PC driving games, PC spec?

[tim the pool man]

I'm about to get a new PC, primarily for business and home use, but would like to play the occasional game.

Old system is a low spec P4 with a 17"CRT... most recent game is MP GPIII.

I've had a go on R Factor (?) on a mate's super system, do I need ultra high spec to run it? Don't want to spend a fortune for occasional gaming.
Any other PC driving games? I have GT on PS2, will prolly get a PS3 sooner or later for GT5(?) etc.

System I'm looking at is
Dual core 2.6GHz
2GB RAM
512MB NVidea8500GT Graphics

Comments please, I want to buy tonight...
TIA
Tim

[Mr_Yogi]

Is the CPU an Intel or AMD? Not that it really matters as long as it's an Intel Core 2 or AMD 5000+ (or better) or a Phenom (?) you'll be ok with games, especially rFactor.

rFactor doesn't require an uber PC, however an 8500 may well struggle with some of the newer mods and with some of the graphical fidelity turned up.

What resolution will the monitor be? I assume you'll not be re-using your 17" CRT? As long as the system has a PCI-Express slot you could always upgrade the graphics card later anyway.

Currently graphics cards with the nVidia 9600 or AMD 3850/ 38803870 chipsets would be a good place to start looking, can you up the spec?

EDIT: wrong chipset

Edited by Mr_Yogi on Thursday 15th May 13:25

[LukeBird]

^^ What he said!
Looks fine, bar the video card.
A Radeon HD3850 will stomp on that!
If at all possible, avoid the 8500GT/8600GT/8600GTS, they're not gaming cards by any stretch of the imagination I'm afraid!

[tim the pool man]

Mr_Yogi said:

Is the CPU an Intel or AMD? Not that it really matters as long as it's an Intel Core 2 or AMD 5000+ (or better) or a Phenom (?) you'll be ok with games, especially rFactor.

rFactor doesn't require an uber PC, however an 8500 may well struggle with some of the newer mods and with some of the graphical fidelity turned up.

What resolution will the monitor be? I assume you'll not be re-using your 17" CRT? As long as the system has a PCI-Express slot you could always upgrade the graphics card later anyway.

Currently graphics cards with the nVidia 9600 or AMD 3850/3880 chipsets would be a good place to start looking, can you up the spec?

Thanks for the reply.
CPU is Intel Core2 duo 2.6
This is a HP off the shelf (Pavillion A6440), so can't change the spec, don't know if the card would be upgradable later?

No, I'm binning the CRT and reclaiming half my desk New system has a 22" widescreen LCD, 1680*1050 @5ms. Is that an OK screen?

[LukeBird]

tim the pool man said:

Thanks for the reply.
CPU is Intel Core2 duo 2.6
This is a HP off the shelf (Pavillion A6440), so can't change the spec, don't know if the card would be upgradable later?

No, I'm binning the CRT and reclaiming half my desk New system has a 22" widescreen LCD, 1680*1050 @5ms. Is that an OK screen?

Card will be upgradeable later
Screen sounds fine!