I’ve recently decided that the one thing missing in my life are PC games, I already have large CD, DVD and video collections and would like to complete my attempt to make going outside uneccessary
I bought a new computer around September '03 but I didn’t get it specifically for game playing, and now I’d like to know what I should be buying to add to my system to make games fun rather than laggy etc.
Specs (tell me if I need to post anything else):
OS: Microsoft XP Pro
Processor: AMD Athlon XP 2200+, MMX, 3D Now, 1799MHz (I’m not really sure what all that is after the ‘2200’ bit but I’m just copying what it says.)
Memory: 480mb RAM
Page file: 277mb used, 844mb available
DirectX Version: DirectX 8.1
As I said, just tell me what else you need to know if you do (and preferably how to find out ) and I’ll let you know.
With strategy games, the graphics card isn’t too important, but with virtually (hehe) everything else it’s critical. For modern games you’ll want at least a ATI Radeon 9600 or nVidia Geforce 5700. I suspect you have an onboard video chip which uses 32MB of system memory (512-32=480), in which case performance will be cr*p. As long as you’ve got an AGP slot (consult the manual for your computer’s motherboard) you should be able to plug a new card directly in. If you haven’t got an AGP slot, you’ve got problems.
480 meg of RAM? Sounds like you’ve got integrated video on the motherboard, and it “shares” (steals is more like it) 32 meg out of your physical RAM. This will be absolutely horrid for gaming.
I second qts’ vote for an ATI 9600 board. I’ve got a 9600XT, and right now, it’s pretty much at the “sweet spot” of bang-for-buck. You can spend a little less and get a lot less performance, or a lot more and get a little more performance, or at least, porobably not enough better to justify $500+ versus $150 or so.
Once you get a new graphics board, you’ll need to read the motherboard’s documentation on how to disable the built-in video before you try to install the new one.
You might want to update DirectX to version 9.0 - if you go to the Windows Update site, it should be presented as an optional update. (While you’re at it, how current are you on the critical updates?)
You may also want to add more RAM. When you’ve got the case open looking for the AGP slot, check to see if you have free RAM slots. Sound is important for games too, so look at a mid-range sound card and a speaker setup with a powered sub and 2 or more sattelite speakers.
To find out what kind of slots you have, either check the manual or open up the case and look. You’ll see a set of big slots on the motherboard paired up with the slots on the back of the case. Assuming you’re looking down into the case with the front of it towards you (thus the back and its slots are furthest away from you), then if the rightmost of the slots on the motheboard is larger than the others, it’s probably an AGP slot.
If you don’t have an AGP slot, all is not lost. You can get a decent graphics PCI graphics card that will be a HUGE improvement over your onboard video.
And I’ll third the recommendation for more RAM. Almost anything is better with more RAM.
I wouldn’t worry much about sound, as even onboard sound is pretty good with a two-speaker setup, which is what most people have.
DirectX9.0b is pretty much required for all new games coming out. Don’t sweat the video card though. I would never pay $500 for a video card. I have an ATI 7800 all-in-wonder card and it actually delivers pretty good graphics for only having 64 MB of RAM. Unreal Tournament 2004 looks really good considering, as well as HaloPC. But you can get much better now for $160, then when I bought mine. You can probably get 128 MB that’ll be even more kick ass for that price.
You’ll definately need a speaker system that consists of (atleast) 2 satelites and a subwoofer. I’m pretty happy with Klipsh’s 2.1 system. This sucker cranks, and you can probably get it for $130 if you look around. Or you can get the 4 speaker + sub, if you’re really into good sound (surround sound, dolby, etc…)
Buy Half Life and download all the MODs. Half life goes for about $12 on ebay and the MODs are free.
I have 384mb DDR RAM
1.2 Ghz processor
GeForce 2 Titanium 64MB card
And my system works fine. However ive never played on another system so i dont know if the graphics can look 10x better than they do but i haven’t had any problems with this setup.
As others have mentioned, the most important thing for action filled games is the video card, which you need to upgrade - the Radeon 9600XT is a great mid-range card, for about $150-160. Another option would be a Radeon 9800 Pro - right now they are at really low prices, and can be had for $210.
If you want to game on a budget, a Radeon 9600 (no pro or XT) will give you good performance for about a $100. A good video card will be your most cost effective upgrade.
Having enough RAM is the next most important thing for games - you have 512Megs, which should enough RAM for now, though a bump up to a full gig wouldn’t hurt - but focus on a video card first.
You processor is fine, and will be good enough for games for quite a while. Also, a quick explantion of the stuff related to your CPU - the MMX and 3D Now! are special instruction sets on the processor that speed up certain applications. The 1799 mhz is the clockspeed of you processor. AMD Athlon processor run applications faster at a given clockspeed than a competing Intel Pentium4 processor (i.e., your machine would be much better in most applications then a 1.8ghz P4) so AMD uses a Performance Rating system so as to not loose marketing advantage - generally speaking, your AthlonXP 2200 will be as fast as a 2.2 ghz Pentium4.
(Though techniqually, AMD doesn’t say it bases the PR number on Pentium4’s but instead compared to an equivelent Thunderbird core CPU running at that speed.)
Thanks for the input (and sorry for the delay, I haven’t abandoned you :p). I think I’ll go with the recommedation for the Radeon 9600XT (I do have an AGP slot, thanks, Brainiac for those instructions), and when I can I’ll get as much RAM as I can possibly squeeze into the computer. I think the sound will have to wait, though, I’m quite content with having two speakers for now.
So I guess when I get the money I’ll be forking out about $150 for a video card… lucky me, eh? Thanks for the information, everyone
Cambridge Soundworks has some good speakers for under $100. I have the $40 set(subwoofer & 2 small speakers) and added on a pair of larger speakers positioned under the desk. The other night, a friend was visiting while I happened to be playing Morrowind. The friend thought the thunderstorm noise was coming from outside!
I think you exaggerate a bit. I’ve been playing Morrowind at 1280×968 with everything set to the max except shadows, which is in the middle. This is with a brand-new 128Meg Radeon 9200 4X AGP.
The on-board video probably disables automatically when a card is put in the AGP slot. That’s how the motherboard in my Athlon 1800+ works.
Jeff That’s ok for running newer games on low to medium settings and no more.
Computer gaming can be an expensive hobby but we get better graphics than the frugal console gamers, and a larger selection of (usually) better and more involved games (with some exceptions ofcourse! ).
My current gaming rig:
AMD XP 2600 - 333 MHZ FSB
Radeon 9700 Pro
1 Gig RAM
Sound Blaster Audigy
200 gig total hardrive space.
I disagree. I have the same setup he does, except for the 7500 ATI AIW, and 200gigs. Everything is maxed out and runs great actually. Intel - Never again.
Sorry I was so abrupt earlier, I was on my way out the door.
I took the advantage to poke around Best Buy a bit and found one game that I could absolutely not play in hires: Unreal Tournament 2004. Of course, being able to play in hires or not wasn’t the point. I was responding to Wesley.
) and I’ll let you know.