Cheap computing

[~Stef~]

Looking to update my PC, currently running a Duron 1800 with a Nvidia 64mb graphics card and 256mb DDR

PC main use is

90% internet

The rest is storing/viewing digital pictures, the odd bit of word procesing, and a bit of gaming.

How do the newest generation of "cheap" PC with onboard graphics shape up playing games, kids like playing the SIMS and im a bit partial to some of the Tom Clancy based shoot em ups.

I had been considering something along the lines of this

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=79923

imput welcome
~Stef~

 

[mikeh501]

That PC will be no better or maybe a little worse than what you have now for games.

 

[~Stef~]

That PC will be no better or maybe a little worse than what you have now for games.

In which case I might be better off looking at upgrading my current system.

 

[Fanum]

Have a look at this one Stef;
http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/index.php?page=formaffordable400

Pretty reasonable, will play pretty much most modern game although with he likes of Doom3 you'll be stuck with slower FPS (frames per second).

For slightly more, this will play all of your games and be a good solid machine;

http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/index.php?page=formgaming600

(I know 'cos it's actually faster than my current machine, which will play Doom3 and Half life 2 more than adequately

Have a browse of the Dell and Mesh sites as well.....and both have 'clearance' areas where cancelled orders and returned units are sold off ( you still get a guarantee and so on though, and in many cases the unit hasn't even left the factory)

Don't touch PC world or any of the high street retailers with a barge pole for systems...they can be OK for add ons and consumables, but for systems they're silly.

HTH

 

[~Stef~]

Have a look at this one Stef;
http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/index.php?page=formaffordable400

Pretty reasonable, will play pretty much most modern game although with he likes of Doom3 you'll be stuck with slower FPS (frames per second).
HTH

Great site, ill have hours of fun building systems on there
notice most systems now use integrated SIS graphics, i take it a system with this CANNOT have its graphics upgraded.

 

[mikeh501]

Great site, ill have hours of fun building systems on there
notice most systems now use integrated SIS graphics, i take it a system with this CANNOT have its graphics upgraded.

They can as long as the motherboard has a AGP connector. There is a setting which allows you to disable the on-board video card.

If your looking for machines with built-in sound and graphics, try and find one which uses the "Nvidia nForce" chipset, these have pretty good sound and graphics which is able to play games.

 

[~Stef~]

This is my current m/board,

http://www.leadtek.com/motherboards/k7n415da/k7n415da.htm

Now thinking of working with what ive got, upgrading the CPU and increasing the RAM to 512mb.

Might even splash out on a better graphics card.

 

[longdog]

Stef, assuming you are running Window$ XP, then you need at least 512mb RAM, more if you can afford it. Next, get yourself a decent mid-range graphics card such as an ATI 9800 PRO

 

[longdog]

Stef, assuming you are running Window$ XP, then you need at least 512mb RAM, more if you can afford it. Next, get yourself a decent mid-range graphics card such as an ATI 9800 PRO 128mb card. This should allow you to run most modern games as long as you keep the screen resolution below 1280 x 1024 with no problems. Expect to pay from £70 - £100 for this.

 

[~Stef~]

Stef, assuming you are running Window$ XP, then you need at least 512mb RAM, more if you can afford it. Next, get yourself a decent mid-range graphics card such as an ATI 9800 PRO 128mb card. This should allow you to run most modern games as long as you keep the screen resolution below 1280 x 1024 with no problems. Expect to pay from £70 - £100 for this.

Like these

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=63700


http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=88233

also ive been looking at getting 512mb of RAM.
I think I need DDR PC2100 266MHz but do I need

buffered, registered, eec, non eec 2.0 2.5

its all very confusing

 

[longdog]

Like these

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=63700


http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=88233

also ive been looking at getting 512mb of RAM.
I think I need DDR PC2100 266MHz but do I need

buffered, registered, eec, non eec 2.0 2.5

its all very confusing

Stef, just use this link and follow the step-by-step instructions and all the mysteries of memory selection will become clear!

 

[~Stef~]

Stef, just use this link and follow the step-by-step instructions and all the mysteries of memory selection will become clear!

Cheers, found that last night, had to use the system scanner , has my PC isnt a off the shelf system, but one put together by a mate.

Ive ordered 512mb from "Crucial" and a few bits from "Ebuyer" to modernise the look. I'll run with my current M/board and CPU for now. Hope to upgrade the Graphics card in the not to distant future.

Was tempted by an offer on "Ebuyer" AMD m/board for £20 that supports Athlon/Duron and Sempron, managed to restrain myself.......for now

 

[~Stef~]

Crucial memory arrived today, noticed a difference right away, much faster