Best computer for sandbox/ school

[CPG owner]

ok so I use sandbox a lot, but I am getting a new computer. I'm still in school so I still have to do papers and stuff, but I want speed. any suggestions?

[Runescapedj]

any average computer can handle PAS, I have a medium-end pc with a Ati Radeon 5830 game edition (is about 150 euros), and it runs PAS at a steady 200 fps at highest settings, so I guess you dont need a really good pc, but you need a graphics card (at school I have under 1 fps cuz of no graphics card), a 50 euros card will be sufficient, for processor at least a dual-core, about 2 GB of RAM should be sufficient to.
But all this might be good for PAS, but if you want to play current gen games, you should consider buying a bit more expensive stuff, your local computer shop should be able to help you out

[lzrstrm]

I suggest you buy a "Alienware Desktop Computer" they can be exspensive but you will get what you paid for. It is manily a gaming PC but it is also an all purpose computer.

A Few Facts
-They are very fast
-Great for playing games
-Made by Dell
-customizable
-up to 1Tb of memory(1000 Gb)
-Buy the Alienware X51 Desktop or the Alienware Aurora
-They also have Laptops




Computer Details

Alienware X51

Processor

Intel® Core™ i3-2120 processor (3MB Cache, 3.3GHz with Hyper-Threading Technology)



Operating System

Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64Bit, English



Memory4

Up to 6GB5 Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1333Mhz - 2 DIMMS




Hard Drive

Up to 1000GB4 SATA hard drive (7200RPM)



Optical Drive

Slot-Loading Dual Layer DVD Burner (DVD+-RW, CD-RW) (Standard)
Slot-Loading Dual Layer Blu-ray Reader (BR-ROM, DVD+-RW, CD-RW)


Video Card

1GB GDDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 545



Wireless

DW1502 Wireless-N WLAN Half Mini-Card



Sound Card

Internal High-Definition 7.1 Performance Audio with WAVES MAXX Audio (Standard)



Ports

Front I/O Ports
(2x) Hi-Speed USB 2.0
(1x) Microphone In
(1x) Headphone/Speaker Out

Rear I/O Ports
(1x) On-board HDMI 1.4 Output
(1x) RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet
(4x) Hi-Speed USB 2.0
(2x) SuperSpeed USB 3.0
(1x) Front Left/Right Speakers
(1x) Center Speaker
(1x) Rear Left/Right Speakers
(1x) Side Left/Right Speakers
(1x) SPDIF Digital Output (TOSLINK)
(1x) SPDIF Digital Output (Coax)



Chassis

Physical System Dimensions
Height:
Front-Height: 13.504" (343mm)
Rear-Height: 12.54" (318.5mm)
Depth: 12.52" (318mm)
Width: 3.74" (95mm)
Starting Weight: 12.1 lbs (5.49 Kg)

Color
Matte Stealth Black with Dark Chrome Accents

Processor and Core Architecture

Processor Cooling
Alienware™ High-Performance Air Cooling

Chipset Architecture
Intel® H61 Express Chipset

Motherboard Class
Mini-ITX Motherboard

Software

Alienware Command Center
AlienAdrenaline
AlienFX™
AlienFusion

Software Personalization Options
AlienFX™ System Colors
Personal Avatar



Power

Alienware™ 240 Watt Power Supply (Standard)
Alienware™ 330 Watt Power Supply






Alienware Aurora

Processor

Intel® Core™ i7-3820 processor (Quad Core, 10MB Cache, Overclocked up to 4.1GHz)
Intel® Core™ i7-3820 processor (Quad Core, 10MB Cache, Overclocked up to 4.2GHz)
Intel® Core™ i7-3930K (Six Core, 12MB Cache,Overclocked up to 3.9Ghz )
Intel® Core™ i7-3930K (Six Core, 12MB Cache,Overclocked up to 4.1Ghz)
Intel® Core™ i7-3960X (Six Core Extreme, 15MB Cache ,Overclocked up to 4.0Ghz)
Intel® Core™ i7-3960X (Six Core Extreme, 15MB Cache,Overclocked up to 4.2Ghz)



Operating System

Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64Bit, English
Genuine Windows® 7 Professional, 64Bit, English
Genuine Windows® 7 Ultimate, 64Bit, English
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64Bit, French
Genuine Windows® 7 Professional, 64Bit, French
Genuine Windows® 7 Ultimate, 64Bit, French



Memory3

Up to 16GB5 Q DDR3 SDRAM at 1600Mhz - 4 DIMMS
Up to 8GB5 Q DDR3 SDRAM at 2133Mhz - 4 DIMMS




Hard Drive

Up to 2000GB3 SATA hard drive (7200RPM)
Up to 1000GB3 Solid State Drive SATA hard drive



Optical Drive

Single Optical Disc Drive Options
24X Dual-Layer Burner (DVD±RW) (Standard)
Dual Layer Blu-ray Disc™ Reader (BD-ROM, DVD±RW, CD-RW)
8X Dual Layer Blu-ray Disc™ Burner (BD-RE, DVD±RW, CD-RW)

Dual Optical Disc Drive Options
Dual Layer Blu-ray Disc™ Reader (BD-ROM, DVD±RW, CD-RW) and 24X Dual-Layer Burner (DVD±RW)
8X Dual Layer Blu-ray Disc™ Burner (BD-RE, DVD±RW, CD-RW) and 24X Dual-Layer Burner (DVD±RW)



Video Card

1GB GDDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 555
1.25GB GDDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 560 Ti
1GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon™ HD 6870
2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 7870
Dual 1GB GDDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 555 - NVIDIA SLI® Enabled
1.5GB GDDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 580
Dual 1GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon™ HD 6870 - AMD CrossFireX™ Enabled
3GB DDR5 AMD Radeon™ HD 7950
Dual 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 7870
Dual 3GB DDR5 AMD Radeon™ HD 7950



Sound Card

Internal High-Definition 7.1 Performance Audio with Waves MAXX Audio Software (Standard)
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio (Optional)
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium (Optional)



Ports

Front I/O Ports
(2x) Hi-Speed USB 2.0
(1x) SuperSpeed USB 3.0
(1x) Microphone In
(1x) Headphone/Speaker Out
(1x) 19-in-1 Media Card Reader (Optional)

Rear I/O Ports
(1x) RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet
(4x) Hi-Speed USB 2.0
(1x) SuperSpeed USB 3.0
(1x) Microphone In
(1x) Line-In
(1x) Front Left/Right Speakers
(1x) Center Speaker
(1x) Rear Left/Right Speakers
(1x) Side Left/Right Speakers
(1x) SPDIF Digital Output (TOSLINK)
(1x) SPDIF Digital Output (Coax)



Slots

Internal Expansion Slots
(2x) PCI-Express x16 (electrical spec: x16/x16)
(2x) PCI-Express x1

Memory Slots
4x 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM Slots



Power

Alienware™ 875 Watt Multi-GPU Approved Power Supply



Chassis


Motherboard and Chassis Form Factor
MicroATX Motherboard, Mid-Tower Chassis

Color Description
Matte Stealth Black

System Dimensions
Height: 16.77" - (426mm)
Depth: 25.39" - (645mm)
Width: 9.847" - (250mm)
Average Weight: 45lbs - (20.41 Kg.)

Optional "ALX Chassis" Features
Alienware Active Venting (Height with top vents open: 17.59" (447mm))
Enhanced AlienFX™ System Lighting - 8 Lighting Zones
Slide-in, tool-less, and cable-free hard drive bays
Internal Theater Lighting

Software

Operating System Options
Windows® 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Windows® 7 Professional (64-bit)
Windows® 7 Ultimate (64-bit)

Alienware Command Center
AlienFX™
Thermal Controls
AlienFusion

Software Personalization Options
AlienFX™ System Colors
Personal Avatar

Cyberlink PowerDVD 3D is included on all systems equipped with Blu-ray drives

Processor and Core Architecture

Processor Cooling
Alienware™ High-Performance CPU Liquid Cooling
Chipset Architecture
Intel® X79 Express Chipset w/ Unlocked BIOS for Overclocking, CPU Socket 2011

Packaging

Recyclable Packaging Material Details

Alienware desktop packaging is made from 68% recyclable products.

Internal shock absorbing structures are made of 100% recyclable high-density polyethylene.
The materials used to make these structures come from 100% household post-consumer bottles.

Alienware Aurora direct packaging dimensions
34.13" x 17.63" x 26.0" (866.90mm x 447.80mm x 660.4mm)

[chocolatepie33]

You could also look into some of Asus' gaming laptops and such, http://rog.asus.com/. I don't see a price, but they seem to be pretty good. I've heard that Asus is one of the better laptop makers out there, my laptop is Asus. Check it out.

[Runescapedj]

why so high specs? I had an old radeon 4650 graphics card of about 50 euros and it could run PAS at 120-200 fps highest settings
If its just for PAS, a cheaper pc will be good enough

[CPG owner]

No, its definitly for school, gaming, pas, and internet browsing I like the Alienware AX51-0066BK desktop
hey Izrstrm do you think this would be a good alien ware ? it looks good to me

finally im on a budget, i

[lzrstrm]

I think it would be a very good for you.
I have been thinking about getting one myself, I just dont have the money for it right now

The Alienware X-51is the newest Alienware desktop out but it is cheaper the the aurora.

[CPG owner]

ok thanks, also for a monitor, TV or and actual monitor?

[CPG owner]

oh yah also forgot to ask this laptop or desktop?

[Sircameron]

ok thanks, also for a monitor, TV or and actual monitor?

I'd go with an actual monitor.. I'm not sure about the newest tv's out now, but the refresh rate on a monitor should still be superior compared to any tv.. It depends i guess mostly on personal preferences, my buddy has a 32in tv as his monitor, and he seems content although he also has multiple consoles so the tv was the better choice in his case