$1500 Build

Discussion in 'Gaming' started by dementia, Jul 28, 2006.

  1. dementia

    dementia Well-Known Member

    Posts:
    6,244
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    May 21, 2005
    Location:
    Denver
    I've been trying to let my mom get $1500 for a computer in place of her getting me a newer car for a few more months, so this is a computer build I worked out, tell me if you guys agree with it, or if I should just get a conroe setup or any suggestions.

    CD/DVD Burner (x2):
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16827152058

    Case:
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16811129152

    Floppy Drive (yes, ill use it):
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16821152005

    Internal HD (I have another 120GB HD I will transfer over after formatting it):
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16822144417

    Power Supply:
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16817159006

    Motherboard - ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe Socket AM2 SLI ATX:
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16813131013

    Processor - AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+ Windsor 2000MHz (its more because of double the L2 cache of traditional 64 X2 4000+ processors):
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16819103739

    Video Card - eVGA 256-P2-N563-AX Geforce 7900GT CO 256MB:
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16814130281

    Memory - CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM Unbuffered DDR2 800 (PC2 6400):
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16820145034

    Total, with tax, shipping and without rebates, comes to about $1450.

    It is mainly going to be used for graphics and general usage, as I dont get alot of videogames, but I would like it to be capable of playing some of the higher end games when I get some extra time (like FEAR). Will I have any problems with heating, how have you heard the OC is on these (for when the warranties expire, i plan on OCing it)? Any changes or recommendations?
     
  2. johnAnnoucingConroe

    johnAnnoucingConroe Well-Known Member

    Posts:
    124
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2006
    Core 2 Duo E'6300 (or E'6400). No point in going Athlon x2 64's.
    You meant 7900 KO, right? Not a bad selection, although i favour the x1800xt.
    ram: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16820231087

    since diff processor, diff mobo:
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16813131028
    can do cheaper, but just a suggestion

    hard drive:
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16822148140
    PRM tech owns the caviers

    power supply:
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16817103937
    modular cable support. ftw.
     
  3. dementia

    dementia Well-Known Member

    Posts:
    6,244
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    May 21, 2005
    Location:
    Denver
    when can you even expect the conroes to be at Newegg and in-stock for any prolonged period of time? Also, how much are they going to be at release?

    the reason i was grabbing an AMD with an AM2 socket is so that i could buy a new AMD when it comes out in november/december.

    as far as the ram you mentioned, why that? does it perform better, or just for the price? there isnt many reviews on it on newegg, so any extra information would be great.

    and i suppose i could switch out the 7900GT for an X1800XT, as they have them in stock, and they are cheaper. I was also going for the 7900GT as it could be SLI'd (which is why i got a mobo with 2 PCI-Ex16 slots, for future expansion to a dual SLI 7900GT setup.

    I am really trying to stick to being able to upgrade later with small pieces and not a full overhaul.
     
  4. Jimbo

    Jimbo Well-Known Member

    Posts:
    1,508
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2005
    Don't bother, you only get half of the benefits of K8L by using a AM2 socket mobo with it.
     
  5. johnAnnoucingConroe

    johnAnnoucingConroe Well-Known Member

    Posts:
    124
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2006
    My bad. This RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16820231065
    read the reviews. Good overclocker. Good price.

    the E'6400 will be around $220. If you were going to upgrade in december to K8L, why get such an expensive processor (considering it's only temp.)

    They should be on newegg within like 2-3 days, dunno why the wait. I don't think they have pre-orders, so if you order it the day it goes on their site, you might be able to get one.
     
  6. dementia

    dementia Well-Known Member

    Posts:
    6,244
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    May 21, 2005
    Location:
    Denver
    alright, so im hearing go with the intel setup when the conroes become available?

    also, john, i saw youve been in here for a little while, i editted my response to include why i chose a 7900GT over an X1800XT.
     
  7. xlink

    xlink GR's Tech Enthusiast

    Posts:
    8,054
    Likes Received:
    3
    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2004
    they have conroe on tigerdirect, albeit in OEM factor... no clue if you get a HSF with ti as an OEM though I wouldn't eb surpried if you didn't...

    PRM drives fofer the benefit of higher cluster desnity and thus faster reading and lower latencies. The baracudas aren't as fast as the raptors, but they are fairly close and are priced right...
     
  8. Jayjay1145

    Jayjay1145 Well-Known Member

    Posts:
    103
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2006
    Thats alot of money to spend on a computer.
     
  9. johnAnnoucingConroe

    johnAnnoucingConroe Well-Known Member

    Posts:
    124
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2006
    Good job buddy. You noticed, continue spamming, you are diong a really good job with it.
    Back on topic...

    The x1800xt is around $230, so it's not a cheap graphics card by any means. x800GTO's can play FEAR preaty well, so the difference in playing with the x1800xt and the 7900GT will be unnoticable.

    SLi is crap. Crossfire is far better. In SLi, they must be the same exact card (the manufactorers can be difference though.) In Crossfire, you can have any Crossfire enabled card, with any other Crossfire enabled card. I'm not sure if the 2kx cards from ATi will be compatable with the 1kx, but I'm sure they will be trying. But either way, if you were looking to put another card on it, I would go for an x1800xt now, and then when the x190xt's price drop a bunch, maybe go for that (or it might just be more economical to go for one of the 2kx cards. I really can't say because I do not know the compatablility issues, as mentioned above.) But hey, with the new ATi + AMD merge, maybe they won't even make the 2kx cards compatable with Intel boards :D
     
  10. dementia

    dementia Well-Known Member

    Posts:
    6,244
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    May 21, 2005
    Location:
    Denver
    Alright, so heres the new setup:

    CD/DVD Burner (x2):
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16827152058

    Case:
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16811129152

    Floppy Drive (yes, ill use it):
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16821152005

    Internal HD (I have another 120GB HD I will transfer over after formatting it):
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16822148140

    Power Supply:
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16817103937


    Motherboard - ASUS P5B Deluxe/WiFi-AP:
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16813131028


    Processor - Intel Core 2 Duo E6400:
    http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Se...&Tab=0&NoMapp=0


    Video Card - SAPPHIRE Radeon X1800XT 256MB:
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16814102007


    Memory - G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM:
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16820231065


    Red = changed

    This build totals $1,244.90 without shipping and rebates.

    That gives me another $200 to spend on it before shipping, possibly some added cooling? I am looking to get a keyboard and mouse with it as well (which is about $100), so is there any cooling for around $100? Also, will this build be easily upgradable with future releases (very important to me that I can simply upgrade it at a later date instead of buying a completely brand new system again)? And how overclockable is this system at base for when the warranties expire?
     
  11. johnAnnoucingConroe

    johnAnnoucingConroe Well-Known Member

    Posts:
    124
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2006
    Since you have $100 extra, I would seriously considered Water Cooling. You can Overclock your processor ALOT. I'd ask some one who knows about water cooling about which to get, because I don't know.
     
  12. dementia

    dementia Well-Known Member

    Posts:
    6,244
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    May 21, 2005
    Location:
    Denver
    alright.

    *pages, "xelink or defuzion to the computing section. xelink or defuzion to the computing section please."*
     
  13. xlink

    xlink GR's Tech Enthusiast

    Posts:
    8,054
    Likes Received:
    3
    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2004
    watercooling is nice... I personally would never bother unlessI went with a real full-on approach vs.the relativelycheap semi-mass produced ones(the advantage being that since all partsont he fullon approach are copper[perfered,esp at points of contact or alluminim you can easily apply apeltier systemto the water resevoir to chill it).

    personally,I think the 100$ would be best either used for other non-computing uses or perhaps for a better PSU. The limit for air cooling on conroe is around 3.8-4.0GHzapoint at which your motherboard be the limiting factor most definately. a higher OC would be attained through either the use of a proc with a higher multiplier(the 6600 has a 9* multiplier vs the 6400s 8*)or some sort of additional cooling for the board(mostly the mosafets and the chipset(s)). Stock cooling might very well suffice on the CPU for a moderate OC(3.0ish should be ator closeto stock voltage) though a tuniq tower 120(no longer can find it on newegg though) or a big typhoon offer a bit more cooling
     
  14. dementia

    dementia Well-Known Member

    Posts:
    6,244
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    May 21, 2005
    Location:
    Denver
    So im hearing to get either a new PSU, or stay at the current build or buy something non-hardware stuff?

    I just realized that the next best processor (the E6600 @ 2.4GHz over a 2.13GHz, 4MB Cache instead of 2, etc.) is within price range, so I could get that... http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Se...0512&CatId=2396
     
  15. johnAnnoucingConroe

    johnAnnoucingConroe Well-Known Member

    Posts:
    124
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2006
    Are you going to wait for newegg to sell it, or get it from tigerdirect.com?
     

Share This Page