Curse

Jakerius · Nov 25, 2005, 07:19 AM // 07:19

I'm looking into getting a gaming PC, seeing as I've done everything from a laptop for the last 3 years.
I have no idea where to start, what I need etc. to setup this grand plan of mine, so I'm looking for help from some of you guys out there.

I'm looking to spend $2,000 - $2,500 Australian dollars on it.
What I need is all the specs, motherboard, video card, processor etc.

Thanks in advance

Ne0nE · Nov 25, 2005, 09:20 AM // 09:20

Get an Alienware !!! Preferably the Aurora which has the AMD processor rather than the Area 51 which has the Intél Processor...

Narada · Nov 25, 2005, 03:58 PM // 15:58

Blah, custom build it. You can get a system equivilant to an Alienware for hundreds of dollars cheaper if you are willing to build it yourself.

btw: $2,000 - $2,500 Australian dollars = $1,476.60 - $1,845.75 US dollars

Josh · Nov 25, 2005, 04:16 PM // 16:16

By the way....

$1,476.60 - $1,845.75 USD
=
£860.42 - £1,075.52 GBP (UK)

Old Dood · Nov 25, 2005, 04:51 PM // 16:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh

By the way....

$1,476.60 - $1,845.75 USD
=
£860.42 - £1,075.52 GBP (UK)

I think $0.00 still equals $0.00

EDIT: In the spirit of the thread....for one there is a few of these floating around. Yes..there are two rules of thumb...one is to Build one(I've done that alll through the 1980-90's)...another is to buy one. I personally will buy a system anymore. Computers have become fast enough(for me anyways) that I do not need the latest greatest of tech. My Dell Dimension 5100 is plenty fast...and it is almost maxed out. I could replace the PSU with a more beefier one and then put in a top of the line Vid Card. However, my X800XL PCIe is pretty darn quick for now. I also chose a Intel 650 chipset (3.4Ghz HT 800FSB). It is a nice porcessor and it was the best one I could get with the Dim 5100. The Dual Cores are nice(Intel or AMD) but too expensive right now for me. My good friend has the Dim 9100 with a 3Ghz Dual Core and it runs up to 5 different OS's at the same time real darn fast. He is a Security Networking Super Geek. So he can stay at home to do his job...because his own system is better then what his Work gives him.

maraxusofk · Nov 25, 2005, 04:52 PM // 16:52

Yeah true i build my own desktops but i bought a alienware labtop like in March.

$3700 us

3.6 ghz
2 gig ram
6800 Go
200 gb hd memory
2 dvd rw drives
Ultra awesome screen

Well thats the highlights

d4nowar · Nov 25, 2005, 05:59 PM // 17:59

I don't really feel like shopping around on newegg when it isn't for me, but I'll just tell you one thing - RAM. There are so many things about ram that many people don't have a clue about.

More isn't always better, as your ram will always go as slow as the slowest piece. I'd go with matching 1gb sticks if I had the money.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227210

Just the featured ram on newegg. But its damn good.

If I had $218 to spend I'd definitely get that.

Old Dood · Nov 25, 2005, 07:35 PM // 19:35

I will always buy fron Crucial.com I never worry about the quality from them.

Plus they have the ram for my fussy Dells.

Akilles · Nov 25, 2005, 08:41 PM // 20:41

my ideal rig?

hmmmm, though i will never have it and would love to play a game on it, it would be my work computer. OOOO, the one in our screening room so I can have a theater screen for my monitor!!! woot!

the computer has Dual Xeon HT processors, 3GB memory and 3 ATI cards, though that is used when we have 3 monitors in use to run our software.

I just want to see GW on the big screen! Life size GW! My warrior would be 6 feet tall! LOL

Riplox · Nov 25, 2005, 09:34 PM // 21:34

Tyan S2895A2NRF, Thunder K8WE Motherboard

CPU Support
- Supports up to two AMD Opteron™ 200 processors
- Chipset AMD-8131™ HyperTransport™ PCI-X Tunnel
- NVIDIA nForce Professional 2200 (CK8-04)
- NVIDIA nForce Professional 2050 (I/O-4)
Memory
- Supports DDR 400/333/266 memory
- Supports up to 16GB of Registered DDR
- Supports ECC with CHIPKILL Technology
- Supports DDR 400 / 333 / 266 memory
- 8x DDR DIMM sockets (four per CPU)
- 128-bit dual channel (interleaved) memory bus
Expansion Slots
- Slot-1 PCI-E x16 from nForce™ Prof. 2200
- Slot-3 PCI-E x16 from nForce™ Prof. 2050
- Slot-4 & 5: PCI-X 100 MHz max. (Bridge B)
- Slot-6: PCI-X 133 MHz max. (Bridge A)
- One 32-bit 33MHz PCI v2.3 (Slot 2)
Integrated Sound
- Enhanced AC'97 2.3
Integrated LAN
- 2x IEEE 802.3 Nvidia MAC 1000/100/10
PATA
- 1x ATA-133 IDE Channel for up to two devices
SATA
- 4x SATA ports (3.0Gb/s )
SATA RAID
- RAID 0, 1, 0 + 1
USB 2.0
- 8x USB 2.0 ports
IEEE 1394
- 2x IEEE 1394a ports
Serial Ports
- 1x Serial port
Form Factor
- SSI EEB v3.5 footprint (12" x 13", 305 x 330 mm)
Warranty
- 1 Year

2x AMD Opteron 280 Dual Core Processor

Processor Speed: - 2.4 GHz
Bus Speed: - 1 GHz
Physical + Memory Specifications
Processor Socket: - AMD® Socket 940 (Opteron)
Number of Processor Cores: - 2
L2 Cache Size: - 2 MB

4x PQI Turbo 2048MB Dual Channel PC3200 DDR 400MHz ECC Registered Memory (2 x 1024MB)

The PQI3200-2048DBR ECC Registered Dual Channel TURBO series consists of matched pair of 1024MB DDR 400MHz PC3200 ECC Registered TURBO module. When running synchronously with the front side bus at latency 3-3-3-8, PQI3200-2048DBR maximizes overall system performance with exceptionally stable at 400MHz on dual channel motherboards. Elegant high quality Platinum Copper heat spreader dissipates heat efficiently and helps extending life expectancy of the module. PQI - TURBO series is produced from excellent quality ICs that are capable of reaching highest possible frequency in advanced ICs sorting cutting edge technology.

Specifications:
Memory Size - 2 x 1024MB
Memory Speed - 400MHz PC3200
Memory CAS Latency - 3-3-3-8
Memory Type - Dual Channel ECC Registered DDR
Pins - 184

Twin NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GTX GPUs

NVIDIA® CineFX™ 4.0 Shading Architecture

* Vertex Shaders
o Support for Microsoft DirectX 9.0 Vertex Shader 3.0
o Displacement mapping
o Geometry instancing
o Infinite length vertex programs
* Pixel Shaders
o Support for DirectX 9.0 Pixel Shader 3.0
o Full pixel branching support
o Support for Multiple Render Targets (MRTs)
o Infinite length pixel programs
* Next-Generation Texture Engine
o Accelerated texture access
o Up to 16 textures per rendering pass
o Support for 16-bit floating point format and 32-bit floating point format
o Support for non-power of two textures
o Support for sRGB texture format for gamma textures
o DirectX and S3TC texture compression
* Full 128-bit studio-quality floating point precision through the entire rendering pipeline with native hardware support for 32bpp, 64bpp, and 128bpp rendering modes

64-Bit Texture Filtering and Blending

* Full floating point support throughout entire pipeline
* Floating point filtering improves the quality of images in motion
* Floating point texturing drives new levels of clarity and image detail
* Floating point frame buffer blending gives detail to special effects like motion blur and explosions

NVIDIA® Intellisample™ 4.0 Technology

* Advanced 16x anisotropic filtering (with up to 128 Taps)
* Blistering-fast antialiasing and compression performance
* Gamma-adjusted rotated-grid antialiasing removes jagged edges for incredible image quality
* Transparency multisampling and transparency supersampling modes boost antialiasing quality to new levels
* Support for normal map compression
* Support for advanced lossless compression algorithms for color, texture, and z-data at even higher resolutions and frame rates
* Fast z-clear

NVIDIA® UltraShadow™ II Technology

* Designed to enhance the performance of shadow-intensive games
NVIDIA® SLI™ Technology

* Patented hardware and software technology allows two GPUs to run in parallel to scale performance
* Scales performance on over 60 top PC games and applications

NVIDIA® PureVideo™ Technology

* Adaptable programmable video processor
* High-definition MPEG-2 and WMV9 hardware acceleration
* Spatial-temporal de-interlacing
* Inverse 2:2 and 3:2 pull-down (Inverse Telecine)
* 4-tap horizontal, 5-tap vertical scaling
* Overlay color temperature correction
* Microsoft® Video Mixing Renderer (VMR) supports multiple video windows with full video quality and features in each window
* Integrated HDTV output

Composited Desktop Hardware Engine

* Video post-processing
* Real Time desktop compositing
* Accelerated antialiased text rendering
* Pixel shader driven special effects and animation

Advanced Display Functionality

* Dual integrated 400MHz RAMDACs for display resolutions up to and including 2048x1536 at 85Hz
* Dual DVO ports for interfacing to external TMDS transmitters and external TV encoders
* Full NVIDIA® nView® multi-display technology capability

Advanced Engineering

* Designed for PCI Express x16
* Designed for high-speed GDDR3 memory

NVIDIA® Digital Vibrance Control™ (DVC) 3.0 Technology

* DVC color controls
* DVC image sharpening controls

Operating Systems

* Windows XP/Windows XP 64
* Windows ME
* Windows 2000
* Linux
* Macintosh OS X

API Support

* Complete DirectX support, including the latest version of Microsoft DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 3.0
* Full OpenGL support, including OpenGL 2.0

AGEIA PhysX Processor

AGEIA PhysX processor is the world's first physics processor, an entirely new category of technology that promises to transform gaming. By offloading software physics processing from the CPU and GPU, AGEIA’s PhysX processor completes the triangle of game function, graphics and interactive real-time environments from physics computing, balancing the load of these processing tasks and enabling incredible realism in next-generation games.

AGEIA PhysX Processor Architecture has been designed to enable radical acceleration of:
* Universal collision detection
* Finite element analysis
* Soft body dynamics
* Fluid dynamics
* Hair simulation
* Clothing simulation

AGEIA PhysX SDK
The AGEIA PhysX SDK is a stable, high-performance solution for game developers to enable physics-based gameplay and effects in PC and game console titles. Including a powerful API for the AGEIA PhysX processor , the AGEIA PhysX SDK enables game developers to inject both software and hardware supported features into their games. The AGEIA PhysX SDK is also the first and only asynchronous (multithreaded) physics API capable of unleashing the power of multiprocessor gaming systems.

3x Maxtor / DiamondMax 10 / 300GB / 7200 / 16MB / ATA-133 / EIDE / OEM / Hard Drive

Key features:
* Stable, high-performance solver
* First and only multiprocessing physics API
* PC and console support
* Works alongside and is compatible with other game engines
* Supports vehicles, rag dolls, and character controllers
* Integrates with any renderer
* Full complement of code samples and tutorials
* World-class developer support and custom solutions

Specifications
Capacity (GB) - 300
Interface - Ultra ATA-133
Spindle Speed (RPM) - 7200
Buffer Memory - 16MB
Average Seek (msec) - <9.0

Features
* Ultra ATA data transfer speeds up to 133MB/sec
* Fluid dynamic bearing motor for quiet operation
* Improved reliability with:
–Shock Protection System™
–Data Protection System™

2x Samsung 915N-BK / 19-Inch / 8ms / 1280 x 1024 / Black Analog LCD Monitor

Specifications
Display Type - a -si TFT /TN
Viewable Screen Size - 19 inches
Pixel Pitch - 0.294 mm
Contrast Ratio - 700:1
Maximum Resolution - 1280 x 1024

Features
Built-in power supply
MagicTune
MagicBright
MagicSpeed

Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS Gamer Sound Card

The THX certified Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Gamer delivers 24-bit ADVANCED HD audio, 108dB SNR clarity across 8 channels, and is the only available PC platform to deliver Advanced Resolution 24-bit DVD-Audio playback in 24-bit/192kHz stereo and 24-bit/96kHz 5.1 surround. EAX ADVANCED HD effects produces ultra-realistic sound in supported games and multi-channel playback in 5.1, 6.1and 7.1 with over 400 existing 3D games. EAX ADVANCED HD acoustic enhancements dramatically improve all your music with features including Bass Boost, Graphic Equalizer, Audio Clean-Up, and more!

Superior Fidelity 24-bit ADVANCED HD Audio

* Superior quality 24-bit/192kHz audio, ultra-realistic EAX ADVANCED HD GAME effects, and studio quality EAX ADVANCED HD MUSIC settings
* Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Gamer is the ideal platform for Windows Media 9 content including full 24-bit/96kHz audio in discrete 5.1 surround sound.

THX Certified Sound Card for Cinematic Audio

* Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Gamer has received the prestigious THX Multimedia Certification making it the ideal choice for delivering cinematic quality audio on the PC.
* The unique Creative THX Setup Console provides accurate audio calibration for a precise speaker listening environment.

Advanced Resolution 24-bit DVD-Audio Playback

* DVD-Audio offers 5 times the audio detail of CD audio in 24-bit/192kHz stereo and 24-bit/96kHz in 5.1 surround. Experience compelling music playback in pristine audio quality, clarity, and depth.
* “Lossy” compression formats like MP3 reduce file size by removing audio frequencies. The “Lossless” (MLP) compression format of DVD-Audio retains all the characteristics of the original ambient recording without compromising audio fidelity.
* Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum is the only available PC platform to deliver Advanced Resolution playback at 24-bit/192kHz in stereo or 24-bit/96kHz in 5.1 surround.

Specifications

* 24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion during playback with sampling rates of 8, 11.025, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48 and 96kHz in 7.1 mode and up to 192kHz in stereo mode
* 24-bit Analog-to-Digital conversion during recording in 8, 16 or 24-bit at sampling rates of 8, 11.025, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48 and 96kHz
* SPDIF output up to 24-bit at 48 or 96kHz
* ASIO drivers for low latency(=2ms) multi-track playback and recording at 16-bit/48kHz

Includes 5 Full EAX ADVANCED HD Game Titles

Patented Creative CMSS 3D Audio Technology
Allows all stereo recordings including MP3/WMA, CDs, VCD and movies to be played back in captivating 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1 surround.
Delivers virtual surround with headphones and stereo widening with stereo desktop speakers.

Complete Cinematic Surround Sound with DTS-ES
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Gamer features built-in DTS-ES and Dolby Digital EX decoding to deliver captivating audio playback in 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1 surround with DVD movies.

Comprehensive Multi-Channel Surround with 3D Games
Enjoy up to 7.1 surround in existing 3D games. Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Gamer plays back DirectSound3D games in 5.1 surround, 6.1 surround with additional rear center channel, or 7.1 surround in rear center surround or side surround configurations.

Integrated High Speed 1394 FireWire Port
Enables PC-to-PC networking and low latency gaming plus high speed data transfers with IEEE compliant devices including MP3 players, storage devices and DV Camcorders.

Klipsch Promedia Ultra 5.1 Speaker System

After setting industry standards with the acclaimed ProMedia 5.1 personal audio system, Klipsch has taken things a step further with a new and enhanced version. The ProMedia Ultra 5.1, available in a 120 volt version, augments the performance and style of the award-winning ProMedia 5.1 with an even more impressive subwoofer, updated crossover networks, and new cosmetics on the satellites and control module.

With an enclosure that is 20 percent larger, the ProMedia Ultra 5.1 subwoofer incorporates a series of refinements designed to increase efficiency for more total output, lower distortion and deepen bass extension. These improvements include a lower tuning frequency, a voice coil that is 60 percent longer and a larger, slotted port. The subwoofer is a bass-reflex type with dual 8-inch side-firing woofers and convex driver dust caps for unsurpassed high output linear bass response. The 500-watt BASH® amplifier and Klipsch engineering offer high output with low distortion and effortless dynamic headroom.

The updated, two-way Ultra 5.1 satellite speakers and mid-bass drivers sport a sleeker appearance with a refined floating grille and under cone termination, which hides the speaker leads for a cleaner cone appearance. The satellites also feature an updated crossover network that enhances the higher frequencies and delivers richer tones. As with the ProMedia™ 5.1 satellite speakers, the Ultra 5.1 satellites include exclusive Klipsch MicroTractrix™ Horn tweeters that cleanly and accurately handle the high frequencies. Each satellite features a redesigned self-supporting pedestal.

The magnetically shielded center channel also features under cone termination uses the same Klipsch MicroTractrix™ Horn tweeter and three-inch fiber-composite cone woofer as each satellite speaker, ensuring an ideal blend and seamless driver transition.

The user-friendly control module features separate main, center, rear and subwoofer controls as well as a digital LED volume level display and an on/off or headphone listening mode switch. Unlike the original ProMedia 5.1, the Ultra module features all controls on the front panel. It also has two stereo miniplug jacks, one for headphone output and one for the convenient connection of portable audio devices and any other alternative source that uses a stereo miniplug output.

Designed to be the most powerful personal audio system in the world, the ProMedia Ultra 5.1 system will surpass your expectations by delivering the most satisfying ultradynamic surround sound experience available for multimedia applications.

Specifications

* FREQUENCY RESPONSE:
25Hz-20kHz +/- 5dB
* SENSITIVITY:
Closed loop system
* MAX ACOUSTIC OUTPUT:
115dB at listening position
* COVERAGE ANGLE:
Near field design unknown 90 ° x 40 ° Microtractrix ™ Horn
* OVERLOAD PROTECTION:
Limiter circuit
* ENCLOSURE TYPE:
Satellites and center—sealed; Subwoofer—6th order bass reflex
* AMPLIFIER:
BASH ®, dual supply, switching/linear hybrid
* AMPLIFIER POWER:
FTC Rated per Satellite: 60 watts/channel @ ≤ 1% THD, 100Hz - 1KHz (Note: all channels driven) FTC Rated Subwoofer: 170 watts @ ≤ 3% THD, 40 - 100Hz Maximum Burst Power*: 500 watts @ ≤
* INPUTS:
Six analog discrete channels (three stereo miniplugs), Auxiliary stereo miniplug music input
* OUTPUTS:
Five speaker level outputs (spring clips)
* TWEETER:
25mm metalized polymer
* HIGH FREQUENCY HORN:
MicroTractrix ™ horn
* HF CROSSOVER:
3000Hz
* MIDRANGE:
3" fiber composite
* LOW FREQUENCY CROSSOVER:
120Hz vINPUT CONNECTIONS:
DIN cable to control module
* SUBWOOFER:
Dual 8" side-firing fiber composite drivers
* WIRE GAUGE ACCOMODATED:
18 gauge supplied
* WEIGHT:
52.5 lbs
* ENCLOSURE MATERIAL:
MDF

Lucinthe Maulbearer · Nov 25, 2005, 09:37 PM // 21:37

I've pretty much got my ideal rig right now..

6800GT, P4 3.2ht, 1gb ram. Plays all the games I want, really friggin well. GW flies on my machine, and it cost under $2000CAD including 19" LCD.

w00t

Kilaitz · Nov 25, 2005, 11:26 PM // 23:26

i would recomend building one if you really want to get the most for your money, in my case i don't know enough to do it myself but i have friends who do.

i just spent about 1700 US and got:

Athlon 4200 dual core 2.2 GHz
GForce 6800 PCI express
2 gigs DDR RAM
300GB Harddrive
good fan, case ect ect
and a 19" LCD flat screen moniter

that same basic comp costs about 3000 from alienware if i remember right.

but imo, go with a dell - they'll give you the best bang for you buck, just spend your extra money on RAM and a video card.

Narada · Nov 26, 2005, 12:00 AM // 00:00

Geez Riplox, you went all out. That's a godly rig.

easyg · Nov 29, 2005, 06:48 AM // 06:48

If you don't mind Intel and nVidia then definitely buy a Dell, since they are dirt cheap. For instance, I ordered an XPS 400 with:

Pentium D 830 Dual Core (3.0GHz, 800 FSB)
256 MB PCI Express nVidia GeForce 6800
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM 533 MHz
250 GB ATA Hard Drive
Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music w/ Dolby 5.1
16x DVD-ROM Drive + 16x DVD+/-RW w/dbl layer write capability
19" Dell Ulta Sharp Flat 1906 FPT (digital)

Apply 10% off coupon (from www.couponmountain) and....

Cost: $1565.10 (USD)

Shipping is basically for free ($75 off shipping for Holidays). Bundled software, mouse, keyboard, etc are basically free too. If you don't mind analog, Dell will include a 19" flat panel for nothing.

Honestly, who can build an identical machine for cheaper? No one can because Dell leverages components from its main suppliers virtually at cost.

Shimus DarkRaven · Nov 29, 2005, 07:02 AM // 07:02

First off, I use a dell shell for BIOS <very sturdy.>

Then I customize the boot with XOSL <extended-operating-system-loader>
to easily boot between my XP and LINUX.

Then I customize the motherboard with dual processors, with two gigs of dual channel ram. Make sure the processors both run pentium 4+ with HT. Allows for a mean FSB and overclock ratio. Then, either get a solid OLD 64mb display graphics card like a Nvidia GeForce3 200 TI <Solid> or up the go with a brand spanking new ATI RADEON with 128 virt memory or more...

Then I go for the master-slave drives with at least 600 GB of storage space, with a 20-28" Flatscreen display monitor with wireless keyboard/mouse all in Dell Black.

~If built from newegg, might total around 1.5k-2k. Much better then any alienware, and I built it myself =)

I can go on, but I stop.

--The Shim

cannonfodder · Nov 30, 2005, 08:16 PM // 20:16

I have 3 pc's, and pretty much got my ideal 2

Old PC Amd64 3200 winchester running at 2.6ghz
Asus A8V motherboard Via K8T800 pro chipset
2 gig of Corsair value select
ATI Radeon X800XL agp card(my baby)
3x maxtor diamondmax 10's(160gig each)

My Precious AMD X2 4800 running at 2.7gig per core
Asus AN8 SLI motherboard
2gig of Patriot XLBK ram
1 7800gtx PCI.Express (sadly 1, for the moment)
WD 74gig raptorx1
2x300gig Samsung Spinpoints.

3rd one is is a 500mhz celeron, which currently is running smoothewall as a hardwall firewall.

Fungus Amongus · Dec 05, 2005, 08:56 PM // 20:56

A little over budget...but

Once my 100 meter HD weatherproof widescreen arrives, i am going to set it up in the backyard using this lil gem:

http://www.linuxelectrons.com/articl...51113234434672