Want to Buy a Computer for DS for Christmas - for playing Everquest II - help!

[Antonia]

DS wants a computer for Christmas. He wants to play Everquest on the computer - the kind of RPG game you play with other people on-line who are also playing on their computers. This is all new to me. Are any of the computers on HSN.com (Home Shopping Network) good for this type of thing? I have a discount code and would like to do flex-pay also by buying one from HSN. Any ideas? Do I need a certain processor - is the new AMD good for gaming? Help!! I don't know a thing about processors, etc. I want one he can actually play these type games and have fun. What would be good specifications to look for?

 

[mickman1962]

The minimum system requirements are for EverQuest II are:

* Operating System: Windows 98/2000/ME/XP
* Processor: 1GHz
* RAM: 512 MB
* Video Card: DirectX 9 compatible. Pixel shader and vertex shader compatible hardware with 64 MB of texture memory
* Sound Card: DirectSound compatible audio hardware


The recommended system requirements are:

* Operating System: Windows XP
* Processor: 2 GHz or greater
* RAM: 1 GB
* CD-ROM: 16x CD-ROM or DVD-ROM
* Video Card: DirectX 9 compatible. Pixel shader and Vertex shader compatible hardware with 128mb of texture memory or greater
* Sound Card: Sound Blaster Audigy

 

[Antonia]

Thanks Mickman1962 - could you look on HSN and see if any of the HP computers are okay? I'm printing your info out and going to try to figure this out! Thanks again!

 

[mickman1962]

either of the ones available will work. they are a little light in the video card but technically meet the required specs

 

[Pea-n-Me]

If you're going to buy an HP check out www.walmart.com. WM is the biggest retailer of HP computers in the US and you should be able to find a good deal (though there are lots of good deals around right now). We bought our last two HP computers from WalMart. Good luck.

 

[Hermosa11]

What is your budget, may I ask?
(you could PM me if you wish)
My DS18.5 just created his own monster! computer with the bestest grahpic card ever, he claims, etc. He commented anyone should really buy the parts and go to COMP USA or whereever and have them put it together.
If you are willing to do that, he could assist with the purchase of parts.
He bought the parts (shell and everything) on-line, had them mailed to us....
and then he and friend put it together (ok, DS held the flashlight....
But if you just want to purchase a pre-made one, I can have him tell me what to make sure the computer has..............I cannot bother him at this very moment, he is busy with his Warcraft game!!

Ohhhhhhhh, wait, I think I can bring him in here.............

>>>>suggestion from son: "New AMD is good - they are better for gaming they don't get hot........the thing is, if he wants to play...he will need a GOOD graphics card, invest in a not so expensive computer and look for a GREAT graphics card and have COMP USA install that for $30,
you can find them on line ........good one he recommends Nvidia 6600, 6800
those are range from $150 to $230 ---and check when getting computer
check for RAM, either 512 or get a gig (good for gaming)....AMD either like
1.4 and above ghz that is fairly good (DS has 2.4 ghz !!!)....but yeah if he wants to play games and not have problem he needs to get GOOD graphic card, ones at stores do NOT have good graphic card and they thus use alot of processor and alot of RAM which makes the computer slower, or look for ............ if the Nvidia is too much you can look into
ATI brand (graphic card)" whew!!!! I typed as he spoke
he said his AIM is Purepizzaboy if your son wants to ask questions. Is this purchase a secret? If not my son can assist. He loves this stuff, as you can imagine.........
PM me if you have any further questions! I love helping a fellow DIS'r!!!

 

[Antonia]

Thanks for all the info. It is sort of a secret for DS. I have already told him he was not getting a computer. However, if the HP on HSN would work, I could break up my payments over 5 payments and not feel the hit to the bank account so much. Your son provided a LOT of info - thanks to him and Mickman1962!

 

[cherylp3]

Dell XPS or Alienware are good for gaming too.

 

[mtblujeans]

Can you explain Alienware?

 

[mickman1962]

Alienware is a very good and very expensive PC company specializing in gaming PC's

 

[mtblujeans]

Alienware is a very good and very expensive PC company specializing in gaming PC's

Thanks! I have seen info on the 'net but I always like to hear from other DISer's and what they know or their opinion, too....very helpful!

 

[Donalds_best_pal]

Dell XPS is a pretty good gaming computer. HP in some of there gaming pc's have the new AMD 64 x2 processor. Now that is a awesome gaming processor. What is your budget? A true gaming computer will probably cost at least 1500 or even 2000+ for a ultimate one. My dell xps was about 2400 with extended warranty. Any more questions let me know. I wouldnt recommend building a computer unless you have expearience.

Matt

 

[Donalds_best_pal]

Both hsn computers look good. Only upgrade I would do is get a better video card to upgrade later. Thats fairly easy upgrade to do yourself.

Matt

 

[cherylp3]

Also I would suggest going to the game support forums and reading to see if any of the players have had video card problems.

Example I play City of Heroes / City of Villians with an ATI card and sometimes ATI cards can have issues depending on the version of the graphics driver.

-Cheryl

 

[Lynn CC]

I just bought one for DS through www.pctorque.com
They have great prices! and great gaming notebooks that are very powerful,more so than my PC!
Their customer service was great, I ordered it and received it within a week.
I went with the Sager 5720...he loves it! It has the latest graphics card and the screen is so nice!!
If you have any questions you can log on to the gaming forum at www.notebookforums.com. There are some hard core gamers there that helped me out tremendously!

 

[Straycat]

EQII is a resource hog. I have better than the minimum requirements for all the requirements for EQII and there are areas of the game that are so graphic intensive that I have slowdown issues. ( I have 512ddr ram and a 128mb graphics card, 1.8processor and run on DSL)

Get at least 1gig of Ram and try to get a 256mb graphics card(Pixel shader and vertex shader compatible)