need a new computer

[Jerry DB]

My computer is basically crap(1.9GHZ and 256 mb ram) and I know I would be soooo much better if I had a good one. I should have enough to get one sometime next month. I was looking at overstock.com and I see they have some pretty good deals.
I was just wondering if anybody had any input because I would just be getting this computer for the sake of getting better scores. Should I get it from overstock.com or is there are better more reliable site? what kinda specs should I look for? what kinda of desktops do you top players use? Any help would be much appreciated :-D

[Oni-Paranoia]

I had a 1.6ghz, 1GB RAM computer with a 40GB HDD and I use to AAA FMO's.

It really doesn't matter what computer you get to play FFR, anything usually does well (unless it's running Vista.) But if you're looking for something decent, you should personally just upgrade your RAM. I'm pretty sure your computer can handle up to at least 2GB so two 1GB sticks should fit you nice if you just do regular browsing and FFR and all that RAM would help out multitasking a bit.

If you do more gaming, list what you would play/do or a normal basis and someone can give you a better setup. Oh and newegg.com has been good for low prices, IMO.

[00Razor00]

HP Pavilion P7-1210
6GB RAM
1TB HDD
2.3ghz

[sticklydude]

You don't need much.
Try Newegg or TigerDirect.

[25thhour]

I don't know much about computers but you should get one custom built to your specifics, it usually is cheaper and you get the most out of your money because it's exactly what you want.

[Jerry DB]

Upgrading my ram sounds like the best Idea actually, does anybody know how to tell how much ram your computer can handle?
also does anybody know anything about virtual memory? mine is at 340 mb and can be set up to 700mb, would that be a bad idea?

[MaxGhost]

Virtual memory is mega slow. It's better to upgrade your RAM. Thing is though, there's different types of RAM, and older types like DDR are much more expensive than DDR3 now because of extremely low demand. You should be able to get SIW (google it) and it should tell you how much dimms your computer has. A dimm is one RAM slot. Based on the amount of slots you have, you could upgrade your RAM to a multiple of that. I have no idea what the usual RAM size is for DDR RAM, but I'd say you might be able to get 4 sticks of 512MB. Based on the price of that, it might be just worth getting a new computer. Your processor is probably pretty bad too, as well as your harddrive and video card, so it might just be better to get a new computer instead.

[PriestREA]

For better scores I would just upgrade your ram. If lag and or varying frame rates are the issue, your video card may be old. If it's still using integrated RAMDAC or has <512MB of ram, it's probably a good choice to upgrade.

If you're looking for a cheap budget video card, the 9800GTX is an old one but is also very reliable. If you want to go into higher level video cards, a GTX 260 would be a good bet. 460's and 470's may also be a good choice.

[Zageron]

...
What year is your computers build?
<2007 : Replace computer. Get a custom build from Newegg or ncix america.
FFR is the last thing you should be using as a benchmark for a new computer.

You can get some sick computers for just $600~700, or go all out mid-range for $1000~1300.

[Izzy]

There is a section for threads like this.

[Jerry DB]

It was made in 2001 it's pretty bad I just have it optimized for ffr but it still isn't perfect and I have to clean it's memory constantly. I am gonna have a budget of 300-400 dollars but I don't want to spend it all if I don't have to.

[MaxGhost]

You can definitely get something decent for around 300. There's some pretty nice refurbished desktops for around that range that you could get.

Also yeah this is in the wrong section. Chit Chat or Bits and Bytes would be better I suppose.

[Jerry DB]

my bad, only like the 10th time I started a thread in the wrong part of the forum lol.

Anyways has anybody ever bought from overstock?

http://www.overstock.com/search?keywords=desktop+computers&rangeminprice=150&rangemaxprice=300&searchtype=Header

I was looking at computers around this price range, any suggestions?

[MaxGhost]

If you have a semi-decent monitor already, you don't need to get a new one, so look for one that doesn't come with a monitor. If you still have a CRT (big cube ones) then get a new monitor.

http://www.overstock.com/Electronics/HP-DC5700-1.86-GHz-2GB-400GB-Desktop-Computer-Refurbished/5283443/product.html

That one should be fine I guess.

[Renevatia]

Still matters what kind of cpu since it runs on flash. I highly doubt you should upgrade current build since that 256mb is probably DDR1.

For minimum build probably something like
Core i3
4gb ram
some kind of hd...they are all op these days.
a $50-100 graphic card
the cheapest mb for that cpu money can buy

the rig itself will cost you about 400usd for minimum build and it should last you a good while if you are just going for ffr/web browsing.

If you don't build computers just look for something with those kind of specs, granted you will probably have to pay slightly more.

Edit: I was assuming windows 7. Since the one linked comes with xp thats probably fine.

[fido123]

I assume you don't want to buy individual parts and screw around with all that, but in general you want something around these specs at a minimum:

- 1GB of RAM (recommend 2-4GB)
- ~2GHz 2cores processor
- Integrated video

Again, this is assuming you just want to browse the web, and play FFR/SM. If you want to do anything else say so and I'll let you know if something like this would be good or you need something better. If you don't want to drop a couple hundred bucks, you're going to want to upgrade your RAM. If that's the case download CPU-Z (http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html) and take a screenshot of the memory tab and post it. Buying memory isn't just about finding out what kind of memory your motherboard takes, you also need to worry about other factors like clock rates.

In my honest computer though get a new computer.

My suggestions are the following. If you want something with a bigger hardrive or want more of something else let me know:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1875099&CatId=5138
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=348342&CatId=2628


Also if you want uber smooth graphics buying this (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.as?EdpNo=253062&CatId=3669) would help a bunch. I'm not 100% sure if it would make a difference on StepMania, but it won't do much for FFR that's for sure. Also installing something like this is easy as hell. You basically have to undo one screw, place the car in the slot, then put the screw back in.


A dimm is one RAM slot.

Just in case you care (not trying to call you out): I'm pretty sure a DIMM is the actual RAM chip itself. Duel In-line Memory Module. It's "duel" because if you look at the chip it has two metalish thingies that go in the slot.

[MaxGhost]

You're right @ DIMMs, thanks.

[ninjaKIWI]

Just in case you care (not trying to call you out): I'm pretty sure a DIMM is the actual RAM chip itself. Duel In-line Memory Module. It's "duel" because if you look at the chip it has two metalish thingies that go in the slot.

I'm pretty sure that it's because a DIMMs electrical contacts on either side are separate from eachother, while the contacts on either side of a SIMM are redundant.

[darkshark]

Newegg promotional sale right now:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.877023

Core i3, 500gb harddrive, motherboard, 4gb of ram, and a case with built-in 480watt power supply,(plus antivirus software) all for $275

Can't beat that.

[PriestREA]

Newegg promotional sale right now:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.877023

Core i3, 500gb harddrive, motherboard, 4gb of ram, and a case with built-in 480watt power supply,(plus antivirus software) all for $275

Can't beat that.

Surely, it's a great deal, but I think the only problem in that build are the integrated graphics. That may give you some grief in terms of frame rates.

[Jerry DB]

yea I can't even tell if it is xp or not but either way I don't have the money for a couple weeks for the computer, maybe even up to a month. Being poor sucks that looks like a pretty good deal though thanks for the sharp eyes

[MaxGhost]

FYI that deal doesn't come with an OS, you need to get one yourself and install. The OS is usually super expensive and it's what jacks up the price on the PC most of the time. TBH I'd just get a pirated copy of win7 if anything. Also, bundles like that without video cards are still pretty good deals, cause you can always just buy a video card to upgrade later. That's often not a big deal. It's not like you're replacing another part, you're just putting one that it doesn't have in, so you don't lose anything by buying a video card vs replacing a card that's already there. There's often some pretty massive sales on some video cards sometimes cause it's a pretty competitive market for those.