Help Me Spend $1250

T

time2upgrade

n00b
Joined
Nov 30, 2005
Messages
5
I've got $1250 to spend on a new gaming system. I will use it primarily for gaming and web surfing (mainly gaming). I'm not a overclocker (don't know how) and I don't forsee ever going SLI.

Proc: I was thinking 3700 Sandy then changed to X2 3800.
Mobo: Was thinking Epox but now I'm not sure. DFI Lanparty was suggested but I have read they are hard to setup for a beginner. I have a MSI KT3 Ultra right now that has been good to me so MSI??
Case/PSU: Thought about Antec Sonata II but is that enough juice? Reading the posts in the PSU forum leads me to believe it is not?? Centurion 5 + FSP 450PN was suggested?
Video: Easy pick - Evga 7800GT
Memory: 2GB (2x1024) G.Skill
HD: WD 160GB 16MB Cache?
DVD/RW: NEC?

I've changed my mind about 6 million times and I want to make my final decisions and place my order before Christmas.
 
buy mine, see sig :)

DFI Lanparty Ultra D Modded to SLI-D
3200 Venice at 2.75ghz 1.6v
74gb Raptor
OCZ VX Value 2 X 512 275 3.5v
Audigy 2zs - 5.1 speakers
ATi x800XL
PCP&C 510 SLi
 
Well, Mr. Time 2 Upgrade, I only got one thing to tell ya...

Use the search function. :D

-J.
 
Definitely X2 3800+

Motherboard...your choice, but the DFI is good (have to flash to newest bios), Asus boards are pretty good, and personally I've had good luck with the Abit boards

I don't know if they have 160GB drives with 16mb cache. I picked up a 250GB one SATA/16mb cache for maybe $90 a few months ago.

I'd say try the Antec Sonata2 PSU and see if it works. If not, get a different one...you could probably sell the Sonata2 one in the forums for a good chunk of change too.
 
Geforce...I know, I know...you gave me some good advice the other day. I just wanted to put the feelers out again with updated info. Sorry.

Thanks again for the advice though!
 
If you are not overclocking you don't really need something like a DFI Lanparty. Any mobo that uses nForce 4 Ultra will do the job well. All the benchmarks I've seen indicate that performance of AMD motherboards using the same chipset tend to perform within 1-3% of each other. My personal preference is Asus, and I like my A8N-E. But it doesn't have firewire, so if that is important to you you may want to look at something else.

Sonata II is a lovely case and has a sufficient psu for your stated needs. If one is not ocing, adding lots of storage devices, or going SLI one really doesn't need a huge psu. You might want to consider adding cpu and/or gpu fans in the Sonata's cooling duct - they'll do a great job helping to cool these components.

You don't indicate the model NEC DVD writer you are looking at. The BenQ 1640 has gotten some very good reviews.
 
NEC 3550A. :) That's the way to go.

The case/psu is sufficient.

Don't go for EPoX since they don't support X2's. Go for another kind like Asus A8N.

-J.
 
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