Budget gaming computer

D

Deus Ex Machina

New Member
Last time I posted here I related how I was stuck in between using a crappy machine for the next year and waiting for my parents to buy me a new machine for college or buying a new machine myself now. I've now decided to buy a new machine with my own money, because I can not stand this POS any longer. Because as we know, a top of the line computer only stays such for a while, I've decided to be more sensible and get mid-range to good parts and plug and play as necessary.

This machine is primarily for gaming. I'm not really interested in anything else CPU intensive, and since I've had to replace some parts of my current machine, I'll be cannibalizing an 80gig primary drive, a 160gig backup (both Seagate drives). I also have 2 256 sticks of cheap vanilla Ram, but I'm not even sure if I'm going to be able to use them. Otherwise my processer and mobo are garbage, and I'm probably going to burn my video card once I have a new computer working.

So far I have this on my wishlist:

ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Model #: A8N-SLI Deluxe $169.00

eVGA 128-A8-N350 Geforce 6600GT 128MB GDDR3 AGP 4X/8X Video Card - Retail
Model #: 128-A8-N350 $164.00

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice Integrated into Chip FSB Socket 939 Processor Model ADA3200BPBOX - Retail
Model #: ADA3200BPBOX $190.00

CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model VS1GBKIT400 - Retail
Model #: VS1GBKIT400 $78.99

SONY Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Windows 98SE/ ME/ 2000/ XP - OEM
Model #: MPF920 Black $10.00

Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 ST3120026A 120GB 7200 RPM IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive - OEM
Model #: ST3120026A $81.00

SAMSUNG Black IDE DVD-ROM Drive Model TS-H352A/BEBP - OEM
Model #: TS-H352A/BEBP $24.50

Total from Newegg: 717.49

Basically, I want to know if this is all compatible and if I'm missing anything* or if I have parts I can get which would be better for gaming for around the same cost. Of course you're all welcome to say if part X is better than my part Y and so forth. :D

*The other thing is that I am lost as far as cases. I think I want something portable (LAN size, heh), but I want to make sure it has enough power for my system. Any reccomendations?
 
That video card won't fit that motherboard. Personally, I'd take out the extra hard drive... (you've got two anyway), get a cheaper motherboard and use the extra cash for a better video card. Plus, if you're not going to be using RAID, why get a floppy?
 
Is there a Mobo that will fit everything else?

I'm getting the extra HDD because I've been ripping a lot (like, hundreds..) of CD's recently and I'm running out of room, so on my new computer I'll proabably put my games and system stuff on the 80 and all my music and image files on the 120.

The floppy is only 10 bucks and sometimes I use a floppy to transfer a small file without having to rip a new CD or whatnot.

As far as video cards, I was under the impression that the 6600GT was pretty good. I'm willing to put down another 50-100 bucks for another card if it would really be worth the price delta.
 
From what I read, the 6600 GT is good. I ordered one, and it's on it's way here. I also use floppy to take data from one pc to the other, without having to waste a good cd-r.
Derek
 
6600GT is a good video card, but you're going to have get the PCI-Express version if you want to use that motherboard.
 
I've heard AGP is better/faster than PCI, I don't really care, it's not like I'm set on this particular mobo, so I can always change that instead, especially if I can get something cheaper and then have more money for a superior video card. :D
 
i had the same question on another thread about the pci vs agp. i was told that their performance is the same but everything is moving to PCI, so i would be better off getting a PCI card. plus, if you got a mobo with 2 pci express 16 slots, you could link 2 video cards and have up to 1 gig of video memory (my friend did it with 2 512 mb cards).
 
Okay, so assuming PCI-E is a safer bet for the future, and laying down some more cash for a better video card and doubling my RAM, and replacing the MoBo.. it would look something like this:

ASUS A8V DELUXE Socket 939 VIA K8T800 Pro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Model #: A8V DELUXE $109.00

MSI NX6800-TD128E Geforce 6800 128MB DDR PCI-Express x16 Video Card - Retail
Model #: NX6800-TD128E $226.00

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice Integrated into Chip FSB Socket 939 Processor Model ADA3200BPBOX - Retail
Model #: ADA3200BPBOX $190.00

CORSAIR 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered System Memory Model VS2GBKIT400C3 - Retail
Model #: VS2GBKIT400C3 $168.00

SONY Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Windows 98SE/ ME/ 2000/ XP - OEM
Model #: MPF920 Black $10.00

Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 ST3120026A 120GB 7200 RPM IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive - OEM
Model #: ST3120026A $81.00

SAMSUNG Black IDE DVD-ROM Drive Model TS-H352A/BEBP - OEM
Model #: TS-H352A/BEBP $24.50

Total from Newegg: $808.50

I'm going to cap my budget at $1000, but otherwise, does this system work? If yes, what's the weak point? Also, I'm still looking for a case, an hour and a half of browsing tonight didn't turn up anything particularly attractive. Thanks for the help so far!
 
For the case, get the Antec Super Lanboy http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129145, expensive, but it's supposedly a great case for lan-parties. Also, after that, you still have 120$ to spend, I would get a DVD burner (if you have the use for it, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827151066). If not, get a better graphics card, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150091.

Or, if you're willing, get 2x 6600Gt's and make a SLI setup, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814140047.
 
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I changed that Refurb card out for a Sapphire X800PRO, is the 6800GT "better" than the X800PRO? One benefit I see to the 6800 is that it's SLI supported and I could pop another one in in the future when I have to upgrade.

The Lanboy seems like a decent case, but it's really not so small (compared to the other midtower I was looking at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811112025), the only portable feature being the carrying strap, which I could get seperately. I'm not interested in a DVD burner, so it's not going to be included in this purchase.

So assuming I get the Lian Li, I assume I'll need to get a PSU. Anyone have any PSU reccomendations? Even after PSU 101 I'm pretty clueless to what I need.
 
I don't want to bump needlessly, but my updated (and over-budget) parts list is here:

http://secure.chiefvalue.com/app/shoppingcart.asp?submit=shipping#posship

..which brings me to my next question. I put together my parts list at ChiefValue, and it ended up being quite a bit cheaper than Newegg. I think almost $100 after taxes and shipping differences (CV doesn't charge sales taxes while Newegg does, and for some reason the same FedEx shipping costs less too.) Anybody have any experience with ChiefValue? I know I can rely on Newegg, but for $100, I'll change suppliers.
 
just incase you want intel computer...

Matrix 775 Socket 775 mb pared with P4 3.05ghz 533mhzfsb: $200 (microcenter)

6800gt 128 meg: $190
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16814130202)

2 gig of PC3200 RAM; 1024*2: $167 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16820141182)

DVD/CD rw dl x8 burner: $30 (office max, last thanxgiving sale)

Antec case w/ 380 watt TruePower psu: $90 (microcenter)

2*80 gig hd: $40 (compusa, last thanxgiving sale)

total= $717

sure the case doesn't look great but I think it'll get the job done when it comes to gaming..you might have to wait a bit for the dvd/cd rw drive and harddrive but you can spend a little more and buy those early. Oh yeah you might wana add tax to the total.

I just posted that for someone else...Seems sensable for budget considering its only a little over $700 yet it has two gigs of ram and the 6800gt...
 
1. The system is gaming oriented i.e., AMD
2. Matrix as a mobo make? I wouldnt think so ...
 
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