affordable gaming pc

[Validator]

Hi folks. So once in a while I will indulge in some gaming. Been quite a fan of xbox360 lately and now thinking of going back to pc gaming. I have a 3 year old pc right now and wondering what kind of specs I should be looking for in a gaming pc. I don't want to spend much (sub $500), and will use my current monitor and peripherals.

I know ill have to invest in a new graphics card in addition so what's decent, yet reasonably priced

I'm not a hardcore gamer but just wouldn't mind it once in a while. Don't need the best but good game playing experience is a-ok.

Also any recommendations as to where I can buy?

 

[HushWeb]

Hi folks. So once in a while I will indulge in some gaming. Been quite a fan of xbox360 lately and now thinking of going back to pc gaming. I have a 3 year old pc right now and wondering what kind of specs I should be looking for in a gaming pc. I don't want to spend much (sub $500), and will use my current monitor and peripherals.

I know ill have to invest in a new graphics card in addition so what's decent, yet reasonably priced

I'm not a hardcore gamer but just wouldn't mind it once in a while. Don't need the best but good game playing experience is a-ok.

Also any recommendations as to where I can buy?

Give memory express a call http://www.memoryexpress.com/ and get them to build you one.

They have the best prices; I had mine built at memory express, and cost me $2400.....I priced out the same thing at Dell and it would have been $7800 (and still didnt even compare to mine).

Spending $500 is probably not doable, but you could have a good gaming machine built for around $1000, and you'll most likely be able to upgrade it (sometimes not the case with the best buy / futureshop comps)...

 

[Validator]

I was thinking of grabbing one of those cheap hp machines at a fs or bb and sticking in a good graphics card. Would that do the trick?

 

[Arrrg]

what does PC gaming mean to you? Like what kind of games do you want to play.

 

[moi]

Yea, you'd have to think of what games you like to play, take the most complicated one, and find the specs to match that one. They are usually on the game website or, if you buy the game, on the box or manual. I find asking at places like EB Games they don't know anything, but try future shop.

I bought both my laptop and desktop from there, told them what I like to do, surfing, downloading music/movies and gaming...hardcore gaming, so they found my needs and the price!

good luck

 

[HushWeb]

I was thinking of grabbing one of those cheap hp machines at a fs or bb and sticking in a good graphics card. Would that do the trick?

not really, you would see a bit of improvement, but keep in mind you would still have a cheap hp machine (along with the cheap guts) trying to run that card.

Its not just the graphics card; its the type of processor, motherboard, TYPE of ram (not just the size), hard drive, and graphics card all working together that makes a good/fast machine.

Some of those futureshop / best buy computers may look good for a cheap price, but they may not have quad core processors (or if they do, they're lower-end), hard drives with lower rpm, cheap motherboards....

technology moves fast, seriously, just get one built. You'll need to spend a bit more up front, but in the long run, you will save money and you will get more out of your computer.

 

[Banger77]

What kind of gaming are your looking at? Most the good games are on console anyway.
My suggestion is to buy a Sony Playstation 3; kill 2 birds with one stone with gaming and playing blu-ray movies.
If your going the pc route and without knowing what's in your 3 year old system; i say try NCIX to maybe try to boost your system with new CPU, more Memory, or/and graphics card.

 

[Rotcod]

I was thinking of grabbing one of those cheap hp machines at a fs or bb and sticking in a good graphics card. Would that do the trick?

I would highly advise against it. Most of the cheap HP machines have a slow processor/ram and a crappy motherboard.

If I was to build a gaming PC, I would concentrate on getting a good motherboard/cpu and get at least 4 gigs of the fastest ram that your motherboard can support, thenwould focus on getting a good video card. Unfortunately, even a mediocre cpu and video card would eat up your $500 budget, so if you are looking for a brand new gaming machine you will most likely need to spend at least three times that.*

When I was in BC, I went to Anitec computers for all my needs. At that time, at least they seemed to have the best prices and staff well versed in today's technology. Another possible option is to find out what is the maximum cpu speed your current motherboard supports and try to upgrade your CPU/video card, (assuming your motherboard supports PCI-e).


*this is assuming you want to play the latest computer games

 

[Krustee]

not really, you would see a bit of improvement, but keep in mind you would still have a cheap hp machine (along with the cheap guts) trying to run that card.

Its not just the graphics card; its the type of processor, motherboard, TYPE of ram (not just the size), hard drive, and graphics card all working together that makes a good/fast machine.

Some of those futureshop / best buy computers may look good for a cheap price, but they may not have quad core processors (or if they do, they're lower-end), hard drives with lower rpm, cheap motherboards....

technology moves fast, seriously, just get one built. You'll need to spend a bit more up front, but in the long run, you will save money and you will get more out of your computer.

I would highly advise against it. Most of the cheap HP machines have a slow processor/ram and a crappy motherboard.

If I was to build a gaming PC, I would concentrate on getting a good motherboard/cpu and get at least 4 gigs of the fastest ram that your motherboard can support, thenwould focus on getting a good video card. Unfortunately, even a mediocre cpu and video card would eat up your $500 budget, so if you are looking for a brand new gaming machine you will most likely need to spend at least three times that.*

When I was in BC, I went to Anitec computers for all my needs. At that time, at least they seemed to have the best prices and staff well versed in today's technology. Another possible option is to find out what is the maximum cpu speed your current motherboard supports and try to upgrade your CPU/video card, (assuming your motherboard supports PCI-e).


*this is assuming you want to play the latest computer games

Wow, you guys really do know everything!

I'll have you know that I took one of those "cheap" HP machines & in 2005 I was able to get the highest score on 3DMark '03 for the processor & graphics card I was using.

I'll compare my modified HP to anybody's custom rig.

Usually for $4-600 dollars less I can get almost the same performance with my "cheap" HP's.

HP typically uses Asus motherboards, not high end but decent.

They also use Western Digital, Seagate & Hitachi hard drives.

I highly recommend the HP media center computers for the features they have & with the built in TV tuner they make great PVR's.

You can pick up a m9340f which has very good specifications for about $1000.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...73&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&lang=en&product=3740326

Add a nVidia 9600GT & you should be ready to rock all but the most demanding games.

It may require a Power supply upgrade to 450w though.

Give it some thought.