Second Life Forums Archive - Cheap Computers that Handle SL

Briana Dawson

Attach to Mouth

Join date: 23 Sep 2003

Posts: 5,855

11-29-2008 15:44

My useful "tidbit" was for her to listen to PEGGY.

And ignore some others.

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------------------------------

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Peggy Paperdoll

A Brat

Join date: 15 Apr 2006

Posts: 4,383

11-29-2008 15:47

From: Maylin Murakami

For a retail purchased OEM box to work with SL, perhaps.
However it is very little hassle to upgrade the video card like a week later or whatever, for users willing to be a little flexible

.

The OP specifically stated that he/she DID NOT want to have to open the box to upgrade to a better or more powerful hardware device. The OP wants a system capable of running SL RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX. So the sacrafices are somewhere else........to get a good graphics card you have to get something less expensive somewhere else. And the difference in performance of CPU's for use in SL are not that great. An AMD is pretty much the same as an Intell. The CPU speed once your cross the gig line is not a noticable difference. P4 Dual Core vs a Core 2 Dual is minimal...........for SL purposes.....it's all about graphics and RAM anyway.

Osgeld Barmy

Registered User

Join date: 22 Mar 2005

Posts: 3,336

11-29-2008 15:50

From: Peggy Paperdoll

The OP specifically stated that he/she DID NOT want to have to open the box to upgrade to a better or more powerful hardware device. The OP wants a system capable of running SL RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX. So the sacrafices are somewhere else........to get a good graphics card you have to get something less expensive somewhere else. And the difference in performance of CPU's for use in SL are not that great. An AMD is pretty much the same as an Intell. The CPU speed once your cross the gig line is not a noticable difference. P4 Dual Core vs a Core 2 Dual is minimal...........for SL purposes.....it's all about graphics and RAM anyway.

aye, when i was actively upgrading whats now my "atari box" or however peggy put it one day...

i got the ram, huge difference !
i got the video man thats sweet!
i got the CPU, meh is that all?

Maylin Murakami

MeatMogul

Join date: 24 Sep 2005

Posts: 179

11-29-2008 15:51

Others reading this might do so, the OP may be persuaded since it's easy - I pointed out it is an easy task

.

What is it with all the angry posts in this forum? I'm not going to play along, thanks.

Peggy Paperdoll

A Brat

Join date: 15 Apr 2006

Posts: 4,383

11-29-2008 15:52

From: Osgeld Barmy

........
however peggy put it one day...

i got the ram, huge difference !
i got the video man thats sweet!
i got the CPU, meh is that all?

Hahahaha.......I don't remember ever saying that. But it does sound like something I would say.

Osgeld Barmy

Registered User

Join date: 22 Mar 2005

Posts: 3,336

11-29-2008 15:55

dunno, you called it something obscure from the 80's

Peggy Paperdoll

A Brat

Join date: 15 Apr 2006

Posts: 4,383

11-29-2008 15:56

From: Maylin Murakami

Others reading this might do so, the OP may be persuaded since it's easy - I pointed out it is an easy task

.

What is it with all the angry posts in this forum? I'm not going to play along, thanks.

Easy is relative. You and I think it's easy. That's because you and I have done it before. I don't know about your but the first time I installed a new stick of RAM in my computer I was scared pee-less.

Maylin Murakami

MeatMogul

Join date: 24 Sep 2005

Posts: 179

11-29-2008 15:58

From: Peggy Paperdoll

Easy is relative. You and I think it's easy. That's because you and I have done it before. I don't know about your but the first time I installed a new stick of RAM in my computer I was scared pee-less.

But the fact is it is easy, try and succeed or never try and never succeed.

Milla Janick

Empress Of The Universe

Join date: 2 Jan 2008

Posts: 3,075

11-29-2008 16:48

Sorry for the following bit of techno-elitism, but...

The graphics card is the single most important piece of hardware for SL. A Pentium 4 will run SL well with a decent video card, while a brand new quad core system with a crap card is going to suck.

Most of the systems listed in this thread have crap graphics cards. The best of the lot is probably the one Peggy listed, and it's a couple steps down from really good.

Installing a video card is not difficult, and I'm confident you can handle it. If you buy something with a junk video card, you will be learning how to do it.

ATI and Nvidia have a sort of standardized convention in naming their video cards that lets you know what kind of performance to expect out of them.

First, with ATI, pass on any card where the first number in the name is a "9". They're old and you don't want one. Nothing I'm going to write from now on applies to them.

The first number in the name indicates the generation of card. ie, 2xxx 3xxx or 4xxx for ATI. 8xxx or 9xxx for Nvidia.

The second number indicates where the card stands performance wise in the line. ATI - x6xxx, x7xxx, Nvidia x6xxx, x8xxx. Higher is better, and you probably don't want anything less than "6" here for very good SL performance. With ATI, the third number counts too and higher is better.

There's a useful chart at the end of the best gaming cards for the money article at Tom's Hardware Guide that lets you know roughly where various cards stack up for 3D games.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-graphics-card,2064-7.html

You'll notice most of the video cards in systems posted in this thread are not on that chart. That's because they aren't made for 3D gaming, and will not enhance your Second Life.

Maylin Murakami

MeatMogul

Join date: 24 Sep 2005

Posts: 179

11-29-2008 16:55

I agree, you win this internet.

It's worth mentioning in threads of this nature, some of the current gen cards from ATi and Nvidia are not being detected by SL yet and are seeing some glitches. (Nvidia 9xxx, GTX 2xx, Radeon HD4xxx are current gen).

Katt Linden

Senior Member

Join date: 31 Mar 2008

Posts: 256

11-29-2008 23:13

I'd appreciate it if you would not fight in the forums -- Thank you!

Bailey Dharnen

Registered User

Join date: 26 Jul 2008

Posts: 14

11-30-2008 07:43

If I were buying a gaming box on a tight budget, I'd look at cyberpowerpc.com

Taff Nouvelle

Virtual Business Owners

Join date: 4 Sep 2006

Posts: 216

11-30-2008 08:14

Try Ebay, there are a lot of companies selling really top spec machines there with long warranttes, you will be pleasantly suprised at what you can get for around $350. Also, go with Windows XP Pro, NOT Vista.
the spec you need is:

dual core CPU, speed at least 2Ghz
Memory (RAM) at least 2Gb
Video card Nvidia 7600 or higher number with at least 256 Mb RAM
Prefer the video card is not integrated, but that is really a personal thing.
O/S WinXP Pro, not XP home or Vista.

The rest does not really matter for your use, Hard drive , DVD drive etc will all be adequate.

nb:
Integrated video cards are built into the mainboard and are usually impossible to upgrade ( unless a socket is provided for a second card ).

Cheap Computers that Handle SL
Briana Dawson Attach to Mouth Join date: 23 Sep 2003 Posts: 5,855	11-29-2008 15:44 My useful "tidbit" was for her to listen to PEGGY. And ignore some others. _____________________ WooT ------------------------------ http://www.secondcitizen.net/Forum/
Peggy Paperdoll A Brat Join date: 15 Apr 2006 Posts: 4,383	11-29-2008 15:47 From: Maylin Murakami For a retail purchased OEM box to work with SL, perhaps. However it is very little hassle to upgrade the video card like a week later or whatever, for users willing to be a little flexible . The OP specifically stated that he/she DID NOT want to have to open the box to upgrade to a better or more powerful hardware device. The OP wants a system capable of running SL RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX. So the sacrafices are somewhere else........to get a good graphics card you have to get something less expensive somewhere else. And the difference in performance of CPU's for use in SL are not that great. An AMD is pretty much the same as an Intell. The CPU speed once your cross the gig line is not a noticable difference. P4 Dual Core vs a Core 2 Dual is minimal...........for SL purposes.....it's all about graphics and RAM anyway.
Osgeld Barmy Registered User Join date: 22 Mar 2005 Posts: 3,336	11-29-2008 15:50 From: Peggy Paperdoll The OP specifically stated that he/she DID NOT want to have to open the box to upgrade to a better or more powerful hardware device. The OP wants a system capable of running SL RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX. So the sacrafices are somewhere else........to get a good graphics card you have to get something less expensive somewhere else. And the difference in performance of CPU's for use in SL are not that great. An AMD is pretty much the same as an Intell. The CPU speed once your cross the gig line is not a noticable difference. P4 Dual Core vs a Core 2 Dual is minimal...........for SL purposes.....it's all about graphics and RAM anyway. aye, when i was actively upgrading whats now my "atari box" or however peggy put it one day... i got the ram, huge difference ! i got the video man thats sweet! i got the CPU, meh is that all?
Maylin Murakami MeatMogul Join date: 24 Sep 2005 Posts: 179	11-29-2008 15:51 Others reading this might do so, the OP may be persuaded since it's easy - I pointed out it is an easy task . What is it with all the angry posts in this forum? I'm not going to play along, thanks.
Peggy Paperdoll A Brat Join date: 15 Apr 2006 Posts: 4,383	11-29-2008 15:52 From: Osgeld Barmy ........ however peggy put it one day... i got the ram, huge difference ! i got the video man thats sweet! i got the CPU, meh is that all? Hahahaha.......I don't remember ever saying that. But it does sound like something I would say.
Osgeld Barmy Registered User Join date: 22 Mar 2005 Posts: 3,336	11-29-2008 15:55 dunno, you called it something obscure from the 80's
Peggy Paperdoll A Brat Join date: 15 Apr 2006 Posts: 4,383	11-29-2008 15:56 From: Maylin Murakami Others reading this might do so, the OP may be persuaded since it's easy - I pointed out it is an easy task . What is it with all the angry posts in this forum? I'm not going to play along, thanks. Easy is relative. You and I think it's easy. That's because you and I have done it before. I don't know about your but the first time I installed a new stick of RAM in my computer I was scared pee-less.
Maylin Murakami MeatMogul Join date: 24 Sep 2005 Posts: 179	11-29-2008 15:58 From: Peggy Paperdoll Easy is relative. You and I think it's easy. That's because you and I have done it before. I don't know about your but the first time I installed a new stick of RAM in my computer I was scared pee-less. But the fact is it is easy, try and succeed or never try and never succeed.
Milla Janick Empress Of The Universe Join date: 2 Jan 2008 Posts: 3,075	11-29-2008 16:48 Sorry for the following bit of techno-elitism, but... The graphics card is the single most important piece of hardware for SL. A Pentium 4 will run SL well with a decent video card, while a brand new quad core system with a crap card is going to suck. Most of the systems listed in this thread have crap graphics cards. The best of the lot is probably the one Peggy listed, and it's a couple steps down from really good. Installing a video card is not difficult, and I'm confident you can handle it. If you buy something with a junk video card, you will be learning how to do it. ATI and Nvidia have a sort of standardized convention in naming their video cards that lets you know what kind of performance to expect out of them. First, with ATI, pass on any card where the first number in the name is a "9". They're old and you don't want one. Nothing I'm going to write from now on applies to them. The first number in the name indicates the generation of card. ie, 2xxx 3xxx or 4xxx for ATI. 8xxx or 9xxx for Nvidia. The second number indicates where the card stands performance wise in the line. ATI - x6xxx, x7xxx, Nvidia x6xxx, x8xxx. Higher is better, and you probably don't want anything less than "6" here for very good SL performance. With ATI, the third number counts too and higher is better. There's a useful chart at the end of the best gaming cards for the money article at Tom's Hardware Guide that lets you know roughly where various cards stack up for 3D games. http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-graphics-card,2064-7.html You'll notice most of the video cards in systems posted in this thread are not on that chart. That's because they aren't made for 3D gaming, and will not enhance your Second Life.
Maylin Murakami MeatMogul Join date: 24 Sep 2005 Posts: 179	11-29-2008 16:55 I agree, you win this internet. It's worth mentioning in threads of this nature, some of the current gen cards from ATi and Nvidia are not being detected by SL yet and are seeing some glitches. (Nvidia 9xxx, GTX 2xx, Radeon HD4xxx are current gen).
Katt Linden Senior Member Join date: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 256	11-29-2008 23:13 I'd appreciate it if you would not fight in the forums -- Thank you!
Bailey Dharnen Registered User Join date: 26 Jul 2008 Posts: 14	11-30-2008 07:43 If I were buying a gaming box on a tight budget, I'd look at cyberpowerpc.com
Taff Nouvelle Virtual Business Owners Join date: 4 Sep 2006 Posts: 216	11-30-2008 08:14 Try Ebay, there are a lot of companies selling really top spec machines there with long warranttes, you will be pleasantly suprised at what you can get for around $350. Also, go with Windows XP Pro, NOT Vista. the spec you need is: dual core CPU, speed at least 2Ghz Memory (RAM) at least 2Gb Video card Nvidia 7600 or higher number with at least 256 Mb RAM Prefer the video card is not integrated, but that is really a personal thing. O/S WinXP Pro, not XP home or Vista. The rest does not really matter for your use, Hard drive , DVD drive etc will all be adequate. nb: Integrated video cards are built into the mainboard and are usually impossible to upgrade ( unless a socket is provided for a second card ).

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Cheap Computers that Handle SL