Games and Hardware

martinturner

martinturner

martinturner

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Sorry, if placed in wrong area, but it is about games/hardware?

Hi all,

Well I have my Media Center under my LCD and decided I wanted to upgrade to Vista Media Center from MCE 2005. All good thus far, although have just had to replace my graphics card and soundcard (driver issues!). So, with the new bits and pieces, my spec is now (well will be tomorrow when extra bits are delivered).

AMD Sempron 2800 on an ASUS m/b. (not upgraded this, own it already)
Radeon x1650 Pro ATI PCI-e 256MB
Creative Soundblaster X-Fi Extreme Music
1.5GB RAM (just cheapo DDR stuff)
Loads of HDD space (SATA)

Questions.

1. Right, given I have this stuff in the box, what are games going to be like? Can I suffice with whats there? Do I have enough to get started? I am guessing I would need to go for a Core 2 Duo and some good RAM at some stage?

2. Would like to play 2 player co-op games along the lines of Gears of War on the 360 (saw Rainbox Six - Vegas which looks good). Also, a really great two player racing game would be good too. Can you recommend some good games similar to these which will be very good

3. I heard you can use 360 controllers on the PC, is this true? Do I need anything extra to use them? What is the receiver involved?

4. Apologies for being a noob to the world of gaming! :)
 
3. Depends, if it's a wired controller then you can just plug it into a usb port and vista will automatically detect it. If it's a wireless one then you need the Crossfire Wireless Receiver.
 
Todays games would struggle on that machine.

Using Bioshock as an example, you may be able to run it low with some settings maybe on medium.

If your mobo is socket 939, think about getting an AMD x2, this will really improve performance.
 
Does anyone have a similar spec? If so, what are you able to run? Not expecting to run the latest games but must be able to run something better than the DOS version of Railroad Tycoon. :D

How do I find out minimum/recommended spec for games when buying online?
 
One other question, have a mate who said that there have not been any co-op games, where two of you play at the same time on the screen (a bit like Gears of War) for several years now. Its all about online gaming?

Surely thats not the case is it? Playing online may well be fun, but what if you have a mate coming round and you want to both play on the same team?, they have to sit and watch for like an hour before they get a go? I thought PC gaming would be the same as console gaming, but if thats the case I may as well buy a 360 or similar!

Or has he got it all wrong?
 
there aren't many co-op games where you are on one screen at the same time as most pc's are at desks and not really meant for two people.

co-op gaming on the pc usually involves seperate pc's connected by a lan or even internet.

Also your thread, although you don't mention it, hints that you have got a 360. If that is the case you will be dissapointed with the graphics of the games you can play on that pc.
 
He's not entirely wrong, there aren't as many co-op games coming out for pc as there are for console (and even console split screen is on the decline)

Serious Sam 1 and 2 are both great fun co-op.
 
I am surprised as I have always found them to be superb fun. Its a friend of mine who has a 360 and we loved playing Gears of War. I have got a Wii which is great for fun games, but thought given I have a media center already stuck under the tv to perhaps utilise that so we can play some co-op stuff when he comes round. Online really is not for me - seems a bit lifeless, and not as much fun as having one of your mates in the same room playing. Not knocking those who do, just not for me. I guess I will land up buying a 360 to accompany the Wii and just keep the Media Center as is. Perhaps, some new Wii titles will appear.

Appreciate all the help though everyone. Although if you do know of any co-op stuff that is avail, whether it is a racing game or something like Halo/Gears of War that will run on my spec, please do let me know.

:)
 
I have a similar spec to you:

Semprom 2600 (Socket A)
1GB DDR 400 RAM
X850 PRO
Soundblaster Live!

I was playing the Bioshock demo using the sm2 hack before formatting the other day. It looked fantastic and ran well till multiple enemies were onscreen (at which point my fps took a serious dive :p). Other games I've played on it are Quake 4\Prey\Far Cry...etc. Your machine can probably play most games out now as long as you stick to sensible resolutions.

I think Doom 3 is co-op enabled, not sure about any other games though.

:Edit:
You could always try Outrun 2006, great arcade racer with online play :)
 
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sorry to thread steal, but im in the process of buying a apartment in liverpool, unfurnished, kind of like a get away if i ever need to get away from home for a wee bit.

i was thinking o setting up a box comp, like a 8800 gts, 38" HD tv, 650i mobo and probably a e6600 with a couple of gigs of ram, overall can be done for under a grand and have one awsome system..... right? is it worth it, can i use it as a tv with a tv card? will it be as good as buying jst a tv and a xbox 360?

ags
 
agnes said:
sorry to thread steal, but im in the process of buying a apartment in liverpool, unfurnished, kind of like a get away if i ever need to get away from home for a wee bit.

i was thinking o setting up a box comp, like a 8800 gts, 38" HD tv, 650i mobo and probably a e6600 with a couple of gigs of ram, overall can be done for under a grand and have one awsome system..... right? is it worth it, can i use it as a tv with a tv card? will it be as good as buying jst a tv and a xbox 360?

ags
Click to expand...


Yeah, bugger off to your own thread ;)
 
Gears of War is coming to the PC soon :D

Just need Fable 2 and Mass Effect to be confirmed that they'll be coming out on the PC sometime and I can put off getting a 360 for another year :)
 
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SWAT 4 is a good co-op game, but like others have said you play via internet/lan.
GT-R 2 is a great racing game, although you need either a joypad or preferably a steering wheel.
 
martinturner said:
what if you have a mate coming round and you want to both play on the same team?, they have to sit and watch for like an hour before they get a go? I thought PC gaming would be the same as console gaming, but if thats the case I may as well buy a 360 or similar
Click to expand...

To be honest if that kind of gaming is important to you, then you will likely be better off with a console. An XB360 will also be more powerful (gaming wise) than your system.

I love the PC as a gaming platform but very few games support co-op on a single PC. Obviously you can play games where you share the playing area (sports games) but you really need two PCs to get the most out of PC co-op gaming (Red Alert 2, Diablo 2, Serious Sam Gold etc).
 
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