Used computer purchase (for gaming)

uuhittle · 04-24-2009, 03:46 PM

I hope this is the proper place to post this. If not, please feel free (as I know most will) to direct me to the correct forum.

I've a brother-in-law offering to sell me an unused desktop of his. I'm thinking of getting it as a temporary system as my laptop (my only current computer) died and I don't have the funds to get what I would like. The specs are as follows:

AMD Athlon 64 x2 4600+ dual core processor
2GB of memory
ATI Radeon x1950 Pro video card
250GB hard drive

He offered it to me for $300 with no monitor, keyboard or mouse. My first question is whether or not this is a sound purchase.

I'd like to use it for gaming, but am concerned that the specs are a little dated, which leads me to my second question. Is this system capable of running games like Neverwinter Nights 2 (+ expansions) or The Witcher? From my limited knowledge it looks as though it could handle The Witcher, but my understanding was that it was a system intensive game. I believe this is also the case with NWN2.

I appreciate any guidance in this matter. Thank you all in advance.

**RockmasteR** · 04-24-2009, 05:13 PM

Hello and welcome to TSF
let's see what these parts costs when they are brand new :
AMD Athlon 4600+ Dual Core = 60 to 70 $
ATI X1950 Pro = 120$ (PCIe) or 100$ (AGP)
250 GB HDD = 60 to 70$

add 70 $ for the motherboard (generic) and 30 $ for the case
and add some money to the PSU
total = 360 to 380 $ (and I'm talking new)

can you tell us what is the motherboard make and model?

Tiber Septim · 04-24-2009, 10:57 PM

It's an okay deal.
Would be better if he threw in a cheap monitor or something.

Problem is the x1950. It's getting on in years now, and like you said NWN 2 and The Witcher are pretty demanding games.
I'm not saying it won't run, it just won't run very well.

Mcninjaguy · 04-25-2009, 01:47 PM

I would say if he sold it for $250 that's a deal I'd take.

Monitors are gonna cost you but you can usually find a decent one for around $120 US

Acer X193W+BD Black 19" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 2000:1
$120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824009127

~~connor-53~~ · 04-25-2009, 05:33 PM

Hold on, is he selling you a whole system or just those parts?

Meaning
Does it include: Mobo, Case, PSU

If it does please post the mobo case PSU specs.

Mcninjaguy · 04-25-2009, 08:38 PM

he just gave the specs I presume its a full system

04-24-2009, 03:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
uuhittle Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 1 OS: Windows XP	Used computer purchase (for gaming) I hope this is the proper place to post this. If not, please feel free (as I know most will) to direct me to the correct forum. I've a brother-in-law offering to sell me an unused desktop of his. I'm thinking of getting it as a temporary system as my laptop (my only current computer) died and I don't have the funds to get what I would like. The specs are as follows: AMD Athlon 64 x2 4600+ dual core processor 2GB of memory ATI Radeon x1950 Pro video card 250GB hard drive He offered it to me for $300 with no monitor, keyboard or mouse. My first question is whether or not this is a sound purchase. I'd like to use it for gaming, but am concerned that the specs are a little dated, which leads me to my second question. Is this system capable of running games like Neverwinter Nights 2 (+ expansions) or The Witcher? From my limited knowledge it looks as though it could handle The Witcher, but my understanding was that it was a system intensive game. I believe this is also the case with NWN2. I appreciate any guidance in this matter. Thank you all in advance.

04-24-2009, 05:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
RockmasteR Moderator, Games Team Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lebanon Posts: 3,163 OS: Vista Ultimate 32bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Used computer purchase (for gaming) Hello and welcome to TSF let's see what these parts costs when they are brand new : AMD Athlon 4600+ Dual Core = 60 to 70 $ ATI X1950 Pro = 120$ (PCIe) or 100$ (AGP) 250 GB HDD = 60 to 70$ add 70 $ for the motherboard (generic) and 30 $ for the case and add some money to the PSU total = 360 to 380 $ (and I'm talking new) can you tell us what is the motherboard make and model? __________________ CPUz GPUz Nvidia Drivers ATI Drivers System Information for Windows (SIW) Revo Uninstaller RivaTuner ATITOOL Directx 9.0C !!Please don't PM me for Tech Support!!

04-24-2009, 10:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tiber Septim Asst Manager, Games Team Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 2,866 OS: Fedora 11 / Windows 7 My System Blog Entries: 5	Re: Used computer purchase (for gaming) It's an okay deal. Would be better if he threw in a cheap monitor or something. Problem is the x1950. It's getting on in years now, and like you said NWN 2 and The Witcher are pretty demanding games. I'm not saying it won't run, it just won't run very well. __________________ First Steps - System Specs - SIW Help TSF beat Cancer and other serious Illness.

04-25-2009, 01:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
Mcninjaguy Temporarily Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,422 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Used computer purchase (for gaming) I would say if he sold it for $250 that's a deal I'd take. Monitors are gonna cost you but you can usually find a decent one for around $120 US Acer X193W+BD Black 19" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 2000:1 $120 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824009127

04-25-2009, 05:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
~~connor-53~~ Troubled Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New York Posts: 525 OS: Vista Home Prem. 64 bit My System	Re: Used computer purchase (for gaming) Hold on, is he selling you a whole system or just those parts? Meaning Does it include: Mobo, Case, PSU If it does please post the mobo case PSU specs.

04-25-2009, 08:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mcninjaguy Temporarily Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,422 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Used computer purchase (for gaming) he just gave the specs I presume its a full system