Second Life Forums Archive - new pc for sl this any good ?

altic Plasma

Registered User

Join date: 15 Mar 2006

Posts: 118

11-27-2008 17:10

hi all

i need to get a new PC is will this one run SL okay on high settings ?

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/-/656/863/-/5890645/Hewlett-Packard-Pavilion-A6541-Phenom-8450-4GB-500GB-DVD-SM-Vista-Home-Premium-64Bit-Desktop-PC/Product.html?searchtype=genre

i know its not a great one but will it be okay ?

Peggy Paperdoll

A Brat

Join date: 15 Apr 2006

Posts: 4,383

11-27-2008 17:17

It should do fine with SL.

You might have to search around for grahics card driver but it shouldn't much of an issue for you.........just make sure you search for 64 bit drivers.

Chosen Few

Alpha Channel Slave

Join date: 16 Jan 2004

Posts: 7,496

11-27-2008 19:31

It looks kind of OK, but not anything I would ever buy. First, the GeForce 9500 is a low end video card. It will run SL, but it won't run it terribly well. For good performance in the 9 series, you want at least a 9600, preferably a 9800.

Second, the chipset in that machine is 4 years out of date. It's nForce 4 series, which was released in 2004. I'm not sure why they'd want to match a relatively recent processor like a Phenom with such an old chipset. It doesn't seem to make much sense. Technically, it's compatible, since Phenoms are socket AM2, which is supposedly compatibile with socket 939, which is what's in the nForce 4 series boards, but I have to believe it's less than ideal match.

How much are they charging for that machine, by the way? I didn't see a price listed on the page you linked. If it's really cheap, and your budget is low, then I'd say maybe it's worth it. But chances are you could probably put together a better system for just slightly more money, if not the same amount.

Alvaro Zapatero

O.o

Join date: 7 Jun 2008

Posts: 650

11-27-2008 19:48

Get yourself an iMac and you'll be just fine.

Kasuga Hax

Hanja Welcome Area Helper

Join date: 6 Aug 2007

Posts: 284

11-28-2008 00:24

From: Alvaro Zapatero

Get yourself an iMac and you'll be just fine.

Yeah right...

SL requires an insane videocard, the HP you will buy has a 9500.
Although it's a 9 series, my 8800GTS is probably faster.

Go for a Quad core PC, and Nvidea graphics. 88 series, 98 series, and watch the "GT" versions, these are the ones you want.

Steer FAR away from the "GS" "LE" and the likes. These are videocards build to run low profile PC's. cheapness that is HP.

Better just build your own system. Then you know what you have

_____________________

Reality is an illusion, caused due to lack of alcohol.

Als een rommelig bureau een rommelige geest betekent, wat betekent dan een leeg bureau?

De kwaliteitsverbeteringsinitiatieven.

Blot Brickworks

The end of days

Join date: 28 Oct 2006

Posts: 1,076

11-28-2008 03:06

Yes iI want to know the price too, looks an expensive site.

_____________________

Blots Plot @ THE OLD MERMAID INN
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dunbeath
/206/85/26

http://phillplasma.com/2009/05/01/blots-plot-the-old-mermaid-inn/

Kyllie Wylie

J-Rocker

Join date: 7 Mar 2008

Posts: 489

11-28-2008 06:50

Get one with a better Video card.. matching a Phenom to a 9500 GS is like buying a Corvette then ripping off the Fuel injection system and putting a 1965 2 barrel carborator on it.

In Nvidia speak the "GS" designation should stand for "Gutted Severly"

When looking at Nvidia cards the second number is the one to watch for.
The First Number is the Generation the second is the power rating.

There really isnt much difference between the 8xxx and 9xxx nvidia cards in terms of power, the big difference between the two is the 9xxx cards supports Dirext X 10 which means zero to playing SL as its an OpenGL game.

I would say the best Nvidia card for the money right now are the 8800GT or the 9600GT
Look for those cards in a machine.

new pc for sl this any good ?
altic Plasma Registered User Join date: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 118	11-27-2008 17:10 hi all i need to get a new PC is will this one run SL okay on high settings ? http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/-/656/863/-/5890645/Hewlett-Packard-Pavilion-A6541-Phenom-8450-4GB-500GB-DVD-SM-Vista-Home-Premium-64Bit-Desktop-PC/Product.html?searchtype=genre i know its not a great one but will it be okay ?
Peggy Paperdoll A Brat Join date: 15 Apr 2006 Posts: 4,383	11-27-2008 17:17 It should do fine with SL. You might have to search around for grahics card driver but it shouldn't much of an issue for you.........just make sure you search for 64 bit drivers.
Chosen Few Alpha Channel Slave Join date: 16 Jan 2004 Posts: 7,496	11-27-2008 19:31 It looks kind of OK, but not anything I would ever buy. First, the GeForce 9500 is a low end video card. It will run SL, but it won't run it terribly well. For good performance in the 9 series, you want at least a 9600, preferably a 9800. Second, the chipset in that machine is 4 years out of date. It's nForce 4 series, which was released in 2004. I'm not sure why they'd want to match a relatively recent processor like a Phenom with such an old chipset. It doesn't seem to make much sense. Technically, it's compatible, since Phenoms are socket AM2, which is supposedly compatibile with socket 939, which is what's in the nForce 4 series boards, but I have to believe it's less than ideal match. How much are they charging for that machine, by the way? I didn't see a price listed on the page you linked. If it's really cheap, and your budget is low, then I'd say maybe it's worth it. But chances are you could probably put together a better system for just slightly more money, if not the same amount.
Alvaro Zapatero O.o Join date: 7 Jun 2008 Posts: 650	11-27-2008 19:48 Get yourself an iMac and you'll be just fine.
Kasuga Hax Hanja Welcome Area Helper Join date: 6 Aug 2007 Posts: 284	11-28-2008 00:24 From: Alvaro Zapatero Get yourself an iMac and you'll be just fine. Yeah right... SL requires an insane videocard, the HP you will buy has a 9500. Although it's a 9 series, my 8800GTS is probably faster. Go for a Quad core PC, and Nvidea graphics. 88 series, 98 series, and watch the "GT" versions, these are the ones you want. Steer FAR away from the "GS" "LE" and the likes. These are videocards build to run low profile PC's. cheapness that is HP. Better just build your own system. Then you know what you have _____________________ Reality is an illusion, caused due to lack of alcohol. Als een rommelig bureau een rommelige geest betekent, wat betekent dan een leeg bureau? De kwaliteitsverbeteringsinitiatieven.
Blot Brickworks The end of days Join date: 28 Oct 2006 Posts: 1,076	11-28-2008 03:06 Yes iI want to know the price too, looks an expensive site. _____________________ Blots Plot @ THE OLD MERMAID INN http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dunbeath /206/85/26 http://phillplasma.com/2009/05/01/blots-plot-the-old-mermaid-inn/
Kyllie Wylie J-Rocker Join date: 7 Mar 2008 Posts: 489	11-28-2008 06:50 Get one with a better Video card.. matching a Phenom to a 9500 GS is like buying a Corvette then ripping off the Fuel injection system and putting a 1965 2 barrel carborator on it. In Nvidia speak the "GS" designation should stand for "Gutted Severly" When looking at Nvidia cards the second number is the one to watch for. The First Number is the Generation the second is the power rating. There really isnt much difference between the 8xxx and 9xxx nvidia cards in terms of power, the big difference between the two is the 9xxx cards supports Dirext X 10 which means zero to playing SL as its an OpenGL game. I would say the best Nvidia card for the money right now are the 8800GT or the 9600GT Look for those cards in a machine.

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new pc for sl this any good ?