Is this computer good?

Moromaster

Are these specs good, and is it price efficient?

http://www.elara.ie/products/detailsfull…ode=ECE1818296#

I'm hoping to run more advanced games like Crysis and COD6.

Biggins

You should have no problem running the games.
Good to see your getting DDR3 type ram.
HP is a good overall machine. I'd expect to pay a little more for their machines sometimes.

I wouldn't fret too much about major problems with this - no more than any other machine.

swirlser

Am I looking at the same machine you are? A GT220 for gaming.....

Blazer

You'd be lucky to play solitaire on it let alone crysis

Forget about it..look for a pc with at least one of the below video cards.
ATI 4870
ATI 480X2
Nvidia GTX260
Nvidia GTX275
Nvidia GTX280
Nvidia GTX285
Nvidia GTX295
ATI 5850

johnc24

my only observation would be regarding the power supply, in terms of upgradeability with newer graphics cards or other bits and pieces that demand more power these will inevitibly cause instabilty issues down the line as the power supply can not up up with the power requirements.

My advice is try and build your own PC, its not as hard as people say.

just get advice from the building and upgrading section regarding components and compatibility.

just go over and tell what you want to be able to do with the PC and they will put some reccommendations if u ask nicely....

John

CrinkElite

that's a very poor graphics card and a piss poor powersupply, there are no specific brands mentioned at all so it's safe to assume you'll be getting the cheapest components possible,
bottom line.
AVOID THIS ONE LIKE THE PLAGUE!

uberpixie

Moromaster wrote: »

Are these specs good, and is it price efficient?

http://www.elara.ie/products/detailsfull…ode=ECE1818296#

I'm hoping to run more advanced games like Crysis and COD6.

As noted above by swirlser/crinkelite: the gfx card is VERY weak for games.
You will be able to play modern games on this PC: BUT at very low resolutions and very low game detail.

The PC is your standard OEM box: nice cpu and ram topped off with a crap gfx card and a low power PSU which limits your upgrade options severely.
This pc is not a bad spec at all for a home/multimedia use PC but it is not geared towards games at all in any way, shape or form.

Your choices are very limited in this country regrading gaming PCs.

You either go Dell/Alienware and pay at least €1400 for a pretty bad value spec or you go custom build from an online company/local pc builder. Or you do what I and a lot of people here do which is build it yourself and get a much better value for your money.

example online builders: http://www4.hardwareversand.de/home.jsp?lid=2
(they only accept payment via account transfer, but have a good rep)
you could also check with scan.co.uk and see if they will ship their 3x gaming systems to Ireland.
http://3xs.scan.co.uk/Category.asp?SystemMasterCategoryID=20
UK sites may be your best bet as the UK market is very competitive on price for gaming pcs

Biggins

swirlser wrote: »

Am I looking at the same machine you are? A GT220 for gaming.....

True, missed that part.
If the graphics were upgraded, he shouldn't hit too many problems though with standard use.
Heavy gaming then might be questionable. The above are correct.

swirlser

uberpixie wrote: »

you could also check with scan.co.uk and see if they will ship their 3x gaming systems to Ireland.
http://3xs.scan.co.uk/Category.asp?SystemMasterCategoryID=20
UK sites may be your best bet as the UK market is very competitive on price for gaming pcs

Scan do ship to Ireland, but their warranty doesnt cover mailing costs if something bad happens...

http://www.computerplanet.co.uk/ would be a cheaper option (Same deal as scan otherwise)

Biggins wrote: »

True, missed that part.
If the graphics were upgraded, he shouldn't hit too many problems though with standard use.
Heavy gaming then might be questionable. The above are correct.

I disagree, there is virtually no redeeming quality to that machine, its essentially an extremely over priced HTPC

Moromaster

Could I just improve the GPU? Wouldn't that be cheaper then going out and buying a different rig.

I can't go about 1k.

uberpixie

Moromaster wrote: »

Could I just improve the GPU? Wouldn't that be cheaper then going out and buying a different rig.

I can't go about 1k.

The power supply in the above PC you listed is VERY low.

Gfx cards require a lot of power, if your power supply is too low you can't run good gfx cards.

There is only a 300W unit in that HP PC, this will severely limit your choices: you will be using budget gfx cards and nothing anywhere near mainstream/performance gfx cards.
You would need a good quailty 400-500W PSU for a gaming PC, and I mean a "GOOD QUALITY" psu not some deathtrap bought in PC World or Maplins for €50.....

You want gaming systems: then buy a proper dedicated gaming PC which will have a proper case with good airflow to deal with all the heat generated by the gfx card and will have a good power supply from a PC builder or build one.

Buying a dedicated gaming rig will be better value than buying a shoite box and upgrading it. Value OEM PCs are NOT ideal for high end gfx cards. Thier cases are not designed to deal with the extra heat and their power supplys are too weak and limited for good gfx cards.

Better in the long run to buy/build a PROPER gaming PC.

swirlser

Moromaster wrote: »

Could I just improve the GPU? Wouldn't that be cheaper then going out and buying a different rig.

I can't go about 1k.

No. (Too much trouble on that cut-down mobo & psu ...)

Heres what a grand will get you from a computerplanet (includes delivery)



Shall run your games fine.

Moromaster

swirlser wrote: »

No. (Too much trouble on that cut-down mobo & psu ...)

Heres what a grand will get you from a computerplanet (includes delivery)



Shall run your games fine.

Could I have a link please?

swirlser

Moromaster wrote: »

Could I have a link please?

http://www.computerplanet.co.uk/custom/phenomddr3/step1.html

Moromaster

Is this good?

Processor {Speed}: Q8400 Core 2 Quad 3.00Ghz
Memory {Performance}: 4GB Installed DDR 2 1066Mhz
Hard Disk {Storage}: 250 Gigabyte Hard Disk Drive
Optical Drive: Optical DVD 16X Rewriter
Video Card {Graphics}: ATI Radeon HD4650 512MB
Sound Card {Audio}: 6 Chanel High Definition Audio
Monitor {Display}: 19'' TFT Wide Screen Monitor
Keyboard & Mouse: PS/2 Keyboard & Optical Mouse
Operating System O/S: Windows Vista Home Premium
Networking {Broadband}: 10/100 Port Installed

johnc24

Simply, what will you be using the PC for?

just games, photo processing, video editing, internet..... give us a clue

CrinkElite

have a look at this

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/1590/sapphire_radeon_hd_4670_in_crossfire/index.html

Skip to the benchmarks section, it will give you an idea of how the card performs against others.

Note."Crossfire" means two cards working simultaneously. (it's expensive and power hungry)

Moromaster

johnc24 wrote: »

Simply, what will you be using the PC for?

just games, photo processing, video editing, internet..... give us a clue

I already said in the OP, modern games and image editing.

johnc24

Like myself I also do some image editing along with playing games not the latest and greatest mind but all you may need to do would be get a similar rig to my own and change the GPU for something better.

see below at signature area for rig

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/165238
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/173104
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/172821
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/173804 X 2
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/172755
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/172654
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/169490
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/173868

That rig cost me £700. Tweak it to your budget.

Image editing wont need a killer machine but "modern games" such as crysis will prob need a bit more.

swirlser

Moromaster wrote: »

Is this good?

Processor {Speed}: Q8400 Core 2 Quad 3.00Ghz
Memory {Performance}: 4GB Installed DDR 2 1066Mhz
Hard Disk {Storage}: 250 Gigabyte Hard Disk Drive
Optical Drive: Optical DVD 16X Rewriter
Video Card {Graphics}: ATI Radeon HD4650 512MB
Sound Card {Audio}: 6 Chanel High Definition Audio
Monitor {Display}: 19'' TFT Wide Screen Monitor
Keyboard & Mouse: PS/2 Keyboard & Optical Mouse
Operating System O/S: Windows Vista Home Premium
Networking {Broadband}: 10/100 Port Installed

Thats similar to the first machine you linked, ie not a games machine and if Im not mistaken thats taken from custompc.ie website (not a place Id recommend!)

Heres a lil Crysis graph with the GT220 (And the HD 4650 would be about the same result)

(^ Frames per second)

Now, admittedly I dont think you will be playing at that res, but you get the idea... you really dont want under a HD 4870 for gaming

You should certainly go for Windows 7 over Vista.

If you need a monitor also, then Id suggest you alter the last spec I gave, drop RAM down to the slower clock 4GB, GPU down to the HD4870/GTX260, HD down to 500GB (honestly wouldnt go lower than this, u will eat that space up pretty easy) and a slightly smaller case if you really must hack the budget to free up 170ish quid to buy a monitor, which should get you a decent enough 20-something inch monitor.