Gaming processor?

[reco1977]

Hi all I would like a little bit of advice if any of you can offer it. I decided that I will be ordering an alienware pc. I will only using the pc for games, email, net browsing and that’s about it. What processor would you recommend?

 

[Flakes]

dont buy alienware...not for what you are going to want it for anyway, they are overpriced, and there cases are ugly big bits of plastic. just build you own,

considering you are going for alienware im gonna assume you want a top of the range?

so something like a 4800+ AMD X2 or an opty.

 

[mdd1963]

X2/4200+. or an Opty 170...

Paying any additional money for a dual core clocked an extra 200-400 MHz higher only results in minimal gains in gpu bound games/resolutions...

(For gaming, I'd opt for a 7900GT, gpu-wise...)

 

[o1die]

I use the socket 939 3200. If you're not a hardcore gamer, I'd recommend shopping around some more for a better deal. Alienware is pretty expensive. I could built 2 decent pc's for what they charge.

 

[spud]

Hi all I would like a little bit of advice if any of you can offer it. I decided that I will be ordering an alienware pc. I will only using the pc for games, email, net browsing and that’s about it. What processor would you recommend?

Athlon 64 anything X2 3800+ will suffice.

But if you aren't pressed for time, AMD is releasing a new socket to support DDR2 and Intel is rolling out a new generation of processor, which to date appears to bring a substantial boost to performance in contrast to last generation of processor from Intel and additionally is noticeably faster than current generation AMD processors.

 

[jaguarskx]

I also recommend building your own PC around the Athlon 64 X2 3800+. Dual core games are just starting to come out and more will be coming out.

If you prefer not to build your own then try: ibuypower, they allow you to customize your PC. They give you choices, everything from the motherboard to the case itself.

 

[jaguarskx]

Interesting. I think you're gonna spend $5000+ for a "gaming" PC from Alienware. I can only imagine the specs, hmm..... A 3GHz Prescott, with 512mb of RAM, and dual 6600s? Wow, that's a great deal, especially for $5000.

While Alienware is overprice, $5,000 is an exaggeration for their typical gaming machine. It is more like $2,500 - $3,000. And they do sell Athlon 64 PCs as well.

 

[kooch66]

I am a former Alienware customer telling you that they are no good. I had a laptop that had the keyboard break, monitor break, and something inside that needed repairs for 150 bucks and their service is horrible...They send their call's overseas to India and the people are rude and you can't understand them. And they are terribly overpriced. I just got a new gaming rig from a place called Computer Renaissance that build's customs for people and it looks like this:

AMD Athlon X2 4200
2GB Ram
GeForce 7900GTX
150GB WD Raptor HD
DVD R/W
Windows XP Pro
600Watt case

All for less than 2,000 including a 2yr warranty. If you are like me and have no idea how to build your own rig try to find a place or firend that will...otherwise try a place like ibuypower.com because their prices are so much better than Alein...

 

[wun911]

WTF is alienware? Just build your own I would recomend a P4 dual core since you are using it for games and email etc etc it will help you in multi task situations for sure. If this alianware stuff is expensive which it seems to be.... then I would rather get a Lian li, P4 dual core, and XFX 7900GT.

 

[unbiased4u]

Alienware isn't too good a company...if you truly intend on buying a computer and not building one, I suggest you get a new system from either Cyberpowersystems.com or ibuypower or ABS computers. My friend got a computer from Cyberpower and it runs great! He paid very little for it, and yet it games pretty well. I heard the customer service is poor though, but my friend fixes his own problems

edit: as for the proc you should get:

An AMD Athlon X2 3800+ should last you a while
But if you're on a budget, go for a 3700+ single core

The gfx card matters more anyway....
High-end: Ati Radeon 1900XT(X) or Nvidia 7900GT(X)
Middle-ish: Ati Radeon 1800GTO or Nvidia 7600GT
Minimum: Ati X850XT or Nvidia 7600GS/6800GS

Hope that helps

 

[luminaris]

Alienware isn't too good a company...if you truly intend on buying a computer and not building one, I suggest you get a new system from either Cyberpowersystems.com or ibuypower or ABS computers. My friend got a computer from Cyberpower and it runs great! He paid very little for it, and yet it games pretty well. I heard the customer service is poor though, but my friend fixes his own problems

edit: as for the proc you should get:

An AMD Athlon X2 3800+ should last you a while
But if you're on a budget, go for a 3700+ single core

The gfx card matters more anyway....
High-end: Ati Radeon 1900XT(X) or Nvidia 7900GT(X)
Middle-ish: Ati Radeon 1800GTO or Nvidia 7600GT
Minimum: Ati X850XT or Nvidia 7600GS/6800GS

Hope that helps

Dude, you forgot to mention Dell! How could you forget them??? 8O

Just kidding

 

[sdrawkcaBgoD]

Did I read that right? Your recommending a Pentium for a computer that's going to be used primarily for gaming? Is this some subtle brand of humor with which I have no experience...?

 

[clue69less]

Dude, you forgot to mention Dell! How could you forget them??? 8O

Just kidding

You're gettin' a Dell then goin' ta hail
Said Barnicle Bill the sailor

 

[reco1977]

Guys,

For years i have looked at Alienware machines and loved them! I've never had the chance to buy a compter like that before and because i live in the uk buying for the websites you have recommended wont work for me as they dont deliver to the UK. i just really wanted to know what processor to go for. i have a choice of:
AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 - 4400+ Processor with HyperTransport and Dual Core Technology
OR
Intel® Pentium® D Processor 940 w/ Dual Core Technology 3.2GHz 800MHz FSB

what would you all recommend?
Also when it comes to graphics cards would i notice a difference between single 7600gt vs 7900gt and/or duel 7600gt vs duel 7900gt?

I know most of you think i am mad going for an Alienware PC but i have drooled at there machines for years now and since they have just entered the UK market not so long ago i just have to get one. if they are no good i guess i will have learned from my mistake.
I did check out http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/ and i admit that they have cheaper pc's but i am willing to pay the extra and get alienware.

Thanks for the advice

 

[mdd1963]

"AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 - 4400+ Processor with HyperTransport and Dual Core Technology
OR
Intel® Pentium® D Processor 940 w/ Dual Core Technology 3.2GHz 800MHz FSB "

The X2 variants are generally faster than the Penium 9xx variants at pretty much all games out there....

 

[giantkoreandorq]

Guys,

For years i have looked at Alienware machines and loved them! I've never had the chance to buy a compter like that before and because i live in the uk buying for the websites you have recommended wont work for me as they dont deliver to the UK. i just really wanted to know what processor to go for. i have a choice of:
AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 - 4400+ Processor with HyperTransport and Dual Core Technology
OR
Intel® Pentium® D Processor 940 w/ Dual Core Technology 3.2GHz 800MHz FSB

what would you all recommend?
Also when it comes to graphics cards would i notice a difference between single 7600gt vs 7900gt and/or duel 7600gt vs duel 7900gt?

I know most of you think i am mad going for an Alienware PC but i have drooled at there machines for years now and since they have just entered the UK market not so long ago i just have to get one. if they are no good i guess i will have learned from my mistake.
I did check out http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/ and i admit that they have cheaper pc's but i am willing to pay the extra and get alienware.

Thanks for the advice

When it comes to graphic cards, a single card vs. dual cards, there are major differences. For one, you'll recieve higher frame rates and you can play at higher settings in games. (Resolution, detail, Special FX)

Even though buying a computer from Alienware is crazy and expensive, I guess it will be fine if it makes you happy.

 

[mad_fitzy]

*cough* opty165 *cough*

 

[davidflet9]

I would recomend definatly build your own if possible, with intel having slashed prices on presler CPU's they are unbelievably cheap (I think because Core2 is coming soon YAY!) you can get a 950 for £235 compared to £240 for athlon 4200+ (www.overclockers.co.uk)) even AMD fans have to agree that the intel CPU is better pound for pound in this case!

 

[YO_KID37]

get an Opteron 170 or 175 and just Overclock to FX-60 or FX-62 Levels. and get an ATI Radeon® X1900XTX. It'll do you A load of Good. And it's a (Britians best son)Canadian company

 

[JeanLuc]

Guys,

For years i have looked at Alienware machines and loved them! I've never had the chance to buy a compter like that before and because i live in the uk buying for the websites you have recommended wont work for me as they dont deliver to the UK. i just really wanted to know what processor to go for. i have a choice of:
AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 - 4400+ Processor with HyperTransport and Dual Core Technology
OR
Intel® Pentium® D Processor 940 w/ Dual Core Technology 3.2GHz 800MHz FSB

what would you all recommend?
Also when it comes to graphics cards would i notice a difference between single 7600gt vs 7900gt and/or duel 7600gt vs duel 7900gt?

I know most of you think i am mad going for an Alienware PC but i have drooled at there machines for years now and since they have just entered the UK market not so long ago i just have to get one. if they are no good i guess i will have learned from my mistake.
I did check out http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/ and i admit that they have cheaper pc's but i am willing to pay the extra and get alienware.

Thanks for the advice

So you enjoy getting ripped off? What is it with us Brits? Why do we always allow people to take us for a ride?

Build your own! Its cheaper and you get much better value for money. So what if it looks good? Is it going to change your luck with ladies? Hell no.

What is your budget anyways?

 

[weskurtz81]

He is using it for games.... that is all he is asking.... I don't think he mentioned overclocking. An AMD X2 3800 would be just as good as any other AMD cpu for games. YOU will NOT notice a difference between that and a FX 60. If you are playing at low enough settings to make it CPU limited, you will already be over 100FPS.... Save your money, get the X2 3800.... IF you want to OC, which I am not sure how that will work on a store bought PC, but, if you want to OC go with a socket 939 Opteron if they offer it. But keep in mind, you will not notice a difference in games between a 2.8GHZ opteron, and a 2.0 GHZ X2 3800..... so don't waste your money on something you won't use to it's potential.

 

[davidflet9]

seriously there is no point buying AMD i dunno what its like in the states but on this little island called Britain Intel is stupidly cheap and really in the grand scheme of things they are not a lot slower (if anything) than AMD im still running the old faithful prescott on full graphics settings on fear, elder scrolls oblivion etc so a 950 intel is gonna last a fair old while and have more than enough power to satisfy your gaming needs while still leaving some paper with the queens mug on it in your pocket

 

[reco1977]

Ok thanks for the opinions,

As I said I don’t really care about spending the extra money, its not really a concern. If I wanted the best of the best I would just buy top of the range everything. But as this is pretty much for games only I wanted to know what processor would be best suited. At this moment in time I do not plan to over clock, maybe this will be an option in the future but then again I will probably just buy another computer when the new one cannot handle the up and coming games.

 

[davidflet9]

well in that case then i think AMD CPU's are currently the way to go if speed is the main issue. Their faster memory access makes them more useful for game thanks to intergrated controller. FX-60 is as ever the ideal CPU but like wes said chances are you would not notice the difference unless you start benchmarking would love one of them but could never justify the cost!!! if you might overclock later then perhaps intel is not the way to go as they already produce large amounts of heat.

 

[chunkymonster]

Guys,

For years i have looked at Alienware machines and loved them! I've never had the chance to buy a compter like that before and because i live in the uk buying for the websites you have recommended wont work for me as they dont deliver to the UK. i just really wanted to know what processor to go for. i have a choice of:
AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 - 4400+ Processor with HyperTransport and Dual Core Technology
OR
Intel® Pentium® D Processor 940 w/ Dual Core Technology 3.2GHz 800MHz FSB

what would you all recommend?
Also when it comes to graphics cards would i notice a difference between single 7600gt vs 7900gt and/or duel 7600gt vs duel 7900gt?

I know most of you think i am mad going for an Alienware PC but i have drooled at there machines for years now and since they have just entered the UK market not so long ago i just have to get one. if they are no good i guess i will have learned from my mistake.
I did check out http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/ and i admit that they have cheaper pc's but i am willing to pay the extra and get alienware.

Thanks for the advice

I can appreciate wanting to fullfill the "I'm gonna finally buy my dream machine" fantasy. I didn't think Alienware were anything special before Dell bought them out, but now that Dell owns them, I wouldn't want one if it was given to me. Alienware is overpriced and you're paying for the brand name with some computer parts. Truly, build your own.

Anyway, if you're really gonna buy an Alienware, get the AMD X2 4400 and at least 2GB of memory. A single 7900GT should be enough for your gaming pleasure, but if money isn't an issue, get silly and go dual 7900GT's.

Good luck!