1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
RAM-Intensive, simulation-type gaming and some older FPS-type as well, e.g., Doom 3, FarCry, etc. I will probably play some newer games when I actually have a machine that can handle them.
2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
~$1200, but cheaper is always better. I can go higher if something is really worth it, but would strongly have to justify going much over that.
3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
US
4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.
Not really.
5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
19" LCD. Mouse. That is all.
6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
I've done as much research as possible, both here and on various other sites.
7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Yes, I plan on overclocking.
Old System:
AMD 754 - 3000+
Mushkin DDR-3200 2x512MB
nVidia 6800 Vanilla 128MB
Chaintech VNF3-250
Seagate 7200.7 120GB
I am looking to completely revamp my old system. I was attempting to just upgrade where I really need it, but I couldn't justify paying for dead technology, DDR, AGP, etc. My keyboard is virtually dead, my lack of RAM is killing me in a few of the games I play, and the 128MB of VRAM just cannot handle a lot of games, e.g., CIV 4 comes to mind.
Here is the system I have priced out.
CPU: Intel Q6600 G0 $275.49 ClubIT
Heatsink: Thermalright U120 Ex. $59.99 Directron
Fan: Scythe SFF21F $12.99 Directron
Board: Gigabyte P35-DS3R $127.00 Mwave
RAM: Crucial Ballistix 2x1GB - 2 sets $94.00 each, $30MIR each Mwave
GPU: Sapphire X1950 Pro 256MB $136.99 ZipZoomFly
HDD: WD4000AAKS $91.99 Directron
DVDRW: Samsung SH-S203B $31.99 Directron
Keyboard: Microsoft Natural $23.99 Directron
Case: Cooler Master RC-534 $49.99 Directron
PSU: Corsair VX-550 $90.99 ZipZoomFly
Total, after taxes/shipping: $1187.96.
About the case, can anyone explain the differences between the different RC-5xx's from Cooler Master? I have tried my best, but I cannot tell any differences between the 5, 534, and 532 versions, other than very slight aesthetic differences.
I also still have questions as to how much better other cases are, say the Antec P180's, etc. Any advice?
How does the entire system look? Any suggestions, either up or down? I am slightly under budget, so if there are upgrades that make sense, please let me know.
RAM-Intensive, simulation-type gaming and some older FPS-type as well, e.g., Doom 3, FarCry, etc. I will probably play some newer games when I actually have a machine that can handle them.
2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
~$1200, but cheaper is always better. I can go higher if something is really worth it, but would strongly have to justify going much over that.
3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
US
4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.
Not really.
5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
19" LCD. Mouse. That is all.
6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
I've done as much research as possible, both here and on various other sites.
7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Yes, I plan on overclocking.
Old System:
AMD 754 - 3000+
Mushkin DDR-3200 2x512MB
nVidia 6800 Vanilla 128MB
Chaintech VNF3-250
Seagate 7200.7 120GB
I am looking to completely revamp my old system. I was attempting to just upgrade where I really need it, but I couldn't justify paying for dead technology, DDR, AGP, etc. My keyboard is virtually dead, my lack of RAM is killing me in a few of the games I play, and the 128MB of VRAM just cannot handle a lot of games, e.g., CIV 4 comes to mind.
Here is the system I have priced out.
CPU: Intel Q6600 G0 $275.49 ClubIT
Heatsink: Thermalright U120 Ex. $59.99 Directron
Fan: Scythe SFF21F $12.99 Directron
Board: Gigabyte P35-DS3R $127.00 Mwave
RAM: Crucial Ballistix 2x1GB - 2 sets $94.00 each, $30MIR each Mwave
GPU: Sapphire X1950 Pro 256MB $136.99 ZipZoomFly
HDD: WD4000AAKS $91.99 Directron
DVDRW: Samsung SH-S203B $31.99 Directron
Keyboard: Microsoft Natural $23.99 Directron
Case: Cooler Master RC-534 $49.99 Directron
PSU: Corsair VX-550 $90.99 ZipZoomFly
Total, after taxes/shipping: $1187.96.
About the case, can anyone explain the differences between the different RC-5xx's from Cooler Master? I have tried my best, but I cannot tell any differences between the 5, 534, and 532 versions, other than very slight aesthetic differences.
I also still have questions as to how much better other cases are, say the Antec P180's, etc. Any advice?
How does the entire system look? Any suggestions, either up or down? I am slightly under budget, so if there are upgrades that make sense, please let me know.
