$850 budget...

[Noobtastic]

Current build

DVD burner: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16827136118

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16811119068

GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16814102075

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16817104934

Headset: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16826265036 x2

Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16820134046

Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16813131046

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16819115014

Grand Total: $801.20 Shipped.

I'll be playing the battlefield series exclusively, and maybe that new battlefield-poser game (don't remember the name) that is coming out next year, I think.


Vista will be my O/S, BTW.


I have a very strict budget so I cannot go over $850.


I've upgraded my PSU from a 400 watt to a 500 watt (not necessary, but just a safety concern. I'm not willing to take a risk when it comes to power supply.

I'm pretty content with the chosen CPU and mobo. I don't need a quadcore or whatever the super-cpu mumbo jumbo is. Newegg has a limited selection for intel mobos, but the asus seemed like a nice fit.

I love the C5 case, so that won't be changing.

I wouldn't mine a DX10 card, but the 8600GTS is too lacking and the 8800GTS is too expensive. While the x1950xt performs slightly better than the x1950pro 512mb, the need for additional cooling and blasting sound, as well as a high lemon rate makes that card highly unattractive.


Seeing as this is my first build, I have no problem sacrificing a tad of performance for reliability.


Anyways, what should I do with the extra $50?

 

[Sinn707]

Centurion 5 $50
GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3R $130
E6550 $163 @2.3Ghz
SUPER TALENT 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) $82
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820609226
EVGA 8800 GTS $260
FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX500 $87
LG 18X black $28
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827136119

Total: $800 even

You are welcome.

 

[lyssword]

Buy a decent heatsink/fan + arctic silver. That way you can overclock your cpu to 3 ghz without heat/noise issues

 

[A5]

Hrm...if you're against the 1950xt, I'd say to stretch your budget an extra $6 and get a E6400 processor, but beyond that there isn't much to say.

The main issue with the 1950XT is that you'll never get the rebate, but I haven't seen much about them being lemons. I know mine works, and I'm pretty happy with it (I kinda wish I had more time to game though...)

 

[Noobtastic]

Originally posted by: Sinn707
Centurion 5 $50
GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3R $130
E6550 $163 @2.3Ghz
SUPER TALENT 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) $82
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820609226
EVGA 8800 GTS $260
FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX500 $87
LG 18X black $28
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827136119

Total: $800 even

You are welcome.

Newegg total comes to $975.


Are you sure that's right??


I know it is asking a lot, but more links would be helpful. I won't be buying a new computer for a looooonnngg time, so this is quite important to me.


thanks for the response.

edit: i wont be ocing. ever.

 

[Sinn707]

Originally posted by: Noobtastic

Originally posted by: Sinn707
Centurion 5 $50
GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3R $130
E6550 $163 @2.3Ghz
SUPER TALENT 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) $82
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820609226
EVGA 8800 GTS $260
FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX500 $87
LG 18X black $28
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827136119

Total: $800 even

You are welcome.

Newegg total comes to $975.


Are you sure that's right??


I know it is asking a lot, but more links would be helpful. I won't be buying a new computer for a looooonnngg time, so this is quite important to me.


thanks for the response.

edit: i wont be ocing. ever.

100% positive, here are all the links except the CPU which will cost $163 or something very close to it.

Centurion 5 $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16811119068

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3R $130
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128050

E6550 $163 @2.3Ghz

SUPER TALENT 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) $82
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820609226

EVGA 8800 GTS $260
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130082

FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX500 $87
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817104934

LG 18X black $28
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827136119

Total: $800 even after the $20 rebate on the video card.

I think you miscalculated something.

 

[JustaGeek]

Antec True Power Trio 550W - More power/same price, 3x18A 12V rails.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817371002


ABIT IP35-E LGA 775 Intel P35 MB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813127031

Great overclocking MB with Intel newest chipset. - $40 more.


SUPER TALENT 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit - $10 more

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820144062



IMHO, you will get yourself a Core 2 Duo easily overclocked to 3GHz with the above setup.

If you ever decided to overclock. But it is only ~$50 more than your $800, and much more faster right off the bat with the 800MHz memory. You won't be disappointed.

 

[Sinn707]

Originally posted by: JustaGeek
Antec True Power Trio 550W - More power/same price, 3x18A 12V rails.

He won't utilize 550w on his PC, not even close.
Always pick quality over quantity.

 

[JustaGeek]

Are you saying that my 650W Trio is substandard ? LOL

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: Noobtastic
Current build

Anyways, what should I do with the extra $50?

I'd take a look at the Acer Quad-Core 6600 for $750-ish that's been posted here for the past week or so. CompUSA. For about $750 you get:

ATI Radeon 1650SE (yes, you'd want to replace this)
2 GB RAM
500GB HDD
Intel Quad 6600 (!!)
Vista Home Premium
DVD burner with Lightscribe
...otherwise pretty standard

I put an 8800GTS/320 in mind, plus a Hauppuage PVR-500 dual-tv tuner, plus another 2GB of RAM, without issue... 300W is fine for handling all that.

When you get tired of the gfx (1650SE isn't that hot) you can easily upgrade...

Case is good - lots of room for more stuff... and it's toolless too, which is handy.

 

[Noobtastic]

Originally posted by: dclive

Originally posted by: Noobtastic
Current build

Anyways, what should I do with the extra $50?

I'd take a look at the Acer Quad-Core 6600 for $750-ish that's been posted here for the past week or so. CompUSA. For about $750 you get:

ATI Radeon 1650SE (yes, you'd want to replace this)
2 GB RAM
500GB HDD
Intel Quad 6600 (!!)
Vista Home Premium
DVD burner with Lightscribe
...otherwise pretty standard

I put an 8800GTS/320 in mind, plus a Hauppuage PVR-500 dual-tv tuner, plus another 2GB of RAM, without issue... 300W is fine for handling all that.

When you get tired of the gfx (1650SE isn't that hot) you can easily upgrade...

Case is good - lots of room for more stuff... and it's toolless too, which is handy.

No, don't want it.

That would run me almost $1,000 with upgraded GPU, and way to much hassle. I need the computer locked and loaded before school starts, so I rather not fiddle with pre-built systems.

 

[Noobtastic]

Originally posted by: Sinn707

Originally posted by: Noobtastic

Originally posted by: Sinn707
Centurion 5 $50
GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3R $130
E6550 $163 @2.3Ghz
SUPER TALENT 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) $82
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820609226
EVGA 8800 GTS $260
FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX500 $87
LG 18X black $28
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827136119

Total: $800 even

You are welcome.

Newegg total comes to $975.


Are you sure that's right??


I know it is asking a lot, but more links would be helpful. I won't be buying a new computer for a looooonnngg time, so this is quite important to me.


thanks for the response.

edit: i wont be ocing. ever.

100% positive, here are all the links except the CPU which will cost $163 or something very close to it.

Why aren't you factoring in the CPU? As I said, very strict budget.

Centurion 5 $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16811119068

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3R $130
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128050

E6550 $163 @2.3Ghz

SUPER TALENT 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) $82
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820609226

EVGA 8800 GTS $260
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130082

FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX500 $87
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817104934

LG 18X black $28
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827136119

Total: $800 even after the $20 rebate on the video card.

I think you miscalculated something.
[/quote]


With all the parts, including 320 gig HD and E4400 (which is a notch below the not listed cpu,) the total comes to $970 shipped to CA.

A little beyond my budget.

Any other suggestions?

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: Noobtastic
Anyways, what should I do with the extra $50?

Buy almost half of a Vista Home OEM disc?

 

[Noobtastic]

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: Noobtastic
Anyways, what should I do with the extra $50?

Buy almost half of a Vista Home OEM disc?

Hehe, that's included in my software budget.

Total budget - 1,500

Core components - 850

Software - $100

Monitor - $250

Build - $125

Inpute devices - $90

Games - $50

 

[JustaGeek]

ABIT motherboard with the P35 chipset and Super Talent DDR2 800 4-4-3-8 would make your new computer updated to June 2007.

Intel 945G chipset on your selected ASUS MB is at least 2 years old, and the 667MHz memory is a little slow for today's standards, too.

IMHO.

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: Noobtastic

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: Noobtastic
Anyways, what should I do with the extra $50?

Buy almost half of a Vista Home OEM disc?

Hehe, that's included in my software budget.

Total budget - 1,500

Core components - 850

Software - $100

Monitor - $250

Build - $125

Inpute devices - $90

Games - $50

If the "build" and "os" are extra cost items, then the $750 Acer becomes a better deal - it includes that already (it's built, and it includes a fully legal Vista Home Premium) and Vista Home Premium is better than the Home Basic you'd get for $100.

 

[airhd823]

Buy McDonalds

 

[KungFused]

Try this:

ODD: LITE-ON 20X DVD Burner - $27.99

CASE: Cooler Master Centurion 5 - $49.99 ($39.99 after MIR)

HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB - $79.99

GPU: EVGA GeForce 7900GS - $124.99 ($104.99 after MIR)

PSU: Enermax Liberty 400W - $79.99

HEADSET: Plantronics .Audio 60 x2 - $15.98

RAM: Kingston 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 800 - $83.49

MOBO: Gigabyte P35-DS3R - $129.99

CPU: The best you can afford of the E6x50 processors that are being released tomorrow. They've got the fancy new 1333MHz FSB, which will be very handy for you since you've said previously you won't overclock. The E6550, which is 2.33GHz stock, is expected to cost about $163. If that's correct, the total cost through Newegg would be $835 give or take, including sales tax and shipping but excluding the $30 in mail-in rebates, because you seem too lazy to bother printing stuff, cutting stuff, and mailing stuff.

You sacrifice a little bit in graphics, but you benefit from getting the newest tech available now since you won't be upgrading your machine and want it to last as long as possible. The new P35 chipset and the new 1333FSB processor will serve you a heck of a lot better in the long term than the parts you chose, and looking at the THG vid card charts, you're really only sacrificing <10fps in most games.

 

[Noobtastic]

Originally posted by: JustaGeek
ABIT motherboard with the P35 chipset and Super Talent DDR2 800 4-4-3-8 would make your new computer updated to June 2007.

Intel 945G chipset on your selected ASUS MB is at least 2 years old, and the 667MHz memory is a little slow for today's standards, too.

IMHO.

But the mobo only lists DDR 667MHz as compatible..unless I'm missing something?


$850 is my budget, feel free to recommend.

I've already considered the 7900GS, and figured that the x1950pro definitely has a longer lifespan (especially the 512mb.)


Battlefield 2142 and future battlefield games will require heavy texturing gpus.


Oh. My. Life.

If the "build" and "os" are extra cost items, then the $750 Acer becomes a better deal - it includes that already (it's built, and it includes a fully legal Vista Home Premium) and Vista Home Premium is better than the Home Basic you'd get for $100.

Doesn't come with monitor.

With GPU, monitor and desired keyboard/mouse, total would be about the same (time, however, not so much.)

 

[KungFused]

Extra RAM isn't gonna help you much unless you're gaming at high resolutions (greater than ~1280x1024). Newer games are gonna need newer hardware, not simply extra RAM. If you're set on the x1950Pro 512MB card, though, then get that instead of the 7900GS and get a cheaper processor along with the rest of what I recommended.

[EDIT] I'm talking about onboard GPU RAM here, not total system RAM, just to avoid confusion.

 

[Noobtastic]

Originally posted by: KungFused
Extra RAM isn't gonna help you much unless you're gaming at high resolutions (greater than ~1280x1024). Newer games are gonna need newer hardware, not simply extra RAM. If you're set on the x1950Pro 512MB card, though, then get that instead of the 7900GS and get a cheaper processor along with the rest of what I recommended.

[EDIT] I'm talking about onboard GPU RAM here, not total system RAM, just to avoid confusion.

I'm not set on the x1950pro, rather, fixated on its performance.

My gaming resolution will either be 1400x900 or 1280x1024. I'm not quite certain on the hardware requirements for the 1400x900, but it can't be a stretch from 12x10.

I keep doing 8800GTS builds, but the total ends up being more than $950.

Are the 22nd price cuts only for CPUs?

 

[JustaGeek]

Originally posted by: Noobtastic

Originally posted by: JustaGeek
ABIT motherboard with the P35 chipset and Super Talent DDR2 800 4-4-3-8 would make your new computer updated to June 2007.

Intel 945G chipset on your selected ASUS MB is at least 2 years old, and the 667MHz memory is a little slow for today's standards, too.

IMHO.

But the mobo only lists DDR 667MHz as compatible..unless I'm missing something?


$850 is my budget, feel free to recommend.

I've already considered the 7900GS, and figured that the x1950pro definitely has a longer lifespan (especially the 512mb.)


Battlefield 2142 and future battlefield games will require heavy texturing gpus.


Oh. My. Life.

ABIT mobo with Intel P35 chipset uses DDR2 800 as a standard memory. I would recommend getting this MB in lieu of your choice - ASUS. ASUS uses older chipset supporting DDR2 667.

That's $40 extra out of $50 you were willing to spend on top of $800 listed.

The remaining $10 I would use to upgrade to Super Talent DDR2 800 4-4-3-8. Excellent timings for $10 extra over Kingston - your original choice.

Antec True Power Trio 550W costs the same as your choice (Fortron 500W), but is a much better PS with efficiency >80% and 3 x 18A 12V rails as opposed to 2 x 15A 12V rails. Much more flexibility for future upgrades.

That's how I would spend your remaining $50, and I am certain you will be more than satisfied with these choices of MB, RAM and PS.

All within your budget of $850 - the remaining components listed in your original message are fine, and that includes your choice of Video Card.

 

[KungFused]

Originally posted by: Noobtastic

Originally posted by: KungFused
Extra RAM isn't gonna help you much unless you're gaming at high resolutions (greater than ~1280x1024). Newer games are gonna need newer hardware, not simply extra RAM. If you're set on the x1950Pro 512MB card, though, then get that instead of the 7900GS and get a cheaper processor along with the rest of what I recommended.

[EDIT] I'm talking about onboard GPU RAM here, not total system RAM, just to avoid confusion.

I'm not set on the x1950pro, rather, fixated on its performance.

My gaming resolution will either be 1400x900 or 1280x1024. I'm not quite certain on the hardware requirements for the 1400x900, but it can't be a stretch from 12x10.

I keep doing 8800GTS builds, but the total ends up being more than $950.

Are the 22nd price cuts only for CPUs?

1440x900 is actually fewer pixels than 1280x1024, so I expect you'd see better performance at 1440x900 than at 1280x1024. Knowing that, you could quite comfortably save $25 on the video card to be spent elsewhere. I'd recommend putting it toward the CPU if you choose to go with the other components I recommended.

I'd also choose the Enermax PSU over the Antec that JustaGeek is suggesting, because the Enermax is also a high-efficiency unit but is higher in quality. It offers less power, true, but that's power that you're never going to use anyway without doubling or tripling your budget.

And yes, the July 22nd cuts are only on Intel CPUs.

One of the reasons I recommended the EVGA-manufactured video card originally is that EVGA offers a Step-Up program, which essentially allows you to buy a better-performing video card within six months and return your old one to EVGA for full retail price -- If you bought an 8800GTS a bit later on, you'd be able to send back the 7900GS and get the 8800GTS for $155. Makes it less economically daunting to upgrade later on if you decide that you aren't getting enough performance out of the rig.

 

[JustaGeek]

Higher or lower quality is just a perception, and a matter of personal preference, but Enermax does make quality Power Supplies, as good as Antec (True Power series are actually made by Seasonic).

The EVGA step up program allows you to upgrade your Video Card to a higher model within 3 months, not 6 months - unless something has changed since March. That's when I graciously passed up an opportunity to upgrade to an 8800 series card.

Remember - as good as the Step-up program is, you must pay the Full Retail Price and the cost of shipping for your "stepped-up" card, and only the basic cards are available for the step-up (you can't upgrade to the KO or Superclocked, for example)

It would require me to pay ~200 to upgrade my (then) $270 7950GT SC to basic 8800GTS. I passed.

My 7950GT SC still performs flawlessly, without any issues associated with the 8800 (like the Far Cry issues and buggy drivers).

DX10 games are still a distant future, IMO. Will wait for the new generation of GeForce VC's before upgrade.

 

[Noobtastic]

Originally posted by: KungFused

Originally posted by: Noobtastic

Originally posted by: KungFused
Extra RAM isn't gonna help you much unless you're gaming at high resolutions (greater than ~1280x1024). Newer games are gonna need newer hardware, not simply extra RAM. If you're set on the x1950Pro 512MB card, though, then get that instead of the 7900GS and get a cheaper processor along with the rest of what I recommended.

[EDIT] I'm talking about onboard GPU RAM here, not total system RAM, just to avoid confusion.

I'm not set on the x1950pro, rather, fixated on its performance.

My gaming resolution will either be 1400x900 or 1280x1024. I'm not quite certain on the hardware requirements for the 1400x900, but it can't be a stretch from 12x10.

I keep doing 8800GTS builds, but the total ends up being more than $950.

Are the 22nd price cuts only for CPUs?

1440x900 is actually fewer pixels than 1280x1024, so I expect you'd see better performance at 1440x900 than at 1280x1024. Knowing that, you could quite comfortably save $25 on the video card to be spent elsewhere. I'd recommend putting it toward the CPU if you choose to go with the other components I recommended.

I'd also choose the Enermax PSU over the Antec that JustaGeek is suggesting, because the Enermax is also a high-efficiency unit but is higher in quality. It offers less power, true, but that's power that you're never going to use anyway without doubling or tripling your budget.

And yes, the July 22nd cuts are only on Intel CPUs.

One of the reasons I recommended the EVGA-manufactured video card originally is that EVGA offers a Step-Up program, which essentially allows you to buy a better-performing video card within six months and return your old one to EVGA for full retail price -- If you bought an 8800GTS a bit later on, you'd be able to send back the 7900GS and get the 8800GTS for $155. Makes it less economically daunting to upgrade later on if you decide that you aren't getting enough performance out of the rig.

Excellent advice!

I plan on switching out the PSU and memory.

I guess the gpu is fine then?

How long until all games are DX10 only?