sub $1500 gaming machine

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: Nebor
Now to swap the fan in the PS for an Acoustifan.

Well I'm doing a NMB B20 which is inauduble

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: Zebo

Originally posted by: Nebor
Now to swap the fan in the PS for an Acoustifan.

Well I'm doing a NMB B20 which is inauduble

I ripped some kind of NMB out of my Zalman PS, that thing was too loud.

Now that I have a couple of Acoustifans, I just can't go back. I've tried a 120 Panaflo, Antec, and Evercool, none of them compare. They're $30 though, and only 1 US supplier than I know of. :-\

 

[3chordcharlie]

Not wanting Nvidia isn't a problem for you here, since at the moment, ATI has generally got the best products available at every conceivable price point (the only exception being that I've often seen fx5200 cheaper than 9200se)

I think you're making a mistake to not even consider AMD for a gaming system. I don't know if you had a bad experience with a K6 processor six or seven years ago or something, but you are intentionally ruling out the hardware that will do what you want best, and for the best price. But since you want P4:

Go with the suggestion of a lower-clocked cpu - maybe 2.4, maybe 2.6 or 2.8, and some really nice ram. Since you are dealing wih a locked multiplier, a slower chip will end up performing better when overclocked than a faster one because of extra memory bandwidth. Afterall, somehow you have to try to keep that nasty long pipe full, even as you play unpredictable games that defeat the best cache optimizations intel can muster.

Don't worry about it too much though - your system will be fine for the near future, and unless you buy S939 (or wait for 64-bit P4) you can't really hope for any future-proofing.

 

[Runner20]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: jerome12345
i DONT want AMD
i DONT want nvidia
but i do want comments and suggestions
is anything not worth the money or ridiculously expensive
are there better components out there for similar prices
some components that i would like better alternatives for: case, psu, others too

CRT and LCD recommendations too

and what can i do to make it under 1500
thanks
jerome

Comment: You're an idiot if you refuse to consider AMD or nVidia as an option even.
Suggestion: Consider AMD or nVidia... else go hang out at THG if all you want to hear is "hellz ya dawg... Intel and ATI are da shiznit!"

Seriously though... I like to be rational... and your decision making "process" (if you can even call it that) is not rational.

Some people like certain brands over other brands, what is exactly WRONG WITH THAT??!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Runner20]

I thought you AMD people were *open minded*. How come you always bash Intel every chance you get? Sounds really really childish to me.

I am considering AMD for my next system as well but why bash Intel?

 

[Connoisseur]

Errr.... I repost my supoort of the ThermalTake PSU. Might not have the amps on the 12v like antec, but right now i'm running an AXP 2.4ghz, 512mb PC3200, 4 7200rpm HD's and 2 optical drives with absolutely no problem. It looks hot, runs cool even at low fan settings, has the really convenient front and rear fan controls, and I got it for cheap as hell. So eat it.

Edit: oooh and also 4 case fans, one being 120mm.

 

[MattO]

My problem with AMD is not really as much the processors, but the motherboards. I have bought VIA and SiS chipset motherboards in the past, and vowed to never purchase one again (Damn 4in1 drivers!). Now, I don't know how good the Nvidia Nforce3-250Gb boards are, but I hear good things about them. Not a big fan of their video card department, but don't know if that really carries over.

 

[SneakyStuff]

another vote for AMD, if you're making a gaming machine, don't leave home without one 9Athlon 64's are superb performers, and no intel p4 can beat them at games)

 

[jerome12345]

can i run anything over 3200 ram without overclocking?

will this ram be better?

what is a better heatsink/fan option than zalman...do i need an aftermarket hsf if im not gonna overclock?

Comment: You're an idiot if you refuse to consider AMD or nVidia as an option even. Suggestion: Consider AMD or nVidia... else go hang out at THG if all you want to hear is "hellz ya dawg... Intel and ATI are da shiznit!" Seriously though... I like to be rational... and your decision making "process" (if you can even call it that) is not rational.

my decision making process is rational. i already made my decision on the motherboard and vid card. im just asking for suggestions on the other stuff

5) Agreed, raptor is a waste. Mainly bragging rights. I'd rather have twice as much space.

I dont need the extra space, but arent all computers hard disk speed limited? So if i got a raptor, wouldnt i be getting a faster comp than with a hitachi deskstar or something similar?

 

[jerome12345]

i put in an enermax instead of the tt psu
is it good? is it overkill?

and i switched the 9800pro to 128mb
will i feel a difference in the performance

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
AMD > Intel for gaming.

agreed 100%


look at these game benchies

if you honestly think intel is better for gaming, you are a complete and utter moron.

 

[jerome12345]

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: Lonyo
AMD > Intel for gaming.

agreed 100%


look at these game benchies

if you honestly think intel is better for gaming, you are a complete and utter moron.

i dont know if intel is better for gaming. i just know i like intel better

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: Runner20
Maybe he just likes Intel better, whats wrong with that?

Originally posted by: jerome12345
i just know i like intel better

Exhibit "A"
Exhibit "B"

It's situations like this that caused me to create my "I just like intel better" thread, by the way. Fanboys. They even say it the same way every time. "I just like intel better". :roll:

 

[jerome12345]

Fouth you don't need two cd roms, just get a combodrive.

this computer will have to make and copy photo cds for my dads photo store
also i like the premium's ability to overburn to a gig.
does anyone know if you need plextor's software to do that?

what other stuff would i be able to buy OEM on and still not be missing anything

 

[SickBeast]

Just out of curiousity, but wouldn't a Mobile Barton running at 2500mhz on an nForce2 board spank any P4 chip that he could buy as far as gaming goes? I'm not suggesting it, OP, as you're too ignorant to even consider it anyway. I'm asking out of my own curiousity.

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: jerome12345

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: Lonyo
AMD > Intel for gaming.

agreed 100%


look at these game benchies

if you honestly think intel is better for gaming, you are a complete and utter moron.

i dont know if intel is better for gaming. i just know i like intel better

you dont know if intel is better for gaming? well maybe you dont, but the benchmarks do, and the benchmarks say that intel is not better for gaming.

die-hard intel fanboys will never die i guess...

i just hope you know that you are spending money on something that you KNOW performs worse that something else, just because you like it better. makes no sense.

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: jerome12345
i just like intel better

:beer: :roll:

 

[thatsright]

JESUS CHRIST GUYS, why does EVERY damn 'Need comments for new rig' type posts always seem to degenerate into a) ATI Vs. Nvidia War or b) AMD Vs. Intel???

The guy has a good idea of what he wants, and has his reasons. LIVE WITH IT!!!

 

[Dulanic]

Gaming or not... your on a budget... AMD is KING for that. In the high end Intel or AMD are both good choices, and few would bash you for that. The reason people are making comments are because your on a budget, and you choose Intel just because it says Intel.

 

[Markfw]

my decision making process is rational. i already made my decision on the motherboard and vid card. im just asking for suggestions on the other stuff

NOT... You don't listen to anyone here who has spelled out the errors in your "logic" and "rationality", so thats why you get so much flak.

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: thatsright
JESUS CHRIST GUYS, why does EVERY damn 'Need comments for new rig' type posts always seem to degenerate into a) ATI Vs. Nvidia War or b) AMD Vs. Intel???

The guy has a good idea of what he wants, and has his reasons. LIVE WITH IT!!!

These are his reasons, as far as I can tell anyway:

Originally posted by: jerome12345
i just like intel better

That's why he's getting flamed. He has not given a valid reason, nor does one even exist in this situation.

Gaming + Budget = AMD
Gaming + Budget + Fanboy = intel + blown budget

If you can't deal with the heated discussions on the AT forums, well, you only have one option and I'm not going to point it out to you. I sympathize with your frustration, but there's not much you can do to change the situation.

 

[Dulanic]

Originally posted by: thatsright
JESUS CHRIST GUYS, why does EVERY damn 'Need comments for new rig' type posts always seem to degenerate into a) ATI Vs. Nvidia War or b) AMD Vs. Intel???

The guy has a good idea of what he wants, and has his reasons. LIVE WITH IT!!!

Well he comes in here and asks basically for the fastest rig for the money he has to spend, then cuts out the obvious choice, because Intel has the name Intel on it... doesnt make sense to most people. Some people still are set on the Intel way and actually still think Intel is more stable or more compatible, and that thinking is totally laughable. I have no issues with Intel at all, but AMD makes so much sense for what hes looking for. However the way some people say things could use a little help hehe.

All that being said, if he wants to go with a slower machine for the same money, hey its his money to burn. Of corse dont take that wrong and say Im calling Intel slow or anything because I'm not, but when your on a certain budget, and in his case Intel will be slower for the same money.

 

[thatsright]

Jerome, a few questions for you...

On your NewEgg list, your up to about $1600 already. Is this price point fine, or are you still trying to get under $1500? What about a monitor, should this be part of your $1500 budget or is that a separate expense? Let us know what your Monitor budget is. For gaming I'd go with a 21" CRT, but thats just my preference.
________________________

A few ideas of what I would change on your NewEgg wish list:

-Get a ABIT IS7-G mobo, or the ASUS P4P800-E Deluxe. You'll save $50+ and get the exact same performance as the P4C800-E DELUXE

-Your power supply is a bit expensive. Look @ the Antec True 480 PSthat will save you $25, or for the same price as the Enermax you can go with the Antec True 550. For gaming rigs you can never have too much power! The Antec True PS line is so quite, the loudest thing in my case are the case fans and I have a Antec True 430.

-Go with a P4 2.8c and you can O'C it on air to around 3.4-3.6Ghz with your beefy Zalman cooler. (I have the exact same HSF, its ULTRA quite) My 2.4c goes up to 3.2Ghz on my IC7 with same cooler and stock CPU voltage.

-I agree with what the other guys have said about the Modem & CD-ROM drive. $60+ for a modem is highway robbery; you can spend at least 1/2 that and get the same quality. Good choice of the DVD-ROM drive.

-Definitely get a full gig of ram, even more so since you will be gaming. Corsair is good, but I'd go with a of PC3500 Kingston HyperX ram. . It's a great price, and its great for overclocking. With my HyperX I can run it @ 2-2-2-5 timings @ 2.8Vdimm even with my overclocked rig @ a 5:4 CPU divider on my ABIT IC7. IMHO, with corsair your get the same as you do with the HyperX, but with a significant premium.

-For HD's, I think for the same $$ you could get 2x 36Gig Raptors in a RAID setup, and much better load times and performance. But it's up to you.

-Everything else looks great. Esp the 9800 Pro is the greatest bang for the buck out their right now. Thats a BEAUT of a case

Good luck and let us know what you get, and how you like it.:thumbsup:

 

[jerome12345]

Originally posted by: thatsright
Jerome, a few questions for you...

On your NewEgg list, your up to about $1600 already. Is this price point fine, or are you still trying to get under $1500? What about a monitor, should this be part of your $1500 budget or is that a separate expense? Let us know what your Monitor budget is. For gaming I'd go with a 21" CRT, but thats just my preference.
________________________

A few ideas of what I would change on your NewEgg wish list:

-Get a ABIT IS7-G mobo, or the ASUS P4P800-E Deluxe. You'll save $50+ and get the exact same performance as the P4C800-E DELUXE

-Your power supply is a bit expensive. Look @ the Antec True 480 PSthat will save you $25, or for the same price as the Enermax you can go with the Antec True 550. For gaming rigs you can never have too much power! The Antec True PS line is so quite, the loudest thing in my case are the case fans and I have a Antec True 430.

-Go with a P4 2.8c and you can O'C it on air to around 3.4-3.6Ghz with your beefy Zalman cooler. (I have the exact same HSF, its ULTRA quite) My 2.4c goes up to 3.2Ghz on my IC7 with same cooler and stock CPU voltage.

-I agree with what the other guys have said about the Modem & CD-ROM drive. $60+ for a modem is highway robbery; you can spend at least 1/2 that and get the same quality. Good choice of the DVD-ROM drive.

-Definitely get a full gig of ram, even more so since you will be gaming. Corsair is good, but I'd go with a of PC3500 Kingston HyperX ram. . It's a great price, and its great for overclocking. With my HyperX I can run it @ 2-2-2-5 timings @ 2.8Vdimm even with my overclocked rig @ a 5:4 CPU divider on my ABIT IC7. IMHO, with corsair your get the same as you do with the HyperX, but with a significant premium.

-For HD's, I think for the same $$ you could get 2x 36Gig Raptors in a RAID setup, and much better load times and performance. But it's up to you.

-Everything else looks great. Esp the 9800 Pro is the greatest bang for the buck out their right now. Thats a BEAUT of a case

Good luck and let us know what you get, and how you like it.:thumbsup:

the budget isnt really that big of a deal. my parents are gonna give me $2000 for everything, so im just trying to leave some room for a nice monitor if i decide to go with an lcd

i think im gonna go with the Abit, im just too lazy to change it now
ill consider the antec, but does the lack of active PFC make much of a difference?
this computer will be at my dad's store (where i am most of the time)
it has dsl, and my house doesnt. when im at home i have to dialup to the store for internet
ive heard that a more expensive hardware modem will serve up a faster speed.
anyone know if its true?

can i run 3500 ram without overclocking?

again, the cd drives i need for copying cds for my dad
i specifically wnat the plextor for overburning cds to a gig (for mp3s)

thanks for the good comments

 

[jerome12345]

im gonna be going to college next year
does anyone know if colleges have gigabit LAN?

also is the only advatage of 865 of 875 chipset the price?