Help Building Comp

[Lttldude9]

I'm new to making my own compter. I've decided to purchase all my items off of newegg. (except for monitor and HDD). Here is my wishlist: https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion...Title=Computer I was wondering if I could get some input. I just want a computer that can play battlefield 2 quite well but in fair price. So any reccomendations or advice, I'd greatly appreciate. Also, I wasn't sure if the card was the best for its price.
THANKS

[LoD]

Re: Help Building Comp

It looks like you are on an uber small budget. I do NOT think your budget can afford a good gaming computer. Alot of the parts you have picked out are non name brand, cheap and unreliable.

If you build this computer like you have in your wish list, its going to be like a cheap prostitute. Things are going to work, but its not going to be an enjoyable or positive experience.

What exactely is your budget? and do you have any parts you can reuse?

[Lttldude9]

Re: Help Building Comp

My budget is about $700. I have an intel celeron, with no agp slots and 512mb ram. Right now it takes 5mins to load into games, lags a ton, any server over 25 people will be to laggy, graphics are terrible..... I thought that if i didi an upgrade to a far better computer, not super good, bt far better, it would change the gaming experience.

[LoD]

Re: Help Building Comp

What type of ram and how many sticks, and can we salvage the hard drive, and CD drive? or are you giving the whole computer away to someone else?

[Lttldude9]

Re: Help Building Comp

Yea, i'm selling the whole comp for about $350 - $400. The comp can't cost more than $800 still.

Also could you advise me on the best card for about $150 or less thats ati?

[LoD]

Re: Help Building Comp

does that include monitor?

Nf4 Mobo: $80

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131569

3000+ Venice $111

7600GT $170

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814133150

Case w/ 450watt PSU $80

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129155

2GB PC3200 $150

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231047

250GB HDD $90

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144701

DVD/RW $40

XP - Home under 100. That puts you around $800ish. Now of course this was 10 mins of time on newegg. I am sure you can probably find better prices and cheaper shipping. Check out zipzoomfly, they have nice deals on shipping.

Over the summer I ordered $1200 worth of parts from newegg zipzoom and a few other places and only payed $12 to ship everything. Dont get charged out the arse with shipping costing $5 for a $25 part, not worth it, there are places that will do it for free.

EDIT: If you need speakers, I suggest using some cheaper headphones for a while, or saving up for later to get better ones. Pimp speakers with a weak system still leave you with a weak system.

Also if you must, drop down to 1x stick of 1GB of ram to save money, and plan on upgrading to 2GB 2x1GB later down the line.

Right now I outlined probably one of the best computers, all quality parts that you can get for $800 without extras like a monitor or speakers. Even cheap $12 speakers should hold you over for a while, and its all about putting money where it really matters. FPS matters, so does ram. Speakers that cost more than your case and PSU combined??? hmmm not on your budget IMO. :)

[Lttldude9]

Re: Help Building Comp

yes, i'm selling monitor also. But buyng new monitor and HDD for about $110. Also I think I might of found a better card: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16814102657. I'm confused about these terms: memory clock, memory interface, core clock, and pixelpipelines. Also, does it make a significant difference from 1gb of ram to 2gb?
THANKS

thanks for input, it should be cheaper b/c i already have xp

[LoD]

Re: Help Building Comp

There is not a significant difference from 1Gb to 2GB. But I was able to fit it into the budget. 1GB is the MINIMUM for gaming, 2GB is the ideal, and currently the maximum most people need/want. Ram is cheap however so it doesnt cost much to stretch.

As for the video card, the x1600 is cheaper yes.... but not nearly as powerful. Listen I am no a fan boy, far from it, but right now Nvidia has the best motherboard chipsets and the most economical video cards for your price range. For a gaming rig videocard is EVERYTHING. Dont skimp on it, and try to get a geforce 7600GT. The ATI x1800GTO is as good or better than the 7600GT, but its 40-$50 more money.... so its out of your budget.





EDIT: Wait your getting a HDD and monitor for $110 combined? What types?

[Lttldude9]

Re: Help Building Comp

i have giftcard to best buy for $25 so i get monitor for $90. And I just need a small $20gb HDD because I alreday have a 180gb and 80gb HDD, but i would rather have a new one to install xp. So it comes to about $110. No any places to get a small HDD?

[LoD]

Re: Help Building Comp

You already have a hard drive? Then dont waste money on a new one. Also you NEED to do a fresh install of XP, burn your homework, music and files to a CD and then format, you cannot/should never install a new mobo without formatting.

As for a small 20GB hard drive. Almost impossible to find one new, they dont make current generation drives that small. You will probably have to go regular IDE, and even then probably a used a refurbished drive. I personally dont see the point. If you check newegg a "small" 80GB drive is in the 50-$60 price range, and a 250GB top of the line brand new with everything drive is like $90. You get 4x the space and much more speed and all the bells and whistles for like $30.

Bottom line keep your current drives, or get a drive like the one I posted. A 20GB drive you can probably get for free if you ask around the right places.... lol 20GB is so like 1999. :P

[megawhompertoo]

Re: Help Building Comp

probably get for free if you ask around the right places.... lol 20GB is so like 1999. :P

not polite, but correct. and honest. i'm fiddling with a secondary hd (i have three an i'm trying to optimizing my swap file, storing music, etc. among a 19gb 7200rpm, a 15 gb 7200rpm w/2mb cache, and a 17gb 5400rpm w/512kb cache) an it is a pain. in. the. well....you know.

get a larger hd for the best deal you can get. you'll be wanting to upgrade in 2x years, anyhow, and the hd you buy now you can drop into a tivo/htpc/external/anything else hd related later.

as the young ones will tel you...teh 20geebee = teh sukkeee.

[LoD]

Re: Help Building Comp

Well its true lol. If the OP went to a FS/T forum, Im almost sure there are people out there that would sell him a 20GB drive for the cost of shipping, and give it basically away for free.

[Blak_Phoenix]

Re: Help Building Comp

The 7600Gt is better than the x1600... just thought i would chip in there. The smallest HDD you can find new is 40GB, and their getting rare.

[WildLegba]

Re: Help Building Comp

I would get a higher quality enclosure simply so you get a better power supply. A crappy power supply is going to cause you all kinds of headaches that will be difficult to diagnose.

In general, I would get an Antec case, simply because they are relatively cheap and come with Antec power supplies which give you the best quality at the lowest price, generally speaking.

Also, keep any eye on NewEgg's combo deals. You can sometimes get really good deals with those.

I would also nix the soundcard and buy a mobo with onboard sound. Save some money that you can invest where it will provide more value.

[TokenBrit]

Re: Help Building Comp

That soundcard is quite old and is not supported in BF2. I would get an Audigy 4 or better, or more likely just not bother if you are on a budget.