Help me build a gaming sys for under $2k

[pwrhungry01]

I posted about doing the fragbox but since then have been looking around and decided not to do one.

I am researching now to find what exactlly to get but still undecided so I figured I would try to get your wisdom/input.

I do know I want AMD processor and the Thermaltake Tsunami case but after that I'm still very undecided. Please help me build the best gaming computer for under $2000. Dont need monitor, speakers, soundcard, mouse, or keyboard. Already have a soundblaster audigy gamer, Klipsch 2.1, mx510, and about to get the new viewsonic LCD with the 4ms refresh rate. If you could go to www.zipzoomfly.com or www.newegg.com to build it.

 

[over_c]

Here is an idea:

AMD64 3500+ Venice core
DFI nForce4 SLI (or Ultra depending on your preference) mobo
Sapphire X850 XT PCIexpress video card
OCZ EL Platinum DFI nF4 Special 1GB (2 x 512MB) PC5000 memory
ZALMAN CNPS7000B-Cu Cooling Fan

This rings up on newegg @ $1405. It should also permit you to OC the CPU fairly easily.

 

[pwrhungry01]

What HD and powersupply?

 

[over_c]

Oops, sorry about that.

FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX500-A ATX12V 500W Power Supply - Retail $90

Western Digital Raptor WD740GD 73GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM $174

If 74GB is not enough space you add another Raptor or any SATA HDD with 7200RPM,8MB cache that has the size you need.

And this should make me an enthusiast! Woo hoo!

 

[Guest]

grats on that I agree, I have a winchester 3200 on a DFI Lanparty UT nf4 Ultra-D with a raptor 74gb, a WD caviar 160gb sata and a WD 80 gb IDE drive, OCZ Gold VX pc4000 1 gb Dual channel RAM and a bba x800xl graphics card. It's a great system.

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[pwrhungry01]

Is there a reason to go that Radeon card over say a 6800 Ultra? Is that card much better or is it a I like ATI over GeForce thing?

 

[Chemical]

Well i beleive it is faster than the 6800 Ultra not by much though. I would go with the 6800 Ultra because later on down the road you can slap in another one and have SLI.

AthlonXP 2500+ Clocked To 3200+ (2.2Ghz)
Sapphire X800 XT PE 256MB
Asus A7V600 Mobo
Maxtor 120Gig SATA 8MB Cache
1 Gig Crucial Ram (PC3200)
SB Audigy LS
Logitech Z-650 Speakers

 

[pwrhungry01]

Also what is with all the stupid different names for processors? Crap like this puzzles me more then anything.

Newcastle
Clawhammer
Venice
Winchester
Sledgehammer

Why the Venice one? Sorta narrows it down to where I can purchase it also.

 

[Chemical]

The Venice is the newest core it provides new features like SSE3 instructions, a memory controller upgrade and also it has a lower default voltage. Also i have read that it OC very well if your are in to that.

AthlonXP 2500+ Clocked To 3200+ (2.2Ghz)
Sapphire X800 XT PE 256MB
Asus A7V600 Mobo
Maxtor 120Gig SATA 8MB Cache
1 Gig Crucial Ram (PC3200)
SB Audigy LS
Logitech Z-650 Speakers<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by chemical on 05/02/05 01:46 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[over_c]

I just went with what I think is the fastest available PCIe video card. If you want to save a couple of bucks, you could downgrade most of the options I offered without sacrificing too much performance. On the other hand, if you wanted crazy speed you could get an AMD64 FX-55 for top o' the line speed.

 

[pwrhungry01]

Could you please narrow it down a little for me I'm a retard. I do searches on items you list and it gives 3 motherboards, 4 cpu fans, 8 vid cars. lol eh. If you could add model numbers I would greatly appriciate it.

 

[Rugger]

1. <A HREF="http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec.hmx?scriteria=BA21102" target="_new">Enermax 535W Whisper II model EG565P</A>
2. <A HREF="http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=13-136-152&depa=1" target="_new">DFI Lanparty UT nF4 Ultra-D</A> $70 less than the SLI. SLI has horrible price/performance.
3. <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-220-033&depa=0" target="_new">Patriot PDC1G3200+XBLK</A> Samsung TCCD memory chips and will OC like a bandit if you want it to.
4. <A HREF="http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827152039" target="_new">NEC 3520A, DVD/RW</A>
5. <A HREF="http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102518" target="_new">Sapphire X850XTPE</A>
6. <A HREF="http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=120206&Category_Code=NA_2" target="_new">A64 3500+ Rev E (Venice Core)</A>
7. <A HREF="http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144160" target="_new">WD 74GB Raptor</A>
8. <A HREF="http://heatsinkfactory.com/cgi-bin/HFAstore.pl?user_action=detail&catalogno=HS-005" target="_new">Thermalright XP-90C</A> Better cooling than the Zalman 7000.
9. <A HREF="http://heatsinkfactory.com/cgi-bin/HFAstore.pl?user_action=detail&catalogno=CF-035" target="_new">Panaflo 92MM Medium Output</A> to put on the XP-90C.
10. <A HREF="http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811133132" target="_new">Thermaltake Tsunami VA3000BWA</A>

I'll let you add up the prices, but it's below $2K.

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[over_c]

The Sapphire X850XTPE on newegg is an AGP card. Are there x850 XT PE cards available for PCIe?

 

[Rugger]

<A HREF="http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102505" target="_new">Sapphire X850XT PCIe</A>. I Can't find the PE in PCIe.

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<font color=red>You're a boil on the arse of progress - don't make me squeeze you!</font color=red>

 

[Rugger]

Here is the <A HREF="http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=190671&Category_Code=ATI-PCI-E" target="_new">Sapphire X850XT PCIe</A> for less than the last one I posted.

Personally I would go with something lie this <A HREF="http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814125174R" target="_new">Refurb Gigabyte X800XL</A> for $263. You just missed a deal on Monarchcomputer.com for a $249 ATI X800XL.

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