Looking for reccomendations on Gaming PC build

[Neil Roche]

   
Guys,

I am considdering building or buying a dedicated Gaming Computer with the below specs.

I would appreciate any reccomendations regarding my specs.

Hardware                 Specifications

Motherboard    
AMD Motherboard   AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX

CPU   
AMD Athlon Dual-Core Processor   AMD Athlon X2 7850 Black Edition
   Kuma 2.8GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache 2MB L3 Cache
   Socket AM2+ 95W Dual-Core Processor

Power Supply   
600W - 750W   ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready
                      80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC

Components   Attributes
Memory Installed   4GB (2 x 2GB)  Desktop Memory
Speed supported   PC2 8500
Type               240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066

DIMM slots   Four

Hard drive    
WESTERN DIGITAL 640GB    32MB Sata300 7200rpm Caviar Black WD6401AALS
DVD ROM    
Maximum speed 16X

Video graphics Card   
GeForce GTS 250   738 MHz GPU, 400 MHz RAMDAC,
                      1024 MB, 256 bit DDR3, 2200 MHz (effective), 70.4 GB/s Memory Bandwidth
                      PCI-E 2.0 x16,

Sound/Audio    
Integrated High Definition audio   8-channels for Full Dolby 5.1/6.1/7.1 surround sound support with
Realtek ALC 882 chipset    Dolby Pro Logic IIx  Dolby 5.1

Network (LAN)     
Integrated 10/100 Base-T networking interface   

External I/O ports    

I/O ports on the front panel   
Port type                      Quantity
9-in-1 (4 slot)   One
1394                      One
USB (2.0)   Two
Headphone    One
Microphone   One
Audio L-R   One
S-video in   One
Composite video in   One

I/O ports on the back panel   
Port type   Quantity
Parallel   One
USB (2.0)   Four
IEEE 1394   One
LAN   One
Audio   One each (side speaker out, rear speaker out, center speaker out, line-in, line-out, microphone)

Expansion slots    
Slot type         Quantity
PCI         Three
PCI Express    One
DIMM         Four

Drive bays    
Bay type                      Quantity
5.25" external   Two
3.5" internal   One

Keyboard and mouse    
PS/2 keyboard                      One
PS/2 optical scroller mouse   One

Operating System   
Microsoft Windows XP

Herder

[1701E]

If you're going AMD, it would be best to get a Motherboard that supports AM3 socket and just get a Phenom II (the 720 X3 is a good deal right now).

Power Supply, 600-750watt is good, but brand may not be.  Stick with PC Power and Cooling or OCZ (normally the two most recommended here).

Video Card, would be likely a good idea to step up to a 260 if you're going the 200 Series route.  Not sure how th 250 does, but the 260 is a very good card for the price.



About the only things I see that could use a little work.  Others will have somethings that may look like they need some work, and it's gonna happen, Intel will be suggested, so be prepared for the horde.

[eagl]

Changes based on you calling this a "gaming pc":

Windows 7 instead of XP

If you must get nvidia, get at least a GTX 260 instead of 250 (250 is re-named previous generation card) or go with AMD 5xxx card.

Get a real soundcard.  Even a relatively cheap audigy2 ZS would work very well.

I prefer intel over AMD because I'm willing to spend $50 more to get better performance and a more stable future upgrade path.  Many prefer or use AMD especially for budget builds, but I found that I spent more money on my budget builds in the long run because of upgrades, so I aim a bit higher initially.  The intel E8400 is the sweet spot I think, or whatever the equivalent quad core cpu is for just under $200.  But that's just my opinion.

If all that adds up to more than you want to spend, or you are getting ripped off on upgrade costs from a system builder, send tildeath a private message and have him give you a quote for a low-end gaming rig with up to date components.  I simply can't imagine building a "gaming pc" with an nvidia 250 when for another $40 I can get a faster AMD card that supports DX11 and triple monitors.  Nvidia 260 or AMD 5xxx card minimum otherwise I think you're buying into early expenses for upgrades.

[guncrasher]

buy the ram fast, prices are going up like crazy and i mean they go up every week.  I bought some 4k of ocz something about 5 weeks ago for $52 now its selling for $106. its really crazy good luck with your build.  dont for get the cpu fan and the kit to replace the push pins on it.  the extra 8 bucks is worth it  . 

semp

[Fulmar]

Unless you're going to buy used on Ebay, you can't get Audigy 2's anymore.  It's all X-FI now.  I hung on my original Audigy for years and replaced it with an X-FI almost 2 years ago.  Haven't had a problem with it yet (though its XP Pro SP3 - Vista drivers from Creative have always been problematic), was an upgrade in sound quality as well.

Tomshardware just did a review on $100 Gaming CPU's.  The skinny is AMD does a bit better in this market.  As you go up in horsepower and $, Intel shows its advantages.  http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-gaming-cpu,2439.html

As for Video cards, IMO ATI has the advantage currently in price/performance/options in most pricing categories.

I've always been an Intel guy based on my needs in processors and my budget.  I've always been willing to go over to AMD, but my last 3 builds have made more sense to go with Intel.  Really depends on the current market, whats out there and what your needs are.

[skribetm]

neil,

the processor you chose is 65nm.

you might want to get the newer 45nm Athlon II's. they're AM3 but will work on your AM2+ board, sometimes even w/o a BIOS update.

in the budget to mid-tier market, there really is no reason to choose intel anymore, unless you just want to spend more money for less performance.

for the same price points, here are your choices:

AMD



INTEL




amd offers 6MB on its dual-core, intel offers only 2MB.
amd offers an integrated memory controller, intel does not.
amd has three to four cores for the price range above, intel does not.

[Fulmar]

amd offers 6MB on its dual-core, intel offers only 2MB.
amd offers an integrated memory controller, intel does not.
amd has three to four cores for the price range above, intel does not.

A 6mb L3 cache isn't directly comparable to the L2 Cache listed on those intels as 2mb.  The L2 cache on that Callisto is 2 x 512mb.  Higher level caches strive on quad cores and above CPU's.

It's also important to remember that not ever program you use is not multi-core thread.  A lot of new stuff is coded for two cores (AH).  You need current games to been 3+ core coded to gain any advantage.  In a program that is only coded up to 2 cores, a faster Ghz Dual Core should outperform a slower Ghz Quad Core.

With that aside, in the $100 price point AMD does better than Intel.


Taken from this article:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-gaming-cpu,2439.html

[cattb]

gigabyte makes a nice motherboard.

Some people have been unlocking the AMD 550 but you need the dual Bios. Also not all AMD 550 unlocked are good some do have defective cores or core.One of those roll the dice type deals.
Like mentioned above get a AM3/AM2 or AM3 that way you can upgrade.
The 260 has more stream processors and is faster card,more for your money than the 250. Newegg had a overclocked evga there after rebate for 159.  now its 189.  they will drop the price again for a sale in time.

Cattb

[gyrene81]

Only thing I would say is if you're going AMD...get an ATI video card to put in there. Strangely enough it seems to work better.

[Getback]

I gotta tell ya, If I had a job I would jump all over the amd quad core. That is cheap!!