Beta build and graphics requirements.

[SinsWage]

Thanks for the enthusastic response spychi. I can go as high as 2500 U.S. for the machine alone. I'm all set on monitors and H.I.D. so fire away once we have a solid idea of what we'll need.

Also I admit I am sort of partial to having my computer built for me rather than doing it myself. I like the assurance of knowing if it doesn't work it's not my problem, but if making my own will save hundreds of dollars I'll do it that way.

[Gifted]

Well, I've found that local companies who build computers will actually give you the computer for very small labor costs (a few near me give no labor) and provide a 1 year warrenty. This is because it's typically better for the customer than them walking in with parts saying "What did I do?"

This information does NOT pertain to the brand names and electronic stores (Best buy, walmart, hp, dell, etc)

[SinsWage]

Thanks for that advice Gifted. I know of a highly recommended local comp shop here in metro Detroit that I will go visit.

[Gifted]

I suggest actually calling them and asking about the labor cost and turnaround for them building it. Then go on their website and... for lack of a better term... "play".

[spychi]

Before that
no LCD, keybord, mouse needed right?
2500$ k
will do

i7-860
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...-214-_-Product
and:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...-014-_-Product
P55 Asus Deluxe
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-400-_-Product

GPU 5870 from Sapphire Vapor-X cooling technolgy
stock cooling is never good for anything, as a Overclocker I know that very well
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-872-_-Product
or
Sapphire 5870
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-856-_-Product
or
Powercolor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-336-_-Product
or
XFX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-476-_-Product
I recommend to stick with the Sapphire
Don't go nVidia it's not worth your money right now, the new 5870 GPU outperforms the GTX285 with ease or even GTX295 in some tests, plust he eye-candy DX11 is also only used by ATI
GTX285 and GTX295 is way too much expensive for what they have
if nVidia won't bring anything new with the GTX4** series than the GeForce series will fail a bit, I hope that they will dazzle me at the release

Corsair Dominator 4GB DDR3 1600MHz 2x2GB
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...-265-_-Product

plus you could buy a fan kit to that memory
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...-001-_-Product

OCZ StealthXtreme

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16817341010
Cooler Master Stom Scout
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...-196-_-Product
or

Antec Twelve Hundred
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-043-_-Product

Sound Card Asus Xonar
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-014-_-Product
Western Digital 640GB 32MB cache

CPU cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-018-_-Product
however it's not at newegg anymore
if you can find it buy it
if you think it's too much expensive than this should fit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ctua%20NH-U12P
3rd best CPU cooler in terms of performance/cooling technology/price - very very quiet

[TwoTimer]

Yeah, the local stores > big box stores. On the specs, I assume anything that was widely available only a few years ago around announcement time would do fine. Its foolish that a rig only available after announcement would be needed to play this. Again, I still feel it in the end will be lower than what many think.

[spychi]

Yeah, the local stores > big box stores. .

well not in my country...
it's the other way around

[SinsWage]

I'm assuming that blizzard is not going for the insane gamer market. Just like wow they are going to want people who are in the middle as far as pc performance goes to be able to play. I may have 2500 to play with but that doesn't mean I'm spending it just because I can. I'll wait, impatiently, for the specs and go from there.

[RedPineApple]

Heya,

Like the others have stated, getting a custom built PC with a fresh operating system w/o bloat ware is your best bet.

Its hard to say what the final reqs. will end up being, but I guess we will find out in a few days.

But if you are looking for a nice system with bang for your buck, consider an E8400 and see if you can find someone trust worthy of overclocking it to 4.0ghz. Obviously you would need a zalman or some sort of pro cooling system on your processor dock. Also, Ballistix and Dominator RAM is a solid choice. As far as video goes, the GTX 275 isn't set at a bad price at the moment. I don't think you will need to have your own personal SKYnet to max out SC2.

Also keep in mind that an RTS like SC2 is going to pull more from your Processor / RAM. So I would recommend a 64-bit OS so that your system can recognize more then 3GB of RAM. That way if you drop in like 6GB of DDR3 you won't have any stutters or lag strokes.

But, with that being said, I myself am hoping I will be able to pull of SC2 at Max settings. Right now im sporting...

ASUS P5N-D w/ E8400 @ 4.0GHZ
4 gig of Ballistix DDR2 RAM
Raptor HD 300GB
Geforce GTX 280

[flak4321]

Hopefully they will go for the middle of the road specs wise. I bought a new computer last March partially in anticipation of SC2 but also because I needed a machine with more than 250 mb of Ram. Now I have 2 gig w/ a dual core processor (2.25 gig) and a 3200 HD vid card (it does play WoW, a friend bought the same HP computer the same day). If this don't work, I'm SOL.

The only downside to my machine really is that Vista critter.