I need some help [non-hardware]

mods/levels/hacks will be more easily available;
Decent gaming monitor and top notch card will give higher image quality than even an HD tv can.
Plus at least you'd have the option to work out your tax returns in Excel, should you need to...

As if that's not a good enough reason in of itself? What other reason do you need?

Give Robin, Artie, and Fred a 'Hey now!' for me...

Don't waste you money if you don't need to. No one's going to give you a reason that's good enough to drop $2000+ on a computer if you yourself can't find a reason.

Hardware's advanced enough nowadays that you can get a good mid-level computer and still play all of the newest games with all of the eye-candy.

If you really want a reason to justify building an X6800 or better, and money's not a factor, then get it so that you can learn to overclock. As long as you do your research (and do things right), you shouldn't burn out any components. It's a tremendous amount of fun, provides you with unparalelled bragging rights, and moreover it lets you get the most bang for your buck.

IMO some games will never be successful on console platforms, such as RTS games. Also, some (well, most) First-person shooters just wouldn't be the same without the mouse. I'm a strategy-junky myself, and the PC offers the best selection of strategy games.

Also, most updates for the PC are free. Game updates for the 360 usually cost $$$$

Howard after all these years you are still fixated at the anal stage.


Hilarious! Thanks fellas, I really appreciate your inputs. I really like the idea of overclocking. I've done some research about it (read a ton of computer stuff at work...boring job). I was being chicken chit about it. I think I may even get into some water cooling. You guys are right though. I'm going to start the ordering tonight.

And in regard to an*l, all parts of a woman are good to me. =o)

Yeah, that's my main purpose for a computer. I do a little C++, tax prep, stuff like that, but nothing that requires a super fast computer.

I wish they would come out with an extremely large expansion pack for Oblivion. I waited so long for that game to come out I played almost non-stop and beat the game thoroughly. =o( Now a game like Oblivion can only be played right on a PC and would be enough of a justification to upgrade to a super computer. But heck when is the next Elder Scrolls game coming out 2010?

Sorry, a little of subject. I'm going to buy some computer parts though. Do some OC'in.

One more thing: if you really have $$$ to burn, you could always go vapor-phase cooling.

http://www.vapochill.com/

That's rediculous, but hey, it's also rediculous

\


I'll check that out, the vaporchill. I do have some money to burn. Thank God for pharmaceutical companies!!!

Whizzard9992, what do you think about me getting the 6600? It's not that much more that a 6300 and it has more cache. I wouldn't feel to awful bad about burning a $400 chip if I learn a lot. What's that two college texts? LOL

The E6600 is the proverbial "sweet spot" in terms of price/performance right now. The E6700 is a little pricey and the X6800 is very (but has the best potential). The E6300/E6400 can be overclocked to a slightly higher degree because they have a smaller cache (2MB). If you're just using the chip as a 'disposable' test chip that you're going to eventually replace with an X6800, go with the 2MB version since it takes a higher OC. The E6600 is something I'd recommend if you want to get the most bang for your buck.

You can do a LOT with PCs without investing a fortune. For example, you can set up a computer as s et-top box (HTPC). You can rip your entire DVD collection to a HTPC running windows media center, much like a VCR/DVR/Cable Box. Then you can use a real remote control (or something like a Logitech Harmony or Sony Commander) to browse your DVD collection and play DVD's on-demand without ever having to touch another physical DVD. There are some REALLY nice HTPC cases out there, and they support full HD AND Surround-sound (Thermaltake Mozart for example is nice).

MOREOVER, for you specifically, you can have an HTPC gaming box. You can buy a wireless controller and play the PC's version of oblivion on your HDTV, just like the 360, with all of the user-content the PC provides. The PC version has better graphics than the 360 anyway.

I set up a nice system for a buddy of mine who works at Best Buy (so he gets a diesel discount on home theater stuff). He has (had) an HTPC in a mozart case and a 2TB wireless NAS in a locked closet. He has a 72" plasma hooked to his HTPC and 5.1 surround sound on a REDICULOUS speaker system. The NAS is nice because he uses it to store his DVDs as well as his personal files (I set up his Windows XP to default his My Documents to the NAS). It's nice because the NAS is fault-tolerant, so his files are as secure as it gets. Also, if he reinstalls or upgrades his computer, he doesn't have to worry about moving his files around. They're all centralized.

( I say HAD because he just got robbed. They took the plasma, HTPC, and Xbox 360, but left the $3000 speakers. Go figure. )

In short, if you want to take your PC to the next level, hook one up to your TV. If you invest in a NAS, you'll thank me later. Just make sure you keep the files organized You can build a 3TB (2.5TB usable) NAS for < $1500. That's enough space for more than DVD 250 movies at your fingertips. You can build a nice HTPC for about the same price. You can even have it completely silent (no fans). An oblivion-style hyper HTPC may run you into $3,000 tho.

HTH