Buying a new PC soon, need help.

BuggyBuggy Join Date: 2003-11-08 Member: 22400Members, Constellation
edited November 2006 in Off-Topic
I know, this gets asked at least weekly on these forums. Still, here's my case.

Current PC:

AMD 3000+
Geforce 5700u
1024MB DDR RAM

As you can see, it's starting to age and it has to forfeit when I try to run a game such as Oblivion.
I'm willing to spend around ~700 Euro, ~900 USD, or ~500 British Pounds, on just a new tower, though a high performance-cost efficiency is important to me, I don't have money growing on my back.
So, I want a PC that's going to play current games at a high-ish setting, and will last me a couple of years, but not the overpriced top of the line new stuff.

It's obviously going to be mainly used for gaming, everything else is not a priority.

Would also appreciate advice on how to buy whichever PC it's going to be, as in, normal shop, custom built, self-built, etc.
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Comments

  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    Core2Duo 6400, GeForce 7600GS, 2 gigs of RAM, ta da. DirectX10 cards are just around the corner so you might want to just buy a cheap 6800GS or something until then instead.
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  • LofungLofung Join Date: 2004-08-21 Member: 30757Members
    wow thats almost the same configuration i am using and it is aging????OMG <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/confused-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="???" border="0" alt="confused-fix.gif" />
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  • SycophantSycophant Join Date: 2002-11-05 Member: 7092Members
    Wow... my rig is "only" a 2.5GHz w/ 1GB of RAM, and even though I've had it for a couple of years, I don't think it's anywhere near "aging" yet.

    'Course, I mostly just use mine for browsing, email, MSN, web development, and occasionally a game of WoW or Guild Wars. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />

    <!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->... I don't have money growing on my back.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    The way I see it, if you feel the need to replace a 3GHz PC because it's "starting to age", there's a good chance that you've probably got a lot more disposable income than most folks. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
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  • DrSuredeathDrSuredeath Join Date: 2002-11-11 Member: 8217Members
    edited November 2006
    Good god, man. You don't need a new PC yet. Just get a new Graphic card. X800 or heck 9800 should give you the bang for the buck, dirt cheap too. Or may be put more RAM.

    I have the exact same thing, except for the graphic card. Oblivion run just fine, albeit at somewhat low graphic option.
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    Yeah, aside from having already given you advice, I'm going to say all you need is a 7800GS for that computer to last you until quad cores are normal. That and maybe another gig of RAM and you're really fine.
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  • BuggyBuggy Join Date: 2003-11-08 Member: 22400Members, Constellation
    edited November 2006
    Ok, thanks for the advice. I considered just getting a card earlier but I thought the AMD 3000+ was slowly slipping away as well; might as well get a new pc now. But according to you guys, I should hold off for a while?

    In that case, more card suggestions please. Does that prejudice of AMD=Radeon and Intel=Geforce hold any value, or is that nonsense? Remember, it has to allow my PC to run recent games at decent speeds. Also, should I perhaps buy a card that's pretty new? As in, so I can just stick it in a new PC when that time does come, or should I get one that'll last me this PC, then upgrade to a whole new rig.

    What about another gig of RAM? Worth it, or don't bother until a new PC?

    Thanks again in advance guys.
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  • PetcoPetco Join Date: 2003-07-27 Member: 18478Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1580664:date=Nov 25 2006, 11:49 AM:name=Sycophant)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sycophant @ Nov 25 2006, 11:49 AM) [snapback]1580664[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    The way I see it, if you feel the need to replace a 3GHz PC because it's "starting to age", there's a good chance that you've probably got a lot more disposable income than most folks. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


    Actually did he say the model number or the actually GHz amount as 3GHz?

    <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AMD_Sempron_microprocessors" target="_blank">Click</a>, model Sempron 3100+(mines) is ~1.8GHz.
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  • DrSuredeathDrSuredeath Join Date: 2002-11-11 Member: 8217Members
    The way I see it, your CPU is more than adequate. It's the 5700 that's holding you down.
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  • BuggyBuggy Join Date: 2003-11-08 Member: 22400Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1580733:date=Nov 25 2006, 07:15 PM:name=Petco)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Petco @ Nov 25 2006, 07:15 PM) [snapback]1580733[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Actually did he say the model number or the actually GHz amount as 3GHz?

    <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AMD_Sempron_microprocessors" target="_blank">Click</a>, model Sempron 3100+(mines) is ~1.8GHz.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Yeah, model 3000+.

    Any other opinions on whether the CPU is going to last?
    Card suggestions?
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  • Cereal_KillRCereal_KillR Join Date: 2002-10-31 Member: 1837Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1580651:date=Nov 25 2006, 07:25 PM:name=Lofung)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Lofung @ Nov 25 2006, 07:25 PM) [snapback]1580651[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    wow thats almost the same configuration i am using and it is aging????OMG <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/confused-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="???" border="0" alt="confused-fix.gif" />
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


    Don't feel bad, I'm still using an XP 2600+ and Radeon 9800 Pro, and I think I'm not the worst off around here.
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  • TykjenTykjen Join Date: 2003-01-21 Member: 12552Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    2gig of ram is a must. Helps immensly on fps in many of the recent games over the past year.
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