Curse

king swift · Jun 29, 2009, 09:44 PM // 21:44

Specs for Dell Studio XPS

PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ i7-920 Processor(8MB L3 Cache, 2.66GHz)

OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1, 64-Bit

MEMORY 3GB DDR3 Tri-Channel SDRAM at 1066MHz - 3 DIMMs

HARD DRIVE 500GB - 7200RPM, SATA 3.0Gb/s, 16MB Cache

OPTICAL DRIVE Single Drive: 16X CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) w/double

VIDEO CARD ATI Radeon HD 4350 512MB

Total cost - $750

I will be running this on a 20-23 inch monitor

Wondering if i can build this cheaper and if these are good specs for a gaming desktop.

Faer · Jun 29, 2009, 10:26 PM // 22:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by king swift

VIDEO CARD ATI Radeon HD 4350 512MB

Quote:

Originally Posted by king swift

I will be running this on a 20-23 inch monitor

Eh. May wanna get a beefier GPU, depending on what games you plan to play. 4870 1GB or GTX 260 Core 216 would be great for a 23" (I'm using a GTX 260 Core 216 with a Samsung 2333SW and an old SyncMaster 175v 17" for assorted applications; shit's so cash).

Pretty good overall though. If you're like a lot of people here and only play GW, it's severe overkill. Price isn't so bad either.

vamp08 · Jun 29, 2009, 10:29 PM // 22:29

Switch out the ATI GPU for an Nvidia. ATI is just a joke.

Quaker · Jun 29, 2009, 10:31 PM // 22:31

It seems to me to be sort of an oddball combination - a high end processor with a low end video card. That combo seems more suited to working on business apps than gaming.
For gaming, you should be using at least an ATI 4850 (or nVidia equivalent) with the i7 or a lower cost Athlon or Phenom with a 4350.

Edit: and ignore the idiot above. "I love the smell of troll in the morning."

Brett Kuntz · Jun 29, 2009, 10:44 PM // 22:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by vamp08

Switch out the ATI GPU for an Nvidia. ATI is just a joke.

Uhh no, ATI has by far the best graphics cards out, it's not even close. It's been this way since the 4870 came out, which is quite a while.

The parts in that computer aren't worth $750 individually, and that GPU is worth only $35 (it sucks). Only 3gb of memory? 6gb is only slightly more expensive.

I'd never buy a Dell, you over-pay by 2x for what you get. But if you can't build your own system, you really have no choice.

Improvavel · Jun 29, 2009, 10:44 PM // 22:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by vamp08

Switch out the ATI GPU for an Nvidia. ATI is just a joke.

Lol.

Anyway - for gaming you need a better graphic card.

For that PC I would recommend an ATI 4890 or a Geforce GTX275.

That CPU is pretty good, although for gaming between it and an Intel Core2Quad 9550 or an AMD Phenom II 955 you wont see differences, especially on a singe GPU set up, so you could save some money there.

Tarun · Jun 29, 2009, 11:01 PM // 23:01

+1 for ATI graphics cards. They work so well, compared to the nvidia stuff out there.

Moved to Computer Buying

rick1027 · Jun 30, 2009, 12:04 AM // 00:04

if you feel compenent build your own its not that hard and if you ask nice someone will get you a shop list that compares to what youd pay on that dell. as for the ati nvidia debate they are really close its usually price that separates them go with the cheaper card. i personally dont like the spec you got in it i built one for 500 not too long ago with way better specs then that

ChromisElda · Jun 30, 2009, 02:16 PM // 14:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Improvavel

Lol.

Anyway - for gaming you need a better graphic card.

For that PC I would recommend an ATI 4890 or a Geforce GTX275.

That CPU is pretty good, although for gaming between it and an Intel Core2Quad 9550 or an AMD Phenom II 955 you wont see differences, especially on a singe GPU set up, so you could save some money there.

I think the 4890 or GTX275 would be overkill, especially if it's just for Guild Wars. However, if you're planning to play higher end games that've just released/will release soon like Crysis 2 then go with the 4890/GTX275

If you're on a budget or just not planning to play much besides GW then a 4850 should be more than fine already!

Improvavel · Jun 30, 2009, 04:30 PM // 16:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChromisElda

I think the 4890 or GTX275 would be overkill, especially if it's just for Guild Wars. However, if you're planning to play higher end games that've just released/will release soon like Crysis 2 then go with the 4890/GTX275

If you're on a budget or just not planning to play much besides GW then a 4850 should be more than fine already!

I just don't see what is the point of having a top notch i7 and pair it with a mid tier graphics card, especially for gaming, and when a 4890 or even a 4870 are quite cheap.

I have a 4850 but I still have an old 19 inch and with what I paid at the time for it I could have a 4870 or even some 4890 now.

If I would change anything, I would be dropping the i7 for a AMD phenom II 720 BE or either a Intel Core2Quad 9550 or an AMD phenom II 955 BE.

i7 for gaming, especially on a single GPU setup and with so small of a screen, is in my opinion excessive.

garethporlest18 · Jul 13, 2009, 03:43 AM // 03:43

I agree with the graphics card, should upgrade that. I also think you should throw in 6 GB instead of 3 GB, just to make Vista not such a pita. Or you could just waste money and go with 12GB of ram!

jackers1234 · Jul 13, 2009, 08:47 AM // 08:47

i agree with needing more ram, go for 6gb. and ive found that higher end core 2 duo's and amd II/III phenoms can easily handle all the latest games, so i really cant justify the i7.

and get a better GPU, a 4870 or gtx260 at least.

Malician · Jul 14, 2009, 04:05 AM // 04:05

For gaming, a $500ish dual core or slower quad system with a $100 GPU would be great for Crysis, let alone Guild Wars (unless you get a 1900 x yyyy monitor, in which case you'd want faster GPU).

I'd put any additional money into something you might actually use.. you could buy a $400 computer and a $500 37" or so TV which would be awesome to game on, or a great sound system.

Elder III · Jul 14, 2009, 12:32 PM // 12:32

I've yet to find a $100 GPU that can max out Crysis at 1680x1050 or even close to it - if you know of one one send me the link! lol But then again Crysis is in a world of it's own too.

Malician · Jul 14, 2009, 01:08 PM // 13:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elder III

I've yet to find a $100 GPU that can max out Crysis at 1680x1050 or even close to it - if you know of one one send me the link! lol But then again Crysis is in a world of it's own too.

There was a 4870 on Ewiz for $105 free shipping (dead now). (That will do 1920x1200 w/out AA.)

If you have to buy RIGHT NOW and can't watch for deals, you can pick up a 4850 ($107). http://3btech.net/saatirahd485.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...0,1957-14.html

Okay, this one is reaching depending on what your definition of playable is, but imho ~30 fps w/out AA all @ max counts... for Crysis. It would def. be smooth and beautiful by ANY standard at 1440x900.