Building/Buying First Computer

[KarmaKiller]

Graphics card is a good deal faster, as the ram is literally double the speed in my system I made up. The motherboard is more "future proof" due to the AM3 socket.
Power supply is MUCH MUCH better. And this is a part that is often overlooked, but is the one part that you don't want to skimp on. The PSU that comes in your linked rig is an ultra, which are known for going kaput. Bad thing is, when your PSU goes out, most of the time it takes hardware that is hooked up to it out with it. So it's something to consider.
All around I would say my listed rig is better.

[Raim]

I'll keep that one in mind. What could you recommend for just $400 though? If you managed to down grade some things, which would it be?

Could the other one manage if I switched out the PSU? I was just going to not so much top of the line games, keep in mind. :x

For reference if it helps: Im trying to get such games as Warcraft, Aion and Guild Wars to run smoothly, preferably on maximum.

I checked their stats on Srtest and it doesn't seem too high at all.

[pullmyfoot]

i dont suggest 400. there is not much you can do to bring down the price of that system without seriously cutting some corners. thats about as low as you want to go without wasting money on sub-par components. you could get a cheaper graphics card I guess. thats about all I would do.

Newegg.com - HIS H467QS1GH Radeon HD 4670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

its only 20 less though. and you get about half the performance of the GTS250. I suggest spending 20 bucks.

[Raim]

Could someone help explain capabilities of CPUs one last time? Say for instance, I found a computer with a Quad Core 1.8 GHz and one with a Dual Core 3.0 GHz.

Is there Quad Core better because the total GHz would be higher?

[KarmaKiller]

That's kind of a tuff one to answer really. The Ghz can make a difference sometimes when talking about the same chip family, but when comparing say a AMD dual core to a Intel Dual core, you can't really go by just Ghz. You have to look at the L2, L3, core size (65nm, 45nm, etc).
Quad cores show some benefit in apps that are extremely CPU intensive, but for gaming normally dual/tri cores are the better buy.

Really depends on which CPU's your talking about, and which apps your trying to get to run the best.

[Raim]

HP Pavilion a6700y Refurbished Desktop PC – AMD Phenom X4 9150e 1.8GHz, 4GB DDR2, 500GB HDD, DVDRW, Vista Home Premium 64-bit at TigerDirect.com

Thats the one I found with Quad Core. I was planning to swap in a new better graphics card for gaming of course.

Gigabyte MA785GM-US2H AMD Athlon II X2 Barebone Kit - Gigabyte MA785GM-US2H MOBO, Athlon II X2 240, 2GB DDR2, 500GB HDD, XFX Radeon HD 4650, Case & PSU at TigerDirect.com

This is the original find, ready to go, but may add in 2 GB more ram later.

[KarmaKiller]

Out of the 2 you linked to, the dual core (2nd link above) would be the better buy. But IMO, you should go with the system I put together. It's MUCH better quality all around.

[Nude_Lewd_Man]

I would trust what Karma (and PullMyFoot) have to say, they've been very handy for giving advise for my rigs - not to mention that PMF builds computers (as a side project, from what I remember) for his customers......

There are others on here too, but these have been the best in the past for me...
(I mustn't forget to mention Aaron either, but he hasn't posted here)

[pullmyfoot]

well I think KK has a bit more experience than me, to be fair and he does that too.

[Nude_Lewd_Man]

I thought he built them for friends etc... I didn't know how much experience you have, but I know that you have a business doing such....