i finalized my gaming system! tell me what you think?

i haven't been this excited in the longest time
i'm going to be putting everything together (first ever build pc) and i just simply cannot wait
i'm going to be playing cs:s, and call of duty 4, and maybe from time to time battlefield 2
anyway, tell me how i did?!

complete amd system build for $1255 ($1,200 was my budget; if i can't get the 3870, i'm going with the 3850 512mb)

COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811119137
$80

MSI K9A2 CF-F AM2+/AM2 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813130138
$100

SAPPHIRE 100215L Radeon HD 3870 512MB 256-bit GDDR4 PCI Express 2.0 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814102713
$250

CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX ATX12V V2.2 550W Power Supply 90 - 264 V UL, CUL, CE, CB, FCC Class B, TUV, CCC, C-tick - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817139004
$100

AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ Windsor 3.0GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM2 125W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819103773
$160

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820231098
$47

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822148262
$70

Saitek PZ30AU Black 104 Normal Keys 4 Function Keys USB Wired Standard Eclipse Keyboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16823175103
$40

LG L192WS-BN Black 19" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 700:1 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16824005086
$180

Logitech MX518 2-Tone 8 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB + PS/2 Wired Optical 1600 dpi Gaming-Grade Mouse - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16826104178
$40

LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 8X DVD-R DL 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM IDE Burner with LightScribe Technology - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827106045
$30

Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16832116204
$112

LINKSYS WRT54G IEEE 802.3/3u, IEEE 802.11b/g Wireless-G Broadband Router - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16833124010
$50

The AMD setup may have longevity in terms of upgrade ability but in performance longevity, an Intel build will suite you much much better. Plus how often do you think you'll be upgrading the CPU anyway? If you're not planning on upgrading in a year or so, don't put much investment in an AMD setup. In addition who says that you need to switch over to a new CPU and mobo every year in order to get good performance? There are plenty of Socket 939 setups that are still just as powerful as their AM2 counterparts. Even after a year.

Also, there is no guarantee that AMD will actually follow through on their promise that AM3 CPUs will be compatible with AM2 motherboards. Also, here's the biggie: Will the new AMD CPUs be actually worth the costs?

if u want 64 bit then get 4gb of ram. if not go with the 32 bit.

amd? why not intel! go with intel.

I take it from the wording in your post that you've already bought the parts... It's a certainly a decent system, and it will not be a slouch performance wise, but from a price / performance standpoint you would have been much better off with an Intel CPU. If you still can, I would swap out the cpu and motherboard for an E6750 and a P35 board such as the Abit IP35 Pro or the Gigabyte DS3R.

The Athlon 6000+ is unfortunately somewhat of an obsolete chip. The E6750, which is the closest Intel competitor, performs much better clock for clock, such that Intel's chip at 2.66mhz significantly outperforms the Athlon 6000+ at 3ghz. Furthermore, with Phenoms out, I just think that there is little reason to get a Barton now. AMD does play competitively at the low end, but generally speaking, if one can afford to build a system around a 6000+, one can build a system around a good Core 2.

As Danny Bui said, AMD does have an edge in processor upgradibility. This has never been an Intel strong suite. However, given the recent and current performance of AMD chips when compared to Intel, and given AMD's future roadmap, AMD is not the best option at the moment for a medium to high end gaming rig.

Mark.

well, my budget IS $1,200
but no i haven't bought the parts yet

that lg lcd has only dsub.
and i like your video card choice.

that harddrive is just too small imo.

I would say "no" to that monitor...as it doesn't come with a DVI cable and only has a pretty low 700:1 contrast ratio


seems like maybe you should look at this build from another approach
...maybe go at if from what will have the most impact on performance and visceral value to the least...I've seem most of the other threads and the main focus' seem to be on "AMD-vs-Intel"(for the same price points there is actually very little, if any performance difference, and anyway once you get past a certain point, your aren't going to notice, maybe only in benchmarks slightly, but once you get a CPU/platform that performs 'well' your limitation is going to shift to the video card) or on "system price -vs- video card"(the earlier threads had top video cards and slowly those have given way to milder/mid-range cards to keep the price under control, where for a gaming computer the video card is one of the most important factors) and on "upgradeability with a good foundation-vs-locked in to a few higher priced parts now with lower-end other stuff that will be harder to change"

this shouldn't be as hard as it has been to design this computer, as the money is there($1200 is a big enough budget)...it just needs to be done with some care to keep things under control and use the money where it will have the biggest impact, with-out sacrificing the foundation, and still allowing for future expansion while still getting something worth it now



first this whole computer is basicly going to be built so that it can display images on a screen, if that screen isn't very good, no matter how good everything else is, you just aren't going to get a good final product

ViewSonic X Series VX1940w Black&Silver 19" 2ms(GTG) Super High Resolution 1680x1050 DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 static (typ), 3000:1 dynamic (typ) - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824116095
$219.99
($199.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate)

a monitor like that(with DVI cable included) has a 1000:1 contrast ratio, but it also can control the backlight to dim it when in mostly dark images are on screen to achieve an 'effective' contrast ratio of 3000:1....and its worth noting that this is the one area that LCDs have been, and need to improve upon over the older 500~700:1 displays


the next very important 'link in this chain' to get the images on the screen is the video card...bottom line is: 'the better you go here the better games will run' all games are always going to be video card limited as to how well they run(once you get the CPU "above par")....seems like everyone today is picking the 8800GT as the "it" card to have, and with good reason

EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130318
$269.99
(90 day 'step-up' program available)

these cards are running games nearly as well as the top $500+ card were from the last year...you could get a 'factory overclocked' version, but those are costing more, and might only show a small improvement in benchmarks, and if you want that, its all too easy to overclock it oneself with simple to use software thru Windows...if in a few months better video cards come out, EVGA will take that one back and send you one of those for the price difference


I'm just going to go ahead and get this case in here, as we will need something good to put these parts in and the case also adds much to the visceral experience..as it is what the computer looks like from the outside

COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137
$79.99
($34.99 after $45.00 Mail-In Rebate)

good looks/design/lay-out, three 120mm fans, and one super sweet price after that rebate...


because of how the PSU in placed in that case, maybe picking a PSU like this could be desired

PC Power & Cooling Silencer 470 ATX ATX12V Ver 2.2 470W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703011
$69.99

more than enough power for what can happen in this system, and the best brand name out there, I could go on, but I shouldn't have to


for the drives, the 250GB with 16mb cache is fine at $70

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
$69.99

..however, you really don't need to bother with 'Lightscribe' for the CD/DVD(I never have used it even tho my drive supports it..) and I'm liking the idea of SATA CD/DVD drives now

Sony NEC Optiarc Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118002
$25.99

it saves like $10 bucks which help offset something like the better LCD alittle


some of the other stuff I can go along with to

Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16832116204
$111.49

LINKSYS WRT54G IEEE 802.3/3u, IEEE 802.11b/g Wireless-G Broadband Router
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16833124010
$49.99

I have that router and it works fine
...but I am going to offer up a less expensive mouse and keyboard, again I think its important to save alittle here and there when you can, this things can be replaced easily later, and we really need the money for the guts(platform), LCD, and video card

Cyber Snipa CSLMSW01 Black 6 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Laser S.W.A.T. Mouse - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826246004
$25.99
($15.99 after $10.00 Mail-In Rebate)

LOGISYS Computer KB206BK Black 103 Normal Keys 15 Function Keys USB + PS/2 Standard Soft Touch Multimedia Keyboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823184013
$24.99

...i think getting the price on those down form $80 to ~$50 might help just enough...but I still think thats a cool looking set even tho its off band/budget
..if you really want to play it smart for now, just get something like this for $14
Logitech 967973-0403 Black 104 Normal Keys PS/2 Standard Deluxe 250 Desktop Mouse Included
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126017
....which would free up $30 more or so if you would like to spend that much more to add-to/change the parts below

...now there, that $949 so far, to get into the $1200 budget before rebates and shipping, that still leaves you $250 to get the CPU/HSF/MOBO/RAM...so why not just do this

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400+ 2.8GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor - OEM(no heatsink)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103242
$99.99

ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 64 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185125
$19.99

with

GIGABYTE GA-M57SLI-S4 AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128014
$84.99
and
GeIL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820144047
$44.99
($34.99 after $10.00 Mail-In Rebate)

or

GIGABYTE GA-M52L-S3 AM2 NVIDIA nForce 520LE ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128069
$68.99
and
Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146565
$74.99
($49.99 after $25.00 Mail-In Rebate)


or

Intel Core 2 Duo E4600 Allendale 2.4GHz 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor with HeatSink
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115032
$144.99

GIGABYTE GA-P31-S3G LGA 775 Intel P31 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128077
$72.99

A-DATA Value Series 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211165
$35.99


btw, this is re-posted from here http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7117262#post7117262


if you were overclocking the CPU(or planning on upgrading to a Phenom ..which btw those AM2 Gigabyte boards will also run with the F4 BIOS), you could just do something like this:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Windsor 2.0GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor -OEM(no heatsink)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103066
$53.99

ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 64 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185125
$19.99

GeIL EVO ONE 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820144119
$64.99

ASUS M3A AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131234
$99.99

..or the MSI CrossFire motherboard...as out of that final $250 left for these parts, thats $240...and if you wanted to spend the $80 on that Mouse and Keyboards you listed you could get this card(with 512mb and a dual slot cooler):
GECUBE GC-XHD3850PG3-E3R Radeon HD 3850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814241068
$209.99

..or get the cheaper Mouse and Keyboard(either the off-bands I linked to or the $14 Logitech set) and get the AMD/ATI CrossFire supported 3870 with that MSI motherboard:
SAPPHIRE 100215L Radeon HD 3870 512MB 256-bit GDDR4 PCI Express 2.0 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102713
$244.99

but t rush, why isn't the system i picked out okay? i thought my friend and i (clicheispasse on steam forums) did a wonderful job..

$80 - Intel Pentium E2160 Allendale 1.8GHz 1MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
$22 - COOLER MASTER RR-CCH-L9U1-GP 92mm Hyper TX2 CPU Cooler - Retail ($20MIR)
$90 - GIGABYTE Intel P35 + ICH9 Chipset DDR2 1066 ATX GA-P35-DS3L Motherboard Retail
$36 - A-DATA Value Series 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
$260 - 8800GT 512MB
$110 - Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM (Apply code "EM 10")
$60 - Antec earthwatts EA380 ATX12V v2.0 380W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CUL, FCC, TUV, CE, CB, C-tick, CCC - Retail ($30MIR)
$80- COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail ($45MIR)
$35 - Logitech Wave Keyboard USB ($10MIR)
$$ - Mouse
$210 - Hanns·G HG-216DPO Silver/Black 21.6" 5ms Widescreen HDMI LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 Built in Speakers - Retail
$30 - SAMSUNG Black 20X 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - OEM
$112 - Vista
$50 - Router

mateasluzes said:

but t rush, why isn't the system i picked out okay? i thought my friend and i (clicheispasse on steam forums) did a wonderful job..

Click to expand...

The rig that you've designed is fine... but with your budget, it could be better. The two main faults, which have been mentioned before, are:

The processor: You're going AMD for the possibility of future upgrades, but an Intel-based setup will compete or beat it at stock levels. An overclocked E4500, for example, can easily reach the stock speeds of the X2 6000+ for about $30 less. And the E6750, even though it runs at a slower speed, has a larger L2 cache, runs cooler at stock levels, and can be easily overclocked with good air cooling.

The monitor: You are unnecessarily limiting yourself with the monitor... not with the contrast ratio, but with the connection. You should be looking for a monitor that uses the DVI (D as in digital) connection. The BenQ G900W has similar specs to the LG monitor you chose, but it has both an analog (VGA) and a digital (DVI-D) connection.

So how does my build compare, considering the E2160 should be overclocked? Also how about this mouse?

Abu Som3a said:

So how does my build compare, considering the E2160 should be overclocked? Also how about this mouse?

Click to expand...

Your build looks good, but I would keep the Corsair 550VX as the PSU, get a full-sized mouse like the MX518 (again, what the OP chose), and just use the stock HSF for the E2160.

I was able to find an 8800GT for around $270, but if the OP needed to cut corners, he could find an HD 3870 for around $240.

tiraides said:

Your build looks good, but I would keep the Corsair 550VX as the PSU, get a full-sized mouse like the MX518 (again, what the OP chose), and just use the stock HSF for the E2160.

I was able to find an 8800GT for around $270, but if the OP needed to cut corners, he could find an HD 3870 for around $240.

Click to expand...

PSU: Why??? The Earthwatts has a 27A 12V+ rail, which is more than adequate for the system. Bear in mind that the 8800GT consumes much less power than its G80 counterparts.
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3140&p=13
http://www.atomicmpc.com.au/forums.asp?s=2&c=7&t=9354
Edit: The 550VX is being sold for $83 @ buy.com, which is a good price. It can be bought for future upgradeability, but it is still not necessary.

HSF: Yeah, I don't think it will offer much more overclock headroom for the E2160, but it's being sold for only $2AR.

Graphics Card: You can skimp on many other components, but dropping from 8800GT >>> 3870 to save only $30 is simply not worth it...

Abu Som3a said:

PSU: Why??? The Earthwatts has a 27A 12V+ rail, which is more than adequate for the system. Bear in mind that the 8800GT consumes much less power than its G80 counterparts.
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3140&p=13
http://www.atomicmpc.com.au/forums.asp?s=2&c=7&t=9354
Edit: The 550VX is being sold for $83 @ buy.com, which is a good price. It can be bought for future upgradeability, but it is still not necessary.

Click to expand...

This -- as well of all of my choices -- is a matter of personal taste, but I prefer the Corsair 550VX for two reasons:

• It generates more power -- 41A on the +12V rail (@ 492W) -- than the Earthwatts 380.
• The rig, as a whole, would generate less of a long-term drain on the Corsair 550VX than it would on the Earthwatts 380.

There's also the possibility that the OP may decide to upgrade the processor (keep in mind that the E2160 is on the low end for Intel) and/or the video card at some time in the future. The newer components may or may not place a greater strain on the PSU than the current ones... but the Corsair 550VX, with its extra power, should run future parts with less trouble than the Earthwatts 380. Though, to be honest, I believe that the OP would likely replace the PSU -- whichever one he chooses -- long before its long-term use becomes an issue.

Abu Som3a said:

HSF: Yeah, I don't think it will offer much more overclock headroom for the E2160, but it's being sold for only $2AR.

Click to expand...

I'm not a big fan of mail-in rebates, but unless the OP is planning on performing major overclocking with the E2160 (assuming he chooses an Intel rig instead of the one on his OP), then he should be able to get away with using the stock HSF. Since the overclocking headroom isn't guaranteed, to me, it's not worth the hassle.

Abu Som3a said:

Graphics Card: You can skimp on many other components, but dropping from 8800GT >>> 3870 to save only $30 is simply not worth it...

Click to expand...

For the monitor the OP is thinking about getting -- a 19-20 inch widescreen LCD -- the HD 3870 would perform just as well as the 8800GT. (But yes, the 8800GT is the better card.) Should he be considering a 22-24 inch monitor, however, I would have pushed for the 512MB 8800GTS.

Additionally, the $30 saved from the video card selection would have been used for the PSU. It's not the best math equation in the world, but I'm assuming that the OP's budget is pretty fixed.

Again, my choices are a matter of personal preference. Yes, your configuration would work fine as-is, but I prefer having the extra headroom of the Corsair 550VX -- just in case I need it -- and a card that works just as well yet costs a little less.

PSU: The Earthwatts is very energy efficient, but I don't know how it compares with the 550VX at this certain point. Not a selling point though IMO.
It is up to the OP to decide whether he wants more power headroom for future upgrades or a $30MIR.

HSF: I agree. My E4300 @ 3150 w/stock cooling won't gain any more OC headroom with better cooling. It will run at better temps tho. Maybe he can buy aftermarket cooling if he realizes he needs it.

Video Card: I have already included a 21.6", and the 8800GT gives performance advantages that are obvious even at lower resolutions