Shopping for new desktop

[Tarkh]

I'd go with ATI with regards to video cards.. I don't know, people always have troubles with ATI but I've used both, and the only difference was that ati costs about 40% less for the same performance. To me it feels like nvidia is more of a name.

Though the same does not go for intel and amd, ever since intel took the leap with dual cores and quad cores, amd doesn't seem to keep up. Intel is the way to go now. And yeah if you want future compatibilities take a newer socket number type core. Since socket 775 (out of my head) is getting old. (its the socket number for core2duo and quad)

I agree with ATI, it's also the way to go seeing as they're packing the new DX10 cards, the latest generation cards out right now. I got myself a 5850 a few months back and it's terrific, quite cheap for it's performance aswell.

As for intel, their latest generation CPUs run with 8 threads, 2 threads per core. As opposed to AMDs latest gen, they still only have the classic 1 thread to a core, so going with an 'i' brand Intel CPU is really the way to go.

[Exiled]

Personally I went with an AMD quad core processor, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819103656, AMD does very well in the Phenom processors and they can hang with pretty much everything out there and AMD is also cheaper then Intel if you go head to head. My video card is Intel though which was, XFX GS250XZDFU GeForce GTS 250 1GB 256-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card - Retail

I run CSS at about 1000 FPS, L4D2 at about 100 FPS and CoD:MW2 at about 200 FPS all at full maxed out settings

[Tarkh]

Personally I went with an AMD quad core processor, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819103656, AMD does very well in the Phenom processors and they can hang with pretty much everything out there and AMD is also cheaper then Intel if you go head to head. My video card is Intel though which was, XFX GS250XZDFU GeForce GTS 250 1GB 256-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card - Retail

I run CSS at about 1000 FPS, L4D2 at about 100 FPS and CoD:MW2 at about 200 FPS all at full maxed out settings

Yeah, I have the 965, the high end CPU they've got right now. Runs 3.4GHz out of the box, but it runs a bit hot with the stock heatsink. I had to get a aftermark cooler to bring it back down to tolerable levels. I agree, the quad-core phenoms are extremely good value for money, I would swear by them personally, but that might also be due to a bit of brand loyalty on my part.

The 250 is a good card, it's pretty much a rebranded 9800, which is a very popular card, even though it isn't the highest spec card ever, I think it's one of my favourites in terms of reliability and lifespan. The ford Escort of video, if you will.

[Exiled]

Personally I went with an AMD quad core processor, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819103656, AMD does very well in the Phenom processors and they can hang with pretty much everything out there and AMD is also cheaper then Intel if you go head to head. My video card is Intel though which was, XFX GS250XZDFU GeForce GTS 250 1GB 256-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card - Retail

I run CSS at about 1000 FPS, L4D2 at about 100 FPS and CoD:MW2 at about 200 FPS all at full maxed out settings

Yeah, I have the 965, the high end CPU they've got right now. Runs 3.4GHz out of the box, but it runs a bit hot with the stock heatsink. I had to get a aftermark cooler to bring it back down to tolerable levels. I agree, the quad-core phenoms are extremely good value for money, I would swear by them personally, but that might also be due to a bit of brand loyalty on my part.

The 250 is a good card, it's pretty much a rebranded 9800, which is a very popular card, even though it isn't the highest spec card ever, I think it's one of my favourites in terms of reliability and lifespan. The ford Escort of video, if you will.

lol it may be the ford escort but I push it like a Modded Mitsubishi Evo X =P

[Leftnut]

Personally I went with an AMD quad core processor, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819103656, AMD does very well in the Phenom processors and they can hang with pretty much everything out there and AMD is also cheaper then Intel if you go head to head. My video card is Intel though which was, XFX GS250XZDFU GeForce GTS 250 1GB 256-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card - Retail

I run CSS at about 1000 FPS, L4D2 at about 100 FPS and CoD:MW2 at about 200 FPS all at full maxed out settings

Yeah, I have the 965, the high end CPU they've got right now. Runs 3.4GHz out of the box, but it runs a bit hot with the stock heatsink. I had to get a aftermark cooler to bring it back down to tolerable levels. I agree, the quad-core phenoms are extremely good value for money, I would swear by them personally, but that might also be due to a bit of brand loyalty on my part.

The 250 is a good card, it's pretty much a rebranded 9800, which is a very popular card, even though it isn't the highest spec card ever, I think it's one of my favourites in terms of reliability and lifespan. The ford Escort of video, if you will.

lol it may be the ford escort but I push it like a Modded Mitsubishi Evo X =P

you realize the Ford Escort is old and obsolete... wow that kinda makes it fit just like this card, you can get a 275 for $200 bucks right now.

the biggest problem with these threads about people building machines is that alot of the people who post are recommending stuff they are using cause it works well for them, however its years old. They get butt hurt if you think the person building a new machine shouldn't use it. Yeah its great an 8800 works for you, however that card is years old and someone building a new machine shouldn't be putting old parts in it, they are trying to build something to run the new games on high and last a few years. Build a new machine with fresh parts not old tech.

[Exiled]

Not everybody wants to spend 500 on the lastest and greatest Video Card when something a bit old can still hold its own and run everything from now until atleast 2 years.

Personaly I would go with the Nvidia GTX 295 but I dont have 550$ to throw away on it.

[Leftnut]

Not everybody wants to spend 500 on the lastest and greatest Video Card when something a bit old can still hold its own and run everything from now until atleast 2 years.

Personaly I would go with the Nvidia GTX 295 but I dont have 550$ to throw away on it.

But spending $100 on a 8800 is a throw away as well, you should go for something in the middle, a 260 goes for $200 and can run every game on high right now and will last you for a couple, while a 8800 will need to be replaced soon.

[James Keller]

Im also trying to build a pc ...unfortunately i dont know jack about building ..im running an old dell dimension 4600 system and thru the years i have only upgraded the ram, and video card.. and somewhat of a bad ass sound card. (lame aint it) . With that said i was wondering if you could give me some links to build a decent rig that works around the new nvidia geforce gtx 260. I will use the pc to run apb, photoshop, fl studio, and other app of that magnitude. I wont be needing a sound card. but for accessories i would need a monitor. The help and the trouble for finding me the links would be appreciated. i would go in newegg myself but as i said dont know anything about compatibility and god knows what i would end up buying. budget around the same as the original poster $800 to $900.

[Niall]

New GTX260?
Or do you mean the newest card in the GTX200 series?

[James Keller]

i dont know man im just going for whatever leftnut was saying...he metioned New GTX260 was like $200 and i t sounded good to me.

[urgualaman]

One thing to consider is the ATI 5000 series ability to run the new directx 11. Directx 11 looks pretty sweet.
Wonder if APB will support it?

[bustacaps666]

One thing to consider is the ATI 5000 series ability to run the new directx 11. Directx 11 looks pretty sweet.
Wonder if APB will support it?

Unfortunately that isn't going to happen. APB runs on unreal engine 3, which doesn't support dx11.