Getting a new computer... don't know anything about them though.

[Ben Hussey]

Well, my knowledge of computer hardware stuff is rather limited so some help would be really appreciated.

I would probably prefer a laptop, as next year I will be going to uni so I think portability would be useful, however if it means its going to cost significantly more and still be worse than a desktop I'd pretty happily settle for a desktop.

I would also like a PC that would be upgradable, as I don't want to spend a ton of cash then have it become obsolete a year or so later, without being able to stick a new processor or ram in it to amp it up.

I would like to be able to play new high end graphics games on it such as BF2, MTW2, Call of Juarez etc, all of which work but really choppily on my current PC.

If you could help me by giving me a list of specs I want to aim for that would be really appreciated.

 

[thesneakster]

We really can't give you a list of specs until you give us a, even just guessed, price range.

however, you'll spend a fair bit more on a laptop, and it will never be anywhere near as good as a desktop of the same price.

 

[Ben Hussey]

2000 us topside.

 

[Mage246]

Don't bother with a laptop unless you don't want to do much gaming. I went laptop and I've been regretting it ever since. Sure it's handy when you are travelling, but once you settle down the laptop is so markedly inferior to a desktop that you just feel like it's useless, especially when your specs start becoming obsolete (which they will do extremely quickly). Laptops are notoriously difficult to upgrade.

 

[Archonsod]

Should be able to pick up a decent PC for that price. For upgradeability, the main thing to check is the motherboard. I'd go for (as a minimum) two PCIe slots, preferrably both at the same speed - 16x if possible (You then have SLI capability, in future expect physics processors to begin using the spare capacity, so it's a good idea to have the option). RAM capacity is also worth looking at, you want 1gb on the machine minimum, but look to see the maximum the board can handle.
Processor wise, if possible one of intel's dual core chips is a must, as fast as you can reasonably afford. Graphics card, Nvidia 7600GT or up should do (don't bother with an 8800 yet). A new generation of cards is on the way next year, so you might be better off getting a cheap mid-range card with the intention to upgrade once the next gen series is affordable.

Laptop wise you could get a gaming machine for the same price - again, look for high ram, high speed CPU (preferably dual core) and a branded graphics card (Nvidia or ATI). You have three problems with laptops though - you'll not get the same raw power for your cash as you would for a desktop, the higher the power of the laptop the lower the battery life will be, and lack of upgradeability.

 

[thesneakster]

I'd have to disagree with you there on the 7600. I mean, sure, there will be new cards out next year that won't be fully used till 2008, but, then, why buy those cards that come out then, because there'll be a better one just around the corner. there always is

i'd suggest a 7900GTX as a minimum, or a 8800GTS if you can afford.

 

[Archonsod]

You'll pay a fairly healthy sum for an 8800 now, and it'll be half that price within a couple of months. The 7600 will handle anything out now, and probably will be fine until this time next year. You'll probably get a bit longer out of a more expensive card, but you'd be better off buying a cheap card now and waiting to upgrade.

The fact that Nvidia are planning to put physics processors on their cards soon is one reason to wait.

 

[thesneakster]

i was under the impression they already had with the 8800.

 

[Archonsod]

Not exactly. They haven't settled on a working model  - they can't decide whether the physics coprocessor is going to be used when the card is doing nothing (meaning you need to SLI the card, and the second card will do the physics when it isn't busy) or whether it will be something that will kick in when the card isn't rendering (i.e. when you upgrade, you keep the old card as a physics coprocessor)

 

[thesneakster]

ah, i see. just a marketing 'it's a physix processor on teh cardz' thing

still, i'd suggest a real card, rather than a stopgap measure. but that's just me.

i mean, we don't see the US army still useing M1Grand's because 'the new XM8 assult rifle is almost ready'*


*disclaimer, i know that the XM8 is discontinued

 

[Archonsod]

Only because the US army isn't the ones who pay for the new rifles (besides, the M16 is older than me for christsake, there's a difference between "wait six months" and "wait six decades").

Personally, I'd rather get a cheap graphics card and put the difference into the CPU. Not only will you need to replace the graphics card anyway, but it's way cheaper to upgrade than buying a new CPU (plus motherboard, in many cases). You're better off getting a CPU which will last as long as possible (i.e. the fastest) and not looking to upgrade it for five years than a shiny graphics card which will be obsolete within two.

 

[thesneakster]

However, this is assuming He'll even be able to afford to spend more on it in six months time.

 

[Mage246]

6 months? You can usually stretch it out to a year if you don't mind turning down your graphic settings.... Y'know not everyone absolutely has to have everything on the highest settings all the time 

 

[fisheye]

I think portability would be useful

Portability (at undergrad level) is only useful for:

(A) Making presentations

(B) Having instant messenger chats or surfing Pr0n during a lecture

(C) Sitting outside to do your homework

(D) Sitting in a cafe / library to do your homework

(E) Being able to do your homework when you're on a road trip across Europe (yeah right)


Basically they are all really non-critical applications, if you think hard about it. So are games, actually, but it's a matter of perspective....

 

[Mage246]

And, really, most of those can be accomplished by buying some junk laptop for $100-200 and a USB flash drive.

 

[Ben Hussey]

I think portability would be useful

Portability (at undergrad level) is only useful for:

(A) Making presentations

(B) Having instant messenger chats or surfing Pr0n during a lecture

(C) Sitting outside to do your homework

(D) Sitting in a cafe / library to do your homework

(E) Being able to do your homework when you're on a road trip across Europe (yeah right)


Basically they are all really non-critical applications, if you think hard about it. So are games, actually, but it's a matter of perspective....

I live in NZ but am going to uni in England, thats the logic behind the idea. Plus surfing Pr0n during a lecture is a bit of a necessity.

With the graphics card: I will go for the cheapest option now and upgrade later methinks. However I need to make sure I'll have one that'll play MTW2 well, can you give a suggestion for that?

With the CPU, I notice that when buying from a customizable PC website thing like dell it usulayy starts off at dual core 1.8ghz 667 thingymajiggie and goes up to 2.6ghz 1mb thingimajiggie, the 2.6 is about 800 (NZ, 400 ish US) more and thats seems way out of line, what would you suggest as a sensible, not uber and not crap, processor.

I'm thinking of going for 2gb DDr2 ram, it seems not too expensive compared to the prices for processors and graphics cards, will this be sufficient?

 

[Archonsod]

2 Gb should be more than enough. Graphics wise, 7600 and up will manage MTWII easily, probably a 6600 would work fine. Get the fastest processor you can afford, as long as it's dual core. You'll pay slightly more for an intel, though they'll give better performance. $400 US is actually fairly cheap, though that's probably the exchange rate (£200!).

 

[Ben Hussey]

Does this ound acceptable?
Intel Dual Core 2GHz, 4MB Cache, 667 MHz FSB

My budget can stretch to that (in a laptop) but I could probably go further If I went desktop.

 

[Archonsod]

Should be fine. Problem with a laptop is upgrading though, specially the graphics card. You'd probably be better picking up a desktop for the main system, then buying a cheap second hand laptop for portability (remember to run forensic scans on the hard drive to check for interesting pr0n / MOD secrets). Even a PDA or similar (You can run Star Office on them, and they don't crush your legs. Also, Pr0n is available).

 

[Merentha]

I've got a desktop at college, and its not a huge problem.  If people are having a LAN party in the communal area, its the work of a few minutes to simply cart the monitor and tower out there.  Note-taking on computers has always seemed inefficient, so that wasn't an issue either.  Possibly the only downside to having a desktop is that I can't take it outside to type papers when the weather is nice. 

From what I remember while looking for my own computer, its cheaper to buy a good gaming desktop and a cheap (possibly used) laptop than it is to buy a gaming laptop of the same quality as the desktop.  Also, your desktop will never, ever be stolen.