The Official Budget-Conscious Dream Machine!

Heh, it'll be a long while before I throw out my 4200+ too.

 

New subject:

Unreal Tournament 3 seems to run on a wide variety of systems. My PC handles the demo at MAX at 1900 x 1200. The AMD with the X1800XT runs it MAX at 1280 x 1024. The 7600GT handles it medium/high-ish at 1280 x 1024.

Anybody else try the demo? I know you have, sammorris.

It looks to be a winner in performance

 

Well, the real thing's out now, so let's go nuts!
If I overclocked my graphics card I could run it max at 1920x1200.

 

I'll try it... soon enough. I'm gonna go play Oblivion for now.

 

I'd like to try out Unreal Tournament. However, I can't even play Guitar Hero 3 on my laptop. Its specs are: HP Pavilion dv9000t: vista home premium/intel core 2 duo 2.0GHz/17" WSXGA (1680x1050)/256MB nvidia geforce go 7600/2GB memory/160GB 5400rpm SATA hard drive.

I guess it's just one more reason that I should build my own pc. I just got $400 for various reason...so I have about 700/800 right now. This summer I'll start working and hopefully I can get the 2 grand needed for a top end gaming pc..(ok maybe not top end...but at least a good one).

 

Can't even play Guitar Hero 3? Is it bad performance or it just won't work? I have a feeling that it has to do with it being the Mobile 7600.

 

yeah probably. my graphics card sucks.

 

It's really not that bad. Some games just aren't compatible with laptop video cards.

 

That's a far more likely reason, the Go7600 is plenty powerful enough to run Guitar Hero 3, but probably isn't compatible.

 

or maybe it's because of Vista...

have you guys try running crysis on max?...i've tried it and...my computer just screwed up! lol! check my sig for my pc specs...

 

Heh, I can run it on max as long as I don't use Anti-Aliasing. I get a terrible frame rate, but it runs. However, if I enable AA on 2560x1600 the game's image flashes continuously and I am unable to click on anything.

 

@sammorris you talking about crysis or ut3?

what do you guys think of this build...

-AMD Phenom X4 9900 2.6GHz @3.2GHz
-AMD AM2+ mobo made by ASUS
-2x 8800GT 512 EVGA SSC!
-OCZ GameXtream 700W/Thermaltake Toughpower 850w
-sound card?(any suggestions)
-22" or 24"?(any suggestions)
-Antec Nine Hundred chassis
-Logitech G71 surround sound system
-Logitech G7 mouse
-Logitech G15 keyboard
-2x 500GB hdd cheaper or 1x 1000GB
-Sony DRU-840A DVD-drive
-OCZ DDR2-1066 2Gb Kit (2 X 1Gb) SLI-Ready Edition (any suggestions on good 2x 2GB sticks...)
-Zalman CNPS9500 AT CPU Cooler or the 9700?

USEING FOR: gaming, media, photoshop cs3, lanning, well...everyday stuff...oh maybe watching Full HD movies

question: will it able to run any game on max? max res, max AA + AF, max detail etc...

note: bold are important...please help me...if possible give me a huge paragraph of suggestions, right and wrong...

thnx...

 

I'm talking about Crysis.

As for that build:
CPU: Good, assuming it doesn't cost the earth
Mobo: Why specifically Asus?
GPUs: If you must, but seeing as its a new build, you may as well go with a new technology graphics card and get an HD3870.
PSU: I wouldn't really go with either. If it has to be one of those brands though, get a lower-rating toughpower like a 750W, they're better units ironically.
Sound: Get something simple like an Audigy SE, that will suffice
Monitor: 24" if you can afford it, higher res and usually better specs. Go with a Dell 2407FPW if you can
Case: well why not, I suppose. Everybody else has one
Speakers: I've never heard of the G71, is it new? I can heartily recommend the Z-5500 series.
Mouse/Keyboard: Supposed to be top-end products
Hard drives: It's far more cost-effective to use a pair of 500GB Drives. I recommend the Western Digital WD5000AAKS
DVD drive: I've never really liked Sony DVD drives, but then I'm not really the one to ask. Liteon, LG and Plextor should all server you well
RAM: Do you really need PC8500? You'll get just as good performance from a decent set of PC6400. Why not Corsair XMS2 Dominator?
Heatsink: Neither, Zalman heatsinks really aren't that good actually, considering how much they cost. Since it's a high end build, use the Thermalright Ultra 120.

About the graphics card(s), the 8800GTs in SLI can't run every game at max, no current graphics setup can. Keep the cost down by going with a single HD3870. It's futureproof for Directx10.1 which the 8800s aren't.

 

CPU: yeah thats right...
Mobo: well don't know any good AM2+ mobo's yet...
GPU: yes i was think about getting HD3870 BUT doesn't it perform worst than 8800GT? and wasn't there a rumor long ago saying that nvidia is coming with a new card? so i can wait...
PSU: hmm...will it have enough amps? or doesn't it really matter only few amps less...
SOUND: to tell the truth i don't really mind...but getting one would be nice
Monitor: 24" sure is a good choice but expensive tho...and Dell i know they make good quality monitors but cost the earth...i really want high res for this build...
Case: i really like this one...ok lets say i have 8800ultra will it fit in this case?
Speakers: my bad i mean G51...its cheaper and good sound quality...was thinking of getting Z-5500 but you know...expensive
Mouse/Keyboard: yep!...good ones
HDD: so 2x 500 would be better...thanls for the recommend, know i don't need to worry about wich one is better
DVD drive: well isn't Sony a good brand?...what about ASUS?...
RAM: isn't DDR2 1066 faster than DDR2 800? well i'm not planning to OC it...and i want lots of ram...i will need it...
what do you think?:
http://www.ngrcomputers.co.za/corsair-twinx-matched-memory-pair-modules-p-4623.html
Heatsink: Thermalright Ultra 120. its seems good, but you sure its compatible to AM2+?

By the way i'm not planning to build this computer now...waiting after Xmas or next...maybe there will be new product out...

 

does sli work on amd boards?

and if i were you id get 2 of these:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-142-SE
but look for it in SA. its the fastest 500GB 7200rpm drive and its got 32mb cashe!

 

wow...what about 250GB hdd?...

and whats the difference between the last digit(s)? 7200.9, 7200.11 etc

 

the different revisions me thinks

 

oh ok...

I've check the review for HD3870, it's pretty good to be honest...new technology the DX10.1, and it's pretty cheap...the only let down is that it's slower than i expected, i thought it would be faster since it's a 55nm and DX10.1...

OK, guys i need help, since you guys buy/upgrade your computer quite often...

do you guys think i so buy the components separately or save enough money to buy the whole system at once?...can't make up my mind...

if i buy separately, i'm scared new and better will be out, and if i save enough money to buy the whole system i'm scared there will be new product and the amount i've saved will not be enough...

 

I would go for all at once. If you like the setup you'll be happy with the purchase. If you need to upgrade in the future, so be it.

You can at least rest assured that your system will be fast enough for a few years.

 

i have said before. if you are bad at money mangement, buy as you go. if you can save then buy at one go.

if you are like me about buy a bit at a time. get the case psu mobo and ram first. other things like cpu and gpu should be the last to buy because they get changed the most.

halos by DDr2 ram asap as its the cheapest ever atm. wont be for long when DDR3 come into the main frame, and prices will then rocket ala DDR1.

and the hd3870 performs better than the x2900xt in most cases:
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3151&p=7