I currently have a 4 year old computer that has done great but it definitely isn't a gaming computer. I never had much of a problem with this because I only write and watch YouTube videos on this computer. Now I have gotten into gaming and I have recently grown interest in Minecraft and I would like to play the new(est) SImcity. I have played Minecraft and I play on the lowest settings and I still lag a lot and find it impossible to play. What exactly do you need to allow a game to run smoothly? Simcity is the most graphic heavy game I will be playing (these two games will possibly be the only games I will play on it), I won't be playing any sort of games like COD because I play those games my Playstation.
I would like to know the absolute minimum hardware I will need so when I go to buy a new system I know what I need. My uncle also works on computers for a living so if I would need to add anything to a computer he could do that for me.
Added (1). I actually have 3GB of RAM, I'm pretty certain it is the video card that is causing the freezing. I was wondering if buying a whole new system would be better but if a $50 - $100 fix would suffice then that would be great.
Added (2). @MArk I actually have a huge computer case that is around the same size as this comouter: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7246656&CatId=1510
It is just filled with junk parts that still work. I could always build a computer with that. I also just bought a mechanical keyboard and I already have a copy of Windows 7 and Windows 8. Is everything on this list really needed? Could some of these parts be down graded?