Curse

NEWater · Apr 03, 2005, 11:27 AM // 11:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mss Drizzt

amd 64 3800+ 512 L2 cache 370.00

asus a8n-sli Delux 175.00

corsair 1 gig pc-3200 89.00

asus extreme n6600 PCIe 151.49

Thermaltake tsunami dream htx 105.00

jaguar 450w psu 65.00

sata 250 gig wd hdd 127.00

Your up and running.

I endorse this list.

Devil's Dictionary · Apr 03, 2005, 02:03 PM // 14:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mss Drizzt

Yes I found the same gt6800 but I am pretty sure it is agp not PCIe.

Also I'm not too fond of no name nvidia cards. Their cards have a problem with heat. And the lesser ones don't have a very good cooling solution.

That is just me though. To each his own.

Actually eVGA is a reputed company. Nevertheless, I am not too fond about ANY Nvidia cards

.

jdwoody · Apr 03, 2005, 04:37 PM // 16:37

I recently built my latest machine and though I'd highly recommend an AMD just like everyone else I did have problems with my SATA drive (WD 120 gig) Maybe it was just my MB but XP didn't recognize the drive without a boot floppy and I ended up having to configure the drive as a RAID to get it work at all. For me this is a big problem as I wanted to dual boot with Linux but apparently having XP and Linux share a RAID drive isn't a great idea. (It worked for about a month for me with only occasional problems but in the end I had to reformat the drive)

If I had to do over I would take an ide in a heartbeat...

The video card seems to be a religous thing to most folks, though I love my 6800 gt, it's beautiful and hasn't given me any problems at all... (run 1280x1024 4x antialiasing, no slowdowns at all)

Loviatar · Apr 03, 2005, 04:45 PM // 16:45

maximum pc magazine says it is better to drop a level or 2 in processor speed if the price lets you get a step higher in video card

Mss Drizzt · Apr 03, 2005, 05:51 PM // 17:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loviatar

maximum pc magazine says it is better to drop a level or 2 in processor speed if the price lets you get a step higher in video card

OK I would agree with that. He would have to go 2 lvl down on the processor to get the 6800gt.

Luggage · Apr 03, 2005, 08:41 PM // 20:41

http://www.anandtech.com/guides/

Just find the latest of the right level guide:
Entry
Mid-range
Gamers
...
God-Box

CheopisIV · Apr 04, 2005, 05:29 AM // 05:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fezz

If you are still looking for a guide on how to actually put it all together check out this thread with detailed instructions and pictures.

WOW..i thought I'd seen the last of the ISA's...I was actually trying to find a mobo like the one in the pic for my first machine...multiple ISA's and PCI's. I actually thought ISA would be around a lot longer. That was 6-7 years ago though.

This is my latest "Dream Build" (note the lack of SLI..something I predict will DIE!)
Dave's Dream Machine

Intel Pentium 4 Processor 660 3.60 GHz $829.95

Asus P5AD2-E $329.95

eVGA e-Geforce 6800 Ultra 256MB DDR3 PCI-E w/ Dual DVI, TV-Out $829.95

Antec TruePower 550W EPS12V for Server Boards $169.95
Viewsonic P225FB (Pure Flat CRT, 22in, Black) (Special Order) $829.95
Samsung SyncMaster 213T (LCD, 21in, Black - Special Order) $1199.95

Kingston 1GB PC2-4200 DDR2 SDRAM $239.95
Kingston 1GB PC2-4200 DDR2 SDRAM $239.95
Kingston 1GB PC2-4200 DDR2 SDRAM $239.95
Kingston 1GB PC2-4200 DDR2 SDRAM $239.95

-Western Digital Raptor 74.8GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA $249.95
-Western Digital Raptor 74.8GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA $249.95
Seagate 400GB Barracuda 7200.8 Serial ATA w/ NCQ, 8MB Cache $469.95
Seagate 400GB Barracuda 7200.8 Serial ATA w/ NCQ, 8MB Cache $469.95

LiteOn 52x32x52x/16x CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo Drive, Black (OEM) $64.95
Plextor PX-716A 16x16 Dual Layer DVD+/-RW (Retail) $169.95

Wave Master Aluminum Case, Black (Special Order) $209.95

Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 4 Pro (Retail) $339.95

Logitech Z-5500 Digital THX® Certified 5.1 Speaker System $369.95

$7744.05
+GST
$8286.13

Lews · Apr 04, 2005, 06:00 AM // 06:00

For cheap pc people:

# Xplorer 420W Case (BLKBLK)
# (754-pin) AMD™ ATHLON™64 3000+ CPU w/ Hyper Transport Technology
# (754-pin Socket) GigaByte GA-K8NS nForce3 250 Chipset AGP8X w/LAN,USB2,&Audio
# 512 MB PC3200 400MHz DDR MEMORY (Major_Brand)
# 120GB 7200 RPM ATA 100 HARD DRIVE
# 120GB 7200 RPM ATA 100 HARD DRIVE
# ATI RADEON 9600 XT 256MB DDR AGP 8X W/ TV-OUT & DVI
# NONE - CD/DVD
# CD-RW 52X32X52 (BEIGE)
# NONE - MONITOR
# 3D WAVE ON-BOARD 5.1 SOUND CARD
Price: $831.00

from cyberpowerinc

PhineasToke · Apr 04, 2005, 10:41 PM // 22:41

Alienware Area-51® 3500

nicely configured for $954

With a one year warranty

Genosha · Apr 05, 2005, 04:00 AM // 04:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azrael

Budget wise... about 900-1000 would be nice (without monitor).
Cpu-2.6 ghz or higher and graphics would just need to be enough to play this.

-MUST HAVES-
Motherboard-150 - 200 your pick
CPU-150 - 200 3gig
Memory-50 - 100 50/50 good bad
Video-130 - 160 decent
Sound- 130 decent
CD- 130 DVD writer
Case- 90 Your choice (Recomemded:Antec or 400Watt Power Supply)

TOTAL--- 980 ---

NOTE: This is assuming that the CPU is not OEM and has the box and fan. With OEM this could have a major drop in price depending on what your willing to sacrafice..

I want you to know as a personal thought that if you buy a combo kit Motherboard+Processor you take your own chances.

Optional--

Fan-15 - 30
Only needed if the CPU is OEM most places do not sell fans with OEM

NIC- 15
Only if there is no onboards

A: Drive- 15
If you want

TOTAL--- 60

Win XP- Price? Hmm... I'll let you feel the pain by yourself....

I found this all at 1 site just for refrence. http://www.outpost.com/
All is in US Dollars

SSE4 · Apr 05, 2005, 04:15 AM // 04:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by CheopisIV

This is my latest "Dream Build" (note the lack of SLI..something I predict will DIE!)
Dave's Dream Machine

Memory Express? If I were you, a dream build would likely include either a later 6xx P4, a P4 EE 3.73GHz, or an AMD64 FX-55. Not to mention the 4GB memory is absolutely unnecessary. Although it's just a dream machine nonetheless. There are quite a few enhancements I would make if money weren't an issue.

jdwoody · Apr 05, 2005, 05:40 AM // 05:40

Quote:

Sound- 130 decent
CD- 130 DVD writer

On my system I got a dvd writer for $56 and a soundblaster audigy for about $90 I got them at either mwave or newegg...

Genosha · Apr 05, 2005, 10:03 PM // 22:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdwoody

On my system I got a dvd writer for $56 and a soundblaster audigy for about $90 I got them at either mwave or newegg...

Remember NO OEM on list and they were arveraged.. I saw the site newegg, most everything I see is OEM... I'm not a fan of OEM.... Beside I normally can find anything in box at OEM prices, because I use OEM to find the best price. Give you an Idea where I live within 1hr drive. 3 Fry's, 4 Best Buy, 4 CompUSA, and several small shops. I can walk to 2 of the closest ones. So OEM is not a biggie...

Loviatar · Apr 05, 2005, 10:26 PM // 22:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Genosha

Remember NO OEM on list and they were arveraged.. I saw the site newegg, most everything I see is OEM... I'm not a fan of OEM....:

newegg has BOTH oem and retail

the price difference most of the time is less than the price of the heatsink and fan

not to mention the 3 year warranty on retail as opposed to 30 DAYS for oem

HARD DRIVES

always oem as 3 times the warranty of retail (western digital and others)

jdwoody · Apr 05, 2005, 10:28 PM // 22:28

Quote:

Remember NO OEM on list and they were arveraged.. I

The audigy wasn't oem but the dvd burner definitely was. I've done ok with the OEM stuff but definitely understand anyone that wanted to avoid it. You also have to watch out for shipping charges mail order, so when I made my computer I did 2 big batches, one from newegg.com, one from mwave.com and I bought the case/keyboard from Frys because I wanted to touch them...