Computer Illiteracy

**Ephiini** · #1 01-20-2010, 08:17 PM

After spilling coffee into my jury rigged setup here at home, i found the need for a computer upgrade, and anything that runs would be an upgrade from what i have.

To give you an idea of what i have now, its mostly a five year old dell with specs unknown to me. Last year parts of it fried, and i replaced them with parts from another computer i had, and its all chilling in a vented aquarium(i will get pics for hilarity purposes later). It wasn't built in the first place for gaming, and i doubt the mixing even older technology with it made it better.

I am looking for a pre-built(due to my computer illiteracy) or something that i could easily put together just to run WoW. I have a notebook computer for interwebs surfing and such but i don't dare try to run WoW on it for fear of making it explode.

The catch is i only have around $600 to spend on it. Im hoping one of you out there can help me with this problem.

Ephiini- Your Local Enhancement Shammy

**Glo** · #2 01-21-2010, 11:49 AM

go to http://dealnews.com
you will be surprised your $600 is enough to get a good system.

**Ephiini** · #3 01-21-2010, 05:36 PM

Thanks a bunch Glo! well, i gotta wait to see how much this new batch of meds will set me back then ill have a new rig on its way. This is how i configured it

from Dell-

Operating System-Genuine Windows Vista® Home Basic SP1
Processors -AMD Athlon™ II X2 240 (2.8GHz, 2MB)
Memory-2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz- 2 DIMMs 2GB82
Video Cards-Integrated ATI Radeon HD3200 Graphics IV
Hard Drives -320GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™
Network Card Integrated 10/100 Ethernet IN
Optical Drives 16X DVD+/-RW Drive W7DVDRW
Sound Card Integrated 5.1 Channel Audio

i have an 500G external hardrive i use for school and such so the hard drive space isn't an issue. Any input?

**Haarley** · #4 01-22-2010, 05:35 AM

Check out the FEB issue of Maximum PC. I spells out how to build your own super fast PC for $647. I used the magazine when I built my computer, and I had no experience prior. It is super easy to do yourself.

**Varek** · #5 01-22-2010, 11:31 AM

Couple of tips tho:

Intel > AMD

Nvidia > ATI

These days anyway. I just hate ATI's drivers, and back in the day AMD was a lot better than Intel, but now it seems that Intel gives you more bang for your buck. Is that a laptop you have configured there? If its a desktop, I would try to avoid an integrated graphics card.

**Linwei** · #6 01-23-2010, 09:06 PM

You got those both backwards Varek! :P

(ATI/AMD Fanboi!!!)

**Varek** · #7 01-23-2010, 11:45 PM

Hah. I had an AMD in my last computer and it was awesome. Both companies are good and can't really go wrong with either, but from everything I was reading when I built this computer (although it was 3 years ago) Intel was doing better performance per dollar wise.

I've had a lot of nvidia cards and just one ATI card. The ATI card always gave me problems and I hated the Catalyst drivers with a fiery passion. They just drove me nuts. I went back to nvidia and haven't looked back at ATI.