Your thoughts before I buy

[Ronin]

Ok, heres the deal, I am looking into a new system so that I can finally get in on the BF2 action. The computer I have now is a 4 yr old Best Buy special, and is the worst money I ever spent. So here are the specs I am looking at and I would love your honest opinions before I make another big purchase blunder(Hint: I am not too computer savvy).
This is from ibuypower's website and is within my price range:
[939-pin] AMD® Athlon-64 3500+ CPU
Ultra X-Finity 500W ATX PS w/2 80mm Fans
MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum nForce4 Ultra Chipset
Corsair 2048 MB [1024MB X2] DDR-400 PC3200 RAM
PCI-E Nvidia 6800GT
[S-ATA] Western Digital 160 GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache Hard Drive
Creative Lab Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit 7.1
So is this a good setup? Will this be able to handle the games that are coming out? Wil I have to upgrade again in 6 months cause its outdated already? Whats your thoughts? Thanks for any and all replies.

[Noni]

Re: Your thoughts before I buy

Its a good sytem. Drop the 3500 and add a 3200 then overclock it. With the money saved by a XP90.

Drop that power supply. Get ANTEC, ENERMAX or TAGAN. Power Supply is crucial in your computer. The sound card....meh. I'd rather drop it and get some decent 2.1 speakers instaed. EG I truige 3200/3400.

If you gona overclock drop the MSI and get the LANPARTY ULTRA D. Other than that good choice mate!

[Eddy01741]

Re: Your thoughts before I buy

Its a good sytem. Drop the 3500 and add a 3200 then overclock it. With the money saved by a XP90.

Drop that power supply. Get ANTEC, ENERMAX or TAGAN. Power Supply is crucial in your computer. The sound card....meh. I'd rather drop it and get some decent 2.1 speakers instaed. EG I truige 3200/3400.

If you gona overclock drop the MSI and get the LANPARTY ULTRA D. Other than that good choice mate!

Yeah, i'm with ya, my generic psu with a single =12v rating of 15 amps died after 2 months. Dude, get a trusted brand. And yeah, overclocking DFI Lanparty beats all.

[lil_jimmy_norton]

Re: Your thoughts before I buy

Its a good sytem. Drop the 3500 and add a 3200 then overclock it. With the money saved by a XP90.

Drop that power supply. Get ANTEC, ENERMAX or TAGAN. Power Supply is crucial in your computer. The sound card....meh. I'd rather drop it and get some decent 2.1 speakers instaed. EG I truige 3200/3400.

If you gona overclock drop the MSI and get the LANPARTY ULTRA D. Other than that good choice mate!

Or an OCZ PSU.

[Ronin]

Re: Your thoughts before I buy

I would only save $30 by dropping down to a 3200. And I dont know the first thing about overclocking. Or would it be even better to go with the 3700 for only $50 more? As far as power supply, would this be better: Enermax EG565P 535 Watt Power Supply? The sound card I can live without, as long as the onboard sound is decent. Im not looking for home theater quality here. If anyone could take the time to explain overclocking and how its done, Im all ears. Thanks for the replies so far.

[lil_jimmy_norton]

Re: Your thoughts before I buy

Overclocking guide.

http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/showthread.php?t=151373

[Noni]

Re: Your thoughts before I buy

An 3700 939 would be great! It has the 1mb cache. You could learn to overclock and with that RAM you could easily reach FX55 speeds! Go for that!

The 6800GT is basically a 6800ultra :). Onboard sound is fine.

That PSU is much better. DUAL 12V rails with 18A each.

For overclocking i suggest you go here! www.overclock.net

[Noni]

Re: Your thoughts before I buy

Just to sum it up, this is what you should get-

LANPARTY ULTRA D
AMD 3700+ 939
The ram you chose
6800GT
and your enermax PSU.

[lil_jimmy_norton]

Re: Your thoughts before I buy

Just to sum it up, this is what you should get-

LANPARTY ULTRA D
AMD 3700+ 939
The ram you chose
6800GT
and your enermax PSU.

IMO the lanpary and 6800gt aren't worth it right not.

The evga 7800gt w/ sli mobo offer is only like $20 more than the DFI & 6800gt.

[Noni]

Re: Your thoughts before I buy

jimmy,

Hes gone over his budget far enough i think. If hes willing to push it then fine your right. But other than that i think he has a good setup.

[djstubbs]

Re: Your thoughts before I buy

7800 GTx > *.

[lil_jimmy_norton]

Re: Your thoughts before I buy

jimmy,

Hes gone over his budget far enough i think. If hes willing to push it then fine your right. But other than that i think he has a good setup.

Cheapest 6800gt=$288 $269A/R
MOBO listed=$129
Total = $417, $397 a/r

EVGA 7800gt & SLI MOBO Bundle=$399, $359A/R

How is the 7800gt any more expensive? In the end it ends up being cheaper.

[Ronin]

Re: Your thoughts before I buy

So, if I order a system from ibuypower, then I should get it with the Lanparty Ultra D? Its not an option on their website, but it is possible that I could order the comp without it and have a local shop install one for me. But what in heavens name is so great about the Lanparty? Is it just the ease of overclocking that you all like about it? Also, the AMD 3700+ I think has the San Diego core. Is that bad? I have heard everyone else saying that the Venice core is the best. But I looked on newegg and didnt see a Venice cored 3700+, only 3200+'s. Does the brand of RAM matter? Noni, you said any brand is ok? I have just done some reading on the PSU's and I will go with the Enermax for sure. Thanks again everyone, for taking time to answer my noob questions. I truly appreciate it!!!

P.S. Jimmy, where is that combo offered from? Id like to go to their website and have a look see. If I can squeeze it in budget, the 7800GT would be nice.

[Noni]

Re: Your thoughts before I buy

LANPARTY ULRA D is great for overclocking.

VENICE is good, but SAN DIEGO is the NEWER core. MEANING that the 3700+ SAN DEIGO is much better.

[lil_jimmy_norton]

Re: Your thoughts before I buy

P.S. Jimmy, where is that combo offered from? Id like to go to their website and have a look see. If I can squeeze it in budget, the 7800GT would be nice.

Eh, looks like the bundle deal is over now.