Buying a compter- please help

[ashwinte]

I'm going to buy a new computer soon.

What would be the recommend speed for the processor to run dolphin?

I've looked also looked at Intel or AMD. Which is better?

I'm looking at Toshiba or HP or Acer as a the computer brand. But does that matter?

I'm hoping to spend under $400.

Any ideas??

---

Here is the computer I'm looking at http://www.officemax.com/technology/comp...save150dol

[werewolfyman]

1. No Cpu can run everything dolphin has to offer full speed, consistently.
2. No $400 laptop will cut it. (Integrated graphics are too weak.)
3. Even $400 desktops would be rough on dolphin.

Honestly, you'd be better off building one yourself.

However, if you aren't inclined to that, then I recommend this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6883103422

If you are, please reply.

Something I threw together:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6827106378

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6811154068

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6822148767

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6814121397

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6820231425

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813131724

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6819116398

(I assume you already have a monitor, mouse, and keyboard?)

If you can use linux or buy windows, this sucker could do some decent heavy lifting.

And intel is better for emulation. Almost always.

[admin89]

Laptop under 680$ won't run dolphin well (if i'm not saying it will run like slow motion movie)
Minimum GPU (480p) : Nvidia GT 520M or AMD 6470 (Perhaps , you should wait till June for Ivy Bridge integrated GPU or just buy LLano APU)
Recommend (720p) : Nvidia GT 525M or AMD 6630M
Minimum CPU : Intel i3 2310M (Probably slow but some games are playable)
Recommend : Intel i5 2430M

I'm hoping to spend under $400.

Build a desktop instead of laptop
If you need laptop that bad then LLano A6-3400M or A8 3500M should be around 400-500$
Note that i3 2310m is faster than Llano(Dolphin only) but you need a good GPU for it

[werewolfyman]

My computer cost about $650 if you count hard drives.
And it can play almost anything.

If you really don't know how to build a desktop, just hit up as many online guides as you can manage. RMA's exist for a reason!

[HippoPwn]

If you want a good computer cheap, build it yourself. It really isn't very difficult. The hardest part is figuring out the parts you want. When it comes to building, you can either go out and get it built for $50 to $100 (still cheaper than buying an OEM one) or you can build it yourself. All building is is following online guides and plugging the wire that says "usb" into the port on your motherboard that says "usb." If you have any problems or questions, you should ask a tech forum.

For computer parts, i recommend that you start at http://www.newegg.com (or www.newegg.ca if you live in Canada like me)
You'll need:
-A hard drive
-A power supply
-A processor
-A motherboard
-A graphics card (unless you don't want to run games)
-A case (or you could run it in a test bed, but it will get covered in dust, looks ugly and doesn't keep good temperatures)
-Optionally an optical drive if you ever want to use CDs or DVDs.
-An operating system. (windows 7 is ~$100, windows 8 beta is FREE right now, or you could get an open source OS (usually Linux)
-A wireless card if you are using a wireless router
-RAM, which usually sells pretty cheap.

Also look for sales or different computer hardware stores/sites. I saved about $200 on my computer.

If you really don't want to build it yourself, give me a price range and I'll tell you what to buy. Then you can get it built at a local computer store, or if you have a friend who can build computers you can ask him. You should also tell me if you're interested in gaming, video rendering, web browsing, or anything else you want your computer to do.

[werewolfyman]

Did no one see what I posted?

[ashwinte]

Thanks for all your help. I shall think and ponder and then decide what to do. Maybe I should just buy a wii and gamecube =D

[admin89]

The Old Wii support GC games and GC controllers but the new Wii doesn't . You should ask the dealer/retailer before buying
Or wait Q4 1012 for WiiU but WiiU doesn't support GC games

[Duke Nukem]

A new Wii with all the good accessories is dirt cheap today, I'd say go for that if you're uncertain what to do.
Wii + GC support, it's a Wiin Wiin situation