Build a gaming PC or buy one?

[pcfan123]

Ok Im getting closer to buying this as XMAS nears.

Just saw a PC at best buy

Quad core AMD processor (no idea what model # etc)

8 GB DDR3 ram

1TB Hard drive

ATI HD5550 Graphics Card.

for 700 bucks,

forgetting the price for a moment, how does this PC sound? will it be able to run games fairly decently? and older ones in high res?

 

[Chewie]

The graphics card isn't the greatest to be honest.

Just had a look here and that graphics card is quite low on their heirarchy. Not sure how much money you have but I'd try get a 5770 possibly? Oh and have a look at their CPU hierarchy too. Tom's Hardware is very useful for this sort of stuff

 

[MattW]

forgetting the price for a moment, how does this PC sound? will it be able to run games fairly decently? and older ones in high res?

I have fairly similar specs in my new PC, AMD Phenom X4 945, 4GB DDR3 RAM, HD5570 graphics and 1TB/320GB HDs - works quite well, a big step up from my old P4.

For gaming, I don't do much, but every game I've tried (mostly 2-3 years old sports/driving games) can max the settings at 1920x1080, which is certainly all I need gaming wise.

 

[pcfan123]

I'm not looking to run anything newer than Flight Sim X and Company of Heroes. Id need it 90% for general computing

 

[Chewie]

The quad core and the ram should be more than enough to do basic stuff. They'll run most games as well. But as I said before, the graphics card may be a bit iffy depending on the games you want to run. I would think they would run those games though because they're not too graphics intensive.

 

[AngryPixel]

I have fairly similar specs in my new PC, AMD Phenom X4 945, 4GB DDR3 RAM, HD5570 graphics and 1TB/320GB HDs - works quite well, a big step up from my old P4.

For gaming, I don't do much, but every game I've tried (mostly 2-3 years old sports/driving games) can max the settings at 1920x1080, which is certainly all I need gaming wise.

Try Crysis on Enthusiast setting

I heard NASA is still working on a PC that can run it at max.:laugh

 

[sohum]

What brand is it?

 

[pcfan123]

Forgot to check, as Christmas nears I'll be shopping more intently and will make sure to write down all the info. I think it was an HP, it's at the Best buy on Parmer and 35. They had 2 computers with similar stats, one was an AMD quad core 700 bucks and one was in i7 for 1100, the rest of the stats were the exact same.

 

[Dutch]

You should be aware that Flightsim X, although more than four years old is a very recourse hungry programme and you will need a good set-up to run it smoothly. As others have said I would be looking at a better graphics card if possible. Your PC is only as good as its least component! If the graphics card isn't good much the other things wont help either!

 

[pcfan123]

What about buying that computer but also buying an upgraded graphics card and changing it out myself?

I'm currently on a 2.0 Hhz, 1 gig of Ram and a 256 mb gpu so anything is an upgrade.

 

[Dutch]

What about buying that computer but also buying an upgraded graphics card and changing it out myself?

I'm currently on a 2.0 Hhz, 1 gig of Ram and a 256 mb gpu so anything is an upgrade.

To be honest Mark I am not an expert but that sounds like a really good idea as the rest of the specs seem pretty good. Maybe the shop will offer you an upgrade price...

 

[pcfan123]

Can someone name me a GPU that I should get or at least be the bench mark for my PC?

I plan on having at least 6 gigs of RAM (if that helps at all)

 

[Dutch]

Can someone name me a GPU that I should get or at least be the bench mark for my PC?

I plan on having at least 6 gigs of RAM (if that helps at all)

Did I understand coreectly that Windows 7 can only use 4 gig of ram anyway?? Not sure about that but that is pleanty of Ram. I good card? Have alook at a site called Toms AHrdware. they do benchmarks and give good info without too much technical whatjemacallits

 

[AngryPixel]

It is true for Windows 7 32 bit OS. But 64 bit Windows 7 can use 192GB RAM (If you can afford,let alone install that much ). Here's a release from microsoft Memory Limits for Windows Releases (Windows)

 

[Kshitiz_Indian]

I'd say get a AMD 5850 at the very least, or the [more preferably] AMD 6870 depending on how supply is. You won't regret buying these for at least 2-3 years to come!