Need help with purchase of new pc for GTA 4

[may19th]

I'm in need of getting a new pc but I don't know which one to get. My current PC is severely outdated. Apparently now after almost 12 years of avoiding it I am forced to get a new PC because a pc video game (GTA 4) is not compatible to play on my current system. I've also tried upgrading my pc's video card as the default on board video had only 90 mb. So I went out and got a 512 mb video card but when attempted to play the game it would go in super slow motion and everything was invisible. Here is my pc specs: Intel Pentium 4 with 3.0 Ghz and 2 CPU's, 37.2 Gb hard drive, 1Gb DDR RAM, Windows XP SP3 I went to a website and this is the pc specs that they require: Recommended System Requirements * OS: Windows Vista – Service Pack 1 / XP – Service Pack 3 * Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4Ghz, AMD Phenom X3 2.1Ghz * Memory: 2 GB (Windows XP) 2.5 GB (Windows Vista) * 18 GB Free Hard Drive Space * Video Card: 512MB NVIDIA 8600 / 512MB ATI 3870 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- That's what they recommend but I want to be able to play the game smoothly like how it is played on the xbox 360. Those recommended requirements could be just to barely play the game well. If anyone has GTA 4 and your game is able to play smoothly without lag nor things turning invisible could you please tell me what kind of system you are operating or at least give me advice as to what specs I should have in order to be able to play the game at decent speed?

[Aaron_8015]

It depends what screen res you will be playing. Using the rig in my sig with my Q6600 at 2.4Ghz @ 1920x1080, FPS tend to stay around 22-25 (which is unplayable) it also drops to around 13 in rare moments and rises to 30 (though when it runs at 3.4 it tends to stay in the high 20's most of the time as this game is very CPU dependent). The console ones are pretty much fixed at 30FPS though you will notice occasional lag.

If you where to 'build' a new system intending to run this game well I would look at a new socket 1155 system. Will all depend on your budget though.

[may19th]

Would these stats be good enough: Intel Core 2 Quad at 2.66 Ghz, 4 Gb of RAM, GT 220 at 1 gb Nvidia Video Card, 500 GB HDD. And my budget is $500. The computer stats above is a deal I got today from a computer store. Do you think that will be capable of handling the game?

[Aaron_8015]

No, the video card would not run that game well at all. I would look at minimum

4850/4870, 5770/5830/5850/5870, 6850/6870/6950/6970

or from nvidia...

260/280/275/285, 450/460/465/470/480, 560/570/580.

Im guessing the quad is a Q6700? Which is old tech, and would not be that good at resolutions higher than 1680x1050. Afraid you need to be way more specific for comments about other parts.

Have you considered building your own? It can work out cheaper and you should be able to pick up modern/ish parts which should enable future upgrading.

Oh and welcome to TechIMO.

[may19th]

Those video cards are highly hexpensive! I searched a few of them up and they start off no less than $200 each. I want to try hard not to get a higher level pc like an i3 because the price range would go up to 600 and above. I'm just looking to be able to play the game flawlesly without lag in full screen mode. The website that says the required computer suggests no lower than an intel core 2 quad at 2.4 GHZ that's why I thought I would be ok with that. I'm not a die hard hardcore pc gamer so I don't believe I will need a top of the line gaming pc. I just need something that will be decent and acceptable with a budget of $500. As in regards to building my pc. I wouldent possably be able to do that as you can already tell that I am a pc noob. That's why I was asking for some guidance. And as into regards as upgrading... I've been on a P4 3.0 Ghz with an old school 37.2 GB HDD... I've been doing fine with it for so many years. I've even been able to play Nintendo 64 and Play Station 1 on this computer with these low stats. So I think I should be good once I do this pc upgrade. I've seen people play GTA 4 on core 2 quads on youtube. Here is a link for proof: YouTube - GTA IV - PC - Benchmark - Core 2 Quad Q9400, 9800GT [HD] Oh and, thanks for the welcome!

[Aaron_8015]

Don't get me wrong I play the game on a core 2 quad, and it does not run great, there is so much random game lag it gets unbearable to play. In that video he is running at 1280x1024 which it will happily run at (although he only averaged 30fps.... ), just depends the size of the monitor/screen res (I run 1920x1080 which is full HD).

I would really try and get a better graphics card with that computer though as it is a low-end card and I don't think it will handle that game.

GTA IV is still one of the most demanding games available.

[JPMiller]

ShyGuy had a solid list that could be tweaked to your budget...

For about $325 or so.

CPU: Newegg.com - AMD Athlon II X2 250 Regor 3.0GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor ADX250OCGMBOX

RAM: Newegg.com - GeIL Value 2GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Desktop Memory Model GV32GB1066C7SC

Motherboard: Newegg.com - BIOSTAR N68S3+ AM3 NVIDIA MCP68S Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

Hard Drive: Newegg.com - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F4 HD322GJ/U 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

DVD: Newegg.com - SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner LightScribe Support - CD / DVD Burners

Video Card: Newegg.com - Galaxy 43GGS8HX3SPZ GeForce GT 430 (Fermi) 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card

Power Supply: Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Elite 460 RS-460-PSAR-J3 460W ATX12V V2.31 Power Supply

Case: Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 II Silver Steel / Aluminum / Plastic Computer Case

Then add another $100 for Windows (Windows 7 32-bit or 64-bit preferred since SC2 is a DirectX 10/11 game).

You'd want to bump up to 4 Gigs memory (possibly 1 stick)
And a better VC...
Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GV-R567OC-1GI Rev2.0 Radeon HD 5670 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
And Maybe a better quad core CPU

About $460 before windows

[may19th]

@Aaron_8015 I understand what you are saying. I guess it is imperative to spend at least $150 on a good video card. I can abide to that. By the way you said that monitor size and type can effect my game play. Well I am currently using a Dell M991 monitor. It is 19 inchs. I don't know if that will be acceptable to play GTA 4 on but if not I also have a LG Studio works 900B 19 inch CRT Monitor, NEC MultiSync FE771SB Flat screen monitor which is 17 inch, Samsung syncmaster 955df LCD it's about 17 inches, and nec multisync 95 monitor which is 19 inch all at hand. You said that you got a quad core and your not impressed with the results. What would be the next processor above a quad core.. would that be an intel core 2 quad extremem? Those are like 3.0 Ghz per core I believe.

[may19th]

@JPMiller What did you mean when you said 4 gb memory possably one stick? Are you talking about 4 gb per stick thus me inputting 8gb for RAM? I was already planning on getting 4 gb. Even though the recommended ram was 2 gb I heard that GTA 4 really consumes a lot of RAM. So that's why I decided to double the amount of the recommended. How about a quad core with 2.8 Ghz? Don't know if that would make a difference.

Over here in Canada Windows 7 is severely hexpensive. It's actually better to get it in a store flyer package then in a custom built pc package. But I'm not even going to bother with purchasing an operating system from the computer store. Their already getting almost $600 from me so why give them another $100?

I'm just going to search the internet for Windows XP and download it and put in on a CD. It's better than paying another $130 for Windows 7.

One last note. I don't know if they want to get as much money out of me as possible but the guys at the computer store told me to go with Intel processors because "and I quote" [AMD processors are no good and they do not compare to the speed and quality of an Intel processor. The only thing good about AMD processors is that they are easier to over-clock than Intel processors.] He said exactly that. I also noticed that AMD pc's are less expensive than Intel PC's. Are AMD pc's really that trash as how he made them seem, is that why they are cheaper than Intel?

[Aaron_8015]

Its not imperative, but to meet your criteria.... It is.

Those screens are probably running (depending on what aspect ratio they are) 1280x1024 or 1440x900. Which should be just about okay to run on lower settings. A higher the screen res means more pixels which means more work for the hardware.

As to whats next, I would say the phenom II line from AMD which are clock for clock faster than Core 2 cpu's and tend to be clocked higher stock.

That is a really good build that Shy posted and with the extra budget it will really be leaps and bounds faster than that $500 system you where quoted.

[Aaron_8015]

One last note. I don't know if they want to get as much money out of me as possible but the guys at the computer store told me to go with Intel processors because "and I quote" [AMD processors are no good and they do not compare to the speed and quality of an Intel processor. The only thing good about AMD processors is that they are easier to over-clock than Intel processors.] He said exactly that. I also noticed that AMD pc's are less expensive than Intel PC's. Are AMD pc's really that trash as how he made them seem, is that why they are cheaper than Intel?

^This is a load of rubbish.

[may19th]

The highest screen resolution that the current monitor I am using can handle is 1600x1200. So you suggest that I go with the AMD phenom that Shy got?

[JPMiller]

I have no vested interest in what you buy, I have no chance at a profit determined by your purchase...
Who is more likely to steer you toward something less than the best choice?
Yes, Intel has the top spot for overall at this point, but it also depends on the budget your talking about...
Amd Processors and boards are less expensive which allows alot of room for improvements in areas it may make more difference in.
Their reasoning behind their claim is false, even if the claim itself were true.

If it were me, I would not deal with this shop at all...
Newegg.ca - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more!
You can purchase the whole thing here and build your own,
This will get you a better build for the money and you wont have to keep going to this questionable merchant for help because you will know all there is to know about YOUR build.
It is far easier than most people believe and with our help your less likely to have issues...
We've walked some pretty inept individuals through build-your-owns and have very few issues.

[JPMiller]

Newegg.ca - BIOSTAR A780L3L AM3 AMD 760G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
Newegg.ca - AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core ADX640WFGMBOX
Newegg.ca - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Model F3-10666CL9S-4GBRL
Newegg.ca - GIGABYTE GV-R567OC-1GI Rev2.0 Radeon HD 5670 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX
Newegg.ca - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F4 HD322GJ/U 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" -Bare Drive
Newegg.ca - SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 2MB Cache SATA CD/DVD Burner
Newegg.ca - RAIDMAX Tornado ATX-238B Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Newegg.ca - COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power Plus RS-500-PCAR-A3-US 500W ATX12V v2.3 Power Supply

$417 plus shipping, Which seems to be crazy high there...

And you WILL need Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit or you may as well not bother, as you need 64bit to support anywhere near the overall ram you need

[may19th]

Those items seem pretty good. I am also surprised with the prices as I searched google and I've seen them higher. The only thing I don't like is the fact that I'd have to get Windows 7. The whole reason why I'm trying to avoid the newer versions of Windows is because I've used it before when I was remotely on one of my friends computers and I just found it very arduous to navigate around. But if the price is right and a pc with those stats will play GTA 4 flawlessly then I guess I will do it. If everything works out fine with this pc and the game runs perfectly then I will personally reinstate you where you are due. You have no idea how badly I want to play this game on my computer! So if all is well then I will send you a nice gift as a thank you. And I would more likely believe you guys than a worker at a computer store. It seems like they just say anything to get me to make a purchase. Maybe it's because they get commission?

[may19th]

@JPMiller I just made an account on that website. After all of the taxes and shipping my total raises from $417 to $518.72. JPMiller I forgot to ask you, since this is pretty much a purchase of parts seperately does that mean that I will have to install/put it together myself?

[-FMA]

Yes, but it is quite easy to do. We can walk you through the build.

[may19th]

@-FMA What do you mean by "walking threw a build"?

[JPMiller]

Yes, you are purchasing seperate components and then simply assembling them into a full PC.
The hardest part is usually picking the right parts and installing the software afterwards.
Building a PC from parts is a simple matter, there are few mistakes that cant be easily fixed.
There are VERY well documented how-to sites, and you can always ask questions here while your actually assembling it.

[may19th]

Thanks, I will be sure to check it out. I just hope that is not "pc noob proof".