I have about 1500$ CAN saved up

[Molondo]

At this point, with vista out and a new line of video cards coming out. Should i bother or should i wait ?

 

[Ruptga]

Depends on what you're running right now and what you use it for.

 

[Stiganator]

Best time to buy is as late as you can possibly wait. If you have a P4 stick with it. P3 or earlier then maybe go for it. If all you do is post here. The old 486 is probably fine .

 

[imported_Tick]

How much is CAN in USD? Also, what do you have now?

 

[gerwen]

You can build a pretty good computer for $1500. I just upgraded mine for less than $900, only things i didn't replace were the monitor, case, power supply, keyboard and mouse.

My Suggestions:


Ram - 2 GB DDR2-800 $265
CPU - E6400 $302 (Prices must have gone up)
Alternative CPU - E4300 $225
Motherboard, Gigabyte S3 $160
Seagate 320GB HD $130
Processor Heatsink $27
Case $63
Power Supply $92 (Don't know much about PSU's do some research to find a good one here)
DVD Burner $46
Video - GeForce 7900 GS $205

That's just under $1300 bucks, and unless i'm missing something else, you need a keyboard, mouse, and monitor to top it off. This is a system that should overclock to 3.2GHz without breaking a sweat.

If you're not overclocking, you could save more than $50 on the motherboard, Skip the $30 CPU cooler, and get cheaper DDR2-533 Value ram.

If you've already got a monitor and keyboard/mouse, you could probably add in a top-of the line GeForce 8800GS for a wicked gaming rig that will run anything at high resolution and max detail.

 

[Molondo]

Originally posted by: gerwen
You can build a pretty good computer for $1500. I just upgraded mine for less than $900, only things i didn't replace were the monitor, case, power supply, keyboard and mouse.

My Suggestions:


Ram - 2 GB DDR2-800 $265
CPU - E6400 $302 (Prices must have gone up)
Alternative CPU - E4300 $225
Motherboard, Gigabyte S3 $160
Seagate 320GB HD $130
Processor Heatsink $27
Case $63
Power Supply $92 (Don't know much about PSU's do some research to find a good one here)
DVD Burner $46
Video - GeForce 7900 GS $205

That's just under $1300 bucks, and unless i'm missing something else, you need a keyboard, mouse, and monitor to top it off. This is a system that should overclock to 3.2GHz without breaking a sweat.

If you're not overclocking, you could save more than $50 on the motherboard, Skip the $30 CPU cooler, and get cheaper DDR2-533 Value ram.

If you've already got a monitor and keyboard/mouse, you could probably add in a top-of the line GeForce 8800GS for a wicked gaming rig that will run anything at high resolution and max detail.

Hey, Thanks for this! i really appreceate it. Yea i have a monitor and keyboard/mouse. Yea that is the only reason i would get a rig is gaming. Right now, i run on a Thunderbird? amd 1.0GHz, 256 ram and a geforce 2mx.
The setup you got going look good. But correct me if i am wrong, i thought AMD was a better way to go for gaming? maybe not? Thanks!

 

[Shortass]

AMD used to be better for gaming but this past year Intel took back its performance crown with the C2D. Also, wow, that will be a huge upgrade.

 

[engiNURD]

wait a bit longer, 2 months maybe, for the R600 to come out along with the midrange nvidia dx10 cards.

 

[Frintin]

definitely wait when it comes to a video card. Directx10 is requiring all the video card hardware to have to change, If you need a system right now, and want it to last for 5 years or so, then any of the Core Duo setups will keep ya there.

 

[gerwen]

Originally posted by: Molondo
[
Hey, Thanks for this! i really appreceate it. Yea i have a monitor and keyboard/mouse. Yea that is the only reason i would get a rig is gaming. Right now, i run on a Thunderbird? amd 1.0GHz, 256 ram and a geforce 2mx.
The setup you got going look good. But correct me if i am wrong, i thought AMD was a better way to go for gaming? maybe not? Thanks!

Core 2's are great processors. Pick up the $300, almost bottom of the line C2D 6400, Overclock it to 3.2GHz, and you have a processor that will beat any AMD processor at pretty much any task. A 3.2GHz overclock is pretty simple, relatively risk free, and nearly guaranteed with the recommended rig, as long as you read up here on AT on how to get it done.

I agree with the comments above about video cards. However, considering what you have currently, you could spend relatively little on a GPU now ($132 after rebate for a 7600 GT) and have money left over to upgrade once the new cards come out. Even the lowly 7600 GT in this rig will be an enormous improvement to what you have currently.

I speak from experience, for Christmas, i upgraded from an Athlon XP 1600+(1.4GHz iirc) with a Radeon 9500 Pro to the system I recommended to you, only with a 7600GT instead of the 7900GS i recommend.

Night and day. My previous system was a fair bit more powerful than yours (GPU wise at least).

Before, i could run acceptably in doom3 with with lowest detail and 1024x with the occasional slowdown when there was big action, Now i can run at 1280x with full detail and not a stutter to be found. Oblivion i could just barely run at lowest detail before. Now it runs well at 1280x with not quite full detail. It's a much, much prettier game this way.

Anything you're playing now, you'll be able to crank up the resolution and detail, probably to the max. Very new games will give you some problems at max detail, but you'll be able to find a decent resolution and detail level that will work.

If you can afford it now, get it now, and upgrade video if you find you need to when the new DX10 mid range cards come out.

 

[StopSign]

Never have the "Wait X amount of time" mentality. There is always new stuff coming out, but only once in a while will a new and vastly-improved technology (i.e. Conroe) be released.

Know what you're waiting for, otherwise pull the trigger now.

 

[Molondo]

Originally posted by: gerwen

Originally posted by: Molondo
[
Hey, Thanks for this! i really appreceate it. Yea i have a monitor and keyboard/mouse. Yea that is the only reason i would get a rig is gaming. Right now, i run on a Thunderbird? amd 1.0GHz, 256 ram and a geforce 2mx.
The setup you got going look good. But correct me if i am wrong, i thought AMD was a better way to go for gaming? maybe not? Thanks!

Core 2's are great processors. Pick up the $300, almost bottom of the line C2D 6400, Overclock it to 3.2GHz, and you have a processor that will beat any AMD processor at pretty much any task. A 3.2GHz overclock is pretty simple, relatively risk free, and nearly guaranteed with the recommended rig, as long as you read up here on AT on how to get it done.

I agree with the comments above about video cards. However, considering what you have currently, you could spend relatively little on a GPU now ($132 after rebate for a 7600 GT) and have money left over to upgrade once the new cards come out. Even the lowly 7600 GT in this rig will be an enormous improvement to what you have currently.

I speak from experience, for Christmas, i upgraded from an Athlon XP 1600+(1.4GHz iirc) with a Radeon 9500 Pro to the system I recommended to you, only with a 7600GT instead of the 7900GS i recommend.

Night and day. My previous system was a fair bit more powerful than yours (GPU wise at least).

Before, i could run acceptably in doom3 with with lowest detail and 1024x with the occasional slowdown when there was big action, Now i can run at 1280x with full detail and not a stutter to be found. Oblivion i could just barely run at lowest detail before. Now it runs well at 1280x with not quite full detail. It's a much, much prettier game this way.

Anything you're playing now, you'll be able to crank up the resolution and detail, probably to the max. Very new games will give you some problems at max detail, but you'll be able to find a decent resolution and detail level that will work.

If you can afford it now, get it now, and upgrade video if you find you need to when the new DX10 mid range cards come out.

I see where you are going. Yes i have this mentality that when i buy a computer it should be top of the line. But with friends that have medicore computer can still run games. If i go for the 7600GT, and plan to go directx10 card later on, should i then spend extra for a mother board?

Also, What is your input for SLI? Is it trully worth it?

I think my biggest concern is the Dx10 coming out. Will games still be produced for DX9 while DX10 is out?

Thank you for your input so far, it is helping alot .

Originally posted by: StopSign
Never have the "Wait X amount of time" mentality. There is always new stuff coming out, but only once in a while will a new and vastly-improved technology (i.e. Conroe) be released.

Know what you're waiting for, otherwise pull the trigger now.

I know what you are talking about. I have been a victim of this for nearly 2 years now. I am feeling very strong right now! I will do it!

 

[theAnimal]

Check directcanada.com, they should have lower prices on everything listed.

 

[Molondo]

Sorry for bumping this, but i am still rather curious about this whole DX10 thing. Is that gonna be a problem for todays above average pcs that are still on DX9?

Check directcanada.com, they should have lower prices on everything listed.

Thank you, i will take a look

Cheers

 

[gerwen]

Originally posted by: Molondo

I see where you are going. Yes i have this mentality that when i buy a computer it should be top of the line. But with friends that have medicore computer can still run games. If i go for the 7600GT, and plan to go directx10 card later on, should i then spend extra for a mother board?

Not unless you're planning on going SLI. Any performance increases you'll get from a more expensive motherboard are going to be marginal. You could spend more money on some Micron Ram that may allow a higher overclock, but 3.2Ghz from a 2.13GHz cpu is pretty awesome if you ask me. You could also buy more ram, as that will always help, especially in the future with Vista and Vista 64.

Also, What is your input for SLI? Is it trully worth it?

You're asking someone who bought a 7600GT.

I generally look at what what i'm willing to spend, and try to stuff as much performance as possible into my budget. This generally puts me into the low-mid range of performance.

I've never bought a top end gpu. I just can't justify dropping $400-$500 bucks on something that only allows me to play games with more eye candy I most certainly can't justify plunking down $1000 for 2 gpu's, plus an extra 100-300 for an sli mobo. I just don't have that much disposable income. Even if I did, it'd go to a lot of different elsewhere's first.
My budget vid card isn't stopping me from playing anything yet, and probably wont stand in my way for quite a while.

I think my biggest concern is the Dx10 coming out. Will games still be produced for DX9 while DX10 is out?

The DX9->DX10 switch is something to consider, but I doubt having only DX9 will prevent anyone from playing many titles in the next year or even longer. You may miss out on the latest eye-candy in some games though. **edit** After a year, your $130 vid card doesn't really owe you anything anymore, and DX10 cards should be much more reasonably priced then too.

If i did have an extra $400 burning a hole in my pocket at the time of my upgrade, that 8800GTS would have been mine, as the rest of the system is pretty much top notch. It's definitely the place to spend any extra budget on a gaming rig.

 

[Molondo]

I think you have answered most if not all my question. Thanks again for your input. Much appriciated. I feel a little more confident about getting a rig.

 

[AVP]

Also you might want to consider an EVGA card as they have a three months step-up program where up to 90days after the purchase you are awarded the invoice price less rebates and can pay the remainder of the price for a more expensive card. The card has to be purchased at authorized vendors though, haven't looked into it. Also I am uncertain of Canadian availability. You should look into and consider getting a 7600gt and maybe upping to a 8600ultra or 8800gts 320mb later. Those could be fit into your budget if you plan carefully.

 

[Molondo]

Originally posted by: AVP
Also you might want to consider an EVGA card as they have a three months step-up program where up to 90days after the purchase you are awarded the invoice price less rebates and can pay the remainder of the price for a more expensive card. The card has to be purchased at authorized vendors though, haven't looked into it. Also I am uncertain of Canadian availability. You should look into and consider getting a 7600gt and maybe upping to a 8600ultra or 8800gts 320mb later. Those could be fit into your budget if you plan carefully.

Thats neat, i never heard of that before.

 

[gerwen]

I've poked around on their forums, it is available in Canada, without too much extra hassle. Sometimes customs charges you duty and taxes though, but that is fixable.

 

[Molondo]

Originally posted by: gerwen

If you've already got a monitor and keyboard/mouse, you could probably add in a top-of the line GeForce 8800GS for a wicked gaming rig that will run anything at high resolution and max detail.

I was snooping around, i can't seem to find 8800GS anywhere. Are they out yet?

 

[Molondo]

eVGA e-GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB PCI-E w/ Dual DVI, HDTV-Out

- Minimum of a 400 Watt power supply.
(Minimum recommended power supply with +12 Volt current rating of 26 Amp Amps.)

Does this mean, that one rail must have 26 amps?
can i have multiple rails that are under 26 but add above 26?

Also

Im getting a SATA2 HDD, so far iv seen PSU with only SATA connectors, are they interchangeable??

thanks.

 

[alimoalem]

Originally posted by: Molondo
eVGA e-GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB PCI-E w/ Dual DVI, HDTV-Out

- Minimum of a 400 Watt power supply.
(Minimum recommended power supply with +12 Volt current rating of 26 Amp Amps.)

Does this mean, that one rail must have 26 amps?
can i have multiple rails that are under 26 but add above 26?

Also

Im getting a SATA2 HDD, so far iv seen PSU with only SATA connectors, are they interchangeable??

thanks.

* i guess your posting the requirements for the 8800GTS means you know they're out (in case you didn't, yes, they are being sold right now)
* 26 amps on a single or multiple rails. do note, however, that just because a psu has two 18 amp rails doesn't mean it can handle 36amps. it means each rail can handle a maximum of 18 amps. combined it might handle 28-32 amps. what is your power supply?
* SATA2 = SATA connection

 

[munisgtm]

Originally posted by: Molondo

Originally posted by: gerwen

If you've already got a monitor and keyboard/mouse, you could probably add in a top-of the line GeForce 8800GS for a wicked gaming rig that will run anything at high resolution and max detail.

I was snooping around, i can't seem to find 8800GS anywhere. Are they out yet?

he was probably talking about a 8800GTS, imho you should wait 2 months,when core2duo prices drop and DX-10 graphics card will hit mainstream, you would have more powerfull computer than.

 

[noagname]

safe it

and then put it in to an investment
but a safe one

 

[Molondo]

Originally posted by: alimoalem

Originally posted by: Molondo
eVGA e-GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB PCI-E w/ Dual DVI, HDTV-Out

- Minimum of a 400 Watt power supply.
(Minimum recommended power supply with +12 Volt current rating of 26 Amp Amps.)

Does this mean, that one rail must have 26 amps?
can i have multiple rails that are under 26 but add above 26?

Also

Im getting a SATA2 HDD, so far iv seen PSU with only SATA connectors, are they interchangeable??

thanks.

* i guess your posting the requirements for the 8800GTS means you know they're out (in case you didn't, yes, they are being sold right now)
* 26 amps on a single or multiple rails. do note, however, that just because a psu has two 18 amp rails doesn't mean it can handle 36amps. it means each rail can handle a maximum of 18 amps. combined it might handle 28-32 amps. what is your power supply?* SATA2 = SATA connection

Antec TruePower Trio 550W Power Supply w/ Triple +12V
OUTPUT
Output : Max. Load / Min. Load / Load Reg. / Ripple V(p-p)
+3.3V : 224* / 0.5A / ±3% / 50mV
+5V : 24A* / 0.5A / ±3% / 50mV
+12V1 : 18A* / 1A / ±3% / 120mV
+12V2 : 18A / 1A / ±3% / 120mV
+12V3 : 18A / 1A / ±3% / 120mV
+5V SB : 3.0A / 0A / ±3% / 50mV
-12V : 0.8A / 0A / ±6% / 120mV
* +12V1, 12V2,12V3 maximum output 504 Watts max.

I am looking at this one right now, its only 109$ at a store near me.
I am looking to go with what Gerwen suggested with a couple modified items.

I am just changing the Video card and the PSU and possibly the case.
E4600
8800GTS
2GB DDR2 800 OCZ
Seagate 320GB
Gygabite S3

Am looking to Overclock, but not to the fullest.
is it gonna run?

Originally posted by: munisgtm

Originally posted by: Molondo

Originally posted by: gerwen

If you've already got a monitor and keyboard/mouse, you could probably add in a top-of the line GeForce 8800GS for a wicked gaming rig that will run anything at high resolution and max detail.

I was snooping around, i can't seem to find 8800GS anywhere. Are they out yet?

he was probably talking about a 8800GTS, imho you should wait 2 months,when core2duo prices drop and DX-10 graphics card will hit mainstream, you would have more powerfull computer than.

I have thought about it. I am still tenative about this build right now. Allthou i feel as if i have been waiting for 2 years now. I might just go with it. Maybe not, we'll see. Thanks for the input