What do I need in my new computer?

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It's just barely possible I may be able to afford a new computer in the next few months.

I am just wanting some advice about some of the things I should be looking for.

I will likely get a friend who sells them to build the thing...but if anyone with a clue thinks particular types are best, I am happy to hear...especially if they are good to look at AND perform well.

What do I want:

PC.

Desk top.

I rarely use computer games, but I REALLY want to be able (finally) to play with my Microsoft 2004 Flight Simulator (A century of flight)...and I'd like to have a look at that evolution game, and a few other things, so I want good capacity for that.

I'd like a ridiculous amount of memory (I store more and more work stuff on the computer)...how much memory is it sensible to install at first, so you don't have to fart around with it for ages? And I wanna be able to download music and videos without worrying about stuff.

Other than that I am a fairly standard user..I don't need it to perform tricks or take me to the moon.

Are these media centre things Robert talks about also computers?

So...tell me what I need, if you would be so kind.

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splurge ona ridiculously large and HD flat panel screen. I notice that, normal type is beginning to get really small on a laptop , My desktop has a larger (23") wide screen style flat panel and its just right. The graphics are best enjoyed thus and I dont know what I did before we went with these screens. They are foolproof and not subject to that annoying positional dimness that the old versions had . Thney arent really that mucdh anymore. IN FACT, I dont even know anyone whose making the old "refrigerator box" screens anymore

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@dlowan,

Haven't a clue, but will Flight Simulator 2004 run on a recent operating system that is likely to come with the computer?

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@farmerman,

farmerman wrote:

splurge ona ridiculously large and HD flat panel screen.

Noted.

roger wrote:

Haven't a clue, but will Flight Simulator 2004 run on a recent operating system that is likely to come with the computer?

I gather it's a bit demanding.

1 Reply

@dlowan,

Will Flight Simulator run on a newer operating system? or does it just need more oomff in your current operating system.

~~~

Dunno if it's the same where you are, but new puters have become incredibly inexpensive here. Nice oomfffy laptops with decent-sized screens for about a third the cost of what I paid for the puter I'm using now.

1 Reply

@ehBeth,

ehBeth wrote:

Will Flight Simulator run on a newer operating system? or does it just need more oomff in your current operating system.

~~~

Dunno if it's the same where you are, but new puters have become incredibly inexpensive here. Nice oomfffy laptops with decent-sized screens for about a third the cost of what I paid for the puter I'm using now.

As I said, I gather it is a bit demanding.

More oomff is likely to be a foolish decision....I'd need new vision and sound cards of much better quality etc.

It isn't worth updating this, and I really don't want any more discussions about that, I made that decision a long time ago.....I just want info from our tech whizzes re what to get in a new system.

I don't know what you consider cheap, but with the current economic situatiion, and the state of our dollar, I'm not expecting what I call cheap.

I don't want a laptop.

1 Reply

@dlowan,

The key question is will Flight Simulator run on a newer operating system? Set has some games that can't be used on my puter as it doesn't support the slightly older games.

2 Replies

@ehBeth,

Flight Simulator 2004 is compatible with VISTA so I assume it should work on just about anything current.

0 Replies

@ehBeth,

ehBeth wrote:

The key question is will Flight Simulator run on a newer operating system? Set has some games that can't be used on my puter as it doesn't support the slightly older games.

The key answer is I don't know...that is one of the things I am hoping to learn by asking questions here, and hearing from people who know the answers.

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You will want to have a sufficient video card for the game (we spoke about this a couple of years ago, but perhaps you don't recall). You'll want 256 megabytes of on-board memory for the video card, which is memory on the video card itself, in addition to the RAM (random access memory) of computer--512 megabytes would be better, but 256 should be quite sufficient.

Roger has a good point about the operating system. I bought a copy of Dungeon Siege for five bucks not long ago, and that game came out in 2002--and i have had, nevertheless, problems with it. You should be alright with a game which came out in 2004, though. But Microsoft has a reputation for not supporting the games it publishes (Dungeon Siege, by Gas Powered Games, was published and distributed by Microsoft), once it has moved on to a newer operating system, or to newer games.

Good luck.

0 Replies

Computers have gotten a lot faster since 2004.

You want a large SATA hard drive. -750 gig or higher is about $110 US
As much RAM as you can afford. - 4 gigs is not uncommon these days. Check to see what your operating system can actually use. I recall that some boards could take 8 gigs but not use it all.
As Set mentioned, get a separate video card with it's own memory. A lot of cheaper computers come with the video on the motherboard and share memory reducing the amount of ram available for processing.

The system requirements for Flight Simulator are pretty minimal. Any new system with 1 gig of memory would be more than enough to run it.

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Dlowan, I'd wait out the Vista operating system. At least long enough to see what the new system is all about.

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@dlowan,

Not much to add, except a question: If "newer operating system" means "Vista", are you sure you want it? When I bought my new laptop at the beginning of this year, the test reports I read said it's more trouble than it's worth, and that users are better off sticking with XP for now.

And Flight simulator 2004 has to run on XP, because that was the current OS when Microsoft released it.

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I recently bought a new laptop with Vista, and the latter isn't bad. Microsoft has been updating the software considerably since its introduction. The games made to run on XP should be able to run on Vista.

Flight Sim 2004 should be able to run on Vista. Microsoft has a support page for that game, and it includes troubleshooting information for running that game on Vista.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/837195

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@dlowan,

Take a look at Dell's desktop PC page to get an idea on price ranges and standard components to look for. I replaced my old PC about 2 years ago for under $500 and have been very happy with it regarding storage capacity, memory, speed, and trouble-free performance.

Ever since I got DSL I watch a lot of movies on my PC and have played some video intensive games on it.

http://www.dell.com/home/desktops?~ck=mn

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Get the most powerful computer with the biggest hard drive and the most ram that you can afford. If you even think you would enjoy playing hi tech computer games on it, get the necessary cards for that. You'll be way happier with it for a longer time.

My new laptop does have Vista--its almost impossible to find a good new computer without Vista--and it doesn't totally suck but it doesn't play well with some of the older applications, it doesn't like AOL, and it won't interface with some existing hardware. It is mostly a business computer though and I use mostly Word and Excel on it which work fine.

I know some folks who are buying up XP operating systems so they don't have to use Vista. Probably whoever builds your new PC can load XP for you if you want that.

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@dlowan,

Quote:

The key question is will Flight Simulator run on a newer operating system?

the maker of that game should be able to answer that question , shouldn't they ?
is there no e-mail address/company name anywhere ?
how about asking some game store employee ?
have you tried googling for an answer ?
hbg

1 Reply

@hamburger,

http://www.microsoft.com/games/pc/flightsimulator.aspx

http://www.microsoft.com/games/pc/flightsimulator.aspx#sysreqs

Quote:

Windows XP Game Advisor
It's game time! Take the guesswork out of things and find out right now if your machine meets the requirements to play this game with the Windows XP Game Advisor.

Microsoft® Windows® 98/Me/XP/2000
PC with 450 MHz equivalent or higher processor
128 MB of system RAM for 2000/XP, 64 MB RAM for 98/Me
1.8 GB available hard disk space
4x speed or faster CD-ROM drive
8 MB video card required
Sound card, speakers or headphones required for audio
Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device
56.6 Kbps or better modem for online play

1 Reply

@Butrflynet,

More tech articles on FS 2004 here:

http://search.microsoft.com/results.aspx?mkt=en-US&setlang=en-US&q=flight+simulator+2004

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Bethie's right about price. (about most things, prolly! Razz

)

I bought a new lapdog earlier this year, for less than half the price of my previous beast. (which chucked a terminal turn!)

I run Vista, and haven't been able to get some of my old programmes to work. However, seeing some links here - I may pursue them, rather than coughing up for new software.

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What do I need in my new computer?

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