College Gaming PC

[imported_Beaker]

Originally posted by: Mrvile
Probably not able to get 2.7 with a 3200+ if you use valueram. You'll probably need DDR500, but there's some nice DDR500 ram out there that's not too expensive.

I'm about to order a very similar spec. My final question is about RAM.

I can get 1GB of Corsair Value Select on special offer.

Will I be able to overclock the Venice 3200 at all with this RAM?

How much more is it worth paying to get full value out of the overclocking potential of the Venice 3200?

Full spec:

- MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum-54G

- AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice

- Corsair Value S. PC3200 DDR-DIMM 1024MB Kit w/two matched Value Select 512MB ???

- Sapphire Radeon X800XL PCIe 256MB

- Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 250GB SATA 8MB 7200RPM NCQ

- DVDR IDE NEC ND-3540A Dual black bulk

- Fortron/Source Powersupply ATX 400W rev2 120mm, SATA Special Edition, 24pin

- Cooler Master Cavalier 3 Black

 

[Stokes]

From my understanding RAMs overall affect on the CPU is minimul and that you really don't want to be spending that much, unless you are going for all out performance and have money to throw around. I liked GEIL ram that was suggested because it has a good price and to be honest, I'm sure there isn't much difference between RAM.

 

[cryptonomicon]

Originally posted by: Stokes
looking for a machine to hold it's own for the next two years.

two years is an eternity, i doubt I could even build a system which would hold its own (as a gaming rig) for that long even if price was no factor.

 

[Stokes]

Hold its own is probably the wrong choice of word. Be able to play the current games at the time and still have good settings

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: cryptonomicon

Originally posted by: Stokes
looking for a machine to hold it's own for the next two years.

two years is an eternity, i doubt I could even build a system which would hold its own (as a gaming rig) for that long even if price was no factor.

How do you define "hold its own"?

 

[Ike0069]

The value RAM will not OC much, but that just means that you run a divider. So the CPU might be at 250MHzX10 (2.5 GHz), but the memory is still at 200 MHz.
The impact on performance is minimal on A64's, and that is why value RAM is suggested for budget conscience OC'ers.

 

[Ike0069]

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: cryptonomicon

Originally posted by: Stokes
looking for a machine to hold it's own for the next two years.

two years is an eternity, i doubt I could even build a system which would hold its own (as a gaming rig) for that long even if price was no factor.

How do you define "hold its own"?

Well, if you bought a 9800 pro, Xp 2500+ (and OC'ed it) 2 years ago, you would still be able to play any of todays current games at medium resolution or higher.

So if you buy a 3200+ and a 6800 GT now, it should last 2 years easily IMO.

 

[mettleh3d]

i say ditch the lame heatsink and opt for a x800pro. stock heastink fan is good enouhg imo

 

[imported_shaw]

How well does the x800Pro OC? I know at stock speeds the x800XL is faster and cheaper.

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: Ike0069

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: cryptonomicon

Originally posted by: Stokes
looking for a machine to hold it's own for the next two years.

two years is an eternity, i doubt I could even build a system which would hold its own (as a gaming rig) for that long even if price was no factor.

How do you define "hold its own"?

Well, if you bought a 9800 pro, Xp 2500+ (and OC'ed it) 2 years ago, you would still be able to play any of todays current games at medium resolution or higher.

So if you buy a 3200+ and a 6800 GT now, it should last 2 years easily IMO.

I agree Ike, thats why I asked cryptonomicon what he thought it meant. He acts like you cant make a computer that holds its own for 2 years..but that is ridiculous.

 

[Bluechulappa]

I'm new to this stuff but I am also intrested in building a gaming rig for less! I want to be able to play BF2,HL2 and Counter-Strike Source, etc! Can someone look at what I have so far and give me honest opinions? I want to keep the price down but I want componets that will be upgradable in a few years or so! Thanks... Here's what I've got on my wishlist form newegg.com....

Case- Lian-Li PC-61 =$106
PSU- Antec 400W Power Supply =$55
Mobo- ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD =$179
Processor- AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Winchester 939pin =$153
Memory- GeIL Value 512MB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) =$41
HD- I don't need something big I just want a fast one! 80gb is plenty big for me!
Graphics- I needs to be 256mb dedicated graphics
Sound Card- A good one it doesn't have to be HDTV quality
Speakers- I have a set of 5.1 speakers

So far with the stuff I listed the total is $534.39 Is this alot and if so what might you suggest? Thanks...

 

[Stokes]

I've heard the x800xl doesnt overclock well at all. While I hear people overclocking their 6800GT to Ultra speeds. Thats why I decided on the 6800GT. The AGP version is really only 20 bucks more then the x800xl pci-e. The x800xl was meant to be a lot lower in price in comparison and still perform close to the 6800GT. But now since the AGP card is just 20 bucks more. That made all the difference

 

[Ike0069]

The X800XL is a very nice card but in general, the 6800 GT will OC much, much better than the X800XL.

I personally wouldn't even consider the X800 pro. The pro was basically a flop for ATI, and was getting killed by the 6800 GT. Which is why they released the XL at MSRP $299, to have something that could actually compete with the GT.

 

[Ike0069]

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: Ike0069
Well, if you bought a 9800 pro, Xp 2500+ (and OC'ed it) 2 years ago, you would still be able to play any of todays current games at medium resolution or higher.

So if you buy a 3200+ and a 6800 GT now, it should last 2 years easily IMO.

I agree Ike, thats why I asked cryptonomicon what he thought it meant. He acts like you cant make a computer that holds its own for 2 years..but that is ridiculous.

Yea, I quoted the wrong person. That was meant as a reply to cryptonomicon. I fully agree that his statement is ridiculous.

 

[shud]

The 6800GT PCI-E is also about $50 more than the PCI-E 800XL though, isn't it? I've never been one for videocard overclocking. Is it really that much of a necessity?

 

[Kabouter]

Originally posted by: Ike0069

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: cryptonomicon

Originally posted by: Stokes
looking for a machine to hold it's own for the next two years.

two years is an eternity, i doubt I could even build a system which would hold its own (as a gaming rig) for that long even if price was no factor.

How do you define "hold its own"?

Well, if you bought a 9800 pro, Xp 2500+ (and OC'ed it) 2 years ago, you would still be able to play any of todays current games at medium resolution or higher.

So if you buy a 3200+ and a 6800 GT now, it should last 2 years easily IMO.

I'm nearing the 3-year mark with a P4 2,4ghz and 9700 pro, still does it's work fine. Medium/high detail in most games 🙂. In fact, haven't played a game I had to run under medium settings.

 

[shud]

Originally posted by: Kabouter

Originally posted by: Ike0069

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: cryptonomicon

Originally posted by: Stokes
looking for a machine to hold it's own for the next two years.

two years is an eternity, i doubt I could even build a system which would hold its own (as a gaming rig) for that long even if price was no factor.

How do you define "hold its own"?

Well, if you bought a 9800 pro, Xp 2500+ (and OC'ed it) 2 years ago, you would still be able to play any of todays current games at medium resolution or higher.

So if you buy a 3200+ and a 6800 GT now, it should last 2 years easily IMO.

I'm nearing the 3-year mark with a P4 2,4ghz and 9700 pro, still does it's work fine. Medium/high detail in most games 🙂. In fact, haven't played a game I had to run under medium settings.

Wait until June 21st. 😛

 

[Ike0069]

Originally posted by: Bluechulappa
I'm new to this stuff but I am also intrested in building a gaming rig for less! I want to be able to play BF2,HL2 and Counter-Strike Source, etc! Can someone look at what I have so far and give me honest opinions? I want to keep the price down but I want componets that will be upgradable in a few years or so! Thanks... Here's what I've got on my wishlist form newegg.com....

Case- Lian-Li PC-61 =$106
PSU- Antec 400W Power Supply =$55
Mobo- ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD =$179
Processor- AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Winchester 939pin =$153
Memory- GeIL Value 512MB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) =$41
HD- I don't need something big I just want a fast one! 80gb is plenty big for me!
Graphics- I needs to be 256mb dedicated graphics
Sound Card- A good one it doesn't have to be HDTV quality
Speakers- I have a set of 5.1 speakers

So far with the stuff I listed the total is $534.39 Is this alot and if so what might you suggest? Thanks...

If you are trying to save money, ditch the SLI MB and just go with regular NF4 Ultra.
Unless you are very picky about sound, the on-board sound will be fine.
X800XL is probably the best buy for a PCI-e system. Although I prefer the 6800 GT.
And go ahead and get 1 GB of RAM. RAM is cheap right now and 1 GB is what you want to run everything smoothly.

 

[Stokes]

In my setup I listed, do I really need a 430W power supply? Cause I can get the 380W for probably 20-30 less.

 

[BakedPhish]

Thx for the help guys, and this is what i have come up with for my final set up>>>
AMD Athlon 64 3500+ ClawHammer/Hammer Integrated into Chip FSB 512KB
L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor - Retail $267.00
MSI K8NNeo4 Platinum nVidia Socket 939 Motherboard
Diamond Radeon X800 XL / 256MB DDR / PCI Express / DVI / VIVO / VGA /
Video Card $304.99
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Gamer PCI Sound Card $109.99
Maxtor / 160GB / 7200 / 8MB $99.99
Enermax / 420-Watt $79.99
P67-1118 :: Plextor PX-716SA / 16x8x16x DVD+RW / 16x4x16x DVD-RW /
48x24x48x CD-RW $139.99
Maxtor / 160GB / 7200 / 8MB $99.99

But i don't have a case and i don't know which one to get can u give me some companies name's so i can look around. Also should i wait to buy the CPU until the Dual Core CPUs come out or the price wont drop?

 

[BakedPhish]

Also what do you think of the prices, can i find them cheaper? My friend is a wholesales dealer so he is looking up the prices right now.

 

[BakedPhish]

Sorry one more thing, i just found
Sapphire Radeon X800 Pro / 256MB GDDR3 / AGP 8X / VGA / DVI / Video Card and it's only $5, should i get the pro or stick with the XL?

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: Ike0069

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: Ike0069
Well, if you bought a 9800 pro, Xp 2500+ (and OC'ed it) 2 years ago, you would still be able to play any of todays current games at medium resolution or higher.

So if you buy a 3200+ and a 6800 GT now, it should last 2 years easily IMO.

I agree Ike, thats why I asked cryptonomicon what he thought it meant. He acts like you cant make a computer that holds its own for 2 years..but that is ridiculous.

Yea, I quoted the wrong person. That was meant as a reply to cryptonomicon. I fully agree that his statement is ridiculous.

word.