Buying new PC...Need advice on how beefy to get...

[MGood777]

It's been a long time since I've bought a new PC. I built the one I currently have...an 850Mhz P3 with 384 MB RAM (so you know how long it's been). Last time I played a "new" game was the original Call of Duty.

Right now I'm looking at a Dell XPS420 and just want to know if this thing is beefy to enough to play most of the newer games that are out there right now, and whether it will be "enough" to keep up for at least a little while. (Next 6 months to a year maybe? Is that asking too much???)

What do you think...

Intel® Core™2 Q6600 Quad-Core (8MB L2 cache,2.4GHz,1066FSB)
Operating System Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium with Digital Cable Support
Memory 3GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 4 DIMMs
Video Cards 256MB Radeon ATI HD 2600 XT X2600XT
Hard Drive 320GB - 7200RPM, SATA 3.0Gb/s, 16MB Cache
Optical Drive Single Drive: 16X CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) w/double layer write capability
Sound Cards Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio IS
The display is a 22" Dell "ultrasharp" widescreen LCD flat panel

The $1600 price tag on this one as I have it spec'd out is pretty much the upper limit of my price range.

Any advice?

[Lespaul20]

I think everything looks good except the video card. The 2600 isn't near the top performers.

[MGood777]

The other 256MB video option is the GeForce 8600 GTS.

I could get a 512MB GeForce 8800 GT, but it's just getting pricier and pricier for me.

Is that card not so great because it's ATI, or because it's only 256MB?

[Lespaul20]

Neither. The 8600GTS and 2600 are both mid-level cards. It's not because of their memory but because of what model they are. If you were to get the 2600 I wouldn't expect to play the newer games at high detail settings. I guess it all depends on what kind of games you expect to play and at what settings.

Look at this. It will give you an idea of where those cards stand compared to others.
http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphi...=854&chart=318

[MGood777]

Wow...OK...I see what you mean. Thanks for the help, Les. Guess I need to find a way to afford the much better card...

[hitchface]

They charge an arm and a leg extra for adding in video cards on those systems...see if you can drop the card down to the cheapest and snag a different one from an online parts vendor like Newegg.

EDIT: I just went on Dell and configured the same PC. By not choosing a video card, you save almost 300 dollars from your price tag. That is plenty to get you a very sweet card, like an 8800GT or HD 3870 with cash left over. Plus, you can sell the card they include. Or build your own system...for 1600 bucks, you can do a lot of nice things.

[MGood777]

The basic card in that machine is a 128MB Radeon HD 2400 PRO. That's what it comes with for no extra charge. For $250 though I can upgrade to the 8800GT with 512MB. Is that not a good deal?

[hitchface]

It's decent, but you could still make off with that card and come out ahead were you to buy through Newegg or similar.