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Desktops forum: Creating a Gaming Desktop

by: solidus636 July 20, 2007 3:43 AM PDT

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Creating a Gaming Desktop

by solidus636 - 7/20/07 3:43 AM

Hey everyone. I just signed onto the forums. HELLO.

Anyways.
I'm looking to build a new computer...
I have chosen a few components...actually pretty much the main stuff that I need...and I need some input on them.

Here are the components...model number and everything.

- Corsair Dual Channel TWINX 2048MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz E.P.P. Memory (2 x 1024) (0.2 lbs)

- Gigabyte M61VME-S2 NVIDIA Socket AM2 MicroATX Motherboard and an AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ 2.0GHz Processor with Fan (Retail) (3.3 lbs)

- XFX GeForce 8500 GT / 256MB DDR2 / SLI Ready / PCI Express / DL DVI / VGA / HDTV / Video Card (1.15 lbs)

That the memory,motherboard+processor, and a pretty nice graphic card.

I need a hard drive(preferably about 100GB...since I already have a 160 gig in my other computer)

I also need a power supply, and a few fans.

And a case, a really good looking case that fits these things.

I believe I can salvage a few parts from my other desktop...but not sure...so a DVD Drive would be nice too(preferably lightscribe...but that's a luxury.)

Currently the things I just put up cost me about 350 bucks which is great.
I'm looking not to spend more than 200 bucks more for all that stuff.

Please help me:D


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some ideas

by ozos - 7/20/07 6:55 PM

In Reply to: Creating a Gaming Desktop by solidus636

Lightscribe drives have gotten amazingly cheap as of late, check newegg or zipzoomfly for them, should only cost about $35-$40 (normal DVD burner is about $30).

I'd look at Enermax, Corsair, PC Power & Cooling, OCZ, and Antec power supplies, Enermax is probably going to be your best bet for price/performance

The mainboard and graphics card could use improvement, but will also work fine as is, you might consider an HD2600XT or 8600GTS.

For casing, its really personal preference, Thermaltake, Enermax, Antec, Silverstone, Lian-Li, Zalman, and Gigabyte all make high quality cases, at varying price levels and featuresets. If you stick with a MicroATX mainboard, you can go with a MicroATX case, which could be very convienient for computer parties (however, if you don't need the system portable, you might consider a full ATX motherboard (they usually have more features and offer higher performance)).

Hard-drives are dreadfully cheap, 500GB disks cost about $100 as of this writing, and 250GB can be had for around $60, so there is no purpose to buy anything less (its not that 80GB or 160GB drives wont' suit your needs flawlessly, but why pay so much more per GB and be limited?)

Fans usually come with cases, and if none are included, just look at the Fans and Cooling secetion of Newegg or ZipZoomFly (www.newegg.com ; www.zipzoomfly.com)


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8500gt is not a gamer's video card

by ramarc - 7/22/07 5:22 PM

In Reply to: Creating a Gaming Desktop by solidus636

the 8500gt is an low-end card and not suitable for gaming. http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=2146&page=5

you should budget at least $120 for a 8600gt if you expect to play any recent games (call of duty 2, prey, company of heroes) at medium-high settings. ideally, $150-$170 is a good price point and don't ignore the 'old' dx9 cards like a 7900gs and x1950pro. unless you plan to play a dx10 only game, they'll give you the best bang for your buck.

next, stop cheaping out with an x2 3600+. they were effectively discontinued with amd's early july price cuts. if you can't afford $80 for an x2 4200+ keep saving for awhile.
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80725-9

western digital has a bunch of drives for $60 to $75: $60/200gb: http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=101213-11
$64/250gb: http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=101220-12
$74/320gb: http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10005615

a "good looking case" is a matter of opinion/taste. here's a coolermaster unit with a decent power supply that can handle your components for $86: http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=141805
here's a lower end unit for $60: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811154045


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