Cost-effective PC for running CoH on Max settings@1920x1200

[xsistor]

As the title says it all. Looking for a gaming rig to run Company of Heroes

Hi,

I'm gettign a new PC but not building it myself. wasn't sure where to post. I really can't be bothered with assembling and maintaining it myself, so i plan to order from pcspecialist.co.uk.

I'm planning on getting a 24" LG monitor that supports 1920x1200 resolution. I also want to get a rig that will now run CoH multiplayer games at the max settings (DX10) at that resolution, preferably with AA turned on.

next year, i plan to buy a new PC iwth Core i7 and GTX 300 series with DX11 support, so for right now my goal is to get the cheapest rig that will allow me to play CoH on highest settings. i will keep my 24" monitor when i get a new tower next yr.

here's what i'm looking at right now:

====================================Processor (CPU): AMD PHENOM™ II X3 720 (2.8GHz) BLACK EDITION (Socket AM3)
Memory (RAM): 4GB CORSAIR XMS2 800MHz (2x2GB)
Motherboard: ASUS® M4N78: DUAL DDR2, S-ATA II, PCIe x16, 2 x PCIe x1, 3 x PCI

Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium 64 bit Edition + SP1, CD & Licence Hard Disk: 500GB SERIAL ATA 3-Gb/s HARD DRIVE WITH 8MB CACHE (7,200rpm)

Graphics Card 896MB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX260 PCI EXPRESS

Power Supply & Case Cooling 600W Quiet Quad Rail PSU + 120mm Case Fan
Processor Cooling SUPER QUIET 22dBA TRIPLE COPPER HEATPIPE CPU COOLER
Monitor LG W2452T 24" WIDESCREEN, HDCP/DVI/D-Sub/5MS/1920 x 1200 (£229)
====================================



Minus the monitor, the comp by itself, with keyboard, onsite service for 1 year etc, comes to about £600


note that i'm using a Phenom II X3 720 BE and 800MHz RAM, along with a 260 GTX (i dunno if its core 216, as pcspecialist doesnt really give anymore info on their GTX260 than what i provided above).

i'd like to know if u guys think this will cut it. i.e. for my goal to run Company of Heroes specifically, on maxed out settings and DX10 @1900x1200 (with AA enabled preferably, but i can live without it).

thank you in advance.

 

[Proximon]

You won't get the best parts that way.

I went there and built something decent for under £800 (delivered), but I have no idea what PSU they are using. I selected the 800W. If it's a "Be Quiet!" model it's probably decent.

Get the 790GX board, the 1GB 4870, and the 800W PSU and you are probably good.

 

[Helloworld_98]

It's probably best if I tell you now that the i7's next year will be 6 core Extreme Edition processors and will cost about the same as say the i7 975 does now.

and everything points to the GTX 300's costing around what GTX 295's cost now.

 

[xsistor]

Yeah, thanks. which is why i want to wait till next year and get the next generation of CPU and GPU with windows 7, instead of getting an i7 and a GTX 295 now.

but for now, i want to get a low cost comp that can run Company of Heroes with max settings+Dx10 @ 1920x1200 (if it can run CoH, then i can run any other game i play).

but i'm not sure if this lower cost rig i mentioned above will cut it. which is what i'd like to know. or if there are any low cost tweaks that would boost its performance significantly, that would be very helpful.

 

[rewindlabs]

Yeah, thanks. which is why i want to wait till next year and get the next generation of CPU and GPU with windows 7, instead of getting an i7 and a GTX 295 now.

but for now, i want to get a low cost comp that can run Company of Heroes with max settings+Dx10 @ 1920x1200 (if it can run CoH, then i can run any other game i play).

but i'm not sure if this lower cost rig i mentioned above will cut it. which is what i'd like to know. or if there are any low cost tweaks that would boost its performance significantly, that would be very helpful.

Go look at some benchmarks on the gpu....thats what they are there for...

 

[Proximon]

It just really goes against our grain to let you buy a video card that may or may not be good, an NVidia chipset motherboard that is usually not desirable, and some generic PSU.

Those are the problems I have with the build. Two of them might be resolved with an e-mail (get it in writing). I would be much more comfortable going with the build if the GTX was core 216, and the PSU was a known good brand such as:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-021-BQ&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=

I think not though because BQ seems to make only 650W.

 

[xsistor]

thanks for the replies

I've checked benchmarks already, and the 260 seems to manage 60ish FPS on the performance test for company of heroes. but i still need soem additional info cos the 260 GTX is in a different system. usually Core 2 Quad or Core i7 with 2GB to 4GB of RAM ranging from 1000MHz -1333Mhz memory speed. So I dont know whether they think my Phenom II X3 720 + 800 MHz RAM + DDr2 board will slow down system.

and i dont want to get a 4870 cos Company of Heroes is quite a bit slower on it than the 260. My friend woh has a 4850 even has some issues running CoH on DX10 due to incompatibility with some radeons. CoH runs faster on NVidia cards, and i'd like to stick with NVidia

the big question is

1) Is my PRocessor/Mboard/MEmory speed choices goign to drastically affect gaming performance (i.e. more than a few FPS)

2) given my system, is the 260 GTX going to be good enough for 1920x1200, DX10, highest settings (and if possible, AA). OR will i have to go for a GTX275 (which is more expensive, so i'd rather not get that if it can be helped).

 

[xsistor]

thanks, i'll see if i can get more details on their GTX 260 and their PSU.

 

[Proximon]

If you were to get the build I listed before, you would have a crossfire board and crossfire PSU (providing it's decent) and could add a second video card as needed in the (near) future.

CoH is not so demanding on it's own, but you shouldn't be buying a comp for a less demanding title only.

 

[Helloworld_98]

^ yeah but only if he got a 4870.

also on OCUK there's a GTX 275 for about £50 more than the '260's that might be in your interest.

Next, I somehow doubt that you'll be able to afford a Gulftown PC with the specs you want next year at the Prices you're looking at now. As to start it off, the CPU is £800, GTX 300 card for about £300-400, a nice motherboard to go with that for £250. You get the idea.

 

[xsistor]

Next year, I don't mind going as high £2000. But as for the "next gen" CPU, I might not get it unless it offered big advantages to gaming (such as havign features that are not available). the top-end CPUs are always overpriced when considering their value for gaming. So i may even still go for an i7, but with an upgraded MBoard and a next-gen graphics card.

Proximon, I checked out ur General Guide. I was wondering if I should stick to a Phenom II X3 or get a Core 2 Quad Q8400 or a Core 2 Quad Q9400. It's slightly more expensive, but if the gaming performance will be better I could go for it. Here's the mainboard used for hte Core 2 Quads: ASUS® P5QL: DDR2, SATAII, PCI-e x16, 3 PCI, 2 x PCI-e x1 ... Alternatively I could go for the Phenom II X4 740 which is a bit cheaper than the Q9400.

I really don't want a all-powerful system, but basically one that will work great till mid to late next year.

 

[xsistor]

okay, Helloworld. I tried out the same spec mentinoed in the original post, with 275 GTX as u said above. the price goes up £50. i think thats better than going for a more expensive processor? .. it's still the Phenom II X3 720 BE. I suppose when i start to get lower performance i cud overclock it.

wil this rig require cooling anymore advanced than what i've included? (ref. original post)

Now only thing i need to sort out is powersupply. they still havent replied my email but i think they will on monday.

 

[Proximon]

The P5QL is a better, more stable board than the nVidia board for sure. If you were to take one of those Intel quads and OC them, you could have a nice system that way. Given your options and desire to use these folks that seems reasonable.

 

[nocteratus]

Why not get E8400 + P5Qxxx MB + 4GB ram + GTX 275...

with the E8400 you'll get enough performance for gaming until you get the I7.

And the E8400 can easily OC to 3.6-4 Ghz

 

[xsistor]

Hi. Yeah after some thought, I think i'll definitely go for the GTX 275. I'm still considering the Intel processors. with the mboard and all it adds about £70 to the cost of the computer, which is kinda steep. Is it really worth it over the Phenom II X3 and mboard?

I also wanted to ask about my case selection. will it be a big advantage to go for something like the Antec 900 gaming case instead of "STYLISH SILVER/BLACK TRIDENT CASE + 2 FRONT USB" ... the cost difference is something like £50-£60, so I'd rather not spend it on a case if it's not necessary.

 

[Proximon]

It's always the same problem with builds like this. The harder we look at them, the more we dislike the compromises we are forced to make.

Here is the build done the right way. It has all the right parts and can be upgraded in the future.


AMD X3 720 -116
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/159071

Gigabyte 790X board -92
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/160854
A real motherboard that will OC well and supports crossfire, as well as future CPU upgrades such as the X4 955.

Kingston 4GB 1066 RAM, CAS 5 -44
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/148859

Sapphire 4870 1GB -150
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/151334

Antec 300 case -47
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/143854

Corsair 750TX -100
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/134677
This is enough PSU to add a second 4870 later.

Caviar Black 640GB -54
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/640GB-Western-Digital-WD6401AALS-Caviar-Black-SATA-300-7200-rpm-32MB-Cache

DVD burner -16
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/145450

The total cost: £620 including VAT

Add a good cooler for a bit more and you have a real overclocked beast:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-052-AK&tool=3