So... my laptop is almost four and a half years of age at this point, and he's (sorry, I tend to personify my important electronics by giving them names and, in hand, the presumed gender of said name) been... well... not doing too well when it concerns new games, which is a little disappointing when I'm playing co-op games with friends, or even just wanting some leisurely time to myself to play something like... Dead Island or Assassin's Creed: Revelations.

My laptop is an Alienware Area 51 m9750... so... older model is running a bit slow these days. I would still like to keep him for work... like writing, or doing art related projects since he still has no problem with that.

That out of the way... are there any suggestions that users would have as to parts for building a desktop computer designed for gaming? I'm mostly looking for video and sound cards that are of rather decent quality. However, if anyone at all has good suggestions for other computer parts, I'm all ears. I'm really just looking for something that's... affordable -- especially in this economy and how hard it is to hold onto money. > u >;;

Thank you in advance!

Thanks, though I'm not really looking for a 'build it yourself Alienware' -- or even a pre-built Alienware at all. They're way cool, make no mistake. o: However, my Alienware was a gift when I was younger, and I really don't have the funds for getting another Alienware at the moment... which is why I added, "I'm really just looking for something that's... affordable -- especially in this economy and how hard it is to hold onto money."

@Liftylym

The ratings I see for the Radeon cards are pretty awesome, I must admit. o: Thanks! I'll definitely look into getting one of those for a biy computer. The RAM is definitely something I'm going to have to improve upon once my fiance and I get parts for a new computer. Running off this computer just really doesn't cut it anymore.

@gogeta135

H-heh... well... mine doesn't even compare to that, to be honest. It's at 2GB of RAM. So... he's kind of struggling here and there when it comes to the high quality aspect of things. My computer's really just in need of a break from gaming and needs to settle on written documents or art stuff. Haha. Thanks for the advice, though! I'll definitely keep all of that in mind, and see what I can find in regards to those kinds of specs. It may be a little hard to not go for AMD -- mostly because my step mother works there; so if I can get good parts from her that she brings back from work, then I really don't have a right to complain. XD

@SCP-Mr.Stewl.

I would... but I'm not really sure how to tune or upgrade a laptop, to be honest. I know my parents and some of my friends that are tech savvy have said that it's possible... however, even a lot of those tech savvy friends say that it's probably just better to get a new laptop, if that's what I was going for. I was toying with the idea of looking into it, too. Though... if it ends up being that I actually can't get parts for a new desktop gaming computer, I'll definitely go ahead and look into seeing what I can do about upgrading my current laptop into something a little more better.

@karlsanada10

Thanks for the offer, though... I actually live in Texas. I think shipping fees and other things would boost that price right up. XD;; My fiance is already experienced with building his own computers, tho -- as is my father, and my step father. I'm sure that once parts are bought and actually in our possession, we'll be able to manage. :3

@MrRundi

Thank you~! My fiance and I have been going through parts that users have suggested, and listing the ones we liked so far. We'll definitely give those parts a looksee as well.

I'll probably be posting, at some point, what the specs on the newly built computer is once it's up. So definitely thanks to everyone here that's been willing to help out and lend some advice. It's been very helpful so far! Let's just hope that my fiance and I can come to getting a nice build sometime in the near future. XD