Thread: Computer Suggestions for My Lifestyle?

Any computer can do basic word processing, that doesn't require any power at all. Since you mentioned games I would recommend XP to Vista. Vista has a lot of problems, and from what I've heard most games require twice the horsepower on Vista than XP. Vista also uses DirectX 10, which has little backwards compatibility so Direct 9 games won't work. More and more games are going to OpenGL so make sure your card can handle that as well as DirectX.

If you want really want Vista then I'd backtrack on your Mac statement. PC World stated that Macs run Vista faster than any PC, but again, I'd rethink Vista.

1GB of RAM seems kind of low and won't be fast for very long. 2 would probably be the minimum that I would suggest, especially if you play games.

Originally Posted by ninja9578

Any computer can do basic word processing, that doesn't require any power at all. Since you mentioned games I would recommend XP to Vista. Vista has a lot of problems, and from what I've heard most games require twice the horsepower on Vista than XP. Vista also uses DirectX 10, which has little backwards compatibility so Direct 9 games won't work. More and more games are going to OpenGL so make sure your card can handle that as well as DirectX.

If you want really want Vista then I'd backtrack on your Mac statement. PC World stated that Macs run Vista faster than any PC, but again, I'd rethink Vista.

1GB of RAM seems kind of low and won't be fast for very long. 2 would probably be the minimum that I would suggest, especially if you play games.

lol - testament to what I know about computers; I thought 1GB Ram was a lot.

So, since I fervently want to avoid the mac until it has a monopoly on computers, I should go for a new comp with XP, hrm?

HP..? Compaq..? Toshiba..? Asus..?
~

I think IBM sells exclusively XP and Linux computers, Dell sells Vista, XP, and Linux. I think most other retailers require that you downgrade.

Whatever you do -- don't get any form of Linux. The users even more arrogant and annoying then Mac fanboys.

Probably in the next couple of years games will be Vista only, but everyone here will tell you don't get Vista but XP would be fine (now).

Note that Vista is a lot easier to use and simpler for the average person.

In terms of Asus, Compaq and all that, they are all basically the same.

Yes, definitely get above 1 gig of Ram, if you go with Vista I think at least 2 gigs are required.

Aah, nice to see near-religious evangelism still going strong in the OS wars....

Originally Posted by Grod

Whatever you do -- don't get any form of Linux. The users even more arrogant and annoying then Mac fanboys.

Of all the legitimate reasons not to go Linux, annoying users is probably the least important


I wouldn't advice Linux either (not as the main OS in any case),
because you want a gaming machine


Linux (via Wine) can play ~80% of all windows games, but it can be fiddly
so I wouldn't advice it


Go XP

Originally Posted by Grod

Probably in the next couple of years games will be Vista only, but everyone here will tell you don't get Vista but XP would be fine (now).

Highly unlikely


Game companies are not stupid,
they are not going to drop support for the largest market share (XP)
use your head
it's the same reason they're not actively supporting Linux – Market share


Btw, the only game to be released “Vista Only” to date is Shadowrun
and it sold so badly the game studio went bust


Also, as a side note,
Any “Vista Only” functionality is artificial
DirectX-10 has already been backported to XP
(funnily enough, by the Wine guys, but I'd show my prejudice if I expanded on this point)

Originally Posted by Grod

Note that Vista is a lot easier to use and simpler for the average person.

personal preference
I'd say it's always “easier” to use a system you already know, rather than a new system




anyway, I'll leave with this....


dual booting & virtualisation
marvelous stuff, really


Go XP as your main OS
and you can try any other OS you want as a secondary OS
(hell, get a big enough disk, and give 2 or 3 different OS's a try)

I'd also suggest XP as your main OS. I have found that vista makes even word processing a chore if you use the default application. I found myself using word pad instead of word. Then I got open office =O.

You should be much happier with XP though.

Originally Posted by Ynot

Aah, nice to see near-religious evangelism still going strong in the OS wars....

It's me, what did you expect.

Originally Posted by Ynot

Of all the legitimate reasons not to go Linux, annoying users is probably the least important

Joking -- though true, he said he didn't like Mac because of the annoying users, and IMHO Linux is far worse.

Originally Posted by Ynot

I wouldn't advice Linux either (not as the main OS in any case),
because you want a gaming machine


Linux (via Wine) can play ~80% of all windows games, but it can be fiddly
so I wouldn't advice it


Go XP



Highly unlikely


Game companies are not stupid,
they are not going to drop support for the largest market share (XP)
use your head
it's the same reason they're not actively supporting Linux – Market share


Btw, the only game to be released “Vista Only” to date is Shadowrun
and it sold so badly the game studio went bust


Also, as a side note,
Any “Vista Only” functionality is artificial
DirectX-10 has already been backported to XP
(funnily enough, by the Wine guys, but I'd show my prejudice if I expanded on this point)

That's why I said not now, I'd say at least 2 more years. Pick up any game now, and it will usually be XP and up only. Even before Vista came out.

Originally Posted by Ynot

personal preference
I'd say it's always “easier” to use a system you already know, rather than a new system




anyway, I'll leave with this....


dual booting & virtualisation
marvelous stuff, really


Go XP as your main OS
and you can try any other OS you want as a secondary OS
(hell, get a big enough disk, and give 2 or 3 different OS's a try)

Yes, go with XP now.

Vista really is easier, it only took me a day or two to get used to.
Then why switch at all(anything), if you're used to the old way?

( Joe now knows this kinda stuff, he is proud he knows how his comp works because now he knows how to build a new one when he wants to, ell he has ideas anyway..)

OK so gaming is the only real thing that makes the computer need a bit of umph.

Vista or XP your choice, if you have XP and you like it, stick with it. I have XP, never even seen Vista, so your choice. The only problem is right now some games and especially the graphics cards are having issues with Vista and drivers( kinda what makes them work). That will be sorted, but probably not for a few months or more while companies make stuff more compatible.

OK if you go with Vista then 2gb+ DDR2 ram, if XP then 1gb would be ok, but you may as well go with 2gb as RAM is cheap and it's needed for games.( thats the common RAM these day, DDR is ancient, DDR3 pricey and not very compatible)

Processor probably a mid range core 2 duo( i'd say Intel are better then AMD) or the q6600 2.4ghz. Now that's four cores, so like two dual cores. There are like £150 which yes is expensive i suppose but it would make it "future-proof" for quite a while

Graphics card, it depends what games we are talking. If your games are say 2+ years old then like a 7600GS, maybe even 6600GT card will be fine. If we talking the new games ( excluding Crysis and other games with have ridiculous requirements) then a 7950GT or up, 8800GT is a very very good card for the price, again it is £100+plus but its almost as good as the £300+ 8800gtx and again it will keep the computer up to date for a few years.

Motherboard, ok make sure it has PCI-e slots, x16 is best). Make sure it can fit 4gb ram, maybe 8gb. This is just in case you wanna add more RAM for a little boost down the road. A decent motherboard is usually around £50-£70. You can get really good like £120 ones, but they are for using two graphics cards together, basically stuff i doubt you need.

LOL well thats the main parts of your machine, just throwing in some ideas. Also if your buying a new monitor, i suggest a 19-22" Widescreen, just so its big n shiny. But if you go 22"+, a good graphics card is needed more because the screen size is bigger, so the 8800GT is a shiny option.

In the summer/autumn im getting a whole new comp, gonna make it SHINY!!