Need a new video card

[Arethusa]

If you want to build a serious gaming pc within a reasonable budget, it's certainly possible. You can get a rather powerful computer for 600-800. Personally, I'd recommend it over trying to patch up holes in an aging system.

 

[DNW]

Originally Posted by Arethusa

If you want to build a serious gaming pc within a reasonable budget, it's certainly possible. You can get a rather powerful computer for 600-800. Personally, I'd recommend it over trying to patch up holes in an aging system.

Yeah, it's amazing how fast computers age. My machine was built about 2 years ago. It has a P4 with 1 gig DDR2 ram and a 128mb Nvidia video card. It's still working very well, but for gaming and Vista, so I feel guilty getting another one so soon.

Maybe after I graduate, I'll splurge on something stupid like an Alienware rig.

 

[Arethusa]

**** Vista. Seriously, do not factor that into your decision in any way. It's a thoroughly useless OS, and no one should be thinking of switching for at least a year, and it's a dubious proposition even after a lot of patching.

 

[DNW]

Originally Posted by Arethusa

**** Vista. Seriously, do not factor that into your decision in any way. It's a thoroughly useless OS, and no one should be thinking of switching for at least a year, and it's a dubious proposition even after a lot of patching.

I already got it.

It was a moment of weakness.

 

[Arethusa]

You paid for it? You paid for Windows? Who does that?

 

[DNW]

Originally Posted by Arethusa

You paid for it? You paid for Windows? Who does that?

I know man, it was a moment of weakness. Now I need to go steal some software just to be my bad self again.

 

[vanity]

Someone has paid for Vista. Willingly.

Close this thread immediately.

 

[DNW]

Originally Posted by vanity

Someone has paid for Vista. Willingly.

Close this thread immediately.

Alright, alright, I'm going to go pray to the pirates' god to clean my sins.

 

[skalogre]

Originally Posted by Arethusa

You paid for it? You paid for Windows? Who does that?


Raises hand meekly

In my defense this was 2001 once I got a job and was replacing my PC for the first time in 4 years... 95OSR2 no longer worked with new hardware

 

[Homme]

I paid for vista. This is the first time i have paid for an operating system (and i've been using them since windows 3.1 and DOS 4 & 6.22). Actually, i think it's the first time i've paid for software

. It will probably be the os i use for the next 3-4-5 years, and only cost me about $200, so i'm not that worried.


When i played BF2 i used a MSY X800XT; and never had any problems.

 

[briancl]

Originally Posted by Andre Yew

Supreme Commander will rock your computer even harder. I don't think there exists a PC that can play that game at full detail, largest map, and lots of AI. But at least now there's justification for a quad-core PC.

--Andre

Mine does a pretty good job with Supreme Commander.. I've never noticed any slowdowns even with the huge end-game maps in single player with all 3 races. I have it cranked to max detail in game and have a modded graphics driver (NGO) that increases image quality even higher than standard drivers. C2D [email protected], 2GB RAM, and an 7900GTX.

I haven't played it much in the past couple weeks.. been busy, but I am definitely looking forward to Crysis and Spore. Those should be pretty wicked. I may need a new vid card, though as they look to be pretty demanding.

 

[DNW]

After much deliberation, I finally bought an e-GeForce 7600GT for $99 shipped from eBay. I think this will do okay until I need a new computer. Thanks brian for the suggestions.

 

[Jovan]

Originally Posted by DarkNWorn

Maybe after I graduate, I'll splurge on something stupid like an Alienware rig.
Don't get Alienware or Falcon Northwest or any of those monsters. You can create a comparable system buying separate parts on NewEgg or one of the small guys advertised in magazines like PC Gamer if you need it pre-assembled.

 

[DNW]

Originally Posted by Jovan

Don't get Alienware or Falcon Northwest or any of those monsters. You can create a comparable system buying separate parts on NewEgg or one of the small guys advertised in magazines like PC Gamer if you need it pre-assembled.

That's why "splurge" and "stupid" were included in my statement. I've been building my own desktops since I started undergrad in '97. I just want to see what it feels like to enjoy the fruits of someone else's labor.

 

[vanity]

I was shopping Alienware and Falcon Northwest for my latest build. FN got factored out completely b/c the pricing is in the $4k+ range. I built a few Alienware rigs that looked good for around $2000-2500.

Just as a test I built my own on New Egg. Ended up $900. (minus case, fans, hard drive, power supply)

If you price out the parts yourself, it gets really hard to justify the professional builds. And I think you should build to be disposable anyway. I put together a new machine every 2 years to keep up with games. I don't know about you guys, but I can't afford $2500+ every 2 years. $900 is much easier.