I'm upgrading!

[InsaneApache]

Indeed.

So what's the bestest in the world to run this empire game?

[pevergreen]

When we get the required specs, we will know.

I'd get the 9800 for the graphics card myself. *drool*

[TosaInu]

Hello InsaneApache,

If it is to run Empire, I'ld suggest to wait.

The Nvidia 9800 (the high end ones) should be released soon, and by the time ETW hits the store we'll undoubtly see better equiped ones of those.

That's just the graphicscard, it will be true for any part: it will be better and/or cheaper when you wait.

If you want to.. need to.. will upgrade today: Wolfdale E8000 Intel Core2Duo (the E8400 isn't the fastest, but best bang for bucks I think), an GF8800GT (but note that you won't be able to play STW or MTW then).

I wouldn't buy a quadcore yet. More expensive, consumes more energy, generates more heat, slower per core and games aren't going to use multi threads for a while (nor most applications).

2 GB RAM when you use XP, 4 GB when using Vista.

[Mikeus Caesar]

2 GB RAM when you use XP, 4 GB when using Vista.

Ignore this true piece of advice, get 4GB just so you can have bragging rights

[TosaInu]

XP 'can't' (properly) handle more than 3 GB?

[Abokasee]

Yeah I stick with 3 just incase 4 kills everyone else in family, I have a quad core and the computer dosnt get that hot (then again i've only had for a short time), vista is royal pain, although you can work around it with a virtual server... I have managed to get evil genius working on it without vista (will be corrected in the arena thread) and it seems to run fine... just vista being annoying because thats it ultimate goal... annoyance

[Veho Nex]

I'm saving up for a dream system of dual 9600's with 2.33 ghz intel sumtin ruther dual core, with 4 gigs of ram, and the cool master comos 1000 and some otehr stuff that i cant remember right now but it totaled up to about 1200$ and thats without monitor or powersupply. but I'm pretty much building a new computer without a power supply( I've won like 3 so far so I think I'm covered[700w, 650w, and a 600w)

[Joker II]

XP 'can't' (properly) handle more than 3 GB?

That's actually 3,5 and is only correct for a 32bit version of XP or Vista.

[General_Someone]

I'm not sure about what you guys think but all this stuff would play nearly ANY game at highest graphics and not lag .....but its also the most expensive computer I've ever seen at $7,549 , plus it has other things

Dual nVidia GeForce 8800 Ultra 768MB
4GB Corsair Dominator DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz OC'd to 1066MHz-4 DIMMs
Intel® Core™2 Extreme QX6850 (8MB,3.67GHz Factory overclocked)

[Generals_Bodyguard]

That's actually 3,5 and is only correct for a 32bit version of XP or Vista.

Yeah and we all know how 'trouble' free XP and Vista 64 is NOT

Its just not worth the hassle.....yet

[Joker II]

... $7,549

Dual nVidia GeForce 8800 Ultra 768MB
4GB Corsair Dominator DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz OC'd to 1066MHz-4 DIMMs
Intel® Core™2 Extreme QX6850 (8MB,3.67GHz Factory overclocked)

Downgrade your graphics card and CPU, are you planning to overclock your memory? No? Buy other memory ! Get two harddisks and put them in RAID 0. Will give you a much better performance ! Use them for installing all your software and get a third harddisk for all your data !

What do I think about $7,549 ?

[TosaInu]

$2,000 would buy more than a decent system today, $500-$1,000 will buy a smart upgrade after several months-year, $1,000-$1,500 will upgrade it completely in 1.5-2 years, then it will be faster than the $7,549 configuration, you get three purchase satisfications instead of one and will save at least $3,000.

A quadcore for games is just throwing away money at this point.