Rough setup:
CPU: Athlon 64 Socket 939 3500+
Motherboard: MSI Neo2 Platinum nForce (4 if it's out soon enough)
Video Card: evga/bfg GeForce 6800GT
DVD-rw: Pioneer or NEC 8x
Harddrives: 2 Hitachi 80 gb hdds
RAM: 1gb PQI turbo pc3200 or Corsair (maybe xms series if budget allows?)
Sound Card: Sound Blaster Audigy 2 (depending on onboard sound)
PSU: Antec 480/550, or OCZ powerstream 520, or PC Power and Cooling
As you can see I'm quite noobish. It's my first system so I'm afraid of compatibility problems with the components.
My main goal is to not exceed $1,500 (though it would be VERY nice to make a grand) but still be able to play Doom 3, Far Cry, Call of Duty, War Craft 3 while maintaining a smooth framrate but not necessarily OPTIMAL graphic quality. I am also looking into 3D imaging and animation but I may have to go for the full 4 gigs of ram later for that.
Well, tell me what you think and don't be surprised if anything above is absurd as it's my first system though I've owned many PC's, laptops, even a couple macs. I've upgraded harddrives, dvd drives, installed pci cards before and performed other mere basic stuff and I've even successfully modded and setup xbox systems with modchips just to breif my experience.
I'm not too bad with software and most hardware, but like I said I get a little confused with what components to get. I need the experience so this is where I'm starting.
Also, can anyone point me to some excellent guides and faqs for components and building the system. Product reviews would be nice that actually mean something. It seems like everything on newegg gets excellent reviews... I want to know the real dirt on things.
Lastly, I don't care about sound from the system. It can be loud and noisy as long as it's cooled and not overly obnoxious, from what I hear I can focus on silence later. And I REALLY don't want to have to water cool it.
Hope this wasn't too much garble and all makes sense, let me know if I left anything out.
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Edit: Forgot to ask... How do harddrives get setup??? I know one is like a boot and one is for other stuff. I don't know if I get an IDE harddrive or an Sata... or one of each. And does the boot have windows xp and all my games?? If so what's the other one for?? Again, excuse my noobism!!!!
CPU: Athlon 64 Socket 939 3500+
Motherboard: MSI Neo2 Platinum nForce (4 if it's out soon enough)
Video Card: evga/bfg GeForce 6800GT
DVD-rw: Pioneer or NEC 8x
Harddrives: 2 Hitachi 80 gb hdds
RAM: 1gb PQI turbo pc3200 or Corsair (maybe xms series if budget allows?)
Sound Card: Sound Blaster Audigy 2 (depending on onboard sound)
PSU: Antec 480/550, or OCZ powerstream 520, or PC Power and Cooling
As you can see I'm quite noobish. It's my first system so I'm afraid of compatibility problems with the components.
My main goal is to not exceed $1,500 (though it would be VERY nice to make a grand) but still be able to play Doom 3, Far Cry, Call of Duty, War Craft 3 while maintaining a smooth framrate but not necessarily OPTIMAL graphic quality. I am also looking into 3D imaging and animation but I may have to go for the full 4 gigs of ram later for that.
Well, tell me what you think and don't be surprised if anything above is absurd as it's my first system though I've owned many PC's, laptops, even a couple macs. I've upgraded harddrives, dvd drives, installed pci cards before and performed other mere basic stuff and I've even successfully modded and setup xbox systems with modchips just to breif my experience.
I'm not too bad with software and most hardware, but like I said I get a little confused with what components to get. I need the experience so this is where I'm starting.
Also, can anyone point me to some excellent guides and faqs for components and building the system. Product reviews would be nice that actually mean something. It seems like everything on newegg gets excellent reviews... I want to know the real dirt on things.
Lastly, I don't care about sound from the system. It can be loud and noisy as long as it's cooled and not overly obnoxious, from what I hear I can focus on silence later. And I REALLY don't want to have to water cool it.
Hope this wasn't too much garble and all makes sense, let me know if I left anything out.
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Edit: Forgot to ask... How do harddrives get setup??? I know one is like a boot and one is for other stuff. I don't know if I get an IDE harddrive or an Sata... or one of each. And does the boot have windows xp and all my games?? If so what's the other one for?? Again, excuse my noobism!!!!
Facebook
Twitter