What's the best gaming PC to buy this holiday season?

[Ioman]

Please post what you think is the best bang for your buck.

I personally think the new Apple Mac Pro is the best bang-for-your-buck out there. http://www.apple.com/macpro/

[ECA]

for a gaming system???

[Ioman]

yeah. Think High-end too, not some super cheap system. I compared ABS, Dell XPS etc and still felt the Apple was the best deal.

Oh, and just to be clear, I would run Boot Camp and Windows, not OSX for gaming. Hopefully that answers your question ECA. I didn't mean to sound dumb.

[ECA]

yes it does, and was waiting for the clarification..

[neuroking]

Um, IO what are you THINKING? First, please please please become one of 'those' Apple people. You know you'll get sucked into the cult! but more importantly... SLI anyone? Crossfire? GeForce 8800? 800 MHz DDR2? For shame! The extra CPU won't go crap for gaming. And besides, you could get a quad core from a PC maker anyways. I would go with a Dell or Alienware (if you could stand the case!)

[Ioman]

Um, IO what are you THINKING? First, please please please become one of 'those' Apple people. You know you'll get sucked into the cult! but more importantly... SLI anyone? Crossfire? GeForce 8800? 800 MHz DDR2? For shame! The extra CPU won't go crap for gaming. And besides, you could get a quad core from a PC maker anyways. I would go with a Dell or Alienware (if you could stand the case!)


Ok ok ok you are right. I had a brain fart or something. I also forgot that my current rig is using an SLI setup so I certainly want that in my new one.

So build from scratch or buy one from ABS? What do you recommend Neuro?

[ECA]

For the $3k that others want, you could build your own, and (as discussed before) the extra you save, you could get one NICE HD display

[neuroking]

I would go with a Dell XPS 700, Alienware area-51, or whatever the equiv voodoopc version (if ya got the cash). Processing power ain't that important for games. Just whatever you get has 2 16x PCI-E slots, and fill at least one with a GeForce 8800 (that way your upgrade path is easy - just add a second). I don't think the quad core (qx6700 or whatever it is) is really worth it for gaming, since most games are single threaded (actually, I think all are, but I'm not sure), so depending on how much you want to spend, I would stickwith a core 2 duo. Rockin.

[ECA]

ya, gaming isnt up to par with current tech.
But with all that power, I see very little I would want (in gaming) that would need that much power.

[ECA]

I really dont see a need for that much power Anyway.. Unless you can get a 1000bit networked Internet connection..
And ISNT the Video card supposed to be the one to render the graphics? It needs the power, but we aint trying to render a WHOLE planet, in one shot.
Only real need is so Win server can keep up with Linux.
I still see equal servers, that can only handle 1/2 as many players and when Linux is used.

[Ioman]

I would go with a Dell XPS 700, Alienware area-51, or whatever the equiv voodoopc version (if ya got the cash). Processing power ain't that important for games. Just whatever you get has 2 16x PCI-E slots, and fill at least one with a GeForce 8800 (that way your upgrade path is easy - just add a second). I don't think the quad core (qx6700 or whatever it is) is really worth it for gaming, since most games are single threaded (actually, I think all are, but I'm not sure), so depending on how much you want to spend, I would stickwith a core 2 duo. Rockin.

What do you think about ABS? I like that they have a good rep, value and use off the shelf parts. Getting a Dell scares me because they just feel too cheap. Plus last I heard you could not just go buy a part and put it into the system, it had to come from Dell.