Budget Gaming System - Starting at mobo

[def4106]

Hey all,

Friend of mine wants to get a budget gaming system goming (budget being 400-600)

Right now the mobo/processor and memory are in dire need of an upgrade.

As of now the vid card we would be using is a Radeon 9800 pro 256mb version. We will replace if we get a PCIE mobo, but I am assuming the cheapo vid cards perform as well as the 9800 pro now.

What would be the best recomendaion of a mobo/processor combo that will work good with games (IE play them for years - NOT at the best settings of course)

I was thinking the

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Windsor 2000MHz HT 2 x 512KB L2, but I'm not sure how good this is etc.

There is no way we would be doing SLI so that is not needed. I have no clue which mobo would be good to go with, because it seems most of the ones I would get all have SLI, and I am trying to not spend over 100 on a mobo.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[snor]

there is the asrock 939 dual that has both native agp and pci-e ports. so in the case of that ati 9800, it could be used full speeds and the chance to upgrade the video card when u want to. it is a 939 chipset so any x2 or fx would work (excluding the am2's)
the cost is around 60 or 70$.
i believe there was a large continuing thread about it, as well as how well it can overclock.
just so you know, asrock is a subsidiary of asus (notice how the 'AS' looks so similar to that of ASUS')

edit: i retract the AM2 statement back it does support it! the riser it need costs around 20$ or so( if you can find it for sale)
here is the thread.Text

 

[Trey22]

Here's another vote for the ASRock board snor talked about above. Interesting board as it seems to have a bit of everything.

 

[996GT2]

In your case, I suggest the ASRock Dual-SATAII also. It's a good board and also is a decent overclocker if you want to try your hand at that later on.

 

[def4106]

Thanks, any recommendatiosn on memory?

Also what processor would you guys recommend?

 

[StevenNevets]

Straight from my soon to be Rig

Ram: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM Unbuffered DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit System Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a...90&ATT=20-145-590&CMP=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r
($177.00 after $40.00 Mail-In Rebate)

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Windsor 2000MHz HT 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Dual Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103735
$159.00

Motherboard: ASUS M2N-E Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 Ultra MCP ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131022
$96.99

 

[acegazda]

Originally posted by: 996GT2
In your case, I suggest the ASRock Dual-SATAII also. It's a good board and also is a decent overclocker if you want to try your hand at that later on.

it's ok considering it's a $60 board... but not a standout by any standards. Only a max fsb of 290mhz.

 

[betasub]

Originally posted by: acegazda

Originally posted by: 996GT2
In your case, I suggest the ASRock Dual-SATAII also. It's a good board and also is a decent overclocker if you want to try your hand at that later on.

it's ok considering it's a $60 board... but not a standout by any standards. Only a max fsb of 290mhz.

Woah, limited to a 45% overclock from a budget board... what a bummer... :Q