A good computer for Thief series?

FriarTed on 3/5/2009 at 01:21

A friend's computer is showing its age & limitations in gaming, so we're hunting for another one. Major priority is its ability to handle the Thief series & Morrowind, and also Sims 2. How is this for a possibility? Another friend had offered to improve the graphics card, btw. Thanks for the help.

(http://www.pcrush.com/product/Desktop-Computers/280538/HP-Pavilion-Elite-m9400f-Desktop?refid=1238)

HP Pavilion Elite m9400f Desktop
AMD Phenom X4 9750 2.4GHz - 8GB DDR2 SDRAM - 750GB - DVD-Writer (DVD-RAM/±R/±RW) - Wi-Fi, Fast Ethernet - Windows Vista

Highlights for HP Pavilion Elite m9400f Desktop
Processor Type:Phenom X4
Processor:1 x AMD Phenom X4 9750 Quad Core 2.4GHz
Standard Memory:8GB

General Information

Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
Environmental Conditions

Physical Characteristics

Miscellaneous

Package Contents

Pavilion Elite m9400f Desktop
Keyboard
Mouse
Warranty

Network & Communication

Network: Wi-Fi - IEEE 802.11n
Storage

Hard Drive: 750GB Serial ATA/300 7200 rpm
Optical Drive: DVD-Writer - DVD-RAM/±R/±RW (Serial ATA) with LightScribe
Interfaces/Ports

Ports: 1 x Mini-phone Headphone Front
Controllers

Controller: Serial ATA
General Information

Manufacturer Part Number: FK790AA#ABA
Product Line: Pavilion
Product Name: Pavilion Elite m9400f Desktop
Manufacturer Website Address: (www.hp.com)
Product Series: m9
Product Model: FK790AA
Product Type: Desktop Computer
Brand Name: HP
Processor & Chipset

Processor: 1 x AMD Phenom X4 9750 Quad Core 2.4GHz
Bus Speed: 3600MHz
Cache: 2MB L2 Cache/2MB L3 Cache
Chipset: nVIDIA nForce 430
Processor Technology: HyperTransport Technology
Memory

Standard Memory: 8GB
Maximum Memory: 8GB
Memory Slots: 4 Total/0 Free
Memory Technology: DDR2 SDRAM
Memory Standard: DDR2-800/PC2-6400
Memory Card Reader: 15-in-1
Memory Card Support: RS-MMC
Display & Graphics

Graphics Controller: ATi Radeon HD3650 512MB DDR2
Audio

Input Devices

Keyboard: Included
Pointing Device: PS/2 Mouse
I/O Expansions

Expansion Slots: PCI Express x1 (2 Total/1 Free)
Expansion Bays: Drive Bay (1 Total/1 Free)
Software

Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium with SP1
Software Included:
Entertainment, Music & Games:

My HP Games
Windows DVD Maker
Windows Movie Maker
CyberLink DVD Suite 5
LightScribe Template Labeler
Windows Media Center (64-bit)
Imaging, Photography, Video & Film:

HP Photosmart Essential 3
Muvee autoProducer
Productivity:

Adobe Reader
Microsoft Works 9
Microsoft Office Home and Student Edition 2007 Trial

Security:

Norton Internet Security 2008 (60-day security update subscription)

Recovery:

HP Recovery Manager
Internet Solutions:

Yahoo toolbar
Microsoft Internet Explorer

Power Description

Related Searches:
Hp Pavilion Elite
Hp Pavilion

bikerdude on 3/5/2009 at 11:07

Quote Posted by FriarTed

Major priority is its ability to handle the Thief series & Morrowind, and also Sims 2.

HP Pavilion Elite m9400f Desktop
AMD Phenom X4 9750 2.4GHz
8GB DDR2 800 SDRAM
750GB Serial ATA/300 7200 rpm
DVD-RAM/±R/±RW Sata with LightScribe
nVIDIA nForce 430
ATi Radeon HD3650 512MB DDR2
Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium with SP1
Norton Internet Security 2008 (60-day security update subscription)

Ok one noticeable problem that jumps out is the fact the operating system(vista) is 64bit. I wont going into details, but suffice to say older games like thief/morrowind don't work to well on a 64bit version of windows. I will find some other options on that website for you to look at, also what part of the world are you in so i cna look at some otherwebsites..

Ok here are is an of the cuff possible option, it has more suitable gaming cpu and the $200 saving allows you to upgrage the Gfx and sound.

(http://www.pcrush.com/product/Desktop-Computers/302067/Dell-Vostro-220-Desktop) Dell Vostro - $565
Intel E8400 3.0Ghz
2Gb DDR2 800 Ram
Intel G45 Chipset
Onboard Realtek HD sound (upgrade this to (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102006) Xfi extremeGamer@$90)
Onboard X4500HD gfx (upgrade this to (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131125R) HD4850@$93/(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814187030) 9800GT@$109)
160Gb Sata HDD
CDRW drive (upgrade to (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151176) DVD+RW@$23)
Vista Buisness

FriarTed on 3/5/2009 at 13:27

We're in the USA. The friend this is for lives in Idaho, if that makes a difference.

bikerdude on 3/5/2009 at 14:36

Quote Posted by FriarTed

We're in the USA. The friend this is for lives in Idaho, if that makes a difference.

Thats cool, so you guys can access new eggs then for the parts Ive linked into above..

The other things about your choice is aswell as not having a good gfx card, it has onboard sound which is pants for thief if you you want EAX and have surround speakers..

FriarTed on 3/5/2009 at 19:06

Quote Posted by Bikerdude

The other things about your choice is aswell as not having a good gfx card, it has onboard sound which is pants for thief if you you want EAX and have surround speakers..

How does pants translate into American? That's a new one on me!

FriarTed on 3/5/2009 at 19:14

Why would you recommend a dual core with a quarter of the DDR that the other computer has? That confuses me, especially when it would cost $200 to a quad core & over $200 to upgrade the memory to what the first computer has?

I don't mean to sound difficult- and I realize that quantity & quality aren't the same, but that is a significant difference.

bikerdude on 5/5/2009 at 23:58

Quote Posted by FriarTed

I thought it came with 4GB, my bad. The first system you chose is quite good, but see if you can get it shipped with half the memory and a 32bit OS.