Trying to put together an entry level gaming machine.

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pirred908

Senior member
Jul 1, 2004
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I want to build an entry level gaming machine. I don't have a set budget, but the less expensive, the better. Basically, I want the best bang-for-the-buck machine. Heres my idea; It's very similar to Anandtech's buying guide for an "upgraded" entry level system.

Processor: AMD Athlon 64 3000+ 1.8 GHz 512KB L2 90nm socket 939 - $146

Motherboard: Chaintech VNF4 Socket 939 - $91

Memory: 2x512MB PDP/Patriot PC3200, Model PDC1G3200LLK - $131

Video Card: Leadtek GeForce 6600 128-bit 128MB PCIe 300/550 - $109

Hard Drive: Seagate 160 GB 7200 RPM 8MB SATA - $94

Optical Drive 1: NEC DVD+RW 3520A - $57

Floppy Drive: NEC, Sony, TEAC, Samsung, etc. - $8

Case: Not sure. I think I'll just go down to Fry's and pick up a full tower.

Power Supply: Enermax Noisetaker 370W model EG375P-VE-SFMA - $51

Display: Cheap, used one at first, no more than $40

Speakers: Cheap ones, no more than $20

Keyboard and Mouse: Fry's, whatever is comfortable.

Bottom Line: $687 w/o display, speakers, case, and kb/mouse.

Thank you for your input.
 
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imported_whatever

Platinum Member
Jul 9, 2004
2,019
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I would go with a higher rated Fortron instead of that Enermax PSU, they can take a LOT of abuse and provide quite stable power.
Make sure you are getting a Venice CPU instead of a Winchester
Also, Newegg now has the NEC 3540A if you want to get something that can do DVD-R DL discs.
edit: yeah, I forgot about the 6600GT. Unless you plan on OCing the 6600, definately go with a GT version (and even if you plan on OCing it, the GT gets quite a bit faster iirc)
 
K

KoolDrew

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
10,226
7
81
You can get Corsair Value Select which is cheaper. I think Mushkin is even cheaper then that. I would also try to get the 6600GT. As for case you can get a Antec SLK3700BQE or Sonata which comes with nice PSUs.
 
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Gusty987

Golden Member
Mar 24, 2004
1,473
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Originally posted by: KoolDrew
You can get Corsair Value Select which is cheaper. I think Mushkin is even cheaper then that. I would also try to get the 6600GT. As for case you can get a Antec SLK3700BQE or Sonata which comes with nice PSUs.
Click to expand...

I have the Sonata and can highly recommend it; its a great case.
 
D

Diasper

Senior member
Mar 7, 2005
709
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If you value silence as well as cost and performance (with some overclocking):

Venice CPU 3000 or 3200 (perhaps 3200 as the Chaintech can't handle really high hypertransports O/C ing)
Get a fortron PSU
Get the Corsair Value select - just up to voltage a bit and tighten the timings.
A 6600GT also.
An Antec 3000B case - amazing cooling for noise.

My final recommendation would be the Coolermaster Hyper48 cooler as one providing really excellent performance for noise at lower cost than the Thermalright solutions.

silentpcreview

One thing - it is heavy at 864g
 
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gobucks

Golden Member
Oct 22, 2004
1,166
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1) for the PSU, make sure you get an ATX 2.0 PSU. Vantec's 420W Stealth PSU will probaly do the trick.
2) Corsair Value RAM is only $90 for a gig.
3) 6600GT would be great. It will be almost twice as fast as a 6600.
4)Mobo - Make sure you get the VNF4/Ultra, not just the VNF4. The Ultra has lots of nice features, and it is usually the same cost as the non-ultra ($85-90) so it'd be just plain crazy not to get it.
 
S

Stokes

Senior member
Apr 20, 2005
510
0
0
From my understanding the Venice 3200+ has the best bang for your buck, especially considering overclocking. That would be my suggestion.

And I agree fully with the suggestion for the Antec SLK3000, fantastic case for the price and almost all the users over at silentpcreview.com use it. It's too plain for my taste, thats why I choose the P160, but its more expensive.
 
Googer

Googer

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
12,576
7
81
[*]Use an Antec 1080AMG Case, It is a full tower and comes with a 430 Watt PSU for around $99. 430 should be enough to power a single Geforce
[*]Ditch the Puny 160GB HDD For $94, Tiger Direct has 250GB Western Digital SATA for $99.
[*]Also at TigerDirect you can get 512MB of Ram for $29! Thats a full Gigabte for less than $60, you could max out your motherboard with 4 freking GB of ram for $120 and still have pennies to spare!

Also, I have owned Teac, Mitsumi, Samsung, and NEC Floppy Drives, Sony is by far the Quetest, Smoothest, Fastest. Floppy Drive I have owned. This thing reads old floppys better than any other drive I have owned. It saved my butt when other drives said my disc was corrupt. Thanks to sony who invented the 1.44 floppy format.
 
M

MobiusPizza

Platinum Member
Apr 23, 2004
2,001
0
0
Originally posted by: Googer
[*]Use an Antec 1080AMG Case, It is a full tower and comes with a 430 Watt PSU for around $99. 430 should be enough to power a single Geforce
[*]Ditch the Puny 160GB HDD For $94, Tiger Direct has 250GB Western Digital SATA for $99.
[*]Also at TigerDirect you can get 512MB of Ram for $29! Thats a full Gigabte for less than $60, you could max out your motherboard with 4 freking GB of ram for $120 and still have pennies to spare!

Also, I have owned Teac, Mitsumi, Samsung, and NEC Floppy Drives, Sony is by far the Quetest, Smoothest, Fastest. Floppy Drive I have owned. This thing reads old floppys better than any other drive I have owned. It saved my butt when other drives said my disc was corrupt. Thanks to sony who invented the 1.44 floppy format.
Click to expand...

 
T

Twsmit

Senior member
Nov 30, 2003
925
0
76
Drop down to a gig of value ram, corsair value is under $80 now. Upgrade to a 6600GT
 
Googer

Googer

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
12,576
7
81
Get a 256BIT 128mb video card they are about the same price as 128bit 128mb cards and offer 50% better performance.
 
bob4432

bob4432

Lifer
Sep 6, 2003
11,727
46
91
Originally posted by: Googer
[*]Use an Antec 1080AMG Case, It is a full tower and comes with a 430 Watt PSU for around $99. 430 should be enough to power a single Geforce
[*]Ditch the Puny 160GB HDD For $94, Tiger Direct has 250GB Western Digital SATA for $99.
[*]Also at TigerDirect you can get 512MB of Ram for $29! Thats a full Gigabte for less than $60, you could max out your motherboard with 4 freking GB of ram for $120 and still have pennies to spare!

Also, I have owned Teac, Mitsumi, Samsung, and NEC Floppy Drives, Sony is by far the Quetest, Smoothest, Fastest. Floppy Drive I have owned. This thing reads old floppys better than any other drive I have owned. It saved my butt when other drives said my disc was corrupt. Thanks to sony who invented the 1.44 floppy format.
Click to expand...

as far as this ram, in large letters it says 1 per household and you would need a m/b with 8 memory slots for 4GB
 
W

w00t

Diamond Member
Nov 5, 2004
5,545
0
0
i would keep ur rig and and get a new video card if ur having problems with the games u play.
 
bob4432

bob4432

Lifer
Sep 6, 2003
11,727
46
91
Originally posted by: w00t
i would keep ur rig and and get a new video card if ur having problems with the games u play.
Click to expand...

i didn't even notice his rig, personally i don't think you will see much of a difference and if you go with a vanilla 6600 you might lose performance compared to your 9800, can you just o/c the 9800 you have now with a watercooling block?
 
C

coomar

Banned
Apr 4, 2005
2,431
0
0
you can get a 6600gt for 150 or so, both the 256bit cards the x800 and 6800 are closer to 200, he might as well just stick with the 6600gt
 
FlashG

FlashG

Platinum Member
Dec 23, 1999
2,709
2
0
I'm interested in upgrading to this level of performance as well. I wonder where you are finding 1 gig of corsair 3200 RAM for under $80 and a 6600gt for around $150. Thanks

OK I found the cosair site but what part numbers am I looking for?

I still can't find a 6600gt for $150.

Sorry for being a nob but I haven't kept up with the upgrade scene for a while.
 
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