Reggie! Time for more computer advice!
So I've been working off of a hand-me-down desktop for years, haven't bought one since 2005... The hand-me-down has always been vaguely low-end and crippled.
I upgraded for Skyrim...works fine. Medium settings. Happy with that. Total War Rome II is around the corner (
http://wiki.totalwar.com/w/Rome_II_Recommended_Specs), though, and, overall, this hand-me-down is showing its age and choking more often than not. It's also running Vista which, I realize now, has slowly driven me insane... And the hard drive is just 70 gigs, which is starting to feel like something ancient and evil. (Rome II needs 35 gigs!)
So! I want to upgrade. I have a slush fund of around a grand. I want a computer that can handle somewhat high-end games (my needs are few -- I consider Skyrim and the Total War games high end, and spend 90% of any rare gaming time I have on stuff like Crusader Kings 2 and Europa Universalis --
http://www.paradoxplaza.com/games/europa-universalis-iv -- not too demanding). So I probably don't need, like, the uber-geek gaming system. Honestly, most of my time is spent working in Word or staring blankly at Doctor Who repeats because I've just read 1600 pages of terrible novels and can't think anymore.
So a reliable system, with plenty of space, speedy RAM, and a decent graphics card so I can build houses in Skyrim and never actually fight anyone. Or, alternatively, become a Roman emperor and fight everyone. I plan to keep my old monitor and speakers, so I just need the computer.
I went to Dell, HP, etc...and the way they sell computers now has changed quite a bit since 2005! You kind of get what they want you to get instead of letting you build up the good stuff. And, when you do get a chance to upgrade the insides, you end up in expensive (and somewhat overkill) Alienware land... It seems like the thinking of those webpages is "The customer is either (a) Nacho's grandfather or (b) fans of The Big Bang Theory."
Reggie, I trust your computer advice. And whoever else has two cents -- always welcome. I'll also nip an argument in the bud: No Macs. Period. I don't care if they fellate me while I calmly paint my Skyrim house blue. I'd like to upgrade before the end of the month so I can ride dragons before labor day without framerate issues. If you know what I mean...and I think you do.
