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Check this build

M

Mark2582

Member
Ok I have an $2000 budget and this system is for gaming. I won't be overclocking anything except for the video card. It seems much more simple and safe than a CPU overclock. Here goes.

Case:
Antec Solution SLK3000-B Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

PSU:
SeaSonic S12-430 ATX12V 430W Power Supply 100 - 240V UL, CE, DEMCO, NEMCO, SEMCO, FIMCO, CB, FCC, CCC- $100

Mobo:
MSI K8N Neo 4 Platinum - $137

Processor:
3500+ Venice- $272

Memory:
CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory- $80

Harddrive:
SAMSUNG SpinPoint P Series SP1614C 160GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM

DVD+RW:
SAMSUNG Black 16X DVD+R 4X DVD+RW 5X DVD+R DL 16X DVD-R 4X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 40X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2M Cache IDE DVD Burner - OEM

DVD R:
SAMSUNG Black 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM IDE CD-ROM Drive- $24.50

Video Card:
Sapphire X800XL Ultimate- $329

Floppy:
MITSUMI FA404A/404M Black USB2.0 & FDD Digital Card Reader/Writer W/FD (Black)INTERNAL- $21

OS:
Microsoft Windows XP HOME Edition With Service Pack 2- $86.95

Speakers:
Logitech X-530 70 Watts 5.1 Speakers- $55

Monitor:
ViewSonic VP191B Black 19" 8ms (gray-to-gray); 20ms (black-white-black, typ) LCD Monitor 250 cd/m2 600:1 0.294mm Pixel Pitch - Retail

How does that look? What could be changed to make it better (and stay under $2000?) I am willing to spend up to that but I want to know if it will offer performance gains. Thanks. (And sorry for so many topics!)

 
In reply to your motherboard -

I have no idea where you heard the chipset fan was quiet. I don't have one, but will be getting one in the close future and all the research i've done on it, people say it's the loudest thing and most annoying thing in their system. It spins at 8000 RPM and its a 40mm fan, with a really high pitch noise.

Solution? It comes with software to turn it down and a lot of people seem to go this route as replacing it with a passive heatsink can damage the chip and the cooling is not that great, especially with how DFI set the the Ultra-D up with the graphics cards going right over that chip.

I always wondering why the x530 was only around $55 while the x-230 is $36 or so. Seems like the x-230 is overpriced for just what you get for it.

Your DVD-RW drive:

I did some research and you picked a good one, but a lot of people seem to say this is one of the quietest and performance wise on top of things. And it's $10 cheaper then what you have:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827152035

 
Originally posted by: Mark2582
Ok I have an $2000 budget and this system is for gaming. I won't be overclocking anything. Here goes.

Case:
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum/Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case- $50.49

PSU:
SeaSonic S12-430 ATX12V 430W Power Supply 100 - 240V UL, CE, DEMCO, NEMCO, SEMCO, FIMCO, CB, FCC, CCC- $100

Mobo:
DFI LANPARTY UT nF4 Ultra-D Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX AMD Motherboard- $128
I know this is a good overclocking board but I heard it has a silent chipset fan and excellent onboard audio. If someone has a better suggestion that would be great.

Processor:
AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Venice 1GHz FSB 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor- $272 or go with the 3700+ San Deigo for about $50 more.

Memory:
CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory- $80

Harddrive:
Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 ST3250823AS 250GB 7200 RPM 8M Cache Serial ATA150 Hard Drive- $130.50

DVD+RW:
Pioneer DVR-109 Black IDE DVD Burner- $59

DVD R:
SAMSUNG Black 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM IDE CD-ROM Drive- $24.50

Video Card:
GIGABYTE GV-RX80L256V Radeon X800XL 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI-Express x16 Video Card- $318

Floppy:
MITSUMI FA404A/404M Black USB2.0 & FDD Digital Card Reader/Writer W/FD (Black)INTERNAL- $21

OS:
Microsoft Windows XP HOME Edition With Service Pack 2- $86.95

Speakers:
Logitech X-530 70 Watts 5.1 Speakers- $55

Monitor:
ViewSonic VX924 19-inch 4ms TFT LCD- $418

How does that look? What could be changed to make it better (and stay under $2000?) I am willing to spend up to that but I want to know if it will offer performance gains. Thanks. (And sorry for so many topics!)
Click to expand...


change dfi to epox 9npa3+ and corsair to mushkin cas 2.5 value
 
Hmmm, should I drop the CPU down to a 3200+ to save some cash? This way I could possibly take the money I saved and go for an x850xt. This seems that it would offer better performance. Any advice? Also I would switch out the monitor for a nice 21" CRT.
 
If you can only spend $55 on speakers your better of with a 2.1 rather then 5.1. Two decent speakers sound better then 5 crappy ones every time, no matter what the source is.
 
I have heard those were great speakers for the money, and I am not really too concerned with sound, but I will look into what you said.
 
I've heard from many people that for gaming, it's better to just spend more on the videocard than the CPU. This is what I had origianlly thought, but would a 3200+ running at stock bottleneck a X850XT? I would imagine it wouldn't because the VC is currently what is bottlenecking most things.
 
Another thing Mark -

Everyone says the performance gain versus money for the 3500+ is not worth it. They claim you can overclock it to almost same as the 3500+ and that difference is not noticeable at all. And yes you are right, you always choose videocard over CPU.
 
Originally posted by: Stokes
Another thing Mark -

Everyone says the performance gain versus money for the 3500+ is not worth it. They claim you can overclock it to almost same as the 3500+ and that difference is not noticeable at all. And yes you are right, you always choose videocard over CPU.
Click to expand...

Overclock what to 3500+ speeds?
 
get windows xp pro sp2
get x800xl
get ocz modstream 450w its cheaper and better.
i would go with a cheaper mobo since you wont be ocing check out chaintech soltek anything cheaper check benchmarks all the boards mostly preform the same.
 
Originally posted by: w00t
get windows xp pro sp2
get x800xl
get ocz modstream 450w its cheaper and better.
i would go with a cheaper mobo since you wont be ocing check out chaintech soltek anything cheaper check benchmarks all the boards mostly preform the same.
Click to expand...

OCZ is just an overpriced Topower, stick with the Seasonic. Going for XP pro wouldn't be a bad idea however.
 
Anand seems to think the LCD's are a solid choice for gaming now. There is no doubt that the performance of LCD's are below CRT's - but the convinience can't be underestimated.

Just something to bear in mind.

Oh, and regarding 3500+ vs. 3200+ : The original poster clearly said he will not be overclocking anything, in which case I would recommend shelling out the extra dough for the 3500+.

Other than that, great system. I have also heard pretty good things about the Chaintech nF4 motherboard, but really, the extra components and more thorough literature included with top end MoBos can be handy.
 
You might want to get the X800XL over the X850XT - it'll run cooler, be more reliable, and is the best bang for your buck.
 
Ok sticking with the X800XL. It is the passively cooled version so it should be pretty quiet. On another note, I would like to keep the system relatively quiet. I am buying the CPU and Mobo from Monarch in a combo as this is my first build, don't want any problems, plus it comes with some cool offers and it is the same price as other places. So I will probably be using the stock Heatsink/Fan. Are these really loud? I am also a bit worried about the 2005FP. What about games that don't support the widescreen resoultion? BTW the reason I want it to be quiet is because I sleep in the same room as the PC.
 
Since you are planning on getting a R520 or G70 when those come out, don't go spend a buttload of money on an X850XT. It's throwing money out the window. Right now I believe it to be a better deal to get a Sapphire X800XL (299$ on RTPG) over the 6800GT (around 325$ on RTPG)

Seeing as you are not interested in overclocking, a faster CPU would help you in the long run, but looking at short term, the faster GPU has the most effect on performance. As for the PSU, i would recommend an Antec TruePower 2.0 480W. It is one of the best power supplies out there, having independent rails for the 3.3V and the 5V it does give out more power than any competitor. I've owned many Antec PSUs and they are very reliable.

Enjoy!
 
I think I will go with the Leadtek 6800GT as I need something quiet, and it is only $52 more than the silent X800XL i was looking at. Also, the 6800GT can easily be pushed to Ultra. The only thing I am really unsure about now is the monitor. I think I want to go LCD, but I am worried I may get some ghosting on the 2005FPW, also not all games support widescreen without special modification that I really don't want to take the time to do. I am thinking about the ViewSonic G220fb Black 21" CRT. I would perfer LCD, but I don't really want widescreen as I am concerned with gaming, and I the 19LCD's can only run at 1280x1024. Any advice? I want to keep the monitor under $500.
 
Yeah but the 2001FP has inferior contrast, and response time, which are two things that are important to me. Should I just go with the CRT?
 
Originally posted by: Mark2582
Yeah but the 2001FP has inferior contrast, and response time, which are two things that are important to me. Should I just go with the CRT?
Click to expand...

I would, and I did. Check my game rig, I have that Viewsonic 21 incher your looking at. It's not the best one you can get, but still better than any LCD I've ever seen. You will not be disappointed. If you even have any doubt about contrast,response, etc, and consider yourself to be picky about picture quality, then go CRT for sure.
 
Think I will be going with CRT because space isn't really a huge issue. Sure it would be nice to have some more desk space, but it's worth the sacrifice. 😉
 
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