First Build/ for Wow, Bf2142 and Emus

[Dybowski]

This will be my first build, I have become tired of dealing with my old Hp ****hole of a metal box.

Budget: 600$ (+-50$)

Mobo: AM2 Biostar nForce4-ultra
Ram: 2 gig Cosair Value ddr2-667
Proc: 3800+X2 (65w) Windsor
Vid: Evga 7600gt
Disk: Western Digital Cavar SE 160gb SATA3

Case: Cooler master Centurion5
PSU: Antec Smartpower 500w modular (32amps 12v)

OS:Xp Pro

This all comes out to 620$ Which is perfect because i make minimum wage

Im gonna be playing Wow, Bf:2142 most of the time, does anyone have a similar setup/ play similar games, what settings can i expect to be playable?

Anybody attempt s-video or composite out on a 7600gt? I also want to play some roms with buddys on the TV.(NTSC)

And finally, does anyone see anything wrong with the parts or setup?

 

[randomizer]

Ok that psu needs to go. Antec generally make decent psus, the smartpower line is an exception. How much upgrading in the future do you intend to do, or will you next time just build a whole new pc as well?

EDIT: How much was the smartpower?

 

[Dybowski]

Its 69.99 but i can go up to 89.99 on the psu. I would prefer a modular psu but its not the end of the world.

later on im gonna get a 8800gts 320, waiting for price drop and some dx10 games to be released.

 

[Jdm240sx]

um i just recently put a kick butt amd rig together for 750

but yeah what you chose isnt the best for a 600 +- 50
this is what i would recommend

Case: Cooler master Centurion5
Disk: Western Digital Cavar SE 160gb 16MB CACHE
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ Brisbane 1.9GHz 2 x 512KB (why? better cache and massive overclockability)
Ram: G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) (only 82.99!?!?! cant get better then that)
Mobo: BIOSTAR TForce TF570SLI Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
PSU: FSP Group (Fortron Source) Blue Storm II 500 ATX 2.2V 500W Power Supply - Retail
Video- EVGA 256-P2-N624-AR GeForce 7900GS 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 KO Video Card - Retail
Thermal Compound - Arctic Silver 5

Subtotal: $584.93
thats without shipping and assuming you have a copy of windows already if you dont change out the graphic card

hope this helps!
oh yea btw this build should play wow and bf 2142 at medium to high settings @ high resolutions but dont expect it to beat a 8800gts or 8800gtx or even the ATi HD 2900XT

give me a pm if you need some more help il be glad to help you out

 

[Jdm240sx]

if your gonna get a 8800gts then shoot u better not cheap out on a powersupply look for a silverstone powersupply or corsair or the antec trio 650w or better yet look at mplichfamily's thread he has some good powersupplies listed

 

[randomizer]

Yea smartpower + 8800gts = disaster

Check the reference list linked in my sig. Get a psu with >32A

 

[senor_bob]

This will be my first build, I have become tired of dealing with my old Hp ****hole of a metal box.

Budget: 600$ (+-50$)

Mobo: AM2 Biostar nForce4-ultra
Ram: 2 gig Cosair Value ddr2-667
Proc: 3800+X2 (65w) Windsor
Vid: Evga 7600gt
Disk: Western Digital Cavar SE 160gb SATA3

Case: Cooler master Centurion5
PSU: Antec Smartpower 500w modular (32amps 12v)

I would get the 3600+ (Brisbane) instead of the Windsor for better overclocking. I see some people are getting nearly 6000+ speeds out of that thing (3 GHz) with good heatsinks.

That PSU isn't too great. If you like Antec, get the TruePower Trio for 89.99 instead. You'll appreciate a better PSU when you try to move up to an 8800GTS.

AMDs perform much better with DDR2-800. I would get this G.Skill instead. It costs a little more but will serve you better.

You might also want to consider the X1650 based cards instead of the 7600GT, unless you plan to use EVGA's step-up within 90 days. Usually better deals can be had on the X1650s, and performance is about the same.

No need to use AS5 compound if you use the standard AMD heatsink, it comes with thermal compound on it.

 

[deceneu]

how about this setup?

gigabyte DS3
core 2 duo e 4300
2 gigs A-DATA extreme edition 800 mhz
gainward 8600 gt or gts OR make your own choice on video, depending on what you play , etc
seagate 320 GB

this is a lot better than tour setup and at similar price

 

[Dybowski]

thanks for the input, im gonna step down to the 3600+ brisbane and get a good heatsink. / Ive seen some good oc on stock heatsink/ anybody know about this?


edit-----------
oh yeah, and is the Tforce 550 good for oc?

 

[freshazzburu]

Definitely upgrade the card to a 7900GS - wipes the floor with the 7600GT (almost 30% faster in 2142).

Don't skimp on the PSU, as others have mentioned.

Can you post prices next to your selection of parts so that we can get a better sense of what needs replacing? Not many of us like to research someone's post.

I play those 2 games mainly with my setup (BF2 & WoW). I get about an average of 45-50 FPS in WoW at 1440x900 4AA 8AF max settings and about 40 FPS in BF2 at 1280x960 no AA with everything on max except dynamic shadows on medium.

 

[Dybowski]

sorry about prices. i am a nub.

cooler master centurion5 - 49.99
160gb western digital RE16 - 59.99
Biostar Tforce 550 AM2 - 79.99
Evga 7900gs - 149.99
FSP 500w blue storm 36amps - 89.99
cosair value select ddr2-667 - 59.99
x2 3800+ - 79.00
xp pro - 139.99
lie-on dvd - 29.99

= 720$
i went up on price so i could get a better vid card, it will only take one more paycheck.

I have decided against over clocking because i would rather have my systems as stable as possible.

based on
http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2741&p=5
Im not gonna get ddr2-800 ram for a gain of 1-4fps, rather put the extra 30 to a new game.

thanks for all the help everyone.

 

[freshazzburu]

sorry about prices. i am a nub.

cooler master centurion5 - 49.99
160gb western digital RE16 - 59.99
Biostar Tforce 550 AM2 - 79.99
Evga 7900gs - 149.99
FSP 500w blue storm 36amps - 89.99
cosair value select ddr2-667 - 59.99
x2 3800+ - 79.00
xp pro - 139.99
lie-on dvd - 29.99

= 720$
i went up on price so i could get a better vid card, it will only take one more paycheck.

I have decided against over clocking because i would rather have my systems as stable as possible.

based on
http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2741&p=5
Im not gonna get ddr2-800 ram for a gain of 1-4fps, rather put the extra 30 to a new game.

thanks for all the help everyone.

Build looks good fro what your aiming for.

Be sure to check out the local fry's ads as they may put out a E4x00 or E63x0/64x0 combo with motherboard for under $200. Although mine is AGP, I picked it up for $130 which will hold me out untill whenever I decide to purchase a new video card (I'm sitting on the fence for now). They have good combos with for under $200 with boards that support 667 RAM and PCIe just keep checking - since you'll be waiting one more paycheck to purchase.

Another good thing working for you is that there may be a chance on a rebate or two by the time your 2nd paycheck comes around. Keep us updated and good luck.

 

[Jdm240sx]

like i said in my PM

look at the build i put together

bump that biostar 550 get the biostar 570 sli they are the same price?
make sure u get the bluestorm II not the bluestorm I i got gayed because it came out after i ordered it

 

[fate0n3]

Like one other said, is there any reason you don't want an Intel system? You could easily put one together for the same price range.

 

[Dybowski]

ive always been an amd guy, intel is like no mans land to me.
I was thinking amd is better for budget builds, my cpu budgets like 80$ and intels cpus start 114$

 

[Gundam1s]

Seems the X1950Pro provides more fps than the 7900GS in BF2142 for less $$

http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=725&model2=712&chart=275

 

[freshazzburu]

If the x1950pro can be bought for less than a 7900GS, jump on it - it's definitely a much better card. I didn't realize that there was one to be had for less than $150 but i just checked newegg and they have a sapphire for $125.

Also, he is choosing to build a budget system, if he goes Intel, he will have to spend another $50 more unless he catches a deal at fry's.