My Gaming Monster

[shaun973]

About to buy this, suggestions?

CD Drive - LG CD Burner Black IDE Model GCE-8527B BLK

Case/PowerSupply - ASPIRE X-Navigator ATXA9NW-BK/500 Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply

HDD - Western Digital Caviar RE WD2500YD 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

MOBO - ASUS A8R32-MVP Deluxe Socket 939 ATI CrossFire Radeon XPRESS 3200 ATX AMD Motherboard

VideoCard - POWERCOLOR 1900XT512OEM Radeon X1900XT 512MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card

RAM - CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model Twinx2048-3200c2pt

CPU - AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Manchester 2000MHz HT Socket 939 Dual Core Processor Model ADA4200BVBOX

Look good?

 

[mesarectifier]

Looks great. How big is the cache on that disk? (I always ask this, it's always a shame to put an 8mb cache'd disk into such a great system )

 

[steckman]

Looks pretty good, what's that going to cost you?

 

[shaun973]

its a 16mb cache. Right nows its at $1,421.93.

 

[steckman]

What games are you going to be playing on it? I'm pretty sure it will handle anything, I'm just curious what games prompted the birth of this "Gaming Monster"

 

[angry_ducky]

Drop the case and power supply. Built-in PSU's are almost always crappy, and Aspire is a no-name brand. I recommend this power supply and this case. The case is also available in black. Ask anyone on the forums, and they'll tell you to go with a name brand PSU.

The rest of the build looks good; don't forget Arctic Silver, a floppy drive, and Windows. You might want to get a DVD burner or a combo drive; otherwise you can't read DVD's.

 

[Heyyou27]

*COUGH OBLIVION 1600x1200 HDR+4XAA*

 

[steckman]

I disagree that "Aspire is a no-name brand." I've seen several review sites such as Anandtech recommend them in their monthly builds (particularly the X-Dreamer II). They have quality construction, are easy to work in, and in my experience have come with good PSUs.

 

[shaun973]

I have a DVD burner and floppy drive already, so thats no biggie. As for the case and power supply I had heard this was a good choice, but I'll look into anything anyone else suggests. Anything else anyone has to say before I drop $1400 would really be appreciated

 

[angry_ducky]

I have a DVD burner and floppy drive already, so thats no biggie. As for the case and power supply I had heard this was a good choice, but I'll look into anything anyone else suggests. Anything else anyone has to say before I drop $1400 would really be appreciated

The case and PSU are your choice, but I think that the Aspire cases are too tacky looking. I like my Cavalier because it's aluminum (light and easy to carry), it looks subtle and refined, it's big inside, it has a tool-free design, and comes with quiet fans. The Aspire case is all steel, and it weighs 35 pounds when it's empty. The reviewers on newegg say that the plastic door on the front of the case is flimsy, and easy to break.

The Aspire PSUs are getting some pretty good reviews, but I'd still rather have a brand like Antec, Thermaltake, Enermax, OCZ, SeaSonic, PC Power & Cooling, etc.

 

[mad_fitzy]

Either get the X2 3800+ and oc or the 4400+. The difference between the 3800+ and the 4200+ is 200mhz. The 4400+ though has twice the cache. Or get an opty

 

[sandmannight]

Drop the case and power supply. Built-in PSU's are almost always crappy, and Aspire is a no-name brand. I recommend this power supply and this case. The case is also available in black. Ask anyone on the forums, and they'll tell you to go with a name brand PSU.

The rest of the build looks good; don't forget Arctic Silver, a floppy drive, and Windows. You might want to get a DVD burner or a combo drive; otherwise you can't read DVD's.

Go with that PSU it aint bad.

 

[ThunderGodThor]

I agree opty 165 or 170 if you want to spend the little extra. Not uncommon to see 165's oced to 2.6.

 

[shaun973]

so you guys think the opty 170 is better then the X2 4200+?

 

[busygamer01]

check out my gaming monster:

Thermaltake Shark Full Tower Case (Black), I replaced the back fan with an Antec 120mm smartcool fan (cool case)
8) 8)
AMD Athlon X2 4800+ processor with some thermal grease and Thermaltake heat sink with fan keeps the cpu at 21-28 C in idle and 31-35 C running 3D applications 8) 8)

1 Gb Corsair TwinX XMS (ram) (nice headspreaders) 8)

Maxtor 200 Gb 8mb cache ATA 7200 RPM (hard drive)( i got ripped off on it)

Abit KN8 SLI motherboard

HIS X850XT with IceQ 2 cooling solution ( fan and heat sink, keeps the gpu at 30 C in idle (internet and basic applications), and 40 C running 3D applications 8)

Hyundai L90D+ 19" 8ms gaming LCD 8)

All this cost me $2000. What do you think about that. 8) 8) 8)

 

[busygamer01]

Oh yeah I also left out the 600watt power supply. 8) 8) 8)

and Lite-On DL DVD-/+RW burner. 8) 8) 8)

 

[angry_ducky]

check out my gaming monster:

Thermaltake Shark Full Tower Case (Black), I replaced the back fan with an Antec 120mm smartcool fan (cool case)
8) 8)
AMD Athlon X2 4800+ processor with some thermal grease and Thermaltake heat sink with fan keeps the cpu at 21-28 C in idle and 31-35 C running 3D applications 8) 8)

1 Gb Corsair TwinX XMS (ram) (nice headspreaders) 8)

Maxtor 200 Gb 8mb cache ATA 7200 RPM (hard drive)( i got ripped off on it)

Abit KN8 SLI motherboard

HIS X850XT with IceQ 2 cooling solution ( fan and heat sink, keeps the gpu at 30 C in idle (internet and basic applications), and 40 C running 3D applications 8)

Hyundai L90D+ 19" 8ms gaming LCD 8)

All this cost me $2000. What do you think about that. 8) 8) 8)

It looks nice. Soon, it will be time for you to get a new video card, eh?

 

[busygamer01]

you have to change your graphics card the x600 is over 3 years old

 

[busygamer01]

my HIS X850XT came out one year ago and is still considered top of the line behind the X1900XT, X1900XTX and 7900GTX

 

[busygamer01]

that is a bad gaming solution because you're buying an OEM(open box) graphics card that probably has a one year warranty. Here are a couple of graphics cards solutions.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814161160
($150 after rebate) excellent cooling solution 8) 8) 8)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814161009
($123 after rebate) excellent cooling solution 8) 8) 8)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814161164
($170 after rebate) excellent cooling solution 8) 8) 8) i have this card 8)

newegg.com has an excellent choice of graphics cards. 8) 8) 8)

 

[shaun973]

so you guys think if I change the cpu to an opty 170 I'll have an unstoppable gaming machine that will be able to play FEAR, Oblivion..ect...ect at max serttings?

 

[DDay629]

Yes, but you will want to OC that.

DDay

 

[Fox_granit]

yeah an opty 170 would be a great assett. I've liked my 165 quite a bit. Overclocks really easy on air. Good luck with that machine. BTW you would be better investing into an aluminum machine and a better power supply. The aluminum would be good for heat reduction and a better power supply for the possible cross-fire. Just a thought........

 

[DDay629]

Are you posting to me? Or to the original poster?

DDay

 

[GameGuru]

Im afraid to break it to yah but a single x1900xtx will not play FEAR at max settings without some lag. Dont' get me wrong, it's playable but not smooth as butter. I have an opty 165 oc to 2.8, 2gigs XMS @DDR520 and a single overclocked x1900XTX @ 700/1620.
OH and since you are building a nice machine, spend the money and/or research into a good PSU. Your system will need it, DO NOT I repeat DO NOT skimp out on the PSU. I couldn't tell if you were going to be running a Crossfire setup or not but if you are, your system will need a very high end PSU. Don't be stupid and go with some cheesy brand like aspire for your PSU. And if you are going to be building a Crossfire setup you need TONS of power.