Need some opinions.

[DrZeto]

Hi, I?ve been offered to buy a computer package from work, but I wanted to ask you guys for som advise before I bought anything. So here are the specs.

24" TFT HP L2465 (1920x1200 @ 60Hz, contrast 1000:1, responsetime 8 ms, 4-port USB2.0 Hub, pivot)
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ (2x1024 kB L2 cache)
ATi RS482/SB400 chipset
2048 MB DDR SDRAM (400 MHz)
2x250GB SATA 7200rpm
1x300GB external USB 2.0 (UATA) 7200 rpm drive
11-in-1 card reader
DVD±RW/±R/R9 with Lightscribe
nVIDIA GeForce 7900 GTX, PCI-Express 512Mb DDR
Creative Labs SoundBlaster X-Fi
TV-card and FM-tuner with remote control
Wireless network IEEE802.11 b/g
10/100 Mbit/s Ethernet
2x Firewire IEEE 1394
6x USB 2.0
Speakersystem: Logitech S-200 with subwoofer
Wireless mouse & keyboard
Lots of software

Price: 2400 USD

So is the package worth the money? Are there any bottlenecks that makes this setup not worth buying? I'm not a hardcore gamer but I enjoy playing games and watching movies. I hate when new games lag and you have to set the graphics option to "low". So I'm looking for a setup that will cope with new games for the next 3 years to come.

 

[DrZeto]

I should also say I can't change any components in the package, like the motherboard. But I can choose a smaller TFT monitor. Right now the price is devided like this:

Computer = 1600 USD
24" TFT monitor = 800 USD

I can choose a smaller TFT monitor like this one:

21" TFT HP f2105 (1680x1050 @ 60 Hz, Widescreen, contrast 1000:1, responsetime 8 ms, 2xUSB 2.0 hub, HDTV-prepared, picture in picture, built in speakers)

Cost = 490 USD

I get a 3 year warranty on this computer package, and I pay a monthly fee (tax-free). At the moment I can't afford to buy all of these components separately to get a better motherboard for example.

So will this rig last for 3 years in a gaming piont of view?

Remember, I'm just seeing this rig in a 3-year perspective. After 3 years it's gonna be payed and I can look at another rig. So what should I do? Buy this rig or wait another 18 months until the next offer comes from work?

 

[letdown427]

that's a biiiig monitor! 3years of new games is never going to happen. Especially at 1920x1200. The only thing that lasts 3years in high end gaming is gamers.

Vista for example, as one minor thing. I'd probably say wait 18months, as you'll always end up with more if you wait, question is whether you want it RIGHT NOW

So wait, it has an ATi chipset? what motherboard is it? As you'll 'need' sli if you want to be high detail gaming for 3years at 1920x1200 with 7900gtx's.

But for $2400, (or $2090), you could probably buy a lot of good equipment, would you build a PC yourself?



Just had a little thought, buy it, and sell the parts. You'll make a tidy little profit, which could be put towards getting a pretty awesome rig most probably. Like the 7900gtxs are short stock at the moment, could probably get a high price for one of those, then get an x1900xtx. Or wait for DX10 cards.

 

[bendixG15]

You can do better..and pick your own components

 

[DrZeto]

Thaks for your replies Unfortunately I can't switch components in the package. I don't know what motherboar it is, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't have SLI for example.

What I could do is I sell some components and peripherals I don't need and buy another motherboard with the latest chipset, like EPoX 9NPA+ SLI for example and connect everything to that motherboard instead. Then in about 2 years when Vista and DX10 has a firm grip on the market I can upgrade to a DX10 graphics card, or buy 2 and use the SLI depending on my needs.

Will this make it more future proof in a gaming point of view with that 24" screen?