New PC time.

Slimdw · February 04, 2008, 02:01 PM

So last week mine died, the motherboard and processor went bye bye. It was a p4 3.0 with 1 gig ram and 160gb hardrive, gf4 ti4200 graphics card. Anyways im looking for something to get me back on wow soon but i'd like to stay under $500. Should i go new, used or refurbed? Stay away from vista? All i need is the tower but id like to stay as budgeted as possible. If i remember right wow isn't the demanding to run. Help what should i do?

-Slim-

Slimdw · February 04, 2008, 06:47 PM

Beargrills · February 04, 2008, 07:35 PM

I would definently say stay away from Vista, I've had it for a year and i would switch back to XP if I could, every single game you try to DL onto your comp will have problems if it was made before 07 and it is beyond annoying, everything works smoothly on XP. Hope this helps

scudshouse · February 04, 2008, 08:28 PM

Go buy yourself a new Mac Book Pro or Power Mac Tower with dual 8 core 3.2's it with smoke with Wow. I have a Mac Book Pro with 2.4 dual core and I can run WoW at full detail and it runs seamlessly.

Gritz · February 05, 2008, 11:29 AM

Hehe, while I agree 100% with scudshouse suggestion, it's 4-8x times the 500$ budget posted by the OP.

Tigerdirect has been in the business for a long time, might want to check out some of the PCs on this page:

Gaming Computer, Gaming PC, Video Game PC at TigerDirect.com

Or do some google searches for BYO options.

neej · February 06, 2008, 07:42 AM

Mac choice: I read a couple of times that if you run WoW on a standard intel Mac on Windows XP (Bootcamp) it's about 25% faster because WoW's (Mac/Win) OpenGL is not as fast as the Windows-only Direct X version. That's a pity!

On Vista: "every single game you try to DL onto your comp will have problems if it was made before 07"

You could either believe this or not. I can just assure you it's not true. Any usually I BUY games at stores, well, I know there as on-demand services...

If you turn off UAC and set to old-school graphic layout the differences between XP and Vista are minor IF you have proper drivers (NVidia/AMD). Normally, that should be the case.

Random rant:

The whole thing "BAH, THE LATEST MS OS IS CRAP, THE LAST WAS BETTER" is so repetitive:

2007 Vista is slow and incompatible. XP is better.
2002 XP is slow and incompatible. Win2000 is better.
2000 Win2000 is slow and incompatible. Win98 is better.
1998 Win98 is slow and incompatible. Win95 is better.
1995 Win95 is slow and and incompatible. DOS/Win3.11 is better.

It *really* was like this all the time. The only serious problems were DOS->Windows and Windows9x->NT Kernel (2000/XP). And even those are sorted out today thanks to virtualization.

Slimdw · February 06, 2008, 07:56 AM

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/produ...&mid=sduidp0t0

Found this guy on circuit city regular $400, now $200.
Compaq Presario SR5110NX Desktop PC on clearance for $200 with free shipping. Thanks Tinman
Specs:

AMD Athlon 64 3800+ 2.4GHz processor (Socket AM2)
512MB DDR2-667 Memory
120GB Hard Drive
Windows Vista Home Basic
16X DVD+-RW Burner with LightScribe
NVIDIA® GeForce™ 6150 SE Graphics (64MB dedicated + 64MB Shared memory)
Available PCI Express x16 Slot

Whatcha guys think about this one?

Edit*deal expired yesterday.

forketta · February 06, 2008, 08:08 AM

Sorry, this pc is a big NO NO
1) the difference in performances between intel and amg does not justifies anymore the difference in money. A intel 2 core is cheaper and it's quite a good cpu.
2) 512 MB? what is that? A fresh installation of XP runs in 230 MB. Ad antivirus and firewall, add the 64 MB used by the Geffo 6150, you will have Wow swapping as hell. Get 2 gigs!
3) 120 GB HD? No newly produced HD has 120 gb of capacity. This is an old stock HD.
4) Vista? Why? If you have to run DX10 games you will need vista (until Micro$oft will include DX10 in XP). Until then use your ram for applications, not for silly grapic effects.
5) I have a CD/DVD writer with lightscribe. 26 euro. I's cheap and does his job. But i never bought a media lightscribe....
6) Nvidia GF 6150 Se. Probably wow runs in this GPU. But 128 mb of vram is a little... thight.

Sorry for bad news, but this is an office pc, not a gaming pc.

Mazmorgul · February 06, 2008, 08:15 AM

If it's just for WoW, think cheap.

I bought a Dell Vostro with 2G RAM and no display (I used the display I already had) for 183UKP and slapped a 7600GT in it for 60UKP. Perfect WoW box. Doubling for USD puts you at 500USD.

It's rock solid and runs WoW at 1680x1050 at maximum graphics settings.

EDIT: Windows XP FTW!

forketta · February 06, 2008, 08:32 AM

LOL Exactly. Think cheap. For a pc that has tecnology of 2/3 years ago 200$ is not cheap.

I readed what is wrintten in the site of this Compaq.
Talking of the OS:
"f you simply want to surf the Internet, correspond with friends or create basic documents, this will be perfect for you."
Talking of the GPU:
"NVIDIA® GeForce™ 6150 SE graphics with up to 128MB of video memory—64MB dedicated—will easily handle casual video and graphics."

The cheapest Dell Vostro i founded, (keep in mind that configuration and prices varies when changing nations, and i founded that in Italy (i am here...) Dell sells smaller and less cheaper configurations than in US), has a Intel dual core, 2 giga of ram, a Sata HD....

February 04, 2008, 02:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
Slimdw Lurker Character Info Dregoth 66 Undead Warlock Skullcrusher US PvP Guild: Real Troopas Profile: Blizzard Armory Talent Spec: 41/10/0	New PC time. So last week mine died, the motherboard and processor went bye bye. It was a p4 3.0 with 1 gig ram and 160gb hardrive, gf4 ti4200 graphics card. Anyways im looking for something to get me back on wow soon but i'd like to stay under $500. Should i go new, used or refurbed? Stay away from vista? All i need is the tower but id like to stay as budgeted as possible. If i remember right wow isn't the demanding to run. Help what should i do? -Slim- Last edited by Slimdw; February 04, 2008 at 02:10 PM.

February 04, 2008, 06:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
Slimdw Lurker Character Info Dregoth 66 Undead Warlock Skullcrusher US PvP Guild: Real Troopas Profile: Blizzard Armory Talent Spec: 41/10/0	Re: New PC time. ?

February 04, 2008, 07:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
Beargrills Registered Character Info Beargrills 20 Gnome Warlock Chromaggus US PvE PvP	Re: New PC time. I would definently say stay away from Vista, I've had it for a year and i would switch back to XP if I could, every single game you try to DL onto your comp will have problems if it was made before 07 and it is beyond annoying, everything works smoothly on XP. Hope this helps

February 04, 2008, 08:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
scudshouse Registered Character Info Syrusachenr 70 Undead Warlock Frostmane US PvP Guild: Is Cooler Than You Profile: Blizzard Armory Talent Spec: 41/0/18	Re: New PC time. Go buy yourself a new Mac Book Pro or Power Mac Tower with dual 8 core 3.2's it with smoke with Wow. I have a Mac Book Pro with 2.4 dual core and I can run WoW at full detail and it runs seamlessly.

February 05, 2008, 11:29 AM	#5 (permalink)
Gritz NOT IN THE FACE!!!! Character Info Gritz 70 Orc Warlock Eldre'Thalas US PvE Guild: Fate Profile: Blizzard Armory Talent Spec: 24/37/0	Re: New PC time. Hehe, while I agree 100% with scudshouse suggestion, it's 4-8x times the 500$ budget posted by the OP. Tigerdirect has been in the business for a long time, might want to check out some of the PCs on this page: Gaming Computer, Gaming PC, Video Game PC at TigerDirect.com Or do some google searches for BYO options.

February 06, 2008, 07:42 AM	#6 (permalink)
neej Member	Re: New PC time. Mac choice: I read a couple of times that if you run WoW on a standard intel Mac on Windows XP (Bootcamp) it's about 25% faster because WoW's (Mac/Win) OpenGL is not as fast as the Windows-only Direct X version. That's a pity! On Vista: "every single game you try to DL onto your comp will have problems if it was made before 07" You could either believe this or not. I can just assure you it's not true. Any usually I BUY games at stores, well, I know there as on-demand services... If you turn off UAC and set to old-school graphic layout the differences between XP and Vista are minor IF you have proper drivers (NVidia/AMD). Normally, that should be the case. Random rant: The whole thing "BAH, THE LATEST MS OS IS CRAP, THE LAST WAS BETTER" is so repetitive: 2007 Vista is slow and incompatible. XP is better. 2002 XP is slow and incompatible. Win2000 is better. 2000 Win2000 is slow and incompatible. Win98 is better. 1998 Win98 is slow and incompatible. Win95 is better. 1995 Win95 is slow and and incompatible. DOS/Win3.11 is better. It really was like this all the time. The only serious problems were DOS->Windows and Windows9x->NT Kernel (2000/XP). And even those are sorted out today thanks to virtualization. Last edited by neej; February 06, 2008 at 07:44 AM.

February 06, 2008, 07:56 AM	#7 (permalink)
Slimdw Lurker Character Info Dregoth 66 Undead Warlock Skullcrusher US PvP Guild: Real Troopas Profile: Blizzard Armory Talent Spec: 41/10/0	Re: New PC time. http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/produ...&mid=sduidp0t0 Found this guy on circuit city regular $400, now $200. Compaq Presario SR5110NX Desktop PC on clearance for $200 with free shipping. Thanks Tinman Specs: AMD Athlon 64 3800+ 2.4GHz processor (Socket AM2) 512MB DDR2-667 Memory 120GB Hard Drive Windows Vista Home Basic 16X DVD+-RW Burner with LightScribe NVIDIA® GeForce™ 6150 SE Graphics (64MB dedicated + 64MB Shared memory) Available PCI Express x16 Slot Whatcha guys think about this one? Editdeal expired yesterday. Last edited by Slimdw; February 06, 2008 at 08:00 AM.*

February 06, 2008, 08:08 AM	#8 (permalink)
forketta Member Character Info temet 70 Orc Warlock Burning Legion Euro PvP Talent Spec: Sl/Sl	Re: New PC time. Sorry, this pc is a big NO NO 1) the difference in performances between intel and amg does not justifies anymore the difference in money. A intel 2 core is cheaper and it's quite a good cpu. 2) 512 MB? what is that? A fresh installation of XP runs in 230 MB. Ad antivirus and firewall, add the 64 MB used by the Geffo 6150, you will have Wow swapping as hell. Get 2 gigs! 3) 120 GB HD? No newly produced HD has 120 gb of capacity. This is an old stock HD. 4) Vista? Why? If you have to run DX10 games you will need vista (until Micro$oft will include DX10 in XP). Until then use your ram for applications, not for silly grapic effects. 5) I have a CD/DVD writer with lightscribe. 26 euro. I's cheap and does his job. But i never bought a media lightscribe.... 6) Nvidia GF 6150 Se. Probably wow runs in this GPU. But 128 mb of vram is a little... thight. Sorry for bad news, but this is an office pc, not a gaming pc.

February 06, 2008, 08:15 AM	#9 (permalink)
Mazmorgul Member Character Info Mazmorgul 70 Gnome Warlock Jaedenar Euro PvP Guild: The Answer Profile: Blizzard Armory Talent Spec: 24/37/0	Re: New PC time. If it's just for WoW, think cheap. I bought a Dell Vostro with 2G RAM and no display (I used the display I already had) for 183UKP and slapped a 7600GT in it for 60UKP. Perfect WoW box. Doubling for USD puts you at 500USD. It's rock solid and runs WoW at 1680x1050 at maximum graphics settings. EDIT: Windows XP FTW!

February 06, 2008, 08:32 AM	#10 (permalink)
forketta Member Character Info temet 70 Orc Warlock Burning Legion Euro PvP Talent Spec: Sl/Sl	Re: New PC time. LOL Exactly. Think cheap. For a pc that has tecnology of 2/3 years ago 200$ is not cheap. I readed what is wrintten in the site of this Compaq. Talking of the OS: "f you simply want to surf the Internet, correspond with friends or create basic documents, this will be perfect for you." Talking of the GPU: "NVIDIA® GeForce™ 6150 SE graphics with up to 128MB of video memory—64MB dedicated—will easily handle casual video and graphics." The cheapest Dell Vostro i founded, (keep in mind that configuration and prices varies when changing nations, and i founded that in Italy (i am here...) Dell sells smaller and less cheaper configurations than in US), has a Intel dual core, 2 giga of ram, a Sata HD.... Last edited by forketta; February 06, 2008 at 08:40 AM.