Best Gaming Hardware

[Pyroflea]

Hello, I'm new to the site, and new to building computers. I recently decided to build up a gaming computer however. But I do have 2 questions:

A) What is a good CPU for gaming, that will not be overly expensive. I was looking at the E6600, but that was a little more than i wanted to spend. Any recommendations?

B) What is a good MoBo? I was looking at the EVGA nForce 680i SLIseries, but i have heard mixed reviews. Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Remember, I am looking for decent gaming hardware, but i don't want to spend too much if at all possible. Thanks.

-Pyro

 

[Pyroflea]

Well, I need wireless because I'm running wireless internet, but i never really use firewires. Also, thanks for the price drop tip.

-Pyro

 

[1Tanker]

Well, I need wireless because I'm running wireless internet, but i never really use firewires. Also, thanks for the price drop tip.

-Pyro

Pyro....You should be waiting for a firesale. :lol: :lol:

 

[chuckshissle]

Make sure you got the A1 version of Evga 680i SLI mobo for best overclocking. Get low end Core 2 and overclock that, making sure it's cooled with a great cooler like Tower 120 or Ultra 120.

 

[InteliotInside]

There is absolutely no reason to spend the extra money on a 680i board, if you're on a budget or don't plan to go SLI in the future.

Anyway, I recommend (these are the bare minimums for gaming):
- ASUS P5B Deluxe Wi-Fi (Intel P965 chipset)
- Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 (or you can wait for the price cuts and get an E6850)
- Corsair XMS2 DDR2-800 RAM 2GB (2 x 1GB)
- GeForce 8800GTS (320MB if you're on a 19" monitor or under)
- 250GB HDD (Western Digital is a favourite of mine)
- Corsair/Silverstone/Thermaltake/OCZ/Enermax 600w PSU
- DVD-RW (SATA or IDE, doesn't matter)
- Well ventilated case (with 120mm fans for low noise)

 

[Pyroflea]

There is absolutely no reason to spend the extra money on a 680i board, if you're on a budget or don't plan to go SLI in the future.

Anyway, I recommend (these are the bare minimums for gaming):
- ASUS P5B Deluxe Wi-Fi (Intel P965 chipset)
- Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 (or you can wait for the price cuts and get an E6850)
- Corsair XMS2 DDR2-800 RAM 2GB (2 x 1GB)
- GeForce 8800GTS (320MB if you're on a 19" monitor or under)
- 250GB HDD (Western Digital is a favourite of mine)
- Corsair/Silverstone/Thermaltake/OCZ/Enermax 600w PSU
- DVD-RW (SATA or IDE, doesn't matter)
- Well ventilated case (with 120mm fans for low noise)

Thanks a lot for the help everybody. I already have this pretty planned out, and these were the las couple things i needed. I made this last night, and at this point in time, here's what I'm looking at:

-Ultra Black Aluminus ATX Mid-Tower Case with Clear Side, and Ultra 500-Watt Power Supply
-Still undecided on MoBo
-Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3500630AS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
- Still Undecided on CPU
-CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
-SAPPHIRE 100186L Radeon X1950XT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 VIVO PCI Express x16 VIVO HDCP Video Card
-LG Black 18X DVD+R

If you have any suggestions, or changes to what i have there, please just say so, as all help is greatly appreciated. I would prefer suggestions to be of egual or lesser value than the current products. Thanks

-Pyro

 

[eregular]

CHEAPER!

DS3 $110
Corsair 1g (2x512) 675mhz $78
e4300 $170
GPU x1950pro/7900GS $180-200

550 Big ones for a decent (see overclockable) gaming rig

 

[Pyroflea]

i agree with jack ; The 4300 is a really great overclocker.

The absolute far side speculative chance that AM2+ will do as well as is rumored makes am2 a good bet if you like gambling.

If not the c2d is the most killer gamer for now and youll be able to do quad at an insanely low price this year.Really if you do the 4300 it may be easier to save for a quad.

Okay cool. Pretty much i just want something that'll be a helluva lot faster than my current crappy rig (AMD 300+ CPU, 512mb RAM, 200 gig or storage, GeForce 5200FX) cuz this thing royally blows. It was good when i bought it, but that was a few years ago. I just want faster, better, and for a decent price.

 

[Pyroflea]

:lol: :lol: if you build a rig on this chip , you'll come back and say wow.
It will smoke that rig ten ways from sunday.
I trust thats a 939 3000+.there is life left in that setup but for the money and the times youre better of with the 4300c2d.

Well then, that's good to know I am a wee bit weery about over clocking, as I have never really done anything like it. I know there is a good Tutorial on the site on it, but do you think a semi-experienced person could do it? And i want this computer to last as long as possible. I'm sinking a good chunk of cash into it, and i don't want it blowing up after 2 years (although ism sure I probably end up rebuilding it by then, which is unfortunate for the bank account )

-Pyro

 

[croc]

Hmmm... Let me give you some bad advice. Double your RAM to 1GB, get a nice Opteron, and a very nice GPU. Patiently wait for a few months to see where the graphics / CPU wars shake out, then make up your mind.

The GPU will be transferable, but the RAM and CPU will be pretty much a write-off, so don't spent too much for those. OTOH, the CPU and RAM may become very valuable commodities on EBAY...

Did anyone mention that the r600's were coming out soon?? And the new NV refresh?

OK, it's all bad advice. Sorry to all.

 

[deceneu]

CHEAPER!

DS3 $110
Corsair 1g (2x512) 675mhz $78
e4300 $170
GPU x1950pro/7900GS $180-200

550 Big ones for a decent (see overclockable) gaming rig

good gaming rig man

 

[deceneu]

very bad advice

shame on you :lol:

 

[deceneu]

this is my ideea, actually , this is what I am doing right now:

DS3 (gigabyte) 965P chipset

2 gigs of ram

320 gigs hard seagate

x1950 pro

and the eight wonder of the world: celeron D 336 :lol: :lol: :lol:

why celeron? because its cheap, no, actually its almost nothing ( about 20-30 $ , depending where you are getting it from )
after the price cuts I am going for an E6600 or maybe an Q6600

 

[croc]

I know... (hangs head in shame)

But DATH, I just wish all these wars would settle down. R600's coming out 'soon'... Barcelona coming out... Maybe not so soon. NV refresh coming out 'soon'. Penryn coming out 'soon', and the new Intel chipset for it (bearlake) coming out 'soon', but may not be needed... 975 chipsets 'may' suffice.

I just wish that my opty 175 would get here...

 

[deceneu]

hi jack

I was an asus fan a few months ago, but some say (including wusy) that some of the p5b series are very bad mobos, especialy the p5b vanila, and the more expensive ones which are good mobos are just too expensive.
so, is it not a much much better idea to go for a gigabyte ds3 or ds4 series mobo?

 

[Pyroflea]

Also, i forgot to mention one small little detail..... I am *hopefully* buying a 27" LCD TV, so that I can run my PC, PS3, and normal cable off of it. Would the video cards previously mentioned be able to work with that, or do i need something special? Also, I was just looking at this MoBo http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131028 and I'm wondering if i would need a wireless internet card still, or does this one have it built in? :? Or should i just go with a regular deluxe version and buy a separate wireless card?

-Pyro

 

[Lionhardt]

wait, so will these prices ACTUALLY DROP on april 22nd, on like newegg, etc?
or will we have to wait a few weeks to see the tangible benefits?

 

[ishikawa]

Biostar 550/3600 brisbane combo
G.skill 2x1g
8800gts
Corsair 520 PSU

 

[ShadowdogKGB]

I just ordred this to go with an E4300.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130081

Have a look.

 

[Lionhardt]

f^uck.

but, for past price drops as big as this (before i got into computers) were they usually tangible?

 

[1Tanker]

wait, so will these prices ACTUALLY DROP on april 22nd, on like newegg, etc?
or will we have to wait a few weeks to see the tangible benefits?

I don't know, it will be wait and see.I hope it takes effect promptly! My birthday is Apr.2, and i always get comp. parts for b-day/x-mas/fathers day. My wife lets me pick a "big" part, then suprises me with the smaller gifts. I asked her this year if we can get my gift a month later...explaining the price-drop..and she liked the idea(we're really tight for $ the next couple weeks anyways). I'm hoping to either get the E4300 alot cheaper, or maybe the E4400 for ~ current 4300 price. I still get my cherry-cheesecake b-day cake on my b-day though.