Review this $700 gaming machine

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Nalgae93

n00b
Joined
Oct 8, 2006
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Hello, I need some advice before buying these parts.

To begin with,

- Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600JBRTL 160GB 7200 RPM IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive
- Linkworld 431-08 C8888 Beige Steel/Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 430W Power Supply
- BFG Tech BFGR68256GSOC Geforce 6800GS 256MB GDDR3 AGP 4X/8X Video Card
- SONY Black IDE DVD-ROM Drive Model DDU1615/B2s
- CORSAIR XMS 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWINX1024-3200C2PT
- Foxconn 915P7AC-8KS Socket T (LGA 775) Intel 915P ATX Intel Motherboard
- Intel Pentium 4 541 Prescott 3.2GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80547PG3200EK

that is about $700 with tax and shipping.

This is my first time making a pc by my self. So please help. I don't know if these parts are going to work well together. Also, what else do I need if I want to go online?
thank you
my budget is about $700 dollars no more
 
AGP, Prescott and DDR

I just had a flashback from 2004..
 
yeah def dont go that route, go to ddr2, at least a pentium D, and a better video card
 
$156 - eVGA 7600gt
$180 - e6300 core2duo 1.86ghz
$70 - Samsung Spinpoint SP2504C 250gb hdd
$118 - Gigabyte ga-965p-s3
$115 - 2x512mb Corsair Value select PC5300
$32 - LITE-ON 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SHW-160P6S-04
$41.50 - FSP Group (FSP) AX400-PN ATX12V 400W
$45 - COOLER MASTER Centurion 5

Total $757.50

Maybe someone else would be able to build a cheaper but all of those parts are quality and would easily beat a 3.2ghz pentium 4.
 
Is your budget exactly $700 or can you afford to spend a little more?
 
tisb0b said:
$156 - eVGA 7600gt
$180 - e6300 core2duo 1.86ghz
$70 - Samsung Spinpoint SP2504C 250gb hdd
$118 - Gigabyte ga-965p-s3
$115 - 2x512mb Corsair Value select PC5300
$32 - LITE-ON 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SHW-160P6S-04
$41.50 - FSP Group (FSP) AX400-PN ATX12V 400W
$45 - COOLER MASTER Centurion 5

Total $757.50

Maybe someone else would be able to build a cheaper but all of those parts are quality and would easily beat a 3.2ghz pentium 4.
Click to expand...


Replace the AX FSP with a 400W Enhance ENP 80+, or 400W Fortron FSP. And 1x 1GB not 2x 512MB for ease of upgrading.
 
dBTelos said:
Replace the AX FSP with a 400W Enhance ENP 80+, or 400W Fortron FSP. And 1x 1GB not 2x 512MB for ease of upgrading.
Click to expand...

The FSP is Fortron. And tisb0b, looks like a great build with consistent quality parts all around.

To the OP: I'd go with what tisb0b has posted. Just as reference: If you're building a computer now, especially for gaming, don't go with anything less than Core 2 Duo or an AM2 board for AMD. The build you posted initially is already very outdated.
 
The FSP is Fortron.
Click to expand...

Lol, you think I don't know that? Fortrons with the AX model number are kind of like Fortron's Value line, with value parts. Not something I would put in many builds. The Fortrons with FSP model numbers, have more quality in them with better parts. Usually costing more, but worth it.

-dB
 
dBTelos said:
Lol, you think I don't know that? Fortrons with the AX model number are kind of like Fortron's Value line, with value parts. Not something I would put in many builds. The Fortrons with FSP model numbers, have more quality in them with better parts. Usually costing more, but worth it.

-dB
Click to expand...

Considering you said Fortron, and made no mention of anything you said here, yeah, I wasn't sure you had any idea.

As for this 'value line' stuff, the AX400 and 450 are both recommended PSUs (perhaps you should check out the PSU list ), with stable voltages and power to spare. It's an inexpensive, but excellent quality option (much like the XClio 450BL). To date I've used 7 different AX400 or 450 in 7 seperate builds, all of which have proved to be reliable.

OP, I'd go with tisb0b's build.
 
I'll edit this post later to explain somethings to you, when I'm on my main comupter. Until then I advise the OP to NOT buy a AX Fortron.
 
dBTelos said:
I'll edit this post later to explain somethings to you, when I'm on my main comupter. Until then I advise the OP to NOT buy a AX Fortron.
Click to expand...

*sigh*

lets just take it up with jonnyguru....if you'd like to 'explain some things' to me, then pm them.
 
quadnad said:
*sigh*

lets just take it up with jonnyguru....if you'd like to 'explain some things' to me, then pm them.
Click to expand...

I would be very suprised if he had a different opinion towards this then I do. PM him.
 
dBTelos said:
I would be very suprised if he had a different opinion towards this then I do. PM him.
Click to expand...

I already have, about an hour ago.
 
I'll echo the earlier suggestion to go the 1GB stick route instead of 2x512MB, you'll be thanking yourself later.
 
dBTelos said:
Please send me his response, unedited is appreciated.
Click to expand...

You've got a PM!

Turns out Telos's suggestion about the Enhance is the way to go, so fill in the Enhance instead of the AX400-PN in tisb0b's build, so this is the system I'd recommend:
tisb0b said:
$156 - eVGA 7600gt
$180 - e6300 core2duo 1.86ghz
$70 - Samsung Spinpoint SP2504C 250gb hdd
$118 - Gigabyte ga-965p-s3
$115 - 2x512mb Corsair Value select PC5300
$32 - LITE-ON 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SHW-160P6S-04
$58.00 - 400W Enhance ENP 80+
$45 - COOLER MASTER Centurion 5
Click to expand...

Good call on the PSU Telos!
 
quadnad said:
You've got a PM!

Turns out Telos's suggestion about the Enhance is the way to go, so fill in the Enhance instead of the AX400-PN in tisb0b's build, so this is the system I'd recommend:


Good call on the PSU Telos!
Click to expand...

Yeh, I got the PM. Next time, dB instead of Telos, or dBTelos, whichever you prefer.

-dB

Good call on the PSU Telos!
Click to expand...

That's what you get when you hang around the Power Supply forum so much :rolleyes: or Jonny's forums (subliminal message?). :cool:
 
hey if you got another 100 bucks get the 7900gto for around 240, i would think that card would be limiting the full potentinal of the core 2 duo, but other then that its a great system
 
Lets go for more ram, less hdd space, cheaper mobo, 500w psu, and a window on that case:

$180 - Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Conroe 1.86GHz
$175 - pqi TURBO 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2-667 PQI25400-2GDB ($215 - $40MIR)
$115 - BFG Tech BFGR76256GTOCE Geforce 7600GT 256MB ($145 - $30MIR)
$93 - MSI P965 Neo-F Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 Express
$55 - WD WD1600JS 160GB 7200 SATA3G
$50 - XClio GOODPOWER 500W ATX 500W
$50 - COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-WW Black/Silver w/ Side Window
$32 - LITE-ON 16X DVD±R DVD Burner W/ LightScribe Black SHM-165H6S
==========
$750 + tax and shipping

If that's too over budget, get 1GB of ram instead:
$105 - AMPX 1GB DDR2-675
CPU Ratio // Memory Speed // Best Memory Timings // Voltage
4:3 // DDR2-400 // 3-2-2-5 // 1.8V ..... 1:1 // DDR2-533 // 3-2-2-7 // 1.9V
4:5 // DDR2-667 // 3-3-3-8 // 2.15V ..... 2:3 // DDR2-800 // 4-3-3-9 // 2.2V

Here's the card luke is talkin about:
$255 - eVGA 512-P2-N573-AR Geforce 7900GTO 512MB
GREAT performance for the price. This card beats the 7950GT and it costs alot less!!!
 
So you're taking down the quality of everything to add a little more RAM?
 
dBTelos said:
So you're taking down the quality of everything to add a little more RAM?
Click to expand...
Less hdd space != Lesser quality hdd. So that XClio is worse quality? I thought you said XClio was good, hehe. Hm.... put your list together already :p

I don't think the parts I chose are lesser quality... I think they are equally as good, and the system will perform better with 2gb instead of 1gb.

EDIT: I just realized his $700 was a hard limit. So here's a system within budget that would outperform his original config:

$180 - Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Conroe 1.86GHz
$105 - AMPX 1GB DDR2-675
$90 - 3D Fuzion 3DFR76256GSE Geforce 7600GS 256MB
$93 - MSI P965 Neo-F Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 Express
$43 - HITACHI Deskstar 7K160 HDS721680PLA380 80GB 7200RPM SATA300
$50 - XClio GOODPOWER 500W ATX 500W
$31 - LITE-ON 16X DVD±R DVD Burner W/ LightScribe Black SHM-165H6S
$25 - Rosewill R103A Black Steel ATX Mid Tower ($15 shipping)
==========
$617 + tax and shipping = ~$700

For $10+ more, you could double your HDD space:
$55 - WD WD1600JS 160GB 7200 SATA3G

for $70+ more, you could double your RAM:
$175 - pqi TURBO 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2-667 PQI25400-2GDB ($215 - $40MIR)

for $25+ more, you could get a better vidcard for gaming:
$115 - BFG Tech BFGR76256GTOCE Geforce 7600GT 256MB ($145 - $30MIR)
 
So that XClio is worse quality? I thought you said XClio was good, hehe.
Click to expand...

XClio is alright. They use Channel Well (CWT) for their supplies. If you didn't know, the Antec Truepower I & II, Smartpower, and Neopower ALL use CWT. XClios use the same crappy Fuhjyyu caps that the Antecs do, but XClio put better cooling in their supplies, so their isn't much of a problem. The Enhance ENP 400W on the other hand has much better quality then CWT (XClio), and should power his rig great. If he want to do SLi 7600 then he could step it up the the Seasonic S12 430W.

-dB

BTW, my list of parts he should buy or recommended PSUs? I'm working on the latter, but I'll just leave the full rig to you guys :p
 
enginurd said:
$90 - 3D Fuzion 3DFR76256GSE Geforce 7600GS 256MB
Click to expand...

That GS will perform a bit worse than the 6800GS listed in the OP, and since this is a primarily gaming computer, I would focus on getting that videocard up to spec (certainly nothing lower than a 7600GT). Has anyone considered a single-core AM2 build? It'd let him jump into the 79xx/x1900 series cards..and for a gaming machine would provide more than enough horsepower. He'd also have rev. B or some X2 processors available if he'd like to upgrade down the road.
 
quadnad said:
That GS will perform a bit worse than the 6800GS listed in the OP, and since this is a primarily gaming computer, I would focus on getting that videocard up to spec (certainly nothing lower than a 7600GT). Has anyone considered a single-core AM2 build? It'd let him jump into the 79xx/x1900 series cards..and for a gaming machine would provide more than enough horsepower. He'd also have rev. B or some X2 processors available if he'd like to upgrade down the road.
Click to expand...
The 6800GS performs as good as the 6800GT. The 7600GS performs about the same as the 6800GT. My goal for that post was to get it under budget including tax and shipping.

AM2 single core? Yah, I had one, but didnt post it cuz its over budget and cpu's are out of stock. You can thank Dell for that. Here's the lowest I could get it with that 7900GTO:

$80 - AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Orleans 2.0GHz Socket AM2
$100 - ABIT KN9 ULTRA Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 Ultra
$105 - AMPX 1GB DDR2-675
$255 - eVGA 512-P2-N573-AR Geforce 7900GTO 512MB
$45 - HITACHI Deskstar 7K160 HDS721680PLA380 80GB 7200RPM SATA300
$31 - LITE-ON 16X DVD±R DVD Burner W/ LightScribe Black SHM-165H6S
$25 - Rosewill R103A Black Steel ATX Mid Tower ($15 shipping)
$56 - Enhance ENP-5140GH 400W
===========
$697 + tax and shipping

I'd go for my previous setup though, the E6300 Conroe/7600GS. He can upgrade the vidcard when he gets the cash flow, and when DX10 cards are more affordable (probably around March).


dBTelos said:
BTW, my list of parts he should buy or recommended PSUs? I'm working on the latter, but I'll just leave the full rig to you guys :p
Click to expand...
List of PSUs.
 
enginurd said:
The 6800GS performs as good as the 6800GT. The 7600GS performs about the same as the 6800GT. My goal for that post was to get it under budget including tax and shipping.
Click to expand...
The 6800GS doesn't perform as well as the 6800GT [link]

Thats because of one less quad, and since this will be the PCI-E variety that means no unlocking.

Meanwhile, the 7600GS performs even worse compared to the 6800GT [link].

Obviously I know that you're just trying to fit everything in, but depending whether or not this guy is looking towards DX10 in the near future (with a $700 budget I don't think thats true at least for the short term), it may make more sense to spring for a better card (X850 or 7600GT). Perhaps going the AM2 route with a 7900GS would give him the best balance (eVGA 7900GS $215 or XFX 7900GS $211)
 
I still think their performance is close enough for newer games. The 7600GS also consumes less power and runs cooler.

Though, quadnad's right, you should spring for a better vidcard if all you do with the system is play games. In which case, you should go for one of those two cards quadnad posted in place of the 7900GTO in the last amd build I posted.
 
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