darxus | (no subject)

[Poll #639434]

Current plans for the $1400 machine: http://www.chaosreigns.com/dancer/ ($1467 with an x2 3800+)

My home computer, dancer, cooked itself to death over the summer. I built dancer in 2001, and upgraded its video card to the latest and greatest in 2002. So perhaps I was due for an upgrade anyway.

I have been terribly indecisive. While being too frustrated to deal with the problem for months, I have beem using

nchanter's old busted laptop which requires me to sit in terribly uncomfortable positions in order to keep the (nolonger attached) display upright.

Finally I've started to seriously research the possibility of building a new machine (my third, the first was oblivion). I remain indecisive. Honestly the only thing I've missed lately is a comfortable sitting position and an entirely functional keyboard. But I can totally afford an up to date gaming machine. I've enjoyed these games some in the past. Would my life be better having them back? The latest FPS, F.E.A.R., looks amusing.

And again, I can afford it. Hell, computers are my living, should I not have nice hardware at home? But do I need it? Is it worth $1400 to me?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I think you should get the $1400 machine simply because you can hold on it replacing it for quite a bit longer than you could the ~$200 machine. this way, if you see a game you have to have in 6 or 8 months, you rmachine should be able to handle it without a problem. (Whereas the prebuilt may not. Though you didn't show specs for it, so I dunno for sure.)

Speaking of which, it's probably time for me to upgrade my machine as well. (It was an above average machine when I built it in 2002, but now it's well below average.)

Right, the key variable is "how often do you replace your machine?" If you're one of the "ooh shiney" types who buys new machines often, then it makes sense to spend as little as possible to get just the features you want.
If you're one of those who replaces only when forced then it makes sense to get the best machine you can afford, so that it'll stay viable longest.

A $200 machine wouldn't be able to play anything.