Help on buying Oblivion

Alright, first off, I'm a computer noob, so help me out here:

I'm gonna get an HP windows vista in like 2 weeks or so, and i'm also thinking about buying oblivion.  My question is, is this setup good to play Oblivion:

HP m8000e with 20 inch screen

AMD Athlon(TM) 64 X2 5200+ dual-core - 2.6GHz

2GB DDR2-667MHz dual channel SDRAM (2x1024

128MB NVIDIA GeForce 7350LE

 So will oblivion play well on this?  Or should i buy it for my 360  (42 in. HD w/surround sound)

again, i'm a computer gaming n00b (only real pc games i've played are MoH: Allied Assault and Star Wars: Battlefront 2), so i don't know if this setup is great or terrible.  thanks in advance.

Thats a really good computer except one thing, the video card is a peice of crap. I'd recomend getting a computer with a 7900 or higher. You could get it for the same price if you got a slightly slower processor or something.

So your recommending something like the

512mb Nvidia geforce 7900 GTX?

so is that something i can buy and install, or would i have to get a computer that already comes with it?

well it really depends on what is inside your computer, and with a brand name PC chances are your warranty goes out the window with that sort of modification. You could always build your own (or get somebody to build it for a small fee) at a much lower cost with a great graphics card.

Just checked the specs for that comp, seems to have a PCI-E slot so you can just pop in a PCI-E graphics card and you would be good to go, assuming a)psu they supply is adequate and b) it fits in the case. Which then brings me back to build your own

Good gaming PC for $800, exc monitor. here 

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,2100159,00.asp

If you can't do that then it might just be easier to get if for your 360

Great setup except for one thing: the video card.

A 7350LE is about the lowest-end card that prebuilts come with.  Ideally you should get nothing lower than a 7600 GT.  I have a 7600 and its great.  If you cant upgrade it, dont worry; a 7600 sells for about 90 dollars right now, and I think even 7900s sel for less than 200 dollars.

okay... so i got a few more questions:

1)  Where can i purchase an Nvidia 7600, and how hard is it to install?

2)  How well would oblivion (or any other game, for that matter) show up on the 7350LE verses the 7600?

3)  If for some reason i can't get the 7600 in, should i just buy it for the 360?

"Just checked the specs for that comp, seems to have a PCI-E slot so you can just pop in a PCI-E graphics card and you would be good to go, assuming a)psu they supply is adequate and b) it fits in the case."

So is a PCI-E a certain type of graphics card or what?  Sorry, i'm a real computer gaming n00b

Since you have Vista with Direct X 10 I would reccomend a 8600GT instead of a 7600GT which is directx 9 card.

Bellow is a link for an XFX 8600GT it cost $170

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150229

So is a PCI-E a certain type of graphics card or what? Sorry, i'm a real computer gaming n00b

rbush101a

Sorry I should have made that clearer. PCI-E is the interface between the motherboard and the graphics card, PCI-E is the newest. AGP is older but there are still a few cards around just not many in the future. 

okay... so i got a few more questions:

1)  Where can i purchase an Nvidia 7600, and how hard is it to install?

2)  How well would oblivion (or any other game, for that matter) show up on the 7350LE verses the 7600?

3)  If for some reason i can't get the 7600 in, should i just buy it for the 360?

rbush101a

1.  I suggest newegg.com for whatever hardware purchases.  7600GT's go for about 100-120 dollars now, yet you can usually get 20 dollars rebates.  Shipping is also very fast, and they have AAA customer service.  Installation is basically a three step process: shut off computer and remove side panel; remove current graphics card and insert new card; replace side panel, turn on computer, and install drivers (drivers can be found online, which is prefferable imo, or on the CD that came with the card).

2.  On the 7300 series, I think you might be able to run the game at 800x600 with med-high settings, and 1024x768 with medium low settings.  I have a 7600GT and can run the game at 1600x1050 (widescreen!) with med-high settings, and that is with the highly-demanding texture packs and visual mods installed.  HDR on and shadows set to low.

3.  No, I dont think you should get it for the 360.  Why?  Well, the mods add a huge amount of replayability to the game and the controls are better imo, and frankly a 7600GT wont give you any problems.  And thruthfully, the game is fun enough so even if it looks like "crap", it will still be fun enough to overcome any visual flaws.

Just my two cents.

So, even if i have vista, i don't really need the 8600gt, do i?

(n00b question alert)   also, which of these 7600GT's is the better one???

http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-e-GeForce-7600GT-PCIe-Video/dp/B000KUYYAM/ref=sr_1_1/104-3666910-4887950?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1177892025&sr=8-1

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150185

or are they the same?