New Computer

[Deann]

Hi;

After many months of watching this site and drooling over 5 boxers etc, i've decided to join them! In the past, I've had experiance with 2 boxing multiple classes as means of Raf'ing myself, but due to computer limitations i've been unable to take it further.

After some research on the net I've been looking into this computer: http://www.cube247.co.uk/?customise=2
After talking with MiRai on Irc they stated that they feel the graphics card and ram would be a little taxing, but if i upgraded them i would be able to 5 box no problem. However the issue of Dalaran and northrend came up, specifically if the computer could handle it.
I'm hoping by posting here i could get a little more insight into how you feel the computer would preform under these circumstances. All in all, I'm not to fussed about the dalaran issue, however I would like to know how this would preform in Av and 25 man raids as that is what i'm hoping to do!
The options for upgrading the ram and graphics card are found below the computer specs on the wep page above, however if you feel that they won't support what i'm looking for either, please let me know

According to Sychosys on irc, new intel chips are being released shortly, so i'm hoping this will bring the price of the package down.

However; If anyone thinks i'm looking in the wrong place for the wrong thing and knows a better site or company to go through, please do share, But i live in the Uk, so all american websites etc that most people use on the forums are out of the question.


Thankyou in advance,
-Dean

[alcattle]

I know you would like to keep the price down, but to handle 5 boxing in the top tier areas, you need:
8 gigs of RAM which means 64 bit OS. Try to get a free upgrade to windows 7 when you buy Vista. If you can put it off say 2 months then Win7 will be out.
Better Graphics card A 9500 is on the weak side, are you using dual monitors? Ask what options they have.

[Deann]

On a side note, My current computer has AMD Athlon 64 x2 dual core processor 5000+ 2/60 ghz, 8gb ram, vista 64...

Do you think i could add more to this instead of buying a complete new system? Would it be cheaper possibly?

Also, let me know if you need more info, not very experianced in this sector :P

Edit; Yes, when i start 5 boxing, i would be looking to use a dual monitor set up

[Sajuuk]

On a side note, My current computer has AMD Athlon 64 x2 dual core processor 5000+ 2/60 ghz, 8gb ram, vista 64...

Do you think i could add more to this instead of buying a complete new system? Would it be cheaper possibly?

Also, let me know if you need more info, not very experianced in this sector :P

Edit; Yes, when i start 5 boxing, i would be looking to use a dual monitor set up

Depending on your motherboard it could be as simple as dropping in a new processor, or getting another motherboard/processor.

Check out CPU-Z: http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php to give us some more information on your system so you don't have to open it up.

Better Graphics card A 9500 is on the weak side,

This isn't Crysis, this is World of Warcraft. You don't need one of the newest graphics cards out there just to play it (granted, you might be going up to five clients, but you can tweak settings/fps to improve performance. The game doesn't have to run with all the highest settings).

For over a year I've been five boxing on a ''lowly'' 9600GT. There's nothing that says you can't drop in another graphics card.

[Deann]

Processor 1 ID = 0
Number of cores 2 (max 2)
Number of threads 2 (max 2)
Name AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+
Specification AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 5000+
Package Socket AM2 (940)
Extended CPUID F.6B
Core Stepping BH-G2
Technology 65 nm
Core Speed 2600.2 MHz
Multiplier x FSB 13.0 x 200.0 MHz
HT Link speed 1000.1 MHz
Stock frequency 2600 MHz
Instructions sets MMX (+), 3DNow! (+), SSE, SSE2, SSE3, x86-64
L1 Data cache 2 x 64 KBytes, 2-way set associative, 64-byte line size
L1 Instruction cache 2 x 64 KBytes, 2-way set associative, 64-byte line size
L2 cache 2 x 512 KBytes, 16-way set associative, 64-byte line size
FID/VID Control yes
Max FID 13.0x
Max VID 1.350 V

Chipset
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Northbridge NVIDIA GeForce 8200 rev. A2
Southbridge NVIDIA ID075C rev. A2
Memory Type DDR2
Memory Size 8192 MBytes
Channels Dual
Memory Frequency 325.0 MHz (CPU/8)
CAS# latency (CL) 5.0
RAS# to CAS# delay (tRCD) 5
RAS# Precharge (tRP) 5
Cycle Time (tRAS) 15
Bank Cycle Time (tRC) 20
Command Rate (CR) 2T

Memory SPD
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

DIMM # 1
SMBus address 0x50
Memory type DDR2
Module format Regular UDIMM
Manufacturer (ID) (0000000000000000)
Size 2048 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC2-6400 (400 MHz)
Part number
Number of banks 1
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Nominal Voltage 1.80 Volts
EPP no
XMP no

I have 4 ram chips of 2gb

Graphics
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of adapters 1

Graphic APIs
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

API NVIDIA NVAPI
API NVIDIA I/O

Display Adapters
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Display adapter 0
Manuf. API index 0
Display name \\.\DISPLAY1
Name NVIDIA GeForce 8200
Revision A2
PCI device bus 2 (0x2), device 0 (0x0), function 0 (0x0)
Vendor ID 0x10DE (0x1849)
Model ID 0x849 (0x849)
Performance Level 3D Applications
Core clock 500.0 MHz
Shader clock 1500.0 MHz
Memory clock 0.0 MHz


Software
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Windows Version Microsoft Windows Vista (6.0) Home Premium Edition Service Pack 1 (Build 6001)


Let me know if i've missed anything you need.. A lot of info on that report, may have missed some

[EvoX]

On a side note, My current computer has AMD Athlon 64 x2 dual core processor 5000+ 2/60 ghz, 8gb ram, vista 64...

Do you think i could add more to this instead of buying a complete new system? Would it be cheaper possibly?

Also, let me know if you need more info, not very experianced in this sector :P

Edit; Yes, when i start 5 boxing, i would be looking to use a dual monitor set up

Your current rig is close to the same specs as my 2nd PC. I have a Athlon 64 X2 7750, 4GB ram and Radeon 4850 1GB running Win7. I play 2 alts on a 20" widescreen monitor rotated 90° CCW on that rig.

My "main" rig is a Q6600 with 8GB ram, Radeon 4850X2 2GB and Win 7. Main toon is on a 19" and 2 alts on another 20" rotated 90° CW.

2 keyclone licences, one license for Input Director and one 3-PC license of Kavoom! KM software, both rigs CAT5 connected to the router and its like using one rig in game. I also setup my laptop for web searching quests etc. With Input Director and KaVoom! all I have to do is mouse through the top of my main's screen and the cursor transitions to the bottom of the laptop's, putting mouse/keyboard focus there until I mouse back.

This may be a more cost effective route for you to consider.

On a side note, I started out with the 4850 1GB in my main rig and a 3870 1GB in my alt PC. I really don't see much difference between the X2 and the 1GB on my main. I had hopes that I could run 3 monitors from it in WoW, but no such luck. I dont know if its impossible or that I'm not technically inclined enough at this point to get it to work. Had my 3870 not been donated to a rig I built my son for his birthday, I would have stayed with that setup and been equally as happy.

[Deann]

At the moment, my current pc can only hold 1 in northrend, 2 and I die. I did originally consider this, but then i'd need to update my cpu and graphics card in this computer, as well as getting another computer to be able to hold the other chars... And i came to the conclusion that with all the costs etc that would occur updating this, as well as getting a second pc, with the software to link them etc, for me, at the end of the day i don't feel it could be cheaper this way than building a new computer.

However; If i've completly missed your point, or missed something out that can be vital, please let me know, as i'm all up for different suggestions

[Sajuuk]

Could you tell me the model of the motherboard under the mainboard tab, just so I can look it up?

[Deann]

[Sajuuk]

Nice motherboard, I wish I had picked that one on my first build, instead of some cheap msi board. For you, it looks like you could take the latest AM3 CPU and plop it in there/flash the bios and run around crazy!

(From the research I've done, AM3 CPUs will work in AM2+ sockets, and your motherboard has support for AM2+ CPUs, so it SHOULD work. More research definitely won't hurt.)

Best thing about this upgrade path for right now - you don't have to change any other specs in your system!

edit: just a quickie link to one of the least expensive phenom II CPUs on newegg (for reference) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103650