Gaming on a Budget.

[Genocidicbunny]

Looking at my back account balance, I've decided its high time to start thinking about a new comp. Being the miser than I am though, I want to spend the minimal amount possible ( aka, under 1000$, and preferably below 750$). Now I do want this rig to last at least a year with high settings for games, and 2 or 3 overall.

I was thinking of a higher-end AMD chip, such as a 6000+ or 6400+. I know, it seems that I should be getting an intel chip or a more powerful Phenom, but bear in mind, a difference of 5% doesn't matter much to me. I do not wish to spend more than 200$ for a processor and since Im not a heavy gamer, I do not really have a need to have the newest, fastest processor.

As for gfx, this is where I would splurge a bit. I would love to have the 8800 GT, or maybe soon if nVidia releases a similarly priced 9 series card, one of those.

I do have all peripherals, so all I really need is mobo, cpu, gfx card and PSU. A cpu cooler suggestion would be appreciated though. The other small stuff ( case fans, thermal paste, small stuff like that ) I can find by myself.

 

[Zelig]

I do have all peripherals, so all I really need is mobo, cpu, gfx card and PSU. A cpu cooler suggestion would be appreciated though. The other small stuff ( case fans, thermal paste, small stuff like that ) I can find by myself.

Need RAM?

Do you have any reason to need to use a 32-bit OS?

And what country do you live in?

 

[t0mme]

As for gfx, this is where I would splurge a bit. I would love to have the 8800 GT, or maybe soon if nVidia releases a similarly priced 9 series card, one of those.

If you want an 8800, bear in mind that the power supplied by the slot you put it in is not enough. For instance, the Asus 8800GT requires a PSU with at least 2 PCIx power connectors. That combination might blow your budget. Might.

 

[Speedo]

I was thinking of a higher-end AMD chip, such as a 6000+ or 6400+. I know, it seems that I should be getting an intel chip or a more powerful Phenom, but bear in mind, a difference of 5% doesn't matter much to me. I do not wish to spend more than 200$ for a processor and since Im not a heavy gamer, I do not really have a need to have the newest, fastest processor.

Something like an E6750 can be had for about $180, and is much more than 5% faster than a 6400+.

As for gfx, this is where I would splurge a bit. I would love to have the 8800 GT, or maybe soon if nVidia releases a similarly priced 9 series card, one of those.

512MB 8800GTs can be had for $200 or so when on sale/after rebates. It's too good of a deal to pass up - I just got an MSI one myself.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Need RAM?

Do you have any reason to need to use a 32-bit OS?

And what country do you live in?

I do need the ram yes.

I'll stick with XP for now so if over budget, I can go with 2 gigs of ram for the time being.

I live in the US.

 

[Zelig]

AMD setup:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103773
A-DATA 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 800: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211066
ASUS M3A: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131234
MSI NX8800GTS-T2D512E GeForce 8800GTS: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127323
SILVERSTONE ZEUS SST-ST65ZF: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817163108

Total: $693.95 ($623.95 after rebates)

Intel setup:

Intel Core 2 Duo E6550: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115030
A-DATA 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 800: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211066
ASUS P5K SE: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131189
MSI NX8800GTS-T2D512E GeForce 8800GTS: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127323
SILVERSTONE ZEUS SST-ST65ZF: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817163108

Total: $698.95 ($628.86 after rebates)

If not overclocking, stock coolers work fine. Overall, Thermalright coolers are tops (Ultra 120 Extreme), newegg seems to have trouble stocking them though.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Why the such low reviewed motherboard?

I was thinking more along the lines of this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059

Also, whats the difference between the above and this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128084

All I see is that the latter has more PCI slots, while the former has more PCI-e x1 slots..

 

[Zelig]

Why the such low reviewed motherboard?

Because I don't put any stock in newegg customer reviews.

Go ahead with one of the Gigabyte boards if you prefer them, probably won't make much difference either way.

 

[GoodGame]

Want it to support High Def tv integratedly? Might want an Intel GMA 3100 on the MB then.

EDIT: Stickciv, the last two seem nearly identical, except in ports. Also I suspect the cheaper one doesn't have all capacitors solid. I don't know how important that is. Gigabyte's site claims solid capacitors have a much longer life and handle overclocking better.

EDIT: And what about adding another $200 by upgrading the ram to DDR3 and the MB to a X38/X48 board?

 

[Zelig]

EDIT: And what about adding another $200 by upgrading the ram to DDR3 and the MB to a X38/X48 board?

That's just about the worst place $200 can be spent, sticking in DDR3 RAM makes almost no performance difference in the majority of real world scenarios.

If I had more money to spend on that build, it would be going to the processor first.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Already as is, after taxes, this thing is at minimum 750$. I do NOT want to spend over 1000$. As Zelig said, there's no point in blowing money on ddr3 and the new chipset ( Its not meant for mainstream anyways)

 

[GoodGame]

Ok, I was just curious about it, hadn't seen anything about that next gen stuff til today :smile:

But if you have some kind of Prescot, what about going for a half-step MB. Biostar makes a cheap one that fits a P4, DDR2, and PCI-16x. The money you saved could go towards a 8800 GTX

 

[Genocidicbunny]

The G92 GTS is a mere 5% slower than the GTX, and costs 200$ less. How bout you do some research before suggestions?

 

[Speedo]

The money you saved could go towards a 8800 GTX

The 8800GTX is a 100% waste of money now. There is only a difference of a few percent between the 8800GT's, G92 GTS's, and GTX's - but the former are hundreds of $$ cheaper.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Well, taking all suggestions into account I have come up with this ( its a bit more than what I originally intended, but it does include a case and etc.)

Antec Nine Hundred Case - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

SILVERSTONE ZEUS SST-ST65ZF - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817163108

A-DATA 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211066

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059

Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115029

COOLER MASTER RR-CCH-L9U1-GP 92mm Hyper TX2 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103031

MSI NX8800GTS-T2D512E GeForce 8800GTS (G92) - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127323

Total cost: 884.91$ (Im not gonna count in rebates cus those fluctuate )

 

[Rheinmetall]

The case is a bit on the expensive side. Could you make it with a cheaper one or do you really want that one?

 

[GoodGame]

Ok, so I went to Tom's to do some research:

Relative difference between 8800 GTX and 8800 GTS: -25.51 %

Compared on 3D mark, a difference of 1100 points.

At 1280x1000 the difference is 1000 points,
and the dif goes down as you crank up the resolution to 1600x1200.

Try comparing an 8800 GT ultra with a GTS. http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=706&model2=707&chart=315

It's your money, but if you can wait to upgrade to a duo and related board, and are mainly just playing games....

 

[Zelig]

Relative difference between 8800 GTX and 8800 GTS: -25.51 %

That's the G80 GTS, the G92 GTS is generally faster than the GTX on resolutions below 1920x1200, and marginally slower on certain titles at 1920x1200.

 

[kuukkeli]

Antec Nine Hundred Case - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

SILVERSTONE ZEUS SST-ST65ZF - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817163108

How about saving a lot by going with Antec Sonata III? It looks pretty classy (I wouldn't have bought one otherwise ) and while its PSU may not be as good as the one on your list it's certainly a good PSU.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Ok, so I went to Tom's to do some research:

Relative difference between 8800 GTX and 8800 GTS: -25.51 %

Compared on 3D mark, a difference of 1100 points.

At 1280x1000 the difference is 1000 points,
and the dif goes down as you crank up the resolution to 1600x1200.

Try comparing an 8800 GT ultra with a GTS. http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=706&model2=707&chart=315

It's your money, but if you can wait to upgrade to a duo and related board, and are mainly just playing games....

As I have shown in my previous post, Im talking about the G92 GTS. That one is, as I have also said before, only 5% or so slower. Again, do your research.