OT: Worst PC Decision - Page 4

Raging Deadstar · #31 May 18th, 2004, 05:35 PM

You can tell the guy in the cartoon works for human resources...

(Subtle Dilbert Reference Alert)

Makinus · #32 May 18th, 2004, 06:36 PM

The best way to have a build your own computer is like i do: I'm a lawyer but my hobbie is dismantling computers, so i made a deal with the rest of the people in my office (other lawyers): every time they wish to upgrade their computers i would do the upgrade for them (installing the new Boards, etc.)in echange for the old Boards, etc..

So i have lots of old Boards, memories, etc, and i have actually 3 computers, 1 at the office: 750mhz, 128mb Ram, HD 40GB, and 2 at home: 1.2ghz, 256mb Ram, HD 60mb, Geforce 2 and a 650mhz, 128mb Ram, HD 1.2mb (yes, i know, i'm waiting for someone to upgrade his HD so i can get a better one).

gregebowman · #33 May 18th, 2004, 07:29 PM

Atrocities, just read your story. That's why I don't build my own computers. I'd rather buy a already made one at an electronics store, or in the case of my current computer, have someone else build it. In this case, it's my wife's cousin-in-law. If I can ever come up with the extra dough, I'll have him upgrade it, especially the graphics card. I want to play Knights of the Old Republic, but can't.

Atrocities · #34 May 18th, 2004, 07:55 PM

Greg, when you do update your graphics card, I strongly recommend that you go with the best card on the market. Video cards are changing and so are the programs that use them. The video card I just bought for $240.00 GeForce FX 5700 Ultra is already grossly outdated and considered as a medium card now.

Fyron · #35 May 18th, 2004, 09:08 PM

I recommend that you do NOT go with the best card on the market... unless you have a huge amount of money to waste... in which case it would be better that you send the excess my way.

You can get a card that costs 1/2 to 1/3 as much, and still does everything necessary to run today's high end games as well as tomorrow's. You do not need to spend an arm and a leg to buy hardware that will cost half as much in a month... the differences between the high end and medium end graphics cards are rather negligible at this point in time...

Roanon · #36 May 18th, 2004, 10:37 PM

I definitely agree with Fyron. There is not much difference in speed between high end and middle, but a lot of difference in the costs. You definitely get better value for money if NOT buying the latest most expensive. Furthermore, middleclass will remain middleclass for some time, but high end will becomme middleclass very soon. Unless you really, really need max graphics power (and have a lot of money to spend), there is no need for absolute high-end in graphic cards.

There is usually a clearly identifiable gap where prices changes from "outrageous for silly freaks buying everything that is shiny and new" to "price equal to value". Buy the top card from this price range, but don't go higher.

Of course, make sure that you need a powerful graphic card first. Games like SE play perfectly well on a used 10$ card

gregebowman · #37 May 18th, 2004, 10:54 PM

Heck, it almost sounds like I'd be better off paying the $179 for an X-Box and the $50 for the KOTR game than it would to decide which graphics card to buy. Whenever I do decide to upgrade, I'll start reading the technical sections of the pc mags I buy and try to make an informed decision.

Rigelian · #38 May 18th, 2004, 11:28 PM

Or take the X-box.. a bit of work chipping it and you can install Linux.. install WINE and you can run SE4 on it. For the Linux fan, well worth it just to s***w MS for the $300 subsidy on every X-box.. 8-)

Atrocities · #39 May 19th, 2004, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
I recommend that you do NOT go with the best card on the market... unless you have a huge amount of money to waste... in which case it would be better that you send the excess my way. You can get a card that costs 1/2 to 1/3 as much, and still does everything necessary to run today's high end games as well as tomorrow's. You do not need to spend an arm and a leg to buy hardware that will cost half as much in a month... the differences between the high end and medium end graphics cards are rather negligible at this point in time...

I was of this school of thought too but now I must stand my ground. For best performance and the best intergrated top of the line support buy the top of the line card. The cheepies lack a lot of the estials that there big brothers have. I made this mistake twice and I'm telling you if you want the best performance and most compatability with newer games and their features, pay the price.

Roanon · #40 May 19th, 2004, 12:29 AM

I still disagree.
Of course, cheapest buy is not a good buy. But most of the features of high-end cards are not even used by a single piece of software at the time when you buy them. The best card is the one just below the high level, where reasonable prices rule. Paying double or triple the price for a few gimmicks more does not give you value for money. By the time you really need all these cool features of the high-end card, it will cost half or less - and they you can still buy it with the money you saved when buying a cheaper card firsthand. And still have money left over.

I just bought a GeForce FX5900 for less than 200�. I bet it will be good for at least 1 year, when I can buy a better card than what currently costs 500� for around 200� again, keeping me going for another year. Paying 500� now would maybe give me one and a half year till I need to change, do that 2 times and you pay 1000� for roughly the same performance over 3 years than with my schedule buying 3 cards for a total of 600�.

Yes, you need to update more often if you do not buy high end. Still it is cheaper. The prices for high end cards are just too ridiculous, there is absolutely no value for money. Do tell me for which game you absolutely need a card for more than 400$ - and please no games "scheduled to be released next month" that will beta around next year.