Gaming Computer

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Linkdead14

New Member
Hey! This is my first time post, I hope I don't seem too stupid. Here's my situation. For Christmas I'm going to get my son a good gaming computer. I've been looking at lots of web pages such as alienware, overdrivepc, gateway, and dell, but it seemed like to get the type of system I wanted I was going to have to dish out over $3,000. Then I found a really nice site called cyberpowerpc.com. The deals that they had seemed really, really good compared to all the others. Here are two systems that I came up with. The top is running with an Intel chipset, and the bottom an AMD. I just would like to know which would be the better gaming platform, and then I have some more questions below.

Intel System - $1780.00 (Shipping Not Included)
CASE: TURBO X-DREAMER CASE 350 WATT W/ WINDOW & LCD Temperature Display
CPU: (Sckt775)Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E6700 CPU @ 2.67GHz 1066FSB 2x2MB L2 Cache
MOTHERBOARD: Asus P5N-SLI nForce 570 SLI Chipset LGA775 Supports Core 2 Duo CPU FSB1066 DDR2 Mainboard w/GbLAN, USB2.0, &5.1Audio
MEMORY: (Req.DDR2 MainBoard)1GB (2x512MB) PC6400 DDR2/800 Dual Channel Memory (Corsair Value Select or Major Brand)
VIDEO CARD: NVIDIA Geforce 7900 GT 512MB 16X PCI Express Video Card
VIDEO CARD 2: NVIDIA Geforce 7900 GT 512MB 16X PCI Express Video Card
HARD DRIVE: 160GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 8M Cache 7200RPM Hard Drive
Hard Drive 2: 160GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 8M Cache 7200RPM Hard Drive
Optical Drive: 16X DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW DRIVE DUAL LAYER
SOUND: Creative Labs SB Audigy SE


AMD System - $1,710.00 (Shipping Not Included)
CASE: TURBO X-DREAMER CASE 350 WATT W/ WINDOW & LCD Temperature Display
CPU: (Socket AM2) AMD Athlon™64 X2 5000+ Dual-Core CPU w/ HyperTransport Technology
MOTHERBOARD: (Socket AM2)ABIT KN9 SLI nForce 570 SLI MCP Chipset DDR2/800 SATA-II RAID 16x PCI-Express MBoard w/GbLAN, USB2.0, &7.1Audio
MEMORY: (Req.DDR2 MainBoard)2GB (2x1GB) PC6400 DDR2/800 Dual Channel Memory (Corsair Value Select or Major Brand)
VIDEO CARD: NVIDIA Geforce 7900 GT 512MB 16X PCI Express Video Card
VIDEO CARD 2: NVIDIA Geforce 7900 GT 512MB 16X PCI Express Video Card
HARD DRIVE: 160GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 8M Cache 7200RPM Hard Drive
Hard Drive 2: 160GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 8M Cache 7200RPM Hard Drive
Optical Drive: 16X DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW DRIVE DUAL LAYER
SOUND: Creative Labs SB Audigy SE

(Also I've upgraded the power supply on both to 500 Watt.)

Ok, Here's my questions.

1. As you see, the computers are mostly identical except for the chip sets, and the AMD has twice as much RAM as the Intel. Even though it has double the memory it costs less. Usually you get what you pay for, so I'd have to assume that buying the Intel has some distinct advantage over the AMD even though I'd be running with half as much RAM. Am I wrong?

2. As you can see I've got the systems set up for duel Geforce 7900s. Is the motherboard going to be able to handle the duel cards? I'd hate to buy this computer and have an extra GPU sleeping on the job.

3. Same question as above for my two hard drives. It was supposedly set up with a RAID configuration. Will that work correctly? And will it have any benefit at all to gaming?

4. The website recommended that in order to run the graphics card in SLI mode I should atleast have a 500 Watt power supply (Which I do). Is 500 Watt actually enough? Or should I go even higher?

5. Last question. Could I get the same system, or better, for a cheaper price anywhere else?

Like I said, this is my first post. I will appreciate any reply, positive or negative. Thanks for all your responses.
 
1) The Intel Chips are better right now, but for less money you can get 2x the ram, so i would go with the Athlon X2 machine

2) Instead of buying 2 7900s i would get on 7950 if it's not much more

3) Raid 0 would make the HDDs work better, make sure it's that one (not Raid 1, it's for more security)

4)You need at least a 500w PSU, your system is very demanding ><

5) Unless you want to build it yourself...then no
 
I'd go for the e6600 and save yourself a good bundle of cash instead of the e6700,there is hardly a difference i belive.

How old is your son...because he is damn lucky to be getting a computer with specifications like those
 
He's turning 18 and moving off to college soon. This is hopefully the last thing I'll ever buy him. (Also he's pitching in around $600-700. I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with the AMD. So will one 7950 work better than duel 7900s? Also I've considered building it myself, but I've been going over the prices and I think that after shipping and handling the prices will come out around the same.
 
No no!Go with the Core 2 Duo,it outperforms the amd athlon x2 5000+,and the 7950 wont work better,2 7900GT's will outperform the 7950GX2.
 
thats why i was saying downgrade from the e6700 to the e6600 and save some money and upgrade the ram to 2gigs,then it'll outperform
 
well 2 7900GT's will outperform the 7950GX2,but i believe 2 7900GT's or GTX's cost a fair margin more..you can correct me on this if im wrong,its just what i read.
 
Iluvpenguins said:
the 7950 wont work better,2 7900GT's will outperform the 7950GX2.
Click to expand...

That may be, but in a little bit he can shell out some more money and get a quad SLI, when his computer is old

Also yeah go with the e6600 and 2 gigs of ram, the e6700 would be a waste of money
 
Ok, so I'll go with the 7750 GX2 1Gb and the 6600. Or should I go with the 7750 GT 512MB? ($300 difference) I guess later when prices on the card come down I can always add another card and turn on SLI? Also Isn't windows vista coming out soon? Is that worth waiting on?
 
Iluvpenguins said:
and the 7950 wont work better,2 7900GT's will outperform the 7950GX2.
Click to expand...
Would you please give some reasoning for this argument? Every test that I have seen shows differently.

Ok, so I'll go with the 7750 GX2 1Gb and the 6600. Or should I go with the 7750 GT 512MB
Click to expand...
First of all, they are 7950s. Second of all, where is there a 7950GT? I have never heard of such a card....

You might want to wait for DX10 video cards...but it really isn't necessary, since DC9.0c supports Vista just fine.
 
Linkdead14 said:
Ok, so I'll go with the 7750 GX2 1Gb and the 6600. Or should I go with the 7750 GT 512MB? ($300 difference) I guess later when prices on the card come down I can always add another card and turn on SLI? Also Isn't windows vista coming out soon? Is that worth waiting on?
Click to expand...

Go with the first setup, the 7950GX2 and the E6600. You will be able to buy Vista when it comes out, if you need to.
 
Ok, here's another question. Should I be ok with 7.1 onboard audio? Or do I really need the SB audigy card? And whats the argument about? I hope I'm going with the right side...
 
I saw some stuff on the forum and other hard ware sites pointing to the 7950GX2 being a little worse.The e6600 and 2gb of ram and the 7950GX2 would be fine,you can stick with onboard audio,though sound cards are usually much better.And the guy probably made a typo about the 7750,give him a break Bobo.

And last and not least,i don't know if its out yet,but i've heard speculation about the 7950GT model which Nvidia is supposed to release(or may have already)
 
Bobo said:
You might want to wait for DX10 video cards...but it really isn't necessary, since DC9.0c supports Vista just fine.
Click to expand...

I heard that DX10 had some combatability issues, and DX9 is better to have, even when DX10 comes out (untill games update a little for better performance)
Or at least i though i heard this....
 
Iluvpenguins said:
And the guy probably made a typo about the 7750,give him a break Bobo.
Click to expand...
I realize that, but it does make a bit of a difference.

And last and not least,i don't know if its out yet,but i've heard speculation about the 7950GT model which Nvidia is supposed to release(or may have already)
Click to expand...
Meh, there's some stuff on google, but newegg doesn't have anything. I can't imagine it being $300 cheaper than the 7950GX2, though.
 
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