Getting a good value PC with limited investment is definitely possible. I cringe a bit to see most of these systems stating "Core2QuadCore" or "Core2Duo" processors; that's "too old of technology" in my opinion for something I want to newly-acquire and keep using for a few years. Despite it definitely falling into this price point; the prices for most of those available "Core2" machines feels like someone trying to maximize $$$ from unloading now-obsolete business-class machines that should really be going for under NZD$150.Creamy wrote:Any tips on upgrading my PC? There are so many to choose from and I don't really know what to look for. I'll probably only be playing DC but would like to record it smoothly and have the option for other games with better graphics. What should I be looking for in terms of specs?
Looking at buying used for $250 or less... if anyone wants to have a quick browse at this endless list I'd really appreciate it http://www.trademe.co.nz/browse/categor ... =price_asc
If possible, I would wait it out to see if a dual-Xeon 2.4Gz 8GB or higher fell into my range, and jump on that. At this point there should be some circa 2008 Xeon systems that would be good but can't command premium price. But I'm not in NZ local market, so maybe I'm describing unicorns.
Wish I had seen this last month; just let go of two quad-Xeon 3.0Ghz 16GB HP xw6400 machines that could have been yours for the shipping. (But maybe that still wouldn't have been less than NZD$250! lol Stupid far reaches of the Earth.)
2.5GHz and 8GB RAM are decent / minimum of what you're looking for in this range. Still cringing at the Core2Quad, just since my recollection of my Core2 machines wasn't very "snappy" performance. But I haven't run less than Xeon for quite some time, so my expectations might be unrealistic for what you'll actually find available if it must come from your local market.Creamy wrote:http://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/desk ... 541605.htm What games could I run on a machine like this if I went for it? Just out of curiosity. Need some guru advice lol
GeForce 210 1GB is at least a game-capable card with apparently DirectX 10.1-level support. I would certainly play Battlefield 1942 on that machine; but that's a pretty low bar to meet. I'm not a good source of information on any other games that would play okay on those specs. It's certainly "the minimum" of graphics gaming performance.
I picked up "essentially new" Dell Precision T1650 quad-Xeon 3.6GHz 16GB machines for under US$400 recently (eBay), so I'm definitely thinking that machines like I just let go of (which are circa 2008 machines at this point) should be falling into your target range on occasion. But probably have to watch and snap them up.
If you were just looking for something to use at home for homework/internet/etc., I'd probably be willing to pull the trigger on Core2 at NZD$200 or less. But knowing you're wanting to play games, I think I'd hold out to see if a "dual-Xeon 2.4GHz 8GB or better" opportunity happens, if you can wait.
Let's see what other opinions are out there, too.
-Trench