• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Gaming setup, rate before I buy!

Z

ZeRo2157

Junior Member
Well I'm getting a new computer which I hope will last me at least another 5 years, I went on a little online shopping spree and put together a couple parts, once I order them the folks at BestBuy said they would put it together for me.

Mobo:
Asus A8N
http://tinyurl.com/cdzw9

Proc:
AMD Athlon 64 4000+
http://tinyurl.com/7z34k

Monitor:
Veiwsonic 19" CRT
http://tinyurl.com/cs5dq

Ram:
Kingston Dual Channel 1024MB (2x512MB) PC3200 DDR 400MHZ (2 of these, 2gb)
http://tinyurl.com/9355u

DVD Drive:
http://tinyurl.com/bomrx

Burner:
http://tinyurl.com/9hoke

HD's:
Western Digital 74GB Raptor 10k (2 of these)
http://tinyurl.com/c698h

Case & PSU:
Pretty!
http://tinyurl.com/83avx

Video card:
XFX GeForce 7800 GTX
http://tinyurl.com/7logg

Sound card:
Creative SBA 2 ZS
http://tinyurl.com/7eepo

---------------
Soooooo...I'm totally clueless to the whole custom built pc world and was hoping you guys could rate it and fill me in on any info (like better parts and stuff)
Rate it, tell me if the parts are even compatible with each other, I'm off to BestBuy tomorrow to double check it all. I might get my parents to order it within the week 😀
 
$160 for a 2hr labour fee thing. It'll take the whole day for them to actually put it together what with all the distractions and tending to customers and all.
 
Do you think you might want to try to do it yourself? It sounds scary at first, but it's a lot easier to do than I thought it was going to be.

Welcome to AT by the way.

Here's a guide that one of our members, mechbgon put together that shows what's involved. It's mainly just screwing stuff together and plugging things in.

As for your system, I'd say you could easily shave a couple hundred off that and get almost the same performance.

One thing I would definately get rid of would be the second raptor. Even one raptor is not very cost effective for the amount of storage it gives you. If you want to keep the raptor I would suggest getting a big 200gig+ drive for the second HDD.

You could also bump the CPU down to a 3700+ range.
 
Please don't put the Raptors in Raid 0 if this is why you are getting two of them. In the single user environment unless you are doing massive encoding and large file transfers Raid 0 is a complete waste of time. I would get a new SATA II larger capacity drive for my second drive if I were you instead of the Raptor. Do a search of Raid 0 in the forum and you will find results backing up what I say. Otherwise, great system. Bestbuy people putting together makes me a little nervous but I am sure everything will work out. Until August and my X2 4400+ and 7800 I am jealous.
 
Parts aree all compatible... I would make a few changes, but most deal with lowering the bleeding edge components (CPU, GPU, HDD). Here we go:

Mobo: I guess. I would recommend the DFI if you are OCing, but the A8N is decent...

CPU: If you have any urgew to Oc, just get a 3000+/3200+ venice and enjoy 2.6 GHz of screaming ecstasy...

RAM: Just get 2x1GB... It may be a bit more, but then you won't be forced into 2T command rate and will still have a little upgrabability...

DVD drive: do you really need another DVD-ROM?

DVD+-RW: OK, for the price

HDs: Just geta decent 160GB 7200 RPM drive. Much cheaper, slightly more space, and 99% of the performance. Windows may take an extra second to load, but whatever.

Case and PSU: Invest in a better PSU. X-connect, while not horrible, is definately not for a high end PC like this. Look for brands like Antec, Fortron, PCP&C, Seasonic, OCz, etc. 450W should be plenty

GPU: Undeniably it is the fastest GPU in existance. I guess you believe the price is worth it...

Sound: Whatever, do you really need a seperate card or is onboard enough?

I'm toom lazy to total up that system, but I bet I could build a system with 99% of the performance for less than 2000 CAD (~$1600 US) plus monitor


Here (US prices, i will convert the total)
mobo: DFI nf4 Ultra-D ($140)
CPU: 3000+ venice ($145)
Monitor: same monitor ($220)
RAM: 2x OCZ Platinum 1GB sticks (2-3-2) ($260)
DVD: 2x NEC 3520A ($100)
HD: Seagate 160GB SATA ($90)
Case: Your choice ($100 tops)
PSU: Seasonic S12-500W ($130)
GPU: same ($600)
Sound: try onboard until you really need a seperate card ($0)

Total: $1785 US
$2200 CAD

If you really want to, you can get value RAM (corsair is what I recommend -$100 US). Still an awesome PC. It will actually be faster than yours because of the High OC and tighter RAM timings.
 
whatever you were gonna buy, dont.

instead, listen to what these people tell you :thumbsup:

(the bestbuy thing was kind of a giveaway)
 
Awesome, thanks for the guide. Installing this thing myself isn't really an option. Sure I could do it, but my parents would rather pay an extra $160 for installation rather than let me have a go at it 😛

Update:
http://tinyurl.com/cncen

Switching CPU's alone shaved off almost $600. I'm kind of hesitant about it, would OC'ing it really match it up with the 4000+?
*Cough* Wonder if thats covered undered the installation fee too😉

Thanks for all the help so far guys.
 
If you want to spend alot on the CPU, go with the 4200+ rather than the 4000+. The 4200+ is a dual core, whereas the 4000+ has a single core.

If you want to get the most out of your overclock, get good RAM. If your trying to get an overclock like a 3000+ to a 4000+, you might want DDR500 RAM. Also a 3000+ probably wont OC to the level of a 4000+ without some serious tweaking, and some extra cooling. But it should do 3500+ easily, probably with just stock cooling.

RoD
 
Originally posted by: ZeRo2157
Awesome, thanks for the guide. Installing this thing myself isn't really an option. Sure I could do it, but my parents would rather pay an extra $160 for installation rather than let me have a go at it 😛

Update:
http://tinyurl.com/cncen

Switching CPU's alone shaved off almost $600. I'm kind of hesitant about it, would OC'ing it really match it up with the 4000+?
*Cough* Wonder if thats covered undered the installation fee too😉

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


but you could save them the money, and do it yourself...if they're worried about you breaking something, all the parts will be under warranty when you get them. Everyone on here who has built their own computers, had to start somewhere, most didn't know too much the first time, it's about learning, and you can only benefit from doing you it yourself.

Also, you say you plan to OC it, but yet your not confident enough to build it, which in my book is easier than OC'ing most of the time. Plus OC will void that nice $160 warranty you got when BB put it together.
 
Originally posted by: ZeRo2157
Awesome, thanks for the guide. Installing this thing myself isn't really an option. Sure I could do it, but my parents would rather pay an extra $160 for installation rather than let me have a go at it 😛

Update:
http://tinyurl.com/cncen

Switching CPU's alone shaved off almost $600. I'm kind of hesitant about it, would OC'ing it really match it up with the 4000+?
*Cough* Wonder if thats covered undered the installation fee too😉

Thanks for all the help so far guys.
Click to expand...
Why not get a SATA drive instead of ata100?
Also you can get 2gb of ram for less than $300..
 
Wow, that CRT you picked is way over priced.
Wait until OD has one of those 19 inch sales again where you can get them for 70AR
 
you're wasting a lot of money 🙁



for starters, dont get 4 sticks of RAM. you will be forced to run 2t, which will give you quite a performance hit.
 
A 4000+ will run at 2.4 GHz with 1MB L2. A 3000+ venice should OC to 2.5-2.7, which will end up being faster than the stock 4000+ even with half the cache...

The PC in my sig was my first build. I was a bit worried about making a mistake, but it was actually very simple. You just need to screw a few thing in asnd plug everything in. Mech's guide was a great help to me. I finished the whole thing in about 3 hours. I actually had no problems (like failed boot or anything). the trick is just to take your time and triple/quadruple check everything.
 
Having Best Buy build it for that kind of money is pretty crazy. Just try it yourself, it's quite simple. Basic rule, if it doesn't fit, it doesn't go there. Use Mech's guide and you can save yourself a couple hundred bucks of labor money.
 
Do yourself a favor, and configure a system from here. It will end up probably costing you less then what you are buying the parts for now and they will build it and burn it in for 48 hours, load the O.S. and it comes with a 1 year phone support and inhouse waranty. I bought the rig in my sig from them last Xmas for $1000 and i could not be any happier. I had one pblm with the DVD drive initially and they sent a tech out in 2 days and replaced it for me, free of charge.

AT the time i was going to try and build the PC myself after buying all the parts from newegg, but when i compared it to the cost of these guys, they were cheaper, it included the O.S. loaded, plus it was burned in for 48 hours and had 1 year phone/on-site waranty.

http://www.*****.com/system/cfg02.asp?v=d


Replace ***** with buyxg

You should also consider saving some money and going with a 3000+ venice core and you can Overclock it to 4000+ speeds for a fraction of the cost of a 4000+
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top