My PC is terrible

[DZComposer]

With a computer that age and with those specs, I'd just get a new one. Finding compatible upgrade parts today will be difficult and expensive.

A lower rage Dell Insprion 500 series machine will run around $350, and exceeds BC2's minimum requirements, albeit barely. You'd need to upgrade the graphics card, though, so that will add a bit to the price. If you're willing to spend a little more, a Studio XPS machine that will run it without additional customization will run you about $500.

Upgrading that machine would require a new motherboard (I highly doubt you can easily find a CPU that will fit your mobo, and if you do it will be old stock of older model CPUs), power supply (250W won't cut it, plus modern mobos have more power connectors that an older PSU may not provide), CPU, memory (current spec is DDR3, that machine likely has DDR1), and likely a new hard drive (SATA). This assumes that the case isn't a proprietary design and the mobo you buy has at least 1 PATA rail for your CD/DVD drive(s). You'd spend about the same amount of money if not more upgrading the machine. Of course at this point you practically have a new machine anyway.

BC2 does tax your graphics card a bit. I have a machine with a triple-core CPU and 4 gigs RAM that choked a bit on that game with an older GeForce GPU (though, in honestly, I did push the settings a bit). I have since upgraded my vidcard, but I haven't played BC2 since the upgrade. Borderlands runs well, though.

Also, you got that game to run on Win98? You'd need Windows 7 for best performance (XP is getting hard to find), and solo licenses for it  can outcost that new Dell. (*sigh* I remember the days when building actually saved you money)

Of course you don't have to go with Dell. You can find a decent machine for that price from most manufacturers. Or you can build if you feel up to it. I like to build because I know what is going into the machine, and I'll get exactly what I want. But, if that isn't important to you, find a machine you like from an OEM.

Experience. I'm a Cisco certified IT technitian.

CCNA's always think they know everything because they know how to use a Cisco command line. In the end they just know routers.

Just kidding, of course. 

I'll probably end up getting a CCNA myself after I finish-up my degree. I also want MCITP (Microsoft) and RHCE (Red Hat Linux). Maybe OCA (Oracle), but I don't know if I like databases THAT much. I just wish those courses and exams weren't so damn expensive. Seriously, some of them cost more than a semester of tuition where I am currently going for a degree.

I need to improve my Linux proficiency before I go for that RHCE, though. I can power-user Linux, but I still find myself all over forums when doing sysadmin stuff on Linux.

[Arashikage]

I didn't get it to run on windows 98.  I have windows 7 which my computer should not be running at all.  But it actually makes it (slightly) faster

[Sabre]

Ill not quote to save your screens.

Fana. I think I know what's happening here. Symantics. What you described as an overhaul I would consider a new machine with salvage. For me, motherboard and CPU are the core compents and most of the rest is simple accessories I would consider upgrades. In my mind, when you replace a significant amount of the machine then I consider that a new machine.

DZ. Seriously, you'r right. When I got it I didn't know buggery, and I still hate networks because I cant work them properly. However, it carries more waight then saying AVCE (a now obsolete british qualification that, in this case, took 3 years to get.) or any other intalized computer tech certificates I have. While I personally find it useless, it carries alot of favour in job aplications and people simply understand it better.

Basicly, it's a name drop that tells people I am (was) a professional and thus know what I'm talking about.

[Fana McCloud]

Fana. I think I know what's happening here. Symantics. What you described as an overhaul I would consider a new machine with salvage. For me, motherboard and CPU are the core compents and most of the rest is simple accessories I would consider upgrades. In my mind, when you replace a significant amount of the machine then I consider that a new machine.

Well regardless of the semantics of it all, you said that changing the motherboard or CPU wasn't worth the bother and that you'd be better off with a new system, and I'd tend to disagree. I think taking an hour of my life to install a mobo or CPU is worth avoiding the possibly unnecessary cost of a new system (I've had motherboards fry on me, so I've had to swap them out simply to have a working machine) - especially when you're eating ramen a lot.

[Nova]

$20 a day 3 days(Ish) a week shal be suffice for a long term payment plan for an alienwarez from dell. You can get an orgasmic computer for about $80 a month.

google ALIENWARE by Dell.  :)

[Nova]

Experience. I'm a Cisco certified IT technitian.

I lol'ed.... Oh bby you know how to turn on a computer in comparison to what I know/and am able to do.

Noob. <3

["User"]

$20 a day 3 days(Ish) a week shal be suffice for a long term payment plan for an alienwarez from dell. You can get an orgasmic computer for about $80 a month.

google ALIENWARE by Dell. 

No point in doing something like this IMO because it ends up to be a sh*tload more money in the 2 or 3 years your lease goes for.  It's much better financially to just save up the money and buy new instead.

I lol'ed.... Oh bby you know how to turn on a computer in comparison to what I know/and am able to do.

Noob. <3

I'd have to say that, despite your age, you know far more then most computer people I know.  Too bad it has to be in departments like program hacking, unscrupulous use of things like C++ and Java, and pirating all sorts of software.  

[Sabre]

I lol'ed.... Oh bby you know how to turn on a computer in comparison to what I know/and am able to do.

Noob. <3

Yes, but unlike you I can get paid for turning a computer off and on. :P

[Nova]

No point in doing something like this IMO because it ends up to be a sh*tload more money in the 2 or 3 years your lease goes for.  It's much better financially to just save up the money and buy new instead.

Well, its a payment plan... you end up paying like 8% more, but you get it nao.

Impatient gamerz wants it naaoooooo

Yes, but unlike you I can get paid for turning a computer off and on.

Yea, I plan to work in the IT feild some day... For now, Its a hobby.

["User"]

Well, its a payment plan... you end up paying like 8% more, but you get it nao.

Impatient gamerz wants it naaoooooo

It's a heck of a lot higher than 8%...furthermore I'm not going to want to continue paying for a computer near the end of my lease if it's already more or less out of date.  >_>

[Guest Julius Quasar]

Heck, I dunno Jack S*** about computers. 

My stupid good for nothing schools never taught us how to use them.  :facepalm:

[DZComposer]

DZ. Seriously, you'r right. When I got it I didn't know buggery, and I still hate networks because I cant work them properly. However, it carries more waight then saying AVCE (a now obsolete british qualification that, in this case, took 3 years to get.) or any other intalized computer tech certificates I have. While I personally find it useless, it carries alot of favour in job aplications and people simply understand it better.

Basicly, it's a name drop that tells people I am (was) a professional and thus know what I'm talking about.

I agree, actually. Certs are mostly meaningless. But, that's what employers want these days. Even a degree is no substitute for them.

$20 a day 3 days(Ish) a week shal be suffice for a long term payment plan for an alienwarez from dell. You can get an orgasmic computer for about $80 a month.

google ALIENWARE by Dell. 

1. I would only finance a computer if I can get it for no interest. Why pay interest on something for over three years that will be a piece of junk by the time you pay it off? Dell Financial's minimum interest rate is ~20%. I consider that rate usury, and if you don't have great credit you could pay as much as 40%.

2. Alienware is overpriced. I bought a laptop recently. I wanted one that could handle games, so naturally I looked into Alienware. In the end, I got a Studio XPS line machine that was significantly more powerful than the Alienware of similar price (Quad Core i7 with 4gigs RAM, the similarly priced Alien was a Dual Core i5 with 3 gigs RAM). You're paying a premium for a glowing alien head and a customized nameplate. If you're gonna spend that much, you may as well get better hardware with it.

That XPS laptop is great. It has handled everything I have thrown at it thus far without flinching. I don't regret not going Alien.