ProCoach

This Dell Alienware X51 with their top of the line U2413 24" monitor is the daddy and is powerful enough to remain current for years. Plus, it's loaded with Windows 7!

http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-x...h:5985~U2413CC

About $1560, all in, with monitor.

TraqGear

Ouch. I was hoping to have less than that in the whole thing. Doable with decent stuff?

HoBoJoe

Custom built is the way to go for a gaming PC, however a dell with an upgraded video card will work. If you want to build one yourself we'll help you pick components and talk you through putting it together.

This company sells systems custom built for sim racing: http://www.mainperformancepc.com

Anyone in my area I'll put your PC together for free.

ProCoach

Yes, let me look again at Dell. The Main Performance stuff is really nice, too.

Now that iRacing is on Steam, soon THIS is all that will be required... http://www.alienware.com/Landings/steammachine/

HoBoJoe

What is your budget for the PC/monitor? I can put some parts together for you to give you an idea on a custom build.

ProCoach

http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-x...5985~U2312HMCC

Least expensive X51 on sale for $599 here: http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-x...ienware-x51-r2

Add their least expensive 23" Ultrasharp monitor and the package is about $830 from Dell.

It's lower end gaming, but it will do the job.

Alienware, Main Performance, home-built, it doesn't really matter. It's just like cars. The budget and the expectations define the best choices for each...

sstreime

Peter,

you got me looking at the alien ware units. what is your opinion of the available graphics cards for running a (3) monitor system?

I spoke with Main Performance and they are recommending at least a GTX 770 or 780 neither of which are on option on the alien ware x51.

thoughts?

thanks in advance. Steve

HoBoJoe

If you're going to run 3 monitors go for the GTX 780, single monitor the 770 is more than up to the task. You could run it with the 770 on 3 monitors but maybe not FULL settings.

tasracer

Damn u guys

Now u got me looking at a new computer

Sent from my iPad using Rennlist

ProCoach

I don't get into the invariable pissing matches that erupt between nVidia and AMD (nee ATI) fanboys, they both work fine. Most of the time it boils down to commercial agreements (like Main Performance's deal with nVidia and Dell's juice with both) who sells what with what.

One of the nVidia development labs is here in the Research Triangle Park and I have had access to some pretty cool beta hardware for the last fifteen years!

My preference is the new AMD R9 series, either the 270 (like the 770) or the 290X (like the 780), simply because I find the AMD Eyefinity (three-screen spanning) to be much easier to use and require less hassle to set up. I think it's really important to have at least 2 GP VRAM or, if you go the high-end route, 4 GB VRAM.

I don't think multi-card AMD Crossfire or nVidia SLI setups materially improve rendering via pixel fill rates, at least not on iRacing. Project CARS? Well, maybe on that...

ProCoach

Hahaha! This is the WRONG thread to be looking at for avoiding cost creep...

User 52121

[QUOTE=ProCoach;
The GT3RS works with neither XBOX.

[/QUOTE]

I stand corrected.

I thought all the Fanatec wheels were xbox compatible.

sstreime

Peter and HoBoJoe,

Thanks a bunch.

Looks like a new computer will be on the way.

sstreime

One more thing, what do you guys recommend for cable connections between the monitor and the computer? DVI, HDMI or ?

ProCoach

Click this:
http://us.fanatec.com/RacingWheels?product_id=262

Then click on "Comparison" just below the product picture. Tells all...