Help buying new PC for occasional gaming

Maxwell

Hi All,

Im not used to buying a pc and have always used laptops for web browsing etc.

Im now in the market for a fairly mid range PC that can play some games (very occasionally i.e. 2/3 times a week and for BF2/online war games.)

Have all pheriphals and only want to get a box.

I presume I need dual core and decent graphics card and 1GB/2GB Ram, but Im confused on which processors AMD or Intel?

As I have the monitor, and wanting to spend 600ish, I was looking on dell outlet and came up with these:

Dimension E521
Dimension E521 AMD Athlon 64 X2 Processor 4200 (2.20Ghz, 2x512K
Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005
Memory: Memory Dual Channel 2GB (4x512MB) 533Mhz DDR2
Hard Disk Drive: 250GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
Video: Video card Nvidia Geforce 7300 Turbocache 256MB DVI/VGA output with 1xS-Video Output
Modem: V.92 Modem Data/Fax/Voice PCI UK
DVD Drive: DVD+/-RW (ReadWrite) 16X
System Price EUR 593.46
OR

Dimension E520
Dimension E520 Pentium D 945 Processor Dual Core (3.40Ghz, 800Mhz FSB, 2x2MB cache
Operating System: Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition
Memory: 1024MB DDR2 533 [2*512]
Hard Disk Drive: 160GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
Video: Video card ATI Radeon X1300 Pro 256MB DVI/VGA output with 1xS-Video Output
Modem: V.92 Modem Data/Fax/Voice PCI UK
DVD Drive: DVD+/-RW (Read/Write) 16x (1 Drive
System Price EUR 576.00


Which one?
Help much appreciated!!

Anti

both systems are fine for what you wamt. apart from the graphics cards.

The 7300 and x1300 are bottom of the range cards. Ideally you will be looking for atleast a 7600 ( nvidia ) or a x1600 ( ati )

Would you not consider building your own machine, it could save you a nice bit of money.

Have a look at this one from komplett:

http://www.komplett.ie/k/config.asp?ConfigSystemId=10090

dr.bollocko

You might want an SLI motherboard if you like to play games the odd time, but u still want to be able to buy games further down the line. That way u could buy one graphics card now. Maybe a 7600 and then buy the same gfx card again in a wee while and have them working concurrently.

Alkers

I would get the first system, it seems a better buy than the intel. Then be prepared to spend €150 - €200 on a new Graphics card, and swap it with the one included (you will have to do this if you buy either system and want to play games). You should be laughing then.
If you only have around €600 take a look on adverts.ie - you should get something for that price capable of the kind of gaming you're talking about.

Maxwell

Thanks for the replies.

Im not sure whether I have it in me or have the time to build a pc myself and I was hoping just to use the PC for the occasional gaming and use it like a component i.e. don't spend too much on it and when it can't do what it was bought to do, get rid. Hence the reason for a PC that plays games for €600 ish.

I have checked adverts and there is nothing there at the moment.

Will keep looking there and on dell/komplett, but another question - which is preferred - Dual Core Intel or Dual Core AMD?

vgulch

Tell me please, "dell outlet" - what is address/
http://...

Obelisk29

vgulch wrote:

Tell me please, "dell outlet" - what is address/
http://...

dell outlet

TheDrunkenBrain

The systems u specify have an option to go without the graphics card and ship with nvidia 6150 integrated graphics(more than enough to install and get up and running, actually supposed to be VISTA compliant beleive it or not, I choose NOT), this will save you at least 70 or 80 euro's toward a 7600gs or gt(recommended). Might also consider cheaper vendors as has already been mentioned.
I have noticed that some people fixate on dell (think it's a security thing if they're a little unsure and it's understandable and possibly wise).

Anti

TheDrunkenBrain wrote:

The systems u specify have an option to go without the graphics card and ship with nvidia 6150 integrated graphics(more than enough to install and get up and running, actually supposed to be VISTA compliant beleive it or not, I choose NOT), this will save you at least 70 or 80 euro's toward a 7600gs or gt(recommended). Might also consider cheaper vendors as has already been mentioned.
I have noticed that some people fixate on dell (think it's a security thing if they're a little unsure and it's understandable and possibly wise).

Godd advise this. Jus add your own graphics card later.

And from the two systems i would go with the first, expecially as it is for games.

Check the dell outlet too, you can pick up some bargins there.

the_syco

TheDrunkenBrain wrote:

The systems u specify have an option to go without the graphics card and ship with nvidia 6150 integrated graphics(more than enough to install and get up and running, actually supposed to be VISTA compliant beleive it or not, I choose NOT), this will save you at least 70 or 80 euro's toward a 7600gs or gt(recommended). Might also consider cheaper vendors as has already been mentioned.
I have noticed that some people fixate on dell (think it's a security thing if they're a little unsure and it's understandable and possibly wise).

Compared to a few other PC manufactures whose PC's may be on a shelf for a considerable time, Dell are not too bad for computer novices.

One word, tho ENSURE THE UPGRADE SLOT IS THERE ! ! !

I say this as I've seen a few people get systems from Dell which you can't upgrade at a later date, due to the PCI-E slot not being on the motherboard (you'll see the soldering where it should have been).

Oh, and Dell machine's will run with their power supply, but if you install a power hungry graphics card, it may not have the connections for it, and finally, Dell cases are not standerd, so you won't be able to get a standard PSU to fit into it.

Dell's are nice, just not usually upgrade-friendly.