It appears that I now need a desktop too . . .

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This is what I'm talking about. This is high-end: 3 graphics cards and SSD Raid. But only 12Gigs of RAM. I could have fun sellling one of these.

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/Gamer_Xtreme_XE/

And this one still only has onboard audio! It's still another 175.00 for a high-end sound card.

While I have not sold computers for 10 years, the high-end machines were custom builds, usually through HP or Compaq -- BACK THEN.

On a 600-700.00 Packard-Bell computer I made $1.25 commission. Really. A whole 1.25. I know that sounds absurd, but that's because the store made next to nothing on it. On a high-end custom build I could make about 60.00-80.00 commission. That does not include monitor, printer, and of course the extended warranty [that really added income].

http://build.falcon-nw.com/

Falcons are nice too. I configured one @ around 4K.

 

Did you know that the core i5 2500k Sandy Bridge is actually benchmarking higher than the core i7? Intel kind of shot themselves in the foot with that one.

 

DMC, you may want to restart this thread and put NO TECH SPEAK, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE ON ABOUT!!! in big flashing letters. You know better than to ask this lot to explain something simply because you aren't an expert

 

I've alway found that, in general, the requirements for current games lag the current technology for computers by at least two years. Add to that, I never buy a game at first release and generally wait until it's been out a year and don't like FPS (which typically have the high requirements on computers) -- I can buy nearly any computer on the market and still be able to play any game for the next two years. For example my three year old computer (bought on sale from New Egg) easily meets the recommended requirements for Fall Out III (which I haven't bought yet).

Just look at the recommended requirements for the games you want to buy and you'll see they are well below the capabilities of computers on the market. You should be able to find an adequate computer for under $1000. If, two years from now another game comes along requiring the abilities of the $2000-3000 computer of today, you will be able to buy it at that time for probably under $1000 (overall giving a net savings and a new toy in two years).

 

Yes, we should get back to DMC, rather than debating the land of where little old ladies buy $60,000 Cadillac Escalades to drive up to the corner grocery store, when they could have spent far less on a Chevy and can get there just as easily.

Essentially the same thing as the Intel. I would at least upgrade to a quad core for just 54.00. So w/ W7 and monitor it should be under 1K.

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/Mega_Special_II/

You don't have to go with this brand, but something similar.

 

Nothing slower as 2,6 and 4 cores. Phenom2 X4.

A good example from Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227315
or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883229223

ATI/AMD 5670 is a good average card. Wil cut if for a few years. Upgrade is easy.

4 gig ddr3 is basic but enough. Upgrade possible.

The blu ray is nice but you can save 40$ with a basis dvd burner.

 

The only exception to this rule is Crysis. All other games may pass it but not Crysis.

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Phenoem has L3 Cache and may have higher L2 cache; Athlon does not have any L3 Cache which newer more intense applications tend to use.

As for the Power Supply (PSU); it all depends on the various components installed, will the CPU/GPU be overclocked, and the actual PSU itself. If you go with a name brand PSU (Antec, Corsiar, etc...) you should be fine with a 500W PSU if you don't have to install a GPU that requires a 6+2 pin connector and a 6 pin connector.

 

I've done a bit of research recently, and I think the answer is yes (depending on what you consider to be "significant"). Just stay away from the X6 (6 cores), as it seems this is more suited to threaded applications (whatever those are) than gaming.

The more I think of it, the more I'm tempted to go with the first choice in my previous post - i7 2600K, 8GB ram, HD 6850. It's $1,250, but I tend to hold on to computers for a long time (I bought my current one 7 years ago), so I think it makes sense.

As an aside, I'm pleasantly surprised to see that prices on the Canadian newegg site are actually slightly lower than on the US site. This shouldn't be a surprise given that the Canadian dollar is currently worth a bit more than the US dollar, but in general, even with the two dollars being roughly equal in value, Canadian prices are higher than those in the US, often by 20% or more. It really pisses me off (along with every other Canadian), particularly given that I might also be in the market for a new car later this year.

 

Most applicatiosn today will benefit from 2-6 cores. If the application can use more than 2 cores than CPU with 3+ cores will see improvements on application performance. As software moves from 32 to 64 bit the more cores the better.

 

No, but probably a slight difference. Again if you look at the benchmarks for games the Athlon 640 is pretty close to the performance of the Phenom 940. They are only a few frames apart. Since you will be using it for games and not other applications the difference is not significant. You could go with the 640 for just 50.00 rather than 54.00.

The nVidia GTX640 would be worth the extra C in my opinion.

Yes, for the parts that it will be running.

Just click the tabs to see the difference:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/compare?T1=tab20

Splunge - What do you mostly use your PC for?

 

I'd still say the GTX 460 1GB is worth the extra cash. It's a fantastic card at a sweet spot.

I'd also rather go with an i5 than a Phenom, but that's more personal preference in desktops. *Decidedly* Phenom over Athlon, though.

@Chandos: Well, I see our definitions of "high end" and "gullible" are rather far away from each other.

Because a system with 3 graphics cards and 2 SSD's is not a system you use... for anything, really. It hogs power in a ridiculous fashion, and you could throw in a full HD display and run every game for the next two years at max settings... or you *could* if it wasn't Crossfire. It's not "high end", it's "grotesquely inappropriate for any purpose".

So you'd go decidedly into the "gullible" section of populace buying that overpriced monstrosity.

Whereas the sane thing is to buy something that will run everything now for $1000, and then buy another machine like it for $1000 in two years - getting you all the practical performance of that monstrosity at half the price. Or better yet, shave $200 of that, and have something that runs with OK performance.

@dmc: Couldn't run smoother if it ran on NASA's systems? NASA's systems pretty much can't run modern games... because they don't build systems for gaming, they build them for practical purposes, and the hardware tends to be drastically different.

 

Well bugger me. I thought that this was a thread to give dmc advice on a new computer without the techno babble. Silly me. It was obviously an open invitiation to patronise other peoples opinions and talk about things that contain a lot of numbers

 

I never said that a system in that range would be a good value, since it clearly isn't. Although I thought Ragusa's strategy was pretty sound, and it seems to be working out for him. The best bang for the buck is in the middle. My only point is that there are people who want the best, and don't care about the money. I've had customers say, "my neighbor just got a new computer. I'm tired of listening to him and I want something better."

As I said, working on the other side of the counter changes your perspective.

 

Chandos, don't bite. It only encourages him. Taza, stop attention seeking. We all know you're a very special and intelligent being...blah blah blah. get back onto the point which is: helping someone with something that is (for them if not you) a difficult purchase

 

OK. I'll take your advice.

 

Good puppy.