New Computer Question

[shadewalker]

Another option may be to buy a new computer that will run 3 instances and keep 2 instances on the laptop. Of course that would require setting up the communications between the two different computers if you don't have that set up already.

[Smithnweson]

Ok, how about this,

PC with the ability to do 3 box medium or high settings on the main and low on the boxes with no issues for around $850 not including shipping and handling. I have decided that 3 will be fine, since if I ever wanted to 5 box I could use the laptop to duo or I could get some guildies to play with me.

If there are specific computers on newegg or tigerdirect that will do these, I would liek to know which one would be best. I appreciate the continual help and responses.

Also as a separate question, for the future. What current PC (no cost limit, but would liek to know the cheapest I would have to pay). would be able to 5 box without issue, main pc on ultra, boxes on low. Just curious, never know when one could win the lottery or otherwise come into money :P

[Apps]

Ok, how about this,

PC with the ability to do 3 box medium or high settings on the main and low on the boxes with no issues for around $850 not including shipping and handling. I have decided that 3 will be fine, since if I ever wanted to 5 box I could use the laptop to duo or I could get some guildies to play with me.

If there are specific computers on newegg or tigerdirect that will do these, I would liek to know which one would be best. I appreciate the continual help and responses.

Sill in the mindset of being curious, why exactly are you interested in having (3) clients on med, or high, or better? Perhaps understanding the relavance to this may help point you in a more appropriate direction.

Also as a separate question, for the future. What current PC (no cost limit, but would liek to know the cheapest I would have to pay). would be able to 5 box without issue, main pc on ultra, boxes on low. Just curious, never know when one could win the lottery or otherwise come into money :P

This comment, I like to see. Given you are willing to (lets say for the sake of argument), conform to what the vast majority of us do... How open are you to building your own pc, with LOTS of assistance from the tech savy lurkers? I.e. If you were provided a list of items for purchase; you purchase those items, and install the hardware and software yourself.

I realize you said you didnt want to do this, as a result of simply not knowing what to do... yet I would argue, that doing it yourself, you will learn more about computers, the hardware, and how it all fits together.

You can purchase a bare-bones kit, and then a motherboard, processor w/fan, ram, power supply, video card, HDD and be very close to your budget. Then get an el'cheapo mouse and keyboard, and whatever monitor you want, when you have the time and a little more cash. Wal-mart sells a decent 22"+ monitor. Hell, I saw one, just this weekend on the clearance, (no box), for $82.

Point is, I think you will do best with guidance from people here to build what you want, over time...even with a tight budget, all the while play on your laptop.

[Ualaa]

Buying a case of beer and pizza to share with a friend or college who can build a system for you, will be much cheaper than paying a store to pre-assemble a system for you.
Plus, it is done right and you learn a bit in the process.

If you're buying a new system, I'd really look towards the newer i7 or i5 systems. If at all possible, go the 2500k or 2600k route.
They're not that much more than an i7 930, but much more powerful systems.

If you're going to be five-boxing tops and won't be doing videos while playing or having nine other windows open in firefox... you'll likely get by with 6 (if triple channel) or 8 (if dual channel) ram.
Ram is pretty dirt cheap and I'd recommend 12/16, as it allows you to do more on the system if you choose to.

Video card is not the bottleneck for most wow systems.
But better cards will let you play with more eye-candy.
If you're using IS Boxer, you can have the main on higher settings (mine is max view distance and medium for most other settings) and the slaves on lower settings (I have my slaves with medium view distance and everything else low; both master/slaves have some things like Shadows set to off)... and they will dynamically change as you switch which toon is the master.
My main is capped at 60 FPS, and the slaves at 20 FPS.

If you can get a cheap SSD, purely for the gaming folder... that will help a lot.
Doesn't have to be anything fancy at all; the better SSD's are only really required if you want your operating system on them too.

[coglistings]

Well, obviously no one wants to answer your question as we just keep ignoring your specs, but it is for good reason. You have seen alot of people encouraging you to get into pc builds yourself, not because you need this info to multibox, but because you can save alot of cash and get a better system for a mimual amount of effort if in the right hands. another reason you won't find alot of prebuild advice is because the experience isn't here except for the people who are willing to pay out the arse for alienware, and others alike. However, you seem intent to go about this with the spec you provided, so I will assist as best I can / as best it pleases me .

prebuilds tend to cost more for i7 technology than AMD's do. so even though its not recommended, go with an AMD build if you must do a prebuid at this price point.

tiger direct $769, pre shipping handleing http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...038&CatId=4928

newegg $899 plus 19 shipping / handeling for my zip code http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16883229221

Honestly, didn't spend too much time on this as it isn't really something that interests me personally. You can be cheap with multiboxing if you can do some component installation or complete builds. But if you must buy prebuilds, then you aren't going to come in at the price point you have and still have the expectations you have. These two should get you by though you may still have to limit your framerates on slaves and make sure to not have too much visual candy settings turned on those slaves as well

[Smithnweson]

thank you for all the responses.

Computers are just too confusing and expensive to experiment with when it comes to putting a cpu on a board and putting a fan/heatsink on a cpu. I tried it about 4 years ago on the endless suggestions to try it myself. I ended up with a large paperweight. I understand how it is cheaper and i understand how it would be overall better to build my own system. Alas, at this point in my life, I just don't feel comfortable throwing more money down the drain on a mistake that leads to another paperweight.

To be honest I don't know what i did wrong that it fried out... all I know is that I heard a pop fizzle and it never worked again.

So while it is more expensive and I am making what you all feel is a mistake, a prebuilt system feels like the only way to go for me. I don't have any tech savvy friends around me, just seems to be how it goes I guess.

Many thanks for all who have attempted to assist me. I do appreciate even though i may have sounded combative, it was not my intention.

I will have to continue to look and research and save more money as time goes along.

[Ualaa]

As long as you are aware of the extra cost, going pre-built can be an option if you want a warranty or whatever.

My local computer store has a program called IPR.
That stands for Instant Product Replacement.
If the part goes for just about any reason, they replace it immediately.
That is not a repair or RMA process, but a brand new piece.
The same as you had originally, or if that is no longer available then the next piece up in that line.

IPR is not really that expensive, as warranties go.
But as with all insurance, it is not a loss for the company offering it.

[Smithnweson]

Sounds great Ualaa!

[Apps]

As long as you are aware of the extra cost, going pre-built can be an option if you want a warranty or whatever.

My local computer store has a program called IPR.
That stands for Instant Product Replacement.
If the part goes for just about any reason, they replace it immediately.
That is not a repair or RMA process, but a brand new piece.
The same as you had originally, or if that is no longer available then the next piece up in that line.

IPR is not really that expensive, as warranties go.
But as with all insurance, it is not a loss for the company offering it.

Mine is www.intrex.com. Local place I mean.

They have the same replacement policy for custom systems they build for the customer. Unfortunately their build cost, includes the failsafe that if that situation were to happen, they were paid up front for it.... subsequently, if the custom system a customer has them build, DOESNT have any problems,... well, then you paid WAY too much for it.

I.e. $100 Case; $300 MoBo; ~CPU+35% cost, same for RAM etc etc..

For Smithnweson,

I'll share a "potato" I build too. Water cooling was new and all the rage. Course at the time I got myself a fancy STATE of the ART Intel P3-600. (OMG, I know right?) It worked brilliantly for about a week. Then... yup, "if it holds liquid, it'll leak"..

It did.

Everything was ruined. Even the Power supply. It was as you said, a $650 paperweight.

But thats the key. It was $650. Even then. I could afford to replace everything.

Today, I dont have the "creme de la creme" for Gaming computers. (the industry changes so fast, id speculate no one does), but what I started boxing with, was sufficent. 1066 bus, Socket 1155 Mobo; Intel 2.4GHz Dual core; 4GB (800)RAM; GForce 240G video card; 500GB HDD (7200rpm); 50X DVD drive; 650W PwSpply) - Total cost then = $ 612.56 after tax.

I already had the case, (and also already had the DVD drive, and the HDD, but i bought one to put in the closet, as a "just in case")

Since then, I have upgraded each item. Now running 12GB RAM, (3) Video cards, i5 Processor, tons of fans..lol.

Point is, if you are patient, and do your homework. (enlist a friend as Ualaa said), or link EVERY item here. I still feel strongly, you can get a very nice system (minus keyboard, mouse and monitor), for your money.

A lot of these guys that frequently troll the hardware forums are very savy and intelligent.

[Bollwerk]

I haven't seen the OP mention what resolution (s)he wants to run at.

You might be able to run 5 toons on medium in a city on a $750 box IF you're at something like 1280x1024 or lower resolution. But I'm not even sure that's feasible.