A $722 system that pwns like madd...or does it?

[nist777]

This is my newest plan. The goal is to extract the best possible gaming from the least amount of dollars for the average gamer. Assuming Input+Output devices have already been taken care of (monitor, keyboard, mouse)


MOBO: Asus A8N5X
CPU: A64 3000+ Venice
MEM: Corsair Twinx2048-3200C2PT (XMS 2x1GB) 2-3-3-6
GPU: XFX PV-T73G-UDD3 Geforce 7600GT 256MB (free copy of GRAW)
HDD: WD Caviar SE WD2500JS SATA 3.0Gb/s
PSU: Antect SmartPower 2.0 500W
CASE: Cooler Master Centurion 5
CD/DVD: Sony DVD-ROM

e-tailers used: newegg.com, securemart.com, zipzoomfly.com

Total price including shipping and tax: $722


Comments? Criticisms?

 

[mitch074]

get a GPU without the 'free' game, it'll be cheaper.

Yes, they make you pay for those bundled games.

 

[mdd1963]

Should do nicely, although there are recent price drops on the a64/3500+ model, and I'd fight hard to save another $100 to opt instead for a 7900GT if possible, althogh the 7600GT is quite nice for $200-ish...

 

[doolittle]

not really, have seen some great deals w/ the MSI and "prince of persia 3" and given the choice I would definitly take "ghost recon - advanced warfighter" hands down. I just got it is excellent, physx support is a definite plus.

 

[mitch074]

look harder: OEM versions can be much cheaper and deliver. However, if you want to get the game, then a bundle is indeed a good solution.

 

[shadowduck]

This is my newest plan. The goal is to extract the best possible gaming from the least amount of dollars for the average gamer. Assuming Input+Output devices have already been taken care of (monitor, keyboard, mouse)


MOBO: Asus A8N5X
CPU: A64 3000+ Venice
MEM: Corsair Twinx2048-3200C2PT (XMS 2x1GB) 2-3-3-6
GPU: XFX PV-T73G-UDD3 Geforce 7600GT 256MB (free copy of GRAW)
HDD: WD Caviar SE WD2500JS SATA 3.0Gb/s
PSU: Antect SmartPower 2.0 500W
CASE: Cooler Master Centurion 5
CD/DVD: Sony DVD-ROM

e-tailers used: newegg.com, securemart.com, zipzoomfly.com

Total price including shipping and tax: $722


Comments? Criticisms?

Spend the extra $10-12 and pick up the Asus A8N-E instead. You gain the Nforce 4 Ultra chipset (which is nice) and you gain SATA II also. Make sure the hard drive is SATA II with a 16MB cache, and just curious, you are not getting a DVD burner? NEC makes a good one for right at $40 on Newegg.

EDIT: Did you price you posted include the mail in rebates? The video card has $30 MIR and the RAM $50. If not, even better!

 

[Aids]

I agree, the 3500+ will be a little more expensive but will give a bit more performance than the 3000+. Not to mention more headroom for overclocking. You should scrap the case you wanted to buy and build your computer inside of a darth vader helmet, the kids will love it.

 

[shadowduck]

I agree, the 3500+ will be a little more expensive but will give a bit more performance than the 3000+. Not to mention more headroom for overclocking. You should scrap the case you wanted to buy and build your computer inside of a darth vader helmet, the kids will love it.

Being from North Carolina also, I certainlly agree with that. Darth vader is ummm just cool.

 

[sandmannight]

You could OC that 3000+ and get to 4000+ speeds with right ram and cooling.

 

[shabodah]

Here you go:

3000 venice (754) $119
Epox SLI $90
2X EVGA 7600gs OC'd to 550mhz from factory- $100 each after rebate.
Same Case, memory, etc....

 

[HideOut]

Also, consider refurb video cards (not refurb anything else though) as you can save 150% or more. I got a x1900xt last week for $380 shipped, bout $120 off. it came with EVERYTHING that was supposed to be there including sealed CDs. Sometimes however a cable or something will be missing. This will save ya lots of cash though.

Hide

 

[shadowduck]

Here you go:

3000 venice (754) $119
Epox SLI $90
2X EVGA 7600gs OC'd to 550mhz from factory- $100 each after rebate.
Same Case, memory, etc....

WHY would you ever want to go Socket 754? That makes no sense...

 

[shabodah]

Huh, guess you don't know what you're talking about.......

 

[Onus]

You don't say which of the many Cooler Master 5 cases you're getting; some looked pricey on Newegg. My last two cases were in the $20-$30 range each from geeks.com, and included front and rear 120mm fan openings. The money saved will buy the fans, round cables for better airflow, and a set of thumbscrews for the case.

 

[sandmannight]

Dont go socket 754. JUST DONT

 

[shabodah]

Seriously, does anyone here KNOW anything about socket 754?

 

[Czarles]

754, there is no upside. If you want to upgrade your cpu next year you can't go out and buy a dual core.....

Also single channel and 130nm come to mind....


And what do you know about the 754 that makes it so magical?

 

[ForzaItalia4]

Seriously, does anyone here KNOW anything about socket 754?

socket 754 is long dead, it makes no sense to upgrade to it now. it doesn't support dual core.

two 7600gs's is not only a stupid idea, its a RETARDED stupid idea. the 7600gs is a terrible card, and SLIing a terrible card is just a stupid waste of money. a 7600GT single will beat two of these PoS's.

 

[shabodah]

Ok Noobs you asked for it. First off I will concede lack of dual core support, but since this is about a budget system for gaming, best that is possible for the dollar, that does not matter. Second 754 is not LONG dead, in fact AMD just released a 2.2ghz venice for it and you can get a 754 venice for the same price as a 200mhz slower 939 venice. The motherboard mentioned is a Nforce4 SLI board, so, the only thing this combination does not bring to the table that 939 does, is the dual channel memory controller, which does not compair to the 200mhz boost to performance. Dual channel is simply not important for single core cpu's. Third, the 7600gs mentioned is factory overclocked and performs at about 95% the level of the factory clocked 7600gt, the cores are exactly the same and the memory difference is marginal in the real world- see 939 versus AM2 memory performance. Finally, since the GPU mentioned only runs $100 each and the factory 7600gt's cheapest price is $160, this IS a great performance for cost option. Truth be told, the 7900GT is still a better idea, but I'll concede most of you are smart enought to already know that. Now, why don't you all whine about how the 128bit interface of the 7600GT/GS's cripple it or something else that in the real world is insignificant.

 

[ForzaItalia4]

Ok Noobs you asked for it. First off I will concede lack of dual core support, but since this is about a budget system for gaming, best that is possible for the dollar, that does not matter. Second 754 is not LONG dead, in fact AMD just released a 2.2ghz venice for it and you can get a 754 venice for the same price as a 200mhz slower 939 venice. The motherboard mentioned is a Nforce4 SLI board, so, the only thing this combination does not bring to the table that 939 does, is the dual channel memory controller, which does not compair to the 200mhz boost to performance. Dual channel is simply not important for single core cpu's. Third, the 7600gs mentioned is factory overclocked and performs at about 95% the level of the factory clocked 7600gt, the cores are exactly the same and the memory difference is marginal in the real world- see 939 versus AM2 memory performance. Finally, since the GPU mentioned only runs $100 each and the factory 7600gt's cheapest price is $160, this IS a great performance for cost option. Truth be told, the 7900GT is still a better idea, but I'll concede most of you are smart enought to already know that. Now, why don't you all whine about how the 128bit interface of the 7600GT/GS's cripple it or something else that in the real world is insignificant.

zomg they released a 2.2 when 939 is ending zomg!11 must be da best buy u no!!11 lol...........

CORRECT advise would be get the dual sata motherboard with 939 AND AM2 support, get a 3000+. PERIOD. anything else is crippling his future in computers. The 939 is superior to the 754 socket in everyway, so what the hell is the point in recommending 754? Why would you reccommend sli 7600 GS? WHY do you think 7600 GS perform 95% of the capabilities of a 7600 GT? Have you not looked at their specs? I guess not, so I guess I'll post them for you.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130004

$129.

Core clock: 400mhz
Memory clock: 800 mhz
Pipelines: 12

cool, now let's see if a 7600gt has 5% more than those clocks LOL.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814122245

$179

Core clock: 560mhz
Memory clock: 1400mhz
Pipelines:12

Hmm, seems like you're dead wrong. Yeah, that's the correct assumption isn't it?

Funny thing is though, you told him to go SLI with a card that has 400/800 clock speeds, and then you call everyone else who has posted against you noobs? Man, you're the noob here. 7600 gs, factory overclocked, that's a good one dude.

 

[shabodah]

Ok, guess I am talking to people who can't read and also don't know the subject of this thread. Awesome. Well, If you want me to restate things, the topic is all-out performance TODAY for the cheapest price possible. As stated above, many graphics card manufacturers overclock their cards. Some even offer lifetime warranties on these "factory" overclocks. The 7600 core is the same on the GT as the GS. Memory speed and latencies are relatively minor is GPU performance. 200mhz speed increases are LARGER performance wise than any gains dual channel memory can bring. The amount of pipelines hinder GPU's FAR more than their memory bandwidth. If anyone would actually like to learn about how things work in the real world. Please, take the time to read what is said in a post before you add to it. Thank you.

 

[ForzaItalia4]

Ok, guess I am talking to people who can't read and also don't know the subject of this thread. Awesome. Well, If you want me to restate things, the topic is all-out performance TODAY for the cheapest price possible. As stated above, many graphics card manufacturers overclock their cards. Some even offer lifetime warranties on these "factory" overclocks. The 7600 core is the same on the GT as the GS. Memory speed and latencies are relatively minor is GPU performance. 200mhz speed increases are LARGER performance wise than any gains dual channel memory can bring. The amount of pipelines hinder GPU's FAR more than their memory bandwidth. If anyone would actually like to learn about how things work in the real world. Please, take the time to read what is said in a post before you add to it. Thank you.

fact is, you gave him bad advice. you gave him a crappier processor socket with a 754 sli motherboard to run 2 7600 gs's.

 

[hatsurfer]

bump,

Spend $90 more bucks on this video card and your rig will smoke the 7600'S in Sli. Sli is more heat, more noise, and more electricity. The EVGA 7900 gt would still outperform those 2 cards in 3d games. Also, not all video games are programed to take advantage of Sli and still widely considered a enthusist set-up.

Listen to advice and stick with the 939.
"Dual channel is simply not important for single core cpu's" ===WHAT? Please explain this?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130015

 

[shabodah]

"the goal is to extract the best possible gaming from the least amount of dollars for the average gamer."

No where does that say anything about future upgrading. If you believe a 2.0 ghz Venice K8 is a crappy processor for gaming, you shouldn't be posting. There certainly are better processors, but not better price/performance. Most games are more limited by the GPU than the CPU. Oblivion will run fine on this CPU, regardless of GPU. Any K8 with 512kb L2 cache will do quite nicely with gaming, and will put all but the most expensive P4's to bed. While a X2 certainly isn't a bad idea if this were a real computer build, this post/thread is the computer equivalent of bench racing.

 

[shabodah]

I've already endorced my support for the 7900gt. It is an excellent card. However, (1) 7900GT draws the same amount of power (give or take %5 either way) as (2) 7600GS's. In the games that do have proper SLI support, (2) 7600's will perform very similiar to (1) 7900GT, usually between 85- 115%, but two 7600GS's cost significantly less than one 7900GT.

Fact: Dual Channel Memory controllers give gains between 0 & 5% depending on application on single core CPU's. A 200mhz clock increase is 10% in this case, that is in all applications. Don't get me wrong, a dual core cpu would be absolutely hindered if it had to use only a single channel. With a single core CPU, this is not the case.