I have the choice of choosing from these two rigs. They come pre-built so I can not change any of the pieces. Some of the pieces say no brand name on them like the ram for example (I would think they would use the cheapest brands considering the price.) 1st RIG Processor Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600(2.4GHz) Processor Main Features 64 bit Quad-Core Processor Cache Per Processor 8MB L2 Cache Memory 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 800 Hard Drive 500GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 7200RPM HDD Optical Drive 1 20X DVD±R/±RW Dual Layer Drive Optical Drive 2 16X DVD-ROM Graphics NVIDIA GeForce 9800GTX PLUS 512MB PCI Express Video Card Audio Sound card - Integrated Ethernet Gigabit LAN Operating System Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Special Features Apevia X-Telstar Jr. Case w/ Side Window & 600W PSU Chipset NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI Motherboard Name ASUS P5N-E SLI CPU Type Core 2 Quad CPU FSB 1066MHz CPU Speed Q6600(2.40GHz) L2 Cache Per CPU 8MB CPU Socket Type LGA 775 CPU Main Features 64 bit Quad-Core Processor GPU/VPU Type NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX+ Graphics Interface PCI Express x16 Memory Capacity 4GB DDR2 Memory Speed DDR2 800 Form Factor DIMM 240-pin Memory Spec 2GB x 2 Memory Slots (Available/Total) 2/4 Maximum Memory Supported 8GB HD Capacity 500GB HD Interface SATA HD RPM 7200rpm HD Spec SATA-II 3.0Gb/s Optical Drive Type DVD±RW Optical Drive Spec 20X DVD±R/±RW Dual Layer Drive Optical Drive 2 Type DVD-ROM Optical Drive 2 Spec 16X DVD-ROM Audio Chipset Realtek ALC883 LAN Chipset Integrated LAN Speed 10/100/1000Mbps Front USB 2 Front IEEE 1394 1 Front Audio Ports 2 Card Reader 12-in-1 Flash Media Reader/Writer LPT 1 PS/2 2 Video Ports 2 DVI TV Out 1 x S-Video Out (HDTV Compatible) Rear USB 4 Rear IEEE 1394 1 eSATA 1 RJ45 1 port Rear Audio Ports 3 ports S/P DIF 1 port PCI Slots (Available/Total) 2 x PCI Express x16 1 x PCI Express x1 2 x PCI Slots Total= 1,049.99 2nd RIG Processor AMD Phenom X4 9850(2.5GHz) Processor Main Features 64 bit Quad-Core Processor Cache Per Processor 4 x 512KB L2 Cache Memory 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 800 Hard Drive 500GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 7200RPM HDD Optical Drive 1 20X DVD±R/±RW Dual Layer Drive Optical Drive 2 16X DVD-ROM Graphics NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 896MB PCI Express Video Card Audio Sound card - Integrated Ethernet Gigabit LAN Power Supply 800W Operating System Windows Vista Home Premium 64-Bit Special Features Raidmax Sagitta II Case w/ 800W Power Supply CoolerMaster Hyper-X CPU Cooling Fan Chipset NVIDIA nForce 560 SLI Chipset Motherboard Name ASUS M2N SLI CPU Type Phenom X4 CPU Speed 9850(2.5GHz) L2 Cache Per CPU 4 x 512KB CPU Socket Type AM2+ CPU Main Features 64 bit Quad-Core Processor GPU/VPU Type NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 Graphics Interface PCI Express x16 Memory Capacity 4GB DDR2 Memory Speed DDR2 800 Form Factor DIMM 240-pin Memory Spec 2GB x 2 Memory Slots (Available/Total) 2/4 Maximum Memory Supported 8GB HD Capacity 500GB HD Interface SATA HD RPM 7200rpm HD Spec SATA-II 3.0Gb/s Optical Drive Type DVD±RW Optical Drive Spec 20X DVD±R/±RW Dual Layer Drive Optical Drive 2 Type DVD-ROM Optical Drive 2 Spec 16X DVD-ROM Audio Chipset Integrated LAN Chipset Integrated LAN Speed 10/100/1000Mbps Front USB 3 USB (1 in the Card Reader) Front Audio Ports 2 Card Reader 12-in-1 Flash Media Reader/Writer COM 1 LPT 1 PS/2 2 Video Ports 2 DVI TV Out 1 Rear USB 4 Rear IEEE 1394 1 RJ45 1 port Rear Audio Ports 6 ports S/P DIF 1 port PCI Slots (Available/Total) 2 x PCI Express x16 (Support x8+x8 in SLI) 2 x PCI Express x1 2 x PCI Total= 1,179.99 I obviously know that the graphics card is better on the second rig but what about everything else. I'm not to familiar about AMD processors. Thanks in advance.
If I had either I'd pick the 1st one. Phenoms are OK, but Core 2 Quads really are the way to go. However, neither of these represent good value for money or well thought out parts. You would be far better off building your own. These PCs look like they might be coming from somewhere like IBuyPower or Cyberpower - don't use either, they aren't well made, and everything except the case they're put in is low grade, low quality knockoff gear that will cause you problems.
I often play games on my PC but the truth of the matter is games are much better on console than PC. personally i would buy a decent console and build a good PC for the same price.
VERY subjective. Ask most people on this forum and they will actually tell you the opposite. There's a reason why we spend so much money getting our PCs up to date for games purposes. Console games can go so far, but the PC delivers a completely different experience.
I guess I took your advice and decided to build my own computer. I heard so many negative things about cyberpowerpc. Anyway here is the rig I want to build. Please tell me if it is all compatible. Sunbeam Transformer Black Steel ATX Full Tower ASUS P5N-E SLI LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI ATX BFG Tech 800W ATX 12V 2.2 and EPS 12V 2.91 Power Supply Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit English for System Builders 1pk DSP OEM DVD EVERCOOL 95mm Ever Lubricate CPU Cooler EVGA GeForce GTX 260 Superclocked Edition LOGISYS Computer 12" DUAL COLD CATHODE KIT So, are all the pieces good and compatible? Is there anything else I need to build this? I am on a low budget.
Case: mediocre, it might look nice in your opinion, but it's neither well made or well cooled, use an NZXT Tempest if you can afford it, if not, use something like a Coolermaster RC-590 or NZXT Alpha. Motherboard: Hands down the worst motherboard ever made. I recommend the Gigabyte EP45-DS3R instead of that heap of profanities. I had one, it sucked, i know several other people who had one, they all sucked. The EP45-DS3R will not only perform better, it's also miles more reliable. PSU: Unnecessary. A Corsair HX 520W Will do fine, it's not the wattage that matters, it's the brand. CPU: Fine RAM: Fine HDD: Fine ODD: Fine OS: Just be careful with 64-bit OSes, not all peripherals and programs work with them. CPU Cooler: Use a Freezer 7 Pro instead. GPU: No, for that money you can get a superior Visiontek Radeon HD4870.
I decided to leave everything the same except for the PSU, the motherboard, and the cooling as I feel that it is efficient for me. I took your advice and changed the PSU to CORSAIR 650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V, the motherboard to GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DS3R, and the CPU cooler to ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm. Thanks for all your help.
Your call. You're losing out by not switching to the HD4870 though. It's not a vast difference, but in some games it is quite significant. You're still overkill on the PSU, but at least now you have something reliable and quiet, even if you do lose modular cabling.
I just got done building this system and I'm currently waiting for the GPU to ship to me later today. Does anyone know where I can find a good guide or video on how to set up the PC after it's built. I'm totally clueless when it comes to the Bios and everything else. So far the building part wasn't hard at all. Any help is appreciated.
There's a lot of stuff in the BIOS. Rather than tell you about it all, why not post here or in the building thread with any questions?
