Help on puting together $500 gaming system

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bob4432

bob4432

Lifer
Sep 6, 2003
11,727
46
91
Originally posted by: CapnKill
Originally posted by: bob4432
Originally posted by: CapnKill
Originally posted by: bob4432
first off, welcome to the forums ;)

if you want to play bf2 at high then you will need more gpu than a 7600gt and more than 1GB of ram.

case - use your old one, they may be cheap but even $30 here is going to matter

cpu - amd am2 3500 orleans - ~$90 CPU
ram - 2GB ddr2 667 - ~$140AR DDR2 667
m/b - nf4 am2 epox - ~$75 M/B
psu - 450W fsp - ~$52 PSU
gpu - x1800xt - ~$200 GPU

~$557 AR less shipping :)

with this setup your performance will be nearly identical to mine and i game bf2 @ 1280x1024 all settings on high except shadows and lighting (i find them distracting) and get well over a very conservative 60fps all the time. no hiccups ever. and total ram usage goes up to ~1.5-1.6GB
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So you are suggesting that instead of a 3800 I go down to 3500 and get a better video card instead? I just wanted to confirm that. Like I said, its 99% gaming machine, anything else I do with it doesn't really require a lot of beef. I'm also willing to go over $500, it's not a huge deal, should I do 3800 AND the x1800xt? Is the 1800 that much better than the 7600? I heard ATI wasn't doing so hot lately...

I'm really concerned with geting solid parts. I want to make sure the PSU is good and reputable, same w/ the Mobo. I've had good experiances w/ Epox in the past, so I do like them. I'm willing to spend a few extra bucs to get something good over something that might be suspect...
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that is exactly what i am saying. if you can swing the 3800 and the x1800xt you would be set for some time. but if the budget keeps you at the single core then you will be fine with the 3500. bf2 does not take advantage of dual core or dual cpus. future games will. so even with a x2 3800 you will still be taking advantage of one core that is 2GHz and let the other core do all the other operations in the background. the 3500 will have a bit more speed on the one core, but it doesn't matter since you enough cpu either way.

ati works well and has for some time. in fact my last 3 gpus (9800pro, x800xtpe, x1800xt) have been ati. they have offered, imo, more bang for the buck. if you look at benches you will see that the x1800xt is = to a 7900gt, some instances the ati comes out ahead and others the nvidia comes out ahead (by a small %). so why not save some $$$ and get the ati :)

i am not a fanboy of anything except my wallet and the price/performance ratio for stuff i buy needs to be in my favor, not the manf :)
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If I decide to go 3800 is the Epox Mobo still the way to go?
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i see no reason not too. if you are not sure about epox others can be found in the same price range. personally, i would buy it if that means anything.
 
A

acole1

Golden Member
Sep 28, 2005
1,543
0
0
bob4432

bob4432

Lifer
Sep 6, 2003
11,727
46
91
Originally posted by: acole1

Mobo -- ASRock 775Dual-VSTA $57.00 + $7.00 = $64.00

CPU -- Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 $219.00

RAM -- G.Skill DDR2 667 (1x1GB) $75.00 + $5.00 = $80.00

Video -- eVGA 7600GT $140.00 + $6.00 = $146.00

Case/PSU -- Raidmax Scorpio 868 ATX868WBP $30.00 + $15.00 = $45.00

$521.00 + $33.00 = $554


Highly upgradable and even cheaper if you have good DDR RAM and AGP video card that you can use until you have more money.
Click to expand...

too bad you didn't listen to what his requirements are - he wants to game bf2 on high which means 2GB of ram and at least a 7900gt/x1800xt gpu

also that psu, since it doesn't list specs, would more than likely be a piece of sh!t. paying 20-40 on a case is one thing, i have no problem with that, but expecting the psu in a 20-40 case to be reliable and offer enough stable A when being pushed hard is a crazy thought.

op - i have gamed bf2 since it came out, along with about 4-8 of my buddies. i know what the real requirements are of the game and a 7600gt won't cut it for what you want, neiter will 1GB of ram. bf2 is much more gpu limited than cpu
 
A

acole1

Golden Member
Sep 28, 2005
1,543
0
0
Originally posted by: bob4432
Originally posted by: acole1

Mobo -- ASRock 775Dual-VSTA $57.00 + $7.00 = $64.00

CPU -- Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 $219.00

RAM -- G.Skill DDR2 667 (1x1GB) $75.00 + $5.00 = $80.00

Video -- eVGA 7600GT $140.00 + $6.00 = $146.00

Case/PSU -- Raidmax Scorpio 868 ATX868WBP $30.00 + $15.00 = $45.00

$521.00 + $33.00 = $554


Highly upgradable and even cheaper if you have good DDR RAM and AGP video card that you can use until you have more money.
Click to expand...

too bad you didn't listen to what his requirements are - he wants to game bf2 on high which means 2GB of ram and at least a 7900gt/x1800xt gpu

also that psu, since it doesn't list specs, would more than likely be a piece of sh!t. paying 20-40 on a case is one thing, i have no problem with that, but expecting the psu in a 20-40 case to be reliable and offer enough stable A when being pushed hard is a crazy thought.

op - i have gamed bf2 since it came out, along with about 4-8 of my buddies. i know what the real requirements are of the game and a 7600gt won't cut it for what you want, neiter will 1GB of ram. bf2 is much more gpu limited than cpu
Click to expand...


You are an idiot. Just STFU.

I have a 7600GT and I play the game on maximum settings @ 1280x1024. (Along with every other game on the market.)

That PSU is perfectly fine for a $500 rig. My friend used it for over a year with heavy gaming use and it worked great for him. If he needs a better one, he can go buy one when he has more money. This will do him for now.

A 7900GT and 2GB of memory will cost you almost $500 ALONE. $250 for a 7900GT and $160 for 2GB of decent memory.... That is $410, Bob. I would like to see the OP get by with spending $80 on motherboard + CPU + PSU... No, it cannot be done.

Please think before you post.
And to quote another AT member...
"...see that corner over there? Yea just go sit in that and have a good think. If the thought to post some more comes into your mind, hit yourself. Keep doing that and it'll all be fine."
 
T

thecrecarc

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2004
3,364
3
0
unfortunatly, id have to agree with bob on a few points. a 7600gt would work fine for BF2, however a x1800xt would be MUCH better. also, BF2 regularly pushes above 1 gb of ram.

also, that PSU is a peice of crap. just because you have good luck with it doesnt mean its good. some people have awsome luck with powmax's psus, and that doesnt make it any better. raidmax isnt exactly a good brand IMO

i suggest a forton, or sparkle, or another brand.

and seriously, stop flaming people. if you have diffrent opinons, state em, but dont call people stupid. its just rude and ignorant.


the rig bob wrote up is pretty good, OP, i suggest you get that rig, and if you can afford it, get a 3800 X2
 
Ika

Ika

Lifer
Mar 22, 2006
14,264
3
81
Originally posted by: acole1
Originally posted by: bob4432
Originally posted by: acole1

Mobo -- ASRock 775Dual-VSTA $57.00 + $7.00 = $64.00

CPU -- Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 $219.00

RAM -- G.Skill DDR2 667 (1x1GB) $75.00 + $5.00 = $80.00

Video -- eVGA 7600GT $140.00 + $6.00 = $146.00

Case/PSU -- Raidmax Scorpio 868 ATX868WBP $30.00 + $15.00 = $45.00

$521.00 + $33.00 = $554


Highly upgradable and even cheaper if you have good DDR RAM and AGP video card that you can use until you have more money.
Click to expand...

too bad you didn't listen to what his requirements are - he wants to game bf2 on high which means 2GB of ram and at least a 7900gt/x1800xt gpu

also that psu, since it doesn't list specs, would more than likely be a piece of sh!t. paying 20-40 on a case is one thing, i have no problem with that, but expecting the psu in a 20-40 case to be reliable and offer enough stable A when being pushed hard is a crazy thought.

op - i have gamed bf2 since it came out, along with about 4-8 of my buddies. i know what the real requirements are of the game and a 7600gt won't cut it for what you want, neiter will 1GB of ram. bf2 is much more gpu limited than cpu
Click to expand...


You are an idiot. Just STFU.

I have a 7600GT and I play the game on maximum settings @ 1280x1024. (Along with every other game on the market.)

That PSU is perfectly fine for a $500 rig. My friend used it for over a year with heavy gaming use and it worked great for him. If he needs a better one, he can go buy one when he has more money. This will do him for now.

A 7900GT and 2GB of memory will cost you almost $500 ALONE. $250 for a 7900GT and $160 for 2GB of decent memory.... That is $410, Bob. I would like to see the OP get by with spending $80 on motherboard + CPU + PSU... No, it cannot be done.

Please think before you post.
And to quote another AT member...
"...see that corner over there? Yea just go sit in that and have a good think. If the thought to post some more comes into your mind, hit yourself. Keep doing that and it'll all be fine."
Click to expand...

He's already suggested a build with an X1800XT and 2GB memory. It added up to $550. Who's the idiot around here? Please think/read before you go off bad-mouthing someone.
 
bob4432

bob4432

Lifer
Sep 6, 2003
11,727
46
91
Originally posted by: acole1
Originally posted by: bob4432
Originally posted by: acole1

Mobo -- ASRock 775Dual-VSTA $57.00 + $7.00 = $64.00

CPU -- Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 $219.00

RAM -- G.Skill DDR2 667 (1x1GB) $75.00 + $5.00 = $80.00

Video -- eVGA 7600GT $140.00 + $6.00 = $146.00

Case/PSU -- Raidmax Scorpio 868 ATX868WBP $30.00 + $15.00 = $45.00

$521.00 + $33.00 = $554


Highly upgradable and even cheaper if you have good DDR RAM and AGP video card that you can use until you have more money.
Click to expand...

too bad you didn't listen to what his requirements are - he wants to game bf2 on high which means 2GB of ram and at least a 7900gt/x1800xt gpu

also that psu, since it doesn't list specs, would more than likely be a piece of sh!t. paying 20-40 on a case is one thing, i have no problem with that, but expecting the psu in a 20-40 case to be reliable and offer enough stable A when being pushed hard is a crazy thought.

op - i have gamed bf2 since it came out, along with about 4-8 of my buddies. i know what the real requirements are of the game and a 7600gt won't cut it for what you want, neiter will 1GB of ram. bf2 is much more gpu limited than cpu
Click to expand...


You are an idiot. Just STFU.

I have a 7600GT and I play the game on maximum settings @ 1280x1024. (Along with every other game on the market.)

That PSU is perfectly fine for a $500 rig. My friend used it for over a year with heavy gaming use and it worked great for him. If he needs a better one, he can go buy one when he has more money. This will do him for now.

A 7900GT and 2GB of memory will cost you almost $500 ALONE. $250 for a 7900GT and $160 for 2GB of decent memory.... That is $410, Bob. I would like to see the OP get by with spending $80 on motherboard + CPU + PSU... No, it cannot be done.

Please think before you post.
And to quote another AT member...
"...see that corner over there? Yea just go sit in that and have a good think. If the thought to post some more comes into your mind, hit yourself. Keep doing that and it'll all be fine."
Click to expand...

i am the idiot? i am not suggesting sh!t components and an inadquate video card. any psu in a $40 case is going to be a piece of sh!t. so what your friend has used it, he may be the lucky one. why not spend a little cash on one of the most important items in the computer?

for $3 more he could go with what i suggested and be much better off compared to your build, facts are facts ass. and learn to read, i suggested the x1800xt for $200. you are just ignorant - go read and educate yourself :)
 
C

CapnKill

Member
Apr 5, 2001
85
0
0
Easy guys, ok so Bobs suggestions seem very good, and I'll go that route. From my understanding this Mobo will support 3500 and 3800 so I might go with 3500 now and upgrade later whenever games actualy take advantage of dual core. Thanks for all your help!
 
Powermoloch

Powermoloch

Lifer
Jul 5, 2005
10,084
4
76
Wow... i'm wondering if I need a new rig. Although I have 2 rigs that ALREADY fit my needs...but there's nothing more appealing to make a kick arse PC under a grand.
 
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