Need Help Picking A New Computer

Kenny · **Posted:** August 16th, 2008, 11:05 am

I am looking to buy a new computer preferably a desktop. I want to be able to get good gaming out of it and I will use it for homework and school too. I am limited to a budget of around £700. If you recommend a PC off a site, please could you make sure it's English, otherwise I'll be paying the same amount for shipping as the computer!
Thanks for reading.

Adbot · **Posted:** August 16th, 2008, 11:05 am

Shane · **Posted:** August 16th, 2008, 2:35 pm

Can you define "good" gaming? :lol:

Good gaming is different for every person. What types of games are you looking at?

After you post the answer to that I'll have a better idea of the power needed.

Kenny · **Posted:** August 16th, 2008, 2:45 pm

Well, I would be looking at running games like COD4, CS:S, The Sims 2, Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 and games that come out in the future. COD5 would be a possibility as with Mass Effect 2 and GoW2.

Shane · **Posted:** August 16th, 2008, 2:57 pm

In that case if you're looking for one to buy, check out the Dell XPS 420. The base model should work fine for you.

The other option that I would do is build your own

But that can be daunting if you've never done it before. It'd be a good learning experience though.

Kenny · **Posted:** August 16th, 2008, 3:02 pm

I was looking at the dell, would all the ram and processor and stuff be adequate. When I customized it, it really bumped up the price to like £1000. I would be willing to build my own, but I wouldn't want to risk using all that money and then breaking them in the process. Also since I'm only 13 my Dad wouldn't let me risk my money like that.

Shane · **Posted:** August 16th, 2008, 3:13 pm

Everything on the base model should be fine. The max ram you'll want is 3GB if you're running the 32 bit version of Vista. Which is what this computer comes with. The CPU is fine as well. The base model should be more than adequate for the games you want to run in the future.

Later on if you want/need you can easily upgrade the graphics card and ram. However if you upgrade that RAM past 3GB you should upgrade to Vista 64 bit. The way the 32bit architecture work is they have a set address space that the computer can use, this includes video card ram and regular ram.

The maximum address is 0xFFFFFFFF (32 bits) so if you expand beyond the address space you won't be able to see some of your ram.

This is just something to worry about later on down the road.

Adbot · **Posted:** August 16th, 2008, 3:13 pm

Kenny · **Posted:** August 16th, 2008, 3:18 pm

Shane wrote:

Everything on the base model should be fine. The max ram you'll want is 3GB if you're running the 32 bit version of Vista. Which is what this computer comes with. The CPU is fine as well. The base model should be more than adequate for the games you want to run in the future.

Later on if you want/need you can easily upgrade the graphics card and ram. However if you upgrade that RAM past 3GB you should upgrade to Vista 64 bit. The way the 32bit architecture work is they have a set address space that the computer can use, this includes video card ram and regular ram.

The maximum address is 0xFFFFFFFF (32 bits) so if you expand beyond the address space you won't be able to see some of your ram.

This is just something to worry about later on down the road.

I didn't understand anything you said which I put in italics. But anyway at the moment the Dell site is down so I'll check it later/in the morning. Thanks for replying so sharpish its really helping
Edit: The link is working now. That should be great, and as soon as I have enough money that'll be shipped straight to my house. Will my old monitor keyboard etc work with it ?

Shane · **Posted:** August 16th, 2008, 3:45 pm

I wouldn't worry about what you put in italics then. You can cross that bridge if/when you come to it. And yes, the old monitor/keyboard should still work.