The "Will my computer run this?" thread v1.8

[Niloklives]

Change log

Spoiler!

1.8 - Updated a link here and there for new suggestions. Will do a more thorough sweep later.
1.7 - Added a section on power supplies
1.6 - Elaborated on GPUs and moved the relevant info from the bottom to the top of the about section along with some minor editing.
1.5 - Added a section about Macs near the bottom
1.4 - Added a new "Balls out" rig requested by Kimil Adrayne
1.3 - Added a link to a picture assisted guide on building your own computer
1.2 - Added a section on GPUs
1.1 - Added Ezodagrom's low budget gaming rig along with two of my own builds
1.0 - Kicked this crazy wall of text off

Ok so I was going to try to wait til we got final system specs til I did this but some people just can't seem to wait. So what I'm going to do instead is post all the info I can and try to update it as new stuff comes out.

The purpose of this thread:

To help people determine if their computer is up to the task of running this game.

To give the not so PC savvy some ideas for PC builds and PC upgrades for the purposes of gaming with the intent to run PSO2 in the event their computer won't do the job.

To provide a place for all the PC questions to consolidate to avoid forum clutter, while having the big answers where they can easily be found - right on page 1.

To give updated information about options as they come and provide information that matches what we know about the game's specs and updated tech such as new processors and video cards.

Things I will NOT do:

Tell you how to build a computer. There are tons of guides out there. If I find a good one I'll probably offer a link so you can get step by step instructions. I may be able to help here and there, but I'm not a tech support line. Others with experience may be able to help as well and I encourage anyone with actual experience to offer any info they can.

Tell you how to overclock your machine. Overclocking in simple terms makes your computer run faster. It's not difficult with a home built computer, but if you do it incorrectly you can fry your CPU(processor) because you have to send more power through it than is supposed to be. Quite simply this isn't a tech forum and I would hate to see something get messed up because of a misunderstanding and suddenly your computer is dead.

Tell you how to upgrade your specific computer. There are thousands of different machines out there and each one is built a little differently. I'm happy to give you the basics on what to do, but i cannot see your computer and i cannot tell you exactly how to get to what. What I CAN tell you is use some common sense and a keen eye and everything should go smoothly.

Break down the tech. This stuff is complicated and there's a lot I'm sure people want to know like what one processor can do over another. I don't mind giving simple explanations and answers like how you don't need hyper threading or the difference between a locked and unlocked processor, but anything beyond simple answers are just as easily googled if not more so.

I will not look at each individual computer asked about to see if the processor is up to the task. I will post a link for GPUs and CPUs so you can see how yours stack up. If you don't see yours listed there, don't ask us if it will work because here's your answer: It won't.

Tell you how to upgrade your Mac. Macs are pretty much non-upgradable. The Mac Pro is the only model that is meant to be opened by an end user and they charge ridiculous amounts of money for cards you can get at reasonable prices for PCs. Some PCs GPUs can have their internal software(called firmware) converted to a mac version, however there can be compatibility issues. In addition, you have to have an intel based Mac and use a program called Bootcamp to allow you to install windows as this is a PC only title. If someone else has some tips on this, I'll post them here once I can verify them. Until then, playing on a Mac is not recommended.

Assume any responsibility for any damage you do to yourself, to anyone else, to your property, or anyone else's property as a result of doing this. In all my years of working with computers I've never heard of an incident involving any form of damage or injury. It doesn't hurt to be safe though so make sure you take all precautions possible and look up guides for everything you can if you don't have experience.

The reason I was waiting to post this:

The specs we've been given are for an Alpha. That means a lot can change between now and the time the game comes out. The suggestions I post will be in my estimation beyond anything you would need to run this game. The chances of it being a vast difference are slim to none, but it's worth mentioning.

Also, technology is always changing. What's top of the line today may be middle of the road next week. So rather than tell you to get something now when we still have a ways to go before the game comes out. It's better to wait to see what comes.

The reason you should wait to buy:

See above.

That said, if you absolutely need a new computer, were trying to get something put together or upgraded soon for other reasons and were looking for answers, or just can't wait: For now this thread is for you.

AGAIN I SUGGEST YOU WAIT AS LONG AS POSSIBLE BEFORE YOU BUY ANYTHING AS I DO NOT WORK FOR SEGA SO I CANNOT HONESTLY GUARANTEE THE FINAL REQUIRED SPECS FOR THE GAME. I CAN ONLY MAKE EDUCATED GUESSES.

Simple terms to remember:

CPU: Central Processing Unit. Also known as a processor

GPU: Graphics Processing Unit. This can be a dedicated unit such as video card or a integrated unit that resides within the CPU.

PSU: Power Supply Unit

HDD: Hard Disk Drive. Also known as a hard drive.

Optical Drive: A device that reads (and possibly writes to) optical media. For example a DVD burner.

OS: Operating System (such as Windows)

RAM: Random Access Memory. The computer uses this for active processes such as open programs like your web browser or a game. Also known as system memory.

VRAM: RAM located on a dedicated GPU. Also known as Video RAM

More to come as needed

Specs for the alpha:

As mentioned before these specs are only for the alpha. What that means is it is a test version of the game before it enters the final testing stage (I know, wtf). It's almost certain the minimum reqs will go up for the finished version of the game, probably not by much, but it's worth noting.

• Spoiler!

  
  o Windows XP 32bit
  o Windows Vista / Windows 7 32bit or 64bit
  o Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 or higher
  o RAM: Windows XP 1.5GB or higher
  o RAM: Windows Vista / Windows 7: 2GB or higher
  o HDD 8GB or higher
  o NVIDIA GeForce 7800GT or similar graphics card or higher
  o DirectX 9.0c or higher
  o Broadband connection

Again these are the minimum requirements for the alpha. Anything lower will not do, anything higher should be just fine if you get an invite to the alpha. I expect the requirements to go up a bit before the game is released, so if you have a 7800 gtx and think you just skated by: think again, cause I'd bet money you'll need something more before PSO2 hits the shelves. At the same time I don't believe they'll go up significantly, and I'd guess that if you have a 9800 GT or better you should be fine at least to run the game on low settings. All the same, the only parts I'll be mentioning here for purchase will exceed even a 9800gt to play it safe. If you buy something below what I mention by name and you end up being unable to run the game, don't blame me.


Useful links:

http://www.newegg.com - Great place to buy PCs and parts. Many items have free 3-day shipping. They are a US only website.

http://www.tigerdirect.com - Not as good as newegg, but reliable and they will match newegg's prices if you call them. Because they are largely tax free due to their only shipping location being in the midwest. US only.

http://www.microcenter.com - Another good store. They have better prices than newegg for CPUs. The downside is their selection is limited and you have to pick up CPUs in the store. The upside is they'll usually match newegg if you're nice, so you save on shipping and have a storefront to return things to if something goes wrong. They are US only and have limited locations, so make sure one is local before you try to place an order.

http://www.amazon.com - You can get just about anything here. if you order components from Amazon, make sure you match your part numbers and try to get only from amazon as opposed to random sellers. Amazon store listings are going to be the more accurate guaranteeing you'll get the part you're looking for.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/gateway-eu - Amazon's EU gateway. This is the only place I've seen that really sells to EU shoppers. Everything else I've been able to find looked unreliable and there are shipping companies you can use to route US purchases to EU, but I am unfamiliar with them so use at your own discretion. EU prices will be higher than US prices, so unfortunately I can't always guarantee a certain price. I will add more EU webstores as they come to my attention.

http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/high_end_gpus.html - lists high end GPUs from high to low in accordance to score. To make it easy, use the find command and type the name as it appears. There are some products that have similar names so you want to make sure you're looking at the right one. To be safe, I suggest you consider upgrading if your GPU is either unlisted or ranks below 900. Laptop GPUs are listed as well.

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/mid_range_cpus.html &
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html - Look for your CPU here. To make it easy, use the find command and type the name as it appears. There are some products that have similar names so you want to make sure you're looking at the right one. The E6300 ranks in at 1115 - the top of the low range list. To be safe, I suggest you consider upgrading if you're below 1500. Laptop CPUs are listed as well.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-...ist.844.0.html - A list of GPUs for Laptops. If you're insisting on a laptop, don't get anything that isn't listed in the top 50.


About GPUs:

Spoiler!

The minimum requirements for the Alpha are an Nvidia GeForce 7800 GT or better. Firstly, "or better" might need some clarification because "or better" does not mean "or newer". While newer cards typically better than older ones, a 9400 GT is not better than 7800 GT. This is because the technology isn't leaps and bounds better and so the difference comes down to what they offer at a certain price point. For example, a brand new GTX560 is going to certainly out perform the GTX460, but a GTX480 will be considerably better than that 560. The 7800 GT features only 256mb of 1000mhz GDDR3 ram with a 256-bit memory interface, and a 400mb core clock. Any high end card today will have a minimum of 512mb, so this is a non-issue. The other numbers like 256-bit memory interface and GDDR3 can be a little confusing and don't tell the whole story as the actual architecture of the GPU is also extremely important. As such I cannot give you any specific numbers to look for. If you're looking for a new card, I provided one that will run the game with 99.99% certainty and Ezo's list has cards that will exceed the alpha's specs for 70 dollars and up. if you're not sure if your current card will work, the 7800GT is just over 5 years old. If your gaming PC (note that I said "gaming") is 3 years old or newer I'd venture a guess and say you're ok. I have some links above that let you see how your GPU stacks up as well as a quick chart if you're curious as to how your GPU will do.

Thanks again to Ezo for providing a reference point for legacy and current GPU series in relation to the alpha specs. Note these are not all cards that will work for sure. This more so you can see what cards absolutely WONT work.

Comparable to the 7800 GT:

Spoiler!

Desktop -

Radeon HD3000 series: HD 3850 or better.
Radeon HD4000 series: HD 4650 DDR3 or better.
Radeon HD5000 series: HD 5550 DDR3 or better.
Radeon HD6000 series: HD 6570 or better.

Geforce 8000 series: 8800 GS or better.
Geforce 9000 series: 9600 GSO or better.
Geforce 200 series: GT 240 or better.
Geforce 400 series: GT 430 or better.
Geforce 500 series: GTX 550 Ti or better (if Nvidia launches a GT530, this will change to GT530 or better).

Laptop-

Radeon HD3000 series: Mobility HD 3850 or better.
Radeon HD4000 series: Mobility HD 4670 or better.
Radeon HD5000 series: HD 5650M or better.
Radeon HD6000 series: HD 6530M or better.

Geforce 8000 series: 8800M GTS or better.
Geforce 9000 series: 9700M GTS or better.
Geforce 100 series: GTS 150M or better.
Geforce 200 series: GTS 250M or better.
Geforce 300 series: GT 335M or better.
Geforce 400 series: GT 435M or better.
Geforce 500 series: GT 540M or better.

About Store-bought Desktops:

Spoiler!

Desktops are very easy to work with. Typically they are easy to open and adding a video card can take very little time. HDDs RAM and GPUs can easily be added and removed as needed and even PSUs can be replaced in a short amount of time. some manufacturers make their cases a little more difficult to get into, but a keen eye and some common sense will get you into the computer quickly and you should be up and running soon.

Buying a brand new desktop, the CPU, RAM and almost everything else will be perfectly fine for gaming. The exceptions to this will be the GPU and PSU unless you buy a computer that is built for gaming. I typically don't suggest this as it's much cheaper to build your own computer meaning you can get something even better for less money.

Store-bought desktops have very low end power supplies as they are not meant to run high end GPUs. You can easily replace the PSU in your current machine to get around this and then install the new GPU.

Store-bought desktops typically have their specs listed on the front of the case. If you don't see the specs, you can look them up at the manufacturer's website by using the model number.

Note: if your CPU ranks too low on the CPU list, do not bother upgrading the computer as it will be a waste of money. You will be better off building/buying a new machine.


This GPU is quite good at 149.99 Not quite as good as the other card I listed, it's very close and at a similar price point and Asus is ranked fairly high within GPUs. I removed the old link because because the 5850 listed before was discontinued and the price for even the reference card has gone way up since then. No longer worth the money. At the time of my posting this, there's a $30 Mail-in-rebate as well so it comes to ~$120 after you get the money back. Good deal.

Corsair's PSUs are some of the best. This PSU will power just about any single GPU you get and will be very reliable. It may seem a little expensive at $74.99 but you don't want to skimp on your PSU and it has a $20 mail in rebate.

About Laptops:

Spoiler!

Laptops are not recommended for gaming as they don't have the same processing power that a desktop does. To get similar computing power to even a 800 dollar gaming rig you'd have to spend more than twice as much for laptop. In addition, they are non-upgradable for the CPU and GPU, and are typically not easy to access to upgrade the HDD and RAM. This means that you're pretty much stuck with it as it is once you buy it. That said I will not be offering suggestions for upgrades or instructions on how to do it.

I will however give you this link:

15.6" Asus laptop w/gtx 460m

This is a nice, fairly inexpensive laptop with a 15.6" screen and far exceeds the specs of the alpha. The GPU included is ranked in the top 30 and anything better than it means spending twice as much for the whole machine. Unless sega does something absolutely crazy, this computer should run PSO2 very well. Asus is also a very good company. If they are out of stock at newegg, try one of the other stores I list.

Brands I suggest avoiding:

Toshiba
Gateway
Dell
Alienware
eMachines
COMPAQ

About Building your own desktop:

The benefits to building your own desktop take many forms. for starters you get to pick every part from start to finish, meaning you know exactly what's in your computer.

In addition, you get to pick your own case allowing you to find something that you like for looks as much as utility. Some cases even have LEDs on the fans and dust filters to keep the inside of your computer clean. The Cases can also have a tool-less design allowing you to put your computer together without ever having to look for a screwdriver.

Because you're installing a fresh OS, there will be no added software that runs when the computer starts up like weird trials or demos trying to sell you products you don't want. This allows the computer to run faster as it reduces the number of background processes.

Building a computer can be rewarding. You'll have a feeling of accomplishment every time you turn the computer on. Whenever you look at it you'll be able to think "I did that."

I personally find putting a computer together fun. You may as well

It's much cheaper than buying one from a store.

I will post several builds that will work well as gaming solutions all but guaranteed to run the game at different price points. Here is a guide to building a computer (NOT WRITTEN BY ME) If you feel like taking this task on. Skip step one as I've gone and done that for you with these lists. Alternatively you can buy the parts and pay someone else to do it, like a knowledgeable cousin, or a local computer store.

Things you will need:

A philips head screwdriver
A large open space like a good sized table
parts (duh)
literacy
steady hands
common sense
needle nose pliers(optional but helpful)

Ezodagrom has a topic with various CPUs and GPUs listed which can be found here. They all meet the minimum for the currently known specs.


Ezo Has also provided a build for a modest gaming rig that can be built for just over $700.00 before tax and shipping.

Spoiler!

CPU- Intel Core i3 2100 3.1GHz -$124.99
Motherboard- MSI P67A-C43 (B3) -$114.99
RAM- GSkill Ripjaws-X 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1600MHz CL9 -$49.99
GPU- Asus Radeon HD5770 CuCore 1GB GDDR5 -$119.99
Optical Drive- Asus 24x DVD Burner -$20.99
HDD- Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200rpm -$59.99
PSU- Corsair CX600W V2 -$74.99
Case- Antec Three Hundred -$59.99
OS- Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit -$99.99

Total: $725.91

Here is a similar build I've devised with a much better video card and CPU for $100 more.

Spoiler!

CPU- Intel Core i5 2400 3.3GHz -$189.99
Motherboard- MSI P67A-C43 (B3) -$114.99
RAM- GSkill Ripjaws-X 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1600MHz CL9 -$49.99
GPU- Asus Radeon HD6850 DirectCU 1GB GDDR5 -$159.99
Optical Drive- Asus 24x DVD Burner -$20.99
HDD- Samsung F3 1TB 7200rpm -$69.99
PSU- SILVERSTONE ST50F-ES 500W -$59.99
Case- COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 -$59.99
OS- Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit -$99.99

Total: $825.91

This is on the semi extreme. This goes beyond standard gaming and into enthusiast. If you've been wanting to throw down some cash and show off your rig: this is your foot in the door. Because of the nature of this build, I'll be listing some extra options. This machine is a little on the expensive side.

Spoiler!

CPU- Intel Core i5 2500k 3.4GHz -$224.99
Motherboard- MSI P67A-C65 (B3) -$179.99
RAM- GSkill Ripjaws-X 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1600MHz CL8 -$109.99
GPU- MSI Radeon Twin Frozr II HD6950 2GB GDDR5 -$289.99
CPU Cooler- Cooler Master Hyper 212+ -$39.99
Optical Drive- Asus 24x DVD Burner -$20.99
HDD- Samsung F3 1TB 7200rpm -$69.99
PSU- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005 -$84.99
Case- Lancool PC-K62 (Tool-less assembly) -$109.99
OS- Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit -$99.99

Total: $1230.90

Notes:

Spoiler!

This is a special build with some fun extra VERY OPTIONAL features.

The i5 2500k can be overclocked and while I won't tell you how to do it, the option is there.
Because of this, it's strongly recommended you use a 3rd Party fan for your CPU hence the Hyper 212+.
I've already added the cpu cooler to the list, but you can buy it for a bit less from Amazon.
I recommend you use the savings to buy a 2nd Fan for the cooler as it can take two on the heatsink.
This will push more air more quickly to better cool the CPU.
A Y-Splitter to connect the fans to the same terminal on the motherboard is strongly recommended.

The 2500k has a big brother which is an i7 CPU. The 2600k for $314.99 is a little faster and uses Hyper Threading(HT).
As a gamer you will get little use out of HT but if you use programs like Adobe CS5, Lame, and HandBrake to name a few, the 2600k will perform much better.

This GPU has a dual fan configuration that keeps it cooler than most cards. this allows you to overclock it with software that is included with the card.

This motherboard also supports multiple GPUs. In order to do this, you'll obviously need a 2nd GPU of the same type.
The advantage of a second card will be minimal right now, but you can always add the card later...say in a few years when it's cheaper.
While many games benefit from this feature, some(though few) actually perform worse so unless you are having performance issues, which you won't anytime soon: Stick with one.

In addition you'll need a more powerful PSU to power the second card. This alternative PSU is modular, allowing you to add and remove cables to make cables more manageable and reduce clutter within the case.
If you think you might want to add a card later, it doesn't hurt to get this PSU anyway.

The case listed here does not require any tools. You won't even need a screw driver to put it all together.
The case has a side window that allows you to see the inside of the case.
The case has 4 quiet blue LED fans cause it to glow blue in certain spots.
The case's top and front grill act as dust filters to keep dust from gathering inside.
The grills can easily be removed to be washed under a faucet when they collect too much dust.
Since you can see the inside of the case, it might be fun to put LED fans on the CPU cooler. I can recommend some if anyone is interested. Make sure to get 2. If you choose this option, you can avoid getting the 2nd fan I mentioned, but you would still need the hyper 212+ and Y-splitter.

I recommend getting some Arctic Silver 5 thermal compound. This is a compound that sits between the CPU and the heatsink and allows the CPU to transfer heat more quickly to better keep it cool. The Hyper 212+ has some applied on it already, but the Arctic Silver 5 is better and if you make a mistake you have some extra just in case. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe the CPU and heatsink clean.

Lastly, Newegg currently has a combo deal with the CPU and ram I listed. Click here to add the RAM and 2500k CPU as one item and save $28 or here to get the 2600k and save $30

Here it is: This is a requested balls out super high end build. Based on the enthusiast build listed above, this takes all of that and step everything up to the extreme. This is not a maxed out computer, but puts you in a position for it. It includes faster RAM, an incredibly powerful motherboard, a massive PSU to support up the 3 extremely high performance video cards, and one of the best CPUs and GPUs available while still affording you flexibility and expansion. This build will be screaming fast and play even the most demanding games at well over 60fps PLUS you'll still be able to overclock everything to really get the most out of your computer.

This machine features a Solid State drive(SSD) which is like a giant flash drive. It's silent, runs cool, has better longevity than a normal HDD and is extremely fast. It's limited by its capacity though, so only put your OS and a few choice games on it. This will increase overall performance while leaving your computer less vulnerable to dying due to a failed HDD. This build also includes an extremely High performance 2TB HDD to store music movies and games on. Every plus option aside from multiple GPUs and extra HDDs and RAM from the enthusiast build is included and as an added feature, this one comes with a Bluray burner. The motherboard can take up to 32GB of RAM. This requires 8GB DIMMs which as far as I know do not exist yet. For now I recommend you use 8GB Total and expand later as needed.

Unfortunately due to the size of the motherboard, the options for cases are limited but I picked out one of the best on the market.

As of right now, this is as future proof as it gets.

Spoiler!

CPU- Intel i7 2600k 3.4ghz -$314.99
Motherboard- Asus Maximus IV Extreme eATX -$364.99
CPU Cooler- Cooler Master Hyper 212+ -$39.99
Addiional CPU Fans- Cooler Master 120mm Red LED Case Fan -$8.99 x2 (The hyper 212+ comes with a fan which you will not be using.)
Y splitter for the fans- Rosewill 12" Fan Power Y-Splitter -$2.99
Thermal Compound - Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound -$11.99
RAM- G.Skill Ripjaw X Series 8GB (2x4) DDR3 1866 CL9 - $124.99
GPU- MSI N580GTX Lightning GeForce GTX 580 -$525.99
SSD- Crucial RealSSD C300 2.5" 128GB -$237.49
HDD- Western Digital Caviar Black 2TB 7200RPM -$159.99
Optical Drive- Sony Black Blu-ray Burner -$109.99
Case- Cooler Master HAF-942 Full Tower -$189.99
PSU- Corsair Professional Series AX1200 1200w -$279.99
OS- Windows 7 Professional 64-bit -$129.99

Total: $2511.34

Note: You can add up to 2 more GPUs. They must be the same model to be linked, but offer extreme performance in most games. You can also add another 2 sticks of RAM to get up to 16GB total system memory. You'll have plenty of room for extra HDDs/SSDs as needed.

If someone else posts a sensible build, I'll probably add it here. I'm looking to add one that will just barely exceed the minimum specs for the cheapskates. Obviously since we don't have the final specs the cheap-o one will take a while. these prices do not include monitors, speakers, keyboard or mouse as I assume if you already have a computer you have all these. I will however recommend a few monitors and a keyboard and mouse if you need them.


About PSUs:

Power supplies, as has been said before are the heart of your computer. They provide power to your entire system. A low wattage power supply is unable to adequately power a high end GPU and multiple devices.

The results of this can be catastrophic. Best case scenario you blow out the PSU, worst case scenario your CPU and GPU get damaged from erratic power surges or you could even fry your computer.

For this reason, it's important when upgrading your computer to make sure you have a PSU that can adequately power your computer. the minimalist GPUs in a computer don't take much wattage at all and you can easily skate by on a 300w PSU. However Higher end cards can range from 150-250 watts on their own and moreso if you overclock them. That means that you HAVE to get a new PSU if you're adding a performance videocard to a storebought rig and it's strongly recommended that you get a 600w PSU or better if you're building your own.

In addition, PSUs will degrade in capacity over time and with use. So while a PSU may be able to do the work when you first buy it, after a year of usage, that 600w PSU may only be able to provide 530-550w Make sure if you use a PSU calculator that you have it calculate capacitor aging of at least 20% into the final total. I prefer 30% to play it safe. Note that all the rigs I list have had these figures take into acount and still allow for additional HDDs and such to be added with no worry of overloading the system with the included GPU.

Lastly, not all PSUs are the same. Not every company uses quality parts. Sometimes this is reflected in the price, sometimes it's not. DO NOT BUY A CHEAP PSU. They draw way more power than they have to which will run up your electric bill and they are unstable and unreliable which can result in the same thing as having bought a PSU with low wattage. Make sure you buy a PSU with a single 12v rail and that it's ATX/EPS compatible as well as 80+ certified (bronze, silver and gold are even better). I personally like Corsair PSUs. their TX, HX and AX series are top of the line. Other good companies are Seasonic, enermax, xclio, and PC power and cooling. It should be noted that Corsair gets their PSUs from seasonic, so you can't go wrong with either.

Monitors:

Bare in mind the larger the monitor, the harder the video card has to work to provide a steady frame rate. I don't recommend using a screen larger than 24 for gaming unless you're using a high end card like the HD6950

Spoiler!

Asus 19" 1440x900 5ms LED VE198D Monitor -$104.99

Asus 21.5" 1920x1080 5ms LED VE228H Monitor -$159.99

Asus 24" 1920x1080 2ms LED VE248H Monitor -$199.99

Asus 27" 1920x1080 2ms LED VK278Q Monitor w/2mp Adjustable Webcam -$349.99

Keyboard:

Spoiler!

Logitech K200 -$19.99

Mouse:

Spoiler!

Logitech MX518 -$37.99

About Macs:

Spoiler!

Apple computers switched their CPUs from PowerPC to Intel based processors a while back.

Here comes a volley of good news bad news.

The first bit of bad news is this does not mean you can just start running windows programs and this game has a better chance of coming out for iphone than it does for MacOS

The good news is intel based processors means you can install windows and run windows on your mac giving you full access to the platform. This uses a program called bootcamp located in your utilities folder which is located in your applications folder which should be on your main HD (named Macintosh HD by default). From there you can switch between MacOS and windows at will. There are even some programs you can buy that allow you to run windows based games on your mac with limited support, but they have to add support for the game which may or may not happen.

The other bit of bad news is you still have to meet the minimum system requirements and Macs are notorious for having sub-par video cards. As of right now, The newest Mac Mini is unable to run the alpha, as is the newest macbook, macbook air and even some of the Macbook Pros.

There is a weird break in the design spec for the Macbook Pro, however as they last two break away from integrated graphics and use a dedicated GPU. The 15" 2.2ghz and the 17" Macbook Pro use a Radeon 6750M GPU, will run the alpha, and in my best guess run the finished version of the game just fine. All of the current iMacs should be fine, as will all current Mac Pros.

Because I am unfamiliar with the software that enables PC games in MacOS, I cannot advise it. You'll be using it at your own risk. I have however used boot camp and was able to get PSU to run on a 13" macbook from 2005 on low settings. There was some frame loss, but it was entirely playable. Because of that, I can recommend bootcamp. You'll need a version of windows to install. Windows XP, Vista 32-bit/64-bit, and 7 32-bit/64-bit are all supported. No other versions of Windows are supported at this time and since PSO2 doesn't support any other versions, this point is fairly moot.

NOTE: Due to the nature of 32-bit archetecture, only 4GB total memory(INCLUDING VRAM) can be allocated in 32-bit version of windows. Because of this, I strongly recommend a 64-bit version of windows 7. You can get an OEM copy from newegg for $99.99.




For those of you with older Macs:

If it's a G5 or lower, you cannot use Bootamp, you must have an intel based processor.
If you don't know what type of processor or GPU you have, here are some simple instructions:

Click on the Apple Menu located in the top left

Click "About this mac"

A window will appear that will show you the type and speed of your CPU as well as how much ram you have.

From this "about" window click the button that says "more info"

A larger system profile window with all of your specs will pop up.

On the left side is a list of different profiles. Open the hardware list and find the item that says "graphics/displays." click it

On the right side, information regarding your GPU including the model will be listed.

And there you go

All of the parts will appear somewhere on the list of CPUs/GPUs. Hit command (apple key) in your web browser and type the name of your CPU/GPU as it appears in your system profile - for example if the GPU is a Mobility Radeon HD 5850, that's what you type. If your GPU doesn't appear on the GPU list, your GPU is not powerful enough. if your CPU does not appear on one of the tewo CPU lists, it is not powerful enough.

All other specs must meet the minimums that Sega requires. 1GB of Apple memory is not the equivalent of 2GB of PC memory, so make sure you have everything.

I can't help you with bootcamp as I do not own a Mac anymore. I don't have a way of testing this stuff so I can only tell you what I know and the rest will be up to your google-fu. If I can find a good guide, I'll try to post it, but Apple is pretty good about making their software idiot proof.


Some quick tips:

When installing windows, Bootcamp will partition your HDD making a section permanently available only to windows. Once this is done, it cannot be undone without deleting Windows and everything within the partition, so keep that in mind.

I recommend setting aside at lest 100GB of your HDD for Windows. Windows 7 wants at least 20GB on its own, PSO2 will undoubtedly take up at least 10GB and likely much more as we get new content. Plus it's always good to have 10-20gb of open space on a HDD to allow data to be moved and for virtual memory to do its thing.

Bootcamp will make windows drivers for all your mac components, but last I checked you needed to have a blank CD, a flash drive would not do. Make sure you have one available.

Bootcamp can take a while to do its thing. if it looks like it hung up for a minute, give it some time as force quitting can make a section of your HDD unavailable unless you reformat or have special utility software.

About Alienware:

Alienware was bought by dell some years back, assuming their level of quality control and dell's notorious proprietary parts. While you can still install a new GPU in a dell, they overcharge for sub par parts and quite simply you aren't getting the best you can for your money. The best example I can give is my computer cost me less than $1200 to build and it's all around better than a $2000 alienware. You're paying for a brand name - and not a very good one.
More to come soon.

Note about Windows, 64 bit OSes and RAM:

In 32-bit OSes such as Windows XP, memory addressing is unable to use over 4GB of RAM. What this means is if you have 4GB of RAM and 1GB of VRAM, the system will only see 3GB of RAM. In order to use that last GB or ram you need to use a 64-bit OS such as Windows 7 64-bit. As such all builds I will suggest and all computers you buy from a store will come with Windows 7 64-bit. The downside to a 64-bit OS is that some older devices may not be supported and 16-bit programs (such as very old games) will not run. There are some work-arounds for this so feel free to ask if you're unsure. Basically if the game ran in windows 98 or before, it won't work natively in a 64-bit environment. Plan for this accordingly.

On a side note there are 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows Vista and Windows 7. Make sure you get the right one.

If you have any questions, I'll do my best to answer them within reason. Hope this helps.