My Specs

[neves_rats]

Hi, am a relatively infrequent poster, but do peruse the forum on a virtual daily basis. Am aware that I will need to upgrade my system to run SHV at decent spec and would appreciate some advise, I am in the UK. My current specs are:

Pentium 3GHz Dual Core
2 Gig RAM
256MB ATI X1300 PRO

Now I know I will prob need 2 gig extra ram and to upgrade my graphics card, but to what? am not interested in the latest all singing and dancing one, but a reasonably priced one that will do the job. Any assistance will be much appreciated.

[sav112]

Try the overclockers Forums http://www.overclockers.co.uk/



They have some good deals and every card going. At least you maybe able to upgrade my one is a dead loss it was five years old there a few weeks back and still plays BF2 fantastic. It’s a New Quad System in April I think for me.

[Arclight]

Both 9800GT and HD 4770 are affordable. Price should be about the same, but the Radeon has the edge in performance.

They're PCI-expres cards though, dunno what slot your board has?


I wouldn't recommend going below that, not if you want to run a game decently. If SH5 is your primary concern, it's probably better to wait and see.

[neves_rats]

SHV is my primary concern plus the new Formula One game for the PC from codemasters due out next year. My board has 2xPCI slots, 1X PCI ExpressX16 slot, and 1X PCI Express X 1 Slot, whatever all that means. You're talking of about 80 Quid for a 4770 at overclockers, was hoping for a bit less than that, or am I just being tight?

[JU_88]

Originally Posted by neves_rats

Pentium 3GHz Dual Core
2 Gig RAM
256MB ATI X1300 PRO

What Model is you CPU? sounds like a Pentium D?
it should be adaquate.
(You can check by going Start/Run 'dxdiag')

2GB should be ok but I would upgrade to 4GB if possible. (Ram is cheap now)

Graphics Card - go with Arclights recomendation

[THE_MASK]

Just get the cheapest 1 gig video card you can find .

[Méo]

Got a GeForce 9800 GT 512 Mo

The problem is my E5200 @ 2.50GHz

Plan to change my rig, but i hesitate between the official release or wait until the community release some Amazing/Awesome supermod.

Will i be able to wait... Should i...

[selfhighfi]

No worries for me just did a major upgrade.

Coolermaster HAF 932 Full Tower
750 watt psu
2x WD Raptor 300 gb in raid 0
core i7 920
Asus X58 rampage 2
6 Gigs Kingston DDR3@ 2000mhz
300 worth of water cooling equipment from www.dangerden.com
And my brand new XFX 5870 XXX Edition checked newegg everyday since octber till my purchase on black friday even when they charged my card thought it was to good to be true.

[Arclight]

Originally Posted by neves_rats

SHV is my primary concern plus the new Formula One game for the PC from codemasters due out next year. My board has 2xPCI slots, 1X PCI ExpressX16 slot, and 1X PCI Express X 1 Slot, whatever all that means. You're talking of about 80 Quid for a 4770 at overclockers, was hoping for a bit less than that, or am I just being tight?

I wouldn't say you're being tight, I just think it's the best bang for your buck.

If you look at the next step down, the 9600GT and HD 4670/4650, you get quite literally half the card (in terms of specifications, number of processors on the card etc.). The price however, doesn't get cut in half. For a little more money you have a lot more performance. The $100,- bracket is basically the sweetspot if you're looking for a new card with good performance and a good price.

Apart from that, it doesn't hurt to think ahead. A slower card is gonna need another upgrade sooner, and there really is a noticeable difference between a 9600GT and a 9800GT. Can't do a proper race if it turns in a slideshow, right?

[Lord Justice]

hi, u thinking of upgrading ram ok but what does your motherboard support? and what number is on your ram modules? you may be able to and most probly can also install faster ram easing the burden of your cpu more, and not just installing more ram ,once again down to spec of motherboard. What operating system windows are you using? do you plan on changing that? cpu most likley old duel core as you mentioned or is it core 2 duo? also sorry but what wattage is you main power supply unit ? somethings have to be checked before buying, then we can see what best suits and can help you to tweak it faster as well, and how much to push it. understand you on a budget most probly looking at a hd 4850 but let us know the other specs if possible, because for the future of ur needs and time present you may pick up a 4870 for same price in march, but b4 new eyes have to know more info, where in fife cupar? cheers

[Reece]

Originally Posted by neves_rats

SHV is my primary concern plus the new Formula One game for the PC from codemasters due out next year. My board has 2xPCI slots, 1X PCI ExpressX16 slot, and 1X PCI Express X 1 Slot, whatever all that means. You're talking of about 80 Quid for a 4770 at overclockers, was hoping for a bit less than that, or am I just being tight?

I have purchased most of my computer parts new on eBay, always the best prices I find, be sure to buy from a seller with a high star rating though! My star rating is over a thousand, have been only bitten a few times in a couple of years, overall, very happy.
Edit: Yes, I'm an eBay junkie!! Here's one:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NEW-HIS-ATI-R...item4a9ada4b5b

[JU_88]

Originally Posted by sober

Just get the cheapest 1 gig video card you can find .

Gotta be very careful with this.
Always better to get a Faster GPU with 512mb than a crappy GPU with 1GB
for instance;

A 9800GT with 512MB
is gonna be MUCH better than
a 9500GT with 1GB (its probably 1GB of slower DDR2 anyway)
The latter is like buying a Mercades with a smart car engine under the hood.

The price difference will make it obvious which is the better card.
The golden rule of buying a new Video card is: GPU comes first, memory second, (Always)
If it sounds too good to be true, its because it is.
Dont be fooled.

[Lord Justice]

Originally Posted by JU_88

Gotta be very careful with this.
Always better to get a Faster GPU with 512mb than a crappy GPU with 1GB





The golden rule of buying a new Video card is: GPU comes first, memory second, (Always)
If it sounds too good to be true, its because it is.
Dont be fooled.

agree with the faster core clock speeds of gpu, and affordable stream procsessing, yes VIDEO memory second, but also what one uses it for and what other harware installed, if running very old and slow lower frequency ram and cpu then there be a limited bottleneck to usage of fast card, and its type of application. even on the basis of video card absorbing some of the data transfer.

[Lord Justice]

As this thread is for sh5 new comming sim, and amongst all the panic iam sure i can possibly get away with posting this message here and not on the hardware forum, perhaps will do soon, rather see good parts go to good commanders. ok this applies to (uk commanders only )as shipping overseas may be expensive. Iam building a new rig (pc) for myself and sh5 at the moment, exspensive but future proof, therefor i have spare existing used parts, all very good order with original reciepts from overclockers, only 1 year old. except corsair ram only 3 months old. rather than selling all individual on ebay, may sell as job lot to one you guys with discount as fellow sub simmers, and to put it bluntly it will contibute toward high end gpu card for me. may sell sepratley.you can check all the prices out for these parts then skim off as these are used then i may discount even more, mad, ok here is what i have for offer fast end ddr2 hardware. (1) Medium spec good quality ASUS p5q motherboard, with discs etc (2) CPU e8400 core 2 duo 3.0ghz, with stock and advanced cpu coolers. (3) 4 gig of 2x2 3month old corsair dominator xms2 1006 mhz ram with not used cooling fan , plus 1 year old 4 gig 2x2 OCZ 800mhz gold edition ram. (4) Video Card sapphire ati 4850 1gb version, disc included. if needed 650 watt corsair psu, not modular. 500 gb western digital sata hard drive with vista home premium oem discs, points to note all parts are used in great working order, between 11months to 13 months old and newer, only ever played 3 games, nothing else and one other important factor to mention never ever overclocked these, all stock speeds, just purchased better cpu coopler 3 months ago as budget case temps were a little high. only thing i can quibble on is the support securing plate on video card is bent as had to fiddle to seat card properly. if anyone intrested i can hold these until mid feb b4 i sell them, as will be wanting my new gpu card for march sh5 release. ps. i will do a very good deal, as these are now spare.

[stabiz]

Originally Posted by JU_88

Gotta be very careful with this.
Always better to get a Faster GPU with 512mb than a crappy GPU with 1GB
for instance;

A 9800GT with 512MB
is gonna be MUCH better than
a 9500GT with 1GB (its probably 1GB of slower DDR2 anyway)
The latter is like buying a Mercades with a smart car engine under the hood.

The price difference will make it obvious which is the better card.
The golden rule of buying a new Video card is: GPU comes first, memory second, (Always)
If it sounds too good to be true, its because it is.
Dont be fooled.

This is very true, there are some awful 1GB cards around.