Help me pick out a new 'puter.

[FlyingScooter]

Hi, I am looking for a better computer that will actually run RCT3 and soaked. mine currently runs RCT3 but will not run soaked.

The 'puters messed up anyway.

I'd like 1gig ram/ and good vid card (will be doing games mostly)

any suggestions would be very helpful.

Thanks!

[Sir Clinksalot]

Hi, I am looking for a better computer that will actually run RCT3 and soaked. mine currently runs RCT3 but will not run soaked.

The 'puters messed up anyway.

I'd like 1gig ram/ and good vid card (will be doing games mostly)

any suggestions would be very helpful.

Thanks!

 

What sort of budget are you looking at ?

 

1Gb of RAM is about the minimum these days, I tend to struggle with 512Mb, so my next upgrade will probably be RAM then graphics card.

[FlyingScooter]

I would like to spend no more than a $1000.00

i do not need printer/monitor/speakers, just a good cpu that will not be outdated in 6 months. lol

[Sir Clinksalot]

I would like to spend no more than a $1000.00

i do not need printer/monitor/speakers, just a good cpu that will not be outdated in 6 months. lol

 

Are you comfortable fitting stuff yourself ?

 

$1000 is overkill for a decent rig if you are.

 

Someone else might be able to find you better US sites for these things or better, these are all off Newegg.com. (I'm used to looking for stuff in the UK)

 

It should at least give you a start.

 

Geforce 6800 128MB DDR AGP 4X/8X - $189

Athlon 64 3000+ - $155

EPoX EP-8KDA3J Socket 754 NVIDIA nForce3 Motherboard - $70.99

CORSAIR 1GB 184-Pin SDRAM - $87.50

 

That should be all you need to upgrade, depending on what you have at the moment.... it'd be handy to post that

 

If you aren't comfortable upgrading your old one, you could check out these places for machines although it will likely be much cheaper to upgrade rather than buy a branded new machine.

 

Alienware

Dell

[FlyingScooter]

I don't upgrade. If i did, the whole East Coast would drop power. LOL

'puters aren't my field. I'll wire houses, but i won't connect a modem.

Thanks for those sites! it's a big help as i no longer trust BestBuy.

[DenDen]

Well, $1000 will get you a lot if all you're getting is the computer itself! if gaming is your thing, I recommend a 64-bit AMD processor with either a high end ATI or Geforce graphics card. A friend of mine just got one for his plasma TV, it just makes me drool with envy. BLAZING fast with XPPro. (The 5 second boot up sold me!)

 

Definately go with 64 bit processor, then you're way ahead of the upgrade game, since most people don't have them yet. AMD is WAY ahead of the processor game with this kind of power. And the price can't be beat.

 

Best place to shop is http://pricewatch.com

it's the oldest, and ORIGINAL price comparison site on the net, pay attention to user store ratings, and you'll do fine! I go here for parts, but I'm saving my pennies for a new system.

[kenshinmac]

Seriously just find someone who you know who can put together computers. It is pretty much dead easy. The only hard part for CPU's is actually fitting the heatsink... Ugh that scares me so much I don't know if I will ever do it. Everything else is basically stick plug into socket kinda stuff. I had my friends over to help with the computer I'm on right now. I think I could do it myself now though probably.

 

Just make sure you are well grounded and in an area where there isn't long carpet... Static is not your friend.

 

Also I would highly suggest going with ATI for computer graphics chips right now as they are in the lead. Always go one generation behind the current chips as well as you get great performance for a fraction of the cost.

[FlyingScooter]

Thanks people! Sounds like good advise all-around.

[DenDen]

Seriously just find someone who you know who can put together computers.

 

Friends don't let friends touch other friend's CPU's. Besides, with the prices of entire systems built from barebone outlets, what's the point, it's just as cheap.