Criticize this budget system...

[l Xes l]

Ok... this is the super uber budget system for a friend who only wants to run Warcraft3 (NOT WoW) on the system.... any better ideas?

Case: ASYS N7650 Beige/Silver Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 350W Power Supply
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811195014 $33
Mobo: MSI K7N2GM-V Socket A (Socket 462) NVIDIA nForce2 IGP Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130488 $58.50
CPU: AMD Athlon XP 2600+ Barton 333MHz FSB 512KB L2 Cache Socket A Processor
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103417 $79
HSU: SPIRE MicroFlow II SPA07B2 70mm Ball Cooling Fan
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835151110 $12
RAM: PQI POWER Series 512MB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR400(PC3200) System Memory
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141164 $41.83
GPU: n board

Total: $224.33 after shipping.

He's already got other parts such as monitor, keyboard, HD, and so on...

 

[beany323]

damn with such low specs, you might as well tell him to go buy a ps2.

will it run WoW.. if it did, i wouldnt want to see it.

look at other topic within this same forum.

use the search feature:

How to find cool and wonderful things herein

what about os? ahh goodluck

oh warcraft3.. nm.. lol :shocked:

 

[imported_Kensai]

It should run WC3 fine at lower settings, but I suggest you get a discrete VGA for better performance. WC3 isn't very taxing though.

 

[l Xes l]

please read before u post. this system is for warcraft not WoW.
and keep your flamin' "use search dummy" phrases to urself cause i just wanted to get some opinions on this specs.

 

[Fern]

That'll run it fine.

How much is the retail CPU?. Wouldn't have to buy a HS, and maybe save some shipping (+ a longer warranty)

 

[l Xes l]

ok.. i've found the retail AMD Sempron 2600+ Thoroughbred 333MHz FSB 256KB L2 Cache Socket A Processor http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819104212
how does this sempron look against the initial pick which was AMD Athlon XP 2600+ Barton 333MHz FSB 512KB L2 Cache Socket A Processor http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103417
I will be able to save about $8... worth the change?

that sempron is retail w/ hsu.. right?

 

[Frown66]

I played Warcraft 3 a lot way back when. It ran great on a p4 2.26 with a geforce4 ti4400 at 1280x1024x32bit color. Just by looking at your setup, it should run fine as long as you add a Radeon 9000-9200 into the mix ($50 to $70). You NEED to upgrade to something other than the onboard video for 3d games. Make sure you get the one with 128bit ddr ram.

I would personally get a barton w/ 512k L2 over a socket A sempron w/ 256k L2, if the difference is only 8 bucks. They are essentially the exact same cpu, with only the L2 cache being different.

 

[imported_Kensai]

The 2600+ will be faster than the Sempron. That Sempron could also possibly be a Thouroughbred or a Thorton. I'd pay the extra 8$ and go with the 2600+.

 

[l Xes l]

do u really think i'd need to purchase a seperate gpu?

 

[Frown66]

do u really think i'd need to purchase a seperate gpu?

For Warcraft 3, yes. I played it with a geforce2 when it first came out, and that geforce2 is probably better than what most on-video has to offer today. It ran "ok" at 800x600, but if you don't get a better gpu for 3d games, its going to chug.

 

[l Xes l]

darn.. i will have to come out with a new layout den..argh.. . any ideas?

 

[Frown66]

Not really. You could go with a slower cpu as well (2400+) with a separate video card and still be able to run it ok. In War3, 2400 to 2600 will be barely noticeable. Also, at this point, if you're that tight on money, I would go with a retail box sempron/XP 2400+, so it will include the HSF. This will all probably save you maybe $20-25.

I noticed your motherboard is a micro ATX one, so I'm not sure it will fit into the case you selected. Most cases are for regular ATX mb's, and the micro ones will be too small.

 

[l Xes l]

oh shoot... thx for pointing that out about the mobo.. i haven't noticed it..
i think i will move to a cheaper cpu and mobo... and get a gpu...
any suggestions on cpu/mobo combo.. and cheap gpu?

 

[bcoupland]

what about the microatx MSI board based on the ATi Xpress200. Its integrated graphics are on par with a x300. Paired up with a 3000+ and you can have a great system for a good price, with the option to add a card at a future time.

 

[l Xes l]

i think i will just go with a cheap gpu without risking anything.... he already has a fast laptop.. so he will only use this system for wc3....

 

[beany323]

Originally posted by: krnxpride83
please read before u post. this system is for warcraft not WoW.
and keep your flamin' "use search dummy" phrases to urself cause i just wanted to get some opinions on this specs.

bite me. ohh that would be rude. Please bite me.

as you can see i did edit with ( ... oh warcraft3.. nm.. lol :shocked: )

anyway, goodluck.

 

[l Xes l]

going to start new thread. lock please.

 

[beany323]

? for ya. would a low cost dell achieve similar results?

i got a dell for my kids and i have to admit for 500 or so bucks it does pretty damn well on WoW. ( i know not the same game) but warcraft doesnt require as much eyecandy does it? (i bought that game and returned it, and like a week later my son is like isnt this the disk for that game you returned?!?!) lol.

any it may or may not be a option.

gl

 

[cjbruin09]

beany... youre an idiot, go away

(sorry to not be any help to your question, just wanted to say that)

 

[flipkc]

Originally posted by: Fern
That'll run it fine.

How much is the retail CPU?. Wouldn't have to buy a HS, and maybe save some shipping (+ a longer warranty)

Yeah it should run fine on that setup.

 

[Shlong]

MicroATX will fit in almost any ATX case. I've built 4 microATX systems all fitting on different ATX cases, the ports align up perfectly & the cases have extra pins to screw on. The onboard Geforce4 MX on that mobo is good enough for warcraft3 and even ran WOW decently, I know because my friend had the same setup. However, the detail settings were on low he recently got a 6600gt & now he says it runs great with detail settings almost maxed out.

 

[beany323]

Originally posted by: cjbruin09
beany... youre an idiot, go away

(sorry to not be any help to your question, just wanted to say that)

lol and i am only following your lead.

/bows to master idiot.

and no that wasnt any help... 'ecpt to prove your statement.