So, is this computer vany good for caming?

[Nexus4life]

I'm getting a new computer very soon, as with my old one i was barley scraping along with everything on very low settings. Im researching new computers, but i have a budget of under 600$, so i was wondering if this is any good.

 

http://shopping.msn.com/specs/dell-inspiro...2-2-5ghz-800fsb

 

Any help would be appreciated.

 

 

EDIT: Also, i see that it is provided with vista. I do not want vista. how could i get it changed to XP?

[CityBuilder]

I will only comment on what I feel comfortable commenting on with regards to that computer.

 

1. You will likely find that you will need to buy a video card, the one that comes with it (be it a built in chip, in worst case, or an actual video card) will not be strong enough to play todays games. I have an Nvidia 8800 and it's a pretty good card, but still strugles at times, the 2600 is going to struggle worse.

 

2. With number 1 above, if you upgrade to a decent video card to fit in the PCI-e slot, you *might* have to upgrade your power supply, the computer ships with a 300 watt supply, which is not going to be powerful enough for any modern video card that has it's own power plugin (i.e. needs an external source of power beyond the pci-e slot), example, my 8800 requires an external power plugin so I had to replace the 400 watt PSU with a 750 watt psu in my new(ish) gateway computer.

 

3. Personal preference maybe, but if I was shopping for a 2.2GHz computer, I would likely try to get a quad core or better, the dell linked is a dual core which may be fine, my quad core is only 2.2GHz but that 2.2GHz CPU in mine bottlenecks and doesn't allow me to get the fullest frame rate as it might if I had a 2.5 or 2.6GHz.

 

So I guess it depends on what games you wish to play with it as well as taking into consideration that an upgraded video card and power supply can run you an additional $200 to $400 depending on what you get.

[AdamV]

Would you consider building your own computer? They are pretty easy to make (under an hour to assemble) and can save you money/get you a better compouter

[Nexus4life]

Ok, thanks for the help. From what you say, I should get a different one, but im only concerned about fallout 3, I don't care about other games, mostly. note that this will not be a gaming only pc. i want one that has good-ok gaming capabilities, but also is good for every thing else.

 

EDIT: just saw your post adam. I highly doubt that i could make my own, as I am not very good with computers, or technology, for that matter. but i would like to investigate that, perhaps a link?

[CityBuilder]

Sorry, I forgot to answer on your Vista/XP question.

 

What you will have to do if Dell doesn't offer the option, is to buy a copy of XP from a store (online of offline, your choice) and then start the computer with the XP disc, and hope that you can install over Vista, I've heard horror stories and positive outcomes about people trying to install XP when their computer came with Vista, I chalk up most of it to inexperience but never the less, you'll have to buy XP somewhere unless you already have an XP disc that isn't an OEM restore disc. I bought my last XP Pro from Frys Electronics, got the "OEM" version for only $149 (a good deal for XP Pro full edition).

 

Some computer manufacturers will allow you to "upgrade" or downgrade the operating system, some won't. I think though it's more the high end manufacturers like Alienware that custom buiild your computer that allow it while companies like Dell, Gateway, Compaq pretty much just sell them as they are.

 

if you are capable of building your own as AdamV suggests you can get more oomph for your money going that route.

[CityBuilder]

My computer is this one: http://www.gateway.com/systems/product/529...2.php?tab=specs

Cost me $699 (I bought the open box that someone else returned, thankfully it was still completely new other than the other owner "kept"/"stole" the remote control) and it still needed to be upgraded to the 8800 video (new when first released $349 offline) and the power supply $245.00 (offline) and I can't turn up all the bells and whistles in Fallout 3.

 

Games are going to be the most demanding part of your PC, other apps like web browsing, office applications are a breeze, so when you buy, you'll want to be looking primarily at what is capable of playing your games, anything else you wish to do will likely be a breeze for the computer that can play your games (fallout 3) with decent performance.

[jaysus]

nahnahnah...

 

2.2ghz is not really a bottleneck... the bottleneck is the tiny 1mb lvl 2 cache of the cpu (modern ones have 6mb)

most games can barely use 2 cores atm but will prolly support 4 in the future and the price difference is marginal

 

the gfx card is a radeon 2600 which i never heard of... but it only has 256mb vram which is kinda small

 

2gb ram are not enough to even run vista... enough for fallout on xp tho

 

the mainboard also just has an 800mhz fsb which is out of date... my 5yr old babe has 1ghz yet

 

you need no 700watt psu lol... exept you intend to use 2 or more video cards... 450 is enough for most modern setups with a single card (mind the running costs for electricity lol)

 

since im building my own atm try that setup at a store of your choice (they usually want around 50euro for putting it together if you dont dare to do it yourself):

 

amd phenom II x3 720 (3x 2.8Ghz) or x4 810(4x2.6Ghz) (both am3 chipset)/ amd phenom II x4 940 (4x3Ghz) (am2 chipset)

4 gig ddr2 1066 (more if you like to use 64bit windows - xp only uses 3.5gig max)

ati radeon 4870 1024mb vram (or cheaper: 3870x2) / (alternative nvidia 260 till 300) (or cheaper nvidia 9800)

 

together with a psu, hd and mainboard i end up around 500euro

 

still needs a case and cd drive tho, stuff you prolly have yet or can "borrow" from a friend

 

-----------------------------

 

i basicly choose ati and amd over intel and nvidia for sheer cost... and most of the time they are just equal in power if not better... i also never lost an ati or amd card but i lost nvidias and intels for various reasons like overheating or voltage wobbling

[buddah]

If you are trying to come in under 600.

 

This may be of interest, just the tower....but it will do the job.

 

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/Mega_Special_III/

[CityBuilder]

My apologies, actually that is NOT my computer, that is what the new computers are for that model, I have the LX6800-01 (the link is for the LX6810-01) model with the AMD Quad core 2.2GHz NOT the Intel quadcore 2.33Ghz.

 

I guess the discountinued my exact model in favor of using the Intel Chip as the Best Buy employee told me they were going to do, but I bought it because I am comfortable with the AMD chips, and didn't want the Intel. Don't I feel embarrased now.

 

I'm not sure which computer Jaysus is talking about but the dell linked in the OP says this:

Power

Device Type Power supply

Voltage Required AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )

Power Provided 300 Watt

 

300 watts is too low for most modern video cards, most require 400 or more (750w gives plenty of breathing room for all the extras that I run, like the 3 extra hard drives, and all the USB devices), but theres more than just the wattage that needs to be looked at like how many volts the siderails actually have but most 450w or higher have ample power for todays video cards in my opinion. However my Asus computer only had a 400 watter in it and when I put in my spare 8800 (I use to run SLI in my home built) into the Asus, you could actually hear the power supply working overtime when playing games, it's hard to explain but you could hear the psu sounding like it was actually straining under the load. I know that's hard to fathom with what is actually in PSU's but never the less the PSU actually made a odd electrical straining noise trying ot power the 8800 that I put in it.

 

Anyway, back to your conversation. Maybe you have a good friend locally that is comfortable to build a computer for you?

[Nexus4life]

Wow, all you guys are being VERY helpfull. I think i will get a self-made/customized pc. untill then, all i have to do is play on my gimpy melee character and hope the DLC is re-released without the glitches. Thanks again!

 

EDIT: omfg buddah, that thing is Beastly. it right on my price range too lol. thanks alot! i will have to check it out