Metatron2008
join:2008-09-02
Stockbridge, GA
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3 edits | How much longer do you think a system like this play good?
Sorry for dumb subject line, ran out of room for words. How long do you think my bedroom pc will let me play pc games good? My pc downstairs is far better, but I do want a bedroom pc to keep up...
My bedroom pc is this:
Pentium D 805 @ 3.2 ghz
4 gigs ddr 2 667 ram
x1900xt 512
The pc is this:
***Please use the upload image feature***
It's on a 1920x1080 monitor and a 1600x1200 monitor (Other one isn't used yet while I get a pci 2400 pro to run it). I just installed Windows 7, and I'm still waiting for my g15 rev 1 keyboard to arrive and my g9 for the device. But these are just upgrades because I want a better m/kb, and I want triple screens. The thing runs well still, but new games are pretty damn taxing. |
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james
join:2001-02-26
antarctica
| Your computer will "play pc games good" for exactly 12.3 years, at which time it will suffer a motherboard failure that will destroy the video card and processor. Until then it will continue to play any games it can currently play, so no worries.
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[BQUOTE=[user=Metatron2008]]But people who download thousands of movies and games.... Yes, they are as bad as any murderer[/BQUOTE] |
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elios
join:2005-11-15
Springfield, MO | reply to Metatron2008
current games or games that arnt out yet?
still the Pentium D is OLD its basicly two P4s with out HT
GPU is old too
if you have the money now is a good time to build a new PC |
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Metatron2008
join:2008-09-02
Stockbridge, GA
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1 edit | said by elios  :current games or games that arnt out yet? still the Pentium D is OLD its basicly two P4s with out HT GPU is old too if you have the money now is a good time to build a new PC Not for games. Pentium D is still pretty good for games, esp. at 3.2 ghz.
X1900xt 512 still does pretty well, a bit below my 8800 gts 640.
Money isn't an issue, well, not a super big issue. I have a core i7 and a core 2 system, but you see those are actual gaming pcs. This is my bedroom pc, and it isn't connected to a 40" tv like my others, but it's still important to me...
Eventually I'll replace it with a core 2, but I don't know when the best time would be. |
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Metatron2008
join:2008-09-02
Stockbridge, GA
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1 edit | Lemme make it a tad bit clearer... I do some gaming in my bedroom pc, but I can certainly live with medium and lowish settings. I don't need the highest settings in my room, but I do play new games up there using my steam accoutn from downstairs...
How many more years do you guys think a setup like this would survive on mid/low settings?
Right now, on Win 7, the machine can play new games at around mid-high to mid-low. A couple needed resolution adjustments. |
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asdfdfdfdfdfdfdf
@Level3.net
| reply to Metatron2008
I understand why you are interested in the question but it is almost impossible to answer with any accuracy. We could make pretty wild guesses but it wouldn't really be beneficial to you. Your expectations seem very modest. If you are into shooters I don't think your graphics card will give you a satisfying experience for much longer, especially at native resolution on the monitors you mention. If you are into mmorpgs you may have considerable life left in it since requirements are often lower and lesser frame rates can be tolerated.
"Pentium D is still pretty good for games, esp. at 3.2 ghz.
X1900xt 512 still does pretty well"
"Eventually I'll replace it with a core 2, but I don't know when the best time would be."
The simple and obvious answer, but one which people often lose sight of is that the time to replace the machine is when you are trying to do something with it and it's inadequacies are no longer tolerable to you. Until that time there is no reason to do anything. Too many people upgrade just to have something faster or in anticipation of some future game that may or may not happen at the expected time, if at all.
It sounds like you are still satisfied with it and any speculating we do about how long that will continue is likely to be very erroneous. I wouldn't make any decisions based on our responses. |
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Metatron2008
join:2008-09-02
Stockbridge, GA
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1 edit | said by asdfdfdfdfdfdfdf :
I understand why you are interested in the question but it is almost impossible to answer with any accuracy. We could make pretty wild guesses but it wouldn't really be beneficial to you. Your expectations seem very modest. If you are into shooters I don't think your graphics card will give you a satisfying experience for much longer, especially at native resolution on the monitors you mention. If you are into mmorpgs you may have considerable life left in it since requirements are often lower and lesser frame rates can be tolerated.
"Pentium D is still pretty good for games, esp. at 3.2 ghz.
X1900xt 512 still does pretty well"
"Eventually I'll replace it with a core 2, but I don't know when the best time would be."
The simple and obvious answer, but one which people often lose sight of is that the time to replace the machine is when you are trying to do something with it and it's inadequacies are no longer tolerable to you. Until that time there is no reason to do anything. Too many people upgrade just to have something faster or in anticipation of some future game that may or may not happen at the expected time, if at all.
It sounds like you are still satisfied with it and any speculating we do about how long that will continue is likely to be very erroneous. I wouldn't make any decisions based on our responses.
Well they seem modest only because I try to watch power and I already have two powerful gaming pcs  . So I'm hesitant to actually upgrade this one.
And I do upgrade alot of times simply for more power (Although I do it every 6 months or so, not out of the blue, and for me it's always beneficial, since I usually multitask tons). I don't want to pay power bills out the ass for another upgrade though...
The damn thing works for current games, and I'd be hesitant to upgrade...
Although, to be honest, a core 2 may be something I should go ahead and upgrade if we're talking power consumption. As far as a new gpu, I'd definatly want to wait it out until it's a nessecity. |
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asdfdfdfdfdfdfdf
@Level3.net
| reply to Metatron2008
You are trying to reconcile a couple of irreconcilable concerns.
You are running 3 pretty power hungry systems, 40" tvs, and 2-3 monitors on your weakest system.
A new cpu will only make a very modest reduction in power draw, relative to an 805 Pent D, under these circumstances. A new graphics card would have a modest increase relative to your 1900xt, which is itself pretty power hungry.
So from a power draw standpoint keeping what you have or replacing it isn't going to make a lot of difference. Simply keeping machines off when not in use and only running a single monitor except when there is a really pressing need would make a lot bigger difference.
A core2 quad would be about the same as what you have now from a power draw standpoint. A core2 duo in the 8400 range might draw 30 watts less under heavy load, but might often be much less. Assuming worst case use for 5 hours per day (30*5 hrs day*365 days year) is about 54 kwhs a year at .15 per kwh would save you about $8 a year. The problem is that any benefit is being dwarfed by your other choices of running lots of big monitors and powerful gaming machines.
If electrical costs are eating you alive your best bet is to turn off everything while you are not using it. Financially you aren't going to recover your upgrade cost in energy cost reduction. If it is an environmental concern then there is no way around having to rethink your entire approach and scale back. Adding the 3rd monitor and a 2400 pro card, for example, is going to swamp any power benefit you could get by upgrading your processor. |
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asdfdfdfdfdfdfdf
@Level3.net | reply to Metatron2008
BTW, if you want to discuss any of this, such as energy use, in more detail, I'll do that. It may seem like I'm just trying to be critical, but that isn't my intent. |
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Metatron2008
join:2008-09-02
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3 edits | reply to asdfdfdfdfdfdfdf
Heh, electrical costs aren't eating me alive, I just don't want them too.
I'd rather have every machine in my house a gaming machine, but I also want to pay my bills. So I draw the line at 3 gaming machines.
Really, I'm just trying to be practical. I'd love a fast car, but at this economy the gas prices makes it not such a good idea.
If I don't tell myself no I will go and buy every high tech item on the planet  |
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Pariah666
join:2009-04-27
Lewistown, PA
| reply to Metatron2008
Just a simple question..if you are so concerned with "possible" energy costs then do you REALLY need 3 PC's? Don't get me wrong I am all about having the biggest, the bestest and the mostest. But if this is a true concern to you then I am sure you could possibly do away with your bedroom setup and if you really have to play there then you could move one of your true gaming setups. I am not trying to criticize you at all so please don't take it that way. This is just what I would do if I were in that type of situation. |
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Metatron2008
join:2008-09-02
Stockbridge, GA | Bah. You guys don't get it. It's not really about energy costs, it's about energy costs if I keep buying pcs. |
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Pariah666
join:2009-04-27
Lewistown, PA
| Ok lemme break this down how I understand this.
1.You want to know how much longer your bedroom PC will play games decently.
2.You are not concerned about power consumption at the moment...only if you were to upgrade to a new PC.
Well it seems as though your original question has been addressed as much as it can as it is really just a matter of opinion. It will last as long as you are willing to dump money into it to upgrade.
Your 2nd issue is something we can't help you with. If you have the uncontrollable urge to go buy PC after PC then you need more help than we can offer...intervention?? Unless you are hosting LAN parties at your house with your own computers then there is no need to have more than you do right now. I can see the 2 in your general living area and one in your bedroom. Other than that why dump more money into another PC when you can only be on one at a time. It seems like you might need to find the way to the front door and discover the outside |
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Metatron2008
join:2008-09-02
Stockbridge, GA | You got it. I do have tf2, css, and dods lan parties. |
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Metatron2008
join:2008-09-02
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1 edit | I forgot to mention, in addition to the 3 machines, I have a 'gaming laptop' (Not so hot now as it was in 2006, but it still runs tf2 perfectly), and a 3200+ xp, which also didn't run tf2 well, but now does on a 3650.
It's not anything important, just me and a few friends. |
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