Buying a new PC and need some opinions

I am looking at several new HP pcs I want to purchase and of course I want to run No Limits on which ever one I pick. I am leaning towards a AMD 64 x2 2.7ghz with 3gb of ram. I know I will have to buy and install a videocard because the current set up won't cut it.

I guess my question is does the above processor and speed sound like it will cut it and what video card would all of you recommend I install? Now money is a little bit of an issue so I can't go nuts with a videocard. Maybe $150.00 max.

Model of pc can be viewed here...

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/HP-Pavilion-a6532f-Desktop-PC-KT374AA-ABA/sem/rpsm/oid/213651/catOid/-12962/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

Hey,

Personally I would stick with and Intel Duo instead of AMD. They (in my opinion) are faster and better built. I don't think HP has many models that have them, but Dell makes great computers also. The 2.7ghz of sounds good, mine is the same speed with 4GB of RAM and it is the fastest and clearest computer I have ever owned.

I'd custom build a Dell Vostro Machine so you can get XP Pro on it. (Preinstalled) I'd then dump 2gb of ram in it. Get the Intel Dual Core 2.8ghz processor. I'd get the 256 AT Radeon Video Card. You can get all this for under a $1000 with no Monitor and 1 year warranties.

Good luck! Best of all the Vostro line doesn't come preloaded with all the trail software and stuff. These are business line but Dell is selling to the home user.

If you get a Vista machine make sure you have a min of 3gb of memory.

www.dell.com/vostro

There are plenty of great, cheap graphics cards out there that will handle NL without complaint. I bought an NVIDIA 7900 GS last summer (which is ancient technology now) and I was able to run huge Intamin coasters at 1440x900, 2xAA, 70+ fps.

build it. frys.com. I got a dual core amd 2.0 ghz + motherboard for 60 on special. gig ram for 30. decent nvidia 8xxx series video card for under 100. even got a 650 watt power supply for 65 w/ 65 rebate. yup it was free after rebate. you can build a damn decent machine for well under 300.

Go with something besides an HP. HP's are generally very problematic, especially if you want to change graphics cards, etc. If you have the know how, build it and you'll be better off.

Or just buy a Mac. NoLimits works on Macs too.

^What Jeff said.

I had heard good things about HP pcs which is why I was leaning that way. 500 for that setup seems pretty good compared to similar machine by dell. My last twp purchases were from dell, pc and laptop. Seems like you can get more elsewhere for less. But I didn't research adding new hardware into a HP. I can see thats where problems could come up.

However, I am going to take the leap and buy a mac once I save just a little bit more $$$. I have heard nothing but praise about macs. The only thing bad, if you consider it bad, was a lack of software titles. This seems to be changing from what I have seen or it just wasn't true to begin with.

Thanks for all the help guys. *** Edited 8/31/2008 8:19:18 AM UTC by Winston***

Just make aure it supports PCI-Express. Newegg.com sells good cards for cheap:

Good budget card:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130394

-$50 after rebate

Not on a budget?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130366

Jeff said:
Or just buy a Mac. NoLimits works on Macs too.

Agreed.

Warning I am an IT Network admin meaning I might get a little techy and my grammar is poor cause I am typing quickly I will try to keep things simple but be warned reading this may result in mass confusion among roller coaster nerds who aren't computer nerds :).

It sounds like he is trying to save money by so paying 2 to 3times as much for the same hardware because it is a Mac is probably not an option. Also while AMD chips tend to be slower clock cycle for clock cycle (Number of GHz) at least from the manufacture price if you are buying chips for a custom build performance to dollar almost always favor AMD. I don't know that translate to HPs lower pricing and if it still aplies once a computer manufacture sets there price but it is a fact plus ne ATI cards combine processing power with ne w Phenom chip making then faster than intel in graphics intese operations like video editing. I am not against intel if you want the fastest most insane system you can get go Intel and Nvidia if you want the most for your money go AMD and ATI. as far as longevity they are about the same expect the chip to last at least 5 years either will be out dated before it is broke. use toms hardware charts to compare performance between products the look on new egg to compare prices you will find more money doesn't always mean faster.

The chip you are looking at is fast enogh but the athlon x2 is an old chip so it should be considerably cheaper than a comparable pc with an intel core2 which is much new and also faster intel core 2 chips have performance comparable to the amd phenom chips which are newer and closer in price to the intel chips.

I will stop now.