Another Getting-a-New PC Thread

Hi, All –

I’m getting a new pc and hope to get comments on this configuration. I’ve been reading the other recent threads on this topic, which have helped a lot. My goal is to optimize SL -- I don’t do anything else that needs a lot of muscle.

I would also appreciate advice as to whether the upgrades listed are worth the money in terms of increased SL performance. (The $1K would hurt, but I could do it if it will make a *big* difference.)

Many thanks!

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XPS 630 Intel® Core™2 Q6600 Quad-Core (8MB L2 cache,2.40GHz,1066FSB)
Operating System XP Professional
Memory 4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz - 4 DIMMs
Video Card nVidia® GeForce® 8800 GTX 768MB
Hard Drive 500GB - 7200RPM, SATA 3.0Gb/s, 16MB Cache
Power Supply 750 watts

Processor Upgrades
Intel® Core™2 E8500 (6MB,3.16 GHz, 1333FSB), add $150
Intel® Core™2 Extreme QX6850 (8MB,3.0GHz, 1333FSB), add $1,000

Memory Upgrades
2GB Corsair Dominator DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz-2 DIMMs, add $220)
4GB Corsair Dominator DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz -4 DIMMs, add $420)

I have a Lenovo with the same CPU. I have 3 gigs of the same RAM you are getting. NVidia 8600GT (256 on board) and Windows Vista. I run SL superblly so I would say you should also............without upgrading. If you XP pro is 32 bit then 1 gig of that RAM will be unregognized by XP. But I wouldn't toss it.........you never know you might need it some day.

Save your money for the upgrades. What you are getting without them is more than adequate for SL.

That's what I was thinking but needed confirmation.

Thanks.

Hi Scott. If you intend to do any sort of demanding thing WHILE you use SL, or habitually use more than one instance of SL at a time, the quad-core will help considerably. But SL on its own will not run appreciably faster in a quad-core environment than on a dual-core. The application is not structured to take advantage of multiprocessing - most games aren't.

Re: the video card: if you can afford the 8800GTX 768 comfortably, then go for it. But many of us on the forums went for the much more economical 8800GT (mine is a 512), and SL seems to run great. That said, the GTX has very impressive specs that I'm sure will come in handy as SL continues to evolve.
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I prefer the xps 7000 but ? I havent looked at the one your looking at.

I run in Ultra all the bling at 128k draw and everything maxed on the below set up at about 20-35 FPS 80% of the time! was 1600usd a year ago