build for lil bro $250 budget

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Predator6sic6

Limp Gawd
Joined
May 20, 2007
Messages
221
My brother has a 4 year old dell that he wants me to bring up to gaming specs. He wants to be able to run gears of war, team fortress 2,counter-strike , battlefield 2, unreal tournament 3, and left for dead at med-high settings at 1024x768 resolution.

I was plaining on using the same case if I can I know dell dosen't use ATX holes but if I cant I have a spar old and ugly case he can use, the same hard drive, and I got a spare 500w PSU he can use. So all he needs is a CPU, Motherboard, RAM, and GPU.

Here are the parts I picked out let me know what you think.

Mobo:
MSI K9VGM-V AM2 - $44.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130542

CPU:
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ - $49.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103732

RAM:
G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) - $44.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231098

GPU:
MSI 8600GTS OC - $114.99 ($74.99 after $40.00 Mail-In Rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127284

Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
 
What size LCD does he use and what resolution does he intend on gaming on? 1024 x768? 1280 x 1024? 1440 x 900?
 
CPU:
E2160
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116036

RAM:
Looks Great

Board:
Gigabyte DS3L
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059

GPU:
8800gs
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150275
(or you could go for a 9600gt)

That will cost you:
$89.99+
$129.99+
$44.99+
$73.00
$20.00 shipping and other costs
----------------------------------------------
Comes out to About: $357.00, give or take

This will give him MUCH better performance and stability than what you currently have...

The E62140 can be overclocked to around 3ghz, giving it the effective performance of an e6750, and will be 2x faster than the x2 3800+, even when OC'ed...

The Ds3L is an outstanding board and has great stability, good price, and good overclocking potential.....

The G Skill Ram is great...

The 8800gs will be around 2x faster than the 8600gts depending on the game and will provide a much better gaming experience for him in the long run, even at 1024x768....
 
if its 4 years old i would suspect a 5xxx series, 6 series at most. if hes lucky he might even have some RDRAM in it he can sell for like 200 bucks (no, im not joking. go look up used RDRAM prices...)

dont forget fans. dell fans are strange sizes if youre going to try using the ones from his case, and if you have an old fugly case laying around it might not have any fans in it.
 
MWave has 1GB sticks of Micron DDR2-5300 for $9.25 after MIR here.

Might help you cut a couple financial corners. :)
 
@coolxboxgamer
That build looks great the only problem is all the kid has is $250. Hes 14 and it took him a while to save up that much.

All he needs right now is something that can play those games I listed at med-high 1024x768. I sure that will last him until hes 15 and a half an can get a real job. Plus he can do small upgrades as birthdays/Christmas comes around.

@HardwareGuru
I haven't cracked open his PC in awhile but I'm sure it's just some crap integrated graphics.

@Notorius
I have tons of spare fans that I can donate to him.
 
I like your build for a causal gamer at that res it will be fine. Though I'm not the biggest fan of VIA chipsets I would spend a few extra bucks and get something like this (see below) I might actually start with the onboard video (A 4 year old dell puts in in line with my parents so I'm guessing its a FX5200) can't be much worse and I would guess it would be a step up. And get a stronger CPU like the 5000+ or something to that effect.
AMD
CPU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103212 (Always buy every once of clock speed you can)
MOBO http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130092
RAM your good
VID your good

The Intel one is prob going to be faster but to make that fit your budget I would do this.
CPU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116036
MOBO http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813127031
RAM your good
VID your good

IONO I would guess that at stock you wouldn't be able to tell a diff in the 2 systems OC the Intel would win but I don't like to OC somebody elses comp.

Just my .02 cents take it as you will.
 
What 500W PSU do you have?

Oh and that X2 3800+ is an OEM model, meaning that it doesn't come with a HSF. Do you already have a HSF?
 
At 1024 x 768 that's a low resolution and that 8600GTS card from MSI should run those games comfortably at that resolution. As a minimum, I would at least get an 8600GTS card for those games. Your setup is pretty good actually for $215.

Predator6sic6 said:
1024x768 for games on a 17 CRT.
Click to expand...
 
DeChache said:
I like your build for a causal gamer at that res it will be fine. Though I'm not the biggest fan of VIA chipsets I would spend a few extra bucks and get something like this (see below) I might actually start with the onboard video (A 4 year old dell puts in in line with my parents so I'm guessing its a FX5200) can't be much worse and I would guess it would be a step up. And get a stronger CPU like the 5000+ or something to that effect.
AMD
CPU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103212 (Always buy every once of clock speed you can)
MOBO http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130092
RAM your good
VID your good

The Intel one is prob going to be faster but to make that fit your budget I would do this.
CPU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116036
MOBO http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813127031
RAM your good
VID your good

IONO I would guess that at stock you wouldn't be able to tell a diff in the 2 systems OC the Intel would win but I don't like to OC somebody elses comp.

Just my .02 cents take it as you will.
Click to expand...

I agree with those recommendations.
 
Those 2 systems that DeChache is pretty good for a little more $ and better performance. As of now, here's your options as far as pricing goes:

System 1 (Your System Build) - $255 subtotal you pay upfront not including shipping and before rebates).
$215 after rebates w/o shipping included

System 2 (DeChache AMD System Build) - $298 subtotal you pay upfront not including shipping and before rebates).
$258 after rebates w/o shipping included

System 3 (DeChache Intel System Build) - $323 subtotal you pay upfront not including shipping and before rebates).
$253 after rebates w/o shipping included.
 
IMO, the OP has two options:
1) Go overboard and buy an XFX 8800GS for $130AR.
2) Use onboard video till funds become available to buy an 8800GS. Going through this route is recommended since it should enable the OP to buy a better CPU/mobo.

Buying an 8600GTS is not recommended even for 1024x768, as it barely runs current games at medium settings at the mentioned resolution, let alone future ones. The 8800GS is vastly superior and will last the OP for quite a long time. And besides, he will be spending only $35 extra for it before rebates.

These links compare HD3850 (which is slightly less powerful than 8800GS) vs an 8600GTS. I couldn't find many reviews comparing 8800GS vs 8600GTS as they are of different leagues, but the first review clearly shows that the 8800GS is more powerful than HD3850
http://www.driverheaven.net/reviews/XFXGS_3850/index.php
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3151&p=8
http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MTQxOSwsLGhlbnRodXNpYXN0
 
8600GTS is sufficient and plenty at only 1024 x 768. I have an X1650 Pro AGP running on a single core Athlon 64 3000+ and I can play UT3 at 1280 x 800 at good speed. I can also run GOW. My X1650 pro is slower than an 8600GTS running on a single core cpu. That 8600GTS card paired with a dual core AMD or Intel should do alot better. Look at this:

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/455/8
 
I have an 8600gt oc'd on a 17" and I know what I'm saying. The games the OP listed will run fine, but more intensive ones, like STALKER, Bioshock and crysis won't run at 10x7 above medium settings
 
True, but all he is concerned about now is running the games mentioned on the OP.

Abu Som3a said:
I have an 8600gt oc'd on a 17" and I know what I'm saying. The games the OP listed will run fine, but more intensive ones, like STALKER, Bioshock and crysis won't run at 10x7 above medium settings
Click to expand...
 
Just thought I would post a lint to a Review of the integrated GFX. Not the greatest but I am willing to wager that it at least perform on par with his old computer to a little bit better. I have the same 1250 integrated on my laptop but I have Linux on it if you ask real nice and I might be able to drop XP on it over the weekend (been wanting to redo my nix install anyway) and run some tests
 
Abu Som3a said:
I have an 8600gt oc'd on a 17" and I know what I'm saying. The games the OP listed will run fine, but more intensive ones, like STALKER, Bioshock and crysis won't run at 10x7 above medium settings
Click to expand...

But it does run them. I have this hunch saying if they run his bro will be happy. Then again I'm considered weird around these parts I would rather play a fun game that looks like shit than a game thats beautiful but sucks.


Didn't mean to double post but I got lazy and didn't want to try to put this quote in my other post.
 
ok here is my 2 cents,

cpu: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ Brisbane 2.5GHz Socket AM2 65W $84.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103212

mobo: ASUS M2A-VM AM2 AMD 690G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard open box $38.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131172R

ram: A-DATA 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 $44.99 - $10 mir
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211066

video card: MSI NX8600GTS-T2D256E-OC GeForce 8600GTS 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 $114.99 - $40 mir
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127284

Total: $283.96 - $50 mir + shipping.

should own @ 1024x768.
 
totally go with hossdaddys set up, just pitch in an extra 30 bucks or so, he is your little bro after all;)
 
Yah man, that setup looks good. If I was his older brother, I would just cough up the extra cost on the rig already.

NoobToast said:
totally go with hossdaddys set up, just pitch in an extra 30 bucks or so, he is your little bro after all;)
Click to expand...
 
Yah, I'd lend my bro enough to get at least an HD3850 or 8800GS, for a gaming rig.
 
well guys if look back at one of teh first posts he has a generic 500w psu, which I would be surprised if it had enough amps to handle a 3850.
 
Get an e2160, dont go AMD, as the e2160 can hit 3ghz or so on stock volts with stock cooler with a simple fsb change, and it will destroy a 3800+
 
Notorius said:
if its 4 years old i would suspect a 5xxx series, 6 series at most. if hes lucky he might even have some RDRAM in it he can sell for like 200 bucks (no, im not joking. go look up used RDRAM prices...)

dont forget fans. dell fans are strange sizes if youre going to try using the ones from his case, and if you have an old fugly case laying around it might not have any fans in it.
Click to expand...

I got an old dell from a family friend, the hard drive died but they bought a new computer so they gave me this one. I threw an extra HD in and stuck my old 9800 pro in it. I saw 512mb of ram and though... ram is so cheap now ill upgrade it to 1gb possibly 2gb if it could. I looked up the specs and saw RDRAM and though wtf? rambus? well i looked up the prices and its like $500 for 1gb of ram somethjing CRAZY like that

i though about selling it... but i kept it sitting on an extra desk... its good for watching movies on while on my gaming system

so like he said... sell the ram on ebay or something and get your self another $150-200

you can do a lot more with 450 vs 250
 
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