Need new computer, primary load Second Life

[navrins]

Approximate Purchase Date: This week would be nice but I can wait a bit for a good deal

Budget Range: around $800 excluding monitor; dislike waiting for rebates. Can go a bit over that for a good price point.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Second Life (Firestorm) is the most resource-intensive thing I do, often swapping back and forth between it and Eclipse or OpenOffice or Firefox. Otherwise, not much gaming. Might need MS Office for a year or two.

Are you buying a monitor: Yes, probably 23"

Parts to Upgrade: None, this will probably be a brand new box. My old one is flaky in ways I don't really want to debug (but see below...)

Do you need to buy OS: Yes, I'm on WinXP now

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Don't care. newegg is fine.

Location: Eastern Mass. I do a lot of my most of my in-person buying at the Cambridge Micro Center.

Parts Preferences: NVidia video card is reportedly best for Second Life.

Overclocking: Never done it before and it makes me nervous. Open to doing it if it's safe.

SLI or Crossfire: Don't think it matters

Your Monitor Resolution: Probably 1920x1080 but open to suggestions

Additional Comments:
- My current PC has a variable-speed fan that changes sound every time I do something on the computer, which I find annoying. I'd rather have one that (a) is too quiet to notice, (b) stays constant, or (c) varies but slowly enough that I don't notice it so much.

- I'm willing to build my own system in order to get an efficient combination of components, but would just as soon buy a pre-built one that someone else has tested, and not have to spend the time and effort and uncertainty.

- I built my current PC - twice, actually - and the current build is kind of flaky. About 1 time in 4 it hangs on the "Windows is starting up" screen; restarting it usually boots. About 1 time in 10 it boots but the network isn't there. Now and then in boots directly to a BSOD. And maybe once a month it just reboots in the middle of something. I don't even know where to start troubleshooting this, but if I can, then upgrading my current system might be an option.

- If I'm buying new, is Windows 8 the way to go, or is there a good reason to buy Windows 7 instead?

- I am a grad student (not at a school with its own store), so could potentially benefit from student discounts

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: Second Life is too sluggish even at low graphics settings. Windows XP is too old. Want a more reliable system. Might want to put my current system in another room.

My current system, in case that matters, is:
- Case: Antec Sonata II
- Power: ModXStream Pro OCZ 600W
- MB: Gigabyte GA-78LMT-52P http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3833#sp
- CPU: AMX FX-4100 Quad-Core
- 4GB RAM? (XP reports 2.75GB)
- WD5000AAKX 500GB HD (with barely 100GB used)


Thanks!

 

[jemm]

You have already a nice system, though you need a better graphic solution, as an integrated HD 3000 graphics is not enough for Second Life.

You can keep the case, power supply, motherboard, CPU, and your hard drive.

Here it is what you should buy:

$99.99 Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986
$54.99 Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148543
$199.99 GeForce GTX 660 2GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130826&nm_mc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r&cm_mmc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r-_-Video+Card+-+Nvidia-_-EVGA-_-14130826
$149.99 SAMSUNG 840 Pro Series http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147192

Total = $ 504,96

Overclocking FX-4100 http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/274641-29-overclocking-4100

 

[False_Dmitry_II]

You can always use a molex adapter on the case fan, that should simply force it to run max always if it's the change in speed that bugs you.

My general rule of thumb for that sort of stability problem is power supply, assuming you've already tested the ram using memtest and prime95. If you haven't then do it and take out the busted stick - and more than likely RMA it.

The mobo/cpu is kinda the wrong amd socket to use for discrete graphics - that's why on the am3+ socket none of those cpu's bother with graphics on the chip. Other than that, you can totally do that. If it was me I'd probably put possibly the whole cpu/mobo/ram up on ebay or craigslist. I got my thuban phenom II x6/crosshair V on ebay for around $250, so an identical move would move you back an architecture or two, but you would have six really real/full cores. But yeah, other than changing socket to something meant for discrete graphics/ also looking forward to later amd drop-in cpu upgrades (which is the real reason you'd bother with the parts-shuffling), just getting that stuff would work fine. You could also do both, which is what I really meant with that suggestion. If you did, you'd end up with sort-of a complete rebuild, with sort-of the cost.

Although that style of graphics card cooler on that suggested part has always bugged me in practice.