Really Really Cheap Gaming Computer -- Critique welcomed

I'm helping my friend build a decent gaming computer that can play BF2142 and like games on high and used my computer to benchmark where this one would fall. I do realize that using a PSU that comes with a case isn't the greatest, but for budget's sake it is negligible. If you have any suggestions for improvements, please try to keep the total cost under $700 (not including shipping). All together this build below comes to $653.93

Case (w/ PSU)
APEVIA X-Dreamer II ATXB4KLW-BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 420W Power Supply
Link

Mobo
ASUS P5L-MX LGA 775 Intel 945G Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
Link

Graphics Card
connect3D Radeon X1800GTO 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16
Link

CPU
Intel Pentium 4 650 Prescott 3.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Link

Memory
Kingston 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) EDIT: This is 2GB (1 x 2GB) that's reflected in the price
Link

HDD
Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600JS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s
Link

Optical
LITE-ON 20X DVD±R Burner with 12X DVD-RAM write and LightScribe Technology
Link

yeah that cpu is garbage a 3.4 single prescott is like as good as 1.6 ghz single core core2duo would be. in reality its worth about $50. spend like 1.5 times as much and get triple the performance.

If you want Intel quadcore compitable for the future:
A better CPU choice for the money:
Celeron D 356, 3.33Ghz $55 Retail at E-wiz

Mobo: Asrock 775 4COREDUAL-VSTA $55, where you can find it.

save up a few more $$$ and buy any Core2Duo you can get, a decent ASUS/Gigabyte motherboard and the rest is up to you - atleast you will have strong lasting performance and reliability there atleast

That CPU isn't worth nearly half of what newegg is asking for it. Go with a Core 2 Duo E6300 or E4300.

Definately no on that processor. $213 bucks for a single core, Netburst, Prescott, Pentium 4 is a shaaaam.

Plus, you have a MicroATX motherboard with an ATX case. That won't work.

Get a P965 board, something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128017

And a Core 2 Duo E4300:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115013

For the about the same price, and get a system that is twice as good and much more futureworthy.

Edit:

I also see no discernable difference other than model number between the RAM you selected, and this slightly cheaper Kingston DIMM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820134045

I would save the 4 bucks.

Erm... Is anyone hearing an echo in here?

...Core 2 Duo wouldn't stretch his budget, he's considering a P4 for 213 dollars, he could go with a cheaper E4300 for $175 and a $100 mobo, thus equaling the same as the current proposition. 700 bucks is very easily within range of of a good, Core 2 Duo gaming rig.

I echoed, but with links!

And again I stress the fact that your current motherboard won't fit in that case.

Thats why i gave a link to that $631 setup...duh...

Hmmm, judging by the fact people earlier suggested spending more for a Core 2 Duo, I think Newegg may have done a little price changeroo in that past couple days.

But even so, Core 2 Duo is still well in range of the $700.

I agree.

If money is tight then take both a breath and a week or so to wade thru the muck and see if anything better pops up on a so-called "bargain site" like this one.

FWIW, if you're willing to do rebates Fry's currently has a Antec P150 Mid-Tower with 450W PSU for $110 - $50 ~= $60 shipped after rebate. Might be worth considering.

OK, why buy an integrated graphics motherboard when you know you're going with a graphics card? I'd suggest taking the money you save by making a rational CPU choice and throwing it towards a better motherboard. You'd probably do better going with any of the commonly recommended P965 mobos. For example, take a look at any of the top ones recommended in this recent AnandTech compilation.

Yes, everyone else has already said it. My personal vote is for an E4300 ... but whatever. If you're going with Intel just make sure it's some flavor of Core 2.

Did you notice that newegg only had two reviews of that Pentium 4 650 since July? And BTW, both of those people are now medicated and undergoing intensive therapy for depression. Don't make the same mistake they did! 8O :!:

Are you expecting to do the "Buy 1GB now and then another 1GB for dual channel later when it's cheaper and/or I have more money" dance?

There's no harm in trying, but there is a slight possibility that you won't get dual channel support if the RAM you pick up at a later date does not closely (enough) match the RAM you get now. I am not saying this will happen. Just that it is a possibility to consider when taking this path.

-john, the ostensibly clueless redundant legacy dinosaur

Ultra mid-tower case for free after a $40.00 rebate (and free shipping):
http://shop3.outpost.com/product/5 [...] IN_RSLT_PG

Not as distinctive looking as the case you proposed, but you can't beat the price. I got the same one for a budget build for my sister and it worked fine (no sharp edges and both sides come off for easy installation of the drives) and I did get the rebate after the 6-8 weeks. You do need to buy a case fan separately, but I think that is a good thing as you can get something quiet.

As to the power supply, Office Depot has an Antec 500w for $35 (incl. s&h) after a $25 rebate:

http://www.officedepot.com/ddSKU.do?id=399292
http://forms.young-america.com/605 [...] 052007.pdf

If you're trying to get a cheap gaming rig an AM2 system is definately the way to go. Single or Dual core you'll save a bundle and will still be able to play all the games.

Do NOT get a Pentium4 single core. Not even worth considering unless priced under $60 and even then it would still be cheaper to get an AM2 Sempron system. Either get C2D or go AM2.

Wow that is cheap RAM... I might have to buy some.

Get a better PSU. I've personally had problems with 2/2 Apevia/Aspire PSUs I've gotten. First one had harmonics issues right out of the box, second one the voltages were all >+10% high. They don't make their own PSUs so if you really do your research I'm sure you could find one that didn't suck, but I wouldn't gamble on it. I buy their chenming-designed xqpack when it's a good price, but I wouldn't use their PSU on a valuable PC (I stuck one of them in an old Duron 1.6ghz rig though).

MicroATX mobo will fit fine in ATX case.


$169 AM2 x2 3600+ **Brisbane** + nForce 550 MCP Mobo combo
+~$35 for HSF
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103036
This is AMD's new 65nm chip and should OC well.


Or

$175.99 AM2 x2 3600+ Windsor + GeForce 6100 mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813185093
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103760

Performance is a little less but you get dual-core and save a bundle.

That is one ugly build my friend and a total waste of money. I sure hope you haven't ordered it yet

CPU
90 usd AMD Athlon64 3500+
135 usd AMD Athlon X2 3800+

Motherboard
56 usd ECS nForce4
58 usd ECS ATI Xpress 1100
85 usd Asus GeForce 6150
90 usd Abit GeForce 6150

Memory 90 usd 1 Gb DDR2 667

Hard Drive 80 usd Seagate 250 Gb 16 Mb SataII

Video Card
120 usd evga 7600 GT
160 usd evga 7900 GS
150 usd Radeon X1900GT

Case 25 usd
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811147056
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811147057
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811147058
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811147059
or 60 usd Antec Solution with PSU

PSU 40 usd FSP 400W 18A dual rails

LCD
160 usd 17” Viewsonic 12ms
160 usd 17” Acer 8ms

190 usd 19” Acer 5ms

32 usd DVDRW Samsung

keyboard & mouse
35 usd Ms optical
45 usd Ms optical
54 usd Ms laser

or Intel

CPU
188 usd Core2 Duo 6300
222 usd Core2 Duo 6400

Motherboard
60 usd Abit IP-95
77 usd Gigabyte 945G
83 usd Intel 946GZ
83 usd Gigabyte 945G
85 usd Abit 945P
92 usd MSI P965
99 usd MSI G965

Maybe you're the one that should look at prices and learn what he's talking about.

If I remove the 1950 Pro from my "budget C2D gamer" build, I could probably hit a C2D build with good ram/motherboard and a 7600GT for around the same ball-park of $700.

Haha, for the record that P4 processor was on a major sale at new egg (when I listed it on there it was only like $80 or that ball park). Trust me there would be no way that I would spend more money for outdated technology than a newer core 2 processor. Core 2 duos are nice but that's about $100 to strech that I might just have to go with, I'm definatally not going to get that E4xx seiries when the E 6300 is only about $10 more.

I've gotten similar scores between a G965 onboard graphics and a 7600 GS card. the G965 mobo isn't as OC friendly due to lack of voltage adjustment.

Actually, MicroATX motherboards fit in Standard ATX cases. Just not the other way around.

$700 for a gaming system I spent that on a video card the only advise I have is save some more $$$$ pickup a paper route or something. not trying to be mean or rude...I just think you could be happier with a 25% increase on purchasability minimum.

This can't be right.....?? (maybe on CPU tests??)

Why can't it be right?

between the stress test in CSS and pcpitstop.com test results, the numbers are very close.

Do you OWN a G965 mobo?

If he wants the core2 so badly with a 700 usd budget he must sacrifice 1 Gb of ram.
I did the stupid thing to buy a core2 6300, I wanted it so badly, that I ended buying it with a cheap sh*t mobo (ASRock 775i65G), the processor is great but a computer isn't just the processor.

I realized that when I built my brother's last computer, an Athlon X2 3600(not brisbane), with a much better motherboard (for the price)than an 775 one.

Give me 2 equally performing processors from intel and amd, and I choose Amd.

I have had P2 350, P3 550, Athlon Xp 2700+, and I can tell you I'm kind of an amd fan, but I guess I always buy(or try to buy) the best performance/price part, in the end it is what keeps the computer industry alive.

I have built many computers around low end, high end, amd, intel parts and until now with the core2 (processor wise) Amd was by some extent faster.

To sum up if he buys a core2 all he has to do later is add 1 Gb more, if he buys an am2, he will have to change processor, motherboard, and probably ram, it will indeed give some juice with 2 Gb memory for 2 or more years.

http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/1 [...] index.html

Do you use it with a core2(1066 Mhz FSB) processor and a sata2 hard drive ? I can´t get it to startup properly, when I press the power button both lights (power and hard drive) remain lit but it doesn't boot up, I have to press the reset button to make it boot. The same if I try to restart from within xp, I have to press the reset button in order to make it boot.

It comes with wrong Dram/FSB Ratio 4:6 instead of 3:4 for DDR400/core2 1066mhz and no way to fix or change it.

There is no such thing as a "SATA2" device.
http://www.sata-io.org/namingguidelines.asp

His SATA drive should step down to 1.5gb without having to change any jumpers and disabling NCQ on the drive is likely as impossible as it is completely unnecessary as NCQ doesn't happen until the initiator sends queueable commands. If there is a problem with not negotiating the proper speed it's probably a problem with the drive, not the controller, as a 1.5g controller is completely indifferent to what a drive sends it until it negotiates to 1.5g. If the drive has jumpers you could try changing them, some drives don't though (and none of them are supposed to, there is nothing to "jumper" in SATA spec it's all negotiated on the wire). 3g and NCQ are both backwards compatible.