What PC hardware choice for games?

Hello!

I will be buying a new PC and will be playing WoW or EQ2. Maybe even Vanguard. When it comes to hardware, I'm not very knowlageable. I have two choices and would like your opinion on which one to get.

HP:
Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo processor E6700 (2.66GHz)
Video Card: 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 7500LE, TV-Out, DVI, VGA
Ram: 4GB DDR2-667MHz dual channel SDRAM (4x1024)

Dell:
2. AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual-Core 5600+
Video Card: 256MB ATI Radeon X1300 Pro
Ram: 4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz- 4DIMMs

Please note that I only play MMO's and not games like Doom. Also, I can only afford to pay about $1900.00 USD for my new PC. That is why I only listed the two PC's above.

Your opinions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

(I did post this under the games forums first but thought this forum would be more appropriate for my question).

 

The dell sucks. Go with the HP.

5 reasons.

1) the video card in the HP is a quality midrange card. the dell's is a cheap hunk of junk.

2) The Intel Core 2 Dou processor is much faster. (which pains me to say cuz I like AMD)

3) The dell has bottle necked the processor with the RAM. (go figure, Dell is known for that.) The HP is slightly bottlenecked too, but not near as bad.

4) In my experience HPs are much easier for a PC tech to work with, if something goes wrong. Dells tend to make parts only work with Dell parts, which can be a real pain.

5) I hate Dell with a pasion.

 

Just out of curiousity, what is the price of each of those computer's?

 

HP: 1,740 USD

– Genuine Windows Vista(TM) Home Premium
– Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo processor E6700 (2.66GHz)
– 4GB DDR2-667MHz dual channel SDRAM (4x1024)
– 320GB 7200 rpm SATA hard drive
– LightScribe 16X DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti drive
– 15-in-1 memory card reader, 3 USB, 1394, audio
– HP stereo speakers
– No Modem
– No TV Tuner w/remote control
– 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 7500LE, TV-Out, DVI, VGA
– Integrated 7.1 channel sound w/front audio ports
– HP Keyboard, HP Scroller Mouse
– Microsoft(R) Works 8.0
– Norton Internet Security(TM) 2007 - 15 Months
– HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope

Dell: 1,640 USD

Dell Dimension E521 AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual-Core 5600+
Operating System FREE Upgrade to Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium w/1GB memory
Memory 4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz- 4DIMMs
Keyboard Dell USB Keyboard and Dell 2-button Scroll Mouse
Monitor 20 inch E207WFP Widescreen Digital Flat Panel
Video Card 256MB ATI Radeon X1300 Pro
Hard Drive 250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™
Floppy Drive and Media Reader No Floppy Drive Included
Mouse Mouse included in Wireless, Laser or Bluetooth Package
Network Interface Integrated 10/100 Ethernet
Modem 56K PCI Data Fax Modem
Adobe Software Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 7.0
CD ROM/DVD ROM 16x DVD+/-RW Drive
Sound Cards Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
Speakers Dell AS501PA 10W Flat Panel Attached Spkrs for Analog Flat Panels

 

yeah, definitely spend the extra $100 for the HP. Actually, I think the only reason the Dell is so expensive is because of the monitor. All the other specs really aren't that good. If you need a modem you can easily purchase one for not too much. Last time I bought one they were $50 but that was in the Ice Age. I bet they are cheaper now. The HP comes with Microsoft Works too which is really nice. Dells usually just give you Word Perfect which is a crappy word processor.

Does the HP come with a monitor? I don't know if you need a new monitor or not. IMO, any old peice of junk monitor will work. A monitor is a monitor as long as you are satisfied with the picture. Im still using a 6 year old CRT. (It was High quality back in the day lmao)

Oh yeah, FYI, HP has been voted the most popular PC among consumers.

 

I would think for $1900 US dollars you could probably build a better gaming system your self and tweak your parts to fit your needs and desires. But then again I am not a gamer so I may be wrong. Of course this would be for someone ready to build one themselves.

 

I totally agree. For $1500 you can build yourself a screaming gamer. Not only that, but YOU get to choose the components.

 

Not everyone is ready to build themselves their own computer. Yes, I would recomend it too, but not everyone wants to build their own system or feels comfortable doing it.

 

PROCESSOR Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E6400 (2MB L2 Cache,2.13GHz,1066 FSB) edit
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium edit
MEMORY 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 2 DIMMs edit
HARD DRIVE 250GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™ edit
OPTICAL DRIVE Dual Drives: 48x Combo + 16x DVD+/-RW w/ dbl layer write capable edit
MONITORS 20 inch E207WFP Widescreen Digital Flat Panel edit
VIDEO CARD 256MB nVidia GeForce 7900 GS edit
SOUND CARD Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio edit
My Accessories
SPEAKERS Dell AS501PA 10W Flat Panel Attached Spkrs for Analog Flat Panels edit
KEYBOARD & MOUSE Dell USB Keyboard edit
MOUSE Dell Optical USB Mouse edit
FLOPPY & MEDIA READER No Floppy Drive Included edit
MODEM 56K PCI Data Fax Modem edit
My Software
PRODUCTIVITY No productivity suite- Includes Microsoft Works 8. DOES NOT INCLUDE MS WORD edit
ANTI-VIRUS & SECURITY Norton Internet Security™ 2007 Edition 15-months edit
PHOTOS, MUSIC & MORE! No preinstalled software edit

$1469 plus shipping Plus room for more

 

???????????????????????????????????????

what on earth are you trying to say?

 

He's trying to show you what just built for under $1500.00.

If you aren't ready to build, then by all means buy one. We would recommend that you post some potential choices for review, however. You can pay an awful lot of money for computers that have the really good hardware invested in the wrong places.

A quad core with onboard video still won't handle games well. There is an absolutely dizzying array of video cards on the market, some are great, some not so great. But if you don't want to build your own, you can get yourself a great gaming machine if you do your homework and shop. We would be glad to help you with that!

 

You have all been very helpful. Thank you. I have deceided to build my own PC.

 

In that case, let us know what other questions you might have, if any.