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Lookin at my Gucci, its about that Time!....NEW PC, lets go Gurus!

D

DarkFudge2000

Senior member
Hey all you techno gurus...im about to call upon you once again in 2009!


You havent let me down in the last 15 years Ive been comin to u all for PC upgrade advice and I know you'll come thru once again

Ok here's the skinny....I have a
P4 2.6ghz OC'ed to 3.1Ghz running on a
Asus P4C800 Motherboard with
1GB PC3700 RAM and a
GeForce 4 6800GS AGP video card with 128mb Ram!
Windows XP Pro SP2


My question is...I was able to get by with this system up until a few months ago...Im really starting to see some limitations with some of my favorite games such as Battlefield 2...Yeah I said B2! I still love this game. LOL

So, I'm looking to drop about $1000 on parts and rebuild a new damn one but I havent been in the swing of the hottest recent stuff. So Im looking once again for all you guys to help me build the sweetest damn system, soup to nuts, I can afford with the $1000 as my budget, give or take a few dollars..and I mean a few, not a few hundred.


I dont need a monitor, just spec me out a sweet machine and operating system. Should I do the Vista or Vista 64bit OS yet or is it still a problematic piece of crapola?

Gimme everything I need to assemble including:

Case
Power Supply
RAM
CPU
Video
Motherboard
OS
DVD Drive
And whatever else I may have forgot

I dont think I care about speakers...im in a small room with a decent setup
And are onboard Sound cards nowadays pretty sweet or should I go with a Sound Blaster?


Thanks guys...lookin forward to some of the recommendations and arguments that pop up in here



 
E8400 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115037 - $165
Asus P5Q Pro - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813131299 - $130
4GB DDR1000 RAM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231145 - $50
GTX280 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130365 - $325
WD 750GB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822136283 - $90
Corsair 650W - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817139005 - $100
Samsung DVD Burner http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827151171 -$26
Use your XP, because windows 7 is coming out soon anyways...

=$885 + a case

Which give you room to maybe upgrade your CPU to like an e8500, or something...


And, you'd max out settings in BF2 and still hit like 300 fps, lol.
 
cool...thanks Vidoegames101 Oh btw, whats the best gaming mouse? I had an old Boomslang 2000 from like 2001 but I know there must be faster smoother mice out now?

is this it folks??...anymore oppositions or recommendations?


 
with that Blue Ray Player.....would I be able to send the Blue Ray signal from BLU Ray DVD movies right out to my TV screen?


Also will that specked setup be twice as fast as my current setup I am trying to replace?
 
Originally posted by: DarkFudge2000
with that Blue Ray Player.....would I be able to send the Blue Ray signal from BLU Ray DVD movies right out to my TV screen?
Click to expand...

Yes, as long as your HDTV/LCD monitor is HDCP compliant. Otherwise grab AnyDVD HD from Slysoft.com to bypass the BR/HD protection.

Also will that specked setup be twice as fast as my current setup I am trying to replace?
Click to expand...

More like 4-5x the performance of your current setup, and I'm not exaggerating at all.

An e6300 (dual 1.86GHz, 2MB cache) at launch was faster than a PentiumD 965 Extreme Edition (dual 3.73GHz, 4MB cache). Now, take that comparison two steps further: we're suggesting an e8400 (dual 3GHz, 6MB cache) versus your current chip, a P4 @ 3.1GHz (single core, 512k or 1MB cache depending on the generation). Probably more like 6x faster, now that I think about it.

And actually, what monitor or HDTV do you use for a screen? What resolution? Because the GTX 280 is probably downright overkill for your needs.
 
Originally posted by: DarkFudge2000
cool...thanks Vidoegames101 Oh btw, whats the best gaming mouse? I had an old Boomslang 2000 from like 2001 but I know there must be faster smoother mice out now?

is this it folks??...anymore oppositions or recommendations?
Click to expand...

I got a Logitech G5 Laser for Christmas that I absolutely love! I had a fading MX518, but this G5 is insane and moves oh-so-smooth. Also great for when I work on photos and doing touch-ups. 😀

Personally, I'd pass on the GTX280 and get either a GTX260 or Radeon HD4870. I have a 4870 and it lets me play everything at 1920x1200 at max or near max (game dependent) settings. You can get either card in the $200 realm and it'll likely last you as long as your GF4!

I'd go with a PC Power and Cooling powersupply over Corsair and 650W is overkill unless you plan to go SLI, honestly. On the other hand, if you can afford more or cleaner power for only a marginal price increase, go that route. 😛

I also like Pioneer drives over Samsung, but that's just a preference. I have found that they seem to be quieter, at least from the drives I've used in times past.
 
You recommended the GTX260 and/or the Radeon HD4870 over the GTX280?..........which is the fastest card of the 3 for video gaming framerates?

and Which is the better all around card for TV Output options and DVD Deinterlacing and resampling for HD video/movies?
 
Originally posted by: DarkFudge2000
Oh btw, whats the best gaming mouse? I had an old Boomslang 2000 from like 2001 but I know there must be faster smoother mice out now?
Click to expand...

Computer mouse preference is really subjective. I personally like Razer optical mice because the small and flat shape feels comfortable to my hand. Alas Razer doesn't have the best reputation these days for quality.

For a slightly larger mouse that is ergonomically fit for right-handers, Logitech MX518 and G5 are favorites of some people.

Originally posted by: DarkFudge2000
You recommended the GTX260 and/or the Radeon HD4870 over the GTX280?..........which is the fastest card of the 3 for video gaming framerates?

and Which is the better all around card for TV Output options and DVD Deinterlacing and resampling for HD video/movies?
Click to expand...

For TV output and video support, they're all probably the same. Anandtech had a few articles a couple years ago regarding this. Read up and draw your own conclusions. IMO for most people they'd be the same.
ATI's Avivo Platform
NVIDIA's PureVideo
ATI's Avivo vs. NVIDIA's PureVideo: De-Interlacing Quality Compared

As for recommending a cheaper card, well, if you are keeping your monitor and it is as old as your Pentium 4 system (which means you are using a CRT or a 17"/19" LCD), then yes a GTX 280 will probably be overkill.
 
If you need to spend all $1,000, sure go and buy the 280 - I won't stop you. 🙂 It's a great card, but I've always been hesitant to buy top or near the top of the line cards that tip the price scale.
 
WHich Video Card is the King of the hill nowadays in Gaming Framerates?

I know the Geforce and Radeon have always been going back and forth but I havent followed the video cards in the last 2 years

Who's got the edge right now?

thanks
 
Tell you what - I bought a Dell XPS Gen4 a few years back when I started college and it lasted me all along without any problems. That said, it was a PAIN IN THE ASS to upgrade anything in it and they use cheap optical drives - had problems with all 3 that I got for replacement...It seemed there were never enough power cables (always needed more as I added harddisks and other peripherals and fans) It ran warm, but stable. The case I had felt pretty flimsy; the best way to put it is if you're use to Antec 1mm steel cases, you're going be heavily disappointed! 😛

With all this in mind, it was about $400 cheaper than what I could build an 'equivalent' computer for at the time. I personally would only suggest the Dell route if you're not the upgrading type and have basic needs. If you plan to exercise the Dell warranty, you must possess the ability to sustain being on the phone for 1-2 hours minimum while someone on the other end of the line reads you 'repair and diagnostic instructions' from a computer screen, and only if you're more comfortable buying a box online and not having all the options you're accustomed to as a PC builder. If you can agree to all of the above, then yes, the Dell is a decent deal, sorta. It doesn't seem like a deal breaker, so I'd probably check out this page instead and see if you can't better the machine from Costco for a cheaper price.

Good luck,
~Travis
 
For higher-end machines, it's been my experience that you can save money or use better components for the same price as a high-end Dell box.
 
I guess the only decision left I have to make is whether or not to go with Intel's new I7 Quad CPU, the Intel Quad Core 2 Q 8000 or 9000 series, or the AMD Phantom II ( I dont know much about this one..is it any good?)

I want this new PC to last me another 5 years or so before I upgrade again.............so I'm willing to invest a few hundred dollars here or there where needed


 
Actually, if you want HD sound as well as video from your Blu-Ray, you need to get ATI -- Nvidia high-end video cards don't do HDMI audio. The GTX285 and GTX280 are faster than any single GPU ATI has, though.

Still, since this will probably remain a desktop machine and you'll probably be using 2-channel stereo and not 5/7-channel surround anyway, it doesn't matter (you don't need HDMI audio for stereo output).

If you're willing to go over $1k to add a monitor (the Dell setup totals $1300), go ahead...
 
But you say that Dell with the Ati 4850 card isnt so fast for games??

Would I just be better off building out my own PC with a I7 Quad Core 920 at 2.66 and OC'in it to 3.0ghz with a much faster video card?

Can I do that in the same price range that Dell is selling that system, on my own piece by piece?
 
It's easy to build a system that performs almost on par with that one for a lot less money, especially if you go dual-core. Even quad systems are cheaper and since this build IS just for gaming, i7 has no real performance benefits over a Core2 set-up (except in cases of SLI?) and therefore should be avoided due to higher costs. A Q9550 or Phenom II 940 would be great chips for gaming. An instance of similar or better performance, for the same cost (credits to heyheybooboo for finding this deal): 4870X2/PII940/790GX Motherboard In the end, you'll pay a tad more than the Dell i7 system, but you're getting a video card roughly 4-5 times more expensive than a 4850 and that would dominate on any resolution.
 
Originally posted by: DarkFudge2000
Hey all you techno gurus...im about to call upon you once again in 2009!


You havent let me down in the last 15 years Ive been comin to u all for PC upgrade advice and I know you'll come thru once again

Ok here's the skinny....I have a
P4 2.6ghz OC'ed to 3.1Ghz running on a
Asus P4C800 Motherboard with
1GB PC3700 RAM and a
GeForce 4 6800GS AGP video card with 128mb Ram!
Windows XP Pro SP2
Click to expand...



Ok I have the same mobo as the OP and it just burnt up after 4 years. I was looking at getting a used board so I could use some of the hardware I already have, but they are ridiculously expensive on Ebay. And what you have is expensive OLD stuff.

I don't need a super powerful system because anything would be an improvement over what I had at this point. Would be nice if the board had an agp8x slot for my old card but that's not a deal breaker. I also have an antec 430 truepower ATX PSU. From what I am gathering that will have to be replaced to run the new intel processors.

I noticed there was no provision for a cooling fan in the original suggestion for a system.

I don't want to hijack this thread but can someone suggest a system for me as well. I need a setup to get me back up and running. I am not a gamer. Do not use RAID.


To the OP...would you consider selling your mobo?
 
Originally posted by: donfm
Originally posted by: DarkFudge2000
Hey all you techno gurus...im about to call upon you once again in 2009!


You havent let me down in the last 15 years Ive been comin to u all for PC upgrade advice and I know you'll come thru once again

Ok here's the skinny....I have a
P4 2.6ghz OC'ed to 3.1Ghz running on a
Asus P4C800 Motherboard with
1GB PC3700 RAM and a
GeForce 4 6800GS AGP video card with 128mb Ram!
Windows XP Pro SP2
Click to expand...



Ok I have the same mobo as the OP and it just burnt up after 4 years. I was looking at getting a used board so I could use some of the hardware I already have, but they are ridiculously expensive on Ebay. And what you have is expensive OLD stuff.

I don't need a super powerful system because anything would be an improvement over what I had at this point. Would be nice if the board had an agp8x slot for my old card but that's not a deal breaker. I also have an antec 430 truepower ATX PSU. From what I am gathering that will have to be replaced to run the new intel processors.

I noticed there was no provision for a cooling fan in the original suggestion for a system.

I don't want to hijack this thread but can someone suggest a system for me as well. I need a setup to get me back up and running. I am not a gamer. Do not use RAID.


To the OP...would you consider selling your mobo?
Click to expand...

New Intel chips, meaning i7? Mobo manufacturers barely even used AGP with S775 boards, I highly doubt any company will ever make an i7 board with AGP on it. Make a new thread with your responses to Blain's sticky up top and I'll be glad to help 🙂
 
dude...can we get back on my topic please so I can work this out?......

Ok guys, so the last comment was that I could build a system for gaming that would trump the I7 for the same or a little more then the posted DELL deal...ok, please post the items one by one so I can do the research and price it out

can someone list these recommended components out: ?

 
The thing for gaming these days seems to be:

Intel Core 2 Duo E8xxx series or Core 2 Quad Q9xxx series or Phenom x4 II
4GB or more of DDR2-800 or higher speed
P45 motherboard (GA-p45-ud3r or Asus P5Q Pro) OR 790gx motherboard (for AMD)
GTX 260 or HD 4870 1GB or GTX 280
Large CPU cooler such as Xigmatek S1283, Tuniq Tower, Zerotherm Nirvana, etc.
600watts or higher RELIABLE power supply.

Hard drive, optical drive, and case are your choice.
 
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