Hi, all, this is my new rig which finally will arrive 2 days from today - about an average one, I admit but more than capable to run the game.

Intel? Core? 2 Quad-Core Q8300 Processor (2.50GHz, 4MB cache, 1333MHz FSB)Microsoft Operating System Genuine Windows? 7 Home Premium 64bit - EnglishMemory 6144MB Dual Channel DDR3 1066MHz [2x2048 + 2x1024] MemoryVideo Card ATI Radeon? HD 5450 1GB DDR3 graphicsHard Drive 1TB (7200rpm) SATA Hard Drive

My question is: Is there anything I should do to the rig before I install Oblivion?
Any system tweak you'd recommend?

http://www.tweakguides.com/TGTC.html

That is what you should do. :read:

I'd say OCing the CPU would be the first thing to do for heavily modded Oblivion

Overclocking the video card is safer and easier, and can be done from Catalyst Control Center. But the effect may not be as high as from OC'ing the CPU.

Why should I overclock CPU or videocard if they are more than adequate to run Oblivion?

Don't forget to install Oblivion somewhere other than Program Files. http://cs.elderscrolls.com/constwiki/index.php/Windows_Vista for more.

There's generally a safe overlock level for every processor. Just don't up the voltage on the processor and it'll be fine. Creep the FSB up.

When you install oblivion you'll want to change the way it uses memory. There's a thread around here on that. The biggest problem w/ a heavily modified game is memory management. Otherwise it should be smooth sailing. I gotta wonder, though, why you bought the CPU with the smaller cache size...

I did not buy it. This is a temporary solution for a good PC which died. It comes gratis So, I get whatever am offered, no chance to choose.
Which tread you mean? The one about the 4GB Patch or something else? Could you post a link, please?
If you think I should overclock my CPU, can you tell me where to read how to do it? Link?
Thank you.

Buy a fast hard-drive, like a 10,000 rpm raptor or even better a SSD on (tho man, they're pricey!) and instal Windows, drivers, Oblivion, OBMM and Wrye Bash, defrag/CCleaner AND NOTHING ELSE!

If it's your second harddrive it need never go online so doesn't need antivirus or firewalls which hog system resources.

A 80GB raptor won't set you back much on eBay, and it plenty big enough for several games and mods.

This is the best tweak I've ever done

Start by getting a better graphics card. The 5450 is not a gamer's card. Nothing else you can improve will make a difference, because any attempt to run Oblivion or other demanding games on highest settings or to install demanding mods will bottleneck.

Ignore all the advice given to overclock. You're describing a proprietary computer like an HP, eMachines/Gateway, or Acer Walmart special. You can't overclock. It won't even matter that you can't overclock, because your CPU, memory, and disk are not your bottleneck.

Thanks, Dogsboy, isn't this graphics card better than my old Geforce 8800 GTX 768 MB?
What do you suggest as a good card?

http://www.overclock.net/


more specifically: http://www.overclock.net/intel-cpus/225371-intel-cpu-essentials-collected-guides.html

No, it's much inferior. It's roughly the equal of an X1650 or 8400, only it has DirectX 11.

Since it's a proprietary computer with a minimum power supply, you're power-constrained; you can't run anything like your old 8800 GTX without also getting a new power supply.

Something like an nVidia GT 240 (which performs like a low-power 9600) or ATI 4670 or 5670 would be a good bet. (Of those, only the 5670 can do DX11.)

This ATI 5670 has negative overheating reports...
Now you made me really worried...
Will this ATI Radeon 5450 1 GB lead to inferior performance than Nvidia Geforce 8800 GTX 768 MB?
Are you saying that the new PC is going to play Oblivion worse than the 3 year old one?!!
What am I to buy!

For the 5670, just use a utility like Rivatuner, or Speedfan, to bump fan speeds, should be golden.

Is this ATI 5450 1GB so horrible?
I checked dell, they don't even sell this 5670 anymore...

This, you will see worse performance on the new rig, due to the video card.

Steer clear of Dell. They have terrible customer service, and often use non standard parts making upgrades tricky to say the least, and they are over priced.

The 8800GTX is on par with a GTS 250.

The ATI card you have is a low-end card, unlike the GTS 250 and 8800GTX which are (or were) mid to high range cards.

If you really think you need a upgrade from the 8800 then I would suggest a ATI 5770 or a 5850 from http://newegg.com. I am personally using a 8800GT which should last me a while longer before I want to upgrade.

Day after tomorrow will buy 5770 depending on the PSU :flamethrower:
This is my last deal with Dell.
Problem is, they all try to give you poor quality for top money...
Am ready to spend ? 1000 right now for decent rig with nice customer support... and I don't know place to trust... they all cheat so much!

That is why I always build my computers myself. Saves A LOT of cash and most of the companies that I buy parts from (Sapphire, ASRock, WD, Antec, etc.) have exceptional customer service if I have a problem. Plus, I use NEWEGG which has OUTSTANDING customer service.

Custom build, and come here for customer support!! You won't get more bang for your buck than a machine built from the ground up . . . by you.

http://www.newegg.com/ seems cheapest for the US

and http://www.aria.co.uk/ is very good for the UK.

If you want I can build you a rig on Aria and send you the links of what I think will be good??

Yes please. For UK.
And if/when I buy card and/or PSU for the existing rig, how do I put it in the PC?

Ok, do you have a moniter?? If not how big??

Specifically for gaming?? Blu-ray?

Anything specific you want let me know, and I'll make something up quick like.

And take it out of where it is and put the new one in. Just make sure you don't have any static built up on you.

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 2.66GHz (Yorkfield) (Socket 775) (1333FSB) Processor - Retail ? 120.99[ b]#34052[/b]
Gigabyte EP43T-UD3L Intel P43 (Socket 775) DDR3 Motherboard ? 58.95 #38178
G.Skill RipJaw 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit x2 ? 155.98 #37612
Asus Xonar DS 7.1 PCI Sound Card ? 29.99 #37596
Western Digital VelociRaptor 150GB SATA-II Hard Drive - OEM ? 84.99 #33602
Western Digital 500GB 3.5" SATA II Hard Drive - OEM x2 ? 62.78 #27026
Antec 902 Nine Hundred Two Ultimate Gaming Case - Black (No PSU) ? 73.99 #38406
OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W Modular Silent SLI/Crossfire Ready ATX2.2 Power Supply ? 54.77 #33612
Sony 24x Internal DVDRWRAM SATA Black Bare drive ? 14.25 #38948
Gigabyte ATI Radeon HD 5850 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card ? 199.99 #38309

Cart Total ? 856.68
Delivery Costs:
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Approx. Delivery ? 13.54
VAT ? 152.29
Total ?1022.51

Here is a rough idea. Asus sound card is optional and will get you under the ?1000 mark, as the motherboard comes with 7.1 built in anyway, but some on board sound cars have been reported to cause lag/not be that good. Comments welcome

The numbers in bold are the quick codes, so if you want to find them just type that in in the search bar.