[Abadede]

Gooday!

I've been wanting to play GTA 4 every since it came out for the PC; though, I just didn't want want to spend the money required to build a decent computer. Time has passed, and I feel I shouldn't have to pay too much for a good rig to play GTA 4 well.

I just need a motherboard, cpu, memory, and video card.

From newegg.com, this is what I came up with:

Motherboard - BIOSTAR TZ77B LGA 1155
CPU - Intel Core i5-2310 Sandy Bridge 2.9GHz
Memory - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB
Graphics card - EVGA GeForce GTX 550 Ti

Total cost: $447 USD

Look, I don't want to spend anymore cash. If this rig won't play GTA 4 well, then that suck a$$! I hope you guys can make suggestions for better parts (if needed) while you shed or maintain the price.

I appreciate any help you can throw at me!

[unc13bud]

it will play it, but you didn't list your monitor's resolution? and are you wanting your settings to run the maximum? if so, no, it won't. it will run 1280x1024 at medium settings, in my opinion.

[Abadede]

I have a 24" display ran @ 1920x1200. It's ridiculous that PC version of this game has been out for about four years, and I still need to spend ~ $700 for the game to run well. Well, that ain't happening! Thanks for your help!

[PrometheusX]

Can you please show us some info about your PSU (Power Supply)?

Here's a hell of a build:

Component	Item	Price
Motherboard	ASRock 970 EXTREME3 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard	$90
Processor	AMD Phenom II X4 960T Zosma 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor	$125
Memory	Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1333 Desktop Memory	$40
Graphics Card	HIS Radeon HD 7850 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 Video Card	$240
Total	Grand Theft Auto IV @ Highest Settings w/ ENB @ 35-50 FPS	$495
Notes	* Free 8GB Flash Disk. * Free Dirt 3 game. * The CPU can be unlocked to six cores. * My best build I did so far here (thanks to yojo too)

This post has been edited by PrometheusX on Saturday, Apr 28 2012, 13:12

[yojo2]

I'd consider getting a mobo with AM3+ CPUs support for future upgrades, for example http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813157280

[Abadede]

My PSU is Corsair vx550w: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817139004

PrometheusX, what resolution do you play at?

[PrometheusX]

QUOTE (Abadede @ Saturday, Apr 28 2012, 14:06)

My PSU is Corsair vx550w: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817139004 PrometheusX, what resolution do you play at?

Good PSU, I'm talking about 1080p, but 1200 res isn't much difference.

[unc13bud]

original poster, i am sorry. because i don't really buy new ntel processors, i forget which chip is which, so i assumed the chip you linked was dual core. it blows my mind that intel has i5-23xx that are quad core
http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Core_i5/Inte...623I52310).html
and i5-24xx that are dual core...iirc the ones in coworkers machines, and clearanced laptops at office depot.
that configuration should play at high settings @ 40 fps 1920x1200, but in my case, traffic is turned off and shadows are set to low.

[Abadede]

So unc13bud, are you saying that what I configured up above is great for GTA 4? If so, great! Now I must choose between the Intel or AMD build. I want to stick with Intel, and it's cheaper. Guys, please help me choose.

[PrometheusX]

QUOTE (Abadede @ Saturday, Apr 28 2012, 16:58)

So unc13bud, are you saying that what I configured up above is great for GTA 4? If so, great! Now I must choose between the Intel or AMD build. I want to stick with Intel, and it's cheaper. Guys, please help me choose.

Actually the AMD build is much better and cheaper, an equivalent Intel build would cost $100 more, also the AMD CPU can be unlocked to six cores, not to mention that the GPU is almost equivalent to a 570!

This post has been edited by PrometheusX on Saturday, Apr 28 2012, 17:05

[unc13bud]

QUOTE

I want to stick with Intel, and it's cheaper.

whichever one you chose, the forum will help you with any performance issues. if you want the intel choice, choose intel. i buy whatever's on sale and tweak gta IV to play it. i choose amd for new builds because as the above poster said, its cheaper. however my Llano build (a8-3870k - currently the most playing time) is only being played at 1024x768. for resolutions above that, a quad core cpu (3 ghz or better) is best. i may go into detail later, but i swapped my amd x4 925 (2.8 ghz - 3.22 ghz) with a x4 975 (3.6 ghz) as the board
http://www.biostar.com.tw/app/en/mb/introd...on.php?S_ID=344
doesn't support 125w quad cores (125w dual cores work), the machine would only run at 800 mhz. this still ran TBOGT, but with mild frame issues at 1920x1200. after i "updated" the bios, a dialogue on post started popping up "whup, 125w processor is installed! must shut down..." etc.

[yojo2]

QUOTE (unc13bud @ Saturday, Apr 28 2012, 17:09)

original poster, i am sorry. because i don't really buy new ntel processors, i forget which chip is which, so i assumed the chip you linked was dual core. it blows my mind that intel has i5-23xx that are quad core http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Core_i5/Inte...623I52310).html and i5-24xx that are dual core...iirc the ones in coworkers machines, and clearanced laptops at office depot.

Every desktop i5-24XX is a quad core. The only desktop Sandy Bridge based i5 that is a dual core is i5-2390T.

[Abadede]

PrometheusX, the video card you recommended/have is PCI Express 3.0 x16. The motherboard you recommended/have is PCI Express 2.0 x16. SO wouldn't the video card be locked down to PCI Express 2.0 x16 speeds?

Moving on, I want to go with your build recommendations; however, I want to save some money. I want to know if the ZOTAC GeForce GTX 560 (Fermi) 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 would work well? Including shipping cost, the card is $42 cheaper than the one you have/recommend. I'm already over my original undisclosed total budget of $430, I still have to buy GTA IV (~$20), and thermal paste for the CPU (~$10). Supplementing your card for the ZOTAC, getting the rest of your system parts, and getting the game & paste = $483. I like that number! It's doable.

I hope you guys can give me the green light (or suggest parts that'll keep me under $483.).

Thanks some more!

[PrometheusX]

QUOTE (Abadede @ Sunday, Apr 29 2012, 08:07)

PrometheusX, the video card you recommended/have is PCI Express 3.0 x16. The motherboard you recommended/have is PCI Express 2.0 x16. SO wouldn't the video card be locked down to PCI Express 2.0 x16 speeds? Moving on, I want to go with your build recommendations; however, I want to save some money. I want to know if the ZOTAC GeForce GTX 560 (Fermi) 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 would work well? Including shipping cost, the card is $42 cheaper than the one you have/recommend. I'm already over my original undisclosed total budget of $430, I still have to buy GTA IV (~$20), and thermal paste for the CPU (~$10). Supplementing your card for the ZOTAC, getting the rest of your system parts, and getting the game & paste = $483. I like that number! It's doable. I hope you guys can give me the green light (or suggest parts that'll keep me under $483.). Thanks some more!

That's some decrease in performance, but I'm not sure. The 560 seems the best option in your budget.

Wait for other opinions.

[yojo2]

Going from 3.0 16x to 2.0 16x won't change the performance much, if at all. -5% tops.

[Abadede]

YOU GUYS MAKE ME SICK! Okay, ya'll convinced me to get PrometheusX recommendations, but I want to get this card: EVGA GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16. It costs a bit more, but I get a MIR making the cost cheaper than the other card.

Good idea?

Hey, how's the sound on that motherboard, and would it be better for me to get my originally selected memory?

Oh, will either cards also play GTA 2?

[luceberg]

QUOTE (Abadede @ Sunday, Apr 29 2012, 17:13)

Hey, how's the sound on that motherboard, and would it be better for me to get my originally selected memory?

Generally, the on board motherboard sound is not that good.

A good sound card can be had quite cheap, ie the Asus Zonar dg.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16829132020

[yojo2]

QUOTE (Abadede @ Sunday, Apr 29 2012, 18:13)

YOU GUYS MAKE ME SICK! Okay, ya'll convinced me to get PrometheusX recommendations, but I want to get this card: EVGA GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16. It costs a bit more, but I get a MIR making the cost cheaper than the other card. Good idea?

IMHO HD7850 > GTX560Ti.

[Abadede]

Alright, I'll get what PrometheusX has, but can I switch out his memory with what I had configured: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB? It has five eggs and over a 1000 reviews.

I will be sticking with my curent sound card - Creative Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS. That one should work well with GTA 4, right?

[unc13bud]

vista and 7 were having some kind of controversy as far as recognizing audio cards - i guess its fixed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w35awlUQegs
http://raincomputers.com/windows-watch/