Hello everyone i want to buy a new comp but a cheap 1 i was looking at this dell tht costs 599$ but im gona add more stuff in it like 512ram and i want to know what alse i should add so tht the computer would be good for gameing?

"i was looking at this dell tht costs 599$"

Man, that's useless, a name? a model number? give us something to work with.....

I don't suffer from insanity, I embrace it.

Most ready-built computers in that price range will have onboard graphics and/or onboard sound - pretty sucky for new high-end games.

Go to the computer's page at the Dell site, copy the link from your browser, and post it back here so folks will know what you're talking about.

-Bob

*Would a dell be good for gameing?*

Maybe so, but you can get a better processor and motherboard as well as video card for about the same price. Make yourself a custom pc...

◙3dmark03◙ ◙Pcmark04◙

My first computer, in fact the one I'm using right now, is a Dell. At the time it was an excellent gaming machine - nearly-top-of-the-line 800mhz PIII, GeForce 256, 128 MB RAM, etc. It was $2400 four years ago, and has been an ~excellent~ computer. For the same price today you can still get a good gaming machine from Dell.

Even though you haven't posted back with a link to the computer, I suspect that by the time you add on the things you'll want for gaming (RAM, graphic card, sound card, speakers, good monitor, etc.) the price will be at least twice the $599.

I didn't really 'need' to post again, but I wanted to counter the too-often dissing of Dell. A customized Dell is an excellent way to have a computer exactly like you want without having to do it yourself. Try going to a physical retailer and telling the salesman you want "that computer, but with more RAM, a second hard drive, different sound card, but no modem because I already have one." Fat chance. The downside is Dell charges hundreds of dollars for snapping a few pieces together...

-Bob

Well personally, if you're gonna do some serious gaming, then you gotta make an investment. Because serious or just even a heavy/moderate gamer is gonna need the right stuff. And I know that $599 probably isn't gonna cut it. A good gaming machine nowadays cost about $1400 mid range hardware. We're talkin fully compliant directx 9 video cards, good sound, good processor, good monitor(Oh my God, a good monitor is SOOO important), and gaminng periferals.

This is about mid range for today's standards:

-Decent case (there are so many)
-400Watt PS
-ASUS/Gigabyte mobo
-P4 2.6 800 fsb/AMD 2600+
-Radeon 9600 Pro/Geforce FX 5600 Ultra/Fx 5700 Ultra
-512 MB DDR 400 RAM (2x256 setup)
-Sound Blaster Audigy Gamer
-Logitech z-640/Creative Inspire 5300 5.1 speakers
-Viewsonic 18" monitor
-Western Digital/Seagate 80 GB hardrive
-Logitec/Microsoft keyboard
-Logitech/Microsoft optical mouse
-Pioneer DVD rom
-Plextor CD-RW
-generic floppy drive
-USB mass storage drive (128mb)
-Belkin Nostromo series (n50 or n52) gaming pad
-any networking or internet crap needed
-if I forgot anything I apologize

This is just an idea of what you'll be looking at. Oh and about Dell as a company? Don't even bother. Just do it yourself. If you really wanna go through someone who does professional assembly, go through someone like Alienware, Falcon Northwest, Voodoo, or ABS Computers. And another thing...Dell, Gateway, Compaq, etc. all use non-industry standard stuff. That hardrive that they put in? Who knows who made it. The motherboard? You can't even put it in a generic case and factory standard motherboards don't fit in Dell cases. That meas they are only so upgradeable.

GO CUSTOM!!! good luck

I agree with Fishystix. Dell Computers may not be that bad, but they are pricy and when you are planning on changing the psu and case, you have to order very expensive and specific cpu parts from their website. yet their commercial says *Its as easy as Dell!*...

◙3dmark03◙ ◙Pcmark04◙

Dells are fine for mom, dad, and the grandparrents, but if you want to game, you need to build your own. Dell does make a good gaming rig, BUT, you will pay through the nose for it. Go custom, make one better than dell's, and do it for cheaper. www.newegg.com has great deals.

Okay, here it is, the real reason why Dell is more expensive than other pcs is because they may start you out with more software than other companies.

I have a Dell 4600 and it works great. Get 512MB RAM, at least 2.4Ghz processor, and an ATI 9800 graphics card. If you want good sound get the sound baster or the Auduliy. with some surround sound speakers. IT WILL COST OVER $599 I CAN TELL YOU THAT!

"deluxe."

I'd have to throw in with most everyone here. Dell is fine if all you really need to do is connect with the internet, use some business apps., etc. However, if you are looking to use it for gaming, remember to keep these facts in mind:

1. for $599 you will NOT be able to play games that are hitting the market TODAY.

2. for $599 you will NOT be able to play the games hitting the market TOMORROW...period.

3. Simply to keep up with the newest 3d engines in development for, say 2 years, you WILL need a high-end graphics card (expect to pay $300+ for one), a high-end audio card and a motherboard that will support AT LEAST an 800mHz FSBus, or you can kiss playing the new QUAKE, UNREAL TOURNAMENT, etc. (Please understand WHAT a front-side bus does...)

4. The FX5200 or ATI Raedon 9800 (mentioned above) AGP cards are both excellent, and Creative Labs puts out some nice audio cards that would suit your needs well. Also, as stated above, a GOOD MONITOR is essential, or PCI/AGP cards will be useless....(kind of like framing nice artwork behind a mud-stained glass, it's just not as effective!

Some of the better gaming machine companies (Alienware, Northwest, Flacon, etc.) have already been mentioned, however:

"If you do not know what you are doing, DO NOT build a machine by yourself."

I've seen to many novices who jump in feet first and end up either frying a motherboard or two or having to call in a tech to build (or finish building and tweaking) their machine for them.

With all that said, I wish you the best of luck. And with that said, thinking you can get a machine for $599, toss in a couple of cards and *whammo*, instant gaming machine, tells me you fit into the above novice category.

Be careful. READ some of the better articles out there about building a machine FIRST. If what you are reading about goes over your head, save your money (and your time and frustration) and purchase a pre-made gamer from Alienware, etc.

-Mick

Well yea tht is cheap but i can spend about 2000$ for a comp so i was just trying to save money see if u guys know ne good mashines and the comp tht i was looking forward 2 i can also costimize it so it will not cost 599$ when i did costimize it it cost about 1500$ and here is the comp i was thalking about http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=19&kc=6V588&l=en&oc=D24TVP&s=dhs

DUDE!!! Don't get a DELL!! LOL

ive decided 2 build my own like cyberlants said newegg.com has great prices for comps im gona take time to find good parts but im not sure what wideo card i should get is this ne good nVIDIA GeForce FX5900/400MHz

Get Radeon 9800 Pro. Newegg sells them for $210, it kicks Fx5900's ass

◙3dmark03◙ ◙Pcmark04◙

Sounds good

Hello again i found a comp tht is cheap(cost 956$) and i added some good video card and 512mb here is the web site tell me if you think it is a good comp http://www.fcsnet.com/bluesky/customkititems.asp?CartId={CBE17C4D-B94F-41D5-A1E0-3813D2A7F865}&Kc=1&Source=VC&iQty=1

Nice setup you chose there, but you should ugrade the Graphic Card to a Radeon 9600XT and you won't regret it, you will kick yourself if you have the Geforce FX 5200, trust me

The Geforce FX 5200 is just a Geforce 2 with added DX 9 effects, even a Geofrce 2 Ultra could kill that card

Good Luck and happy gaming
________________________
MSI KT8 NEO
Athlon 64 3200+ @ 2.0ghz
1.0 GB DDR PC3200
2X 160 GB HDD
Hightech Excalibur Radeon 9800 Pro Iceq 128mb
( Core 425 MHz and Memory 380 MHz )
3DMark 2001 SE = 20,396 Points
3DMark 2003 = 6,396 Points

Or save some money and get Nv40(a.k.a Fx6800) and post some benchmark scores. =D
I have a feeling that a lot of ATi fans are going to switch back to nV this year. Fx6800 will use 16x1 Pipelines, GDDR3 Memory, and have PS/VS 3.0 Support while R420/423 has 12x1 Pipelines and GDDR3 Memory but has NO PS/VS 3.0 Support. nV is going to have a great advantage against ATi. =D

You should always check www.theinquirer.net they give you the latest news on everything.

Pics of FX6800 Nu/U
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=14880

◙3dmark03◙ ◙Pcmark04◙

So u think the computer i chose is good for gaming should i just get tht or build 1 i could build 1 but i have 2 tall my friends to do it for me or go to a store

Once again, I'd have to throw my support in with UnR3aL, Zero Cool and of course Fishystix87's monitor comment.

Also, as you might have noticed, everyone here has stated unequivocably that the 9800 is the AGP to get. I would take that advice to heart.

Side Bar:

Goki,

Please do not take this advice in the wrong way and go on the offensive.

This is not a chat room. A great many people who post here work in the real world, with the obvious age differential of, say, 18-90 years old.

Please write in ENGLISH, with all the correct punctuations, capitalizations and sentence structures one would find on a whitesheet.

It is easier for us "old folk" to follow along without having to ask why someone would write "2" instead of "to."

Thanks,

-Mick

Alright thanks for leting me know but i am used to typing like this and most people undrestand what i say.

-Goki

Goki, you should either build a computer by yourself(saves a lot of money), or get a friend to build it for you.

◙3dmark03◙ ◙Pcmark04◙

so this is what a have in plan:

Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor with HT Technology 3.0GHz 800MHz FSB 512KB Cache

512MB DDR SDRAM PC-3200 - 2 x 256MB Module

ATI RADEON™ 9800 XT 256MB 8x AGP w/DVI & S-Video

80GB Seagate Barracuda Serial ATA 7,200 RPM 8MB Cache

16x DVD-ROM - Black w/Software MPEG-2 Decoder

Creative Sound Blaster® Audigy 2 - 6.1

Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition

*Now* you're talkin'. Those are all excellent choices.

-Bob

Nice Setup. For ram, I would suggest OCZ 512mb DDR400 Performance Series CL 2-3-3-5 or Corsair 512mb XMS DDr433.

And video card, I wouldn't want a XT because it only about 1% faster than Pro, which is about half its cost.

Aspire X-Dreamer II
Thermaltake 480W Silent Purepower PSU
Asus P4S800 MoBo
Pentium 4 2.6ghz @ 3.0ghz
eVGA Geforce FX 5900 SE
Creative SB Audigy LS

Very nice setup there goki, you will be very happy with that and it will play upcoming games like Doom 3 and Half Life 2 perfectly =)

I agree with UnR3aL though, get the Radeon 9800 Pro as it's much cheaper and the performance is almost identical, I would recomend the IceQ Radeon 9800 Pro as it an awesome card that overclocks well and give me 19,028 on 3DMark 2001 SE on stock speeds

More info on my Radeon 9800 Pro IceQ

http://www.hightech.com.hk/html/iceq9800_pro.htm

________________________
MSI KT8 NEO
Athlon 64 3200+ @ 2.0ghz
1.0 GB DDR PC3200
2X 160 GB HDD
Hightech Excalibur Radeon 9800 Pro Iceq 128mb
( Core 425 MHz and Memory 380 MHz )

Yes and I would also prefer the 128mb 9800 Pro because the 256mb version has slower memory. This is why the 128mb version is able to outperform the 256mb version in some benchmarks. The 256mb version is also more expensive than the 128mb version, and no games require that much vram(unless you like playing at very high resolutions with aa/af).

Aspire X-Dreamer II
Thermaltake 480W Silent Purepower PSU
Asus P4S800 MoBo
Pentium 4 2.6ghz @ 3.0ghz
eVGA Geforce FX 5900 SE
Creative SB Audigy LS

Very nice setup there goki, you will be very happy with that and it will play upcoming games like Doom 3 and Half Life 2 perfectly =)

I agree with UnR3aL though, get the Radeon 9800 Pro as it's much cheaper and the performance is almost identical, I would recomend the IceQ Radeon 9800 Pro as it an awesome card that overclocks well and give me 19,028 on 3DMark 2001 SE on stock speeds

More info on my Radeon 9800 Pro IceQ

http://www.hightech.com.hk/html/iceq9800_pro.htm

________________________
MSI KT8 NEO
Athlon 64 3200+ @ 2.0ghz
1.0 GB DDR PC3200
2X 160 GB HDD
Hightech Excalibur Radeon 9800 Pro Iceq 128mb
( Core 425 MHz and Memory 380 MHz )

Sorry my post apeared twice, weird =)

________________________
MSI KT8 NEO
Athlon 64 3200+ @ 2.0ghz
1.0 GB DDR PC3200
2X 160 GB HDD
Hightech Excalibur Radeon 9800 Pro Iceq 128mb
( Core 425 MHz and Memory 380 MHz )