ancalime said:
I don't see how you are saying such a system is only capable of low settings. Benchmarks show that an E2140 overclocked to the high 2ghz range matches the performance of an E6600 in games. Now with the evga motherboard, the E2140 should have no problems reaching this territory.
I dont know if you are talking about the same game as I am, but Crysis is going to be coded to utilize quad core technology. Crysis also will be using a latest generation game engine. Those 2 facts alone mean more demanding hardware. System requirements are always done with the thought in mind of how to sell the most. The game distribution companies are in it to make money, so it's slightly bias to tell you what you want to hear. As for the processor comparison, your comparing apples to oranges. The E2140 isn't even the same arcitecture as the Core 2 Duo. It also has 1MB vs 4MB cache, and you are putting a 800MHZ FSB onto a P35 motherboard. Thats asking for a bottleneck.
ancalime said:
2GB of RAM should be more than enough to run next generation games. If it really comes to it, background tasks can be shut off to ease the stress on the RAM.
The Ballistix is a good choice, I never disagreed. It is really nice and cheap these days too.
ancalime said:
An overclocked 8600GTS should be able to handle Crysis with decent settings at a minimal resolution. Again, that is why I said to step up to an 8800GTS as soon as possible.
Overclocking a 8600GTS is very limiting, especially since its cooler is so small. Even after a small overclock, No matter how fast your core or memory clock speeds are, you are still using a 128 memory interface. It is going to struggle to play a next generation game with any sort of eye candy or settings on medium to high setting.
ancalime said:
You cannot make any judgements on his PSU because you don't know what it is. If his PSU is not sufficient, it is not a large investment to obtain a reputable one.
I sure can make a good estimate judging by his other hardware in his original post. An X800 is several years old. They are all discountinued and arn't for sale much anymore if at all. With that in mind, odds are his PSU is on the older and weaker side because the technology wasn't what it is today.
ancalime said:
With all due respect, I laugh at people who claim they need such pricey systems to play these games. There are no official requirements for Crysis that had been released but judging from the "educated guesses" you can definitely play well on cheaper systems.
Last but not least... 800/900 dollars is hardly pricey in todays market. Like I said, your definition of playing a game is different then mine. You may be happy with mediocre/low video settings. I don't enjoy playing a game with lag or weak visual appearance. A game such as Crysis excells in looking good and playing greating. There are no official requirements released yet for Crysis dosen't mean you can't put 2 and 2 together to come up with a estimate based on previous games etc. Take FarCry for example, when it first came out it was the "Next Gen" in graphics and it requires some hardware to take advantage of that.
All things set aside, I'm not trying to squish your dreams Marinco. I think it would be 200% worthwhile to save some more money for a better system, instead of skimming off the cheap stuff and making do. You will have a lot more fun that way, and won't be wasting money so much on outdated hardware. Besides... it's gonna be a little while till the games actually come out, that will give you enough time to save up your money. In doing so, there will be more price cuts, and better technology for a more affordable price. Words from the wise, I've been there and done that. At least just consider my advice.
Bottom line: If you take nothing from my post, remember this. Don't be stuck generations behind skimming off the cheap stuff to enjoy new games. Withhold for a while, till you can afford something a little higher quality and then make the most of it. You will save money, and have more fun doing it. Last thing I wanna see you do Marinco is spend money, then regret it and tell yourself "Damn I should have listened to him" because your unsatisfied with the preformance. Been there and done that too.