gamers...got a few questions about a computer

[ram57ta]

My younger cousin like to play World of Warcraft. He was using a very beat up HP DV5000 laptop but it apparently burned up. I am letting him borrow a computer I built a couple years back for a specific purpose (not gaming). The computer I built is one of those portable cube style cases with an MSI Micro-ATX motherboard with a Intel Pentium D 3ghz, 2gb of ram, XP home, and a dedicated PCI-e 1gb HD video card. The computer runs pretty good but its overheating when he plays games on it (ventilation is a problem in that little case). Someone GAVE me an older Sony desktop that I'm thinking of giving him that runs an Intel socket 775 P4HT at 3ghz, 2gb of ram, onboard Intel 225mb VGA graphics, but a LOT better ventilation.
Configured with the same software (XP Home)...which would be better for overall use...the custom built mini computer or the Full size Sony?

[Tx Redneck]

P4 w/dedicated GPU.

Sent from my iPhail eleventybillion

[Lason]

Yep I would do the cube with the dedicated GPU. I would upgrade to a bigger cheap case and maybe add another 2gb of RAM.

What exactly is overheating btw?

[Tx Redneck]

Yep I would do the cube with the dedicated GPU. I would upgrade to a bigger cheap case and maybe add another 2gb of RAM.

The Sony box has the P4, the cube has the Pentium D. The D chips are bigger turds than the 4's.

Sent from my iPhail eleventybillion

[ram57ta]

The board in the mini-computer is maxed out at 2gb already. The system bios makes the computer shut down once it reaches a certain temp. It was never designed for gaming. The sony is a lot quieter and runs considerably cooler. Kinda curious to see what the onboard intel graphics chip can do.

[Tx Redneck]

Not much since most work is offloaded to the cpu. Throw that gpu and a PSU at the Sony and be done.

If you're truly curious about that onboard chipset, just try to watch anything over 480p. It'll disappoint.

Sent from my iPhail eleventybillion

[ram57ta]

So can I get an honest opinion on an Nvidia Geforce 210 or GT 220 with 1gb of ddr3?

[racrguy]

So can I get an honest opinion on an Nvidia Geforce 210 or GT 220 with 1gb of ddr3?

Don't expect modern games to run anywhere close to full graphics, but it should do OK for MMO's, they're designed to appeal to a wider fan base so they've got to be able to run on POS computers, and look stunning on top end machines. Turn the graphics down and let him get after it. I play SWTOR on an AMD 1055t with a GTS250 and I don't have any problems.

[Unicorn Jeff]

How old is this young cousin of yours?

[racrguy]

My younger cousin like to play World of Warcraft. He was using a very beat up HP DV5000 laptop but it apparently burned up. I am letting him borrow a computer I built a couple years back for a specific purpose (not gaming). The computer I built is one of those portable cube style cases with an MSI Micro-ATX motherboard with a Intel Pentium D 3ghz, 2gb of ram, XP home, and a dedicated PCI-e 1gb HD video card. The computer runs pretty good but its overheating when he plays games on it (ventilation is a problem in that little case). Someone GAVE me an older Sony desktop that I'm thinking of giving him that runs an Intel socket 775 P4HT at 3ghz, 2gb of ram, onboard Intel 225mb VGA graphics, but a LOT better ventilation.
Configured with the same software (XP Home)...which would be better for overall use...the custom built mini computer or the Full size Sony?

How old is this young cousin of yours?

Uhhhhh.... Do I need to worry?

[Unicorn Jeff]

Uhhhhh.... Do I need to worry?

No just want to see if he's like my friends brother who's 23, never goes out and still never danced with a girl.

[ram57ta]

How old is this young cousin of yours?

11 and 14.