• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

Building new computer - purchase advice

RicKuRuKuS

RicKuRuKuS

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Mar 21, 2003
Messages
1,409
Hey guys I have built a couple of computers now and I am going to be building one here for a friend of mine who is on a budget of $1300... He wants a top of the line machine that can run the latest games such as HL2 and also do lots of video editing as he makes a lot of movies. Here is what I have recommended to him so far:

AMD Athlon 64 3400+, 512k L2 Cache, The Only 64-bit Windows Compatible Processor - Retail - $295

ATI AIW RADEON 9800PRO Video Card, 128MB DDR, 256-bit, DVI/CATV/VIVO, 8X AGP, Model "ALL-IN-WONDER 9800 PRO" -RETAIL - $275

SAMSUNG 955DF-T/T 19" DynaFlat CRT Monitor -RETAIL - $215

CORSAIR XMS, Xtra-Low Latency 2-2-2-5, 184-Pin 1GB(512MBx2) DDR PC-3200, Model TWINX1024-3200XLPRO - Retail - $314

Mobo - ?

Case - ?

2 Western Digital 120GB 7200RPM IDE Hard Drives, Model WD1200BB, OEM Drive Only - $153.98

Samsung Black 1.44MB 3.5inch Floppy Disk Drive, Model SFD321B/LBL1, OEM Drive Only - $9.00

Lite-On 12X DVD+/-RW Drive, Model SOHW-1213S BLK, Retail - $79

Total without mobo and case so far is: 1340.98

I need to cut some stuff down and add a mobo and case... What do you guys recommend I should do?

-warsaw
 
go with dual 120 gb sata hdds from newegg that will save you about a hundred dollars, and be faster. is he looking to play the newest games with settings maxed out? if so, the 9800 pro wont cut it.
 
The memory thing can be cut down because it is far too expensive. Plus, the difference between CAS 2 and 2.5 is only about 3 percent in performance, and about 100 bucks.
The video card is good but not good enough to play the latest and hasn't-come-out games. Get an even better video card and add in a video cpature device card.

The best mobo available for 754 is the MSI Neo Platinum (nvidia nforce 3 250 GB chipset).
 
id say get some cheaper ram and use the saved money to get a geforce 6800.
 
ok so i am thinking about lowering the processor speed and swapping the 9800 all in wonder for an x800 then also getting only 512mb of ram to start with... what mobo and case should i get for this setup tho?

-warsaw
 
Go with the 3000+ and oc it to the 3400+ or even the 3700+ (check out the reviews on the main site of [H]ardOCP). DFI is releasing/released a new mobo which is supposed to be the world's fastest Athlon 64 mobo, check it out (if you can't find it, the MSI Neo Platinum is the second best choice). As for the case, get a RAIDMax case, they provide adequate cooling for a VERY reasonable price.
 
Change the monitor to a Samsung 997DF it's $199 at circuit city and is a newer model that the 955.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top