(OT) Shopping For Computer: Help?

[DarkJester]

What is defined as heavy gaming?

I havn't had the chance to play anything cutting edge on my current pc. From playing with friends, games i want to get include: Unreal 2003, Warcraft III, NWN, Counter Strike, Hitman. I don't particularly want to have the best system for running games simlliar to those, but I don't want something giving me choppy graphics.

And I'm sure someone knows what a network card is......

Thanks for the help so far guys.

 

[Psionicist]

What is defined as heavy gaming?

I havn't had the chance to play anything cutting edge on my current pc. From playing with friends, games i want to get include: Unreal 2003, Warcraft III, NWN, Counter Strike, Hitman. I don't particularly want to have the best system for running games simlliar to those, but I don't want something giving me choppy graphics.

And I'm sure someone knows what a network card is......

Thanks for the help so far guys.

Heavy games are games that are technically demaning, such as Unreal 2003. I can run all of the above games on my Geforce 2 MX card (they suck) with detailed settings, except for Unreal 2003. That game, is a heavy game.

If you like details (i do), large textures and flashy effects, and want to be able to play the game at high resolution, get a powerful video card such as Geforce 3 or 4.

A networks card (also known as ethernet adapters or "NICs") are add on cards so your computer can "talk" to other computers. Today, they are often used to gain access to the internet, unless you have a slow dial up connection (like me). Without a network card, you cannot play multiplayer games with your friends, and you might have trouble getting online.

Network cards are pretty cheap (you can get a working card for $10, a good card for $40 and a kick ass one for $80)

 

[CrusaderX]

And I'm sure someone knows what a network card is......

If you're going to have broadband internet access, you need a network card.

 

[Heretic Apostate]

My to-buy list for computer games includes:

Harpoon IV
Civ 3: PTW
MOO3

Nothing technically demanding. I figure I can eke out a few more years on this rusty bucket-o-bolts. If I can just figure out how to make the sound card start working again. (I don't listen to the music and sound effects on games I buy, but the DVD-ROM is my only way to play DVDs. Gah, I hate having my computer totally crash to the point of needing to reinstall WinME....)

Anyway, I thought computer questions belonged in Meta?

 

[Kibo]

If you're going to have broadband internet access, you need a network card.

And since he's looking at higher end intel setups his motherboard will almost certainly come with a 10/100 built in. Worth mentioning I thought.

 

[DarkJester]

I was looking at some Alienware setups earlier and it mentioned something called a storage controller. What is that?

 

[Emiricol]

Building your own is no longer really cost-effective unless you are getting something in the high end (and know what you are doing). If you are focusing on the "sweet spot" of bang for the buck, or going bottom end, you can't even buy the components at fry's for what you can have a pre-tested, warrantied, pre-assembled box shipped to you for.

Case in point: Months ago I bought an athalon XP1800 with 256 megs of pc2300 RAM, a 52x CDR, hercules prophet 4000 video card (just 32 megs), 7200 RPM hard dive with 40gigs, and a 10/100 ethernet card, with built-in 64-channel sound and 300 power supply (no monitor, no OS or software)

Now, that's not the greatest system by any stretch of the imagination, but it works for anyone but a serious gamer, really. The cost to me, pre-assembled, tested, with full warranty, and including shipping, was $525. You can get a system not too far beneath that, now, for $200 at friggin' Wal-Mart. I would have built the computer like I did my other one, but at those prices, why bother? Plus there's value in not having to make 10 trips to Fry's...

 

[TheEstablishment]

One thing you need to realize DarkJester, is that when people here say "serious gamer" they mean REALLY serious gamer, i.e. lot's of time and money to burn.

If you don't play games 12 hours a day, or demand the absolute best quality graphics in your 3d games, a midrange computer will work fine for you. It will take at least a year to start to show its age, and you should still be able to run new games (maybe not optimally) for a good 2 years.

In my opinion, it is far more cost effective to buy a $1.5k- 2k computer every 2 years than it is to buy a $3k computer every 2-3 years.

My recommendations:

~2ghz CPU (pref. AMD for cost)
512mb DDR - best value for money
Geforce 4 4200 - honestly, I doubt you would notice the ~$200 difference between this and a Radeon 9700
CD Burner - good for back-ups, general use
~40Gig HD - This will likely hold you over for a while
Optical Mouse - no ball, more accurate

Another thing, unless there is something you don't like about your current monitor, keep it and save some money.

Also, in response to the not saving money building your own, there are some excellent websites that have the best prices around (I don't bother buying any computer parts at retail stores anymore). I have been building my own for ~6yrs, and the best part is that I have a constantly evolving system, and I build more computers out of my spare parts.