Computer Mania!

[jmfargo]

Okay, do you all remember when I admitted a while back to being a complete moron when it comes to computer terminology? I mean, I know how to get a computer to do what I want, and I know what I want from a computer, but I don't know the words that mean "this is what I'm doing," or "this is what I want the computer to have."

Right now, I know what I'm looking for, mainly. I'm trying to find a computer with 512MB of RAM, and at least 1GHz processing speed. Since most computers come with at least 50GB hard drive spce, that's not really a concern right now.

What I don't know is what kind of video card I'm looking for. I want to be able to play almost any of the new games that are out these days, as well as some of the older games, but can't figure out which computers have good enough video cards to be able to handle them.

So, I turn to my more tech-savvy audience: What should I be looking for in a computer/chip set if I want to be able to play all the really cool games that the cool kids are playing?

I mean, as I am right now I can't even get Jedi Academy to work, and I REALLY love that game.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

If you want Bleeding Edge, then you'll want to look into PCI Express cards. Of course, only newer motherboards will have a PCI Express slot to start with.
You may want to look at the ATI Radeon X series or NVidia GeForce 6 or 7 series cards.
"play almost any of the new games that are out these days" - Minimum of 128MB onboard memory for your video card.
For more info than you could possibly want, head over to http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/index.html

Keep in mind that any video card that can play most of todays games will have a FAN on it, and a FAN on a Video Card just SUCKS, though it has become a necessary evil these days. If you can find a video card with Heat Pipe or some other such heat dispersion technology, it may be worth a look. Nothing like more fans in a computer to make it make MORE noise, and have a better chance of something FAILING (moving parts = bad). Beware cards that say they're "silent", look into their history and make sure they don't have a penchant for overheating ;)

Oh, and for playing most of 'todays games', I would head higher than 512MB and 1GHz, but try to stay in budget too. 1GB RAM won't cost too much more, so go with it. RAM is cheap and worth having lots. As for GHz, buy as high as you can before hitting the "paying a premium" starts to kick in. You can hit 2GHz at under $100, so if you're planning on using it, buy it. The Video card you buy is going to cost as much as the CPU at this point :)

-tt

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

So, what it sounds like is that I won't be able to buy a brand new computer from the store with all the necessary parts...like a good graphic card. All I see when I look at the computers stats under "Video Card" is usually something that says 128 RAM (Shared), or something like that, and it sounds as though that's not enough.

Would ATI Radeon 9550 do the trick? It's on sale, and it seems to have what I'm looking for, but I just don't know.

Thanks for your help. :)

[(Anonymous)]

Computers that say "128 RAM (Shared)" usually have an "onboard" video card, integrated into the motherboard. Just fine for most any application, except gaming. Remember, Gaming is the thing that pushes PCs further!

Radeon 9550? It's probably good (I know the 9600 and 9800 were good), but remember it is on the back slope of cards now. It won't have as much of a future, and it is an AGP card, which means the 'hot new cards' aren't going to be compatible with it. Well, I can't predict the future, and how much AGP will still be used when most high-end video cards head towards PCI Express...

-tt

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Is there a make/model of ~computer~ that you can recommend for what I'm looking at? I mean, it doesn't have to be OMG THE LEET...(this is the one exception to my 'not using AIM expressions' rule..when I'm making fun of them)...I just need something that's going to run maybe not the NEWEST games, but newer ones...like Jedi Academy..*sigh*

[(Anonymous)]

What I would suggest is looking at whatever local companies there are that custom build, have a good reputation, and a good warranty, and stopping in there.
Whenever someone asks me what type of computer they should buy, I ALWAYS suggest "one where you can carry it in yourself when it is broken" - i.e. any place with a LOCAL branch.
Now, beyond that, I would suggest taking a list of what you want in with you, and most of them will sit down and go over the specs with you to figure out what you should get.
I would suggest doing that, getting a couple of possibilities nailed down, and then before buying anything, post them here for everyone to look over. Make sure to get specifics (model numbers, etc), and then even the price can be compared.
But make sure whatever you get has a 3 year warranty. That is one of the good things of buying a system from somplace else, rather than building it. So long as they're not.... jerks.... then if something breaks, you can just get it replaced. Done deal, don't have to deal with the individual hardware vendors or anything.

Then again, buliding is always an option, like you said :)

-tt

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

That's a really good idea. Thank you!

I'm kind of interested in building it simply so I can actually start learning more about the insides of computers. It's a good field to be interested in these days, even if it's not a business interest.

I'm already learning SO much more about computers than I knew before, looking into what it takes to build a good system.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Of course...now I'm contemplating trying to build my own with the help of a few friends that are in the area and know what they're doing...

[try-me-i-dare-u.livejournal.com]

I have a 9800 8x ati card and it kicks ass for I need it to. I got a good deal on it too, only 200 bucks. You can get better cards but they'll be more expensive of course

Hmm

[akdidge.livejournal.com]

GeForce 7 is the way I'd go, in regards to video cards, and the more DDRAM you can get, the better. 1 gig is essential, especially if you're considering future games and not watching you machine slow to a snail's pace. I'd recommend getting the maximum amount of that (which if memory serves right is 2 gig's right now) as you can. You'll use it if you game alot.

Something else you might want to take into consideration is the fact that the AMD processor is the best (in my humble opinion), in regards to working games. Sure, you can buy a Pentium and it'll work fine, but the AMD is the thing to have for gaming. Now, I've been spouting their worthiness before they hit it big, back in the day when the ol' AMD-K62 came out and was literally half the cost of a Pentium chip. They've increased their prices, but they're still one hell of a game processor.

And that...is about all I know on hardware aspects of the computer. I'm much more of a software guy. Ask me to build you a random generator in Excel without using macro's? I'm your man. Ask me why the red wire connects to the yellow wire on the fan? And you might end up with an answer of, "Uhh, because yellow and blue make green, and green means go...so it makes it go, yeah...that's it." ;)

Re: Hmm

[akdidge.livejournal.com]

-- Ask me why the red wire connects to the yellow wire on the fan? And you might end up with an answer of, "Uhh, because yellow and blue make green, and green means go...so it makes it go, yeah...that's it." --

Added to the fact that red wasn't a choice in my answer, you can see why no one lets me near the inside of their computer. The last time I tried to build a computer I melted the fan wire. It got all bubbly because I created a feedback with the power line. Heh, good times. ;)

Re: Hmm

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I got a really good laugh out of that. Thanks. :) That's about my skill level, I think.

Re: Hmm

[(Anonymous)]

Max RAM depends on Motherboard and OS. I have 2GB on this machine, and could have 4GB if I REALLY wanted to, but there's no need for that overkill ;)

As for AMD vs. Intel, don't sweat it. I've used both since my AMD K5-133 (and before that my Intel 486 DX-66). I have Intel Celerons at home (I don't play games there), and an AMD Opteron at work (I don't game here either). When it comes down to it, it doesn't matter which you get, except that it will tell you what you'll be buying in the future if you have the opportunity to upgrade it. Of course, you can never count on being able to upgrade anything, they'll have Quad-Core Xenonerons or something that isn't compatible by the time you go to do it ;) AMD, Intel, they'll both do what you want. The only people who have to worry about that are people taking their custom painted Alienware chassis to some ubergeek LAN party (and who needs LAN parties since Broadband became so wide-spread).

-tt

Re: Hmm

[akdidge.livejournal.com]

-- Max RAM depends on Motherboard and OS. --

true, but more RAM is always better. Umm, because I was told so by my geeky friends. And they wouldn't lie to me, would they?

-- As for AMD vs. Intel, don't sweat it...When it comes down to it, it doesn't matter which you get... --

Actually, there have been timed tests to see which outperforms the other on multiple occassions. The Pentium does better on work related items (Microsoft office, application end stuff, etc.) while AMD has consistantly handled the graphics interface speed with much more ease. Now as to the actual time dilation? Well it wasn't anything appreciable/noticable by human standards, but it was there. But generally speaking, there is a technical difference between their speeds, albeit it measures in nanoseconds. ;)


-- and who needs LAN parties since Broadband became so wide-spread --

*meekly raises hand* Me? I feel abandoned and alone now. Hold me.

[cieo.livejournal.com]

I would love to throw in my tow cents, but for the following reasons:

1) I don't play games.
2) I don't play video games.
3) I am too much in love with my new toy.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

As a male of the species known as geek, it is vital that I game. Otherwise, I get left out of all the COOL parties that people have! I mean, what's better than going to your friend's house with your entire computer, setting it up in the corner, logging onto a game with everyone, and blowing each other away while yelling from room to room about how much the other person sucks!?

Yeah.

[cieo.livejournal.com]

What's better?
I can think of a lot of things.
Again, I don't game.

But if I did, I'd win.
Bring it.


Kidding. I lose.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

I lose too, but it's kind of a rite of passage thing for us young males, and then apparently we continue it into adult-hood. Getting together with friends and blowing each other up...something every young man wants to do, but can't (legally) without the help of our friendly computer!

And then there ARE those women that game...they just throw us off.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

I will admit, the geek culture SERIOUSLY hurts a lot of guys chances at getting into a good relationship while remaining a true geek.

I mean, with a pick up line like "I like to kill people," things tend to just not work out....

[cieo.livejournal.com]

Are you speaking from personal experience?

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

No. Seriously, I've never been nearly as far gone as some of the gamer-geeks that I've met. I really HAVE known the guys that don't shower for a week or more...that can't talk to someone outside of a gaming world because they don't have anything else to talk about...and are over 30 living in their parents basement inviting their 18-22 year old friends over to come play D&D.

That's just scratching the surface of the "classid gamer" profile...there's much worse buried underneath the surface.

[cieo.livejournal.com]

Ew ew ew. I feel like I want to rip my own head off if I don't get my showers. Ugh...a week. I itch just thinking about it.

[cieo.livejournal.com]

When my club and I were traveling to Oklahoma for the NLC (National Latin Convention), we had to take the train. Going from Californa to Texas and then to Oklahoma took a few days, lemme tell ya. And it was way too expensive to get into the cars with a shower. Some of the girls flirted their way in, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it (not that it would have worked, anyway). It was awful.

[(Anonymous)]

Ummm... that was my brother until he moved out... 12 days ago :)
Well, not THAT bad, but 37, at our parents home (upstairs) and inviting their 18-35 year old friends over to play D&D.

-tt - who should be working, or typing D&D logs, or something...

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

It's not quite as creepy when they have friends that are around their own age group. I mean, when I was 18 I D&D'ed at a friend's apartment. He was 36 and was trying to get me to hook him up with my younger friends...

I liked the guy, but he was just too creepy. Thankfully, the woman that he did finally meet was his age...

[try-me-i-dare-u.livejournal.com]

Dude I'm a gamer!!! And my fiance and I have a great relationship! Well he's a gamer too so it works. :) And I could TOTALLY kick yer ass at a LAN party =-p

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Yes, but you see, being a female gamer is very rare (okay, not really, but we have it in our brains that it is) and so a come-on line like that will be understood in the right context...where-as, if a guy is in a club and approaches some girl saying "Hey, I'm LEET! I like blowing shit up," something bad is most likely going to happen.

[akdidge.livejournal.com]

-- I mean, with a pick up line like "I like to kill people," things tend to just not work out.... --

What's scary is when that line works. I've been there, done that. That woman had issues (not like I don't) though and I quickly distanced myself from her.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but you're up in igloo-land...things are strange and scary there!

I mean, I've seen Insomnia...I know how crazy you people get up there.

[akdidge.livejournal.com]

-- ...I've seen Insomnia... --

I haven't. It is on my, "To watch list" but it isn't very high. I've heard mixed reviews and haven't been in any hurry to watch it.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

If I could do it all again, I'd probably watch it just so I could make this comment long into the future after watching it.

Other than that? Yeah, I wouldn't.

[midnightnymph.livejournal.com]

As a computer builder, I have to agree with your first commenter. The reason I got into building computers in the first place was because the factory made ones just weren't satisfying me. Maybe you could get together with a computer nerd nearby and build one together. Built ones you can put all you want into them, and leave out the stuff you don't want or need.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

That's kind of the line of thought I was taking on the whole subject. I think that tomorrow I might make a trip to one of the computer builders in the area, and ask him/her (don't know who works there) for their opinion/price range.

If I don't like what I hear, I can try to build one for myself. Do I have to know how to solder, or anything? I don't THINK I do..but...I've heard things...

[(Anonymous)]

>Do I have to know how to solder

Ummm....
No.

That's only for the crazy people - remember, those ones with the custom painted Alienware cases with 15 different colored LED fans and light bars in their case :)

-tt

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Just wanted to make sure. Like I said, I had heard scary stories about things like that, and it worried me.

Thanks for alleviating that fear.

[akdidge.livejournal.com]

-- Do I have to know how to solder

Ummm....
No.

That's only for the crazy people --

Wait, I used to solder, but I'm not...oh wait...I'll be quiet now. ;)

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

On a completely unrelated topic: I think this is the most comments I've ever gotten....

I have to ask tech stuff more often!

[akdidge.livejournal.com]

-- On a completely unrelated topic: I think this is the most comments I've ever gotten... --

I think so as well and was just commenting to myself this exact same thing. So of course, I had to add more to it. ;)

[(Anonymous)]

I was thinking that it was the most comments too, so I'll add more to it too...

--I have to ask tech stuff more often!

No, not really, tech stuff can get annoying real fast, trust me ;)

-tt

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

I do realize that tech stuff can get old and annoying quite fast. That's why I was thinking of going on to LARP stuff, then D&D stuff, and back and forth between the three!

Not that this would be a geek-haven or anything like that.

So, what would you name a store that has all kinds of games in it, ranging from classic board games, pen & paper games like D&D, and even some latex-weapon kinds of things for LARP? Naming stuff is difficult.

Nerdvana? Except it isn't...