New computer help

[Tgo01]

I haven't bought a computer in about 5 years now and I have no clue what is needed when it comes to some of the more modern games coming out.

Here is the computer I was thinking of getting, seems like a pretty good deal:

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=dxdoqq2&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&model_id=studio-xps-9100

2.80 ghz processor, 9 gigs of ram, ATI Radeon HD 5770 1024MB video card, 1.5 TB hard drive (seems a little excessive to me though.) Last I heard (and this shows how long it's been since I've bought a computer apparently) computers didn't utilize anything past 4 gigs of ram, has that now changed or am I wasting my money on 9 gigs of ram? Would this computer be able to handle the more demanding modern games?

One last question, I was thinking of upgrading the graphics cards but these types of specs just hurt my brain, anyone more savvy that can help me out here?

The main differences I could find are:

# 1.04 billion 40nm transistors
# TeraScale 2 Unified Processing Architecture

* 800 Stream Processing Units
* 40 Texture Units
* 64 Z/Stencil ROP Units
* 16 Color ROP Units

VS

# 2.15 billion 40nm transistors
# TeraScale 2 Unified Processing Architecture

* 1600 Stream Processing Units
* 80 Texture Units
* 128 Z/Stencil ROP Units
* 32 Color ROP Units

Am I even going to notice the differences between stuff like that?

[Mogonis]

The 4GB of memory is a 32-bit limitation. With 64-bit processors and 64-bit operating systems, we can go far beyond 4GB now.

The second set of specs you list is clearly better, but the 5770 is a decent modern card. I'm still using a GTX 260, and I handle recent games quite well on maxed or nearly maxed settings at 1920x1200. Try it out for now. If you want more, you can get it.

[Bobmuhthol]

Get a Radeon HD 5970, pussy.

Honestly the hard drive is the biggest bottleneck, for fuck's sake please do not buy all that equipment and neglect to get a solid state drive.

It doesn't look like Dell offers SSD? Don't buy from Dell.

[Bobmuhthol]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227255


Enjoy the retardedly better performance than that Dell.

[Revalos]

Don't get the ATI go for NVIDIA. I have a ATI 5870 and the first one I got melted down without overclocking, now this one HAS to be overclocked or BFBC2 locks up on me.

Never again. I just bought stock in NVIDIA a few weeks back when I realized that if ATI sucks this bad, NVIDIA is going to skyrocket.

[Bobmuhthol]

Good luck with that investment.

[Kranar]

NVidia's burn up just as well as ATI's.

I have quad SLI and burned up one of my cards even with liquid cooling. But anyhow both of these are just anecdotal advice. I'm sure you can find people with either brands who had issues with their video cards.

At this point I'd recommend getting an ATI, not only do they perform better but they're also cheaper. Check out tomshardware.com for the benchmarks, usually ATI's perform better at similar price points.

[Tgo01]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227255


Enjoy the retardedly better performance than that Dell.

That does look like a pretty sweet computer. I've never had a SSD, last time I bought a computer I researched it and from what I gathered most people said it wasn't worth it at the time because of the price and because it was still a pretty new technology for home computers.

Do you or anyone here for that matter have a SSD? They work much better than a HDD?

[pabstblueribbon]

Yeah they work real good if you overclock them.

Just go to anandtech.com and look at the benchmarking tab for fucks sakes.

[Sam]

9 GB seems like such an odd number for RAM. I don't think I've ever seen such a machine in all my PuTTY travels.

[Sam]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227255


Enjoy the retardedly better performance than that Dell.

And enjoy all the pussy you will get with that case.

[Bobmuhthol]

I don't have a SSD but I have seen them and they are very effective. The only argument you need is that they don't have moving parts.

[kookiegod]

I was talking to Bob about em today, I want to put one in my newest machine (~7 months old) and move my OS to it.

Basically, its nearly instant boot if you put all your start up on it and you use a HDD for all your data, movies, pix, p0rn, etc.

[Lockrebezz]

Or you could get this computer for $6k. http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.466347

[Tgo01]

Thanks everyone I think I'm gonna get the newegg one. The 1400 dollar one, not the 6k one.

[AnticorRifling]

I use a SSD for my OS and a 1tb hdd for my datas. Good stuff. Just looked at the one Alex linked yeah that will serve you well. It's almost exactly like mine (I've got an AMD chipset and my case isn't gay).

[g++]

I would upgrade from the 30g SSD to at least 60. Just with Win7 and some basic programs you want on the SSD you will be getting over the 75% full area that hurts performance on a 30. If you intend to keep this computer a few years who the hell knows how big windows8 will be. I would get at least 60.

[Asrial]

I would upgrade from the 30g SSD to at least 60. Just with Win7 and some basic programs you want on the SSD you will be getting over the 75% full area...+1

[Asrial]

The only argument you need is that they don't have moving parts.Just so people don't go rushing out to buy one to upgrade a computer... you really want to be on Windows 7 if you're going to use one.

[Kitsun]

Got my bro a Alienware M15x last year with a 1GB GDDR3 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M and a few months ago got myself a similar build except I went with 1GB DDR3 ATI Radeon Mobility HD 5730. The NVIDIA does much better playing StarCraft II and Left 4 Dead 2 on ultimate/highest settings.

SSD drive is totally worth it just for the time you save on booting up.

[Tgo01]

Well the one on Newegg is out of stock but I found one that looks pretty sweet from the same company for only a couple hundred dollars more.

http://www.ibuypower.com/Store/Gamer_Paladin_D885

Although I'd probably knock the data HDD to 1TB and bump up the SSD to 60gigs.

Has anyone has any experiences with this company ibuypower? I've never heard of them.

[Bobmuhthol]

This post brought to you by an iBuypower.

[kookiegod]

This post brought to you by an iBuypower.

Ditto, got one, love it.

~Paul