Need Feedback on Gaming Budget Build!

[Adrenalin33]

Building a budget system ($1,000 is my loose budget) for gaming and general application use (Office, Browsing, Winamp). I am just about ready to pull the trigger on these parts but since this is first time I have built from scratch feedback would be greatly appreciated. Not planning on doing any overclocking. Happy Turkey Day!

Proc: $233
AMD Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego 1GHz FSB Socket 939
http://www.newegg.com/product/produ...N82E16819103539

Mobo: $109.99
ASUS A8N-E Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813131530

HD: $ 106.50
Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 ST3250823AS 250GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150
http://www.newegg.com/product/produ...N82E16822148065

Memory:$117
CORSAIR XMS 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory -
http://www.newegg.com/product/produ...N82E16820145450

Video Card: $284.99
eVGA 256-P2-N376-AX Geforce 6800GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814130215

DVD: $79.99
PLEXTOR Black IDE DVD Burner Model PX-740A/SW-BL - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827131357

Case:$49.99
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel, SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811119068

PSU:$89.99
Antec TRUEPOWERII TPII-550 ATX12V 550W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817103931

 

[Chacranajxy]

Wow... that's a really good setup overall. I personally would try and opt for a 7800GT instead of a 6800 though. And maybe go with a 7200.9 hard drive (you can get a 160GB for like $95.) Really though, as you have the system configured, it'll be pretty awesome... definitely try and get the GT if you can though since it's not that much more expensive.

 

[0roo0roo]

thats upper midrange not budget

 

[hclarkjr]

nice setup but you could save some money on the dvd burner by going with this benq1640 the plextor is just a rebadge of the 1640

 

[Adrenalin33]

Thanks for feedback so far everyone. One thing I was looking at was going with 6800 GS card which from what I have read is $80 cheaper and runs just as good as the GT? Anyone heard likewise?

Also from this rig do you think I need any extra fans or heatsinks..etc (first time building so worried about missing some minor parts)

 

[Chacranajxy]

Originally posted by: Adrenalin33
Thanks for feedback so far everyone. One thing I was looking at was going with 6800 GS card which from what I have read is $80 cheaper and runs just as good as the GT? Anyone heard likewise?

Also from this rig do you think I need any extra fans or heatsinks..etc (first time building so worried about missing some minor parts)

IIRC, I heard that the GS wasn't quite as good as the GT... I really do think that if anything, you should step up to a 7800 since it's the only logical change you could make... you won't need any extra fans.

 

[SoundTheSurrender]

I would buy more ram, they have Corsair 2 x 1 gb for about 186. its not xms, but you don't seem to plan on O/C so whats the point?

 

[Firsttime]

I would step up to the 7800gt, its only around another $50, and if its too much I would sacrifice the CPU and get a 3500+ instead

 

[Adrenalin33]

After seeing your replies, I found this deal on newegg and it seems like the way I will go, its gotten great reviws, price tag is right, and comes bundled with Farcry & COD2.

$315
XFX PVT70GUDF7 Geforce 7800GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814150108

Djmihow brings up something I was debating, as to whether or not I should go for 2 gigs of value rather than 1gb XMS. Anyone else have an opinion on that?

 

[Chacranajxy]

I can tell you that you definitely should get that video card. I personally love XFX because their cards are awesome. Not sure about the RAM thing though... if you're getting 2 GB of Corsair value, that'd probably be fine (probably, I'm not positive), but don't get the absolute cheapest, crappiest RAM you can find.

 

[raildogg]

Consider the Epox 9npa ultra. It is one of the absolute best motherboards for the nforce 4 chipset. Anandtech gave it its top award and declared it the fastest at stock speeds. The Asus A8N-E Ultra is also nice, but I would get this one. Also, why not get the Enermax Whisper 2.0 535W? It will run quieter and more efficient than that 550W Truepower. Its also a few dollars cheaper.

 

[Corporate Thug]

definately go for the 7800

 

[KoolDrew]

I would make the following changes.

- Change the CPU to an Opteron 148.
- Change the motherboard to a Epox 9NPA+Ultra.
- Change the HDD to a Western Digital 16MB.
- Change the RAM to Corsair VS.
- Change the video card to a 7800GT or drop down to a 6800GS.
- Change the DVD burner to something cheaper. NEC 3550A.
- Change the PSU to Fortron AX450-PN.

For the RAM, if you think you may upgrade to 2GB in the near future, buy a single 1GB stick. Then when you upgrade to 2GB you won't have to use four sticks.

 

[Adrenalin33]

shameless bump