What to Choose...

I

Iced8383

Active member
I've been in the process of looking for a new computer to run all my games at a good framerate, but I could use some help. Here are the specs of the desktop that I'm most comfortable with buying:

Dell Studio XPS 7100
AMD Phenom X6 1035T (2.8GHz)
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium, 64-bit
6GB DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz-4 DIMMS
640GB 7200RPM Hard drive
ATI Radeon HD 5770, 1GB GDDR5

Total Price: $829.99 USD


Do you guys think that anything should be upgraded or recommend another system under $1,000 USD?
 
That seems okay, but you might want to get a slightly faster quad core (at 3+ GHz) and a slightly beefier graphics card, depending on what resolution you'll be playing at (ie, 1920 x 1080, 1440 x 900, 1280 x 1024, etc.). I have zero problems with my 3.5 GHz overclocked Phenom II 940, combined with my 5850 (Sapphire Toxic edition, factory overclocked) and playing 2006 at 1680 x 1050, so monitor size is definitely a factor to consider.
 
I'm pretty sure it would be okay for basic and medium-detailed routes, but it would really struggle on the high-quality routes, especially with AA and AF (they make the image look much better). At least, I would say go for a 5830 or even a 5850 if possible.
 
I strenuously caution against a Dell or any other pre-built as a gaming rig. It's not an accident that nearly all the power-gamers build their own rigs. Dell (and all other major manufacturers) load on so much garbage it's a wonder the things even run.

Here's a starting point:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=4149

Or maybe this if you want to stick with a 6-core CPU (though, as I understand, Trainz can't use that many...)

[http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?page=3&Nav=|c:332|&Sort=0&Recs=10

Keep in mind that the above are more intended to give you an idea of what's out there and what you can get for your money; I'm not a big fan of barebones nor of buying OEM parts.
 
From what I hear laptops in a couple months will be much better than ones on the market right now. I don't know about the I-3, I-5, I-7 ... I believe that faster processor speeds, and better video cards with a 1 Gb dedicated graphic memory, or better, are the key to what makes a gaming laptop better ?

Just because a store advertises: 7 Gb Ram with a 1 Tb hard drive doesn't mean that the PC will run 10.

If you buy in stock store brands from Walmart, Best Buy, or Staples ...etc... you don't want the as advertised el-cheepo model. If you buy a $500 laptop and it will never run 10 well at all.

A lap top will cost a minimum of $700 to $1000

A $3000 Alienware laptop is rediculously pricey !

You don't need a nitrogen cooled Cheyene Mountain facility PC to play with trains.
 
Last edited:
Iced8383 said:
I've been in the process of looking for a new computer to run all my games at a good framerate, but I could use some help. Here are the specs of the desktop that I'm most comfortable with buying:

Dell Studio XPS 7100
AMD Phenom X6 1035T (2.8GHz)
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium, 64-bit
6GB DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz-4 DIMMS
640GB 7200RPM Hard drive
ATI Radeon HD 5770, 1GB GDDR5

Total Price: $829.99 USD


Do you guys think that anything should be upgraded or recommend another system under $1,000 USD?
Click to expand...



I have to agree with RRSignal’s response, those pre-built desktops are proprietary junk for the most part. You would be much better off building it yourself from quality components.


Trainz and every other current train game out there are primarily CPU dependent and unless you planning to overclock (good luck with Dell’s BIOS) I’d go with an i7 or wait to see what AMD’s “Bulldozer” architecture brings.With the image quality issues that ATI has with older game engines with transparency textures I’d look at an Nvidia GPU alternative also.


One question I have about the specs above is the RAM. Why the 4 DIMM’s (memory modules) but it only shows 6GB total? Did they mean 8GB total?
 
djt said:
One question I have about the specs above is the RAM. Why the 4 DIMM’s (memory modules) but it only shows 6GB total? Did they mean 8GB total?
Click to expand...

I've seen OEM computer companies either have 2 x 2 GB + 2 x 1 GB or even 3 x 2 GB, effectively eliminating the dual-channel optimization.

But yeah, if you want a good, solid Trainz machine, I would recommend a 3+ GHz processor with at least 2 cores (Intel Core i5 or AMD Phenom II, minimum), 4 GB (or more) DDR3 1333 MHz (or faster) memory/RAM, a 1 TB 7200 RPM hard drive (or even a SSD, for fast Windows boot times), and at minimum, an ATI 5830 or nVidia GTX 460 for good image quality and performance at 1920 x 1080. I would recommend an ATI 5850 though, as it is generally geared toward 1080p and higher resolution gaming. And don't forget Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit.
 
Last edited:
djt said:
What were the exact components?

Do you have links to Newegg maybe?
Click to expand...

I used Tiger Direct. I'll post the links most likely in the afternoon.

EDIT: Might as well start with a few of the parts.

Case:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6288687&CatId=1846
Motherboard and CPU:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5688231&Sku=B69-4184
RAM:
http://www.crucial.com/store/partspecs.aspx?IMODULE=CT3KIT25672BA1339
Video Card:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6078264&CatId=3669
Hard Drive:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4138742&CatId=139
Sound Card:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4459743&Sku=C44-3400

One thing that I'm still unsure on is the OS. Should I get Windows 7 or XP? I'm leaning towards 7 because it's newer and XP will be dead in a few years.
 
Last edited:
Iced8383 said:
I used Tiger Direct. I'll post the links most likely in the afternoon.

EDIT: Might as well start with a few of the parts.

Case:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6288687&CatId=1846
Motherboard and CPU:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5688231&Sku=B69-4184
RAM:
http://www.crucial.com/store/partspecs.aspx?IMODULE=CT3KIT25672BA1339
Video Card:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6078264&CatId=3669
Hard Drive:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4138742&CatId=139
Sound Card:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4459743&Sku=C44-3400

One thing that I'm still unsure on is the OS. Should I get Windows 7 or XP? I'm leaning towards 7 because it's newer and XP will be dead in a few years.
Click to expand...



The chipset AMD 785G chipset that motherboard is based on is really old news and was replaced a while ago by the new AMD 870, 880G, 890FX, 890GX chipsets.

If you have to go AMD (I wouldn’t recommend it at this point) then motherboards based on the 890FX chipset are what you should be looking at.

Here are some examples of the CPU’s from AMD that would be mated to this chipset -

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007671%2050001028%20600005863%20600005574&IsNodeId=1&name=Phenom%20II%20X4

or-

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007671%2050001028%20600005863%20600005585&IsNodeId=1&name=Phenom%20II%20X6



The RAM you posted a link to is a triple channel kit for Intel’s X58 chipset. The latest chipsets from AMD use a dual channel configuration so either 4GB (2x2GB) or 8GB (4x2GB) would be what you should be looking at. You also want to look at RAM with tight timings, a 4GB kit with CAS 7 or lower latency at 1600MHz is where you should start.

You also didn’t mention the power supply which I do not recommend skimping on.

Unless you already have a copy of XP/SP2 64-bit Edition (32-bit is out with these specs) there is no reason to waste money on an OS with no future, Windows 7 64 is the way to go.


You’d be better off with shopping at Newegg.com the prices there are almost all the time cheaper than TigerDirect.
 
 
That's a pretty good configuration, but here's my recommendations:

AMD Phenom II X4 955 3.2 GHz quad core - Unless you are normally doing 6 things at once all the time, a 6 core isn't really useful right now, and a higher speed quad core would be better. The 955 has a great speed for the price, and it is easily overclocked if you ever find yourself needing more power.

Corsair 4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz memory - It's the best speed for price, and $90 is a pretty good deal for DDR3 right now.

Gigabyte GA-890XA-UD3 motherboard - It's worth spending the money saved on the CPU to spend on the motherboard. This Gigabyte one has DDR3, SATA 3 and USB 3, so you will be futureproofed for quite a while.

MSI Twin Frozr II 5850 - It's a great price for a card with far superior cooling than the Sapphire non-Vapor X cards, and it will run quiet and very fast.

While I might have just remade your list, they will be more suited to playing Trainz while running cool and efficient.
 
Thanks for the recommendations. Here's the new configuration:

Processor:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808
Motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128438
Hard Drive:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4138742&CatId=139
RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145251
Video Card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127500
Sound Card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829118103
CD Drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118031
Case:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6288687&CatId=1846

EDIT:
Added it all up, total price is $860.92. If anyone else has any other recommendations (especially on the case) then go ahead and post it.


EDIT2: Might as well announce that I'm going with Windows 7 Home Premium, for system builders it was only $99.99 on Newegg. New Price is $960.91.
 
Last edited:
Iced8383 said:
Thanks for the recommendations. Here's the new configuration:

Processor:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808
Motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128438
Hard Drive:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4138742&CatId=139
RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145251
Video Card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127500
Sound Card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829118103
CD Drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118031
Case:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6288687&CatId=1846

EDIT:
Added it all up, total price is $860.92. If anyone else has any other recommendations (especially on the case) then go ahead and post it.


EDIT2: Might as well announce that I'm going with Windows 7 Home Premium, for system builders it was only $99.99 on Newegg. New Price is $960.91.
Click to expand...


Processor looks OK but I would consider paying a little extra and getting the 965 Black Edition. Remember you're going to have get a healthy overclock out of the Phenom II to get anywhere close to Intel's i7 performance.


I'd skip the sound card all together unless you're going with an higher end X-Fi it isn't really any better than the on-board sound.


The timings on that RAM (C-9) are awful for only 1333MHz. Again I would look for Corsair or Mushkin with at least C-7 or lower.


I'd seriously consider a different power supply, something from Corsair or SeaSonic should do.




Better RAM choices -


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...0001666 600006066 600006156&IsNodeId=1&name=7




Better PSU choices -




http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139016


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139011


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139010




Better case -


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112154






Here's the OS if Pro or Ultimate isn't in the budget -


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754










ASUS Rampage III Extreme (901 BIOS)
Intel Core i7-980X Extreme Edition w/Corsair H70
Corsair DOMINATOR-GT 6GB DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) CMT6GX3M3A1600C7
EVGA GeForce GTX 480 SuperClocked (259.32)
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty
WD VelociRaptor 150GB – Windows 7 Ultimate 64
WD VelociRaptor 300GB – Games/Programs
Corsair AX1200 Watt
Corsair 800D w/NoiseBlocker fans


ASUS Rampage II Extreme (1802 BIOS)
Intel Core i7-975 Extreme Edition w/Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme 1366 RT
Mushkin Redline Ascent 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) (6-7-6-18-1N)
Asus/ATI 5870 (Catalyst 10.8)
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty
WD VelociRaptor 150GB – Windows 7 Ultimate 64
WD VelociRaptor 300GB – Games/Programs
SILVERSTONE 1500Watt SST
SILVERSTONE TJ09-B
 
 
Last edited:
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