Is this the last hurrah for anyone's computer?

**Eusebius86** · 03-01-2009, 20:14

I had a 3Ghz single core, 1.5 GB RAM, and a 7600GT, needless to say, I knew it wouldn't play ETW. So I built a new pc in Nov. 2.6 Ghz dual core (wolfdale), evga 512MB 9800gt, 2GB RAM, XP, etc. I can play the demo on high everything, 1440x900 resolution...

**Northnovas** · 03-01-2009, 20:25

My last upgrade was MTW 2 so I guess it's time again for the family to get a new cpu.

The demo ran okay the controls scrolling the mouse was a little off, most of the settings were ranged medium to ultra. Single core 2.8, 2G RAM, 7600 GS. It was good but I didn't think I was getting the full experience with the demo. I do hope the game is smoother but I would like to get things fixed up it just getting the right cpu put together with the newer OS.

**Julius_Nepos** · 03-01-2009, 21:11

My computer was pretty high end 3 years ago, I remember the X2 4800+ chip I bought cost 680$ and was the single most expensive part of the machine. The hold up for me is, in order to upgrade at all, I have to replace a large proportion of my hardware, mainboard, CPU, RAM, PSU, Video Card, etc. I can't just do it a piece at a time really, so I'm having to put off the whole upgrade. I do think with 2GB of RAM and a 7950 GT 512 I'll be able to run the game tolerably, but I'm really not expecting anything spectacular at all. We'll see what happens, but yeah my machine needs to be replaced/upgraded to a very high degree.

**Forward Observer** · 03-01-2009, 22:40

Just to play EmpireTW along with all the other new stuff coming out, I ordered a fairly high end rig from one of the on-line assembly shops. I ordered it on the 16th, thinking that I would have it in plenty to time to get it set up and tuned to my liking, but I also paid extra for a 3 day rush build and for 2nd day Fed Ex.

I loaded the demo on my old rig, and while the tutorials ran fine, the large battles chugged at times--even on low settings. I had already promised myself that I would only play the full game on my new rig.

Unfortunately, the next day after I placed my order, the company called to tell me that they could not start because they were back ordered on the Nividia G295GTX 2x 1.7 gig graphics card I specified. I guess this is the hottest card on the market right now, so they are in high demand. They were supposed to be in this last week, but they did not come.

The company was honest enough that they refunded the $65 I paid for the express build and said I would get this service free because of the delay.

I checked with two other on-line builders thinking I would cancel my order and go with somebody else, but they were in the same boat because all of them use EVGA as their source.

Of course they said to check back next week, but who knows if they will even get the cards in then. Regardless, there's no way I'll have my new rig before the game comes out--probably at least a week after.

So, to all of you who will start playing next week---have fun with the new game. I'll just bide my time reading all the cheers and huzzahs plus all the moans, groans, rants, and usual fanboy whining.

**Digby Tatham Warter** · 03-02-2009, 11:47

Originally Posted by Forward Observer

Unfortunately, the next day after I placed my order, the company called to tell me that they could not start because they were back ordered on the Nividia G295GTX 2x 1.7 gig graphics card I specified. I guess this is the hottest card on the market right now, so they are in high demand. They were supposed to be in this last week, but they did not come.

I checked with two other on-line builders thinking I would cancel my order and go with somebody else, but they were in the same boat because all of them use EVGA as their source.

Of course they said to check back next week, but who knows if they will even get the cards in then. Regardless, there's no way I'll have my new rig before the game comes out--probably at least a week after.

So, to all of you who will start playing next week---have fun with the new game. I'll just bide my time reading all the cheers and huzzahs plus all the moans, groans, rants, and usual fanboy whining.

That' s a very high end GPU, do you really need that much grunt, and is the rest of the PC up to the same mark? Mainly I mean the CPU will have to be very expensive to properly pull a GPU like that, and if it isn't, then it will be waste won't it?.

Unless your trying to run 2 26" monitors or something, did you not consider buying something cheaper that they had in stock, that would still more than do the job?

I played the demo, fully maxed @1680x1050 with a just a humble ATi4870 512DDR, and their are at least 2 other Nvidia GPU's that are faster than mine, and cheaper than the monster you are waitng for.

Anyway, sounds like a monster rig you are after, and good luck to you with which ever route you take.

**Polemists** · 03-02-2009, 12:13

I personally always make horrible decisions when buying a pc on a budget. Joys of life.

Someday soon though I am going to try and find a pc that actually lasts me for two years

**Sir Beane** · 03-02-2009, 13:02

Originally Posted by Polemists

I personally always make horrible decisions when buying a pc on a budget. Joys of life.

Someday soon though I am going to try and find a pc that actually lasts me for two years

I used to be pretty good at making horrible decisions, but this time things seem to have worked out.

I finally have a PC that can play the latest games being released.

**Doug-Thompson** · 03-02-2009, 22:51

Double post

**Doug-Thompson** · 03-02-2009, 23:15

This is going to be interesting.

The processor requirement (2.4 Intel) is the same minimum requirement for "Mass Effect," a game I can play on my 2.0 Athlon machine. That one has fast-paced shooter elements to it. It's a little jerkier than most people would like, but I bet I'll get by in Total War battles.

My motherboard's gone as far as it can go for upgrades. Anything further will require a new computer, as a practical matter. So, assuming I can play this version of Total War, I'm pleased. I won't have to break for a new machine for a while.

I'm not planning on buying a new computer until Windows 7 comes out anyway. I've heard that Vista with service packs is fine, but I get a new machine when every other time Microsoft comes out with a new OS. I had a Windows 95 machine until Windows XP came out, for instance. I don't even remember what I had before Windows 95, but it wasn't the original version of Windows.

**Forward Observer** · 03-02-2009, 23:19

Originally Posted by Digby Tatham Warter

That' s a very high end GPU, do you really need that much grunt, and is the rest of the PC up to the same mark? Mainly I mean the CPU will have to be very expensive to properly pull a GPU like that, and if it isn't, then it will be waste won't it?.

Unless your trying to run 2 26" monitors or something, did you not consider buying something cheaper that they had in stock, that would still more than do the job?

I played the demo, fully maxed @1680x1050 with a just a humble ATi4870 512DDR, and their are at least 2 other Nvidia GPU's that are faster than mine, and cheaper than the monster you are waitng for.

Anyway, sounds like a monster rig you are after, and good luck to you with which ever route you take.

This is the first custom rig I have ever ordered, and since I have held off buying a new PC for almost 5 years, I figured I could splurge. Previously I have alway gone with cheap refurbished pre-built name brands and then simply upgraded the GPU as needed. My current P4 3.2 gig rig is just old enough that it is AGP based, so I hit my ceiling on GPU upgrades some time ago.

I purposely configured my new rig to handle just about any game available now, and hopefully as far in the future as possible, while being able to play them on the highest graphic settings.

Here are the specs:

Case: Thermaltake Spedo Full tower
PSU: 800 watt quad SLI ready
MB: Asus P6T Intel X58 chipset 3 way SLI or Crossfire support
CPU: Intel i7-940 2.93 GHz (which is suppose to over-clock pretty well)
Cooling: Asetek Liquid CPU cooling system
Memory: 6GB DDR3/1600Mhz Corsair
Video: NVIDIA GeForce GTX295 X2 1.7GB 16X PCIe Video Card
Hard drive: 1 terabyte SATA II/ 7200rpm
Optical drives 2 LG 20X double layer DVD+-R/RW--one with lightscribe
Thermal Display: Xion color LCD thermal control panel
OS: Windows Vista home Premium 64 bit with 60 day trial of Windows office

The new i7 series GPU's should match up to this card very nicely from what I have read.

Oh, and believe it or not, I am paying about $200 less to have this built than I would if I had ordered all the parts seperately from Newegg and put it together myself--plus I get 3 free games and a 3 year warranty.

I also just purchased a new 24 inch wide screen monitor to go with my new rig, so I want to further insure that I can play everything in its 1920 X 1200 native resolution and never worry about frame rates.

No more slide shows for me!

If prices continue to drop, I may go for an even larger format monitor sometime in the future.

Cheers