Is this a good SH system?

[Quillan]

I definitely agree about the video card. If you're going to play games, you MUST have a stand-alone graphics card. However, some of the more recent onboard sound solutions are quite good. The one I just built, I'm using the built-in Realtek chip with the HD audio solution, and it both works and sounds great. I haven't had good luck recently with Creative drivers, so I decided to try the onboard sound this time around.

[runningdeer]

Thank you everyone. I appreciate the advice.

I've been using this HP slimline s7520n w/Xpress200 integrated graphics for some time, using it to play SH4. Recently I purchased SH3 since I heard such good things about it.
My system ran SH4 just fine on low settings, however ran into problems with the sky in SH3...frame rate was so bad when looking level or up in free view that I could barely get out of the game.

I will search for a system with stand alone graphics...thanx again all, big help, especially when I can only get a new system like every few years. I want one that I can get more out of.

[UrPeaceKeeper]

The easiest way to achieve that goal is to go overboard now. I've had my current rig for 3 years now and it's running SH4 U-Boat expansion on full graphics and doesnt flinch untill high time compression and convoys entering the area. Graphics wise the game looks fantastic and runs just as nicely.

Rig
-Vista Home Premium 64 Bit
-AMD Athalon 64 FX-55 Proc 2.61 GHz
-2 Gig Corsair DDR (Cant remember the full name but it's their gaming module)
-NVidia 8800 GTS 640MB version
-Lots (3) of SATA Hard Drives, game is installed on a 72 GB Raptor
-Creative X-fi Platinum

Rates a solid 4.3 in Vista's "Experience Index" with the lowest being the Processor followed by the RAM. I plan on overhauling this rig this summer by adding another NVidia 8800 GTS 640MB in SLI and, 4 Gig DDR2 RAM, and a new Dual or Quad Core processor (AMD of course! )

[runningdeer]

So, after advice from you all...I got the closest thing I could to your suggestions, with my budget. I hope I did well? I'm taking it out of the box in a moment, and one of the first things I'll do is install my SH3 & 4...woo hoo . Not to thrilled about the Vista part, but I can't stay with XP forever I suppose.

• Processor: AMD Phenom™ 9500 Quad-Core Processor (2.2GHz, 2MB L2 + 2MB shared L3 Cache, 2000MHz System Bus)
• Memory: 3072MB PC2-6400 DDR2 SDRAM memory (2x1024MB 2x512MB) (expandable to 8GB)
• Hard Drive: 720GB (2x360GB) 7200RPM SATA hard drive
• Optical Drive: SuperMulti DVD Burner with LightScribe Technology 16x
• Video Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 8500 GT graphics card with 256MB dedicated video memory, TV-out, DVI, and HDMI capabilities with support for Microsoft® DirectX® 10. Up to 1535MB Total Available Graphics Memory as allocated by Windows Vista
• Network Interface: Integrated 10/100BaseT network interface
• Sound: High Definition Audio, 8 speaker configurable
• Fax/Modem: 56k modem
• Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium with Service Pack 1

[EnsignCrow]

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...rd,1923-7.html

I don't see the 6150 se on this list at Tom's Hardware, but 6150 is.

8500 GT about in the middle, and higher up than the 6150.

[Hylander_1314]

System is a little on the low side.

The ram and video should be a bit more powerful.

On-board sound isn't a SoundBlaster F/X, but I don't have room a soundcard as my 780i mobo, is set up for SLi videocards, and the PCI slot is not strategically placed to allow it unless I delete one of my video cards, which ain't gonna happen anytime soon.

[walrusbomb]

is there a reason you didn't just build it yourself? it is snap-together afterall... no glue required.