I enjoy computers, but I am still learning about them... I wanted to play Left 4 Dead 2 on my computer, but it is too outdated. If anyone could recommend one, what would be a good gaming computer to play that game?


Or should I just buy an xbox360 and buy the game for it?? (I have a ps3 but its not out for ps3 )

The best and cheapest computers are those who you assemble yourself.

Are you willing to do that ?
What is your budget ?
Where do you live ?

look at Newegg.com here is a list of supplys ur gonna need to buy if u wanna build it
new procceser if your going cheap go amd  speed probly around 2.0 - 4.0
ram about 2+ Gigs
hardrive go western digital if you down load stuff your gonna want around a 750+ gigbytes if you dont stick with a 250 - 320
motherboards wat your looking for is something taht has 2 - 8 sata slots 2 - 4 slots for ram make sure to match ram with your mother board if you need help let me no pick something that allows your moniter so if you have vga cord make sure your mother board supports it if you have a ps2 mouse and key board make sure your mother board supports it

buying a processer your mother boaard needs to be made for the proccesser you are buying this takes some looking in to if you need help let me no

if your getting a video card for  starcraft 2 make sure rto chcek specs with sc2 and match with the card you get
make sure u buy a new cause if your looking for a cool decked out gaming cause that is large thats support hella harddrives look in to the atec 5900 or 5000 if forget which
if you wanna get a new wireless card they have them but relize u wil spend at least 500 + if you dont buy things on sale luckyly this is the best itme of the year to buy this shit any ways if you need any more hep let me no

So if I go cheap, it'll still be like more than 500 right? I have seen that processors and video cards are expencive!

if you have time to wait around on websites like yugster.com
They have deal-a-day offers where items will sell for usually more than half off.

I looked at the past deals over the last months and basically a Dell GX computer of specs(2.8Ghz, 2GB ram, and like a 250GB HD or so with dvd/rom and maybe even a webcam with WINXP) will show up about every 20 days or so for only like $200.  Now you could get that and then go on newegg or someother site and buy a decent graphics card(9800GT?) for like $100.

Looking at it  now...in about 10 days another computer might come up?

But you never know

hers some of the recent deals
you can also look at previous months etc,
http://www.yugster.com/dspsitemap.aspx?m=12&y=2010

You can make it as cheap or as expensive as you want.

But please answer my questions first, then I can help you..

Whoops, I didn't see your first reply, sorry bout that!

Are you willing to do that ?
Yes, I love messing with computers
What is your budget ?
$500
Where do you live ?
California, U.S.A

ill put some spec to gether for u and try to make u a cheap comp with regualr pricese and see what i can come up with

OK If you live in the USA, that means you can order from newegg.

CPU: [url=http://"http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103644"]AMD Phenom II X4 940[/url] or [url=http://"http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103703"]Athlon II X4 630[/url]
I have chosen cpu's without tock heatsinks on purpose cause they suck anyway. So you need to choose one that fits AM3 socket. [url=http://"http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181011"]This[/url] one is nice for example, but you can choose a cheaper one if you want.

The difference in cpu speed in mhz can be easily helped by overclocking. But both cpu at same speeds, then the Phenom will be slightly faster due to the L3 cache. For gaming, this is better (not by much). It is possible to unlock the cache from Athlons II X4's, but this is no guarantee and based on luck.

Motherboard: any with 790FX, 880G, 890GX or 890FX will do from a decent brand. It's up to your wishes, you cant ATX or the smaller mATX, Need lots of Sata ports or not, Need USB 3.0 or not, looks, .. etc etc.

RAM: Choose a motherboard with DDR3, Any 1600mhz (or more) will do with decent latency. (avoid CL9 for AMD systems). [url=http://"http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303"]These[/url] are good and very cheap. [url=http://"http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231321"]These[/url] work at extreme low voltages for energy savings/better overclocking.

Most important for gaming now:
GPU: Personnaly I'd choose an ATI card, NVidia is a bit overpriced atm. Best bang for the buck are ATI cards.
HD 5770 and HD 6850 are very good and cheap. If you want really high performance get a 5850/5870 or the new but out of your budget 6970. Also, if you game at a very high resolution you MUST get a 5850 or higher. If you game at 1680x1050 a 5770 will do fine.

For Hard drive, PSU, DVD drive, Case: You probably can recuperate from your current system. If your PSU is not good enough I'd recommend to buy a new one. For a mid to high end system like I recommended a 500W from an A-Brand will do!

I don't know if you also need a new monitor, I hope not because your budget is quite tight.

Try to assemble something on newegg and post you shopping cart here.

I've created this, and its under 500 Hopefully I'm not missing anything...
https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/MySa ... D=15135812
Also, is it not too hard to build a computer? And do you need special equipment.