gaming computer advice please

[Pauly]

I am looking for a gaming desktop for flight simulation. It will NOT be used on the internet at all.
I have a Coolermaster case with removeable mobo tray and it has a Antec true power 550 PSU.
I am looking for a cpu/motherboard/graphics card/sata hard drive combination.
AMD looks the way to go, though I don't NEED dual core, do I?
Graphics card/mobo - Pc Express not AGP;
Until Vista comes along can it run on win98SE? If not,why not?

It does look as if consideration may have to be given to ready made direct PCs ? Mesh/Evesham etc as the price diff between them and self build is small?
Also some modern mobos (Gigabyte ) suggest they need ATX 2 (24 pin ) PSUs, ? Therefore my Antec may not be suitable- (so another reason to go ready made?) - what's that all about please.?

I live in UK.

Suggestions would be appreciated please..

 

[Ike0069]

Normally I'd say you need to give a budget. But since you live in the UK, that makes pricing out a PC difficult using US vendors and pricing.

Here's a start:
Epox 9npa+ultra
AMD64 3700+
nVidia 7800 GT
Seagate 160GB SATA
A 20 pin PSU will work, but I personally would buy a 24 pin PSU. -- Fortron 500W Blue Storm.
That's about $800-850 here in the states (This is with the new PSU, subtract $90 if you plan to keep yours)

I'm guessing you can run this setup on W98SE, but I'm not positive. Someone will know for sure.

Edit: Wow, just noticed. .00335 PPD. Very impressive.

 

[imported_itr]

what's your budget? what are you looking to spend?

 

[notanotheracct]

dual core is only useful for multitasking. if you're gonna play games, burn cds, do virus scans, encode videos, or whatever else simultaneously then dual core will help alot, otherwise it's a complete waste.
win98SE should be fine as long as your games mention that they can run on it, otherwise the only small problem would be that 98 doesn't manage higher amounts of RAM (516+) very well but that might not even be an issue for you.
i think 24pin PSU's are only needed for PCI-Express, if you built your own and stuck with AGP your PSU would be fine.

lastly, if you want to save cash then getting some used/refurbished items might not be a bad idea if you get them from reliable sources.

 

[Mesix]

If the mobo asks for 24 pins, give it 24 pins. The stability is worth it.

 

[forumposter32]

Motherboards with nForce3 and nForce4 chipsets are not Win98SE compatible.
PCI-E is not Win98SE compatible.

However, you could get something like an Abit KV8 Pro and have an AGP slot and be compatible with Win98SE.

Me, I found WinXP was OK (just upgraded this year). And I got the setup in my sig so I could play UT2004 at max settings.

 

[imported_itr]

i would not wait for windows longhorn. it is a LONG time down the road. athlon 64 should be optimized more for winxp more than win98se. also, some modern games do not support win98.

 

[Pauly]

Thanks for the replies.
Budget around £1000.

Ike - Is this edit meant to be here?- Don't understand

Originally posted by: Ike0069
N

Edit: Wow, just noticed. .00335 PPD. Very impressive.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Pauly
Thanks for the replies.
Budget around £1000.

Ike - Is this edit meant to be here?- Don't understand

Originally posted by: Ike0069
N

Edit: Wow, just noticed. .00335 PPD. Very impressive.

He means you have a remarkably low "posts per day"