Computer decisions..

[squerl]

Right now I have a 19" CRT sitting pretty far from my chair and I always have to scrunch over and I don't think it's good for my back.. I'm 95% decided on buying the 37" Westinghouse 1080p monitor, for $1000. Unfortunately my X800XL video card has been broken for a while now and it crashes shortly after playing any game..

My choices are these:

1) Buy a new cheap graphics card, a Sapphire X1950GT for only $105 after a $20 MIR, and put that into my current computer (3700+ Athlon, 1gb pc3200 ram). Also buy the monitor. (total $1100) With that card I should be able to run HL2 at near max settings at 1920x1080 and be happy. I'd wait until around October to upgrade my whole computer, where I'd get the lower priced quad core (maybe 45nm penryn), maybe ddr3 and whatever the best video card on the market is at the time (nvidia G90).

OR

2) Get an E6420 conroe proc, 2gb ddr2 ram, new everything on the computer along with the monitor and the R600XT coming out the 14th (total of $2500).

The reason to wait would be a much better computer for DX10 games with the next generation graphics card and quad core processors will come down in price Q3 and on.

The reason to buy now would be to have a nice computer for the summer.

Right now I'm leaning towards option 1, it'll be best long-term and I'll be making use of my current computer instead of just getting rid of it. What's your opinion?

[No Shelter]

Have you checked if your card could be replaced? Or is warranty out of the question?

Your lucky that you even have the money! For 2500 why not just buy a new computer?!

[KashMunni]

hmm they both sound pretty promising.. im not sure.. with 1 u can hook it up and save some money to complete it
number 2 is a total hook up but that will pizown ur wallet.. maybe ushould wait and see if number 1 will be good enough for l4d or if it isnt maybe u can either tweak up ur video card choice or just go with number 2..
idk what u should pick to be honest but i hope u will be happy with ur choice

[Sandman77]

Wait cause prices will fall and then you know what runs L4D the best. :)

[A DUCK]

is quad core the same as dual core? (im stupid when it comes to computers lol)
i might be getting a new comp soon :)

[KashMunni]

i strongly believe that quad core is much butter than dual cos its like 2 dual cores of course :D

[Teknobry]

Why bother with Quad core?

Seriously, for gaming I'd rather have a top of the range dual core than the lowest quad core. No games will be configured for it, hell they are only just starting to make them useable with dual core!

Unless your work seriously requires a quad core processor, I just wouldn't bother.

If I was you, I'd spend my cash now on the dogs b0ll0cks of dual core systems, a mint graphics card/mobo/4gig DDR2 RAM etc.

[A DUCK]

thanks for the advice teknobry :)

[squerl]

What Valve is doing with their hybrid threading technique means it'll use up 100% of every core you have. It'll be able to take advantage of 2 cores, 4 cores and more.. and other games are just going to do the same eventually.

Sandman, I think that's a good idea.. see what I'll need and then get it :D

[dontleave]

I'd go with 1 also R600 is supposed to r0xx0rz the 8800GTX, but as you said the new line of nVidia will be out by then but still, the 8800GTX is fine as it is, itll play crysis on high settings. Also you should keep the monitor like i've done I also bought the westinghouse and I have the kinda old 19" as my secondary monitor. ITs only really usefull for Sup Com other than that it makes your space look really cool, and you can hook up a PS3 to it and play two things at once!

[A DUCK]

what is an R600 and a 8800GTX? LOL

i think they are graphics cards..? :)

[dontleave]

yeah... i dont follow.

[sir monster]

yes. they are graphics cards duck...


squerl, id wait. like you said... prices will be down. hell, technology will advance again in a few weeks you might decide to buy the 3512865175619518465196519923841723401865301285`105 4195 core processor. im sorta building my rig from the peripherals up.

got the nice laser gaming mouse. the nice keypad and board, the headset, joystick... next is monitor, and then i start working on building my own tower i think.

[dontleave]

What key board and mouse do you have? Im thinking of buying new ones also so for I have a G15 keyboard and G5 mouse...

[Quotidius]

i strongly believe that quad core is much butter than dual cos its like 2 dual cores of course :D

I wish it was that simple...

[KashMunni]

hen i start working on building my own tower i think.

lol tower, that sounds mighty fine :D

[fatalslaughter]

I'd get a X2 3800 OEM from newegg.com right now, and that x1950GT you are eye-balling. X2's are still plenty fast, and cheap....and the Source Engine is pretty CPU intensive, so a CPU upgrade would be beneficial. :)

[dontleave]

I have no problems with running source on a P4 3.0GHz CPU and a 7300GS on all high settings (including AAx6 and AFx16), it goes no lower than 28FPS, and its not noticable. So if he is upgrading I doubt it will be for a source game in a while (Ep2 and L4D will take advantage of dual core)