Gaming-Only Rig, cheap side.

[TheNewGuy8]

Hi all

1.5 years ago I was a big PC building enthusiast. I still love the stuff, but I've been away from it for a while, and I am just amazed at how foreign it all feels after that time. I work as a computer consultant, and needed to learn about Macs, so I bought a MacBook Pro and absolutely love it. I'll probably continue to do all my main computing on the MBP, but I *really* miss PC gaming (and wow what amazing games have come out recently!).

So I'm seriously thinking of building another PC gaming rig. And I can even justify it from a work-experience and tax perspective

But I need to know where to start my investigations - I'm doing all the reading I can, but I'm curious: If you were to design a gaming-only rig that won't be used all that often other than gaming - what would you design?

Here are a few preferences I have:

*I won't be OC'ing
*I like QUIET computers
*I'll be using it for gaming, and not much else

Any thoughts you all have on where to begin my investigations would be greatly appreciated - thanks!

Also - any general comments about things like:
*who's the general preference these days: AMD/Intel and Nvidia/Ati as well as other general info I should know.

thanks!

 

[KennyT]

intel/ams dual core, higher end.
motherboard of choice
ati hd3870 + new heatsink once they come out
2gb crucial ddr2-800 (used?)
thermalright cpu cooler
600w-700w psu (solid built and quiet, used?)
Cheaper case (used?)

The 3870/8800GT is kind of a choice on your part. More 3870's are available but they performance and price is lower. Cpu choice is up to you, as the high end intels are faster but none really shine until overclocked. 2gb is the usual for ram these days, Crucial makes good stuff. If you ever decide to overclock you easily can. Cases are almost always a personal taste, although the antec900's and some gigabyte's have been hot lately. You can find used psu's around here for a decent price to further save some cash.

 

[MrWizard6600]

I gotta ask, how old are we talking? AGP days? Slot-CPU bracket days?

those were the good ol days.

for gaming, nothing else, your gonna wanna cheap out on the cpu and HD size. Obviously about 40% of the budget should be spent on the graphics card. If this is going to be a one time thing theres no point in looking for crossfire or SLI compatabillity, however if you plan on dropping more money on this thing in a few months, you might look at SLI or Crossfire.

However, without a specific budget this is what I would say your looking at, if this is to be a one time buy, without any plans to put more money into it later:

Xpress3200/570 based mobo
an Atholon X2
8600GT (~$130) -or- HD 3850 (~$190)(I thinks this is the best deal) -or- HD 3870 (~$250) -or- 8800GT (~$300)
2 gigs cheap DDR2 800
160 gig 7200 drive
450/650W PSU

you could probably do all that for ~$800.

If you do alot of online gaming, finding a motherboard with perhaps its own add-in networking controller (for particularly low CPU usage during high networking moments) would be a good idea.

 

[engiNURD]

What's your budget?
What's included in that budget? (tax/shipping, kb, mouse, OS, etc)
What size monitor do you have or plan to get?
What games do you want to play?

 

[TheNewGuy8]

good questions.

Budget - I mean, as cheap as possible, but not to skimp on game performance. Like - This rig won't be used for hardcore photoshopping, pretty much just games - so (this is assuming games are like they were 2 years ago, when GPU was the major bottleneck and CPUs were less important) I could skimp on the CPU. And ya, budget includes tax (I live in California), and shipping. I have kb/mouse. I'll be getting a monitor - but Ill consider that outside the budget of the computer. The monitor will probably be 22-24"

Games - CoD4, bioshock, The Orange Box, etc.

MrWizard6600 - Heheh, yes I was around for AGP and slot cpus

 

[Dangman]

At least give us a ballpark range. Remember that people have certain levels of acceptable performance in games.

Also when are you planning on buying this new rig?