New Cheap PC

[danipolo]

Ok I am trying to build a new PC. I currently have a high performance PC, but I need a new one for testing purposes. Mostly networking, but I want to be able to give to GF when its done, so she can play SIMS 2 and crap like that...

Ok here is what I think im gonna get. Please feel free to rip it apart.

CPU: AMD Sempron 2400+ 1.667GHz Socket A ($60)
MB: ASRock "K7Upgrade-880" VIA KT880 Chipset MB ($43.50)
(Are VIA KT880 Good chipsets?)
Vid Card: ABIT ATI RADEON 9550 Video Card, 128MB DDR ($63)
Memory: Geil Ultra Series Value Dual Channel 184 Pin 512MB(256MBx2) DDR PC-3200 w/ Blue Heatspreader ($87.27)
HD: Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 6Y080L0 80GB ATA/133 7200RPM Hard Drive ($61)
(Picked maxtor because of 3 year waranty vs 1 year for all others)

So its around $335 with shipping and Case (I already had power supply). If I can keep it around that price and get any significant performance out of it. Please let me know what you think.

 

[snotling]

I don't Like VIA products as a rule so... Get a Nforce.

I don't like thrusting Maxtor with my Data and if you want a good warranty get a seagate Drive (5 years) WD also has 3 years warranty on their 8Mb buffered Drives and 5 years on the 10K RPM drives...

as you can see in my signature I run a system with equivalent punch as what you plan on getting (Hard drives excepted) and to play the Sims2 at 1600*1200 Resolution I need to make some compromises on detail level, effects and such... also it sometimes lag a little.

The Sims2 is verry CPU intensive and also uses lots of Video resources.

I would recommend a 9600pro or 9600XT, the best CPU you can afford and twice that RAM! Your little people inside will have better AI and quicker response... they will live their virtual lives to the fullest! oh, sorry, your GF's little people...

BIOSTAR M7NCG Athlon XP 2400+
ATI RADEON 9600SE
Adaptec 29160 - Ultra160 SCSI
2 x Quantum Atlas 10K3 18 WLS
WDC WD1200JB-00CRA1
Toshiba 8x4x12x DVD±RW
AOpen Micro-ATX Desktop 200W