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Author Topic: Building a new rig  (Read 1382 times)

Offline DrDea

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Building a new rig
« on: February 24, 2008, 11:53:59 AM »
Im going to build a new rig here very soon and Im looking for any opinions on good barebone systems.Im leaning heavily to AMD and GeForce with an ASUS kicker. Whos good to go through on systems? And whats the best cost/performance vid card? No way will I use ATI ever again due to a card and warrenty issue through visiontek that took 6 months of e mail and shipping the card to them and getting one back that didnt work.:mad:
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Offline Getback

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Building a new rig
« Reply #1 on: February 24, 2008, 04:19:17 PM »
I don't  know if I would be so quick to skip the ATI cards. That 3850 is a sweet card. It less than 200 bucks and has performance like a more expensive GeForce.  Also, I would really look into going with Intel. I built an AMD that turned out okay but wow, did I have to do a lot of experimenting to get it to run right. I then built an Intel machine and Holy Cow, that thing is sweet.
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Offline Fulmar

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Re: Building a new rig
« Reply #2 on: February 24, 2008, 05:40:29 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by DrDea
Im going to build a new rig here very soon and Im looking for any opinions on good barebone systems.Im leaning heavily to AMD and GeForce with an ASUS kicker. Whos good to go through on systems? And whats the best cost/performance vid card? No way will I use ATI ever again due to a card and warrenty issue through visiontek that took 6 months of e mail and shipping the card to them and getting one back that didnt work.:mad:


Granted I'm not an ATI fan myself, but the warranty issues are the problem with Visontek, not ATI.

That's why I only buy video cards with lifetime warranties.  Mainly I stick to EVGA or BFG.  BFG, I had the little 30 cent fan on my old ti4600 die and they replaced the whole thing with a 5900XT.

Intel's processors are really the cat's meow.  The price/performance the majority of the time favors Intel, plus they are great overclockers.  AMD's reign of being the best gaming CPU company fell by the wayside back in 2006.

The best cards for the money.  Updated monthly.
http://www.tomshardware.com/2008/02/04/best_cards_february_2008/
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Offline DrDea

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Building a new rig
« Reply #3 on: February 24, 2008, 06:43:20 PM »
Intresting...Im not married to the AMD and there seems to be issues with the dual cores also.
 Im looking at this one at the moment.Good system and a good price also.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3617776&CatId=332

For the money its not shabby.I'll look at the intel bones boxes but I think the intels tend to run a bit more dont they?
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Offline Fulmar

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Building a new rig
« Reply #4 on: February 24, 2008, 07:10:46 PM »
Personally, I'm not a fan of barebones system if I'm building something for myself.  If I was building it for someone who plays Solitaire and does email, I'd use one.

Barebones systems tend to have 'older' motherboards and cheap PSUs.  But you may be on a budget, so it may worked out for you.  That Radeon 2400 is a really low end video card.  Barely a step up from onboard IMHO.  It runs about $40 just for the card, if that tells you anything.  That motherboard is pretty low end as well.  It's a micro ATX which really sacrifice a lot of performance for space.  The expansion possibilities on that board aren't that great.  That northbridge chipset is kind of old too.

I'm honestly surprised that they bundled that video card with that barebones set up since that motherboard already has onboard video, a really bad nvidia 6100 chipset.  The Radeon 2400 is kind of like what a Nvidia 6200 was, but the 2400 has Directx 10.  So don't expect amazing gaming experience out of that box.

Let me know what your budget is, and we'll see what we can come up with.
« Last Edit: February 24, 2008, 07:15:20 PM by Fulmar »
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Offline DrDea

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Building a new rig
« Reply #5 on: February 24, 2008, 07:25:51 PM »
Im trying to stay under 350 right now.I have a Visiontek X1300  512 onboard ramI can use if I have to but if I can get a good card,which I would like I could stretch it to 400$.The Intel systems seem to be running higher than the AMD.
Appreciate the input.:aok
Heres an Intel I was looking at.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/cgi-bin/ShoppingCart.asp?prchbcart=y&msg=

Been awhile since I upgraded.5 years and Im running an AMD XP 2400+ With an asus 7v8x-MX SE with 1.5 gig 2100 ddr and an Audigy sound card.
« Last Edit: February 24, 2008, 07:33:07 PM by DrDea »
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Offline uptown

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Building a new rig
« Reply #6 on: February 24, 2008, 08:09:53 PM »
The Nivadia 8800gtx liquid cooled is top of the line right now, and if you go SLI, you're really spending the bucks..somewhere around 1000 to 1200 bucks.
I'm running the 8600GT, 256mb SLI, with a duel core ADM processor, 2GB ram for just under a grand. And this from Alienware!

You can spend as much or as little as you want, but I think that if you're on a budget, as most of us are, tthe key is to build something that can be upgraded as money permits.
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Offline uptown

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Building a new rig
« Reply #7 on: February 24, 2008, 08:11:34 PM »
the two GeForce 8600 GT cards cost me roughly 225.00

Check out Tiger Direct.com for the 411 on barebones. :aok
« Last Edit: February 24, 2008, 08:13:48 PM by uptown »
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Offline alskahawk

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Building a new rig
« Reply #8 on: February 24, 2008, 09:06:34 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by uptown
the two GeForce 8600 GT cards cost me roughly 225.00

Check out Tiger Direct.com for the 411 on barebones. :aok



 
 In addition to Tiger Direct, check out Newegg.com they have a nice site.   You can build a machine via a wish list or check out other peoples wish lists for ideas.
  Barebones;  The more gaming computer you want the more you need to be critical of your components. Barebones tend to be very generic.

 On SLI heres my thought. If you are going to spend $300 to SLI with two or more cards. Just get a single $300 card. Second card will never give you 100% performance. You can always add a second  card  later. And for Aces High you don't need the best card just a good one.
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Offline DrDea

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Building a new rig
« Reply #9 on: February 24, 2008, 09:56:40 PM »
Im looking to spend 400 to 450 tops on the entire system minus the side stuff like mouse keyboard monitor.
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Offline alskahawk

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budget
« Reply #10 on: February 25, 2008, 10:11:27 AM »
Forget SLI.
 
 Here is a sample build;
Update  DYNAPOWER USA Titan C05.N17.M158 Black SGCC Steel ATX Mini Tower Computer Case 430W Power Supply - Retail
Model #: C05.N17.M158
Item #: N82E16811138074

  $39.99     $39.99  
   
Update  ASUS M2N-MX SE Plus AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 6100 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Model #: M2N-MX SE Plus
Item #: N82E16813131249

  $54.99     $54.99  
   
Update  EVGA 256-P2-N615-TX GeForce 7600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Model #: 256-P2-N615-TX
Item #: N82E16814130062

Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy
 
In Stock
Mail-in Rebate  
  $89.99  -$5.00 Instant    $84.99  
   
Update  AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ Windsor 2.4GHz Socket AM2 89W Dual-Core Processor Model ADA4600IAA5CU - OEM
Model #: ADA4600IAA5CU
Item #: N82E16819103750

Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy
 
In Stock  
  $69.99     $69.99  
   
Update  Kingston HyperX 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KHX8500D2K2/2G - Retail
Model #: KHX8500D2K2/2G
Item #: N82E16820134218

Return Policy: Memory (Modules, USB) Return Policy
 
In Stock  
  $159.99  -$80.00 Instant    $79.99  
   
Update  Western Digital Caviar RE WD2500YS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA-300 Hard Drive - OEM
Model #: WD2500YS
Item #: N82E16822136055

  $69.99     $69.99  
   
Update  SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S203B - OEM
Model #: SH-S203B
Item #: N82E16827151153

  $29.99     $29.99  
Subtotal: $429.93
Select All - Select None

 This price is without Windows XP(89$). You can go some cheaper if you can use your old case.
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Offline DrDea

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Building a new rig
« Reply #11 on: February 25, 2008, 10:34:27 AM »
Where did you find that one?
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The Flying Circus.Were just like you.Only prettier.

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Offline DrDea

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Building a new rig
« Reply #12 on: February 25, 2008, 10:58:08 AM »
Latest one Im seriously concidering here.  Total cost 518$

    
Systemax Intel Socket 775 Based NO O/S Build-to-Order Desktop Computer with the Asus P5GC-MX 945GC Motherboard

     
     Networking:    Integrated 10/100 Network Adapter
     Software:    DOS
     Hard Disk Drives:    80GB 7200RPM 3G SATA II Hard Drive
     Accessories:    1 Year Parts & Labor Warranty
     CD/DVD Drives:    52X32X52/16x CDRW/DVD Combo Drive
     Computer Cases:    Micro ATX Chassis Base
     Video / Graphics Cards:    Integrated Intel GMA950 Graphics
     Accessories:    Non-Brand mATX PC Branding Pack
     Components:    Integrated Realtek ALC883 High-Def Audio
     Barebones:    Intel Celeron/P4 No O/S
     Processors:    Intel Core2 Duo E4500 2.2GHz 2M 800Mhz Processor
     Memory:    2GB DDR2 PC5400 667MHz Dual Channel (1GB x 2)
     Motherboards:    Asus P5GC-MX 945GC mATX Motherboard
     Power Supplies:    Ultra XVS 600 Watt Power Supply
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The Flying Circus.Were just like you.Only prettier.

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Offline Fulmar

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Building a new rig
« Reply #13 on: February 25, 2008, 10:58:41 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by DrDea
Where did you find that one?

He priced individual prices for parts out at Newegg.com - it's not a 'kit.'  I prefer to pick out each part myself and not be limited to the selection of a kit.
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Offline DrDea

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Building a new rig
« Reply #14 on: February 25, 2008, 11:10:22 AM »
Thats pretty much what I did with the above.Just needs a cooling fan.How ya think that will stand up?With the cpu fan Im gonna be fairly much at my limit.Really appreciate the feed back here guys.Its a big help
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The Flying Circus.Were just like you.Only prettier.

FSO 334 Flying Eagles. Fencers Heros.
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