Gaming Computer

KevinLK · 03-04-2008, 01:18 AM

Hey guys,

I am thinking about building myself a new PC for playing some games on. I know enough about computers to know what I'm talking about when it comes to them but I'm not up to date on the latest parts and hardware as I've been away from the "gaming world" for a little while.

I have a maximum of $1500 to spend. However I would need to buy a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and all those accessories with that money as well so I don't have $1500 for just the computer itself. I only want a 19" matte screen though so I don't think that will cost me very much.

Anyways, I was hoping some of you here that know a lot about the latest game hardware could help me create a build here. My problem is that I don't know which motherboards work with which graphics/sound cards, etc. My aim is to get a gaming rig that is capable of better gameplay and graphics then a PS3 or 360 (if its not, I might as well just get one of those and get a cheap laptop for my computer needs).

Just so you guys have a general idea of what I want:
-3Gb of RAM
-Geforce 8800GT at least
-capable of playing Battlefield 2 and Call of Duty 4 at max settings
-capable of playing Crysis on medium-to-high settings
-large hard drive is not an issue (the more the better, but even 320 GB is fine. I'd rather have a fast drive then a large one
-I want a Vista system so I can use DirectX 10 (that will be better for gaming, right?)

If anyone can suggest a build for me or offer an input it would be greatly appreciated! I know its kind of a demanding post but I figure some of you might know enough about this for it to be easy for you.

Thanks!

PS: I'm buying off Tigerdirect.ca and I'm hoping to get a system that would be better value for the money then a Dell XPS 420 which was my other option.

Alien Ware · 03-04-2008, 01:27 AM

Personally I don't think that your going to get a computer that can run COD4 "Better" then a 360/PS3 unless your talking CrossFire.

-For the RAM I'd recommend Corsair. (4 Gigs) not 3
-8800GT: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127329 ($216)

KevinLK · 03-04-2008, 01:52 AM

What exactly is Crossfire? I've heard about it but I don't really know anything about it. And would I really not be able to get a system that is even slightly greater in performance and graphics then a console? Because I thought that if I was willing to put in three times and amount of money a console would cost me, I would get at least a slightly better system.

MBGraphics · 03-04-2008, 02:06 AM

Crossfire is ATI's version of SLI (2 video cards, there is also tri-SLI, which is 3, but i believe thats a bit over kill considering only the GTX and ULTRA are cappable of tri-SLI)

KevinLK · 03-04-2008, 03:40 AM

That makes sense. But do you really need SLI or Crossfire or would a 8800GTS give you equal or greater power then a console?

And in any case, does anyone have any good build suggestions for the price and requirements I have?

Alien Ware · 03-04-2008, 04:13 AM

Sure

let me explain. CrossFire is basically double graphics card for ultimate performance.

Check out http://ati.amd.com/technology/crossf...ldyourown.html for more info/compatibilitys.

Sorry I wrote this like 30 mins ago but went afk and forgot to press post.

KevinLK · 03-04-2008, 05:16 AM

Thanks for the link Alien Ware. Seems like a good idea for max performance but I think it's out of my budget for the time being. Maybe something to look into for future builds though.

Anyways, I was doing some research and so far I have come up with this:
Processor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115037
Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...VGA%2b780i
GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130312
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145197

Would those be good choices, and are they all compatible with each other? And is the Dominator RAM overkill for what I need (as opposed to a cheaper Corsair stick), or should I spend less on RAM and devote that money to other parts?

reddevil6 · 03-04-2008, 06:31 AM

hpi · 03-04-2008, 07:03 AM

Id suggest the ANtec 900 case instead, cheaper and all around nicer/better and id go for the OczGameXstream psu instead.

I wouldn't get that cpu, Id spend a little more on a q6600.

gpc5991 · 03-04-2008, 06:55 PM

I play COD4 on full settings with my evga/nvidia 7950 gx2. its amazing..

03-04-2008, 01:18 AM	#1 (permalink)
KevinLK New Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4	Gaming Computer Hey guys, I am thinking about building myself a new PC for playing some games on. I know enough about computers to know what I'm talking about when it comes to them but I'm not up to date on the latest parts and hardware as I've been away from the "gaming world" for a little while. I have a maximum of $1500 to spend. However I would need to buy a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and all those accessories with that money as well so I don't have $1500 for just the computer itself. I only want a 19" matte screen though so I don't think that will cost me very much. Anyways, I was hoping some of you here that know a lot about the latest game hardware could help me create a build here. My problem is that I don't know which motherboards work with which graphics/sound cards, etc. My aim is to get a gaming rig that is capable of better gameplay and graphics then a PS3 or 360 (if its not, I might as well just get one of those and get a cheap laptop for my computer needs). Just so you guys have a general idea of what I want: -3Gb of RAM -Geforce 8800GT at least -capable of playing Battlefield 2 and Call of Duty 4 at max settings -capable of playing Crysis on medium-to-high settings -large hard drive is not an issue (the more the better, but even 320 GB is fine. I'd rather have a fast drive then a large one -I want a Vista system so I can use DirectX 10 (that will be better for gaming, right?) If anyone can suggest a build for me or offer an input it would be greatly appreciated! I know its kind of a demanding post but I figure some of you might know enough about this for it to be easy for you. Thanks! PS: I'm buying off Tigerdirect.ca and I'm hoping to get a system that would be better value for the money then a Dell XPS 420 which was my other option. Last edited by KevinLK; 03-04-2008 at 01:24 AM.

03-04-2008, 01:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
Alien Ware banned Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 126	Personally I don't think that your going to get a computer that can run COD4 "Better" then a 360/PS3 unless your talking CrossFire. -For the RAM I'd recommend Corsair. (4 Gigs) not 3 -8800GT: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127329 ($216) Last edited by Alien Ware; 03-04-2008 at 01:31 AM.

03-04-2008, 02:06 AM	#4 (permalink)
MBGraphics Platinum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Garden Grove CA Age: 17 Posts: 628	Crossfire is ATI's version of SLI (2 video cards, there is also tri-SLI, which is 3, but i believe thats a bit over kill considering only the GTX and ULTRA are cappable of tri-SLI) __________________ Mike Case:Dell Dimention 8400 2 19" standard flat pannel monitors CPU: Pentium 4 630 (3GHz) w/HT technology and 2MB cache GPU: ATI Radeon X300SE RAM/Storage:3GB/250GB internal and 320GB External Sound Card: Sound Blaster Audigy OS: Windows XP Media Center Eddition (2005) My Flickr site The SIG My SmugMug

03-04-2008, 05:16 AM	#7 (permalink)
KevinLK New Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4	Thanks for the link Alien Ware. Seems like a good idea for max performance but I think it's out of my budget for the time being. Maybe something to look into for future builds though. Anyways, I was doing some research and so far I have come up with this: Processor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115037 Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...VGA%2b780i GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130312 RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145197 Would those be good choices, and are they all compatible with each other? And is the Dominator RAM overkill for what I need (as opposed to a cheaper Corsair stick), or should I spend less on RAM and devote that money to other parts? Last edited by KevinLK; 03-04-2008 at 05:22 AM.

03-04-2008, 06:31 AM	#8 (permalink)
reddevil6 Diamond Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Australia Age: 16 Posts: 1,174	Monitor $219.99 http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...4471&CatId=170 Keyboard & mouse $48.99 we have this one an there quite good http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...205&CatId=1482 CPU $199.97 http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...551&CatId=2396 MOBO $158.99 http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...608&CatId=1533 Ram $36.99 x4 = $147.96 http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...992&CatId=2033 Case $182.99 http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...579&CatId=1510 PSU $146.99 http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...&Sku=C283-1852 Video card $279.97 http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...208&CatId=1839 HDD1 (C) drive $56.99 http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...6205&CatId=139 HDD 2 $85.99 http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...8334&CatId=139 that is a total of $1528.83 it will max out battlefield 2 COD4 not sure but should get close to maxing out. crysis med - high __________________ (1) GA-MA770-DS3 - AMD 6000+ @3.33GHz - WD SE16 2x500G - ASUS 9800GTX+ @820 - 2036 - 2350 - Apacer 2x2G DDR 800 @953MHz - Thermaltake Soprano RS100 full tower - Coolmaster extrema power duo 650W - 3DMARK06 12256 (2) GA-81945P-G-RH - Pentium D 945 (3.4GHz) had it @4.42 GHz - SATA 3.0G 1x250G 2x500G - ASUS 3850 - 3G DDR 533 - Topower 750W - 50''(127CM) 1080P 1920x1080 plasma - 3DMARK06 7250.

03-04-2008, 01:52 AM	#3 (permalink)
KevinLK New Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4	What exactly is Crossfire? I've heard about it but I don't really know anything about it. And would I really not be able to get a system that is even slightly greater in performance and graphics then a console? Because I thought that if I was willing to put in three times and amount of money a console would cost me, I would get at least a slightly better system.

03-04-2008, 03:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
KevinLK New Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4	That makes sense. But do you really need SLI or Crossfire or would a 8800GTS give you equal or greater power then a console? And in any case, does anyone have any good build suggestions for the price and requirements I have?

03-04-2008, 04:13 AM	#6 (permalink)
Alien Ware banned Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 126	Sure let me explain. CrossFire is basically double graphics card for ultimate performance. Check out http://ati.amd.com/technology/crossf...ldyourown.html for more info/compatibilitys. Sorry I wrote this like 30 mins ago but went afk and forgot to press post.

03-04-2008, 07:03 AM	#9 (permalink)
hpi Diamond Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Montreal, Quebec Age: 16 Posts: 1,480	Id suggest the ANtec 900 case instead, cheaper and all around nicer/better and id go for the OczGameXstream psu instead. I wouldn't get that cpu, Id spend a little more on a q6600. __________________ Intel Pentium D 930 @ 3.0GHz 2 x 1024 DDR2-SDRAM x1900xtx 512 mb ddr3 Western digital 300gb hdd Ocz GameXStream 700W psu.

03-04-2008, 06:55 PM	#10 (permalink)
gpc5991 New Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 11	I play COD4 on full settings with my evga/nvidia 7950 gx2. its amazing..

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