Hi. Just wondering again would http://cgi.ebay.com.au/HP-PC-FAST-w-BIG-19INCH-LCD-DVDRW-UPGRADES-AVAILABLE-/180546411302?pt=AU_comp_dekstop&hash=item2a09679b26#ht_6558wt_1139 run Oblivion well? If you scroll down on the page, there's a $70 upgrade to an ATI Radeon 512 MB video card, so I would purchase that upgrade instead of the stock integrated video card... I'm trying to get the best prices for a computer to run Oblivion, so thats why I need help to find what computer would run it well... I hope I explained that well, haha. Thanks for any help

Everything seems like it would run okayish save the video card, which it doesn't actually tell what you're getting other than a 512mb card. Could be a crappy one, could be an okay one. No way to tell unless you ask them really.

Though judging from the specs of the other stuff I can't imagine it's too glamorous.

Bundled PC's usually have crappy cards, so most probably you'd like to change it. At least if you plan to install some graphical mods.

Fair enough... what about http://nirv.com.au/selectprocat.php?baseid=35? Would these two run Oblivion okay? Better than the other one? Thanks

Those should run it pretty well. I'm not entirely sure about the video cards, but that's easy enough to upgrade if necessary.

The one from ebay has a Pentium 4 CPU which is pretty weak. I would stay far away from that one. As to the ones from Nirv.com, take the one with the Nvidia GT220 GPU in there. It would get about medium-high settings pretty good.

Thanks... theres also an available upgrade for $45 to the NVIDIA GeForce GT 240 1GB GDDR3 video card for the Nirv.com VIPER instead of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 220 512MB GDDR2... that would be better am I right? Thanks again

The GT220 cannot easily reach "Medium High" image quality settings, unless the screen resolution is held down to the lower end of Medium. The GT240 is TONS better than the 220, and it will reach mostly High Settings at Medium Resolutions.


Gorath

Okay, thanks for your help. ONE last thing before I make any purchases though, which one would run Oblivion better, http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180520621449&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT or the Nirv nVidia VIPER with the GT240? Thanks for all your help

You're better off with the Nirv system that has the GT 220. The GT 220 is a bit better than the 9500GT and it will pull high settings at around a 1280x1024 (1440x900) resolution for vanilla Oblivion. The GT 240 is considerably better. Keep in mind that system doesn't come with the operating system selected, so that's extra money right there.

I don't like any of those Ebay machines...you'd have to upgrade quite a bit to make it even worthwhile. You don't want to have a system with Pentium 4s and Celeron type CPUs...those are garbage.

What's the most you can spend for a system? There might be better choices for you even in Australia.

Well, I don't know if it's possible but I'm looking for a computer for around the $450 mark... If there's something better than the Nirv system than I'll definitely go for that... thanks

Sorry, maybe I'll pay around $500... I don't really need an operating system to come with it... I already have a copy of XP
Thanks

The Nirv system ends up being a decent option since there's a $200 off deal going for it. Get it with the GT 240 option. More memory if possible as well...4GB.


Was able to muster a bit of a better deal than that Nirv system...option from Macotechnology:
http://macotechnology.com.au/systems.asp?systype=AMD

...Choose their Value Systems and change the parts to EXACTLY this:


AMDCPU: AMD Athlon X2 250 Dual Core 3.0GHz 2MB Cache AM3/AM2+/AM2 CPU
Memory: 2GB DDR3 G.Skill 1333MHz F3-10600CL9S-2GBNT
Motherboard: ASRock 770DE3L AMD 4xDDR3, 2xPCIE, RAID
Video Card: HIS Hightech PCIE ATI HD5670 ICEQ 1GB 128-bit DDR5, DVI, HDMI
Hard disk: 500GB Western Digital Caviar Green WD5000AADS SATA 3.0Gb/s 32MB Cache
DVDRW: Samsung 22X SATA Black DVD-RW OEM with Software and SATA Data and SATA Power Cables
Case: Gigabyte GZ-X1 Black Tower Case with 420W PSU

So that came out to $509 AUD...optional video card to bring price down a bit.:

Gainward PCIE GT240 1GB 128-bit DDR5, DVI, HDMI

Awesome, thanks for the help

Can you build a PC yourself if you knew which components to use?

if you do, I certainly recommend doing so, since the systems which you refer to in your posts are usually handicapped at a certain area. I can recommend several parts which make a decent ~400 buck PC. since the parts below are mainstream, assembly of the system is really easy.


Processor: AMD Athlon II X3 440 $75 (Two cores are enough for gaming, add another one at this price and it's heaven... use stock cooler.)
Graphics: Radeon HD 5770 1 GB $145 (While it's more expensive than GT 240, oblivion is more graphically intense and the price is worth it, i recommend sacrificing HDD for better Graphics Horsepower.)
Motherboard: ASRock M3A770DE $60
RAM: Crucial 2 GB (2 x 1 GB) DDR3-1333 (PC3 10600) Model CTKIT12864BA1339 $50 (4GB is high end, 2GB is enough, 8GB is Stupidity...)
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue WD2500AAJS 250 GB SATA 3Gb/s $45 (after I read that having an SSD has little to no effect on gaming performance, and the fact the 500GB is a lot, sacrificing the HDD for better graphics is logical in my opinion.)
Power: Cooler Master Elite 460 RS-460-PSAR-J3 460 W $30
Optical: Samsung Black 22x DVD Burner SATA Model SH-S223C $20
Case: Rosewill Blackbone $35

Total Price : $460

the above build is only aimed at gaming and basic desktop work. building your systems on your own is easier, economically efficient, stable and mainstream. you certainly won't want to live with a laggy game-play, a newer system is much more preferable to a P4 or Core 2 Duo.

You totally missed the fact that the OP is in Australia.....I know for a fact those are US prices that you are showing.

well, of course they make a difference! why couldn't I think of that? I totally missed the fact that the physical and material value of items go up in Australia.

I also totally forgot Australia is in another planet and the fact that they have an advanced marketing system not anolyzable by human brain, therefore a conversion of currency is needed for the item values to be understandable... I should take note of that when i go to Australia...

$500 Australian Dollars.
￡295 British Pounds.
￥38,550 Japan Yens.
34,000?.? Algeria Dinars


Inflation is like a contagious disease these days.

Sarcasm aside, you're still shopping at US stores with US prices. If you can manage to find an Aussie site or a place that ships to Australia with those components you listed out and keep at $500 AUD, I'll give you a cookie. Good luck.

well, unless you are a fan of buying from Amazon.Com, there are plenty of places which Don't need to "ship" to Australia, I'm sure Australia has plenty of hardware stores, doesn't it :confused: ? it's natural that items prices might go up due to customs and inflation, but there should be places that sell hardware with price tags close enough to the retail price.

time to turn the oven on Ol Bitties. I don't think the price will reach higher than $552 (Spec), unless having an overpriced P4 with lackluster graphics is good enough, save the money on buying new games (except oblivion) and spend it on a better PC, a single game can save $70 at best, trust me, a $350 PC which tortures you while working :brokencomputer: is certainly not worth it, even the $509 PC stated by yourself is preferable to it (With a Mainstream 5670). you do the math on the prices .

http://macotechnology.com.au
http://www.pcmarket.com.au/
http://www.eyo.com.au/

oh, I don't shop or live in the US.

Damn Internet, Double post trauma.