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How much does a good gaming PC cost?

B

Biff Hardbody

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jul 18, 2004
Messages
251
I hear people saying you can build a kickass system that will last you a long time for $1500. Is that true or not? Because, I've spent the past two weeks configuring a system at newegg.com and it still costs me near $2200! I must be doing something wrong. I mean, I'll pay the $2200 if I have to. But, I'd like to be like the people I hear getting kick ass systems for under 2K.

Here's what I got-

1)Case
Lian-Li 12-Bay Silver Aluminum Case, Model "PC-65"
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=11-112-024&catalog=23&manufactory=BROWSE
Price:$110

2)Power Supply
Antec 550 Watt Power Supply With 2 Fans 5.25 Control Panel, Model "TRUE CONTROL 550W" –RETAIL
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-922&depa=1
Cost: $102

3)Motherboard
ASUS "A8V Deluxe Wi-Fi" K8T800 Pro Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket 939 CPU –RETAIL
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=13-131-499&catalog=23&manufactory=BROWSE
Price:$152

4)Cpu
AMD Socket 939 Athlon 64 3800+, 2.4 GHz, 512KB L2 Cache 64-bit Processor – Retail
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-465&catalog=23&manufactory=BROWSE
Price:$711

5)RAM
Crucial 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200 8T – OEM
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=20-146-541&catalog=23&manufactory=BROWSE
Price: $176.00

6)Video Card
eVGA nVIDIA GeForce 6800GT Video Card, 256MB GDDR3, 256-Bit, Dual DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP, Model "256-A8-N344-AX" –RETAIL
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-130-203&depa=1
Price:$409.99

7)Sound Card
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS PCI Sound Card, Model "SB0350"
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=29-102-162&depa=1
Price:$88

8)Hard Drive
Seagate 160GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model ST3160023AS, OEM
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-148-018&depa=1
Price: $115

9)Optical Drive
NEC 8X Dual Layer DVD+/-RW Drive, Model ND-2510A SVR, OEM
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=27-152-025&catalog=23&manufactory=BROWSE
Price:$79.99

10) Speakers
Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 THX Certified Personal Speaker System –RETAIL
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=36-119-101&catalog=23&manufactory=BROWSE
Price:$159.99

11)Keyboard
(Already have)

12)Mouse
(Already have)

13)Monitor
19 inch Tube.
(Already have)

14)OS
Windows XP
(Already have)

15)Cooling Fan
VANTEC Spectrum Fan Card For Cases, Model "SP-FC70-BL" –RETAIL
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=35-888-112&catalog=23&manufactory=BROWSE
Price:16.99

16)Floppy Drive
Not sure yet, $15 or so.

All that amounts to 2,135.96 :eek:

Whats up fellahs? I buy stuff I don't need or what?
 
well u can save by switching processors, even though 939 is much better, and getting rid of that sound card, sound cards only become really useful with 5.1 though some may disagree. besides that u can limit the case to an antec sonata with a 380 true power supply that'll save u a 100. also switching the speakers to something cheaper, that i have no idea though. best i can think of
 
The problem is that most of the stuff you have in there is bleeding edge. There's no way in hell you're going to get near 1500 bucks with a setup like that.

In order to get the cost down, you're going to have to tone it down a little bit. For starters, look at cheaper processors and graphics cards. Also, you've got a $102 PSU in there that is totally overkill if you're trying to keep cost down. And a $110 case? I wont argue if you like the way it looks, but keep in mind that it's unneccesary things like this that drive up cost.
 
Thanks for the advice man. But, 939 is what they are using for the future (supposedly), and I want to be able to upgrade...I have a Dell Dimension 8100 series now, and it sucks because I can't upgrade anything without it costing lots. So, 939 it is.

About the soundcard. I've heard that even though my MB has onboard sound a soundcard would increase performance (the MB or cpu would be less taxed, can't remember which). Plus, I've heard it will make things sound better. So, thats a must buy.

About the antec case with PSU. Well, I've read that cases that comes with premade PSU's should be avoided. Even well known developers like Antec. People have told me that the PSU is generally the most underapprecaited part of the system, and one of the most important. Plus, with the powerful graphic cards Nvidia has coming out I think I need more then 380 watts.

About the speakers. Well, I could get the Z-2200's, but they are only $40 cheaper. When your at this price, whats $40?

Thanks for your advice though, I sincerely appreciate it.
 
Scero said:
The problem is that most of the stuff you have in there is bleeding edge. There's no way in hell you're going to get near 1500 bucks with a setup like that.

In order to get the cost down, you're going to have to tone it down a little bit. For starters, look at cheaper processors and graphics cards. Also, you've got a $102 PSU in there that is totally overkill if you're trying to keep cost down. And a $110 case? I wont argue if you like the way it looks, but keep in mind that it's unneccesary things like this that drive up cost.
Click to expand...

Well, then I'd be building a good pc and not a great one, right? Like I said before, if I get a cheaper cpu it would be 200 less (the 3500). Thats not bad actually, and something I'm considering. I want that 939 socket though, because I don't want to get left out in the cold in the future.

I chose such an expensive PSU because I hear stories about people frying their systems or whatever because of a bad PSU.

I've looked at cool and good cases, and they are around 90 bucks. Coolermaster, Lian Li.

I see what your saying though. Lower my expectations a bit, and I'd be able to do it. Thanks.
 
i'm using that truepower 380 its good, its not the best but it works fine, its antec its not some no name brand. anyway u might need more power down the road anyway so u might find that power supply is overkill for now, in the future it might not be. anyway don't spend the 1500 just go with what u have, and the sound card will make it sound better, but its not that much of a difference with 2.1 speakers. u will have a sorta "future-proof" system, as for the 939 chip, i'm not sure if the new amd chips are going to change pins come december but they will be different cores none the less.
 
Thanks for the advice man. I'm not buying for a month or so, so hopefully some of the stuff comes down in price or a little more available. Thanks again.
 
"Crucial 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200 8T – OEM"

A $2200 system and only 512MB Ram? Get a gig - the new games need it.
 
you can buy the HDD on some sale with rebates and pricematch and save over $50. check out www.bensbargains.net and www.fatwallet.com for deals. also if you are spending $160 on speakers, why not get Logitech Z-5300 5.1 for $139 from newegg. also i believe i saw that video card on newegg for about $300 a couple of days ago. and for that kind of system, i think it's better to get some nice RAM like Corsair XMS Series or Kingston HyperX
 
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