What hardware should I include for a Game Design/Programming computer?

Question

I need a computer that can handle Game Design & Programming, but I don't know what hardware the computer should have regarding HD space, memory, processor speed, video & sound cards? Also, what brand name should I trust? Overall, I'm wondering what brands & hard ware would best suit my needs. I saw an HP Pavillion Media Center Desktop (Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q6600, 3 GB RAM, 640 GB Hard Drive) for just under $1200 (on Amazon). I'm not sure if this is overkill or if the Quad Processor fits my needs - or will a Dual Core will be enough - I don't want something that'll cause delays as I try to test games I design & my husband feels a HD with 250 GB's is more than enough. Any help? I refuse to use Dell's, I've had terrible experiences w/them. I am on a budget, which makes a package system that's upgradable seems the best route to me. I'd like it to last for at least three years without dying on me. Advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Yes, I'm taking classes to learn how to design/program games. We're taught in either Visual Basic, C++ or C# (we have to choose which one we wish to excell in) - we're also taught MMORPG, first person modification with the Unreal engine, simulation design and AI design/programming. Anything else I'm not 100% on so I'd rather not say and find out I didn't need a part of a computer for it, or I did. I'm just starting out, and I'm taking classes online so my programs are done via virtual computing (?) - I login to another computer through the internet and can launch a program like Visual basic and program and test it via that computer - forget what it's called. But I also want to be able to purchase the programs through my college inexpensively to make my own games too and test them. I have an RPG I'd like to work on so programs like 3D modelers I'll be using as well (that I already know how to do). I appreciate the input so far, thanks :)

btw, I play games, but I'm kinda new to the whole creating games, So I'm not sure what DX10 games are. I used to build computers but the newer technology has surpassed me now. I'm 32 but still consider myself computer savvy, the lingo still get's me a little confused once in a while though. The buying hard drive space cheap makes sense, I've seen HD space cheap lately too. My only question is what is a good brand that is reliable that will let me swap out the HD? Dell was a nightmare to swap things around. Like Video Cards, sound cards, forget HD space - my current dell while four years old, was still sent out with a VGA video card which shocked me. I don't want to end up in that situation again. I really want to be able to switch and change things around as much as I like. I like the idea of how a lightscribe burner lets you burn labels right onto the disk too, is it worth the price? I haven't checked the price differences lately.

Answer 1

Buy the maximum kind of computer that you can afford in order to be as ready for the future as you can. Maximum RAM, maximum processor, maximum hard drive space, and buy an external hard drive and a CD/DVD burner to store and send your game designs. Buy directly from the manufacturer on-line to ensure that you have the full warranty on your system. Make certain that you are using Vista on your new PC, as XP will eventually get phased out and lose Microsoft support just like all of the older versions of Windows.

Answer 2

Well basically your video card matters as much as the procesor and ram. The HD space is really not abig deal, since you can burn things to DVD and you can just get a bigger Drive. I think i saw a 500GB for 119 dollars. The biggest thing is the Video Card. Are you going to be testing and devloping DX10 games?? If so you need to get an 8600GT at the very least. You really want an 8800GTS or GTX.
Are you taking classes somewhere? What do they recommend? What kind of games are you developing? FPS, RTS, MMORPG. What langauge are you designing in. Or what progs are u using?

Answer 3

Your current spec is fine, do need a good quality graphics card so you can test your work when its done. The Q6600 is not really over the top, they are cheap for what its offering.