How's this for a high-end gaming system??

[TheJackal]

Case - Antec Game Case ($78.95)
PSU - Antec 480W ($104.95)
Motherboard - ASUS P48GX Deluxe ($225.95)
Processor - Intel P4 3.06GHz ($699.95)
Memory - Crucial Tech PC2700 512MB ($118.99 x2)
Video Card - Crucial Tech Radeon 9700Pro ($319.99)
Hard Drive - Maxtor 120GB 7.2K ATA/133 ($151.95)
CDRW/DVD-RW - Pioneer DVR-A05 ($340.95)
Audio - CL SB Audigy2 ($126.95)
Speakers - Altec Lansing ATP3 ($63.95)
KB, Mouse, Floppy - use existing/refurb ($0)

Total $2351.57

Add Monitor - AOC LM720 17"LCD ($455.95)

Total $2807.52


Any thoughts, comments, suggestions are most welcome. Thanks!

 

[Adul]

when you put the best of everything who will argue with it

looks good

 

[bigshooter]

I think you should go with an old tbird 1.4ghz, with 128megs of pc133. I think i have a quantum bigfoot 4 gig drive laying aroudn that i could sell you. If you dont need to build for a few days, I can probably find a voodoo banshee for you as well.


edit: LOL, Adul, I have never seen your post count before. WOW.

 

[TheJackal]

Actually, this was kind of my question. Is this really the best of everything? I don't really want to go much higher in price, but if there is a component of similar price that is better, i'm all ears!

 

[Markfw]

I would use a 19'' or 21 '' monitor for a rig like that. Also, I would have waited till monday to see if Barton kicks the Intel 3ghz. The Athlon (at the same rated speed) is known to do better in most games.

 

[Alptraum]

Two things I would maybe switch are the speakers and LCD. If you don't mind spending some money why not get the Klipsch 2.1 speakers? I own a pair and love them. As far as the monitor goes, I don't know much about AOC other then they have pretty low prices. So if you want this thing for gaming you will want to be sure they are decent. Which I am kind of doubting, especially since even with high end/pricey LCDs many people seem to still have issues with them gaming.

Other then that I think you will be quite happy with that system. I got similiar system a few weeks ago. Other then differences in manufacturers (ATI vs Crucial Tech, WD vs Maxtor, and so on) the only real difference between what I got and what you are getting was I went with an ASUS P4T533-C and RAMBUS. If I was buying now though I would seriously look at that MB you are getting. They are generally a little slower, but RAM is about half the price.

 

[krackato]

Instead of getting the Pioneer 105 for $340 (you shouldn't be paying more than $200 for that drive anyway), you could get the Sony DRU500A dual format drive. I think it's been getting better reviews, it sells for about $300, and it supports both DVD-R and DVD+R formats.

Also, I think the Western Digital 8mb special edition drives have an edge over the Maxtor's. Storagereview.com. And you could always get a 200gb harddrive in there.

Killer rig. Very jealous.

 

[CaptnKirk]

Western Digital for $ 147 is a faster, more efficient 120GB hard drive than the ATA133 Maxtor is.
The WD @ ATA100 has shown repeatedly better performance, except in certain RAID configurations with ATA133 I/O Cards.

 

[HokieESM]

Originally posted by: Markfw900
I would use a 19'' or 21 '' monitor for a rig like that. Also, I would have waited till monday to see if Barton kicks the Intel 3ghz. The Athlon (at the same rated speed) is known to do better in most games.

I'll second the comment about a 19" or 21" monitor. The response times and colors on an LCD aren't that wonderful... although they ARE getting better. If you have the desk room (and most people who are gaming do), I'd pick up a Sony G420 (19") or a G520 (21")... I think you'll be suitably impressed.

 

[MarkFahey]

When you are ready to order it I will give you the address to ship it to - MINE!!

Seriously, KILLER RIG! Best of wishes with it. I am getting ready to get out of my old rig and into a new P4. My budget is a bit limited but with hardware prices looking good for a mid to higher range box I think I could do pretty well. I have read some great things about the Crucial Tech Radeon 9700Pro, and for $319 you can't go wrong.

I notice that you are getting two sticks of 512 and the Maxtor ATA/133 which I have read that the ASUS P48GX will support but I have two questions?

Will this Mobo support older ATA/100 drives also? And is there a problem with mixing 100 and 133 drives?
Can you run this Duel Channel Mobo with only one 512 stick?

 

[TheJackal]

Originally posted by: MarkFahey

I notice that you are getting two sticks of 512 and the Maxtor ATA/133 which I have read that the ASUS P48GX will support but I have two questions?

Will this Mobo support older ATA/100 drives also? And is there a problem with mixing 100 and 133 drives?
Can you run this Duel Channel Mobo with only one 512 stick?

I know of no problems running older ATA/100/133 on this mobo. Also, you do not need to put memory in, in pairs. You can put in one stick but then you can't take advantadge of dual channel.

Thanks for all the comments and info! It is very helpful!

 

[tbates757]

For gaming look at 19-21" Sony Trinitron monitors (crt), LCD's "look" cool, but they still have some ghosting (to which degree others can argue about)

 

[vash]

The LCD has got to go if you want a high-end gaming system. Get yourself the largest CRT you can buy with the same cash (19" for good, 2!" for decent). The response times on LCD isn't good enough yet for a serious gamer.

vash

 

[mchammer187]

Originally posted by: vash
The LCD has got to go if you want a high-end gaming system. Get yourself the largest CRT you can buy with the same cash (19" for good, 2!" for decent). The response times on LCD isn't good enough yet for a serious gamer.

vash

or you can get the hitachi 16 ms response LCD

 

[chocobaR]

Originally posted by: TheJackal
Case - Antec Game Case ($78.95)
PSU - Antec 480W ($104.95)
Motherboard - ASUS P48GX Deluxe ($225.95)
Processor - Intel P4 3.06GHz ($699.95)
Memory - Crucial Tech PC2700 512MB ($118.99 x2)
Video Card - Crucial Tech Radeon 9700Pro ($319.99)
Hard Drive - Maxtor 120GB 7.2K ATA/133 ($151.95)
CDRW/DVD-RW - Pioneer DVR-A05 ($340.95)
Audio - CL SB Audigy2 ($126.95)
Speakers - Altec Lansing ATP3 ($63.95)
KB, Mouse, Floppy - use existing/refurb ($0)

Total $2351.57

Add Monitor - AOC LM720 17"LCD ($455.95)

Total $2807.52


Any thoughts, comments, suggestions are most welcome. Thanks!

:Q

 

[Stewie]

Nice system ya got there.
I just built a dual athlon mp 2400's with 512 meg crucial ddr ecc reg ram, have a 200 gig western digital Se drive, 2 40 gigs, a gf 4 ti4200, and an 18 inch sony lcd.

 

[vash]

Originally posted by: mchammer187

Originally posted by: vash
The LCD has got to go if you want a high-end gaming system. Get yourself the largest CRT you can buy with the same cash (19" for good, 2!" for decent). The response times on LCD isn't good enough yet for a serious gamer.

vash

or you can get the hitachi 16 ms response LCD

But that screen is only 17". Sure, that's fine for most people, but when you want to game, you want the screen plenty large. My existing 19" is quite nice, but when I upgrade my monitor, I'm not going for a smaller screen (LCD or not).

vash

 

[dolph]

i, too, think you might want to reconsider the hd, monitor, and speakers, but you also should think about the mouse (& maybe the keyboard). go to compusa or best buy and feel a few ones to see what's most comfortable, and get a mouse pad with a good cushion for your wrist.

 

[DX2Player]

Get a different case! Antec cases are ugly and overused to the point where they are cliche. And the motherboard ram combo is not the best, look here, and in the test it is only pitted up against the 16bit RDRAM. If you want speed get the 32bit Rambus on the Asus P4T533 board. The only thing that looks like it can possibly take it is the SiS R655 boards that Anandtech just reviwed, and you will notice that it can bearly beat the RDRAM board, but once again they are usign the 16bit Rambus to compair (Im shure with the 32bit it would be a dead tie). But even better than both of those is gonna be the new SiS R658 RDRAM chip that will be out soon. OMG I cant wait for this baby! It will support PC1200 RDRAM which should take out all the compatition all over again, and it looks like they are making a 32bit modle. Abit already said they are planning on making a board with this new chip called SI7. If you want the very best and the performance crown than wait and get a motherboard from SiS new chipset the R658! If you cant wait the very fastest motherboards out there are Asus P4T533 with RDRAM RIMM 4800 and MIS 655 Max Duel DDR400.

Edit: oh also if your gonna build top of the line computer you should get some better speakers, some 4.1 speakers at least. Klipsch!

 

[mchammer187]

Originally posted by: vash

Originally posted by: mchammer187

Originally posted by: vash
The LCD has got to go if you want a high-end gaming system. Get yourself the largest CRT you can buy with the same cash (19" for good, 2!" for decent). The response times on LCD isn't good enough yet for a serious gamer.

vash

or you can get the hitachi 16 ms response LCD

But that screen is only 17". Sure, that's fine for most people, but when you want to game, you want the screen plenty large. My existing 19" is quite nice, but when I upgrade my monitor, I'm not going for a smaller screen (LCD or not).

vash

i personally wouldnt want a 17" either i have a 20" LCD now and i dont think i could ever go down

it is the 2000FP and the slight ghosting that is there is not enough for me to go back to a CRT even if for only gaming

i only said it was a good option for him because he originally wanted a 17" LCD anyway

and also a 17" LCD is comparable to a 19" CRT because the viewable area is only about 17.8 - 18.0 in. typical

 

[DanFungus]

Originally posted by: TheJackal
CDRW/DVD-RW - Pioneer DVR-A05 ($340.95)

Don't buy it for that price!

Get the Cendyne one. I know this deal is dead, but, if you get the drive at Staples/Officemax for whatever price + a coupon, it'll be a LOT less than $350...In total, I got one for $170 using an in store 30 off 150 coupon i had at staples + rebates. Plus, it's the exact same drive. A05 = 105, just the A05 is retail from Pioneer, 105 is OEM/sold by someone else (Cendyne)

 

[lumen]

Originally posted by: CaptnKirk
Western Digital for $ 147 is a faster, more efficient 120GB hard drive than the ATA133 Maxtor is.
The WD @ ATA100 has shown repeatedly better performance, except in certain RAID configurations with ATA133 I/O Cards.

Yeah, forget about the bearing problem WD has, and I've heard the opposite about the performance issue just as often as I've heard what you've just stated. Besides, it's a hard drive! sheesh...

 

[Yossarian]

I would throw in a regular DVD-ROM or CD-ROM too so you can burn on the fly.

 

[Th3OverClockedMind]

Get A promethia case instead of that goddamned 700 doller monitor change you p4 3ghz to a p4 4.1

 

[newbiepcuser]

You might want to get Chieftec/Chemming case instead, save you few dollars


I saw this link in the hotdeals forum.

It has all the pretty colors too. -->>>$35.00 plus shipping and options.