General Discussion

Pentium 4 HT 3.0 ghz

1024mb ram

80gb hdd

radeon x300 128mb

Current P.O.S. comp, runs WAR, albeit horribly, which is the reason I ordered my new setup:

2.53GHZ 1066FSB 3MB Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 Dual Core Processor

Corsair 2X1GB PC2-6400 DDR2-800 Dual Channel Memory

ASUS P5QL Pro ATX LGA775 Motherboard

NVidia GeForce 9500 GT 550MHZ 512MB GDDR2 1.0GHZ

Seagate Barracuda 250GB SATA2 8.5MS 7200RPM 16MB Cache Hard Drive

Seasonic SS-400ET 400W EPS12V 20/24PIN ATX Power Supply

Coolermaster CM 690 Mid Tower Black ATX Case

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

I just would like to know how you guys think this new machine will fare with more demanding games like Farcry2, GTA IV, BioShock, etc

thanks alot for the input!

p.s. first post on here since 2005!
 

GTA IV, and Bioshock aren't demanding games.  However, that machine won't play them well.

The processor is good, but your Power Supply and video card aren't sufficient.  The most mid-range GeForces now significantly underperform with competing parts.  Most higher end parts now are cheaper and will run most games like a dream.  The HD4850/70 Geforce GTX260/80.  If you can't afford this then you should aim for last generations high end, since they too will outperform.  That being the HD3870/50, HD4650/70, GeForce9600, 9800, and 8800.  With these better performing cards you will also need atleast a 500w PSU.  I recommend a Dragon Force DF-530GT if you live in Europe or can get your hands on it.

Hey, thanks for the heads up, I have one other option as far as gfx cards.  I could swap my geforce 9500 512mb for an XFX 8800GT 256 mb.  which of these two cards would be the better choice given the rest of the system?

www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx   killer price for it.

I researched that card since I have not heard of an 8800GT with 256MB ram.  It significantly underperforms with its competing parts.  Its definetly not a card you want.

That 8800GTS is also an older card and I would not recommend it.  It is 2 years old and behind in tech.  For its price you can get an HD4670, or GeForce9600 that will outperform it.

The 8800 gt card listed there is weak , that being said to clear up a few things.

8800gt 512s are very good cards and prefrom at 9800gt level (the 9800gt is the 8800gt 512mb, minus the fact that the 9800 gt will sli ~5-9% better). So the 8800gts are not junk, they just are not putting them in reviews anymore (if you sli them they are equal to 9800gx2).

8800gts > GeForce9600 GT > HD4670

Heres a tip if you have an option they have 9800 GT right now for 100 dollars on new egg after rebate.  The 4670 are pretty much fail, they are fail like the 9xxxx gso's are fail just don't touch them. (even oc'ed a bit the 9600GT wins big). the 9500 GT is junk. Probally, better off with the 8800gts 640 even tho its old as sin (if anyone KNOW this for sure anyway please do tell).

However about this are you buying this from a web page or what linking that other people might be able to help more price range can help also.

The 4850 and 4870 are good cards tho (But not in your price range).

I was referencing the linked to 8800GTS that is based on the G80 core.  That one is an underperformer compared to the HD4670.  The HD4670 has its merits, it performs within 5% of the 9600 GT.  However, when you start to apply post processing effects, and AA/AF; the HD4670 shines.  It also consumes considerably less energy then most video cards and does not require a PCI-e connector.