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GoCobbers1

Member
Dec 4, 2006
81
0
0
Greetings all! First time poster but have been lurking the forums for some time now. I am in the process of researching my first build. I am a bit green when it comes to the actual build but have an adequate knowledge of specs.

My requirements for the computer is that it can perform all the standard college student tasks (word processing, music, internet, etc...) But I also am interested in keeping up to date with the current Action games especially Battlefield 2 etc... And sadly as most people are I am on a budget.. $800 to $900 NOTE: Ended up fudging to $1k

Specs


**UPDATED FINAL BUILD SPECS**

CPU
Intel Core 2 Duo E6300Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Conroe 1.86GHz LGA 775

Motherboard
Gigabyte 965P S3GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965

RAM
G.Skill 2GB Ram PC2-6400

Hard Drive
WD Cavier 120GB SATA 3.0/gs

Video Card
BFG Tech Geforce 7950GT

OLD SPECS

ECS NFORCE4M-A (V3.0) Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce4 4X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail [/b] So off the bat I am starting out with a weak motherboard. Like I stated earlier I am on a budget. Is this to extreme?

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Windsor 2.2GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADA4200CUBOX - Retail Any thoughts?

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ - Retail I read on here that the upgraded nice RAM was more geared towards OC which I have no knowledge of proper OC'ing. Thoughts?

Western Digital Caviar SE WD1200JS 120GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM Figured it was easy upgrade later if need be.

BFG Tech BFGR7950512GTOCE GeForce 7950GT 512MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail wanted a card that could keep up with fps rated games. How'd I do?

What are the chances a couple fellas just out of the military with a case of beer and our thinking caps can pop this thing together? :)

Well thats it. Monitor, speakers, keyboard and mouse are handled.. I have became addicted to this forum and hope to get great responses from its skilled posters.

Pete
 
bob4432

bob4432

Lifer
Sep 6, 2003
11,727
46
91
Originally posted by: GoCobbers1
Greetings all! First time poster but have been lurking the forums for some time now. I am in the process of researching my first build. I am a bit green when it comes to the actual build but have an adequate knowledge of specs.

My requirements for the computer is that it can perform all the standard college student tasks (word processing, music, internet, etc...) But I also am interested in keeping up to date with the current Action games especially Battlefield 2 etc... And sadly as most people are I am on a budget.. $800 to $900

Specs
I have a case and adequate power supply (you will have to trust me as a good friend who I believe has a strong knowledge in Computer building gave it to me and I am not sure specs.)


ECS NFORCE4M-A (V3.0) Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce4 4X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail So off the bat I am starting out with a weak motherboard. Like I stated earlier I am on a budget. Is this to extreme?

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Windsor 2.2GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADA4200CUBOX - Retail Any thoughts?

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ - Retail I read on here that the upgraded nice RAM was more geared towards OC which I have no knowledge of proper OC'ing. Thoughts?

Western Digital Caviar SE WD1200JS 120GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM Figured it was easy upgrade later if need be.

BFG Tech BFGR7950512GTOCE GeForce 7950GT 512MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail wanted a card that could keep up with fps rated games. How'd I do?

What are the chances a couple fellas just out of the military with a case of beer and our thinking caps can pop this thing together? :)

Well thats it. Monitor, speakers, keyboard and mouse are handled.. I have became addicted to this forum and hope to get great responses from its skilled posters.

Pete
Click to expand...

what display?

most people are going to recommend core 2 duo since you get better performance than the am2 cpu and the prices are not that far apart.

most people will tell you to go somewhere else besides ecs as they are usually known as a low end m/b manf

also, remember battlefiels 2 is ~ 1.5yrs old so the newer games that will be coming out will require more gpu power, again depending on monitor/resolution
 
S

Skyguy

Senior member
Oct 7, 2006
202
0
0
Thirded.



As for vid card, depends on your budget and how long you wanna keep the card before you need to upgrade. Any thoughts on that?
 
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GoCobbers1

Member
Dec 4, 2006
81
0
0
alright so C2D...

Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E6300 1.86GHz 1066MHz 2MB LGA775 CPU or is the 2.13 or 2.4 worth it knowing that I am on a budget?

Asus P5NSLI Core 2 Duo/ nForce 570 SLI/ DDR2/ SAT2/ RAID/ A&GbE/ ATX Motherboard Yes I see I switched to SLI.... is that the way to go for video card upgrades in future?

And actually it has been awhile! BF2 is old! lol thanks for all the help.

NOTE: monitor has max res of 1280x1024 75hz

 
bob4432

bob4432

Lifer
Sep 6, 2003
11,727
46
91
Originally posted by: GoCobbers1
alright so C2D...

Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E6300 1.86GHz 1066MHz 2MB LGA775 CPU or is the 2.13 or 2.4 worth it knowing that I am on a budget?

Asus P5NSLI Core 2 Duo/ nForce 570 SLI/ DDR2/ SAT2/ RAID/ A&GbE/ ATX Motherboard Yes I see I switched to SLI.... is that the way to go for video card upgrades in future?

And actually it has been awhile! BF2 is old! lol thanks for all the help.

NOTE: monitor has max res of 1280x1024 75hz
Click to expand...

no probs. honestly i still play bf2 - imho best fps shooter out there still. been playing company of heroes lately too - nice rts game ;)

how long do you plan on keeping the monitor and if/when you change it what do you plan on upgrading to?

sli - possibly, depends on many situations

c2d 6300 is an excellent performing cpu - and from what i have read has quite a bit of headroom, if i were going to buy today i would go either it or the 6400 (can't decide) but nothing faster as i would o/c

maybe do a bit of searching about that m/b - i thought there were issues with some recent nforce setup...but i can't remember exactly which one it was since nvidia is pumping out chipsets and gpus like a couple of rabbits....

and not trying to bust on your friend or show any disrespect whatsoever - but you need to get the specs on the psu - m/bs changed about 1-2yrs ago from 20+4->24+4pins and need more A on differnt V lines than they use to. the psu may have been the sh!t 3yrs ago but it may or may not be what you need today - i would hate for you to spend the $$$ on a new rig and have an issue with a psu. i have given many friends my old psus and they have all been of at least above average quality - but they were old (2-3yrs old) and i told my buddies their limitations and they built their rigs to be within specs of the psu
 
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GoCobbers1

Member
Dec 4, 2006
81
0
0
Upgrading monitor is not incredibly high on my priority list so haven't looked into it even a peep. :(

What are your suggestions for a SLI video card. Is 512 the only way to go if not running dual right off the bat?

have looked into the mobo issue and with the Asus P5NSLI Core 2 Duo/ nForce 570 SLI I haven't seen much for issues. A few DOA's a site. And as much as people say don't go by Newegg for review info in a quick look 4 out of 5 stars with no glaring faults by the easily pleased site ;)

thanks for all the thoughtful responses!
 
Spikesoldier

Spikesoldier

Diamond Member
Oct 15, 2001
6,766
0
0
cheap ecs board
x2 3800
1gb cheap ddr400
7600gt
320gb sata

done and on a budget, should give you minimal overclocking headroom if thats your thing, but bang/buck is at its maximum.
 
bob4432

bob4432

Lifer
Sep 6, 2003
11,727
46
91
Originally posted by: GoCobbers1
Upgrading monitor is not incredibly high on my priority list so haven't looked into it even a peep. :(

What are your suggestions for a SLI video card. Is 512 the only way to go if not running dual right off the bat?

have looked into the mobo issue and with the Asus P5NSLI Core 2 Duo/ nForce 570 SLI I haven't seen much for issues. A few DOA's a site. And as much as people say don't go by Newegg for review info in a quick look 4 out of 5 stars with no glaring faults by the easily pleased site ;)

thanks for all the thoughtful responses!
Click to expand...

i probably wouldn't go sli, i would just get something like a 256MB x1950xt for ~$250 and then the rest of what operandi suggests. good combination and a strong machine. will play bf2 very good - all the eye candy @ 1280x1024 :D

as far as the nforce 570 issue i can't find it atm (the search here sux) but i think it had to do with o/cing....
 
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Skyguy

Senior member
Oct 7, 2006
202
0
0
Stick with the 6300, it's a FAST chip at stock speeds, you won't be disappointed......won't help much in current games, but it's a huge improvement when multitasking and/or doing other CPU intensive tasks.

Ditch the SLI. SLI is only needed when going really high end (ie--2 8800 GTX's with a 30" monitor, etc). SLI for mid-range is a ripoff. Just get a better single card, it's a much better option.

Seasonic PSU = thumbs up.

Ditch the ECS mobo. Get a Gigabyte S3. You don't need the DS3, and it'll save you some money on a tighter budget. The S3 overclocks and performs the same as the DS3 but without the solid capacitors. No biggie.

As for vid card, depends on your preference and budget. If you're not an ATI or Nvidia fanboy, then just go for whatever has the best deal. Both cards will give great performance for your needs at this point in time. One might have a slight advantage in some games, the other may in others. No biggie. Just don't blow your brains out on a card.........here's the simple logic: either of those cards will handle what you want in BF2 and whatever else. So save some money if at all possible for your next vid card upgrade when newer games come out, then upgrade to a much better card at that point in time. So you win now and you have money to win later ;)
 
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GoCobbers1

Member
Dec 4, 2006
81
0
0
Soo you guys are reccomending the x1950xt -- 7600GT --7950GT. Mainly I am looking for a card that will get me up to date to run high powered games. In the past I have ran two monitors while multitabling poker tables and thought I saw that the 7950GT had 2 ports for monitors.(Not sure if that is standard or not)

The BFG 7950GT I have found for $239.99
The 7600GT for as low as $160
The x1950xt for $249

I like skyguy's thought of having money aside to upgrade vid cards when later comes around and I want a new card setup. But I also want to be able to play full settings on games that are around currently..

If I have a good deal on the Asus P5NSLI Core 2 Duo/ nForce 570 is it still a bad idea? I know better options are available but is it going to be an extreme bottleneck situation?

thanks..
 
S

Skyguy

Senior member
Oct 7, 2006
202
0
0
It won't bottleneck.......it just won't let you overclock much. So if that doesn't concern you, then go for it. But then don't bother with high end/expensive RAM either.....just get the cheap stuff. Those 2 items there will save you a bundle of $$ and save that for your next vid card.

7600 is cheaper in price.....since you say $160, I assume that's Canadian pricing? Because American e-tailers have it for less than that. The 7600 is a GREAT VALUE, bang for the buck card. It can handle alot of the current games @ 1280 rez with things turned up....not Oblivion or other MASSIVE HOGS. But most games fine. If you REALLY like eye candy, then go for 1950 or 7950......both will perform great, so get the card that's cheaper/quieter/cooler........unless you have a preference for ATI vs Nvidia.

If you're not gonna overclock, between the mobo, cheaper RAM, and 7600......that's quite a bit of money you can save for next vid card ;) Just my $0.02 worth though.
 
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GoCobbers1

Member
Dec 4, 2006
81
0
0
When you say cheaper RAM are we talking PC2-3200 RAM or a cheaper grade of PC2-5400?



Found the 7600GT for cheap and im leaning heavily towards it.... Is running dual 7600gts a good option for my upgrade and future?




thanks for helping out skyguy

 
Bill Brasky

Bill Brasky

Diamond Member
May 18, 2006
4,324
1
0
Originally posted by: bob4432
Originally posted by: GoCobbers1
Upgrading monitor is not incredibly high on my priority list so haven't looked into it even a peep. :(

What are your suggestions for a SLI video card. Is 512 the only way to go if not running dual right off the bat?

have looked into the mobo issue and with the Asus P5NSLI Core 2 Duo/ nForce 570 SLI I haven't seen much for issues. A few DOA's a site. And as much as people say don't go by Newegg for review info in a quick look 4 out of 5 stars with no glaring faults by the easily pleased site ;)

thanks for all the thoughtful responses!
Click to expand...

i probably wouldn't go sli, i would just get something like a 256MB x1950xt for ~$250 and then the rest of what operandi suggests. good combination and a strong machine. will play bf2 very good - all the eye candy @ 1280x1024 :D

as far as the nforce 570 issue i can't find it atm (the search here sux) but i think it had to do with o/cing....
Click to expand...
:thumbsup:

I vote against sli as well. It consumes a bunch of power, large heat output, higher chance of driver problems. Plus the x19xx gpu's tend to handle antialiasing better.
 
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shoRunner

Platinum Member
Nov 8, 2004
2,629
1
0
i'd go with the x1950xt as it performs better than the 7950gt and is about the same price. along with the e6300 and the gigabyte board.
 
Boyo

Boyo

Golden Member
Feb 23, 2006
1,406
0
0
You won't want to SLI with what you have selected. It's just not worth it. I would go with the 7950GT or the 7900GT.
 
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GoCobbers1

Member
Dec 4, 2006
81
0
0
So this is what I got. Im on budget and I think I was able to address most all of your concerns.

Case
ATRIX CSCI-L8033-C43 Black SECC steel sheeting FCC class CB&CE approved ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 480W Power Supply
CPU
Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Conroe 1.86GHz LGA 775
Motherboard
GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965
RAM
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
Hard Drive
Western Digital Caviar SE WD1200JS 120GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s
Video Card
BFG Tech BFGR7950512GTOCE GeForce 7950GT 512MB GDDR3

$880 shipped
How did I do? Any major flaws...
The video card was definitely my toughest decision and I am still somewhat undecided but sense I made it on budget I feel pretty good about my choice.

Thanks for all your help up to this point!



NOTE: Have not ordered yet. Letting it all sink in first. :)
 
M

MadAmos

Senior member
Sep 13, 2006
818
0
76
Not to add to your confusion but I would (and did :D ) get the GA p965 S3 Mobo and save another 40 bucks :D

Amos
 
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Skyguy

Senior member
Oct 7, 2006
202
0
0
The S3 supports DDR2-6400.....I know, I have both. Get the S3, save $40 and use that money to buy an aftermarket CPU heatsink.

With your setup, I assume (hope!) you plan on doing some great overclocking? With your specs and a CPU HSF, you should get 3.0 ghz on that 6300 without breaking a sweat. If you're not gonna overclock, then get cheap 667 RAM, forget the CPU HSF, and get a bigger hard drive.

That vid card is fine. Good choice.
 
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