Opinions on gaming rig

[speedypc]

Is this good kung-fu?:

-Case ($70 - Enermax CS-5171LBFS-B - http://www.tomshardware.com/howto/20031217/case_review-43.html )
-CPU ($270 - Athlon 64 3200 / 1MB L2 cache)
-Mobo ($100 - EPox 8KDA3J - http://www.digital-daily.com/motherboard/epox-8kda3+)
-RAM ($140 - 1GB OCZ - http://www.netaffilia.com/ad/electronics/frys/i/2004/07/16/4940.html )
-Video card ($200 - RADEON 9800 Pro 128MB)
-Power Suppply ($60 - Antec SL400)
-HD ($60 after rebate - got this already - Seagate 120GB 7200rpm Ultra ATA)

I'm buying this in stages as $ allows, hopefully it will be complete in a month. Any suggestions/recommendations on the specs?

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: speedypc
Is this good kung-fu?

*bows*

You could skimp a bit on the CPU and get a 3000+ though. Once overclocked it would still be very fast.

 

[RussianSensation]

Yeah i would agree with SickBeast, especially if you pair it up with an Nforce 3 mobo since it has the AGP/PCI lock.

If you are gonna go for the 3200+ and spend ~$270, might as well get the 2.2ghz 512kb Newcastle 3200+ version for more overclocking headroom. Considering for gaming "pure speed" matters more than cache, I would prefer to have the "slightly faster" newcastle core.

Good setup.

 

[speedypc]

Actually, just thought of something - is that RAM ( http://www.netaffilia.com/ad/electronics/frys/i/2004/07/16/4940.html ) compatible with that motherboard ( http://www.netaffilia.com/ad/electronics/frys/i/2004/07/16/4940.html )? Specifically, I wonder if it will work with the nForce3 chipset?

 

[StrangerGuy]

I suggest you to drop the CPU down to a 3000+ like what Sickbeast has said or get the faster 2.2GHz Newcastle 3200+.

 

[StrangerGuy]

Originally posted by: speedypc
Actually, just thought of something - is that RAM ( http://www.netaffilia.com/ad/electronics/frys/i/2004/07/16/4940.html ) compatible with that motherboard ( http://www.netaffilia.com/ad/electronics/frys/i/2004/07/16/4940.html )? Specifically, I wonder if it will work with the nForce3 chipset?

Well OCZ stuff is pretty good nowadays and it should work with a NF3 system without a hitch.

 

[ed21x]

many people trying to sell their radeon 9800 pros in the fs/ft forum- it could probably shave $50 on your videocard budget.

 

Drop CPU down and see if you can stretch the money out to get a new gen vid card

 

[jpeyton]

AMD Athlon 64 2800+ Retail - $184

Chaintech VNF3-250 - $85.99

PNY GeForce 6800GT 256MB - $339.67

Antec Sonata w/ 380W PSU - $99.94

Your cost for case, CPU, mobo, video card, PSU: $700

My cost for the same components: $709.60

So you save about $10 bucks going with your config; you also save about 20FPS in all the new games. Hahaha.

6800GT OWNS 9800PRO.

How many "gaming rig" threads are we going to see with people getting 9800PROs instead of next gen cards?

 

[Regs]

2800 64? AMD 3000 64 is only 20 dollars more for 200 more MHz. And thats 200 AMD MHz.

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: Regs
2800 64? AMD 3000 64 is only 20 dollars more for 200 more MHz. And thats 200 AMD MHz.

It's about $30 more for OEM, $40 more for retail. But hey, if you got the extra $40, go for it. I just picked the 2800+ because it fit into his existing budget, he can always overclock it, and because the video card is a much more important component at this stage.

 

[Regs]

This is true. He can always update later.

 

[speedypc]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone, this has helped immensely. I'll definitely be looking into a slower CPU and a better video card.