I am going to be moving soon so I will need a computer where I go. I was wondering if anyone on here could help me pick out a good desktop or laptop.
What I want....
I want one that is good for gaming and would let me play on the highest video quality(or just very good quality) but I also need one to be around anywhere from $500-$800. I know i'm cheap but still.
Thank you for anyone that helps.
Buying new computer...Help?
Débuté par
Villarba
, mai 01 2010 09:23
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#2
Posté 01 mai 2010 - 09:41
Kloreep
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If you want a good gaming machine for that price, you should be going for a desktop, not a laptop.
"Highest video quality" depends on what the resolution of the monitor is. A 1920x1200 or 1920x1080 monitor is not only expensive in its own right, but playing games at that resolution will require a higher-end system to get the same graphical settings out of the same games in comparison to a lower resolution like 1680x1050 or 1600x900. (Of course, ideally, the payoff will be it looking nicer thanks to the higher res.) With your budget, I'd recommend going for a smaller-res monitor to match a cheaper, lower-power system. As long as pre-built markup isn't too bad, you can certainly get a nice budget gaming system in your budget. Though be warned it might be on the higher end of your given range, particularly if you need a monitor to go with it.
I have no specific recommendations for a pre-built computer, just make sure it has a decent video card. Many do not - as well they shouldn't if the owner isn't going to be playing games. The #1 thing to know as regards video card naming is that the first digit indicates architecture, which basically means "compatibility." It is the second and on digits that indicate where its actual performance lies. So while an onboard Radeon 4200 chip may sound like a higher number than, say, a Radeon 3870 video card, the 3870 is actually much superior. (Not that you're likely to see a 3870 available to buy as part of a new computer, but hey, it's an example.
) If you want a quick and dirty chart for video card quality, Tom's Hardware has one available that will give you a rough picture of how they all compare to one another. Somewhere around the tier of the Geforce 8800 GT/Radeon HD 5670 is probably a minimum for where you'd want to be if you want this comp to be able to do high settings and have a little bit of longevity, though the CPU is also a big factor there.
If you want to post specs of what you're looking at in here, people might be able to give more specific recommendations.
"Highest video quality" depends on what the resolution of the monitor is. A 1920x1200 or 1920x1080 monitor is not only expensive in its own right, but playing games at that resolution will require a higher-end system to get the same graphical settings out of the same games in comparison to a lower resolution like 1680x1050 or 1600x900. (Of course, ideally, the payoff will be it looking nicer thanks to the higher res.) With your budget, I'd recommend going for a smaller-res monitor to match a cheaper, lower-power system. As long as pre-built markup isn't too bad, you can certainly get a nice budget gaming system in your budget. Though be warned it might be on the higher end of your given range, particularly if you need a monitor to go with it.
I have no specific recommendations for a pre-built computer, just make sure it has a decent video card. Many do not - as well they shouldn't if the owner isn't going to be playing games. The #1 thing to know as regards video card naming is that the first digit indicates architecture, which basically means "compatibility." It is the second and on digits that indicate where its actual performance lies. So while an onboard Radeon 4200 chip may sound like a higher number than, say, a Radeon 3870 video card, the 3870 is actually much superior. (Not that you're likely to see a 3870 available to buy as part of a new computer, but hey, it's an example.
) If you want a quick and dirty chart for video card quality, Tom's Hardware has one available that will give you a rough picture of how they all compare to one another. Somewhere around the tier of the Geforce 8800 GT/Radeon HD 5670 is probably a minimum for where you'd want to be if you want this comp to be able to do high settings and have a little bit of longevity, though the CPU is also a big factor there.If you want to post specs of what you're looking at in here, people might be able to give more specific recommendations.
Modifié par Kloreep, 01 mai 2010 - 09:42 .
#3
Posté 01 mai 2010 - 09:57
Villarba
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Thank you.
If I am going to get a desktop I will most likely be using my 24'' 1080p HDTV as a monitor, I'm using it right now but I'm going to be taking it with me when I leave.
I am really really bad with computer talk, so I apologize if I sound stupid.
I am actually thinking about getting the Alienware M11x Laptop http://www.dell.com/...en&s=dhs&~ck=mn
Just saw a review of it and in that review they played Mass Effect on the highest settings with no problem.
But I have one question about laptops. Would it be possible to buy a laptop but instead of using the laptops screen, hook up an HDMI cord and use my monitor instead?
If I am going to get a desktop I will most likely be using my 24'' 1080p HDTV as a monitor, I'm using it right now but I'm going to be taking it with me when I leave.
I am really really bad with computer talk, so I apologize if I sound stupid.
I am actually thinking about getting the Alienware M11x Laptop http://www.dell.com/...en&s=dhs&~ck=mn
Just saw a review of it and in that review they played Mass Effect on the highest settings with no problem.
But I have one question about laptops. Would it be possible to buy a laptop but instead of using the laptops screen, hook up an HDMI cord and use my monitor instead?
#4
Posté 02 mai 2010 - 05:16
Kloreep
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Yes, as long as it has an HDMI output (or you have an HDMI converter for some other output) you can hook it up to a monitor.
I'm skeptical of the Alienware. Maybe there's something I don't know about the laptop variants, but the clockspeed seems low, even for a Core 2 (and apparently that's a $100 upgrade over the lowlier Pentium). If they say it'll play ME then I'm sure it will, but at what resolutions will it actually be able to push highest settings? If you want to be able to crank up detail, I would say this is not a good buy. It's certainly not going to be doing 1080p if that's what you want - I imagine it would be more of a 720p XBox-standin. Not that 720p is bad at all, it's all damn good compared to what games looked like five years ago.
If the space/portability of a laptop is important to you, then by all means, performance and/or money must be sacrificed in comparison to a desktop. If you're focused on graphics quality, you should be getting a desktop. On the whole, a desktop is still a much better idea for gaming if you have a choice between the two; even if you don't want the extra performance, you can save some money by getting a comparable desktop.
I'm skeptical of the Alienware. Maybe there's something I don't know about the laptop variants, but the clockspeed seems low, even for a Core 2 (and apparently that's a $100 upgrade over the lowlier Pentium). If they say it'll play ME then I'm sure it will, but at what resolutions will it actually be able to push highest settings? If you want to be able to crank up detail, I would say this is not a good buy. It's certainly not going to be doing 1080p if that's what you want - I imagine it would be more of a 720p XBox-standin. Not that 720p is bad at all, it's all damn good compared to what games looked like five years ago.
If the space/portability of a laptop is important to you, then by all means, performance and/or money must be sacrificed in comparison to a desktop. If you're focused on graphics quality, you should be getting a desktop. On the whole, a desktop is still a much better idea for gaming if you have a choice between the two; even if you don't want the extra performance, you can save some money by getting a comparable desktop.
