Custom built computer, need advice please

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
B

BeltDog1

Junior Member
Dec 28, 2004
3
0
0
Please give me some suggestions on what I might change when it comes to building my computer. These are the components im looking at.

NEC 16 X Double Layer DVD±RW Drive, Black, Model ND-3500A BK, OEM

Maxtor 120GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, MODEL 6Y120M0, OEM Drive Only

MSI "K8N Neo2 Platinum" NVIDIA nForce3 ULTRA Chipset Motherboard For AMD Socket 939 CPU -RETAIL

AMD Athlon 64 3500+, 512K, L2 Cache, Socket 939 Windows Compatible 64-bit Processor - Retail

XFX nVIDIA GeForce 6600GT Video Card, 128MB GDDR3, 128-Bit, Dual DVI, AGP 8X, Model "PVT43AND" -RETAIL

2 x Crucial 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-2700 - OEM

Looking For suggestions on Case/Cooling, Power Supply



 
T

ts3433

Platinum Member
Jun 29, 2004
2,731
0
0
If you don't mind a little OCing, get a Winchester 3200+ and use the savings to get a slightly better video card (an X800 XL would be great if you wait a little bit and take the Chaintech option). Check out the Chaintech VNF4/Ultra at $120 if you'd like to get PCIe now. Make sure the hard drive has 8MB of cache, maybe switch the brand to a Seagate. Up the RAM to PC3200--Corsair and Mushkin will give you a gig of value RAM (CL2.5, all you need) on Newegg for $140.

Case/PSU: Antec Sonatas are pretty good combos of a high-quality case and 380W PSU.
 
T

ts3433

Platinum Member
Jun 29, 2004
2,731
0
0
If buying a PSU separately, I would recommend an Enermax over an Antec--both are great units, but the Antecs' +12V rails seem to be a little weaker.
 
L

letsgetsilly

Senior member
Oct 27, 2002
397
0
0
Hey, this is BeltDog from above under a friend's name.

I am not interested in overclocking at all, just a solid gaming system.

Think it would be worth it to get an NFORCE 4 board with pciExpress?

EDIT: I checked out those cases, they are too expensive for me. I am not interested in anything super fancy, I just want to focus on having a very solid gaming system for a decent price (right around $1000). A $100+ case won't fit the budget.

Thanks for all the help so far.
 
T

ts3433

Platinum Member
Jun 29, 2004
2,731
0
0
If you're set on a 3500+ and don't want to OC, get the Newcastle core (cheaper). IMO, it's worth it if the board's that cheap, and Chaintech puts out decent products, so I'd give it a try.

Remember that the Sonata includes a very good power supply for around $100. It's a really good value, and trust me--you don't want to skimp on your PSU.
 
D

dnuggett

Diamond Member
Sep 13, 2003
6,703
0
76
Originally posted by: letsgetsilly
Hey, this is BeltDog from above under a friend's name.

I am not interested in overclocking at all, just a solid gaming system.

Think it would be worth it to get an NFORCE 4 board with pciExpress?

EDIT: I checked out those cases, they are too expensive for me. I am not interested in anything super fancy, I just want to focus on having a very solid gaming system for a decent price (right around $1000). A $100+ case won't fit the budget.

Thanks for all the help so far.
Click to expand...


It helps to say what you want the system for in the very beginning. How often do you upgrade? If you want a solid gaming system that 6600GT will hold you for a bit, but a 6800GT in PciE woudl help to extend your upgrade path when the games get more intense.
 
Gothgar

Gothgar

Lifer
Sep 1, 2004
13,429
1
0
looks good, as previously mentioned, the Sonata is a good case/psu, but it is very plain looking. If you want something not so "corporate America" look into Thermaltake or Coolmaster
 
BentValve

BentValve

Diamond Member
Dec 26, 2001
4,190
0
0
Get PC32000 ram ..id recommend Cosair Value Select , 512x2
Dowgrade CPU to the 3200+ as suggested
Upgrade to a 6800GT


Looking For suggestions on Case/Cooling, Power Supply
>>>>
How much are you looking to spend in this department?
 
BentValve

BentValve

Diamond Member
Dec 26, 2001
4,190
0
0
Id recommend buying the CPU / Mobo combo from Monarch PC ..you'll get
HL2 and Farcry for free as well as a 4 month Napster subcription + the price is great.

2 Pre-Tested and Setup AMD Athlon 64/FX (939) Combo 1 $0.00 $0.00
Motherboard: 110228 - MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum Audio/GB-LAN/USB/IE $139.00 $139.00
Processor: 120428 - AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 512K 90nm (939) (Reta $216.00 $216.00
Heatsink Fan: None
Memory: None
2nd Memory: None
Round Cables: None
Warranty: 800056 - Motherboard-CPU Warranty - 90 Days
Far Cry Promotion: 270846 - FREE Full DVD Version of Far Cry - 39.95
Napster Promotion: 270136 - FREE Napster Music Download for 4 Months
Half Life 2 Promotion: 27F854 - FREE Half Life 2 Full Version Coupon with
Subtotal for 80152 with your selected options: $355.00

>>>>>>>

 
B

BeltDog1

Junior Member
Dec 28, 2004
3
0
0
Hey everyone,

Sorry that I have been absent for a while, but I haven't purchased the computer and could still use some suggestions.

Right now I'm struggling with whether I should go with an Nforce4 or stay with the nforce3 neo platinum board. I would like this computer to last a while, especially for games, and if I am going to upgrade the video card down the line, i'll need that pci express slot.

Also, Im definetly going for 1 gb of ram, even if I have to drop the processor down to 3200 vs 3500.

As far as the case and PSU goes, I'm not intetersted in anything fancy at all, just whatever gets the job done.

Thanks, keep up with the suggestions.

 
D

daniel49

Diamond Member
Jan 8, 2005
4,814
0
71
takes a look at the aspire alien or super alien comes with 6 fans with leds and power supply mine runs like a refrigerator never gets hot
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom