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Offline Mustaine

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The challenge
« on: April 05, 2009, 03:42:18 PM »
I am going to be possibly doing a new build with some spare money from taxes. I plan on using my current tower, but that's about it (if possible stick with my DVD drive but it is IDE).

my total budget will be ~$600 in that I need a replacement to my 8 year old 17" CRT.

I am looking at something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009162

The only thing this needs to do is run AH decent. I can live with 512 textures, I do want to run 1920x1200 minimum native resolution for my desktop (I'll live with 1920 x 1080 the monitor above does)

that would put me at ~$400 for the rest of the build needing:
motherboard
hard drive (doesn't need to be big, with other tax money I am already buying a 500GB USB hard drive to store all my data)
memory
power supply
video card
processor
sound card

I will use my current XP pro OS I own (retail)


can it be done?

(BTW my current home PC is an athlon XP 1800 using PC133 memory LOL I play AH on my laptop)
« Last Edit: April 05, 2009, 03:44:49 PM by Mustaine »
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Offline 1701E

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Re: The challenge
« Reply #1 on: April 05, 2009, 03:55:47 PM »
400$ for almost a full PC...Can be done.
Mine is, $430 using today's prices.

Using:
Biostar Motherboard         55$
WD 320GB HDD               70$ (not so sure about that price)   
Transcend DDR2-800MHz  25$
OCZ 700Watt Stealth       85$  (600watt version was $65 last I saw)
NVidia 7900GS                100$  (No longer sold, so maybe a 95/9600?)
AMD Athlon X2 4850e       65$
Creative Audigy SE           30$
     Total                        430$                 

Best?  No of course not, but it holds me through every thing I throw at it rather well.       
I will let the other have better options list better parts, just a cheap PC that holds up well for me.
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Offline Fulmar

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Re: The challenge
« Reply #2 on: April 05, 2009, 04:17:48 PM »
You can get a 640gb WD for $70
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Offline 1701E

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Re: The challenge
« Reply #3 on: April 05, 2009, 05:08:18 PM »
Quote from: Fulmar on April 05, 2009, 04:17:48 PM
You can get a 640gb WD for $70

Wasn't sure on HDD prices, I had to get one from Officemax as this was before I knew about Newegg. :)
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Offline Getback

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Re: The challenge
« Reply #4 on: April 05, 2009, 06:38:04 PM »
I wouldn't go with AMD duo core. Too much of a headache for AH. The Amd duo's have a bug.
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Offline AirFlyer

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Re: The challenge
« Reply #5 on: April 05, 2009, 07:24:52 PM »
What motherboard form-factors does your case support?
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Offline Serenity

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Re: The challenge
« Reply #6 on: April 05, 2009, 07:53:45 PM »
Quote from: Getback on April 05, 2009, 06:38:04 PM
I wouldn't go with AMD duo core. Too much of a headache for AH. The Amd duo's have a bug.

Really? I have an AMD Duo Core, and I've never had an issue. Runs like a dream!
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Offline Getback

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Re: The challenge
« Reply #7 on: April 05, 2009, 10:14:03 PM »
Quote from: Serenity on April 05, 2009, 07:53:45 PM
Really? I have an AMD Duo Core, and I've never had an issue. Runs like a dream!

Well there has been multiple posts on the issue. Are you running it has a single core in compatibility mode? If so you may be okay except there is more to gain from running a chip in duo core mode. Personnally I had an amd 6000 and just couldn't get it to work right. I tried everything suggested on the forums. Got it to working but then about every 3 days it would freeze.
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Offline 1701E

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Re: The challenge
« Reply #8 on: April 05, 2009, 10:20:37 PM »
My X2 4850e works fine.  Installed the patch and no troubles with it.

Also Intel/Quad CPU may increase the price to well over 400$.
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Offline Serenity

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Re: The challenge
« Reply #9 on: April 05, 2009, 10:41:38 PM »
Quote from: Getback on April 05, 2009, 10:14:03 PM
Well there has been multiple posts on the issue. Are you running it has a single core in compatibility mode? If so you may be okay except there is more to gain from running a chip in duo core mode. Personnally I had an amd 6000 and just couldn't get it to work right. I tried everything suggested on the forums. Got it to working but then about every 3 days it would freeze.

Honestly, I don't know. I just bought the comp., and installed AH. How would I find out if I'm running it single or duo?
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Offline 1701E

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Re: The challenge
« Reply #10 on: April 05, 2009, 11:22:34 PM »
Hmm seems this thread is kinda being Hijacked.

As Airflyer mentioned, what form Factor is your case? (Can tell by the size usually, or look at the back and see how many Horizontal slots near the bottom there are)
How far above 400$ can you go?  (Will help whether AMD or Intel should be used)
How big a HDD do you want?  (Just for easier searching)


Serenity, may be best to ask TilDeath/Fulmar/or one of these other knowledgeable people through a PM about your CPU. :)
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Offline Mustaine

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Re: The challenge
« Reply #11 on: April 06, 2009, 12:08:41 AM »
Quote from: 1701E on April 05, 2009, 11:22:34 PM
Hmm seems this thread is kinda being Hijacked.

As Airflyer mentioned, what form Factor is your case? (Can tell by the size usually, or look at the back and see how many Horizontal slots near the bottom there are)
How far above 400$ can you go?  (Will help whether AMD or Intel should be used)
How big a HDD do you want?  (Just for easier searching)


Serenity, may be best to ask TilDeath/Fulmar/or one of these other knowledgeable people through a PM about your CPU. :)

Full tower, 7 slots...

TilDeath said I am out of his league via PM.

I got some ideas, just looking for those little hidden tips.

I plan on using Intel (first intel build out of oh 10 builds LOL) core 2 duo, which one I am not sure. I have had incredible luck with seagate HD's, on 7+ years current drive. I've run such cheap memory for son long it's not funny, I'll go cheap there, replacement is what $50? Power supply, I am lost. Skuzzy said Antec Ps are crap... I am in a similar boat as Zazen, I haven't done a build in 7+ years.

the last video card I upgraded to was a GF Ti4800 if that gives you a clue how out of date I am on hardware.




I am guessing the vid card will be the biggest expense, ~$150 top end.

So let's update:
A 24" monitor would be great, I'll even settle for a smaller one (19" lowest), has to be widescreen, and run 1920x1080 minimum
~$150 video card
~$50 memory
that leaves ~$200 for MB, processor, HD, and PS....



fudge, it can't be done.  :furious :cry
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Offline BaldEagl

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Re: The challenge
« Reply #12 on: April 06, 2009, 12:31:39 AM »
It can be done.

Here's a quick list for you.  It doesn't allow for much future upgradability but some. 

If you really think, by reading your first post, that you think you're going to get a 24" monitor (1900x1200) that you can game on for $200 you're in dreamland.  For that reason I've included a 22" monitor (1680x1050) at your total budget of $600 (there are some mail-in rebates but then again you'll have to add some shipping... I didn't check all that out closely).

Tweaking wise you can drop to a 9500 series card to save a few bucks or transfer the savings to other components.  You could also drop the sound card and monitor and get your $200 24" monitor.  Without the monitor or sound card this was $411.

Regardless, this system will run AH at full settings:

  .
Update13-128-357   GIGABYTE GA-G31M-ES2L LGA 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Model #:GA-G31M-ES2L
Item #:N82E16813128357
  $52.99   $52.99
.  .
Update14-133-239   PNY VCG96512GXEB GeForce 9600 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Model #:VCG96512GXEB
Item #:N82E16814133239
  $97.99   $97.99
.  .
Update17-182-075   Rosewill Stallion Series RD450-2-SB 450W ATX V2.2 Power Supply - Retail
Model #:RD450-2-SB
Item #:N82E16817182075
  $49.99 -$10.00 Instant $39.99
.  .
Update29-102-002   Creative Sound Blaster SB0570 Audigy SE 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail
Model #:70SB057000000
Item #:N82E16829102002
  $29.99   $29.99
.  .
Update24-236-050   ASUS VW224U Black 22" 2ms(GTG) Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
Model #:VW224U
Item #:N82E16824236050
Mail in Rebate
  $189.99 -$20.00 Instant $169.99
.  .
Update19-115-037   Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400 - Retail
Model #:BX80570E8400
Item #:N82E16819115037
  $164.99   $164.99
.  .
Update22-148-231   Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST380815AS 80GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Model #:ST380815AS
Item #:N82E16822148231
  $34.99   $34.99
.  .
Update20-134-488   Kingston 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KVR800D2K2/2GR - Retail
Model #:KVR800D2K2/2GR
Item #:N82E16820134488
  $20.99   $20.99

Subtotal: $611.92

« Last Edit: April 06, 2009, 12:39:57 AM by BaldEagl »
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Offline Mustaine

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Re: The challenge
« Reply #13 on: April 06, 2009, 06:07:02 PM »
Wow, great info, thanks!

I'll look more in detail tonight, and keep you updated with my ideas.

1/2 the money is here already :aok
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