Help me with a desktop :)

[Saru Inc]

New topic: Ok, I didn't want to make a new topic because that would just clutter it up.

 

 

What should I be looking for in a computer? I am buying a desktop in a month or so. A good graphics card, for portal graphics/runescape graphics on max, and (not sure if it matters) I constantly watch dvds/hulu/netlfix while playing runescape, so a graphics card can handle that. Though my wanna be one can handle it, so should be no problem. Anyways, processors, etc etc etc. I'm not allowed to ask my family for help, so any help would be appreciated :D Runescape and soon to be portal 2/occasional tf2 will be the most graphic intensive it will get, + if it could handle obvious school work, and multitasking. Price range $800 or so. Is that reasonable? I can pick the monitor myself, I'm thinking 19 inch or so :DDDDDDD

 

 

 

Thanks guys <3:

 

For example:

 

Is this any decent for gaming? I doubt it because it's $500 refurbished. Its at Tigerdirect

 

 

Specifications

 

 

Display Type: All-In-One LCD

 

 

Screen Size: 18.5 in.

 

 

Condition: Refurbished

 

 

Lifestyle: All-In-One

 

 

Operating Systems: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit

 

 

Startup Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

 

 

Platform: PC

 

 

Orientations Allowed: Vertical

 

 

Form Factor: All-In-One

 

 

Bays: 1 - 5.25" Slim/Slot Loading Drive Bay

 

 

Internal Bays: 1 - 3.5" Drive Bays

 

 

Available 3.5" Drive Bays: 0

 

 

Available 5.25" Drive Bays: 0

 

 

Colors: Black

 

 

PCI Express X1 Slots (Total): 1 mini

 

 

PCI Express X1 Slots (Available): 0

 

 

PS/2 Connectors: 0

 

 

Serial Communication Ports: N/A

 

 

Parallel Ports: N/A

 

 

USB Ports (Total): 6

 

 

FireWire Ports: N/A

 

 

eSATA Ports: N/A

 

 

LAN Ports: 1

 

 

Audio Out Jacks: 3

 

 

Line In Jacks: N/A

 

 

Microphone Jacks: 1

 

 

VGA Ports: N/A

 

 

DVI Video: N/A

 

 

HDMI Ports: N/A

 

 

S-Video Connectors: N/A

 

 

Coaxial Connectors: N/A

 

 

S/PDIF Connectors: N/A

 

 

Processor Brand: AMD

 

 

Processor Class: Athlon X2

 

 

Processor Number: 3250e

 

 

Processor Speed: 1.50GHz

 

 

Processor Interface: Socket AM2

 

 

Processors Supported: 1

 

 

Processors Onboard: 1

 

 

Memory Type: DDR2

 

 

Memory Size: 2x2GB

 

 

Total Memory: 4.0GB

 

 

Memory Speed: PC2-6400

 

 

Memory Slots (Total): 2

 

 

Memory Slots (Available): 0

 

 

Maximum Memory Supported: 4.0GB

 

 

Hard Drives Included: 1

 

 

Hard Drive Types: Hard Disk Drive

 

 

Interface: SATA

 

 

Capacity: 500GB

 

 

Speed: 7,200RPM

 

 

Optical Drives Included: 1

 

 

Optical Drive Type: Slim Tray 8x Supermulti DVD Drive with Lightscribe drive

 

 

Optical Drive Class: DVD±RW

 

 

Interface: SATA

 

 

Supplemental Media Type: Media Reader

 

 

Capacity: 7-in-1

 

 

Media Types: MultiMediaCard

Memory Stick

Secure Digital

Memory Stick PRO

Secure Digital (SD)

xD Picture Card

Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC)

 

 

Audio Description: Integrated Audio

 

 

Audio Chipset: RealTek ALC269

High Definition Audio

 

 

Channels: 2

 

 

Graphics Description: Integrated Graphics

 

 

GPU/VPU: ATI Radeon HD 3200

 

 

Maximum Resolution: 1366 x 768

 

 

WiFi Chipset: Wireless LAN 802.11 b/g mini-card

 

 

WiFi Data Transfer Rate: up to 54Mbps

 

 

WiFi Description: Wireless LAN 802.11 b/g

 

 

WiFi Interface Type: PCI Express x1

 

 

WiFi Standards Supported: 802.11b

802.11g

 

 

LAN Data Transfer Rate: 10/100 Mbps

 

 

LAN Description: Integrated 10/100 Base-T

 

 

LAN Interface Type: RJ-45

 

 

LAN Ports: 1

 

 

Power: 120 Watt

 

 

Mouse Type: Optical

 

 

Buttons: 2

 

 

Scrolling Capability: Vertical

 

 

Connection Type: Wireless

 

 

Keyboard Type: Standard

 

 

Connection Type: Wireless

 

 

Height: 13.03"

 

 

Width: 18.47"

 

 

Depth: 2.17"

 

 

Additional Technologies: Integrated Webcam

 

 

Built-in Microphone: Integrated microphone

 

 

Built-in Speaker: 2x 2 Watt

 

 

Specification Notes: [1] To provide the most accurate specifications, the specifications listed are based upon the manufacturer's exact model specification as published on the manufacturer's website, and the manufacturer's product documentation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[spoiler=Old Topic (Graphics glitch)]

 

 

 

 

This happens all the time and it really ticks me off. Partly because i can't see my inventory, so I can't tele if necessary. UGH!

 

 

Anyways, is there anyway I can fix these? Or are these jagex's fault? It happens randomly, I'll turn the camera, and a portion of the screen moves, but most of it is frozen. First noticed this after EW3.

 

[Gandorf61]

I'm pretty sure it's a problem on your end. I had something similar happen when using the Tip.it Microhelper. What happened was when I had it over top of Runescape, and then minimized it, if I tried moving the camera only the area where the microhelper was would have the camera move. Most of the time simply clicking on the frozen gamescreen itself fixed the problem.

 

If anything try just playing Runescape in a different browser, if you don't experience the problem anymore then it's most likely due to the swiftkit tools.

[obfuscator]

Specs of your computer? I'm guessing it's not the best, if that's the case that's basically graphical lag and you're unfortunately stuck with it :(

[Saru Inc]

ok. yeah. Bad graphics are an overstatement for this computer. I play on safemode and graphical lag 24/7

[OldJoe]

Which display mode are you using? Have you tried another?

Did it happen just recently or has it happened before?

Have you updated your graphics card driver?

 

Could you post specs: Start - Run "dxdiag" and screenshot what it says on system (cross out computer name) and screen1.

Also, if your cpu is low spec, you could try running on Chrome since is uses less resources than swiftkit which i believe uses IE (correct me if i'm wrong).

[Sbrideau]

As far as I've seen, Firefox uses less resources than Chrome, so really the choice is between Firefox and Chrome.

[obfuscator]

Yeah Swiftkit runs on IE.

 

Chrome or Firefox will be a better option.

[Saru Inc]

 

 

Yh, I can't upgrade my grpahics card, I don't have one to begin with. (If I'm correct) and external graphics cards are like $500 right? Or more?

[obfuscator]

No, you can get a great card for under $200, and a decent card for around $100.

 

It may be better to just buy a new computer though.

[Saru Inc]

Wow that cheap? But yea, I am looking at computers. But graphics card lingo is confusing, I look at them and I'm like "wat" I know nvidia is decent but that's ir

[OldJoe]

You can't upgrade since it's a laptop.

Could you also answer my other questions?

Also, have you tried another browser?

 

Just Nvidia doesn't make the card good, it's what components are on it.

[Saru Inc]

Oh sorry hehe. Yh I do mainly use sk, but I have also tried other browsers. But I never knew they used different resource levels o.o

 

But yeah I only ever play in safe mode. I have nonstop lag if I do any higher, and I'm pretty sure the driver is updated?

 

Its been slow always, but not this bad. Lagging nonstop in safemode is pathetic.

[obfuscator]

Ohhhh I didn't even see it was a laptop :oops:

 

Bottom line is - if fine tuning, using a better browser and the like still give you bad lag, it's time for a new computer/laptop.

[OldJoe]

The laptop is good, except for when it comes to games. The graphics is ze hog.

This won't change RS, but if it's slow, do you defrag it every once in a while?

[Ember]

.

[Saru Inc]

The laptop is good, except for when it comes to games. The graphics is ze hog.

This won't change RS, but if it's slow, do you defrag it every once in a while?

 

 

 

I know :( and external graphics cards are so expensive!!!!

 

 

And Nyo, I've never had it happen in not safe mod, but that might be because I honestly only turn it on to make scrn shots, and it lags just too bad. Well wait, I actually think it did happen. not sure. anyways I'm bout to edit the first post into a new topic.

[obfuscator]

Are you comfortable with building your own? If you are, it'll probably be cheaper and you'll have more flexibility with the quality of stuff you buy.

[Solartide]

This is a bad thread.

 

The comp specs you posted suck.

 

Like, wow dude, that computer of yours totally sucks, and you want to do what with it?

 

Don't listen to people who tell you, "The laptop is good", because that is an outright lie.

 

So you want to play portal at max settings smoothly. Hell, Portal isn't even graphics intensive. Hell, the game is [bleep]ing three years old. Also, tech support is a lot harder without swearing. True story. A budget card like a radeon 5670 would set you back about 90 dollars, at max settings save AA at what, 2x? 4x? You'd still get 120 fps which is 40 more than you need. LCD monitors can't display past 60 anyway. Only reason you'd want more than 60 fps is in the cases where the fps dips.

 

Just build your own computer. It's not much harder than following a lego construction set. And when you get lost, you have us to help you out.

[Saru Inc]

Haha when my dad got the computer for me, he honestly thought Runescape still looked like RSC. SO he said "Now, if I get this for you, it can do RS at max settings (=rsc lmao) But yeah I just honestly have no idea at all what is good. I mean at all. I think I should google it? lol. LIke I know either radeon/nvidia are decent companies... But.. thats it.

[Solartide]

Avoid this:

 

Integrated Graphics

 

If the computer has this, it sucks.

[Saru Inc]

Haha, yea I know that xD

[OldJoe]

Haha Solartide, instead of bashing me in a thread you could pm me.

The laptop doesn't suck. What do you consider a good cpu for instance? Does it need to be a hexacore?

Hardware are produced in a wastly different line, from low budget to high budget. It all depends on your need. Sarumans laptop isn't good for gaming, i've already said that, but it's good for business and anything non-gaming.

A computer does not suck if it has integrated graphics.

-----

 

@Saruman: I'll post you some options on pre-built computers in a while, need to do some stuff first. Building it yourself isn't very difficult, as others have said. But, it might be more comfortable having a pre-built if you don't have anyone you know, that could help you out (ok sure, you can post here for instance, but it's easier to have someone next to you).

It sorta feels rushed with a new computer, but unless Nyoshunt or someone has some ideas...

[Saru Inc]

Ok thanks I'd really appreciate that :) My college tuition of $900 is due in 2 weeks, so realistically I might not be getting a new comp til like... Late August maybe? But even so I wanna scout ahead I might be able to find some deals, have my parents pay for it and just pay them back.

[Solartide]

I could build a pc with several SSDs, A 950W modular power supply, 8 gigs of ram, throw in a Thuban hexa-core processor. Hell, let's throw in a ppu. Put it all in a case with liquid cooling. An awesome computer would you not agree?

 

But what if I mention it has integrated graphics, and you can't upgrade it?

 

Yeah, the computer sucks now.

 

My order of importance:

 

Power Supply > HD speed > GPU

[OldJoe]

Sorry, got caught in watching Jay Leno.

Something like this: http://i25.tinypic.com/242j4zs.png

You can also choose two different quad cpu's, ones 70 and the other 120. But if you ain't gonna buy it now, no need to decide. But any option would still be below 800 (monitor excluded).

The gt320 is similar to 4670 which i got, as an example (ok mine is a bit overclocked, but still) i can play Assassins Creed 2 on high settings without lag.

 

@Solartide... Lol.

You kind of owned yourself in that post, of course you'll be bloody able to upgrade the graphics if you have a computer like that. Or would that computer have a motherboard which is one of a kind without pci-e slots at those specs?

Please understand that people have different needs with their computers and stop trolling.