Video editing and such has been great on this PC, better than I could have hoped for. Games are another matter. I don't have a lot of time for gaming, but I like to be able to pull up a quick game of Hitman or an emulator when I have a free moment.
My new PC is a Gateway DX4710-05. Let's take a look at the specs:
The Good:
- Intel Core Quad Q6600 2.40ghz
- 6GB ram
- 640GB HD
The Bad:
- Intel GMA 3100 integrated graphics
- 300w power supply.
With my factory setup, games like Hitman: Blood Money, Crysis, Supreme Commander, or Soldier of Fortune: Payback won't even load. I think that has to do with the fact that most of these games requier Vertex Shader 2.o, and my integrated graphics weren't up to the task.
Games like HL1, Hitman 2, etc load fine. That pretty much limits me to games that came out in the 1990's. Considering the raw power of this computer's quad core processor and ram, I'm amazed how bad the integrated graphics cripple any attempt at gaming.
To remedy this issue, I bought a Rosewill 550w power supply and a Sapphire Radeon 4850 1gb video card, both from Newegg. These were my first purchases from Newegg, and I was really happy with the service. Fast shipping, the best prices I could find anywhere, and the items were well packed.
Stay tuned for the in depth Sapphire Radeon 4850 1GB review...
