Considering buying this system...

U

UltimateCarl

New Member
So, I threw together my last system from various deals I found... That was about four years ago, though, and it wasn't even close to top of the line back then. It's a trooper, but it's also a bit old now, and I'm still a gamer. For reference, here's my old system (Courtesy of Xfire):

Manufacturer: EMACHINES
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3400+, MMX, 3DNow, ~2.4GHz
Memory: 1022MB RAM
Hard Drive: 195 GB
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT
Monitor: SyncMaster 931B/931BF/931BA/930BA(Analog)
Sound Card: Realtek AC97 Audio
Speakers/Headphones: Altec Lansing/Cyber Acoustic
Keyboard: USB Root Hub
Mouse: USB Root Hub
Mouse Surface: Desktop
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.070227-2254)

Well, I decided I didn't want to build this time. I did some research around, and I heard good things about StealthMachines. So far, their customer support has been excellent, and I like it so far. However, I'm not really as much of a hardware guy as I'd like to me (software is more my thing). So, I emailed back and forth with them, told them my price limit was $1400, and they set up this for me. I did some research, and it seems like this is a good build for my price, but I wanted to confirm it with others who know more than I do. So, is this worth it?

Motherboard - Foxconn C51XEM2AA- 8EKRS2H Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard
CPU - AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ Dual-Core
Memory - CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
Optical Drive - 20x Dual Layer DVD±R/W Drive w/ LightScribe Technology (Label your CD's)
Hard Drive - 250GB SATA 7,200RPM w/ 16MB Cache
Graphics Cards - XFX GEFORCE 8800 GTS XXX 320MB
Operating System - Windows XP Home w/ Service Pack 2
Sound Card - Internal Sound Card (Built Into Motherboard)
Power Supply - 500W Thermaltake Power Supply
Warranty - 1-Year Parts and Labor (click info for our return and warranty policy)
System Price: $1372

With shipping, that's just barely over $1400, which works for me. So, what do you guys think? Thanks in advance!
 
Thats really not bad, but.. you should build your own. Thats overcharging to me, for $1400 you could probably get a intel Q6600, Gigabyte P-35 board, and a 640mb 8800GTS. What they got you there is a High dollar motherboard with a lowish end processor. I have the motherboard and Retail its $185, if your not doing SLI you can get a good board for around $99. And your not even going to be doing SLI.

What you could do is go to Newegg.com and add all those parts up and see what the difference in price is, then you will know how much he's wanting make off of it and decide if its too much. But its realy not hard, i would suggest building one yourself...

Edit: i added it up, before shipping with a $50 case that build thats he's wanting $1400 for come to $950
 
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That's a legit system, but is WAY overpriced. Like ThatGuy said, if you build it yourself, you can get the Q6600, 2gigs of ram, 8800GTS, much larger hard drive, much better cooling system and a better case that you actually like. :)
 
Well, I want a plain case. The plainer the better, because that means it's cheaper. I'm on a tight budget, and anyway I'm looking at my monitor, not my tower.

Other than that, I guess I COULD build my own system, but my biggest problem with that is that if you throw something together yourself and it doesn't work, then you're screwed. Also, when it comes to hardware, I barely know anything. I know it can't be that complicated and I'm not an idiot, but still.

Not to mention that I'm currently in college, not at home, so I don't really have the workspace to keep a bunch of parts around and wait for them all to ship in, then shove them together and make sure it works.

But, just for the hell of it, if my price limit was still $1400, what would you all suggest I do if I'm going to build my own? I don't want to overclock, I prefer performance over quality but don't feel you have to sacrifice one for the other, and I don't want any extra frills. I want something really stable, but powerful. If possible, something that can run Team Fortress 2, Bioshock, and Tabula Rasa on max settings, or at least close.

Thanks again, guys.
 
$1400 -

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017
Q6600

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059
P35-DS3L

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130072
EVGA 8800GTX

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136062
WDC 160GB 7200RPMS SATAII 16MB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341002
OCZ GameXstream 700W 4x 18A

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119115
Cooler Master Centurion 5

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136119
LG DVD-RW

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145590
Corsair XMS2 DDR-800 (x2)
Should bring around quite an bit of performace for gaming.

Using your origional OS and putting Linux on it...

Remember that I mean 4x XMS2


Total after rebates and including shipping : $1250.23
 
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Don't think I should make a new thread, so I'll put this in here...

So I got this from a friend:
Case - Cooler Master 690 $70
Moobo - Abit IP35 Pro $184
CPU - Q6600 $280
RAM - 2GB Patriot Extreme Performance $102
GFX - EVGA 8800GTS 320MB $290
PSU - PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610w $130
HDD - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB $80
Optical - Sony NEC Optiarc SATA DVD Burner $32
OS - Windows XP Pro $140
Total Price - $1308

Is this a really good build? Also, would anyone mind editing it a bit based on a few points of mine? Particularly that I can get by just fine with a 200 or 250GB HD. 200GB is fine, but if the change in cost between 200 and 250 is negligible, I can be persuaded. Also, I don't plan on overclocking or doing any more than the most basic of multitasking. I also still prefer performance over quality but of course want both, and I'm a no-extra-frills kind of guy. Finally, if the cost is just slightly over $1400, that's fine. Can anyone do anything with this? Thanks in advance again, fellows!
 
Thats better, but the build oscaryu1 put together is the best. It has about the best video card out. But for the price and your budget i wouldn't get none less that a 640mb GTS.
 
UltimateCarl said:
Don't think I should make a new thread, so I'll put this in here...

So I got this from a friend:
Case - Cooler Master 690 $70
Moobo - Abit IP35 Pro $184
CPU - Q6600 $280
RAM - 2GB Patriot Extreme Performance $102
GFX - EVGA 8800GTS 320MB $290
PSU - PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610w $130
HDD - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB $80
Optical - Sony NEC Optiarc SATA DVD Burner $32
OS - Windows XP Pro $140
Total Price - $1308

Is this a really good build? Also, would anyone mind editing it a bit based on a few points of mine? Particularly that I can get by just fine with a 200 or 250GB HD. 200GB is fine, but if the change in cost between 200 and 250 is negligible, I can be persuaded. Also, I don't plan on overclocking or doing any more than the most basic of multitasking. I also still prefer performance over quality but of course want both, and I'm a no-extra-frills kind of guy. Finally, if the cost is just slightly over $1400, that's fine. Can anyone do anything with this? Thanks in advance again, fellows!
Click to expand...

Centurion 5 is my idea...

680i would be worth that cash too... but such an expensive mobo? An P31 could power it! And its $80!

Good CPU

PSU is crap. Never heard of that brand. Get an 520HX 620HX or GameXStream or so.
 
oscaryu1 said:
Centurion 5 is my idea...

680i would be worth that cash too... but such an expensive mobo? An P31 could power it! And its $80!

Good CPU

PSU is crap. Never heard of that brand. Get an 520HX 620HX or GameXStream or so.
Click to expand...

woah woah woah. Did you just call PC Power and Cooling crap :eek:!!!

They're the ones who made the beast of a 1kw super long PSU!!
 
So I came up with this:

Case: COOLER MASTER Centurion 534 RC-534-KKN2-GP Black Aluminum & Mesh bezel / SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Motherboard: ABIT IP35 Pro LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor
Memory: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory (x2 for 4GB)
Harddrive: Western Digital Caviar RE WD2500YS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
Video Card: EVGA 640-P2-N821-AR GeForce 8800GTS 640MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
Power Supply: OCZ GameXStream OCZ700GXSSLI ATX12V 700W Power Supply 100 - 240 V
CD/DVD drive: ASUS Black 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model DVD-E616A3T OEM
Price: $1,319.11

That's all from NewEgg, and includes shipping. Also, apparently I can make back about $110 on mail-in rebates. Did I pick anything particularly horrible, and is there any small tweaks I could make to get more performance for just a tad more cash? I'm willing to go a tad bit over $1400 if it'll make a difference.

Also, would this be difficult to put together for a newb? Are any of the parts here particularly difficult? Other than the obvious mouse, keyboard, monitor, and speakers, is there anything I'll need that won't actually come with this stuff? Thanks again!
 
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Nah, its pretty simple... just dont forget to put the brass stand-offs under the board.

Thats a killer system, what operating system?
 
Windows XP, probably Pro. Maybe Linux when I'm more comfortable with it. Well, actually, I guess since DX10 is making such waves now, I may finally go with Vista. I was trying to put it off for as long as possible, but... Well, if it really makes games look that much better.

And is it good? I mixed suggestions from friends and even picked a few things myself. I was hoping people didn't immediately be like, "that's a horrible choice" for the stuff I picked. XD

Yeah, I'll look up a few guides online, I'm not too worried about the assembly. Thanks a lot, guys!
 
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Alright, so I finally finally decided on this. This will all go together right? I'm not going to like... Run out of connections, or have incompatible connections or anything, right? And if I'm not overclocking, this will be okay with the cooling it has, right (I keep my room pretty cold anyway)?

Case: COOLER MASTER Centurion 534 RC-534-KKN2-GP Black Aluminum & Mesh bezel / SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811119106

Motherboard: ABIT IP35 Pro LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813127030

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819115017

Memory: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory (x2 for 4GB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820145590

Harddrive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822148262

Video Card: MSI NX8800GTS-T2D640E-HD OC GeForce 8800GTS 640MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814127280

Power Supply: PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610 EPS12V EPS12V 610W Continuous @ 40°C Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, cUL, CE, CB, TUV
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817703005

CD/DVD drive: ASUS Black 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model DVD-E616A3T OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827135151

OS: Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Ultimate for System Builders Single Pack DVD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16832116215

Price: $1,468.92
Shipping: $27.92
Mail-in Rebates: -$50.00
Total: $1446.84

Thanks again, guys.
 
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