Decent Gaming Build?

[Caly]

It's for my BF.
He has no intention to overclock, he has a 19in Dell LCD already,
he loves to watch DVDs on his computer, and is thinking around a 2.5k budget.

Cooler Master TAC-T01-EK WaveMaster, Black
PS 520W - OCZ ModStream ATX 2.01
Asus A8N-SLI Premium nForce4 SLI Audio/GB
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Dual-Core 512K
DDR (400) 3200 - 2 GB (2 pcs 1GB) OCZ Dua
SATA - Western Digital 320GB SATA 8MB Cac
DVD±RW - BENQ DW1640 16X DVD±RW DL Black
Sony 1.44MB 3.5" (Black) Floppy Drive
Creative Labs X-Fi Platinum 7.1 24-Bit So
GeForce 7900 GT 256MB DDR3/PCI-E/HDT
Microsoft Windows XP Professional w/Service Pak 2


Thanks!

 

[Howard]

Already have speakers?

 

[Ultralight]

Very nice set-up. The only thing I would change is getting a decent sound card with either Klipsch or Bose speakers. Forget onboard audio.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Ultralight
Very nice set-up. The only thing I would change is getting a decent sound card with either Klipsch or Bose speakers. Forget onboard audio.

I don't see why onboard audio would be used. There's an X-Fi Platinum in there.

 

[HorseShoe]

Originally posted by: Ultralight
Very nice set-up. The only thing I would change is getting a decent sound card with either Klipsch or Bose speakers. Forget onboard audio.

I wouldn't recommend Bose speakers as they have been notorious for making cheap quality goods and pricing them at a premium price so that to pass them as 'high-end' audio.

The Klipsch or the Logitech Z-5500 would be a good choice esp if you want to watch DVDs.

But overall it seems like a nice build, too bad you don't want to OC.

 

[TriggerHappy101]

Originally posted by: Ultralight
Very nice set-up. The only thing I would change is getting a decent sound card with either Klipsch or Bose speakers. Forget onboard audio.

BLOSE...... lol............... I hope your kidding.

 

[Caly]

Thanks, yes he has speakers, and the X-Fi Platinum 7.1 sound card looked decent.

 

[Gagan]

First of all.
I'd toss that 4200 either get a 4400 or a 3800 or an Opteron 165. 1mb x 2 L2 cache is somewhat vital for your PC.

Secondly I am advocating the western digital or maxtor 300gb 16 MB Cache.
The PSU is fine bu tI suggest a 600 watt just to "future" proof it if you kno wwhat i'm saying.

The ram can be valuram the performance won't be significant, I got it because I like to stroke my epenis. OCZ or corsair valuram will do as good as the preformance ram, unless he plans to overclock kick the fancy shnazzy ram.

Upgrade to an A8N32 SLI DEXLUE, 2 x16 lanes will be key in the near future, I'm thinkin the 8 series will fully utilize each x16 lane as opposed to each one using an x8 lane.


Get the NEC 3550A dvdrw, cheap, great and highly praised.

Ask away for furthur inquires

 

[Gagan]

Kick the XP SP2 Pro CD, get x64. I have it.

new systems like that won't hae trouble twith drivers and it's much more snappier and efficient.

 

[Caly]

Upgraded to the A8N32 SLI Deluxe, trying the x64 OS, kicked down to the Athlon 3800, switched the drive to a 16MB cache variety, added a 2nd DVD drive because he likes to have more than 1 game in at a time, and it has been ordered for around $2200. ^^

Thanks again!

 

[erikistired]

i'd skip windows xp 64. i sent a weekend with it, still isn't ready for primetime. driver support can be iffy (3com anyone?) and even windows update was giving me fits. just my advice.

 

[Gagan]

WHat do you mean primetime? I havemy rig fully supported. Hers will have NO problem.

 

[Gagan]

Great job Caly.! We'll help you OC it

 

[erikistired]

Originally posted by: Gagan
WHat do you mean primetime? I havemy rig fully supported. Hers will have NO problem.

general users? just because your rig is supported doesn't mean everyone needs to run it.

 

[Gagan]

It's much more efficient for the x64, program and driver support are FINE especially for new rigs my friends

lets not make this x64 vs x32 though

 

[Howard]

Can't you use Daemon Tools to mount a copied image? It can emulate certain security features.

 

[ShellGuy]

ya u can i use damon to image my BF2 so i don't have to use the CD while i play.



Will G.

 

[Gagan]

But you cache 4 gigs on your c drive which is alot...

I'd rather get 2 cd drives as well i was so stupid

 

[LifeStealer]

You can create an image containing the required BF2 files. Its around 4megs. Google it.

 

[Finns14]

I would go with a single core cpu for now because if this is a media/gaming pc there is nothing that having a second core will help him with.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Finns14
I would go with a single core cpu for now because if this is a media/gaming pc there is nothing that having a second core will help him with.

If it's for media, video encoding DEFINITELY speeds up with multiple cores.

 

[ForumMaster]

Nice Rig! Don't forget a nice set of speakers...maybe the famous Z550's?

 

[Gagan]

Originally posted by: LifeStealer
You can create an image containing the required BF2 files. Its around 4megs. Google it.

You're talking about illegal nocd cracks.

 

[erikistired]

Originally posted by: Gagan

Originally posted by: LifeStealer
You can create an image containing the required BF2 files. Its around 4megs. Google it.

You're talking about illegal nocd cracks.

not exactly. and they aren't really ~illegal~ unless you're stealing software. if you own a legitimate copy of the software it certainly isn't ~illegal~ to use a nocd patch no matter what certain companies would have you believe.