Computer specs for a friend...

[imported_DoctaBu]

I'm going to build a new computer for a friend of mine, and he wants to be able to run Half-Life2, WoW, and other new-ish games well on it.

He also wants a 17" flat CRT. His budget right now is hovering around $1000.

I was wondering if you guys could help me out with some specs for a nice machine that can do this.

Thanks a lot for your help guys.

Bu

 

[ThePiston]

depends on what he's used to. If he likes pacman then a budget system will do, if he likes playing Far Cry on 1600x1200 on full AA then blow your load on a nice video card. For that money, I'd get this stuff:

A64 3000+ $149
Nforce 3 mobo $90
Case/PSU $60
1 gig value Ram $140
36gbRaptor $105
9800 Pro $190
Dual Layer DVD burner $67
17" LCD monitor $259
copper HS/F $20

all that is $1013 from newegg

That's not top of the line stuff, but it'll play anything out there very well.

 

[dc5]

6600gt > 9800 pro

 

[ThePiston]

the only AGP 6600GT is $245, so if that's ok get it.

 

[Mrvile]

Whoa a 36gb Raptor for a budget gaming machine? Doubt that will be enough room for 3 - 4 gig game installations such as HL2, WoW, etc. I'd stick with a 160gb SATA 7200rpm hard drive instead for about the same price: http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/...ctCode=101208-1-316604

Half-Life 2 actually runs great on the 9800pro at 12 x 10 res with no AA (lowest is about 66 fps), but since you friend will only be using a 17" monitor he'll probably be running games at 10 x 7 instead, I bet it will run even better.

 

[davidjaii]

if he wants to get a system for gaming.. why get a lcd ?..

 

[ThePiston]

my fault, i thought he requested LCD, i see now it was CRT.

 

[oogabooga]

i have a lcd for gaming, it's fine (minimal ghosting but i have to try really hard to see it). Though if your budget is 1000 i'd ditch the lcd.

I would also encourage him to get the 19in CRT if he can, the price shouldn't take too much of a hit, and he'll probally appreciate the size more

AMD64 3000+ / MOBO (NForce3)
Zalman 7000ALCU
200gig Seagate PATA
DVD Burner (DVR-a08XL)
CASE/Power supply
9800Pro

that all rang me up around 700 dollars, and i love my rig. That leaves 300 for moniter & peripherals. I'm installing HL2 right now, but im sure it'll run fine.

 

[ThePiston]

OK, an edit

A64 3000+ $149
Nforce 3 mobo $90
Case/PSU $60
1 gig value Ram $140
160GB Seagate 7200rpm $105
Nvidia 6600GT $245
Dual Layer DVD burner $67
17" CRT monitor $159
copper HS/F $20

$1035

 

[Mrvile]

^^That's the setup I'd go with but if you factor in peripherals that would boost the price up to about 1100. By peripherals I mean mouse, keyboard, speakers, mic, etc.

 

[Gamingphreek]

That 6600GT IMO is not worth it. You can get a 6800NU at Fry's for 250, which is a superior card.

-Kevin

 

[foofoo]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
That 6600GT IMO is not worth it. You can get a 6800NU at Fry's for 250, which is a superior card.

-Kevin

ditto

link

 

[davidjaii]

with my rig... i wish i put a little more money back then for a 6800gt... hl2 loads slowly/alot of details/a little jumpy

 

[imported_DoctaBu]

ANTEC Black Solution Series ATX Mid-Tower Case with 350W Power Supply, Model "SLK3700-BQE" -RETAIL
$75.00

Samsung Black 1.44MB 3.5inch Floppy Disk Drive, Model SFD321B/LBL1, OEM Drive Only
$6.75

Samsung Black 52X32X52X16 DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive, Model TS-H492A/WBGH, OEM
$35.99

SAMSUNG 160GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model SP1614C, OEM Drive Only
$90.00

Corsair Value Select Dual Kits 184 Pin 512MB(256MBx2) DDR PC-3200 - Retail
$86.27

ViewSonic E70F+SB 17" Perfect Flat CRT Monitor ?RETAIL
$134.00

MSI nForce3 250 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Athlon 64 Socket 754 CPU, Model "K8N Neo Platinum" (MS-7030) -RETAIL
$124.00

AMD Athlon 64 3400+, 512k L2 Cache, The Only 64-bit Windows Compatible Processor - Retail
$219.00

Logitech X-220 2.1 Speaker -RETAIL
$29.00

POWERCOLOR ATI RADEON 9800 PRO EZ Video Card, 128MB DDR, 128-Bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP, Model "R98-PC3F" -RETAIL
$159.00



Total: $1,038.13 (w/ shipping)



What do you think of that?

 

[Parabellum27]

Originally posted by: davidjaii
with my rig... i wish i put a little more money back then for a 6800gt... hl2 loads slowly/alot of details/a little jumpy

This is the kind of statements that frightens me, heck, with a gig of ram your computers still stuters?! Yikes..

Para

 

[davidjaii]

yea.. but you get what you pay for...

 

[Kishan]

why not fit a 6800GT?
400 for the 6800GT
100mobo
80 for RAM
60 hard drive
60 case/psu
30 optical drive
130 chip
150 monitor

Thats a thousand, right?