cheap gaming rig for a friend. Comments, suggestions?

S

Shadey216

Limp Gawd
Joined
Dec 4, 2003
Messages
173
Hey guys. I'm building a very cheap gaming rig for a friend. He likes playing Counter Strike and finaly wants me to build him a rig, so we don't have to take turns hehe. He also wants to play a little bit of Doom 3 when it comes out, but it doesn't need to run sick or anything. He's not a big Computer enthusiest, and doesn't intend to overclock. So here is what i plan to build for him. Let me know what you guys think. Comments and suggestions are welcome. Thanks.


case & power - Codegen Mid-Tower Case with 400W Power Supply,Model:L-6042-1-S2F - $36.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-182-511&catalog=7&depa=1

motherboard - ECS SiS 735 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket A CPU, Model "K7S5A PRO" -RETAIL - $41.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-135-126&catalog=22&depa=1

floppy - PANASONIC JU-256A798P 1.44 MB 3.5 INCH HIGH DENSITY FLOPPY DISK DRIVE, OEM DRIVE ONLY - $5.99
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProdu...-103-505&catalog=13&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=1

cd drive - Lite On Beige 52x32x52 CD-RW Drive, Model LTR-52327S BEIGE, OEM - $37.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=27-106-199&catalog=5&depa=1

Ram - 512MB DDR Crucial PC2100 - $68.99

video card - SAPPHIRE RADEON 9600 Video Card, 128MB DDR, 128-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP -RETAIL - $112.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-289&catalog=48&depa=1

HSF & compound - generic brand - $11.00 (a little hesitant on this)
http://store.yahoo.com/pcmemory-stores/cpucokiso2.html

CPU - XP 1700 OEM - $46.00
http://store.yahoo.com/pcmemory-stores/patxpfco0cog.html

Hard drive - WESTERN DIGITAL OEM WHITE LABEL 40 GB 7200RPM EIDE HARD DRIVE (WD400BB-WL) - $44.00
http://www.pcmicrostore.com//PartDetail.aspx?q=b:45;c:36114;p:10500664


Price: $400.00

I picked parts from multiple places, to try and save money. We are gonna buy it peice by peice.
 
Oy. Are you sure you can't scrape together more than $400?

It doesn't look too bad for the price, I guess. I'm assuming you already have KB/mouse, monitor, speakers, etc.?
 
Get the crucial pc2100 at newegg for a few dollars less http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-145-005&catalog=147&depa=1 same lifetime warranty

That hsf is $20 with shipping,,, definitley not worth it. Go with this instead http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=35-151-108&catalog=62&depa=1 aluminum/copper base, proven to be great for stock speeds and it comes with a thermal goop blister pack

Try to get an xp2100+ instead since an extra $15 would make it a viable computer for a longer time (newegg)
 
Cool, I will defenitly go with that Speeze HSF. I'll see what he thinks about upping to a 2100 or something. Thanks guys.
 
I have that motherboard and theres something wrong with the floppydrive. I could never get mine to work right from day 1 and its not a very good OCer, u can get it max to 156fsb, but thats all. Otherwise its a good cheap board for the price.:D
 
If you're going to get only one optical drive, get a DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive. And if you can, get a 80GB hard drive. It will cost you a little more (adds about $50-$100 to your budget) but they may help extend the life of the computer by at least a year.
 
Originally posted by tiraides
get a 80GB hard drive. It will cost you a little more (adds about $50-$100 to your budget) but they may help extend the life of the computer by at least a year.
Click to expand...
i dont know how a bigger hard drive would increase the life of a computer.....:rolleyes:
anywho, nice set-up for the price :)
 
get rid of the floppy. if your friend can chuck out the money, get a better mobo and get some faster RAM. that's not a bad processor. the 2100 would be nicer but the 1700 will work well. i say better mobo and RAM if he can.

btw: unless he really doesn't need the HD space, i'd get something bigger. HD are so cheap right now that it isn't even funny
 
pick up one of the wd 80gb se drives well worth the little bit extra if you ask me.
 
He'll probably still need the floppy for something, so keep it for now. Since he's on a budget, then that's probably all he'll get. Too bad you couldn't talk him into getting a Thermalright SLK-947U HS and Panaflo 92mm fan for HS.

The case seems fine for the budget, but if he has two 80mm fans coming in from the side, what fans are driving air out the top back? Sounds like he may need one or two more fans. How many fans can fit out the back of that case?
 
The case seems fine for the budget, but if he has two 80mm fans coming in from the side, what fans are driving air out the top back? Sounds like he may need one or two more fans. How many fans can fit out the back of that case?
Click to expand...

I was thinking about that. I will probably take one of the 2 fans out and put one as an exhaust.


get a better mobo and get some faster RAM
Click to expand...

Recomend something good and cheap? :D
 
I say the harddrive is fine if no video editing is done. Harddrives are going to be even cheaper in three months if he mananged to fill up 40GB by then.

If the budget goes any higher then get a better CPU or a DVD combo drive if he likes DVDs.
 
I usually pride myself on building good PCs that do what the user wants for their price range but this one is impossible. There is no way if you are buying new parts to build a system that runs D00M3 at a playable framerate for $400. It just can't be done.

The following from Newegg should be able to play DOOM3:

Use the Product # to search for the item.

Codegen Mid-Tower Case with 400W Power Supply,Model:L-6042-1-S2F P# N82E16811182511
Price: $36

Optorite IDE/ATAPI 52X32X52 CD-RW, Model CW5201, Retail P# N82E16827182011
Price: $36

Western Digital 40GB 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive, Model WD400BB, OEM Drive only P# N82E16822140118
Price: $55

Crucial 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-2100 P# N82E16820145005
Price: $66

ECS SiS 746 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket A CPU, Model "L7S7A2" -RETAIL P# N82E16813135135
Price: $49

AMD Athlon XP 2000+, 266 FSB, 256K Cache Processor - Retail P# N82E16819103383
Price: $67

Transcend RADEON 9600PRO Video Card, 128MB DDR, 128-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP, Model "TS128MVDR96P" -RETAIL P# N82E16814156010
Price: $147

Total Price shipped: $456

Few things:
Yes I know that's out of your budget but it will run games a heck of a lot better.
You are welcome to buy parts else where but always check the store's rating on Reseller Ratings , if it's not a 7 or higher don't buy just to be safe.
Unless you absolutely, positively must have a floppy drive; don't buy one.
You can(but I wouldn't recommend it) go with a slower processor but I would not go with anything below a Radeon 9600 Pro if you want to play DOOM3, that means no 9600, 9600SE, or 9600Pro "EZ".
If you are somehow able to scrape together another $100, making the total $500, I would recommend the 80GB Western Digital SE(Special Edition) Harddrive or better mobo.

Good Luck :D
 
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProdu...-150-010&catalog=62&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=1
Another cheapass heatsink to think about. I just bought one of those and the quite is nice :).

40gigs is plenty. Thats all I have in my main computer and after about 2 years I have almost filled it up. If I deleted half the games I haven't played in 6+ months I'd still have plenty of room. Still after saying that if you look around in the Hot Deals section there is almost allways a 80gig drive for $40 after a mail in rebate.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top