Help me build a $1500 gaming PC

[Zebo]

What a waste. Your system is just fine.

6800GT $350 sell 5950 for $150 = $200 = done.

Bank $1300.


Or you could get a really great monitor if you don't already have one and see real dividens instead of nominal boost buying an AMD setup.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: Zebo
What a waste. Your system is just fine.

6800GT $350 sell 5950 for $150 = $200 = done.

Bank $1300.


Or you could get a really great monitor if you don't already have one and see real dividens instead of nominal boost buying an AMD setup.

i think selling his old rig was part of the 1500, but he wasnt too clear

 

[Plumcuda1]

Yes, I would have to sell this to have $1500 to spend.

So about the AMD chips ...
Winchester or Newcastle? both are offered in the 3500+

Heres the updated list.

6800GT $400(MSI) (show me a good brand cheaper)
3500+ (Newcastle) $ 269
ePoX mobo? ep-9nda3 $126 I know nothing about this brand or board ... anyone have any input on this??

 

[imported_yetti]

Originally posted by: otispunkmeyer

Originally posted by: Zebo
What a waste. Your system is just fine.

6800GT $350 sell 5950 for $150 = $200 = done.

Bank $1300.


Or you could get a really great monitor if you don't already have one and see real dividens instead of nominal boost buying an AMD setup.

i think selling his old rig was part of the 1500, but he wasnt too clear

look up a few posts where i asked him and he said it was

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: Plumcuda1
Yes, I would have to sell this to have $1500 to spend.

So about the AMD chips ...
Winchester or Newcastle? both are offered in the 3500+

Heres the updated list.

6800GT $400(MSI) (show me a good brand cheaper)
3500+ (Newcastle) $ 269
ePoX mobo? ep-9nda3 $126 I know nothing about this brand or board ... anyone have any input on this??

MSI isnt a good make IMO

 

[Plumcuda1]

Chaintech and BFG are out in my book. eVGA maybe?

 

[otispunkmeyer]

eVGA are good, so i understand, they dont get sold over here in the UK though so i wouldnt know 100%

 

[jlee24219]

Upgrading a computer is never a waste, every little bit counts. AMD 64 socket 939 would definatley be better for gaming, now going with pci e over agp 8x is all up to you, you will not get any perfromance difference right now by going with pcie, however it will be future proofed.

And I can attest the audigy 2 zs really is a big step over intergrated sound, i hear so much stuff know that I couldnt before. Plus if you plan on getting a sound system you will need one of these beast to get the full quality.

 

[ayman]

Originally posted by: Plumcuda1
Chaintech and BFG are out in my book. eVGA maybe?

why is BFG out ?? I have that card and its GREAT!

The winchester is most likely 90nm and the newcastle is most likely the 130nm from the price you gave. Only difference is the winchester's 90nm core saves power and produces less heat giving you a 1-7% gain in performance. Not much but for the OC'er that could make a difference.

For motherboards with PCIe support, I like the Chaintech nF4 non-SLI

For AGP go with Asus A8V or the MSI Neo2 Platinum for better overclocking abilities ;o

 

[drpootums]

Yes, the BFG 6800GT is a nice card, i like mine a lot.

Also, if you may overclock then i'd go with the winchester 3500+, but if you dont want to then i'd just save the $20-30 and get the newcastle.

 

[imported_Wen]

Doesn't look like you need an upgrade at all. Why do people insist on throwing money away so easily?

BTW, your estimates for selling those parts are a bit high.

 

[iamskew]

^yup

 

[RussianSensation]

Originally posted by: Plumcuda1
I am dead set against INTEL on this one.


Heres my list so far.... tell me what you guys/gals think.

AMD 3500+ 268.00
PNY 6800GT 389.00
ASUS K8N-E 125.00
P160 case again 120.00
Neopower 480 110.00
WD 250gb HD 151.00
cheap drives 70/pr
Memory ..... not real sure yet .... OCZ PC3500? 210.00 if so.

TOTAL so far: $1443.00



edit: I havent really shopped prices either .. most prices are from Zipzoomfly. Any other good places with cheap prices?

Nice. If you are going to overclock, I'd get Value ram since expensive ram isnt going to do much for A64 (unlike AXP and P4 which enjoy additional memory bandwidth). Then you could drop to A64 3200+ and get X800XT over 6800GT using the price difference (also X800XT PCIe is better since it costs less than 6800GT PCIe). These are just minor suggestions. See if you can get a cheaper HD as there are mail-in-rebate deals floating round. Go Nforce 4 and PCIe though. Also others have recommended Audigy 2 ZS, which is an excellent sound card. By getting 1 gig of Value $140 ram, you can will subsidize the sound card.

Here is a review for you on the performance advantage: Audigy 2 ZS goodness
Audigy 2 ZS HL2 performance As you can see 15% improvement over onboard sound. That is like stepping up from A64 3000+ to A64 3500+. Also you'll get better sound quality.

 

[Marktoloba]

Originally posted by: Plumcuda1
Yes, I would have to sell this to have $1500 to spend.

So about the AMD chips ...
Winchester or Newcastle? both are offered in the 3500+

Winchester Blows Newcastle Out Of The Water!

 

[imported_X]

Winchester is a little cooler and more power efficient, and runs slightly faster. But the extra cost is really only justified if you plan to OC. If not, get a Newcastle.

 

[Plumcuda1]

Originally posted by: Wen
Doesn't look like you need an upgrade at all. Why do people insist on throwing money away so easily?

BTW, your estimates for selling those parts are a bit high.

How is it throwing money away when I can get a better gaming system built for $100 or so? If anything I threw money away when I built this one, I should have researched AMD better.

 

[Plumcuda1]

Heres what I come up with .... keep everything BUT the mobo/cpu and GFX card (FS below PM me) and get these:

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/...uctCode=80717-R-240412 $392.00

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/...jsp?ProductCode=322987 $389.00

 

[fuzzynavel]

quote:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by: Wen
Doesn't look like you need an upgrade at all. Why do people insist on throwing money away so easily?

BTW, your estimates for selling those parts are a bit high.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



I understand your sentiments Wen.. earlier plumcuda said that his mobo/CPU were only 1month old.....what a f**king waste of money.....

Plumcuda....Does your computer run??......does it play games the way you want them to play..??

Only thing that could do with an upgrade is the FX5950......and that is only 1 generation old......

I know of a few people on this forum who can only dream about upgrading on a whim month after month...and this is just sickening...

Oh no it runs a few degrees too hot.....boohoo......get a f**king life

But in the end it is your money.......Do you still live with your parents by any chance? or are you just rich?

But as I said...your money....your life....enjoy it

 

[iamskew]

Originally posted by: Plumcuda1

Originally posted by: Wen
Doesn't look like you need an upgrade at all. Why do people insist on throwing money away so easily?

BTW, your estimates for selling those parts are a bit high.

How is it throwing money away when I can get a better gaming system built for $100 or so? If anything I threw money away when I built this one, I should have researched AMD better.

because you're insane if you think you're going to get $1400-$1500 for a home built computer like that

 

[Plumcuda1]

Originally posted by: fuzzynavel
quote:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by: Wen
Doesn't look like you need an upgrade at all. Why do people insist on throwing money away so easily?

BTW, your estimates for selling those parts are a bit high.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



I understand your sentiments Wen.. earlier plumcuda said that his mobo/CPU were only 1month old.....what a f**king waste of money.....

Plumcuda....Does your computer run??......does it play games the way you want them to play..??

Only thing that could do with an upgrade is the FX5950......and that is only 1 generation old......

I know of a few people on this forum who can only dream about upgrading on a whim month after month...and this is just sickening...

Oh no it runs a few degrees too hot.....boohoo......get a f**king life

But in the end it is your money.......Do you still live with your parents by any chance? or are you just rich?

But as I said...your money....your life....enjoy it

No need to be jealous. Sorry ... I dont live with my mom. I'm 38, own my own company and want a better pc for gaming.... at the same time I dont want to dump alot more money into this thus selling the mobo/cpu and gfx card.

 

[fuzzynavel]

Jealous....me???? yes I am I suppose.....I work hard and am supporting wife through college while she does a teaching degree.......I see none of the money I make....

I don't grudge anyone spending huge amounts of cash on computer components.....I would love to do it myself......But I hate it when lots of cash is totally wasted for little or no gain..

Plumcuda.....the point I am trying to get across is that by upgrading you may not see that much benefit and you will be disappointed.....A 3.6Ghz P4 is already pretty much top of the range and changing to AMD you will lose most of the P4's multitasking......

Upgrade the FX5950 to a 6800GT or Ultra and then see if you still need an upgrade..........Once you have a P4 3.6GHz with 6800Ultra then AMD may only beat it by 10 Fps......is it really worth $1500 for 10 fps???

I know people on this forum go on about how AMD A64's are soooooo good.....yes they are good and they do beat P4's in virtually every task.......but unless you have them running side by side then you would never realise....i.e P4's are still extremely good and will do everything that you ask of them very well.....but AMD will do it very slightly better....

that is your choice......

Good luck whatever your decision....

P.S I am a little bit of an AMD fanboy......so praising intel is a hard thing to do!!!

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: Marktoloba

Originally posted by: Plumcuda1
Yes, I would have to sell this to have $1500 to spend.

So about the AMD chips ...
Winchester or Newcastle? both are offered in the 3500+

Winchester Blows Newcastle Out Of The Water!

hyperbole much?

 

[fuzzynavel]

Originally posted by: Zebo

Originally posted by: Marktoloba

Originally posted by: Plumcuda1
Yes, I would have to sell this to have $1500 to spend.

So about the AMD chips ...
Winchester or Newcastle? both are offered in the 3500+

Winchester Blows Newcastle Out Of The Water!

hyperbole much?

Hyperbole much????? what is that supposed to mean....?


On the winchester vs newcastle issue....they are both good processors but the winchester is on 90nm and is a known overclocker......newcastle....still good but older technology..might OC, might not...

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: fuzzynavel
Jealous....me???? yes I am I suppose.....I work hard and am supporting wife through college while she does a teaching degree.......I see none of the money I make....

I don't grudge anyone spending huge amounts of cash on computer components.....I would love to do it myself......But I hate it when lots of cash is totally wasted for little or no gain..

Plumcuda.....the point I am trying to get across is that by upgrading you may not see that much benefit and you will be disappointed.....A 3.6Ghz P4 is already pretty much top of the range and changing to AMD you will lose most of the P4's multitasking......

Upgrade the FX5950 to a 6800GT or Ultra and then see if you still need an upgrade..........Once you have a P4 3.6GHz with 6800Ultra then AMD may only beat it by 10 Fps......is it really worth $1500 for 10 fps???

I know people on this forum go on about how AMD A64's are soooooo good.....yes they are good and they do beat P4's in virtually every task.......but unless you have them running side by side then you would never realise....i.e P4's are still extremely good and will do everything that you ask of them very well.....but AMD will do it very slightly better....

that is your choice......

Good luck whatever your decision....

P.S I am a little bit of an AMD fanboy......so praising intel is a hard thing to do!!!

Don't worry you're not missin much off what you got...little lower res in gaming that's all.. 99% of comp use, no gain..education, savings etc are much better investments than the grand champion of depreciation, the computer.

 

[fuzzynavel]

Don't worry you're not missin much off what you got...little lower res in gaming that's all.. 99% of comp use, no gain..education, savings etc are much better investments than the grand champion of depreciation, the computer.

Is that aimed at me??? Sounds like sarcasm..


I know my computer is shit......does the job for me at the moment though....stlll plays the games that I want to play although at lower res...I can't afford to upgrade until at least August when wife finishes college...Then I will do a proper £1500 (not $) upgrade to dual core...and yes computers do depreciate faster than a car in a collision with a truck....