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[Fubb]

Weeeeeeeell, my mom is going to be taking a medical class to become a sort of secretary thingy, and because of that, the computer will not be available allot.

So that means, for me, I need a new PC

So that means I need a good, powerful gaming PC that can still play the games coming out in the next few years without destroying mien budget

Now im goona be ordering through Dell.ca ( well, www.dell.com/ca/ ) but I don't quite know WHAT computer I should get. By the looks of things, the gaming PC's are either

Studio XPS
Alienware

Now obviously Alienware IS the superior gaming pc, but it also costs lots of $$$. I have roughly $5200 in my bank, but i'd rather not spend $3000 on a PC.

What are your recommendations for System Specs and what not?

This Alienware seems half decent, only problem is i don't like how Alienware's look :\

http://www.dell.com/ca/p/alienware-aurora-alx/pd?~ck=

And im also worried about 64bit, cause to my understanding some games dont work with 64 bit PC's, right?

[angry axe]

remember what we told you about power supplies, pretty much the thing that can screw everything if you !@#$ up also with the graphics cards look at benchmark tests and youtube gaming videos.

[Japo]

It's pretty straightforward, the more you spend the more specs you get, you decide where to stop.

Originally Posted by Fubb

And im also worried about 64bit, cause to my understanding some games dont work with 64 bit PC's, right?

No. The only programs that can't run in a x64 Windows are the 16-bit ones, DOS and Windows 3.x and earlier, but you can use DOSBox and Virtual PC for those. 32-bit Windows programs run in x64 _natively_, no need for emulation, that's the difference with Itanium. Windows x64 runs both 64-bit and 32-bit programs natively, Windows 32-bit runs only 32-bit programs. Neither runs 16-bit programs without emulation, though the 32-bit editions include a (crappy) emulator and the 64-bit ones do not.

Also nowadays all CPUs are x64, the only difference is the OS you install on it, that's what defines whether the environment is 32-bit or x64. In short, x64 is backwards compatible with 32-bit (except drivers, they're specific for x64 or 32-bit, but you won't have more difficulties depending on your choice because of this).

That said, there's no specially strong reason to get x64 Windows instead of sticking with legacy 32-bit Windows, except that it's obsolete and meant to disappear, and you could never use more than 4 GB of memory. But you could continue using 32-bit Windows for a very long time.

[KrazeeXXL]

just read about HELL erm DELL and about to get a new computer.

I hope it's still not to late

In any case learn something about the stuff you're about to buy.
Dell offers this buy-and-happy packages but like every big distributor they have to count the $$$. So quality suffers or you move to Alienware and pay for it.

Have to deal with hundreds of those things at work. So f.e. don't expect a long life+high sufficent Power Supply. I sometimes had problems with their drivers, too. So you get a cd with network drivers for xp and had to install the vista ones just to be able to get an internet connection.

I'm no fan of such things. When I want a new pc I set it up by myself, entirely. Then I know which component exactly is in it and don't f.e. get a crappy mainboard noone ever heard about and which may be a bad choice for gaming.

Setup your own pc. Read some tests, find out whats good and learn from other ppl experiences regarding good combinations and adjustments. I f.e. wait until AMD's new 12 core'll come out next year with 35 nm tech. Promisses to save energy, also some new tech where it's about disabling unused cores and overclocking single ones, to improve speed.

I just can repeat myself because it's important: read about the things b4 you buy them. Inform yourself, learn something about this stuff. Or buy the carefree product which isn't carefree in any case.

Your decision