Thread: New PC Suggestions

While I concur with the build a PC notion, and its relative ease, I know many who would never dare open a case, so it's not unheard of to pay the extra to avoid the step.

As for the PC you linked, it's OK...but it is overpriced, and I'm not a fan of AMD anymore; they're just losing the fight on all fronts in the CPU world. Pay the extra money for Intel C2D or Quad series, and you'll be pleased. The video card should work in running the game, but that card may even be built in, which is BAD for gaming, and the series card it is is rather dated. Note that SE does NOT stand for Special Edition, rather, for a watered down version of their line.

Quickly looking at their online stock, you're going to be forced to deal with AMD for that price point (AMDs only current advantage), and the PC bundles overall at that range are going to need help as is. An aftermarket card installation will almost be a must. Put in a now cheaper 8800 and you should be golden, though, you'll surely pay a premium for that card if bought retail as well...


For comparison, a gaming/entertainment rig can be built for 600-800 currently (as of Oct 08, probably a tad less now).

Originally Posted by InkofDeath

That's overpriced by a good $250 mate.

I'd look for a computer for you, but you're kind of showing that feeling of not wanting to buy online and put a computer together, even if it's relatively simple.

You could get a decent video game playing machine for under $800-$600, and it would play pretty much anything, if you built it yourself.

I build all of my computers. She just happens to be across the country, so it's not really an option she wants to go with. I've already suggested it to her, and in her case, she wants it quicker....like, today or tomorrow.

Originally Posted by kenny007

While I concur with the build a PC notion, and its relative ease, I know many who would never dare open a case, so it's not unheard of to pay the extra to avoid the step.

As for the PC you linked, it's OK...but it is overpriced, and I'm not a fan of AMD anymore; they're just losing the fight on all fronts in the CPU world. Pay the extra money for Intel C2D or Quad series, and you'll be pleased. The video card should work in running the game, but that card may even be built in, which is BAD for gaming, and the series card it is is rather dated. Note that SE does NOT stand for Special Edition, rather, for a watered down version of their line.

Quickly looking at their online stock, you're going to be forced to deal with AMD for that price point (AMDs only current advantage), and the PC bundles overall at that range are going to need help as is. An aftermarket card installation will almost be a must. Put in a now cheaper 8800 and you should be golden, though, you'll surely pay a premium for that card if bought retail as well...


For comparison, a gaming/entertainment rig can be built for 600-800 currently (as of Oct 08, probably a tad less now).

My wife and I both run Semprons in our machines and they run the game fine, so AMD won't be a problem. The card itself was what I was really concerned with since the specs on the game say one thing, and reality seems to be a little different.

I told her that she should get a smaller pc and then a big card, but since she's across the country, I'm limited as to what I can help her with.

I'm building my wife's new one for around 600, with an Intel Quad, 4 gigs of ram, ect (board, ect) and Vista. I've priced the stuff, and will probably start to build hers in the next week or so....just waiting to see if it slides some more since tax time has arrived.

I'm trying to get her to wait, but she's slightly impatient. If she'd give me a week or so to get the parts, build it and ship it to her, she'd be good to go. I'm basically looking for a quick solution for her, and since she doesn't have anyone to open it and replace stuff or really be able to fix it for her (what I can't do remotely that is), I wanted to get her looking at those instead.