New PC: What, Where, How Much?

[Fangio]

I know and have known that I would need a new PC to play this game. Currently I have a desktop gaming PC that was decent when I purchased it in 2006... but its pretty dang ancient now.

I have an I7 HP Pavilion laptop with ATI mobility HD5650 1GB and 6GB or RAM... but for starters it only has 3 USB ports, not enough for my controllers!

So, I am fine with getting a new system specifically aimed at CLOD. This is not an unlimited budget exercise (no Alienware $5K system coming my way) but I can drop $2500 or so.

I love using my Samsung 46" LED TV as a monitor. Its 1080p, runs at 60Hz (claims 120... but baloney marketing, some gizmo software to make it "seem like" its running at 120 but its really still 60). I get great video on this HDTV with IL2 - 1946 and other games like Aces High so I hope it will be ok with this game too.

I am in no way, shape for form a techie. I read about all the system specs and its all pretty much gobbledygook to me.

I have gathered that a solid state HDD is a smart idea, but what size? I assume I would load the game on the SSD but also have a regular HDD to load everything else on?

I was leaning toward an I7 whatever.... ???? and 12GB 1600 RAM. Windows 7 64 system.

Also... seems a GeForce GTX 580 card with 3GB VRAM is the way to go?

Where should I purchase such a system? What else should I look at?

Any help is hugely appreciated. I want to purchase ASAP... because I know its going to take time for it to be built and shipped. I want a system that will play this on very high settings for a long time to come, meaning upgradable I guess.

Thanks again for all tips and help.


Terry

[Thee_oddball]

$2500?!?!? i built mine for $500 if your going to drop that amount of coin i would wait until the new gen of AMD (bulldozr) and INTEL come out this year.

[Fangio]

Well, I have no clue how to build a PC and not much interest in learning. Reality is I have so much going on with work and kids and finding time to fly is a bit tough. Having to spend that time learning about and then building a PC... means it would be quite some time before having any actual fun.

I could be wrong, as I said I have never attempted to build a PC but it seems pretty dang complicated to me and I honestly just dont have the time to spend a months worth of evenings learning all about it.

So I want to purchase a system "off the shelf" or built to specs.

If what I need can be had for less than $2500.... then that is GREAT. Money is tight, that figure is the painful outside ragged edge of the affordability envelope.


Fang

[Buchon]

Originally Posted by Thee_oddball

$2500?!?!? i built mine for $500 if your going to drop that amount of coin i would wait until the new gen of AMD (bulldozr) and INTEL come out this year.

+1

I seen a lot of people in this forum rushing to build a system for this game.

But just now is not the time to rush, bulldozer is coming and until that the best CPU choice is not clear.

And new GPUs are coming this year, and they are special because after two years that the GPU nm fabrication process was stuck in 40 nm finally it avanced to 28 nm, that mean a huge jump in performance.

So the new GPUs that are coming this year will comes with a huge yump in performance, close to double the performance of actual high ends cards.

So patience is a virtue

[MD_Wild_Weasel]

sounds good if you have money to play for a gpu like that. What we talking of for the latest Nvidia flagship card? £500? my wife would cut my balls off.

[Fangio]

Hmmmmmm


I can see the advantages of waiting if radical new tech is going to be released soon....


Then again, nobody knows what "soon" means and nobody knows for how much $$$$.

My system now cannot run the game at all. So waiting means waiting to play period.

Dang, now I have more questions rather than less.




Fang

[booterboy]

Originally Posted by Fangio

Well, I have no clue how to build a PC and not much interest in learning. Reality is I have so much going on with work and kids and finding time to fly is a bit tough. Having to spend that time learning about and then building a PC... means it would be quite some time before having any actual fun.

I could be wrong, as I said I have never attempted to build a PC but it seems pretty dang complicated to me and I honestly just dont have the time to spend a months worth of evenings learning all about it.

So I want to purchase a system "off the shelf" or built to specs.

If what I need can be had for less than $2500.... then that is GREAT. Money is tight, that figure is the painful outside ragged edge of the affordability envelope.
Hi Fangio,
Do not be afraid to build your own pc.After 15 years of paying over the top prices,i decided to build my own rig 2 weeks ago.Took about 2 days to
complete due to cable tidying/testing etc.
Was very easy and i shopped around on ebay for all the components
which came from Spain,USA,Ireland,UK.
TOTAL COST WAS ABOUT $2800,IF I WAS TO PAY DELL/ALIENWARE OR
OTHER CUSTOM PC BUILDERS IT WOULD HAVE COST A MINIMUM OF $5000.
Plenty of pc building guides on youtube if stuck.
My biggest expense was $500 for the new Silverstone TJ11 case(the best case ive used in over 15 years of pc gaming.
Will post pics of build if anyone interested.
Fang

[kimosabi]

Where do you hail from, Fangio?

If you need something pre-assembled there's plenty of places they do that but we need to know your country.

As for the waiting game, yes you probably could do that as well, but I take it you're not a hardcore enthusiast that absolutely need to have the latest socket? Now is a good time to buy if you're in desperate need of "quality time". Bulldozer will probably be on par with Sandy Bridge(the newest intel socket) for a little less money(amd is traditionally cheaper than Intel) and I don't think Bulldozer a whole lot faster.

*edit* Ok I saw the $. YankLand it is.

*edit again* Here's something I whipped up for ya. I picked a full tower because they are much much easier to work with and you get some breathing room. The HAF X is a top notch steel case. Great airflow.

http://secure.newegg.com/Shopping/Sh...px?Submit=view

Total $2,227.65

You won't find a pre-assembled with those specs any cheaper.

[Fangio]

Kimosabe...... yes, good ol' USA. I live north of Atlanta in Georgia. The Deep South. We have some pretty serious issues with being called Yank or Yankee around these parts. Goes back to a little fracas in the early 1860s involving Yankees and the burning down of cities in these parts.


Booterboy...

I would be very interested in the specs you chose and details / photos on your build! Please post!


Fang

[kimosabi]

I retract the Yank then. Sorry about that. There's still a bit of North vs South going on over there I see.