Toprem needs a new computer.

[EZ_Sawin]

OK hopefully this weekend Im going to try and buy a new computer, but I need some help. I want to be able to have the best computer possible to run Everquest and I need the specs for a computer to be able to do this.

So, could someone tell me what is the best possible computer for me to get where I can run at full speed in the bazaar, w/ clipping at 100%, spell effects at 100% opacity and density, with all luclin models on, & while someone is casting MGB and I wont get slowed down.
Elder Toprem Level 65 Storm Warden.... yeah im too lazy to make another Ezboard account

Take a look at my stuff.

HA! HA! I am using the internet!!!1

[Lisboa]

Need price range. $600? $1000?

[EZ_SoulPyre]

Going to have to wait some years in order to run full speed in bazaar with full clipping on.

[EZ_Sawin]

Price is not a restriant here, Im getting money out of my anuity to buy it. I just want something that will at least run the bazaar with very little slow down issues. If it can do that, it can get me through raids and such. Elder Toprem Level 65 Storm Warden.... yeah im too lazy to make another Ezboard account

Take a look at my stuff.

HA! HA! I am using the internet!!!1

[freonsmurf]

what is your current system specs?

[EZ_SoulPyre]

I have an amd 64 (not the fx), a gig of ram, a radeon 9800 pro and dsl and I still run slow in the bazaar. Granted its not top of the line but its pretty dang close. I however do fine in raids and other situations outside the bazaar. Before you buy one are you going to (a) build it yourself or have someone else do it for you and (b) the age old question of going either intel or amd. I hope your not considering a mac lol

[EZ_Urdegish]

Just so you know, an empty bazaar after a server crash is still impossible to navigate at 100% with a pretty powerful system. Its a problem with the textures, not the number of people. Elder Urdegish Frogmuncha
65 Prophet
Drachenreiter
Karana Server

[EZ_timosy8]

First of all, SoulPyre, /envy

Top of the line would look something like ...

Athlon64FX
Radeon 9800FX/Pro/AIW (though i think new chipset coming out soon)
1 Gig DDR Mushkin PC4000 RAM
Dual Raptor 36GB 10,000rpm HD's
A 200GB Seagate/Western Digital just for storage

However, i'd wait for the next revision of the Athlon64 and the vid card... and dont forget a monster heatsink (Zalman CNPS7000?) so you can overclock that baby to its full potential -_-
Edited by: timosy8 at: 1/13/04 3:45 pm

[EZ_InvisiBill]

Only a gig of RAM? I've had 512MB for quite a while now. I'm still using a T-bird 850, to define "quite a while" for you... One of the improvements of going to 64-bit is more memory, so a dream system should have a lot more than 1GB. -------------------------
Invissibill
Llibisivni

[EZ_SoulPyre]

Sure more ram would be nice but more than a gig at this point in time really does not have the effects one would think.

[EZ_Talius]

Ruccus will be around shortly to tell you that a top of line PC purchase is a bad idea right now. At the end of the year there will be new intel and AMD chip sets, and a new PCI slot that's going to make AGP not necessarily the best choice of graphics card form, which means a new generation of graphics cards will come out.

I suggest you wait

[Lisboa]

End of the year? You mean 11 months from now? That's not close.

[EZ_Argyll7th]

The best bang for your buck is to buy a step down from the most expensive system components available, ie Barton 3200+ instead of Athlon64, 7200 rpm hard drives instead of 10k rpm, Radeon 9800 128 instead of XT, etc. If all you do is Everquest and the occasional PC game, you won't notice the difference and you'll save bags of cash. You appear to be not-well-versed on computer hardware, so I'd strongly advise against even thinking about overclocking.

If you go out there intending to buy top-of-the-line everything you may as well burn a quarter of your budget, because by the time everything is shipped and put together your machine will be worth that much less than what you paid for it, before you even power it on for the first time.

[Mithrilhall]

I also think BTX form factor cases will be released this year if I recall (which will require a new motherboard).

[Dragynphyre]

I hope I can last with my crapoid computer long enough to see the stuff that is 'top of the line' now drop down to half it's price towards the end of the year... the stuff in this thread looks niice. (Back In Black)
Delissandra Splitshadow - Marauder of Clan X
Grandmaster Poisoner (250), Master Potter (191), Grandmaster Lush (200)

[EZ_Peebs]

Actually if you are talking real top of the line you'd be getting the latest Intel 'Extreme Edition' P4 chip (has like a 2.5mb cache), but that alone would cost you $900-$1000 (hey, you said price was no object right?).

[EZ_timosy8]

imho - Athlon64 > Intel's p4 "EE". What Intel really needs to do is release the P5 ...

[Aidden]

what is the P5?

And why is your opinion that the AMD64 (we must assume you mean the FX) greater than the P4 Extreme Edition?

If your going to give your opinions, you might want to explain them so the original poster can make an "informed" decision..

[Lisboa]

Well, nearly all benchmarkers have said the FX51 outperforms the P4EE even if only by a slight margin overall, and the P4EE is appears to be more expensive.

www.pcstats.com/articlevi...808&page=7 Edited by: Lisboa at: 1/14/04 1:11 pm

[Aidden]

that is the second time you have stated nearly all benchmarkers show it outperforming the P4EE...

you obviously are considering a single article you must of read on AMD.com all benchmarkers, because all benchmarkers do not show that the AMD64 FX outperforms the P4EE...

[Lisboa]

It's more than being based off a single review. We have PCWorld, PCStats, Firingsquad saying FX51 comes out on top.

But anyway, anandtech had an interesting chart offering the best bang for the buck. The Athlon 64 3000+ is on top.

www.anandtech.com/cpu/sho...=1941&p=12

[EZ_Peebs]

Well, it's not that suprising that a 1000 dollar chip has the worst bang for the buck. I really don't see how it could be worth so much, when I can take a step down and shave off at least $600.

[Aidden]

did we swqitch from Top performer to most bang for the buck??

[Lisboa]

No, so then, let's see your list of articles saying P4EE is better for games than the Athlon 64 F51?

[EZ_Peebs]

Aidden, the article Lisboa linked to was about that (he even said it in his post directly before mine). Edited by: Peebs at: 1/14/04 3:28 pm

[Aidden]

Well unlike yourself, im not laying claim that the Intel P4EE is better in every benchmark out there nor have I ever claimed such things. I have stated that they are neck and neck across the board with each processor winning its fair share of benchmarks.

you tie in the fact that the AMD will require a new MoBo and Memory, and cost between the 2 chips falls to the side of Intel.

And quoting outragous price quotes based on the fact that the P4EE is extremely hard to comeby outside of the channel, and retailers taking advantage of this by gouging people due to the availability doesnt help either.. As I have stated numerous times the P4EE was released to market at $789 per 1000. this price is reflected when you purchase through a large vendor such as Dell or Alienware. The fact the desire for them was much higher than Intel expected means that filling orders outside the channel is a lesser priority and you end up with your mom and pop brick and motar getting a hold of one and selling it for $1000. This will be corrected with time.

[EZ_Peebs]

To be fair Aidden, all we can do is compare with the prices given to us (even if the retailers are gouging us). Unless of course you have some inside sources.....

It's amazing to me that the demand is really that high considering it's a huge jump from the other chips. If you price a computer on Alienware's site you'll save $679 just by downgrading to the non EE P4 3.2Ghz. That's such a large difference that even Alienware must be having a hard time getting a hold of them.

Having said all that, I'm seriously considering upgrading to a P4 3.0 or 3.2 Ghz system (using the good Intel 875 mobo, even though I've heard it's bios still needs a lot of work). I just don't trust the Athlon 64 motherboards that are out right now (based mostly on past experiences with a new athlon chip and mobo).

Of course whenever I'm ready to go splurge and just order stuff, I look at my PC and think 'Nahh, it'll be fine for a while longer'

[EZ_Ragwheed]

Expect the new video cards around April, not the end of the year.

[EZ_Peebs]

My roommate got a computer in August or so and if he were to buy it again new today (from Alienware, the same place he got it from) it would cost 8 dollars less.

Something about that makes me think that it is a bad time to buy.

[Aiden]

Heres a few buyers guides,from one website. Almost every computer review website has something like this,so they vary.
The high end is a bit outdated,october.


www.sharkyextreme.com/gui...hp/3294771


www.sharkyextreme.com/gui...hp/3288421

www.sharkyextreme.com/gui...hp/3102861

This is based on the assumption your going to build your own system but it can give you an idea if you want to buy. If you have to have the very best top of the line system,then your looking at buying from falcon northwest or another specalized retailer. They build good systems,but your going to pay a premium.

Personally id say you can spend around 1500$ and get a quality computer system,that will be a nice upgrade. Depending on accessories such as Large LCD,speakers,etc etc, you can bump that up to 2500$ if you really have the cash.