James Barclay

[Mantyluoto]

if i wanted to get/build a good gaming PC that isn't going to need upgrading every 3 minutes what specs should i be looking at?

i tried to install some budge games on my pc last night. they installed but wouldn't play!!!

[Malop]

The better question is, I've got ?xxx spare what should I spend it on.

I can spec you a really nice gaming machine to build from spares and you could buy me a Starbucks with the change from ?2,000

For gaming the two main areas are graphics card and processor, with memory size and hard drive speed next.

You'll need a nice fast graphics card with lots of on-board memory, I'm an ATI fan so would go for a HD2900, but other alternatives are available.

If you want to be playing top range games in two years time you'll need Vista to get DirectX10, unless MS buckle under the pressure for an XP version.

Oh, and cooling, don't forget cooling. I have to have my case of to play games cos the Radeon overheats as my case is chocked with hard drives.
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Member and President of the Will Begman Appreciation Society.
Fantasycon 2005 Walsall Attendee
Fantasycon 2006-2009 Nottingham Attendee
Fantasycon 2010 Nottingham (stopped over for lunch)
Fantasycon 2011 Brighton (Is that in France?)

[James]

Malop is right, of course... give us a budget and we'll come up with a system for you.

Dell do some well-specced gaming PCs and don't ignore laptops either. Some very high powered stuff there and you can always plug in your laptop to a bigger monitor should you wish. Or that massive plasma screen that is surely hanging on your wall right now.
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'A human with a hand outstretched in friendship carries the fangs of a taipan in his palm.' A TaiGethen saying.