Buying a new computer, what to get?

Question

(Warning: Long post ahead; I'm quite thorough =p )
I've been around town; Best Buy, Staples, C. City, Dell etc. looking for a new computer. My current computer is only 2 years old and it's already atrociously obsolete (only 448 megs RAM), and rather than upgrading I decided to just buy a new one.
Well, the problem is that at all the places I go, their definition of a "gaming" computer is some monster powerhouse that can play games and end world hunger all at once; usually costing well over 1000 dollars. I'm 16, I don't have $1.5k to spend on a computer. My budget is <$600.
Another problem is the stock video cards. They're almost always "NVIDIA 6150" cards... my current computer already has one of those, and I'd like something better (preferably something that Spore supports, since that's my goal), unless it can do more than I'm giving it credit for.
So, here's what I would like at the lowest possible price.
-A moderate gaming computer; does not need to be able to play Xbox 360/Wii/PS3 graphic games (eg: Call of Duty, Fallout 3, etc.). Should be able to play other games well, however (eg: Spore, World of Warcraft, etc.). I would assume a good Nvidia card above 6150 (not 7100 though) will fit this purpose okay. Games don't have to be played on the absolute highest resolution, etc. but the lagging/skipping/stalling of my current computer makes them unplayable, and I don't want that to happen.
-4 gigs RAM, as that seems to be most common. 3gigs will do, though.
-Any size HD, but 300gig+ preferred
-Processor can be Duo or Quad, but power should be 2.4ghz+ (total). AMD or Intel preferred, but whatever I can get will do.
The rest, I really don't care about. I've got all the accessories (keyboard, mouse, monitor, speaker, etc.) so bundles aren't needed.
I'm not up for building my own computer as I don't have the time, skill, or resources to do so. In regards to the video card, all the stock computers I've found have the following:
-Nvidia 6150
-Nvidia 7100
-Intel GMA 3100
-Radeon 3450 (rare, and usually expensive)
If need be, I suppose I can buy my own card, but I have no idea how to install it or even if I COULD. (I've heard some cards are integrated so you can't just swap them)
So really, what I'm asking is for recommendations; either specific products or places where I could get something like this. Or if any of the computers I've found would do what I want anyways, and I'm just not understanding the power they have (I've never done anything on a computer with more than 1gig RAM). So if any of the "stock" computers that fit the above description will do what I want, that's excellent. I'm just not sure if I'll need to be customizing stuff.
Thanks in advance.
Message Edited by darkwulfv on 12-15-2008 02:11 AM
Message Edited by darkwulfv on 12-15-2008 02:12 AM

Answer 1

Hey!
Don't think of this of being rude.. But there is a really nice gaming computer that came out a couple of weeks ago. Its the New Gateway FX. It runs about $1,299.99 I believe. Now don't let that scare you away. This comes with a HD Radion 4850 in it. A really nice Graphics card. Not only that it has the NEW Intel i7 Quad Core, that runs at 2.6 Ghz. I have done many Services on the FX, and its a fast computer, and the thing is it can go even faster. It holds a 3gb of ram, With a 750 GB Hdd? And 2 HDD spots in the front. For even more space! Also has a couple of other neat features, but I think you got the point.
If I had the money this is the computer that I would buy. Also with your budget, Best Buy is having the 18 Months finance with 0% interest rates. I would do that but I have to be 18 for a credit card >.>. Hope this helps =]
~Austan
Message Edited by xAustan on 12-16-2008 11:34 AM
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