Check this bang for the buck system?

pleevan

Junior Member
Jun 21, 2008
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Hi everyone,
I'm trying to put together an absolute bang for the buck system since I don't have a lot of cash flow. I will be moving my case, dvd-rom drive and other odds and ends from my old computer over.

This is what I'm looking at:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819116052]Intel E2180 processor (2 ghz)[/url]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813186138]Foxconn M7VMX-K motherboard[/url]

A regular ATX motherboard will work fine as well.

My LCD is 1280x1024 that I was hoping to do some gaming on. Nothing like Crysis, but I'd like to play Half Life 2 Episode 2, Bioshock, Fallout 3 (when it is out), Company of Heroes, STALKER. Basically a lot of slightly older games that I have missed out on.

I'm not really sure what to get for a video card.

Thanks for any advice!
 
Nov 26, 2005
15,181
396
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Hi, and welcome to the Anandtech forums! :)

For a vid card you can do good with a 3870. It might not get you all settings on high but it'll do alright. I have to turn down my desktop mipmap settings to low to get 100's and above in COD4... even my old 1900XTX did well with my AMD system and its doing well with my 8400... but like i said, all eye candy was set to low.

Good Luck!
 

aigomorla

CPU, Cases&Cooling Mod PC Gaming Mod Elite Member
Super Moderator
Sep 28, 2005
20,905
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8800GT > HD3870 :T
 
Apr 20, 2008
10,065
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The $79.99 8800gs looks real good. The 4850 is much more future resistant.

The 4850 will last you a build or two after the one you have now. I picked up my 8800GTS a month and a half ago as it was $79.99. Sure its from late 06, it shows how long top of the line GFX cards last. The 4850 looks like it'll be the next coming of great GFX cards, especially for the price.
 

EarthwormJim

Diamond Member
Oct 15, 2003
3,239
0
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Originally posted by: Cookie Monster
At that res, i think the 9600GT will suit you just fine.

With the way prices are now, a 9600gt makes no sense to buy. Sure it may perform just fine at that resolution, but will be able to 2 years from now? I think an 8800 or the new 4850 will be a better buy.
 

Cogman

Lifer
Sep 19, 2000
10,283
134
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Do odds and ends include ram? I don't know how big of an upgrade this will be for you, but you will want to make sure that your ram is the DDR2 type and not DDR1 or SDRAM. DDR2 is VERY cheap right now ($36 for 2 gb) so there is really no excuse not to get it.

Just making sure.
 

solog

Member
Apr 18, 2008
145
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That motherboard has some decent reviews. I'm guessing its single channel memory? Anyone know what kind of performance loss to expect if it is indeed single channel?

As for videocards, that 8800gs looks real good for the price. If you could get a 4850 near $150 I would take that instead cause as noted above it would last you a long time (in terms of being able to play newer games with more details on, not build quality). I think that Best Buy deal is over though. I also would not consider the 9600GT unless it dropped in price by a large amount.

 

aigomorla

CPU, Cases&Cooling Mod PC Gaming Mod Elite Member
Super Moderator
Sep 28, 2005
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Originally posted by: BTRY B 529th FA BN
Originally posted by: aigomorla
8800GT > HD3870 :T

only if $ = $

Your Cart - See Sale Price Close Window
We've added this item to your cart to show you our sale price. Manufacturers occasionally suggest that products be advertised at their suggested retail price. When we decide to sell items for less than the suggested price, the sale price can only be shown in your cart.

EVGA GeForce 8800 GT 512-P3-N801-AR Video Card - Retail

Original Price: $189.99
You Save: $20.00
$169.99
($149.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate )
Just looking - Remove from Cart
Going to purchase - Keep it in my Cart

Newegg for EVGA 8800GT.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130318


Is that not $ / $ ??

And im looking at the more expensive brand eVGA. :p We could always go cheaper and go with pny or Asus even. :p


I have both cards in Xfire and SLI.
Let me show you because sometimes people call shins on me.

http://i125.photobucket.com/al...aigomorla/IMG_1123.jpg SLI
http://i125.photobucket.com/al...aigomorla/IMG_0900.jpg Xfire


Trust me, the 8800GT is a much better card if you look at single card and medium resolution monitor.

Less then 24 inch is considered medium class monitor.
 

Denithor

Diamond Member
Apr 11, 2004
6,298
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If you're getting an e2180 and planning to overclock it, don't scrimp on your motherboard. You'll want a solid board to get decent performance out of that chip (you're looking to get about a 50% overclock and many bottom-tier motherboards just can't handle that kind of load). You also want to make sure you have a good powersupply, not some "500 watt" POS that came with your last case.

The EVGA 8800GS mentioned above also has a combo deal with an Antec Earthwatts 500 (very nice powersupply, I use one myself). You can get both for $100 AR.

Add memory ($25 AR) and build it all on a P35 motherboard ($72 AR) and you're looking at a nice system for about $270 (after rebates).

As an alternative, you could save about $25 by going the AMD route and using an X2 4800+ ($60) with an AM2+ motherboard ($60 AR). This would give you a solid system for $245.
 

Gikaseixas

Platinum Member
Jul 1, 2004
2,836
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Originally posted by: EarthwormJim
I'd pick up that 4850 for $149 at bestbuy if I were you.

what he said

$150 buys you the best mid range card in the market. Why settle for a 8800GT or HD3870 when you can get the awesome 4850 for the same price?
 

BadRobot

Senior member
May 25, 2007
547
0
0
Originally posted by: Gikaseixas
Originally posted by: EarthwormJim
I'd pick up that 4850 for $149 at bestbuy if I were you.

what he said

$150 buys you the best mid range card in the market. Why settle for a 8800GT or HD3870 when you can get the awesome 4850 for the same price?

this is pretty much the end of discussion if you have 150 to spend

EDIT: wrong forum by the way =)