New PC

[waveydavey]

A bit of advice, I'm going to change my PC, an old Dell Dimension. I have to have ACCURC and I get the feeling I'm not going to be able to run it. I don't want to spend a fortune and looking at things like i7's you're talking 5 to 600 quid which I can't justify. I'll go to about £300 but not being a PC fiddler I just don't know what goes with what or what to get for my money. Any ideas and links to something suitable would be great, I got myself confused with the dual, dual core and quad core, information overload I'm afraid.

[Nick B]

If your motherboard is capable of upgrades you can get a good graphics card for around 120 quid.

Have you got a model number?

[tomatwalden]

I think you'll struggle to get a 4-core desktop PC for under £300. Just looking at Dell's website, their home desktop PC's _start_ at £299 ... They're almost certainly 2-core models. I think £500 is a more realistic budget.

[bikerflier]

PC Components, Desktop PCs, Laptops, LCD TVs & Computer Hardware

Give these a call.
Outstanding service and support.
Their service department are brilliant.
When you call they have details to hand for your machine, they link to it via the internet and adjust as necessary to sort problems.
My machine is over 3 years old but last month they spent over an hour linked to it to sort it.
NO CHARGE.
Free for life of machine.

On a budget you need an i3 with 4GB RAM.
Standard on board graphics.
HDMI output if you want it on your TV.

PC World have at this spec for £330 or £399 with a monitor.
Can't speak for their support but it is chargeable.

You will struggle to get cheaper unless someone is prepared to build one for you.

[SaneAdam]

I asked this very same question and got told to build my own…

CYBERPOWER Empire Elite Gaming PC Deals | Pcworld

This is one that i thought looked ok for not silly money. But i dont know if it is powerful enough to run AccuRC because i don't understand what bit refers to how powerful it is. But i think this is a quad core anyway. I may give this one a go. I seriously can't be arsed having a spec pc built. I just want to buy one with no hassle. I think this cyberpower thing will be fine to just run Accurc and nothing else

[tomatwalden]

I asked this very same question and got told to build my own…

CYBERPOWER Empire Elite Gaming PC Deals | Pcworld

This is one that i thought looked ok for not silly money. But i dont know if it is powerful enough to run AccuRC because i don't understand what bit refers to how powerful it is. But i think this is a quad core anyway. ..

Yes, it's quad-core : AMD Processors for Desktops: AMD Phenom

With 8Gb of RAM, and that AMD CPU, it should be more than powerful enough for AccuRC I'd say. AMD's "FX" line of procs are designed for "multimedia" (read, graphics) applications. - see AMD Desktop Processors

[JoeBailey]

For gaming the graphics card is more important then anything else, that machine from pc world looks more like a general desk top to me.

[RcRotaryMadness]

If you need higher end performance for £300 then you're looking at a good 2nd hand PC imo.

I'd search on ebay for good makes of PCs (guessing you only need the tower?) or a good Laptop, that have the latest intel processors - if its got a newish style processor chances are the rest of the spec will be ok too although in terms of graphics you'll need something with a medium amount of processing.. you don't need top end as thats for hardcore gaming.. not really a rc sim.

You'd be surprised how many PCs are on ebay that are only months old going for half the price.

[tomatwalden]

For gaming the graphics card is more important then anything else, that machine from pc world looks more like a general desk top to me.

I think in the case of AccuRC - I think there is more focus around CPU core performance to support the real-time the physics/aerodynamics calculations. The actual graphics (from what I've seen) look relatively basic.

More "simulation" than "gaming" ...

[trillian]

For just a little over £300.00 you could just about do an i5 system if you build it yourself, maybe approaching 400 if you're buying a new copy of Windows etc. There are some 'bundle' deals out there at shops like Ebuyer and Dabs that make it very easy.

I got my current desktop from Overclockers UK and you can just start with a basic system and choose the components you want.

In general I'd say, i3 - i5 processor, Motherboard with Intel chipset, Nvidia graphics card, 8GB of Ram, and if you can justify a little more to get an SSD drive it will change your life.

Sometimes Dell have good deals of refurbed computers, usually their higher end models. I was shopping a while back for another machine for the office and they had some nice looking deals. I have to do that again now actually as we need to replace on old one so if I spot a great deal I'll let you know.

[maddog7]

Davey,
I own a computer shop.
Firstly I'd strongly advise you to wait a bit until AccuRC has been out a while before you buy anything.
It's hardware requirements are an unknown at this time. If you wait, some info on what runs well and what does not will hopefully become apparent so then you can tailor what you buy to suit.
One thing I'm fairly sure of though is that onboard graphics will probably not do the job very well. You'll need to budget for a seperate graphics card.
The other major consideration is that nearly everything you can buy now will have Windows 8 installed and to put it bluntly, it's horrible. It's awkward and clunky and IMHO a step backwards. I'd strongly recommend you try it before you buy anything with 8 on it. This is not just my opinion but that of the vast majority of the people who come through my shop door. Windows 7 is a much better OS.
If I were you I'd try and find a local small computer shop with a good reputation and strike up a relationship with them. If they're anything like we are, they'll look after you with far better advice and customer service than the big boys. The real cost of ownership will be tested when you have your first problem.
If you can't find anyone near you then I'd look at something like the Zoostorm stuff from ebuyer something like this might do you well:

Zoostorm Desktop PC - Desktops | Ebuyer.com

The cases are a bit flimsy but the rest of the parts a pretty much as good as anyone else, the model liked above also has a reasonable onboard graphics card though onboard are not as good as seperate full stop.

The machine comes without windows so you have your choice, Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit is about 75 quid from ebuyer:

Windows 7 Home Premium w/SP1 64bit- Low Cost Packaging | Ebuyer.com

but you'd have to install it youself or have a competent friend/collegue/family member install it for you.

To be clear, if you take it out the box and switch it on NOTHING will happen.

Graphics cards are a piece of string and £? question I'm afraid, anything from about £60 to £1000 (the most expensive I've sold was £785!)
I'd have thought you'd need to spend around the £100 mark though you might get away with the onboard at reduced settings for now, hence the wait and see how it runs when it arrives.

I'd not be looking to sell you anything fella since you don't live near my shop but I'd be happy to chat to you about it if you want any advice.
Shop number is 0191 2516080 and ask for David. Shop is always mental, if you get the answer machine just keep trying and or leave a msg and I'll ring you back.

Cheers
D

[waveydavey]

Appreciate that Dave, I might just take you up on it. I might have made out I'm a complete numpty but I'm capable of putting a system together I just bogged down with what goes with what. Do you build to a cost Dave, I travel to the North East a lot and me Mam still lives there so picking something up isn't a problem. Ive also got a work colleague whose parents live in Hollywell so should be able to sort something out.

[3dbasher]

For just a little over £300.00 you could just about do an i5 system if you build it yourself, maybe approaching 400 if you're buying a new copy of Windows etc. There are some 'bundle' deals out there at shops like Ebuyer and Dabs that make it very easy.

I got my current desktop from Overclockers UK and you can just start with a basic system and choose the components you want.

In general I'd say, i3 - i5 processor, Motherboard with Intel chipset, Nvidia graphics card, 8GB of Ram, and if you can justify a little more to get an SSD drive it will change your life.

Sometimes Dell have good deals of refurbed computers, usually their higher end models. I was shopping a while back for another machine for the office and they had some nice looking deals. I have to do that again now actually as we need to replace on old one so if I spot a great deal I'll let you know.

The beta is running on my PC fine with 4gb of ram....so dont need masses imo

[maddog7]

Davey,
As a fellow addict I'd happily sort you out the best I can, probably best to giz a shout whenever you like and I'll talk you through some "options"
Cheers
D

[maddog7]

The beta is running on my PC fine with 4gb of ram....so dont need masses imo

Lee,
Don't suppose you'd allow me to test a copy on a machine for Davey would ya?
Also what graphics card are you using and would you happen to know what the system requirements are? I presume it's DirectX and not Open GL?
IMHO the workshop component actually looks like it might need more pixel power than the actual flying component?
Cheers
D