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Need a new cheap gaming rig

N

nsiderTalon

Senior member
EDIT: Due to general consensus, I'm looking at a whole new rig. Read latest post.


I was hoping to build a whole new gaming rig for this summer, but right now it looks like I won't have the budget to. I think I'll have enough for a few upgrades though. Here's my current rig:

Athlon 64 3800 X2 (socket 939) with AC Freezer Pro 7
Soltek SL-K8TPRO-939
GeForece 7600GT (AGP)
2x512MB Corsiar XMS DDR
160 GB HD
Creative X-Fi Xtrememusic
300W PS
Antec P160
Windows XP Media Center Edition
Samsung 22" 225B

I mostly game on it (BF2142), with the occasional movie. I also web browse, store MP3s, and write word docs. Right now, I'm thinking I'll upgrade to 2 GB RAM, a 250 GB HD, and a new PS (the fan in my current one is starting to hum, this particular model seems to have a tendency to have the fan die after a few years). I also have a Vista Home Premium upgrade that I'll probably install since SP1 is out. I have about a $200 budget, with a bit more if I see a reason for it. I'll want it to last me for another year. I do not think I'll be playing any games that are too demanding, here are the games I was waiting to install on my new comp:

Age of Empires 3
Test Drive Unlimited
Lost Planet
Supreme Commander
Guild Wars: Factions
Lord of the Rings Online (maybe)

Plus I don't see too many games coming out that I'll want. Any advice on upgrades (which areas I should upgrade and any good deals) is very welcome. Thanks in advance!
 
Well, the nice thing about a hard drive or PSU upgrade is that you can carry it with you to your build next year. On the other hand, there's a part of me that says there's no sense in throwing $200 into a rig that's way past its prime. It seems to me that games like Supreme Commander and Lost Planet would really play better on a totally new system.

The problem with upgrading the PSU and hard drive right now is that they aren't going to impact the playability of games very much.
 
Hmm. I can try to get a Antec Earthwatts PSU when they go on sale, I think 300W is enough power. I really need a bit more HD room anyway so a $60 250 GB won't be too bad. Should I get two of these?:

http://www.case-mod.com/ocz-oc...um-edition-p-2913.html

and sell my current RAM? It'd be about $75 to buy two shipped. I honestly think I'll be playing BF2142 80% of the time, SupCom wasn't really a game I especially wanted to play, and I got LP for $10 (plus the demo plays fine, just not on the highest settings). Also, I have a friend who's looking to buy my PC when I'm done with it, so any upgrades will be going to a good cause 🙂

EDIT: Nevermind, the linked RAM is 512 MB. Anyone know of any cheap DDR?
 
It seems to me that your current computer ought to play Battlefield 2142 just fine. If you're going to buy a PSU, buy one in the neighborhood of 450-500W so that you can carry it over to your new computer in a year or so. A 300W PSU is unlikely to run the graphics cards of next year. The Antec Earthwatts 500W is $50 after rebate right now at Newegg.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817371007

If you're playing BF2142 most of the time, I wouldn't even bother upgrading the RAM. Not cost-effective at this point in my opinion. The exception to that would be if you could find a decent deal on some used RAM in the For Sale/Trade forum here, or on a place like craigslist.
 
Another option would be: a "low end" Intel C2D CPU (such as the E2180), combined with a VIA chipset motherboard with AGP slot, such as the ASRock:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?Item=N82E16813157115R
So, for under $200: upgrade the PSU, and replace the CPU and motherboard.
Re-use the AGP video card and the DDR memory, with an option to later switch to DDR2 memory.
Note: cannot use both: DDR AND DDR2 memory at the same time.

Also: there's a similar (used) ECS motherboard/CPU/memory combo for sale (by me) here:
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=45&threadid=2142764
 
@ vailr

Aren't OEM copies of Windows attached to the Mobo?

@ DSF

Since my friend's going to use my compy, I think I'll go ahead and get the Eathwatts 380 that's on sale for $30 right now. The main reason I wanted to have 2 GB of RAM is because I kinda want to go to Vista now. How much do you think I could get for my current sticks? $30 at least? I can get a set of two 1 GB sticks for $60. If I can end up with 2 gigs for only $30, I'd consider the upgrade worth it.

Another option is upgrading my GPU I guess. How much do you think I could get for my 7600GT? I can pick up an AMD 3850 for $144.

 
@ nsiderTalon

Re: "Aren't OEM copies of Windows attached to the Mobo?"
That's only true if your current machine is a Dell, HP, or other mass-production machine.
If it was "home built", or assembled by a local vendor, and the Windows install disc is an official MS hologram disc,
then re-use of the OEM Windows license should be do-able.
Microsoft would only be upset if you weren't going to simply "trash" the old motherboard.
I imagine you would need to call Microsoft in order to receive a new 50 digit authorization code.
Or, you could still stay below $200, by purchasing a "generic" OEM WinXP disc at Newegg,
and buy my motherboard/CPU/memory combo.
 
Do not waste $200, wait until you can do a real upgrade.

Follow with this Upgrade only if you need the Psychological Benefit. Technology wise what ever you do to the current Rig, (even if you spend more) would Not result in any real functional improvement.
 
Yeah, basically to get any real benefeit for gaming, you will have to either replace basically the whole thing or spend money on parts that will not be compatible with the new box. I am in a somewhat similar situation however I have a pcie video card... even with my situation it would take more then $200 to get a worthwhile upgrade.

There is one small thing you concieveably could do now, but saving the money will yield better equipment for the same cost when you are able to upgrade the rest... the hard drive could be replaced with the new WD SE16 640GB drive... very fast.
 
yup, half measure is not worth the money. save and wait. after a certain point upgrade is no longer easy. ddr1 and agp/300watt psu all make that system impossible to upgrade on the cheap. too far gone those components are. spending another dime on ddr1 or agp is wasteful.
 
Hmm. I guess looking again at a totally new rig is now a very popular option. Keeping in mind that I'm a broke teen saving for car insurance, what would be a good machine? My original plan was this:

Cheap C2D to last me until I could get a cheap Q9450 (plus so I could dabble into overclocking) - $60
$90 Mobo (forgot which one) - $90
9600GT (though I'd really prefer an AMD 3870) - $100
2x2GB RAM - $60
250 GB HD - $65
Either the $47 Rocketfish on the Hot Deal board, or wait for an Antec to go on sale - $50
A good PSU - $50
Vista Home Premium - $90

= $565

With these planned upgrades:

Sound card (X-Fi?) - ???
Intel Q9450 - $200ish
GPU in 1 1/2 years - ???

Looking to build in early June, though budget may not allow it. Again, recommendations are really appreciated...
 
Originally posted by: nsiderTalon
Hmm. I guess looking again at a totally new rig is now a very popular option. Keeping in mind that I'm a broke teen saving for car insurance, what would be a good machine? My original plan was this:

Cheap C2D to last me until I could get a cheap Q9450 (plus so I could dabble into overclocking) - $60
$90 Mobo (forgot which one) - $90
9600GT (though I'd really prefer an AMD 3870) - $100
2x2GB RAM - $60
250 GB HD - $65
Either the $47 Rocketfish on the Hot Deal board, or wait for an Antec to go on sale - $50
A good PSU - $50
Vista Home Premium - $90
= $565
Click to expand...

CPU - $70
MB - $90

9600GT is ok, but for a gaming system you really don't want to cut corners on the video card. Everyone is recommending this deal these days as it seems to be the best bang for the buck card around.

For the hardrive, this drive seems to be the best deal for $110. More than double the storage space and it should be much faster than that 250GB drive.

Rest seems fine.

Sound card (X-Fi?) - ???
Intel Q9450 - $200ish
GPU in 1 1/2 years - ???
Click to expand...

1. Onboard sound is fine for gaming from what I've read. Unless you're a real audiohead a discrete sound card isn't needed these days.
2. $200? Maybe in a year the 9450 will be that low but I kinda doubt it unless AMD really surprises. It's running well over $350 now.
3. That's a long way down the road. Either save for it then or buy cheap right now and do a Step up when the new stuff hits in a few months.
 
Onboard sound is good.

Urtho's CPU and motherboard suggestions are good. The graphics card is a good choice too, if you can stretch for it.
 
Yeah, that was the Mobo I had looked at before. I'm not so sure about the HD. I'm using like 80 gigs right now, and don't really plan on using that much more. Why would it be faster than this?:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822148262

Onboard sound has probably gotten better, but the AC97 that I have now is horrible. I can always pull my X-Fi out of this one anyway I guess.

Well, all the CPUs seem to go down a track of price drops. I figure the Q4950 would follow the path of the Q6600, and it's $180 right now. I can wait.

Here's something I need to emphasize: The only games I plan on playing are the ones in the topic post. I'm sure a Q9450 would be better than an E2180 on SupCom, but that really doesn't matter too much to me. I f I don't like how it performs, I can just save it for when I get a better CPU/GPU.
 
On-board sound is now usually the Intel or Realtek HD codec, with 7.1 surround and optical in/out. I had AC'97 on my previous motherboard and I couldn't be happier with the onboard now.
 
Why are those HDDs different?
transfer rates, and arial(sp?) density. If all other things are equal in a drive, the one with the higher arial density will be faster. This is why, a year or to ago, I bought the seagate 7200.10 perp.recording 360GB when it has juuuust came out. I don't hardly ever use more then 100GB of it, but the speed is what I wanted.
 
Originally posted by: nsiderTalon
>deleted by jaqie<
Click to expand...
This kind of question seems to be banned throughout the AT forums, as I found out the hard way when I first created a login here, despite not mentioning it in their main rules area (which is hard to find). Unless you want a locked thread here, I suggest you remove that post...
 
Originally posted by: Urtho
Originally posted by: nsiderTalon
Hmm. I guess looking again at a totally new rig is now a very popular option. Keeping in mind that I'm a broke teen saving for car insurance, what would be a good machine? My original plan was this:

Cheap C2D to last me until I could get a cheap Q9450 (plus so I could dabble into overclocking) - $60
$90 Mobo (forgot which one) - $90
9600GT (though I'd really prefer an AMD 3870) - $100
2x2GB RAM - $60
250 GB HD - $65
Either the $47 Rocketfish on the Hot Deal board, or wait for an Antec to go on sale - $50
A good PSU - $50
Vista Home Premium - $90
= $565
Click to expand...

CPU - $70
MB - $90

9600GT is ok, but for a gaming system you really don't want to cut corners on the video card. Everyone is recommending this deal these days as it seems to be the best bang for the buck card around.

For the hardrive, this drive seems to be the best deal for $110. More than double the storage space and it should be much faster than that 250GB drive.

Rest seems fine.

Sound card (X-Fi?) - ???
Intel Q9450 - $200ish
GPU in 1 1/2 years - ???
Click to expand...

1. Onboard sound is fine for gaming from what I've read. Unless you're a real audiohead a discrete sound card isn't needed these days.
2. $200? Maybe in a year the 9450 will be that low but I kinda doubt it unless AMD really surprises. It's running well over $350 now.
3. That's a long way down the road. Either save for it then or buy cheap right now and do a Step up when the new stuff hits in a few months.
Click to expand...

I'd suggest he stick with the 9600 GT.
He is cash-strapped and the 9600 GT is not going to be 33% less performing than the 8800 but costs 33% less.

If he doesn't have a large monitor which those on a tight budget seldom do there is little doubt he'd ever see the difference.
 
Originally posted by: nsiderTalon
Haha, I have a 22" monitor 😛
Click to expand...

I'd read this article:

http://www.tomshardware.com/re...e-9600-gt,1780-20.html

You do want to sink as much into a vid card as you can afford but there comes a budget limitation where you really can't go any cheaper on the cpu, mobo and memory.

If you can build a basic p35 with solid psu, 2 gb of ram or more and Exxxx series C2D and afford a 8800GTS it is a great deal. If you can't afford it the 9600GT is going to offer the ability to have workable frame rates on anything a normal 22" display can resolve and do so on medium settings not just low except perhaps freaky games like Crysis.

There are probably 30 benchmark articles on the 9600GT and all suggest I have seen it is the best 150-ish vid card. You can get them as low as 120 after rebate. And they run a ton quieter and cooler than an 8800 series.


 
I want to make sure to get a good solid mobo, PSU, and RAM. Then I want to get a fairly cheap C2D as I don't think I'll need more right now. I want to get a good GPU (9600gt seemed to fill that), but not the best since I don't really want any game coming out this year. I have a ton of games that I need to catch up on that I really can play now. I'll let the newer games pile up until I get a new GPU in a few years (a really high end one).
 
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