$1500 Budget - Computer Help?

robot_bride

New Member
Not counting screen and other accessories - but including speakers - I'm looking to buy a computer between $1000 to $1500AUD.

I'd like it for gaming and it needs a good processor since I tend to run a lot of large files such as Photoshop, multiple media players and multimedia editors at the same time or else Crysis (that one on its own with no other programs running - I don't have a deathwish!). Basically something better than current rig:

I need new everything since I'm passing my computer down to another family member.
AMD Athlon 64 X@ Dual Core Processor 5200+ 2.61GHz
nVidia GeForce 8800
2GB RAM

As for motherboard to be hoenst I'm not sure what I have atm.
Any help would be really, really appreciated since I'm not sure where to start with buying a new pc. My main problem is knowing if certain parts will go together (eg mobo with ram).
 

cohen

New Member
OK, go to msy.... i do builds from there a lot and they are good:

Here is the parts list, below is the build:

  • Motherboard - ASUS P5Q - $155
  • CPU - Intel Q9300 - $298
  • Ram - 4GB Kit DDR2 800 G.Skill - $105
  • Hard Drive - WD Sata 500GB - $94
  • Video Card - 1GB 9600GT ASUS - $186
  • Case - Your Choice
  • Power Supply - 600 W +
  • DVD Drive - LG Sata DVD Burner - $27
  • Sound Card - Creative X-FI Xtreme Audio - $58
  • Speakers - Logitech X 540's - $80

Total - $1,003


This is a good build for you, MSY are good, i just picked up some bits today for a build i'm doing for a friend.
 

TrainTrackHack

VIP Member
For a gaming build, I'd recommend Radeon 4850 at least, 9600GT is a mid-range gaming card ad you'll be much better off with a 4850. If MSY don't hav'em, you can get a 4850 from MegaPC (www.megapc.com.au) for $230, it's well worth the money (the extra $50 is gonna do wonders).

For a case I'd recommend an Antec (Antec 900 is or at least was really popular a while ago)

I've heard people having heaps of problems with WD HDs, unless you're going with a raptor I'd pick a seagate, or possibly samsung.

Other than that, cohen's build looks good IMO.
 

robot_bride

New Member
Thanks for the suggestions guys, I appreciate it. Don't worry about WHERE to buy them, I'll figure that out. I'd definitely like the 9600, it's probably the one I'll go with. I'll also need to buy a new main hard drive.
 

TrainTrackHack

VIP Member
I'd definitely like the 9600, it's probably the one I'll go with.
For a $1000+ gaming build I can't se why you would go with a 9600GT. As I said, it's more of a mid-range card - it might but will struggle at times. Radeon 4850/4870 will max out any game currently out there (even Crysis) and will futureproof you for a while, those are some of the best-value cards out there but if you really want to go with NVIDIA I'd recommend getting a 8800GT at least (these can be found cheaper than 9600GTs and slightly outperform them)
 

JCaSs1001

New Member
can ne 1 give me an idea of the next step as i have around 1800 to spend?
im unsure of wot i should aim for but how does this look?
any criticism VERY welcome, all info is help 2 me :p


* Motherboard - ASUS P5Q - $155 worth going pro for extra $13?
* CPU - Intel Q9550 - $600 worth $300 over 9300?
* Ram - OCZ platnium 4GB kit (2x2GB) DDR2 1066 - $135
* Hard Drive - WD Sata 500GB - $84
* Video Card - ASUS 1GB 9800GX2 - $479
* DVD Drive - LG DVD Burner - $27
* TV Tuner - Leadtek DTV1000S - ~$45

thats $1525 then prob around $1800 inc case, ~750W psu. then another 300-450 on a screen for birthday pressie :p lol
and tips or recommendations?
 

jbh420

New Member
New Build

Look. I use this site Called Mwave.com, And this is what i came up with for $1500

Case - Apevia X-Cruiser - $68.50
Power Supply - COOLMAX CXI-600B 600W - $62.00
Motherboard - ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe - $134
Processor - AMD Phenom X4 9550 2.2GHz - $155
RAM - PATRIOT PVS24G8500ELKR2 4gb kit - $117.75
CD Drive - ASUS BC-1205PT bluray reader & DVD rw drive - $168.90
Hard Drive - WD 1tb caviar se WD10000CSRTL - $200.70
key board/Mouse - LOGITECH cordless desktop s510 - $40
Operating System - MICROSOFT Windows vista 32bit ultimate - $169.90
Graphics Card - EVGA 01G-P2-N793-LR GeForce 8500 GT 1GB 128-bit - $79.90
Monitor (Built-in Speakers) - HANNS-G 22" HG216DP WIDESCREEN LCD - $189.90

Total Cost - $1386.55

Leaves you enough money to maybe buy a few more fans for the hard drive and processor. Also that does not incluse shippin and handling. If u need any help about anything at all just Message me on Aol instant messenger. my screen name is Jay49fan4ever
 

robot_bride

New Member
For a $1000+ gaming build I can't se why you would go with a 9600GT. As I said, it's more of a mid-range card - it might but will struggle at times. Radeon 4850/4870 will max out any game currently out there (even Crysis) and will futureproof you for a while, those are some of the best-value cards out there but if you really want to go with NVIDIA I'd recommend getting a 8800GT at least (these can be found cheaper than 9600GTs and slightly outperform them)

I'll definitely consider the Radeon now, only I've never had anything besides an nVidia gforce.

Also, how can the 8800 be better than the 9600? 8800 is what I have now.
 

just a noob

Well-Known Member
the 8800 is just slightly better than the 9600, its like in between an 8600gts and the 8800gt from what i've heard
 

idealsreturn

New Member
can ne 1 give me an idea of the next step as i have around 1800 to spend?
im unsure of wot i should aim for but how does this look?
any criticism VERY welcome, all info is help 2 me :p


* Motherboard - ASUS P5Q - $155 worth going pro for extra $13?
* CPU - Intel Q9550 - $600 worth $300 over 9300?
* Ram - OCZ platnium 4GB kit (2x2GB) DDR2 1066 - $135
* Hard Drive - WD Sata 500GB - $84
* Video Card - ASUS 1GB 9800GX2 - $479
* DVD Drive - LG DVD Burner - $27
* TV Tuner - Leadtek DTV1000S - ~$45

thats $1525 then prob around $1800 inc case, ~750W psu. then another 300-450 on a screen for birthday pressie :p lol
and tips or recommendations?


Ok for starters, whoever is selling you this is ripping you off with the processor! Here's the setup and stores that I suggest, though they are australian sites, so not sure how much they apply.
www.itestate.com.au -cheapest prices
www.pccasegear.com.au -some items stocked that aren't stocked at itestate

so in short

-Asus P5E3 $256
-Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 $379
-HIS HD4870 $319
(-HIS HD4870x2 is $649)
-Patriot EP Viper Series PVS34G1333LLK (4 GB DDR3 RAM) $252
-LITEON IHAS120 SATA DVDRW $35 (SATA is a lot easier to hook up than IDE and runs faster)
-650W PSU with 80+ cert (very important to have 80+) $135+
-TV tuner card, if you must... $39+
-640GB Samsung hard drive $86
-NZXT Lexa Classic Case $159
-Speakers (you can use built in screen speakers, gaming speakers 2.1 (~$50) gaming 5.1-7.1 (~$150+) or home theater speakers with adapters 5.1-7.1 (~$50), gaming speakers are louder and generally better quality, though this is only really noticeable at high volumes)

This actually comes in at around AUD$1660 including the case but not speakers (money can be saved by getting a cheaper processor or only 2GB of ram, that should be enough to bring it under $1500), note that if you decide to step up to the x2 you will need at least an 800W PSU, Also about the 8800, it's still one of the best cards you can run, with almost no difference between the 8800 and 9800, as for the 9600, it's essentially a better 8600, sort of an inbetween of 8600 and 8800.
Also, the reason I suggest an 80+ cert PSU is because if you go for a cheap and nasty version, you'll end up with a lot of components not getting the power they need, especially under load. So games will seem to run worse than they should. If this doesn't answer the entire thread, I don't know what else to say, and btw, don't even bother with sound cards these days, most onboard sound is good enough for everyone except for professionals.

Here's the setup I'm looking into

-DFI LanParty LT-X48-T2R Motherboard $305
-Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 $379
-Patriot EP Viper Series PVS34G1333LLK (4 GB DDR3 RAM) $252
-HIS HD4870x2 at $649
-Full custom case built by me, which could cost anywhere between $1000 and $2000 (includes peltier, phase change and liquid cooling systems)
-3x 1TB samsung hdds at$173 a piece
-Corsair HX-1000W 1000W Power Supply $297

There are 2 reasons for me getting such a high powered computer, 1 because I want to, 2 I need it for some pretty heavy graphics work for my job, and I think the gamer cards are better value for money than the engineering cards.

oh yeah, and to play games on!
 
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robot_bride

New Member
I see that I've got a lot of choice ahead of me. I've decided not to buy a computer until Xmas or whenever the processor quits on me. I'll consider all the parts that people have mentioned and consider a list of parts to get.
Thanks everyone for helping out :)
 
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