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Build me a gaming PC, too
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| Zild |
Stolen from www.tomshardware.com
$500 Entry-Level System Components
Component Model Price (U.S.D.)
CPU Intel Pentium E2180 $70
CPU Cooler Cooler Master Hyper TX2 $30
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3L $85
RAM Wintec AMPO PC2-6400 2x1GB $35
Graphics PNY VCG88512GXEB-FLB GeForce 8800 GT 512MB $110
Hard Drives Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3400620AS 400GB $65
Sound Integrated 8-Channel HD Audio $0
Network Integrated Gigabit Networking $0
Case Antec NSK4480B $80
Power Earthwatts 380W Included w/Case $0
Optical Lite-On 20X DVD±R SATA Model iHAS120-04 $24
Total Price $499
$1,500 Mainstream System Components
Component Model Price (USD)
CPU Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 $185
CPU Cooler Swiftech H20-220 $140
Motherboard DFI Lanparty X38 $175
RAM Patriot Viper 2x 2GB DDR2-800 Model PVS24G6400LLK $88
Graphics 2x ASUS Radeon 4850 TOP $360
Hard Drives 2x Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 500 GB ST3500630AS (1.0 TB total) $140
Sound Integrated $0
Network Integrated Gigabit Networking $0
Case CoolerMaster Cosmos 1000 $180
Power CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W $130
Optical LITE-ON 20X DVD±R SATA Model iHAS120-04 $24
Total Price $1,422 |
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| inconspicuous |
| quote: | Originally posted by zokissima
What are you building the computer for? High-end gaming rig, or multimedia centre.
I was not aware that all modern cards came with HDMI. Most of the high end ones last time I checked, did not, but rather only had two DVI ports, and rely on a DVI to HDMI dongle.
Also, yeah, forget the AGP architecture. You really want to start from the core here, with a new MOBO, video card, and CPU.
Do you want to keep your current case? It may be easier for you to just get a new case. If you decide that you want to keep this case, you will have to first drain all the coolant in your system. Even then, you'll have some spillage probably, but no big deal if you're careful. I doubt you will be able to use the liquid cooling system, as it will probably not be compatible with a new motherboard and cpu. Like I said, IMO it is a better option to keep your current PC for whatever multimedia etc you use it for, and build a new tower from the money you have. |
I kinda want both. I just ordered a Vudu box to use on the monitor, though, so my multimedia use will probably be going down, at least on the PC side. I mainly want it for occasional music & gaming. I'll probably spend more time using Firefox than COD or Ableton, to be realistic, but when I want to, I want it to work well, and with HD everything, I feel like I could definitely use some extra power, for whatever reason.
I was joking about AGP.
I like the case, and it seems like a terrible waste to just toss something with that build quality, but I don't know how feasible/worthwhile it is to keep it.
Here's what I've got right now:
Abit AV8 motherboard
AMD Athlon 64 3500+
Rocketfish 700-Watt ATX CPU Power Supply
2gb dual channel + 1 gb of some upgraded corsair ram (can't remember which, but very low latency)
Nvidia Geforce 7600 GS AGP
2x NEC ND-3520A 16X Dual Layer DVD+-RW
150gb Western Digital Raptor-X
250gb Hitachi HDS72252 5VLAT80
PNY PCI eSata card
320gb WD Mybook Home Edition
500gb WD Mybook Studio
Logitech G15 keyboard
Logitech MX Revolution
Samsung T260HD monitor
MOTU Ultralite (I took out the creative card that was in there before)
Pioneer Elite A35R Integrated Amp
Definitive Technology StudioMonitor 450 speakers
so yeah. |
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| inconspicuous |
| quote: | Originally posted by Zild
Total Price $499
Total Price $1,422 |
how about somewhere in between? |
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| inconspicuous |
oh, and a bluetooth adapter & jawbone for a headset. :p
this is why I want to upgrade the actual pc. I have too much invested in peripherals for what is now an outdated tower. |
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| Zild |
| quote: | Originally posted by inconspicuous
how about somewhere in between? |
That's why I posted both so you can go somewhere in the middle.
I'd look at the $1500 one but get one graphics card instead of two, and get a dual core instead of a quad. Don't buy that $140 cooler that is in the $1500 build, don't buy that $130 PSU since you already have one, get one 500gb HD instead of two, etc...
The only card worth getting right now IMO is the radeon 4850 and if you want better graphics (higher than 2560x1600 like on a 30" monitor) get two radeon 4850s and run them in crossfire.
And you don't need a quad so a decent dual core like the E8400 will work great.
Sad thing about your Alienware is that it uses socket 939. Those chips aren't available on the market as they've been phased out. So you can upgrade to the latest video card but you will be hitting a bottle neck with your CPU. |
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| Zild |
| quote: | Originally posted by inconspicuous
oh, and a bluetooth adapter & jawbone for a headset. :p
this is why I want to upgrade the actual pc. I have too much invested in peripherals for what is now an outdated tower. |
Hey you're the Best Buy guy I can't help you with peripherals, but I'm sure you can pickup a bluetooth adapter on the cheap. |
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| Zild |
| quote: | Originally posted by inconspicuous
well, do any have 3 or 4 outputs (even if it's just interoperable hdmi & other stuff)
also, I have no problem physically putting the hardware together. it's the installation/setup nonsense I suck at. do people do that freelance? |
Once you physically put the hardware together all you do is fire it up and stick in the Windows CD. It practically installs itself. Once you are up and running just make sure to install the drivers that came with your hardware and check the manufacturer's website for the latest versions.
Or have your buddies at best buy help you.
Fledz, I've been using Ableton quite some time an old single core athlon, and I never run into issues with cpu power, but yeah quads aren't that much more expensive. |
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| Darkarbiter |
| quote: | Originally posted by Zild
Once you physically put the hardware together all you do is fire it up and stick in the Windows CD. It practically installs itself. Once you are up and running just make sure to install the drivers that came with your hardware and check the manufacturer's website for the latest versions.
Or have your buddies at best buy help you. |
Note also that windows xp before sp1 (the windows cd may have sp1/2/3 allready on it however) does not recognise hdd above 128 gigs. |
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