Looking for New CoH/CoV gaming computer

Just don't have a laptop directly in your lap if you're a guy and want children someday.
Seriously, there supposedly is evidence that the heat from a laptop can sterilize men, especially considering we wear clothes that insulate nicely once heat gets in.

Edit:
I would love more "mobile gaming" actually. I just haven't seen anything that can get the performance I want in that situation.

If you want to go the build-it yourself route, sharkyextreme has a couple sample builds:

the less than $1000 solution: http://www.sharkyextreme.com/guides/...le.php/3939801

the less than $2000 solution: http://www.sharkyextreme.com/guides/...le.php/3939831

Another suggestion that people can over look. Operating Systems. They can get expensive. If your going Windows 7 you only need home premium. And it is a very very good idea to get the retail version, yes it is more expensive. But it isn't tied to your computer. With OEM copies if you upgrade your machine you can run into issues of not being able to use your copy anymore. Retail is tied to you and the cd key and you have a disc, not the crap OEM disc but a full copy of the OS. And right now I would lean to buy Windows 7 and not get Windows 8 alot of negative reports of Windows 8 so far.

And on the comments of using a old computer. Dude you built a top of the line old computer that does not count. 1 for the fact is it is future proof. 2 cause you blew lots of money for the best back in the day, and now your getting some benefits from it though from experience that extreme amount of extra money doesn't help. Your best bet is to buy parts that are "Future Proof" aka a computer that can be upgraded easily and well. If you going to run 2 instances of Ultra mode at max your going to need some good stuff but you don't have to have a top of the line rig. You could even build a year old machine, which if you buy stuff that is upgradeable would be a good idea cause it will save you money.

Oh and I build computers and have built every computer I own. Though I am not as good as my friend, he is a A+ certified tech and has worked in the field alot. Best help you can do is research the part and manufacture of a part before you buy it, it will save you a huge headache.

to let the op know they may not be any high end ivy bridge (e) lines of chips.
from what i been reading online intel haswel cpu may be out this time next year on another new cpu socket. also the new pci 3.0 video cards (600x) from nvidia wont run at there max speed on an x79 chipset pci 3.0 8t speed).
http://www.techpowerup.com/162942/Ge...E-Systems.html
the only intel chipset is the z77 that first gen pci 3.0 chipset. most mb using this are using the 1150 cpu. have less pci lanes then the x79 and only duel memeory controler and not the quad controler on x79. amd new cpu that will be out in june going to be using the new fx-2 slots. most good case vendors like antec the cases are mostly tooless where you just slide the cd-rom drive in and your done. I picked myself up an antec 100 case from new egg 54.00
nice simple case one/off usb 3,.0 and speaker header on front. has nice cable management and big cut out on mb tray to put on cpu heat sinks.
down side of the case is max lenth is 10.5 but take a look at the case and other. the good gaming cases are going to have large side or top fan the larger fans you can use the slower they have to spin and the lower the sound is from your case. good gaming ps will have one large 12v rail.

Also, for those interested, I'm currently building a computer for a fellow forum member here.

If you want to, you're more than welcome to take a look-see.

Clicking on the linked image above will take you off the City of Heroes site. However, the guides will be linked back here.

Java.

Write once.

Beta everywhere.

Clicking on the linked image above will take you off the City of Heroes site. However, the guides will be linked back here.

I'm literally drooling over here. My Alienware that I purchased in around 2005 was "top of the line" or so I THOUGHT at the time. After a long absence from the game, I've recently returned (that Alienware wasn't even turned on for all those years...I literally only use it for COH...use laptop for surfing/email/etc) to find that my little 3 Gigs of memory don't seem to cut it anymore. Had to turn settings WAAAAAYYY down from what they were before my absence so that now I feel like I'm playing, as someone described earlier, with stick figures and such.

I want to thank the OP for this thread, because I was just about to post something similar. I have the same price range and I'm in the market as well.

What really made me want to post, though, was all these AMAZING looking "rigs" and parts and pieces!! I will NEVER forget the day my Alienware arrived...(keep in mind I was playing on something equivalent to a Commodore 64 up until my gaming Alienware arrived) ...I logged in, and WHAM...I could NOT BELIEVE how real, alive, vibrant, clear, SHOCKINGLY AMAZING the game looked through my massive flat screen and new computer. I could dual box with ease, and did so often. Trials, TFs, Hamis, etc all EFFORTLESS. Now, trials lag me badly and dual boxing causes way too much choppiness and sound looping/issues. I want the old days back pretty badly.

But, you see, I'm a guy who knows NOTHING about that stuff. I mean literally not a thing. Overclocking? 32bits? Processor? All of that is as clear to me as a foreign language. Which is why, 7 years ago, I bought from Alienware. Guess I'd rather pay the little extra (or a lot extra) to have it DONE...I plug it in and play. Now, in hindsight, if I had gone a different route I probably would be able to upgrade and have all that joy back, but have been told that my memory is at the max. Sigh.

Can you guys offer some words of advice for guys like me who are in a similar situation as the OP, but differently, we have no technical background or expertise. We are the ones Alienware and other companies make their money from because it's easier to just give them the money and be done with it. Let's say I have $2000...where do I go from here? Are there people such as @Hyperstrike above who will use our money to build the best BEST possible gaming rig in return for a fee? If so, HOW do you find them?

I'm just a teacher...I work all day...but I LOVE this game and I want to experience it the BEST possible way. I don't, however, have the knowledge necessary to put something like this together. Is this a case of "it's not what you know it's who you know"?

Thanks again, OP, for posting this. It's been great to see all the responses from the point of view of someone who is in a similar position.

If anyone has tips for me and would like to share in-game, globals are @Clever One and @Justice29. (on @Clever One mostly these days)

Is Windows 8 really already out?
Windows 7 doesn't even seem that old and they're already replacign it with the touch-optimized semi-mobile OS?

Wow!

Win 8 will be out by the end of the year, October seems likely.

Just want to say thanks for all the feedback, info and suggestions. At this time I think I have enough info to realistically buy with confidence and will likely be placing an order in the next 2 to 3 weeks based a lot on the links Hyperstrike posted.

By all means keep the thread going if others are getting good info, I have it bookmarked and will be checking back especially when I get ready to order and Hyperstrike I will likely send you a PM or two when I get the products derived if I need a suggestion or a something’s got me stumped as I’m putting it together.

As for Windows 8 I don’t care how good it is I won’t buy it until they release the first major update and fix everything they broke when they pushed it out, so I would think December 2012 or January 2013 at best.

Justice29, putting a computer together really isn’t that hard once you get all the parts you need it’s just modular assembly job, boxes inside boxes. My big issue is getting all the parts and making sure all the parts fit together. You have to buy the right chip set for the right motherboard with a power supply that delivers enough juice for the all the demand. Other then that the only other risk is putting the chip set into the motherboard wrong or applying the thermal paste wrong. Ok so maybe it’s not “Easy” but if I can tackle the job I’m sure you can.