Im building a shuttle!

[sackynut]

Okay, well I wish I could have kept on A. upgrading my current tower or B. saved for some new hardware in the future (ie. mobo , my mobo SUCKS!) but things didnt turn out that like
my laptop blows this is why.

Im going to build a shuttle, for overall LAN parties, and other things (using it at my house when I dont have my gaming rig)
I want it to be able to game, like BF2 on medium settings (high, if i dont go too high in price), but I want it to remain cheap.

heres what Im thinking
im going to start with a barebones
RAM: 1GB corsair XMS 2-3-3-6 timings (ive never had issues with it)
Video: either 1. 6600gt 2. 6800xt, 3. 7600gt (if I can afford it).
CPU : depending on the barebones i get either a 1. amd athlon 64 3000+ skt 939 or 2. a intel celeron D 2.66ghz.
hard drive: what ever I can find at a good price that will fit.
and all the other good stuff.

now, here is the harder part for me. (i maye be able to save 100$, but at what performance drop?)
there are two barebones kits I am choosing between.
*dont judge them by their sellers, I will be buying either at the same store, frys, I have gift cards for that store, I just couldnt find the one I saw at the store on their website so i found it on newegg.)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16856101002

thats the barebones, mobo and case nothing else.

http://shop1.outpost.com/product/4762089?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

that comes with a intel celeron D 2.66ghz, for the same price...
sooo any suggestions?

[TheHairyYeti]

Re: Im building a shuttle!

sounds good, dont worry too much about processing power if you are only going to be playing bf2, as it relies mainly on ram, hard drive and vid card. i would go for 7600gt if you could, maybe an 80gig 7200rpm drive, and 1-2gig ram. in terms of barebones systems, amds are generally better for gaming, but the other one does come with processor but its an intel, dunno basically up to you, try and add it up and see if you can make ends meet lol

[Blak_Phoenix]

Re: Im building a shuttle!

I would say the AMD 3000+ for the CPu, and the 6800GT for the video card.. the 7600GT would be very nice if you can afford it... As for a HDD, a Maxtor 120GB HDD is very good value for money... I would recomend staying away from the Intel Celeron.. not because its an Intel, but because its a Celeron... old technology... not too good.. Also the 3000+ OC'es alot better.. mine runs very very stable at 2Ghz (10% OC) and is still very cool... (34* idle with stock cooling).

[Sir. MatDef]

Re: Im building a shuttle!

No, no,no.

Start out with an aspire x-qpack. Add a biostar tforce mATX mobo, your cpu, ram, an enermax liberty psu and lite-on optical drive.

[sackynut]

Re: Im building a shuttle!

No, no,no.

Start out with an aspire x-qpack. Add a biostar tforce mATX mobo, your cpu, ram, an enermax liberty psu and lite-on optical drive.

i was actually thinking of that exact thing, but i decided not to just because my friend alread has something similar ^_^.

im really deciding between the celeron D for 100$ less, or the amd 3000+...

[Sir. MatDef]

Re: Im building a shuttle!

i was actually thinking of that exact thing, but i decided not to just because my friend alread has something similar ^_^.

im really deciding between the celeron D for 100$ less, or the amd 3000+...

So what? Don't go with the shuttle, build your own (completely). If you absolutely must, go with the 3000+. The celeron is a complete dog.

[Blak_Phoenix]

Re: Im building a shuttle!

Complete and utter dog.. Avoid at all cost..

[Death Merchant]

Re: Im building a shuttle!

the celeron is good at its intended job

office work not gaming

[SFR-MAINE]

Re: Im building a shuttle!

Stay away from the celeron!

see if you can get the 7600GT better card overall.

[Painl3ss.NL]

Re: Im building a shuttle!

Note that the PCI-E slot is next to the side, so you won't be able to use a card which requires two slots (for cooling). Also the PSU is only 250W.

[sackynut]

Re: Im building a shuttle!

I bought the shuttle black one, the socket 939 one. they didnt have the celeron one in stock, and when I picked up the same one, but without the celeron it weight a CRAP load, so I decided not. I saw the aspire x-qpack and decided not to get it for two reasons. 1. it was too big 2. they didnt have any good mobo's for it in stock.

[Painl3ss.NL]

Re: Im building a shuttle!

You've had some time to play with it, what's the verdict on this little box ?

[sackynut]

Re: Im building a shuttle!

well its pretty good. one pci slot, one pci e slot, and it can fit a lot of good cards. up to the 7600gt basically. with a bios update it supports the fx60 and already supports dual core. it can overclock somewhat and it overall pretty good. im not sure about the headsink+fan though. it seems pretty good for most CPU's but i dont quite know about better ones.
a huge con is the PSU though. it comes with a 250watt PSU, and is VERY VERY hard to find a replacement one. so at the moment I am not going to get a video card, and I am going to run off the integrated nvidia 6100 graphics. until I find a new PSU.

I also have a plan for the CPU. I am pretty broke so i dont know how I am going to manage all the parts for the shuttle, a cpu, a new PSU (for my non-shuttle) and windwos, but somehow I will.
the dualcore supported BIOS update for my mobo doesnt like my install of windwos, so that is why I am going to reformat after I flash with the new disk. I was thinking (this is hypothetical of course, if I have the money) I would get a dual core procsser for my good rig, and put the 3200 in the shuttle. if not Ill put a 3000+ in the shuttle.

[Sir. MatDef]

Re: Im building a shuttle!

Well, I did tell you not to buy that expensive shuttle. :p