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Getting back into PC gaming

Pj·uK

Pj·uK

Pj·uK

Associate
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
781
Location
London
I haven't touched a PC game for about 2-3 years (last one was BF2) and have recently had the urge to jump back in to some serious gaming!

My current set-up is probably a bit dated, but I wondered if I could get by with a decent gfx card without the rest of the system being a bottleneck. My specs are:

C2D E6600 @ 2.4GHz, 2GB and on-board gfx :p

I don't want to spend vast amounts on a new rig (maybe some more RAM, but don't want to do the whole mobo+cpu route) so I've set a limit of £250.

I'm looking to play a back catalogue of 2 years worth of games e.g. FEAR, Bioshock, Fallout3, MW2… and wondered if it would be wiser to get a decent gfx card or just settle with an xbox or ps3 (neither which I have owned or ever played on!)

(note - I would like to also be looking to play at high res e.g. 1080p or 1920x1200)

Thanks for the input.
 
if you dont mind support for new games (DX11) get a 4870 (theres a 1 gig on offer for £108.99 on ocuk)
upgrade to 4 gig of ram and buy a better cooler and Oc the cpu i'm pretty sure they go to 3ghz+ ?

profit :)
 
well looking at what res you intend to play on, i'd suggest xbox 360 as first choice, then ps3, if you really want to use a pc, i'd save a bit more and do the whole lot as throwing £250 into your current pc would be pointless in all honesty at that res
 
****ocks will it.

Overclock the processor, throw a little more RAM and a decent GPU (which he could reuse in future) and he'd be capable of playing almost anything except Crysis maxed out.

Yeah, the E6600 is a little dated, but overclocked (and even stock) it still moves, what do you think most games were designed on? I7, 16GB RAM,GTX295 SLI jobbies?

Most games, especially at high res will be GPU limited rather than CPU, there are odd exceptions like the MMOs and areas where CPU can hold you back, but no reason he couldnt have a decent machine as it stands.

Just because I7 doesnt mean it's made C2D obsolete, the difference between I5/7 and C2D and Q is much much smaller than the difference between P4 and I7. That's why apart from hardcore encoders there was so much 'meh' when I7 first came out.
Not saying its not good, but dont fall into the mistake that a dual core, 4GB and a decent GPU can't play anything, because most games will be designed for dual core, including X2/Phenom etc, 2GB+ of RAM and a medium end GPU.
 
hyperst said:
well looking at what res you intend to play on, i'd suggest xbox 360 as first choice, then ps3, if you really want to use a pc, i'd save a bit more and do the whole lot as throwing £250 into your current pc would be pointless in all honesty at that res
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+1, get a 360.

to play at 1080p anything over 1680x1050 you gonna need some beef to play games at.

sure pc gaming is miles better in my opinion, but unless you gonna spend a lot i wouldnt really bother.
 
Don't go console gaming, just not the same. Once you go PC you can't go back.

I bought a PS3 few weeks back, playing it on 32" LCD TV in HD. Yes looks nice, but just not the same. Yes Modern Walfare 2 looked very nice on it, but even so still looked abit rough for me.

Just boring after a while and got rid of it after few weeks. Never go back to console gaming. Waste of money & £40 a game.:o
 
Alexrose1uk said:
****ocks will it.

Overclock the processor, throw a little more RAM and a decent GPU (which he could reuse in future) and he'd be capable of playing almost anything except Crysis maxed out.

Yeah, the E6600 is a little dated, but overclocked (and even stock) it still moves, what do you think most games were designed on? I7, 16GB RAM,GTX295 SLI jobbies?

Most games, especially at high res will be GPU limited rather than CPU, there are odd exceptions like the MMOs and areas where CPU can hold you back, but no reason he couldnt have a decent machine as it stands.

Just because I7 doesnt mean it's made C2D obsolete, the difference between I5/7 and C2D and Q is much much smaller than the difference between P4 and I7. That's why apart from hardcore encoders there was so much 'meh' when I7 first came out.
Not saying its not good, but dont fall into the mistake that a dual core, 4GB and a decent GPU can't play anything, because most games will be designed for dual core, including X2/Phenom etc, 2GB+ of RAM and a medium end GPU.
Click to expand...

+1 I was about to post something similar..o/c the cpu to 3.0ghz and allow for cooling and then throw in a decent gpu..260gtx or a 4890. Job done.
 
Jesus i still have a E6600 clocked at 3.4 coupled with a GTX280 and struggle in nothing, even warhead is acceptable at 1920 x 1080 no AA. Chuck a 260/4890 in and clock that cpu!
 
I run an E6600@3GHz, with 2Gb, and a GTX260. Runs everything I throw at it at 1680x1050 with highest detail (give or take).

Fallout3's superb. Not perfect, and a bit of a slow start, but the best title I've played for years. It cured me of my deepening gaming cynicism. :-)

Andrew McP
 
Hi Pj·uK,

I have to agree with the guys saying that a tactical update will give you a tip-top gaming PC.

I'd be happy to spec a specific upgrade for your £250 budget, but may ask a few questions about your current system first?

-What motherboard make/model are you currently using?
-What is the capacity/make/model of your current PSU?
-What is your current case?
-What operating system are you currently using (crucially, is it 64bit)?
 
hyperst said:
well looking at what res you intend to play on, i'd suggest xbox 360 as first choice, then ps3, if you really want to use a pc, i'd save a bit more and do the whole lot as throwing £250 into your current pc would be pointless in all honesty at that res
Click to expand...

If that was the case the pc would have died as a gaming platform years ago,thank god you arent driving the pc market lol.


Another 2gb of ram,small overclock on the cpu to ~3ghz and any of the 260gtx/4890/5770 gfx cards will let him play 1080p with some if not all the eyecandy on(depends on which game ofc) at very respectable framerates,even at 1920x1200 he'd be able to keep some of it.
 
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4890 - £140

2gig of ram is what? £30-40

Cpu cooler - £20ish

So roughly £200 with a bit over work for the overclock and you'll be back in the game.

Good luck!

**Don't know anything else about your system but is crossfire an option? 2 x 4870 = £216 + ram = ~£250

Maybe add some for a decent cooler if you haven't got one but that sort of setup will handle all you need it too (bar DX11) :)
 
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You could get an additional 2Gb of ram and just add it in but it won't run on dual channel mode which isn't a major issue but to given the memory prices have been on the up as of late it might be the way forward rather then buying a matching 4gb pair.

Your video is terrible, a HD5770 will bring you bang up to date and won't cost you the earth however you might want to invest in a new PSU as I don't know anyone who has onboard graphics also having a decent PSU. All in all this should set you back just under £200.
 
far as i'am aware my CPU that much faster then say a clocked 3.4Ghz E6600 so get yourself more ram and a decent gpu.

i'm currently maxing out dragon age origins @1920x1080 no slow down min 70 to 150 fps with 8aa 16af on

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/6403/nightol240.jpg

stay clear from 5770's there only give decent preformance when in crosfire (more then your entire budget) a 4870/4890 would give you better preformance at those 1900x1xxx res a good gpu is better then a good cpu thease days.
 
from looks of thing his motherboard isnt upto much, it has onboard graphics, know one knows if his psu is cappable, i was trying to save the OP the headache of buying his graphics upgrade only to realise theres something else needing upgrading, like psu ,motherboard, ram, why would you buy old tech like more ddr2, sockect 775 boards, and everyone should be honest with the OP, at the res he intends to play on he would be wiser to buy a ATI HD5850 which would take up his bugdet.

it will depend a lot on the OP's expectations of what he wants , weather it be nice smooth gameplay at high res, or stuttery unplayable gameplay at hidh res,, most of your advice here would probly bring the latter
 
wow what are some guys smoking in here?

for £200 he can get a cooler to clock that cpu up to 3.4ghz, an ati 4890 and 4 gb of ram which will give him 3 times the power of an xbox360/ps3 and will be able to play games at 60fps 1080p easily
 
Duran said:
wow what are some guys smoking in here?

for £200 he can get a cooler to clock that cpu up to 3.4ghz, an ati 4890 and 4 gb of ram which will give him 3 times the power of an xbox360/ps3 and will be able to play games at 60fps 1080p easily
Click to expand...

this.
 
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