HL2 for 600

[Saito]

Hi:
OK, the thing is my father wants my pc so i took advantage. Can you help me pick a PC that can smothly play mainly fps games? I already have monitor and hard disk. My buget is around 500-600 dolars.

PD: i dont if this was the apropiate forum, but please dont close it.

Loking forward for advice

 

[folken]

I'm goin from memory here but I think these should come close to 600:
Asus k8n deluxe
athlon 64 3400+
1gb pc 3200 muskin
sapphire radeon 9600pro 256mb


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[pauldh]

IMO...too much money in the CPU and too little in the video card. A 9800 pro is significantly holding back an A64 3400+'s performance in HL2, never mind a Radeon 9600 pro. Better off with a 6600GT or 9800 pro and A64 2800+.


Anyway, if he needs case, power supply, mobo, cpu, cpu heatsink/fan, memory, video card, optical dives, cooling, KB, m, spkrs, OS, you aren't going to be able to do A64 very easy. But sure would be nice to try. It's looking like NF2 mobile XP2500, or S754 Sempron 3100+/A64 2800+ is going to be about all the budget will allow for. If it was $600 for just mobo/cpu/gpu/ram, that's different.


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[Saito]

Thanx for the help guys
Well first my knowlege in PC isn't very good, neither is my english Words like mobo, benchmark and IMO dont undertand. I forgot to mention powersupply, i think i dont need cooling thought because i am not OC.

What motherboard shoeld y go with 9800 pro and A64 2800+
Thanx

 

[sh1ft3d]

I posted this budget setup for someone else:

<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-152-043&depa=0" target="_new">nForce3 250 Motherboard for socket 754</A> = $76.00
<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-452&depa=0" target="_new">AMD 2800+ socket 754</A> = $120.00 (runs at same clock speed as AMD 3000+ socket 939
<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=20-146-299&depa=0" target="_new">Mushkin 512x2 pack</A> = $137.25 (Corsair is also fine, I've always been a Mushkin memory fan myself)
<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=27-190-007&depa=0" target="_new">Rosewill DVD/CD Burner</A> = $55.99 (you'll save $10 by going Rosewill, and I've owned one before w/o any problems)
<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-153-006&depa=0" target="_new">Tt 420W Power Supply</A> = $38.00
<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-131-199&depa=1" target="_new">Powercolor 9700PRO</A> = $174.00

Total = $601.24

$1.24 over budget, and you would still need a case and peripherals like keyboard, mouse, speakers, etc.

--------------------------------------------
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[pauldh]

Nice budget setup there. I was considering ordering that mobo/cpu from Zipzoom. They have the 2800+ retail for the same price and that mobo for a few bucks less. Especially for me seeing as newegg now charges NJ sales tax. The 9700 pro is a good card, but $174 seems to be a high price.

Anyway, even on a budget, Socket A makes no sense to me now that you can get a retail A64 2800+ and NF3 mobo for $192. Budget A64 is a sweet thing.


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[sh1ft3d]

Agreed on both points:

1) That 175 is too much for yesterday's "decent" hardware (9700PRO - I thought they were 150 and less although I am impressed with how well that vid card handles today's top games), but a step down would be the 9600PRO which would be a pretty big step down.

2) And that socket A is pretty much completely obsolete with the socket 754's as low as they are now.

--------------------------------------------
In just two days, tomorrow will be yesterday.

 

[Saito]

why is soket A obsolet ?? and what about soket 954 (i think)
I was reading here taht soket 945 is faster.
it is okay to go with a radeon 9800 pro?
sorry for my lack of knolefge and loking formaw for learning .

thanx

 

[pauldh]

Socket A is not obsolete, it's just priced too close to a S754 A64 solution now. Socket A reigned as the best budget build for ages, but now NF2/XP2500+ cost almost as much as NF3/ A64 2800+.

Socket 939 is IMO a very good option. Many good mobo choices for either AGP or PCI-e. But performance wise, there is little to no difference. S754 can save you some money though, and On a $600 budget, forget even thinking about Socket 939.



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[pauldh]

By the way,
mobo = motherboard (mainboard)
IMO = In My Opinion
Benchmark = test where performance can be compared, such as a game benchmark or a synthetic benchmark like 3dMark03.


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[Saito]

thanx paul very much.
a 9800 pro cost about 240 on bestbuy, that leaves me about 350 for mobo/ procesor and power suply because y already hace hardisk and dvd burner.

what mobo / processor would you suggest me ??? there many option i am confused

thanx.

 

[pauldh]

Do not spend $240 on a Radeon 9800 pro. They are good cards, but not worth $240 nowadays. For that price a GF6600GT or GF6800 is better.

That said, if you can find a bargain <A HREF="http://shop3.outpost.com/product/3628345?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG" target="_new">like this</A> on a 9800 pro, then it is still worth buying. You have to call and see if it's in stock though.

Also, when shopping around, If it's a non- Built By Ati (BBA) 9800 pro, such as Powercolor or Sapphire, make sure it is a 256-bit and not a 128-bit version.

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[pauldh]

On a budget, I like the mobo listed above from zipzoomflyfor $72, and a retail A64 2800+ for $120. The retail includes a heatsink/fan and 3 year warranty. Good bargain buy right now.

<A HREF="http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=241581" target="_new">http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=241581</A>

<A HREF="http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80698-R" target="_new">http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80698-R</A>



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