER: 5.0
VERTEX SHADER: 5.0
FREE DISK SPACE: 20 GB
DEDICATED VIDEO RAM: 1024 MB

Xing system requirements
Quote
OS: Windows 7, 8, or 10 - 64 Bit
Processor: Quad Core Intel or AMD
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: AMD Radeon HD 7850 or NVIDIA GTX 750Ti
DirectX: Version 11
Storage: 9 GB available space
Additional Notes: For VR: GTX 970 or AMD 480

Quern system requirements
Quote

CPU: Intel Core i3-2100 or AMD equivalent
CPU SPEED: Info
RAM: 3 GB
OS: 7
VIDEO CARD: NVIDIA GTX 650 2GB or AMD HD7770 2GB
PIXEL SHADER: 5.0
VERTEX SHADER: 5.0
FREE DISK SPACE: 7 GB
DEDICATED VIDEO RAM: 2 GB

Quote
Here are the Layers of Fear 2 System Requirements (Minimum)

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 (3.2 GHz)
CPU SPEED: Info
RAM: 5 GB
OS: Windows 7
VIDEO CARD: GeForce GTX 750 Ti
PIXEL SHADER: 5.0
VERTEX SHADER: 5.0
SOUND CARD: DirectX® 11.0 compatible
FREE DISK SPACE: 14 GB
DEDICATED VIDEO RAM: 2048 MB

Quote
Here are the Draugen System Requirements (Minimum)

CPU: Intel Core i5
CPU SPEED: Info
RAM: 6 GB
OS: Windows 7 (64-bit)
VIDEO CARD: GeForce GTX 670/AMD HD 7870 2GB VRAM
PIXEL SHADER: 5.0
VERTEX SHADER: 5.0
SOUND CARD: Yes
FREE DISK SPACE: 10 GB
DEDICATED VIDEO RAM: 2048 MB

Quote

Here are the Heaven's Vault System Requirements (Minimum)

CPU: SSE2 instruction set support
CPU SPEED: Info
RAM: 4 GB
OS: Windows 7 or later
VIDEO CARD: Nvidia Geforce GTX 660 / AMD Radeon HD 7850, 2+ Gb of vram
PIXEL SHADER: 5.0
VERTEX SHADER: 5.0
FREE DISK SPACE: 5 GB
DEDICATED VIDEO RAM: 2048 MB

Quote
Here are the Lake Ridden System Requirements (Minimum)

CPU: Intel core i3-2100T @ 2.5GHz or AMD FX 6100
CPU SPEED: Info
RAM: 6 GB
OS: Windows 7 or higher (64bit only)
VIDEO CARD: Nvidia GeForce GTX 650Ti or AMD Radeon HD 7770
PIXEL SHADER: 5.0
VERTEX SHADER: 5.0
SOUND CARD: Yes
FREE DISK SPACE: 3 GB
DEDICATED VIDEO RAM: 1024 MB

Quote
Here are the Truberbrook / Trüberbrook System Requirements (Minimum)

CPU: i3 4th generation / i5 2nd generation / A6 series
CPU SPEED: Info
RAM: 4 GB
OS: Windows 7 / 8 / 8.1 / 10
VIDEO CARD: Intel HD 4000 / AMD Radeon 5800 series / nvidia 550Ti
PIXEL SHADER: 5.0
VERTEX SHADER: 5.0
SOUND CARD: DX11 compatible
FREE DISK SPACE: 7 GB

Re: Thoughts on a new computer [Re: The Haze] #1190979
07/10/19 01:30 PM
07/10/19 01:30 PM
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Draclvr Offline
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And I'm not positive, but I think the HD 3000 graphics is the integrated graphics in the old 1st generation Core i3 processors which is no longer supported and has been discontinued.


But, again, I'm sure the computer is a huge improvement from your old one, Barry. Just as long as you don't expect it to play any new adventure games and even a lot of older ones, you will be fine. As I said, I just want The Haze to understand it is a very low end computer for gaming.


I'll tell you what it would be GREAT for and that's something Jenny has suggested in another thread or two... a cheap low end computer to get used to using Windows 10!


Last edited by Draclvr; 07/10/19 01:31 PM.

Gardens put to bed for the winter. Time for some gaming!
Re: Thoughts on a new computer [Re: The Haze] #1191002
07/10/19 09:41 PM
07/10/19 09:41 PM
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The Haze Offline OP
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Thanks for the info you have all provided. I can't respond to most of it because of my vast computer ignorance. Instead I can describe my conversations.

I am looking at upgrading/replacing my desktop. I know I need a new video card but have no knowledge of video cards, so I took the requirement specs for Obduction, The Devil's Daughter, and Syberia 3 (All of which I own and none of which my present computer will run.) This led to the suggestion that adding the newer and more powerful card may well require a bigger power source and therefore a larger cooling element. The cost of these additions, in addition to the cost of the system upgrade, led to the suggestion of a new computer.

I don't yet have specific numbers for RAM and storage size, but know I need them. He also mentioned that my present and all my older computers had a hard disk drive. (I know this is true because I have sledge-hammered a couple of those in my time.) Evidently the new computer will have a drive of some sort that has no disks but will store more material and access that material much faster. This too should facilitate the playing of newer games.

That is basically what I know so far. yours comments have been, and will be, much appreciated and respected. I know that my old Windows 7 is supported until January, so I have some time and won't leap to decide. Thanks again.


If all the people were heroes, there would be no one to watch the parades.
Re: Thoughts on a new computer [Re: The Haze] #1191006
07/10/19 09:54 PM
07/10/19 09:54 PM
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I really like the sound of your computer builder! Let me start with the drive the new computer will have. He's talking about an SSD or solid state drive. The drives we are all used to from the past had an actual disk inside spinning around. The new SSD drives do not have a physical disk, just "circuits" so to speak. They are very, very fast. I just switched to an SSD and it's wonderful.

And the way you took the specs for those games will give this guy a very good idea for what you will need. He is correct in that all these more powerful components will require more cooling fans which will likely require a new computer case.

He really sounds like he knows what he is doing. Let us know what all he comes up with and we can help you decide. If this is a new computer being built for you, not "rebuilt" from old parts, I think you will end up being very happy with what he can do for you. I haven't had a "branded" computer for 15 years and will NEVER go back to them!


Gardens put to bed for the winter. Time for some gaming!
Re: Thoughts on a new computer [Re: The Haze] #1191061
07/11/19 01:37 PM
07/11/19 01:37 PM
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Originally Posted by The Haze
I know I need a new video card but have no knowledge of video cards, so I took the requirement specs for Obduction, The Devil's Daughter, and Syberia 3 (All of which I own and none of which my present computer will run.)

If you give your tech the requirements for these games, try to get closer to Recommended requirements and not Minimum requirements. If you can't afford a video card with 4 GB of memory, at least get one with 2 GB of video memory. We're starting to see adventure games with 2 GB video memory as the Minimum requirement (as with Layers of Fear 2).
Quote
Obduction Recommended Requirements

CPU: CPU Intel i5-4590 equivalent or better
RAM: 16 GB
OS: Windows 10 64 bit
VIDEO CARD: NVIDIA GTX 970 w/4 GB / AMD R9 290 w/4 GB equivalent or better
PIXEL SHADER: 5.1
VERTEX SHADER: 5.1
FREE DISK SPACE: 20 GB
DEDICATED VIDEO RAM: 4096 MB

Cyan also recommended an SSD for Obduction, which should speed up loading times.
Quote
Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Daughter Recommended Requirements

CPU: INTEL Core i5 2100 3.1 GHZ / AMD A8-7600 3.1 GHz
CPU SPEED: Info
RAM: 8 GB
OS: Windows 7 64 Bit / Windows 8.1 64 Bit / Windows 10 64 Bit
VIDEO CARD: 2048MB 100% DirectX 11 compatible ATI R9 270X / NVIDIA GeForce 760 GTX or higher
PIXEL SHADER: 5.0
VERTEX SHADER: 5.0
SOUND CARD: DirectX Compatible
FREE DISK SPACE: 20 GB
DEDICATED VIDEO RAM: 2048 MB

Quote
Syberia 3 Official Recommended Requirements

OS: Windows 7+ 64bit
Processor: Intel Core i5 (or AMD equivalent)
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia GTX 960 2 GB (or AMD equivalent)
DirectX: Version 11
Storage: 45 GB available space
Sound Card: Any


Remember that newer doesn't always mean faster with video cards. You have to check the model number of the card to get an idea of speed.

Re: Thoughts on a new computer [Re: The Haze] #1191074
07/11/19 03:55 PM
07/11/19 03:55 PM
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That will be added to my question list. Thank you


If all the people were heroes, there would be no one to watch the parades.
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