Is this possible?

[EQTitan]

I'm getting back a large chuck of pie from Uncle Sam this year, and my wife is getting sick of me always being on her machine. So, I pose the question to all you gurus and novices, is it possible to build a gaming rig under $850 (not including shipping etc...)

I'd like to play low detail games like Diablo 2, and high end games like HL, UT2k4, and Wow...

I don't need a dvd burner as I have the NEC 3520 ATM, nor do I need a monitor.

Thanks in advance. I'll be watching this for a couple of hours so to post a response ASAP....

 

[hurubi]

Easily

 

[EQTitan]

Originally posted by: hurubi
Easily

Hmmm, could you maybe post some specs and a place to look for deals?

 

[hurubi]

The obvioous place is Newegg.com. AMD 2800+ (around there), Socket A mobo, 512MB PC3200, 80GB HD, 6600GT 128MB

 

[Hypernikes]

Are you looking to build the computer yourself or a pre-built computer? Also, do you have a preference for Intel or AMD? nVidia and ATI?

 

[hurubi]

You migth want to look at this:

http://www.omnicast.net/~tmcfa...s/build/benchtest.html

 

[EQTitan]

Originally posted by: Hypernikes
Are you looking to build the computer yourself or a pre-built computer? Also, do you have a preference for Intel or AMD? nVidia and ATI?

Building myself.

I'd prefer Intel as I have had less problems with them, but I'll consider a decent AMD setup....
I've had great experiences with Nvidia, and Ati so no preference

 

[hurubi]

Proc - http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=19-103-509&depa=1
Mobo - http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=13-131-455&depa=1
Ram - http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=20-145-416&depa=1
case/psu - http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=11-129-140&depa=1
hd - http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=22-144-164&depa=1
vid card - http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=14-150-080&depa=1

$656.25 and it still can play all the games u want it to! modify it and make ie better! you still got like $200 left!

 

[Terumo]

Looking for a complete setup for $850 (everything including case)? Or just a new motherboard/processor/memory/HD/videocard?

 

[AnotherGuy]

Id go for an athlon 64 setup... My friend just got his a64 3000+ system with 512mb ram, Abit k8v Pro, a radeon 9600, 80gig HD, X-infinity case with 420w PS, dvd player, cdrw, for $640 pre-built from www.Cyberpowersystem.com and its running great so far...

U could add another $160 and upgrade to a nVidia 6600GT there...

 

[jagec]

1) get one of those $350 Dells from Hot Deals
2) Add a decent video card for ~$150 (Radeon 9800pro, etc from FS/FT)
3) Add some RAM if you like
4)...
5)PROFIT!!

 

[EQTitan]

Originally posted by: hurubi
Proc - http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=19-103-509&depa=1
Mobo - http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=13-131-455&depa=1
Ram - http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=20-145-416&depa=1
case/psu - http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=11-129-140&depa=1
hd - http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=22-144-164&depa=1
vid card - http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=14-150-080&depa=1

$656.25 and it still can play all the games u want it to! modify it and make ie better! you still got like $200 left!

Nice setup...I'd substitute your Consair for the 1GB kit on sale for 139.00, bigger PSU, and maybe bigger HDD....

I'm looking to spend close to $850 for everything except monitor, keyboard, mouse (unless there included) So, case and and everything else....

 

[ComatoseDelirium]

Mhmm, I'd say go with

Processor : Intel LGA 775 Pentium 4 530 3.0 GHz, 800MHz FSB, 1MB L2 Cache, Hyper Threading Technology - Retail (don't hate ) 186$

Mobo : GIGABYTE "GA-8I915G Pro" i915G Chipset Motherboard for Intel LGA775 CPU -RETAIL 104$

Memory : Mushkin Dual Pack 184-Pin 1GB(512MBx2) DDR PC-3200 - Retail $137

Video Card : Giga-byte nVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT Video Card, 256MB GDDR3, 256-Bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP, Model "GV-N68T256DH-N" -RETAIL 399

Total: $826

if thats cutting it close, you could go with a 6600 GT(210 ish), or even a vanilla 6800, though i'd make sure it was a 256MB 6800(starting at 335$) and not a 128MB 6800(average 270$)

 

[EQTitan]

How about this:

Case - http://www.newegg.com/app/view...tion=11-129-125&depa=0
CPU - http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=19-116-171&depa=1
Board - http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=13-131-460&depa=0
Memory - http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=20-145-440&depa=1
Vid - http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=14-150-080&depa=1
HDD - http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=22-145-047&depa=1

I think all that is left is a case....Total = $705.51

 

[TekDemon]

Dude...$850 isn't even CLOSE to being restrictive on a gaming rig, lol.

Well, assuming you're an overclocker anyway. And if you aren't you should go buy an XBOX lol.

 

[ts3433]

Sure it's possible. With PCIe, even! (It actually makes sense to go for it at the 6600GT level, because you save a little money on the card and can pay the same for the motherboard as you would for AGP, though I went with one for $160 here.)

Antec Sonata ($100)
2x512MB Corsair Value ($140)
retail Winchester A64 3000+ ($160)
eVGA 6600GT PCIe ($190)
MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum ($160)
Seagate 160GB SATA HD ($110)

I gave rough estimates of costs, but this should all come out to about $860-880. Downgrade the HD (to a lower-capacity Seagate) and/or motherboard (try a Chaintech VNF4/Ultra, $130; it's just not quite as feature-rich as the MSI, but is a good budget board) to save.

 

[Regs]

What problems have you had with AMD?

If you want a gaming rig, you want AMD. Why would you want to settle for less?


Forgetting about the past, I 'll bet you'll have more problems going with the Prescott core than a 939 90nm A64 core.

 

[Sqube]

Originally posted by: Regs
What problems have you had with AMD?

If you want a gaming rig, you want AMD. Why would you want to settle for less?


Forgetting about the past, I 'll bet you'll have more problems going with the Prescott core than a 939 90nm A64 core.

Repeated, with bolding for emphasis. 100% stone cold truth, ladies and gentlemen.

 

[Insomniak]

Originally posted by: hurubi
Easily

My housemate just built a gaming rig for under $750 from newegg. As follows:


A64 3000+ Newcastle
Epox 8KDA3+ Nf3 250GB
1GB Mushkin DDR400
LeadTek 6600GT AGP
80GB Western Digital HD
Few misc other items.


Now of course, he kept his old monitor, speakers, perhipherals, etc...If you went all new on that stuff as well, you would have to drop the specs a bit.

 

[imported_brad]

you can surely do it, just make sure its AMD based because a comprable Intel system will cost more just because its intel.

Do you need monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, printer? If you do it'll make it MUCH more difficult. You said you're wife is tired of you using hers, so i assuming you need the whole 9 yards?

 

[EQTitan]

Like I previously said I prefer P4, but I'm willing to look at a damn good setup from the AMD people. I have always had AMD machines, up until my last 3 machines.

 

[EQTitan]

Originally posted by: brad
you can surely do it, just make sure its AMD based because a comprable Intel system will cost more just because its intel.

Do you need monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, printer? If you do it'll make it MUCH more difficult. You said you're wife is tired of you using hers, so i assuming you need the whole 9 yards?

I don't need a monitor as I have a 17" Princeton available, all I need is the case and parts....

I did a custom build via Newegg.com and it came to $815.00 shipped it's like 3 posts up from this one.

 

[ComatoseDelirium]

Originally posted by: EQTitan
How about this:

Case - http://www.newegg.com/app/view...tion=11-129-125&depa=0
CPU - http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=19-116-171&depa=1
Board - http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=13-131-460&depa=0
Memory - http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=20-145-440&depa=1
Vid - http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=14-150-080&depa=1
HDD - http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=22-145-047&depa=1

I think all that is left is a case....Total = $705.51

Nice, but, I would have to still advise going with socket 775, I have a socket 478 system, but only because I got a great deal, for the mobo, and the cpu for around 215$, 775 will give you better upgrade options in the future, and I bought that same card and had absolutely great performance, although, my ram keeps my benchmarks a tad down, and the dual monitors is a fun feature, plus a good game bundle.

 

[Insomniak]

If you're building this for gaming, you should not even be touching Intel. AMD owns gaming, period. There are no exceptions.

In Half-Life 2, for example, the Intel 3.8Ghz performs on par with an AMD 3000+. There is a 2ghz clockspeed difference there. The gap is not always that big - usually AMD outpaces Intel by 5 - 15% at comparable performance ratings (3.4Ghz vs. 3400+ for example), but the point is, the advantage is there.

If this is gaming, AMD is what you want. Intel will still work fairly well for you, but you'll get much more performance for your dollar going AMD.

 

[EQTitan]

Ok, most are saying AMD but have yet to post a config...