Need help w/ video card and memory questions

[Bogie74]

Hey All,

I need your help. I've had enough with this laptop of mine so I have decided to use my Christmas bonus to buy a new PC. My head is about to explode. I've been reading all the reviews on video cards, and I am so confused! I need a hardcore gaming PC. I can use this one for all other apps, so I won't need it for Microsoft office etc. This will not be used for music, etc either.

I have 2 items in my Dell Cart wish list, and I would like some opinions on them both - or maybe someone can offer me a third option.

First of all - I've seen a lot of great reviews of a Computer called Cyberpower PC - however - it's out of stock on Newegg. Never heard of this company before -opinions?

#2 - So the 2 I have in my cart are the Dell Alienware & Area 51. (I chose Dell because I have a pretty substantial credit limit with them, plus 1 yr interest free - which makes a difference because I can pay it off this month no problem. I don't carry balances on any CC's)

Both have the following:

• Intel® Core™ i7 920 2.66GHz (8MB Cache) Quad Core Processor
• HD is 640GB - SATA-II, 3Gb/s, 7,200RPM, 16MB Cache HDD

But here is where I need help. I am clueless when it comes to these video cards, and I've seen reviews on both of these.

First is Aurora: Single 1.8GB NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 295 -extra $150
Area 51 I chose: Single 1GB GDDR5 ATI Radeon™ HD 5870 - included in the price

I've seen great reviews on both, although from what I have read, it seems like the Radeon is better <?>

The price point between these two is about $100 so that really doesn't matter to me. I did make the Aurora with only 3GB Triple Channel 1067Mhz DDR3, and included a monitor, while the other one was the 6GB DDR3 1067MHz (3x 2GB) Tri Channel Memory no monitor. (I do need a monitor, but figured I could get a cheap one elsewhere) I also have an external HD 1TB so the HD capacity doesn't really matter although it will make a difference since TS3 seems to default to the C, and I can't change it.

Both come with Windows 7 -because I HATE HATE HATE Vista. I do not need a computer to tell me which updates to install, nor completely take over when I'm trying to do something. Opinions on Win 7?

I need a system to handle TS3 adequately and also extra in anticipation of future expansion packs etc. I am not an impulse buyer. But, I figured if I was going to spend $2k on a new computer, I don't want to have to upgrade it again next year, so if I have to spend a little more now, it will pay off in the long run. HELP! Thank you all as always!

[PJSim]

Opinions on Win 7?

I have Windows 7 and I would recommend it. I haven't really explored it so much yet but I like it a lot better than Vista. It seems to eat fewer resources which is good.

Anyway, I think it's no choice at all Bogie. XP is going out, they won't keep making updates for that and Win 7 is like Vista with all the problems fixed. My guess is it will last a long time.

My head is about to explode. I've been reading all the reviews on video cards, and I am so confused!

This is how I feel when I look up video cards, I'm kind of clueless. I bought my computer at a little shop where they build computers themselves so I could get to install the OS myself. I just picked a mid-range machine and went with the card they recommended. Now three years later I'm still okay, no problems with Sims 3 even though it's supposed to be really hard on older PC's.

I've seen great reviews on both

My guess is they're probably both fine then, it's just that some techies have really strong opinions on some things that the rest of us won't even notice.

This all reminds me of Hi-fi music systems in the 80's/90's. There were people who would buy mad expensive record players and put them on top of cement blocks to eliminate vibrations and they bought gold-plated speaker cables and speakers worth tens of thousand of dollars... And no one else could tell the difference really.

Maybe someone better informed can advise you but still, at the end of the day you just need to pick one I guess. All I have to offer is that when it comes to computers you do tend to get what you pay for, give or take a little.

[Bogie74]

PJ thanks - I know this is just so overwhelming to me! I bought this laptop 2 yrs ago - spent about $1300 on it. Figured it would last me a little while, but didn't realize the video card was less than stellar. I just need someone with some hardware expertise to explain this all in plain "dummy to techie" language for me. You need fiancial advice, no problem - need someone to give accounting 101 lessons count me in..need experise on keyboard shortcuts, program software etc I'm there.. I am CLUELESS when it comes to hardware, overclocking, bios configs, etc.

I don't want to be stuck with another laptop that crashes each time I load TS3!

[Bogie74]

Hey all - can any of those technically familiar with this answer this question please?

But here is where I need help. I am clueless when it comes to these video cards, and I've seen reviews on both of these.

First is Aurora: Single 1.8GB NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 295 -extra $150
Area 51 I chose: Single 1GB GDDR5 ATI Radeon™ HD 5870 - included in the price

Which is better?

I'm really lost, and I would like to order this ASAP.

[Pam]

Sorry, Bogie.  I really have no idea.  I bought the card that Carl recommended for me, but it's no longer available.  Plus, I have a desktop computer, which is a different deal altogether.

[HelenP]

From my limited research, either card should be absolutely fine, they are both more than capable of running the Sims3, but as a slight preference I would go with the one with more memory onboard.  It should be capable of slightly better graphics.  However I think that the difference between them is negligible and you would be better off basing your decision on other factors such as the amount of standard memory in the machine and how much you need that new monitor.

Good luck