Help me build a new system for friend!

[Gynthazi]

Hey guys,

Well, I've built my system now(still got it for under 4k even with the 23" hp!), but I need help with a friend of mine from work. He has a 4 year old computer now(only updated the gfx card so bf2 would work), and is a big bf2 fan.

Here's the deal, he wants to spend as little as possible on a new computer, and wants to be able to play bf2 with no problem. He doesn't need the highest settings or anything, just wants to be able to load at a decent rate, and have no stutters during play.

Here's his components he has now - all stock but the gfx card(he got a ti4600 with it back in the day..was a hot computer when he bought it):

4 year old gateway computer (7*xl)
2.4 ghz pentium IV
1 gig pc-300 ram(something like that)
geforce fx5900 128 meg ram
120 gig 7200 rpm hd
18.1" viewable lcd(gateway)
gateway optical mouse
standard microsoft keyboard(gateway)


Believe it or not he does play bf2 with this! though it takes forever to load the game, and everything needs to be low settings to work.

Help my buddy out! I do not know "lower-end" products that are good.. is it worth him improving on?

Let's say he has a budget of 1500 for everything..I think he said 1k, but I don't think he'll get much for that...

Thanks for your help!

 

[Budmantom]

I bought my rig for under a grand.



Tom

 

[Mogadon]

I will direct you to this thread.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: Gynthazi
Hey guys,

Well, I've built my system now(still got it for under 4k even with the 23" hp!), but I need help with a friend of mine from work. He has a 4 year old computer now(only updated the gfx card so bf2 would work), and is a big bf2 fan.

Here's the deal, he wants to spend as little as possible on a new computer, and wants to be able to play bf2 with no problem. He doesn't need the highest settings or anything, just wants to be able to load at a decent rate, and have no stutters during play.

Here's his components he has now - all stock but the gfx card(he got a ti4600 with it back in the day..was a hot computer when he bought it):

4 year old gateway computer (7*xl)
2.4 ghz pentium IV
1 gig pc-300 ram(something like that)
geforce fx5900 128 meg ram
120 gig 7200 rpm hd
18.1" viewable lcd(gateway)
gateway optical mouse
standard microsoft keyboard(gateway)


Believe it or not he does play bf2 with this! though it takes forever to load the game, and everything needs to be low settings to work.

Help my buddy out! I do not know "lower-end" products that are good.. is it worth him improving on?

Let's say he has a budget of 1500 for everything..I think he said 1k, but I don't think he'll get much for that...

Thanks for your help!

which p4 is it? the 533 or 800mhz one? for a quick fix he could buy a gpu like a x800xtpe or 6800ultra(i would personally get the ati, if you can find one) and still use his other equipment and be able to play @ 1280x960 with good fps. take a quick look at the article i created for bf2 and ram usage in my sig for settings.

or do the 7800gt/skt939 pci-e m/b board/venice 3000/2GB value ram/ use his old lcd/ use his old hdd and get a new case with a good psu and be out ~$800, which is not too bad.

 

[LarryK]

would buy a 3500+ of anandtech for $150 or a 3000+ for around $100 i think Dell deal is dead

wait and get EVGA combo deal on a free NForce 4 Mother board when you buy a 7800GT with that you have a sweet computer for cheapo



Antec Sonata II for $105 from amazon free shipping nice box good for keeping dust out and good PSU

Ram Geil value or Corsair and if your realy going cheapo get 4X512" but thats cheapo

with the EVGA deal you can get this build just around 1k NO PROBLEM!