Attention all Gamers!
 

I'm wanting to build a budget gaming machine(around $650-$700). I'll show you what I've got in mind so far and I will take any suggestions that are given.

Blue Cooler Master Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UB Computer ATX Case without Side Window - $49.00

ABIT NF8-V Socket 754 NVIDIA nForce3 250Gb ATX AMD Motherboard - $80.00

SAPPHIRE 100557L-RD Radeon 9800PRO 256MB DDR AGP 4X/8X Video Card - $159.00

Antec TRUE430 ATX 430W Power Supply $75.00

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Newcastle Integrated into Chip FSB Socket 754 Processor Model ADA3000AXBOX - $146.00

KINGMAX SuperRAM 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model MPXD42D-2K - $74.99

NEC FD1231H-302 Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive - $7.99

Western Digital Caviar SE WD800JD 80GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - $57.00

BenQ DW1620 Black IDE DVD Burner - $44.00

Total Price w/out shipping $692.98

http://us.st7.yimg.com/store1.yimg.c..._1845_35960410

Let me know what you think please

Good rig. One suggestion - upgrade your 9800 to a GeForce 6600 GT for $5. Better to have a current generation card, they've had new techs come out which only the newer vid cards can take advantage of.

the only 6600GT w/256 mb of ram i can find is $234.00

Ram is a non issue here. I have a GeForce FX 5600 with 256 MB (on my current computer and a 9800 with 128 MB's still beats it). Look at the core and GPU speeds. Personally, I'd with a 6600 GT, but it's your computer.

Forget the 754 mobo and processor, those are at the end of the line now and offer very limited upgradeability. Get a socket 939 mobo with a pcie graphics slot. The newest Venice or San Diego AMD cores are very nice and the Winchester core holds it's own just fine. Dual core chips are coming and they will be socket 939 as well. The video card you picked out is a real dog. It's the best of last generations card but will not play games coming this year very well (BF 2). Step up to a 6800GT (6600GT if you can't afford it) Video card will be the single most expensive piece of your new pc. For memory, look for PQI, Patriot, or other BH5 or TCCD memory... OCZ&GSkill are a couple of the best high RAM manufactures. You will not need high dollar high preformance RAM if you don't plan to overclock but make sure whatever kind ou get it's compatible with your motherboard... some of them are picky so do your homework before you order. Maybe think about getting a dual layer dvd drive, an aftermarket heatskink/fan (XP-90 with 92mm panaflo is the best imo) Tough to get great preformance at a $700 but it can be done if you are picky and watch for hot deals.

here is a pic of one of my gaming machines but I didn't build it on a budget ;)

http://img48.echo.cx/img48/1520/llcase4yd.jpg

Lian Li V-1000
AMD 64 3500@2.4 (Winchester)
MSI KN8 Neo2 Platinum
1024 Giel pc3200
eVGA 6800GT
2X 74gb Raptor
Antec Neo Power 480
Samsung 930b

Dude, he has a $700 budget, you want him to buy a 6800GT? Why don't you tell him to get a dual CP, dual GPU system, water cooled with 3 gigs of ram?

hmmm lets see...

6800GT = $300


Dual CP (huh? cpu i assume) 2 Opterons and a Soyo dual core mobo= $2000

Dual GPU SLI = $600

Water Cooling... as expensive as you want it to be lol say $400 with SLI

3GB of good ram (2 would make way more sense but we are using opteron processors now so 1.5gb per chip of ecc pc 3200 225X3 $675

so i suggest a $300 card and you compare it to a $3675 upgrade? If you want a good gaming rig you can't skimp on the video card.

I thought about the 939 socket but that will add $100-$150 to the price tag which I can't afford

Yeah, I meant dual CPU. The whole thing was to exaggerate. He has a $700 budget and you tell him to buy a $300 card. Doesn't leave much to work with.

That video card is kicking ass for me right now... I highly recomend it as a cheap filler until you can afford to step it up. With the current games, it is working really well, and should last you like a year at least.

Antec Solution SLK1650B Black Steel ATX Mini Tower Computer Case 350W Power Supply - Retail $70.00

BIOSTAR NF4ST-A9 Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Model #: NF4ST-A9 $82.00

eVGA 128-P2-N368-TX Geforce 6600GT 128MB GDDR3 PCI-Express x16 Video Card - Retail
Model #: 128-P2-N368-TX $174.00

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice Integrated into Chip FSB Socket 939 Processor Model ADA3000BPBOX - Retail
Model #: ADA3000BPBOX $155.00

Patriot 512MB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered System Memory Model PSD512400 - Retail
Model #: PSD512400 $75.10

SAMSUNG SpinPoint P Series SP1213C 120GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM
Model #: SP1213C $73.00

LITE-ON SOHW-1673S Black IDE DVD Burner - Retail
Model #: SOHW-1673S BK $56.99

Subtotal: $686.09


939 pin & pci-e upgradeability for under $700.

http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/...700%20939/pcie

/thread

Id actually go ahead and duelchannel 1 gig of the ram (That would increase your performance incredibly for just $75), but thats just me.

included are 2 sticks of pc3200 512mb that can run in dual channel...
look closer-
http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/...700%20939/pcie

Ok how about this

BIOSTAR NF4ST-A9 Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 ATX AMD Motherboard - $82.00

AOpen Geforce 6600GT 128MB GDDR3 PCI-Express x16 Video Card - $166.99

Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP-400 ATX12V 400W Power Supply - $60.00

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Winchester Integrated into Chip FSB Socket 939 Processor Model ADA3000BIBOX - $146.00

Patriot 512MB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered System Memory Model PSD512400 - $75.10 (37.55 X 2)

SAMSUNG SpinPoint P Series SP1213C 120GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - $73.00

BenQ DW1620 Black IDE DVD Burner - $44.00

Subtotal: $647.09

add my case

Blue Cooler Master Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UB Computer ATX Case without Side Window - $49.00

Total $696.09

now i have a socket 939 processor w/ dual channel memory and a 6600gt video card. would this be better than my original rig?