Cascade Crew

[DBL_TKE]

Ok so StarCraft 2 came out and my computer (HP Pavillion a365c) fall a little short of even the minimum system requirements. So I went to best buy to pick up a graphics card and RAM and was told that I can't even install the minimum type of graphics card that I need (128 MB PCIe NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT or ATI Radeon 9800 PRO or better).

So I'm now in the market for a new computer. Preferably a laptop so I can use it for tuning. I would also use it for a lot of media. As in storing thousands of pictures, music and video as well as being able to run editing software for movies and pictures. I also use my computer in place of an amp for my guitar and use it for recording. Of course I would be doing some gaming as well.

So what do any of you recommend? Is there any possible way that I can upgrade my current desktop. Or do I need to get a new one? If so, what would you recommend?

[chevymad]

Why cant you upgrade? No pcie slot? Thats what killed off my last computer. Graphics cards changed format and the new ones just physically wouldnt plug into it anymore.

One nice thing I've found with my radeon card, I can use it to encode movies without bothering my main processor. Using main processor alone would take 3hrs to do a movie, and slow everything down while it was at it. The video card has alot more pipelines, does alot of parallel processing.. It will do 3 movies at the same quality in about an hour.

[aaron_sK]

Don't play games on a laptop. Build a good system, then get a cheap laptop from some Microsoft Crewbie () for tuning.

^ Two cents.

GeForce 6600 is an AGP 8X card. Stock older systems will have AGP 4X if not integrated. Not a high enough PSU either.

I am having the same issue with my computer. Built it in '04 right at the end of the whole AGP thing, but before PCI 16X was prevalent (stupid, I know). Zero upgrade options, so it's gotta go, to bad I just bought a lousy Camaro and a motor.

[DBL_TKE]

Yeah they said that it doesn't have a PCI slot. I was expecting to just go to the store buy a couple parts and being killing some Zerg before dinner. The computer is pretty old. It's like an '03 or something. I wasn't really planning on buying a new computer so it's kind of an unexpected but necessary expense. Maybe I should just try and build one with some guidance from some of you guys. Unless one of you feel like your more suited for the job.

[BigDaddyVu]

you should have a AGI next to your pci port

[Twilightoptics]

I'm in the same boat. I've got AGP 4x but with the processor and even 1.5gig of ram, I'll barely clear the minimum.

As we all know with minimums.... it means the game will run.... like crap.

[aaron_sK]

I currently have a GeForce 6600GT, ironically enough the minimum for Starcraft 2. When I built it the only better card nVidia made was the 6800GTS IIRC. Now it's just crap. Oh well. First Camaro, then computer.

[chevymad]

Sporting an ATI Radeon HD 4670 at the moment... but need a dizzy before I can kill Zerg.

[iansane]

I'd just like to say I really have no interest in playing sc2.


Although I have been playing a lot of sc4 lately (sim city 4)

[IROCDave]

I totally understand your situation. I had a custom gaming rig built about 5 years ago and it pales in comparison to what you can build today. I am no computer geek, but I would say you need a new build. Stick with a Intel processor, Nvidea GPU and a mother board that supports PCI express and lots of DDR3+ ram.

You can build a gaming rig that plays all of the current games for about 700.00 bucks if you can assemble it your self and load the drivers. I would also suggest Windows 7 as the OS.

I online game COD MW2 with my old settup and still dominate.

[aaron_sK]

[chevymad]

I don't know, I paid about that a year ago for this desktop. No monitor and a cheap keyboard, but I got an I7 processor, the 4670 graphics card, couple gigs of dd3, dvd burner, 500g sata drive, lots of usb ports and built in firewire, and software. If i'd stepped it up another notch though to 2 graphics cards I'd have gotten another pci e slot. I picked a card that could be hooked to a 2nd.. but didnt realize without specifying 2 cards to begin with I wouldnt get the 2nd slot. This is a dell.. not home built.

My win 7 graphics rating is 6.8!

[Xophertony]

i can build you an epic rig. let me know what budget you are working with and we can put it together. i'll do it for a six pack and the fun of helping a crewbie.

<--been working as a computer technician for the last three years. despite the fact that i almost killed Paul’s computer I’m actually pretty good.

Perhaps one of our Microsoft crewbies can secure you a copy of 7 pro to go along with the build.

PC Minimum System Requirements*: Screw that, like others said minimum = game runs like ass.
PC Recommended Specifications:
Windows Vista®/Windows® 7
Dual Core 2.4Ghz Processor
2 GB RAM
512 MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8800 GTX or ATI Radeon® HD 3870 or better

This is my recomended system, depending o your budget we could bring this thing up or down, we drop the budget more than about 200.00 and we are looking at not being able to play the latest games at full graphics in only a few months.
Intel Core i3-540 Clarkdale 3.06GHz LGA 1156 73W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80616I3540 $124.99
ASUS P7H55-M/CSM LGA 1156 Intel H55 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard $100.00
Kingston HyperX Blu 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) $105.00
EVGA 01G-P3-1158-TR GeForce GTS 250 1GB 256-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card $154.99 $124.99 with Rebate $6.98 Shipping
Western Digital Caviar Green WD7500AADS 750GB SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive $69.99
Thermaltake TR-800P TR2 BRONZE 800W ATX 12V V2.3 / EPS 12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply $119.99 $9.65 Shipping

our total is $690 without a case (add a hundred or so) and without an OS. And this is a solid system. We could upgrade all kinds of stuff if you want to spend more. i am going to recomend not sticking with the XP you allready have as it is a 32 bit OS, and this epic rig needs a 64 bit OS.

this sytem has some neat perks as well... USB 3.0 for example.

[redlava]

Tony I am not really familiar with gts 250, wouldn't there be a large benefit to getting the gtx 460?

[Xophertony]

Hell yes, the bigger the video card the better. i was trying to keep itunder 700.

[aaron_sK]

[Xophertony]

I have not heard that,m but admittadly i don't build many high end rigs, most of what i put together are workstation PCs.

[chevymad]

Managed to get myself a copy of the game. So far gameplay is just same old starcraft to me. It's everything between missions that they really upgraded. Artwork is very good looking. My machine will run everything in High mode.. but not ultra. Ultra has more water and shadow effects. I think you'd only notice these in the cinematics anyway. Computer seems to be loafing so far. Admittedly i'm not very far into any missions.. So it will probably get quite a bit hairier as it goes on.

[aaron_sK]

[Mouthwas]

128 MB PCIe NVIDIA GeForce 6600

Is complete horseshit,

go on craigslist find a 8800... just as good as 250 and you can play any game on the market in max settings rightt now