What are THE best specs for a gaming pc?

Want to buy a new one...but don't know whether to go with an ATI or an Nvidia video card ...have most of the other specs down...like an AMD dual processor...and 1-2G DRAM.

Zonax has had probs with his ATI, wonder if others have ?

Please give me your opinion, on all specs..if you have one...ty

I hate my ATI video card. I'd go with nVidia.

I suggest calling LL cust support. I did when I bought one and they were very helpfull.

I got a Dell XPS gaming laptop... it's awsome if you can afford it!!!

EDIT: This may be a little long winded and confusing. I'll try to summarize at the end.

I think it really depends on how much your budget is, honestly. A little money goes a long way lately. You can build a decent machine for Photoshop, SL and Oblivion that's casual enough for $700-800 just fine. Maybe even $600 or so if you're really strained.

AMD is pretty much the best bet at the moment, over Intel, though in a year that may change. For the moment, stick with AMD.

Really, you should be looking at a Socket 939 NForce4-based motherboard for AMD chips with 2GB of DDR 3200 RAM since it's pretty cheap. I tend to stick to manafacturers like MSI for motherboards, though ASUS and Gigabyte aren't bad, either. The MSI K8N Neo4-F motherboard will likely suit you. For RAM brands, you can't really go wrong with Crucial or Corsair for brands, don't worry about buying the most expensive DDR 3200 sticks, either, since timing performance is more of a last-mile thing for most users. Just look for a 2GB kit that comes with two 1GB sticks you can use together.

For a processor, you're likely going to want at minimum a Socket 939 AMD Athlon 64 3200+ chip (Venice core), I'd actually suggest strongly a 3700+ for a single-core processor or a 4400+ X2 dual-core processor, since they both have 1MB of L2 cache per core which can help a good deal with some applications and they're very good performers without costing a total arm and leg.

For a video card, since you'll be playing Second Life, most people swear by nVidia, due to past history of issues with ATI cards (which isn't the case anymore, but people have long memories). I honestly thing the GeForce 6600 256MB cards out there are a very good minimum card where you aren't really cutting many corners, but likely you'll want a GeForce 7800 series card or one of the upcoming GeForce 8000 cards which will fully support DirectX 10 and thus Windows Vista's extra effects and upcoming DirectX 10 cards. You'll want these to be PCI Express (PCIe) cards, by the way, since that's the current thing to use in video cards and will likely be for some years to come. The motherboard I mentioned above uses PCIe.

For hard drives, I tend to like Seagate SATA drives due to their five year warranty and their usual median of performance, not the fastest, coolest or quietest.. but no one has 'all three' of those attributes, anyway, it's more like 'pick one'. A 250GB drive will set you back just a hundred bucks, but you can certainly go much larger.

Otherwise, you're just looking at stuff like an optical drive (Any Lite-On, NEC or Benq dual-layer DVD-+RW drive for $40 or so will be fine), maybe a floppy drive (Teac, Sony, Mitsumi, etc.. doesn't matter. $10) and a case. Cases tend to be by preference, but for cheaper ones with a Power Supply already included, the ones from Cooler Master aren't so bad and look pretty decent. If you really wanna go all out, I really like the unassuming and well thought-out Lian Li cases, specifically the PC-60 line of cases. With the Lian Li, though, you'll have to get your own power supply -- The Thermaltake PurePower line isn't a bad idea and likely won't ever blow out on you or choke under strain and isn't overkill like the PC Power and Cooling gear.

Everything else you may need, from sound, to ethernet, etc.. is usually all provided by the motherboard now.

I realize this might read like gibberish to someone inexperienced, but it may help give a more general idea to your question on what's out there. Realistically look to be spending from around $700 to $1,500 for a computer that will be good for probably everything you'd want to do with it.

Honestly, if this scares you.. look into getting a pre-built and keep in mind the sort of video card, the processor and the ammount of RAM you want, which I sorta outlined above and let Dell, HP, whoever.. worry about the rest for you. Here's what I'd suggest for someone a bit more serious with more cash to blow:

- 2GB of RAM
- AMD X2 4400+ CPU
- nVidia GeForce 7800 series card (maybe an 8000 if you wait for it to come out)

If you feel like spending more consider an X2 4800+ or.. a lot more.. an FX-60. Second Life will love you for spending more on the CPU than on the graphics card, honestly.

Very true, but if the OP plays games other than SL, then they're gonna need both. Bare minimum Video card for gaming= GeForce 6600. But they also have to consider AGP or PCI-E? AGP is starting to disappear as games are starting to come out to take advantage of the PCI-Express & SLI video cards.

OR they could wait till later this year when AMD releases the M2 series which will support DDR2 memory. And if they're really patient, and have the $$$$, the Quad Video Card systems will come out later this year too. 4 Video Cards running as one? Oh YEA!

I'm opting for some of the 'spensive specs so I better buy this fast (so it's less painful.) And ty all for your great advice. I'm not that patient to wait for the nVidia 9000...but am doing an 8900...and praying that right after I plug everything in a virus doesn't touch my new, shiny, fast, credit card chomping pc !


Cheers!!!

P.S. & BTW: One salesperson at 'Wizard Computers' had no idea how to decrease lag in Second Life, but she did know a great deal about the game. She says that not much helps, not even the most sophisticated 'user end' hardware. BUT she was positive that if HER product didn't help, NO one's will. So, a huge thankyou to P.Linden's sister as well

The PC 350 is pretty good.

I saw specs but read spices and was about to suggest cinnamon and cloves....

I have nothing substantive to add to this thread

Meh, specs. I think a dual core for gaming is overkill to be honest.

One is a private co, I think, and the other co. was bought by Dell a bit ago.
Both have some really great customizable pc's. ONLY problem is that the cases are a bit much Some cinnamon will definitely be used to give it a 'homey' touch!

If you are really rich check this out http://www.falcon-nw.com/flash/

I want one so bad I could cry.

They don't seem to have the snafu's of Digital Storm and have more DRAM and extras for the dollar than Alienware. (Since ALienware was acquired by Dell..they may ALSO have lived down their snafu's which are almost as bad as Dig Storm) BUT Pew-jay has a stirling customer review record.

Now..that falcon, mach-something..V?/5..thing is way over priced for the specs, it seems, when you compare it to ..oh..a lovely little thing from Puget..which I am going to get asap. And Isorta guessed it WOULD be overpriced from their site. The last time I visited a clumsy attempt at elegance like that was at an online Neiman Marcus site

But, I only have you guys to thank for getting the right thing here. I am a Polish, blonde and a Luddite. A triple threat when I call up a pc store. Ty all so much !

They don't seem to have the snafu's of Digital Storm and have more DRAM and extras for the dollar than Alienware. (Since Alienware was acquired by Dell..Alienware may ALSO have lived down their snafu's which are almost as bad as Dig Storm) BUT Pew-jay has a stirling customer review record.

Now..that falcon, mach-something..V?/5..thing is way overpriced for the specs, it seems, when you compare it to ..oh..a lovely little thing from Puget..which I am going to get asap. And I sorta guessed the falcon/mach WOULD be overpriced from their site. The last time I visited a clumsy attempt at elegance like that was at an online Neiman Marcus site

But, I only have you guys to thank for getting the right thing here. I am a Polish blonde and a Luddite. A triple threat when I call up a pc store. Ty !

There there, Susie, please don't cry.

It drives us nuts!

But isn't SL kinda overkill on a system in regards to ram/cpu/disk use?

Briana Dawson