help me decide on first gaming comp

[karma112]

AMD Athlon 64 3500+ 512K 2.2 GHz (939) 90nm 285
Motherboard MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum 131
Memory Mushkin Dual Pack 2x512 PC3200 2.5-3-3 159
Video Card Albatron GeFORCE 6800 GT 256MB GDDR3 374
Hard Drive Seagate 160GB SATA 7200RPM 8MB Model ST3160023AS 93
Optical Drive NEC DVD+/-RW Drive Model 3500A 72
Case and Power Supply Antec SLK3700-BQE with 350W 91
Display Samsung SyncMaster 997DF 19 CRT 234
Speakers Logitech Z-640 5.1 52
Keyboard Logitech Internet Keyboard 17
Mouse Microsoft IntelliMouse Optical 24
Bottom Line 1532


this is my first comp to build so im way newbie i took this setup from and gamers guide from this site just wondering if anyone can help me decide if this good setup or better recommendations for cheaper and such thanks

 

[CalvinHobbes]

I would get a different case and PSU but that's just me. My gaming PC is very similar to what you have there.

 

[mwmorph]

get a 3200+ venice core. minimum perfromance loss, save a lot of $ and ocs better than winnies.
dfi is better ocing but the msi is still solid.
memory: get this cas 2 gskill.
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231012
when you oc, you can use dividers cause 64s run async fine and faster memory speeds dont really help overall performance(pc3800LL vs pc2100LL is maybe .5-7% difference)
video card, there's a vivo x800xt(around as fast as the geforce 6800ultra) for $335, but since you saved so much on the ram and cpu, you can probably upgrade to x850xtpe(only $489 at newegg.com).
The x850xtpe wil be 5-10% faster than a 6800ultra!!
YOU NEED A BETTER PS!(AT LEAST 400-450w)

 

[Ike0069]

Is that VC you listed AGP or PCI-e? And where exactly are you getting these prices?

I also would suggest a lager PSU. The Sonata case ($98 shipped) comes a 380W True Power PSU that is much better the 350W Smart Power PSU that comes with the case you listed.
Get the NEC 3520A, as it's an improved model.

 

[imported_Kensai]

Not bad.. As everyone else said.

 

[l Xes l]

Originally posted by: mwmorph
get a 3200+ venice core. minimum perfromance loss, save a lot of $ and ocs better than winnies.
dfi is better ocing but the msi is still solid.
memory: get this cas 2 gskill.
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231012
when you oc, you can use dividers cause 64s run async fine and faster memory speeds dont really help overall performance(pc3800LL vs pc2100LL is maybe .5-7% difference)
video card, there's a vivo x800xt(around as fast as the geforce 6800ultra) for $335, but since you saved so much on the ram and cpu, you can probably upgrade to x850xtpe(only $489 at newegg.com).
The x850xtpe wil be 5-10% faster than a 6800ultra!!
YOU NEED A BETTER PS!(AT LEAST 400-450w)

ditto

 

[karma112]

Thanks ill look into those and i got these figures from the 2004 game guide so i know these prices are out of date by a bit. Also i was wondering what monitor to get i saw somewhere something like a 22inch NEC crt for really good refresh and good price anyone got some clues to this items price or a better monitor suggestion. thank again guys

 

[dhoytw]

Originally posted by: mwmorph
get a 3200+ venice core. minimum perfromance loss, save a lot of $ and ocs better than winnies.
dfi is better ocing but the msi is still solid.
memory: get this cas 2 gskill.
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231012
when you oc, you can use dividers cause 64s run async fine and faster memory speeds dont really help overall performance(pc3800LL vs pc2100LL is maybe .5-7% difference)
video card, there's a vivo x800xt(around as fast as the geforce 6800ultra) for $335, but since you saved so much on the ram and cpu, you can probably upgrade to x850xtpe(only $489 at newegg.com).
The x850xtpe wil be 5-10% faster than a 6800ultra!!
YOU NEED A BETTER PS!(AT LEAST 400-450w)

I pretty much agree here....I would actually wait for the San Diego core....comes out real soon. I think I would also go with the DFI, but that's personal choice. I would also much rather go with the x800xt....trust me....but that's a personal choice too.

 

[karma112]

I'm not sure if this will make a difference on the processor but i will also being using this to design programs and edit code and such for my computer science classes.

 

[karma112]

Processor
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103532

Memory this is the cas2 gskill that mwmorph reccommended
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231012

so these are the two new parts suggested i like memory good deal check the processor adn tell me what u think and any case recommedations i been looking at newegg just not sure whihc would be best for option slots etc. Also its not hard to keep any of these parts cool is it just basic 90mm fan or 120mm fan or both on stock cases would be fine right? plz make suggestions for less cooling mroe etc thanks again. plz recommend motherboard if current isnt good with cpu.