Before buying any new hardware, try the software out on your old computer and see how it works.
Follow the
Optimizing Performance section of the user's manual to determine if you need a new
computer or upgrade.
Laptop:
Asus G51J
A nice laptop for a good price. We have one of these in the office and are very happy with its
performance. There is a more expensive 3d version available, but skip it for the base model linked
below:
Asus G51J Overview
Purchase from CompUSA
Summary:
$1,299.99
Intel Core i7 720 QM
Nvidia GTS 360M
320gb Hard Drive
4GB RAM
Desktop:
Dell Studio XPS 9000
A good desktop from dell. Do not worry about the Dell recommended upgrades as some of them
actually make the computer worse. You will want 6 gigs of ram, the Core i7 920, any size hard drive
you want and upgrade the video card to an ATI Radeon 5770.
Dell Studio XPS 9000
Summary:
$1,209
Intel Core i7 920
ATI Radeon 5770 (you must choose this in customization)
6GB Tri-Channel ram
500GB Hard Drive
Desktop Video Card Upgrade Only:
ATI Radeon 5770
If you already have a good desktop (Intel Core 2 Duo or higher) that has a PCI Express x16 slot in it,
you can upgrade just the video card. This card offers the best performance for price and is a modern
DirectX 11 card that should work well into the future. As far as what brand, just buy the cheapest
one they are all the same.
ATI Radeon 5770 List
Cost:
~$180.00
Picking out something yourself:
You can also pick out any other computer you might want. Since it will be a new machine we
recommend the following hardware for optimal performance.
Desktop:
Intel Core i5 or Core i7 Quad Core
4GB or more of RAM
ATI Radeon 5770 or better video card
Laptop:
Intel Core i7 QM 720
4gb or more of RAM
Any of the "Class 1" or "Class 2" video cards on this list ignoring any that are listed as SLI or X2.
Video Card Comparison List
Hard drive size for either is optional, depending on your other needs.
We also recommend Windows 7 and will work fine in any version (Home Premium, Professional,
Ultimate).