Please help me with Memory and Video Cards.

256MB PCI Express? x16 (DVI/VGA/TV-out) nVidia GeForce 6800

256MB Nvidia GeForce 7800 GTX

Can I get the 6800 one and be extremely happy with it if I play World of Warcraft and the Sims 2? Or Do I have to get the 7800 one?

Also, would it be just as good to get the 2.8 one rather than the 3.0 or 3.2 one out of these choices?

Pentium? D Processor 840 with Dual Core Technology (3.20GHz, 800FSB)

Pentium? D Processor 830 with Dual Core Technology (3GHz, 800FSB)

Pentium? D Processor 820 with Dual Core Technology (2.80GHz, 800FSB)

Finally

Would 80G of memory be good enough or should I go with 100 or more? Or would 60 G be just as fine. I want to put a few MP3's and a few pictures and run World of Warcraft and the Sims 2 as well as use microsoft word a lot!

 

cocorubs,

I have the 6800 Go and it will play the Sims 2 and WoW on the highest settings with great framerates.

As for the processor, you will not need much. I would save your money to upgrade the RAM...depending on how much you have already. Go with the 820...you will hardly see any improvement with the step up and it is costly jump.

The thought with the hard drive for what you say you need it for I would go for the 60-80GB HDD and make it a 5200RPM, saves money and battery life.

Just my thoughts.

 

So go with the 8200 Processor with 2.8 GHZ

Go with the 6800 one instead of the 7800 (can you explain what I would need the 7800 for anyway?)

Go with 60-80 GB harddrive with 5200 RPM, that would definitely play World of Warcraft and The Sims 2 at an extremely good framerate where I wouldn't have to worry about freezing or slowdowns?

And about the monitor, should I go with the 19 inch Analog Flat Panel or the Ultrasharp 17 inch Digital Flat Panel?

Also, go with 2 GB of memory or go with 1 GB or more than 2 GB?

I would to put around 100-200 mp3's and a lot of writings done on Microsoft word as well as around 100 pictures or less.

Oh, and what do you mean about upgrading the RAM where would that be on the spec sheets? Would that be the memory? Like this? Which one of these RAM choice would you pick for what I need? and Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it.

512MB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz - 2DIMMs
1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz- 2DIMMs
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz- 4DIMMs
4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz- 4DIMMs
1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 2 DIMMs
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 2 DIMMs

 

For the video card....if it is a 7800 GTX it is a great card, but kind of expensive. You don't seem to do as much advanced gaming for the need of that card. That is why I said the 6800 Go is good enough.

You must be talking about a desktop systems, so for the RAM I would go with the 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz- 4DIMMs. 512MB sticks are cheaper than 1 GB sticks. The only thing is if you find RAM for cheaper you might want to go with the 2x1GB sticks 2DIMM's.

As for the hard drive. With that I will go with the 80GB. The music with 200 files x about 5MB a piece is only about 1GB, so you should have plenty of room.

As for the monitor it is personal choice. Personally I would go the 19-inch, because it is bigger. But like I said, it is personal choice.

Hope this helps.

 

So as long as I know that the 6800 will play Sims 2 and World of Warcraft without any problems. I will get that.

I guess everyone says the 2 GB, so I will settle for that also. It seems good enough for what I need

We are definitely talking about a desktop. And you say that the Analog Flat Panel monitor is just as good as the Ultra Sharp Digital one, right? If so, then I will go with the Analog 19 inch Flat Panel one.

Thanks for all of the help, I am a little apprehensive about not ordering the 7800, but to save 280.00, and knowing that the 6800 will play World Of Warcraft and Sims 2 flawlessly, I will go with the 6800 one.

I guess that is it, thanks again.

 

Yeah, 2GB is what you want for games, especially the latest ones.

I really would get an AMD Athlon X2 if you can [the 3800+ model], it is faster than the Intel 820 by a good bit.

Sure you want an analog panel? I would go for a digital, better picture.

 

It is just a regular 6800 would that matter or does it have to be a 6800 GTX? Or a number with the initials behind it?

 

I ordered the 6800 one, and ordered the computer. Thank you so much for all of your help, I hope that I have a lot of fun with it.

 

No such thing as a 6800 GTX - there's a GS, GT, and Ultra though.

Congrats! You will be very satisfied with the 6800. Running games at maximum settings is great.

 

Sorry to dig up this thead on desktops, but if someone doesn't mind answering, I also have some related questions on this same area.

I am buying similarly to the above, but moreso of advance gaming, multi-player games online and the such & want to buy a baby that won't kill me $$, but also isn't obsolete in 1 year.

So - for the RAM - is it worth the extra $ for speed to go from the 533 to the 667? I am leaning towards the 2 GB - 667, if it is worth the price over the 2 GB - 533?

1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz- 2DIMMs
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz- 4DIMMs

1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 2 DIMMs
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 2 DIMMs


Also - have the same dilemna of the vid card... should I go -
256MB PCI Express™ x16 nVidia GeForce 6800
or spring for the 256MB Nvidia GeForce 7800 GTX
(or even the Dual 256MB PCI Express™ x16 nVidia GeForce 6800, which is essentially the same cost as the GTX)?

BTW - other specs include Pentium® 4 Processor 670 with HT & 250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive.

Thank you again in advance!
Teo

 

2GB of 667Mhz RAM should not be $533...I bought 2GB of PC-4200 533Mhz RAM from Transcend (Samsung) on Newegg.com for $170 Delivered.

As for the video card question I believe that I will leave that one to Chazman.

 

How much more is the 667 over the 533? If it is $10 or $20 I would say go for it, but if it is too much for you, then I wouldn't worry about it. The memory speed won't really change your performance, it would be unnoticable.

I would get a single 7800GTX over two 6800's - it is more cost efficent.

How much are you spending on a video card? I would go for a 7800GT, that is not much slower than the 7800GTX, especially if you get an overclocked version.

 

The 667 is $100 more than the 533... or I could save $60 by going with just - 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz- 4 DIMMs (instead of the 2 DIMMs).


Here are my vid card options & pricing - (DELL build)

256MB PCI Express™ x16 (DVI/VGA/TV-out) nVidia GeForce 6800 [subtract $280]

* 256MB Nvidia GeForce 7800 GTX [Included in Price]

Dual 256MB PCI Express™ x16 (DVI/VGA/TV-out) nVidia GeForce 6800 [add $50]

Dual 256MB Nvidia GeForce 7800 GTX with SLI Technology [add $500]


Thank you again!
Teo

 

I would go with the 7800GTX. The dual 6800's are not worth it. Since they are the regular 6800's, they would probably be slower than a single 7800GTX.

Hm . . $100 is a lot. Have you thought about upgrading the RAM aftermarket? That would be cheaper than getting it from Dell, unless it already comes with 2G.

With the four dimms, you save money, but if you want to add memory in the future, you'll have to remove two sticks. I'd say go for the 2x1GB DDR2-533.