Newb trying to build a powerful computer system for gaming...

J

Jasumi

New Member
Seeing all the different cards/motherboards/processors to choose from is a bit intimidating for a newb like me.

I would like to create an optimal gaming machine. My budget is $5000 max, though I would prefer the $1000 to 2000 price range.

I heard the Nividia 8800GTS 512MB is a great graphics card. I would like a system capable of playing the following games smoothly:

Doom 3, Half Life 2, possibly Crisis, Sims 2, Tomb Raider Anniversary, etc....
 
Jasumi said:
Seeing all the different cards/motherboards/processors to choose from is a bit intimidating for a newb like me.

I would like to create an optimal gaming machine. My budget is $5000 max, though I would prefer the $1000 to 2000 price range.

I heard the Nividia 8800GTS 512MB is a great graphics card. I would like a system capable of playing the following games smoothly:

Doom 3, Half Life 2, possibly Crisis, Sims 2, Tomb Raider Anniversary, etc....
Click to expand...

How about the Dark Knight.
http://www.directron.com/didapccosywi.html

Lol your going to spend nearly 5k with it....but either way :). You can build a crisis capable computer for around a grand if done right.
This is what im saving up for at the moment.

MotherBoard:ASUS M2A-VM Socket AM2 uATX Mainboard (66.99)
CPU: AMD Phenom X4 9500 Quad-Core HD9500WCGDBOX(209.99) Maybe a Core 2 3.0?...either way around the same price
Dual Channel Memory: Crucial 2GB(1GBx2) DDR2 667 (42.00)
PCI-E Video CardowerColor HD 3870 PCS 512MB GDDR4 VD(259.99)
SATA Hard Drive: One Seagate ST380815AS 80GB SATA(41.49) Dont need anything big for now
Antec Nine Hundred 900 Computer Case 87.99 alllllright
Logisys 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Silent SLI Ready, (64.99)
Subtotal for Directron.com- ***773.44*** Roughly $900 After tax and testing.
That should be more then enough to play crysis on high at like 1024x768
 
Last edited:
Case - Antec 900
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021
110

MoBo - Gigabyte X38
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128066
280

CPU - Intel Q6600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115018
254

CPU Cooler - Zalman 9700
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118019
60

Cooling Compound - Arctic Silver 5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100008
16

GPU - PowerColor Radeon HD3870x2 (x2)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131080
880

PSU - hec Zephyr 750 Watt
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817339002
115

DVD drive - Philips DVD-RW
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827248008
29

Memory - G Skill 2GB (x2)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231128
250

Primary 10k RPM HD (for programs; faster load times for games and OS) Western Digital 74GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136033
150

Secondary 7.2k RPM HD (for movies and music)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148274
270

OS - Vista Ultimate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116140
320

Ridiculous Total: 2734.00


probably around 2850~ after shipping
 
5k?

QX9650
X38-DS4
4GB DDR2-800
1TB WDC SATAII 32MB
Antec 900
X-5400
G15
MX-518
8800GTS G92
Fatality Sound Card

... But in reality, 5k is overkill by around... 4 grand.

How about the Dark Knight.
http://www.directron.com/didapccosywi.html

Lol your going to spend nearly 5k with it....but either way . You can build a crisis capable computer for around a grand if done right.
This is what im saving up for at the moment.

MotherBoard:ASUS M2A-VM Socket AM2 uATX Mainboard (66.99)
CPU: AMD Phenom X4 9500 Quad-Core HD9500WCGDBOX(209.99) Maybe a Core 2 3.0?...either way around the same price
Dual Channel Memory: Crucial 2GB(1GBx2) DDR2 667 (42.00)
PCI-E Video CardowerColor HD 3870 PCS 512MB GDDR4 VD(259.99)
SATA Hard Drive: One Seagate ST380815AS 80GB SATA(41.49) Dont need anything big for now
Antec Nine Hundred 900 Computer Case 87.99 alllllright
Logisys 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Silent SLI Ready, (64.99)
Subtotal for Directron.com- ***773.44*** Roughly $900 After tax and testing.
That should be more then enough to play crysis on high at like 1024x768
Click to expand...

And that is the WORST build I have ever seen in my life. That's like a $2k system. They sure earn lots of money offa you :rolleyes:
 
5k max..go crazy lol but for 2-3k that gets you a decent computer go 4 way crossfire, in march, get a wolfdale 45nm 3ghz duo core
 
Wow, I wish I had 5k lying around, you can basically pick each most expensive item and put them all into one awesome computer. Good luck.
 
for that most graphics cards they just need a 16x pci slot, if your going to do crossfire or sli, you need to have a crossfire or sli mobo. on most sites you will buy from, they will tell you, the mobo's will also say socket xxx and you can match up the socket, the fsb speed also matter, you should just match up the fsb speeds for best performance
 
Makes sense.

How does this configuration sound?

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor.

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-X38-DS4 LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Intel Motherboard.

Video Card: VisionTek 900209 Radeon HD 3870 X2 1GB (512MB x 2) 512-bit (256-bit x 2) GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card.

Memory: Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory.

Hard Drive 1: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

Optical Drive: ASUS Black 18X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 18X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 14X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache PATA DVD Burner with LightScribe

Power Supply: PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad (Black) EPS12V 750W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, ULC, CE, CB, RoHS

Operating System: XP Professional

It's only around $1400. Sounds good? Is there anything else I would need?
 
try for 4gb of ram if you can, make sure the processer is a 45nm, they use less power and they run much cooler, and get a raptor 150gb 10k and load it with the os and the games, they will load much faster, and you can still use the 250gb for most of the storage for pictures and such, if you really wanna go overboard get a bluray/hd dvd player lg makes one that is 300 dollars and is combo of the two(hd and bluray)
 
Jasumi said:
Makes sense.

How does this configuration sound?

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor.

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-X38-DS4 LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Intel Motherboard.

Video Card: VisionTek 900209 Radeon HD 3870 X2 1GB (512MB x 2) 512-bit (256-bit x 2) GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card.

Memory: Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory.

Hard Drive 1: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

Optical Drive: ASUS Black 18X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 18X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 14X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache PATA DVD Burner with LightScribe

Power Supply: PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad (Black) EPS12V 750W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, ULC, CE, CB, RoHS

Operating System: XP Professional

It's only around $1400. Sounds good? Is there anything else I would need?
Click to expand...

Get the OCZ GameXStream 700W.
 
just a noob said:
try for 4gb of ram if you can, make sure the processer is a 45nm, they use less power and they run much cooler, and get a raptor 150gb 10k and load it with the os and the games, they will load much faster, and you can still use the 250gb for most of the storage for pictures and such, if you really wanna go overboard get a bluray/hd dvd player lg makes one that is 300 dollars and is combo of the two(hd and bluray)
Click to expand...

Sounds nice. But I really don't think I need ALL that. I'm trying to be economical without sacrificing too much quality.
 
I have the x38-DS4 with my E8400, and its great. The x38 is one of the best boards out right now, and since it supports crossfire, you may decided on a dual card settup later on.

Also, with XP your not going to be able to utilize DX10, you will need vista. Just something to think about.
 
ThatGuy16 said:
I have the x38-DS4 with my E8400, and its great. The x38 is one of the best boards out right now, and since it supports crossfire, you may decided on a dual card settup later on.

Also, with XP your not going to be able to utilize DX10, you will need vista. Just something to think about.
Click to expand...

I heard XP was more compatible with gaming. Is that true?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top