Computer quandary

[PingSpike]

Personally, I'd just return that thing and either build my own or have Monarch build me one.

Like has been said above, if you're doing some work processing, web surfing and maybe playing solitare or some old arcade games a dell is a great deal for a PC. But the moment serious games enter the picture you're in trouble unless you're buying the high end system.

I mean, there's only 3 PC slots for the whole expansion bus...no AGP? And it only has 2 memory slots of course. Thats a throw away computer my friend. When it gets old, you can't upgrade it...you just throw it away. And like most throw away computers, its already not that amazing to start with.

Return it, and get what you want. I don't know what PCI graphics card they're going to give you. I don't think there's anything remotely new available on PCI that would even do better than the onboard video anyway.

 

[techwanabe]

Originally posted by: PingSpike
Personally, I'd just return that thing and either build my own or have Monarch build me one.

Like has been said above, if you're doing some work processing, web surfing and maybe playing solitare or some old arcade games a dell is a great deal for a PC. But the moment serious games enter the picture you're in trouble unless you're buying the high end system.

With unlimited cash, sure - then build a hot gaming machine. But the original poster indicated cost was a major part of the mix, hence the employee savings toward a Dell. As stated before, exchanging for a Dimension 4700 would get a PCI express slot so nice graphic cards could be added.

I mean, there's only 3 PC slots for the whole expansion bus...no AGP? And it only has 2 memory slots of course. Thats a throw away computer my friend. When it gets old, you can't upgrade it...you just throw it away. And like most throw away computers, its already not that amazing to start with.

3 PCI expansion slots are plenty - I have never filled up more than 3 beforer and these days with built-in LAN and sound, we tend use less PCI slots - at most a modem and deluxe sound card.

Return it, and get what you want. I don't know what PCI graphics card they're going to give you. I don't think there's anything remotely new available on PCI that would even do better than the onboard video anyway.

I agree, anyone intrested in any kind of gaming should avoid computers without either an AGP or PCIe slot.

 

[Gurck]

Originally posted by: dguy6789

Originally posted by: Gurck

light gaming like Sims 2

Erm... The Sims 2 is currently the most demanding game out there on computer hardware, or at least close to it... far moreso than Far Cry, Doom 3, or Half Life 2.

Anyway, if you have any problems with the build (and have a second PC), post here and you're sure to receive help. It's a much better solution than Dell. If you *must* get a prebuilt, try ABS or Monarch computers.

What have you been smokin, the sims2 can run well on an intel extreme graphics based system pretty well, I would not call that too demanding.

My 9800pro can just barely push it with unfurnished houses at 10x7 with full detail settings & 4aa/8af - it can push anything else, including Doom 3 & Far Cry, in those settings. With a preexisting well-furnished house it slows to a crawl. EA can't code their PC games for their lives.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: Gurck

Originally posted by: dguy6789

Originally posted by: Gurck

light gaming like Sims 2

Erm... The Sims 2 is currently the most demanding game out there on computer hardware, or at least close to it... far moreso than Far Cry, Doom 3, or Half Life 2.

Anyway, if you have any problems with the build (and have a second PC), post here and you're sure to receive help. It's a much better solution than Dell. If you *must* get a prebuilt, try ABS or Monarch computers.

What have you been smokin, the sims2 can run well on an intel extreme graphics based system pretty well, I would not call that too demanding.

My 9800pro can just barely push it with unfurnished houses at 10x7 with full detail settings & 4aa/8af - it can push anything else, including Doom 3 & Far Cry, in those settings. With a preexisting well-furnished house it slows to a crawl. EA can't code their PC games for their lives.

Eh...I dunno. BF1942 runs pretty good for me, I just wish that I could turn that fog down or render stuff further away.

Its their whip their programmers to death policy that I don't like.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: techwanabe

Originally posted by: PingSpike
Personally, I'd just return that thing and either build my own or have Monarch build me one.

Like has been said above, if you're doing some work processing, web surfing and maybe playing solitare or some old arcade games a dell is a great deal for a PC. But the moment serious games enter the picture you're in trouble unless you're buying the high end system.

With unlimited cash, sure - then build a hot gaming machine. But the original poster indicated cost was a major part of the mix, hence the employee savings toward a Dell. As stated before, exchanging for a Dimension 4700 would get a PCI express slot so nice graphic cards could be added.

No, not a hot gaming system. Thats not what I'm refering too. I'm refering to a gaming system period. There just aren't any halfway decent onboard video solutions available. (That I know of, the nforce igp is pretty meh...while everything else I've run is just plain crap.) He needs a system with an AGP/PCI-E slot or he should just stick to word processing. And thats not really asking to much for a budget system even.

I mean, there's only 3 PC slots for the whole expansion bus...no AGP? And it only has 2 memory slots of course. Thats a throw away computer my friend. When it gets old, you can't upgrade it...you just throw it away. And like most throw away computers, its already not that amazing to start with.

3 PCI expansion slots are plenty - I have never filled up more than 3 beforer and these days with built-in LAN and sound, we tend use less PCI slots - at most a modem and deluxe sound card.

Yeah for most users its plenty I suppose. I just disable all my onboard crap and put in cards. But I'm not the average user and even I could get away get fine with the onboard stuff. Except the graphics card.

Return it, and get what you want. I don't know what PCI graphics card they're going to give you. I don't think there's anything remotely new available on PCI that would even do better than the onboard video anyway.

I agree, anyone intrested in any kind of gaming should avoid computers without either an AGP or PCIe slot.

I dunno all the specs on that 4700...he might be fine with that as well. But I'm tired of manufactorers totally neutering the upgradability of the PC, the very factor that made it take off in the first place, in order to save $3 on motherboard costs.

 

[RalphTheCow]

When I said light gaming like the Sims 2, it was sort o ftongue-in-cheek, and I thought I would get called on it!

Sims 2 SHOULD be light gaming, but as you guys have said, the EA programming seems to be pretty hoggish. It almost makes me think it's a conspiracy with the hardware manufacturers.

I remember before I almost bought an ABS - they seemed to use more parts like we would use in building. I agree it's ridiculous that places like Dell strip off things like AGP slots just to shave a few bucks off the price. If they used better components their voulme purchasing would still allow them to have a decent price. I doubt that too many people buy their XPS just to get the slot - I think they would build first.

 

[RalphTheCow]

What have you been smokin, the sims2 can run well on an intel extreme graphics based system pretty well, I would not call that too demanding.

Really? What are the details of that system, please? I understand the newer 915G integrated are a lot better than the older version, so maybe it's that? Surely you have to turn the detail settings down.

 

[techwanabe]

Originally posted by: RalphTheCow
When I said light gaming like the Sims 2, it was sort o ftongue-in-cheek, and I thought I would get called on it!

Sims 2 SHOULD be light gaming, but as you guys have said, the EA programming seems to be pretty hoggish. It almost makes me think it's a conspiracy with the hardware manufacturers.

I remember before I almost bought an ABS - they seemed to use more parts like we would use in building. I agree it's ridiculous that places like Dell strip off things like AGP slots just to shave a few bucks off the price. If they used better components their voulme purchasing would still allow them to have a decent price. I doubt that too many people buy their XPS just to get the slot - I think they would build first.

I was comparing the the 8400 with the XPS and most of the specs were the same - is the only differences the fancy schmancy case and extra PCI slot? Oh yeah, I think it had some Extreme version of the P4 whatever that is.