Computer Puzzle in the form of another "Help the noob" thread.

[Lalithor]

Howdy, thanks for stopping by!

I believe I have a small challenge for you computer people, one that will hopefully intrigue you enough to help me, failing that, perhaps a bribe of delivery pizza will be in order. But first, some background to set the stage:

My two desktops recently decided to coordinate a mutiny, the first opening with a brilliant move, the classic power supply failure. I laughed at its pitiful attack by gutting it and pilfering the harddrive to install in my second desktop to recover some data and carry on with my life when that desktop decided it would have none of it and the videocard failed about 2 days later. Now this this second computer happened to be my gaming rig, and I don't want to just buy another video card since the rest of the components are fairly old (rig is going on 7 years I think, no parts replaced since) and it can't handle all the fun stuff that is already here / will be coming out soon.

Now, as per mechBgon awesome sticky post would put it, I'm a noOb and I need a little help picking out my parts kit. My experience in building computers is limited to replacing/adding RAM, adding a hard drive, swapping out my CD drive for a DVD drive. You know, the standard stuff that you can learn if you google long enough to stumble across a nice step-by-step walkthrough with a picture or two.

Now, for the important stuff:

1. What types of uses you want to use the computer for:
I will not be doing any intense video-editing at all on this computer. Just gaming.
I would expect the computer to be "mid-end" and need another upgrade in a year or two to handle the newer games coming out. In terms of games it would be able to handle my short list would be:
-Team Fortress 2
-World of Warcraft + Expansions
-Warhammer Online
-Crysis

2. The budget
I don't have a budget, but that doesn't mean I want to spend $3000 on a computer that can run Crysis at 60 FPS with all the visual effects set to "so ridiculously high you might think you're actually dying when you get shot". I would expect to be able to pull off something in the price range of $500 - $1000 for the components I need. The goal is good gaming rig, which is not unnecessarily expensive. It all depends on how much can be salvaged from the working components from my other desktops... which leads to.

3. What items you need the budget to cover.
This is where my experience is woefully inadequate. I think the best approach is to describe all the working components I have between both desktops, and let you experts figure out what's worth salvaging to make one gaming rig, and hopefully keep the cost down.

Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition

Cases+Power Supply:
1x Dell Dimension XPS Case w/ 460 W Power supply.
see http://www.hardwarecentral.com...ws/article.php/2217931

1x Cooler Master Case w/ dead Power Supply
see http://www.coolermaster-usa.co...d=1625&product_id=2713

Hard Drives: 1 x 120GB, 1 x 60 GB. Both are IDE Hard Drives

Other Drives: 1 x CD-RW drive, 1 x DVD/CD RW Drive, 1 x Floppy Disk Drive (Also seem to use IDE Cables, in case that matters.)

Memory: 2 x 512 RAM, 2 x 256 RAM.

Mobo: Some weird Dell Corporation one. I think it's called Dell Computer Corp 0G0729.

Video Card: None (1 is dead, the other was a 64MB Nvidia, so it won't be worth using anyway)

Sound Card: Creative Audigy 2.

Network Adapters:
Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet Card and
Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Card

Processors: 1x Intel Pentium 4 3.20 GHz (plus Heatsink, etc.)

Standard Peripherals: Mouse, Keyboard, LG Flatron W1952TQ 19" LCD monitor, Printer, Scanner, Speakers, etc.

SO! In summary, HELP!

Seems to me I can salvage the Operating System, sound card, network cards, DVD/CD Drive and the 3.5" drive, and peripherals. I'm assuming I will need to replace the mobo (with what? No idea...). I'm also not sure how phased out IDE Drives are in the motherboards available nowadays, I know a lot of people are using SATA now but I'm hoping I can salvage them to help keep the costs down.

I also know there are quite a few cheap Case+Power Supply deals on newegg, etc., and wouldn't mind purchasing one of those if it's more cost-effective than buying a new P/S to install in the Cooler Master case. I don't think I can easily replace the P/S in the Dell case. It appears to be... built in, for lack of a better word, I don't think a stock P/S would fit where it needs to go. Which means if the Dell case gets salvaged, the new rig would need to run under 460 W.

I appreciate any help you guys can provide,
Justin

 

[z1ggy]

I am REALLLLYYY lazy so I will just tell you what I think will be good things for you to get..but just go to www.newegg.com to find them.. it wont take long for you to find. As far as your old stuff goes..your right. You might however, want to consider using a SATA HD because..well its just faster and easier to install. ( and really isn't expensive). You should prob. get a new case and PSU as well because 460 is really cutting it close with these new GPu's these days and how much power they will consume. Now for a quick non detailed list of what you will need. PS feel free to PM me if you want me to explain or give you more things.. I will answer back when I have more time. You will want: an E8000 series CPU, compatible motherboard( like a p45 chipset type) a HD 4000 series GPU ( prob. the 4850 or 4870..if you want to spend a little more than a 4890) 2-4gb of ddr2 memory( you may want to ditch xp 32 bit and try out windows 7 64 or vista 64..but thats just me) and 250-500gb sata HD, a 500-600 watt psu and something like an antec 300 case. you can salvage the other stuff in there..you shouldnt have to go over $800 bucks with those things there. Like I said PM me if you need help

 

[Lunyone]

Here's a build that I recently posted. It should do quite well for ~$800 or less. I'd consider just using 1 or 2 of your IDE drives (CD/DVD drives)

I'd consider these options:
* AMD Phenom II x3 720, one of the best bang for the buck CPU's out there! Most games right now don't take much advantage of more than 2 cores and the 3rd in this case can be used for background files/stuff.
* Buy the best single GPU that you can afford. This will allow you to game better, especially when you upgrade your monitor resolution to >1680x1050.
* 4 gb's is all that you should need with an AMD system for now. 6 gb's is what I'd recommend with an i7 build, but that is out of this budget range.
* I wouldn't use your OLD PSU. It isn't built like they are now, unless you have a newer one?? If so, what do you have? I'd recommend the Corsair 650tx for starters, since it goes for about $100 shipped - $20 MIR = $80!! It has 52A on the 12v rail (which is where todays systems run most of the power hungry GPU's on). It also comes with 2 x 6+2pin (8 pin) PCI-e power connectors, you'll need them for your GPU.
* If you going to be using your own OS (not sure which one) and it's a 32 bit OS, 6 gb's is a major waste of $. If you have a 64 bit OS than that is a different story.

Okay so here is what I'd consider:
$259 - $15 MIR = $244!! AMD PhII x3 720/Asus 790gx mobo combo deal
$225 - $25 MIR = $200!! AMD 4890 1gb GPU
~$115 WD 1 TB Caviar Black HD
$70 shipped! Patriot Viper 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
$95 - $20 MIR = $75!! CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
~$100 COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

Total ~$866 - $60 MIR's = $806!!! Now that will be hard to beat for the items that I selected. The CM 690 case a great case and can fit the big GPU's without too much hassle!! Add your DVD drive and OS and you have a complete system. Now I'd probably get 2 x WD 640 gb AAKS HD for $60 each ($120 total) over spending about $100-120 on just 1 HD or just use one and save $60 from my final price listed ($806 - ~$60 = ~$746)!! It's up to you but that is what I'd consider.

Here's an interesting read on how many CPU cores that you need. It's not all inclusive, but you can read it and decipher what you will from it. Here is the link.

 

[mpilchfamily]

Keep the DVD RW if you want but you'll need to replace everything else. Your basicly in need of a completly new system.

 

[Arglebargle]

Sorry to say, in your place I would probably go new. You could salvage your optical drives, or a hard drive. Maybe the sound card. Perhaps the OS. I'd personally use XP and wait til Windows 7 comes out, or install the beta now. You won't have the expense of monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc, if you are happy with what you have now.

Good news is that in the $800-1000 price range, you can get a pretty decent system nowadays.

 

[elconejito]

I'd go with Lunyone's suggestions with the following changes....

Go with a lesser video card, maybe a 4870 or 4850 (or Nvidia equivalent). You only have a 19" monitor and it won't take much to drive that. You can probably spend about $150 give or take on a video card and be happy. When you buy a new monitor, budget for a new GPU at that time.

I'd try and reuse your CoolerMaster case, just make sure the video card you get will fit. I'm not sure what to do with the XPS case, Dell (and other OEMs) tend to make it hard to put other stuff in there, so if you attempted to gut it (leaving just PSU) I don't know if you can fit in new components.

And for the hard drive, the WD6400AAKS is really really nice, newegg has it on sale right now for $60, it's a better buy than the Black version for $70. (That's just right now, a few days ago, they were both $70 and the Black was a better deal). If you're getting by on a 160gb and 80gb, you aren't going to need a 1TB drive... unless of course, it fits in your budget and you want it... then get the 1TB Black.

Don't go over 4GB of RAM since you're reusing your XP license, which I assume is 32-bit.

That motherboard listed (and most new ones) only have 1 IDE connection, which means a max of 2 devices. If you reuse your DVD drive (I would) that means you can only connect one IDE HDD. You might be better off getting external enclosures for them and using them as backups.

If you decide to go Intel, I'd get the Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R (or UD3P if you're interested in crossfire) for about $120 and one of the low end quads like a Q8200 or Q9400. That board overclocks like crazy and you can get a good bang for the buck with one of those chips up around 3-3.5Ghz.

If you have a MicroCenter or Frys near you, they have some really good deals also.

HTH.

 

[Denithor]

Trying to salvage anything from systems that old is actually going to slow down your new parts. Those old hard drives for example have such slow transfer rates your spiffy new innards won't feel any faster than your old gear if you reuse them. Today's integrated sound is higher quality than those old Audigy 2 cards...

Lunyone's advice is top notch but I'd go for a lower level video card, such as a 4770 (if you can find in stock) or a 4850 (about $100 after MIR). Plenty of power for a 19" screen and quite a bit cheaper.

Regarding XP - is that the copy that came with the Dell? If so, you're probably out of luck - those are locked to the Dell motherboard and won't activate on other hardware. Plan to spend $100 on a copy of Vista Home Premium 64-bit (OEM). Or download Windows 7 beta and use that until the launch (late October).