Umm...hello.<_>

Whatever, I was reading a magazine ad about PCs, and because mine is really outdated, I was asking my father to buy me (everyone in this house) a new one. So, here are these two PCs, can you tell me if they're good and which one is better for PC gaming?

PC Dual Core 3.0 --->$900

Dual Core 3.0GHZ, RAM 512MB, 160GB, DVD Writer, Windows Vista Basic, Keyboard and optic mouse, Speakers, Flat Panel 17", 2 years Warranty.

PC Core 2 Duo --->$1500

Core 2 Duo 1.83GHz, Hard Drive 400GB, Memory 2GB, DVDRW, Mainboard Intel 946, Video Card PCI Express 256MB, TV MSI Card, Memory Reader, Flat 19", Keyboard and mouse, Windows XP Home, Speakers 2.1, 2 years Warranty

***

I know the second one is more expensive, but the first comes with Vista, and I don't really know which one is better, Dual Core or Core 2 Duo (total newbie...I know.>_>). Can some expert here enlighten me with wisdom?

Thank you, anyone.

Core 2 Duo is your future. Embrace it.

Vista is not gamer friendly yet. XP is your friend.

Well now...

I'm guessing the first PC is an AMD processor, and that's not bad. Dual Core and Core 2 Duo are the same I think...it's just different naming by different companies.

There's not a ton of RAM in your first computer though...512 MB has become the minimum requirement lately, and actually some of the latest greatest games require a gig I believe, which means you should really have 2 gigs for best performance.

Hard drive space isn't a huge issue usually, around 200 is usually good enough.

I suppose it's nice to have Vista, though the "medium" version would probably be better...

The main problem with your first computer is the graphics card...or lack of it. I'm guessing it's just a standard onboard or cheap video card, nothing special, that's what most store-bought computers get nowadays. Your processor and your graphics card are the biggest things to worry about...

So in that case, at least the second PC sounds like it has a decent graphics card...but the processor doesn't seem too good...you should have at least over 2 GHz, in my opinion.


So I don't know...both computers actually seem to have some faults...if there was a way to combine the two, a good processor like the first one and a good graphics card and more memory like the second one, that'd be the best option.


And of course you should know, building your own computer, or having a friend help you build one, is almost always the cheapest and most valuable method...if you choose to go that route.

Umm both are way overpriced but I'll break both of them down.

The first one is complete crap (well it is for anyone buying a new PC). I can't imagine what Vista would be like with just 512MB of ram but I doubt it's pretty. It also obviously has onboard video which is inexcusable at that price.

The second one is a complete ripoff. The Core 2 Duos just had a price drop this week and at least two in that last two months as well which means that computer should be the one priced at $900 if not less.

Even if you only have those two for options, you should be able to play most existing PC games on good settings...unless the graphics card in the first PC is really bad...

You don't need Vista for gaming. In fact, until Vista matures, you are better off with XP as it offers the best compatibility for older games (e.g. games that came out before Vista arrived this year). There are hardly any Vista-ready games now. Additionally, Vista's main draw is DirectX10, and there aren't that many games using that flavor of DirectX now. You would also need a DirectX10-capable graphics card, which neither of your systems have.  With only 2GB of RAM there isn't much need to go with Vista anyhow - XP runs optimally with 2GB of RAM (and not more).

Both RAM and CPU from the two systems you listed are good enough. I would go with Core2Duo personally, but again, there aren't that many games that utilize both cores on your CPU.

Finally, the single most important thing you have to consider (having considered everything else) is your graphics card. I think both cards they are offering for the systems is rubbish - well, option A seems worse because it doesn't even mention a video card, leading me to believe that it's some sort of Integrated Graphcs - STAY AWAY FROM THESE IF YOU WANT TO PLAY GAMES! Option B does mention a card, but is quite vague otherwise - seems like the card is a stinker anyhow. Try to negotiate a decent graphics card for any of these systems, and you will be a happy camper/PC gamer.

You can find good card recommendations here (something for every budget):

http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/07/03/the_best_gaming_video_cards_for_the_money/

Good luck! 

Si quieres en espaniol, me avisas.

They may seem overpriced where you and I live, but they are definitely NOT overpriced for Ecuador!

You are not giving any info on videocards, processor, type of RAM, etc...

Also, if you have a HD tv with DVI/VGA, you can remove monitor from you list if you wish.

Gimme a minutes and I'll post you a list from the Nuevo Huevo

Yeah...I forgot to mention the prices too...way too much...find a better deal...

Sorry, never mind the prices. I live in Ecuador, where everything is way overpriced. >____>

@Your Mother and Ben Kenobi:

Thank you for your help, no need to tell me in spanish, really, I understand both almost equally. So I guess this means the second one with a better graphics card is the way to go? Or should I look for another PC in another country? Thank you, both of you.