Opinion on Custom Gaming PC

[computator]

Could you please let me know what you think of my gaming system and if you have any suggestions before I buy the parts to build it...and keep in mind I'm not a millionaire. This is my first PC I've built so be easy on me.

Case: Thermaltake Matrix VX
Processor: AMD Athlon64 x2 5200+ (2.6Ghz)
RAM: 2GB KingMax DDR2 PC667 (2x1GB dual channel)
Graphics Card: BFG 320MB 8800GTS or EVGA 320MB 8800GTS
PSU: 500W Seasonic
Hard Drive: Western Digital 320MB SATA2
Motherboard: MSI K9N Diamond
OS: Windows Vista Home Premium
Speakers:Logitech X230 2.1 Speaker System
LG 18x DVD-/+RW with Lightscribe
19 in 1 Card Reader

 

[systemlord]

Could you please let me know what you think of my gaming system and if you have any suggestions before I buy the parts to build it...and keep in mind I'm not a millionaire. This is my first PC I've built so be easy on me.

Case: Thermaltake Matrix VX
Processor: AMD Athlon64 x2 5200+ (2.6Ghz)
RAM: 2GB KingMax DDR2 PC667 (2x1GB dual channel)
Graphics Card: BFG 320MB 8800GTS or EVGA 320MB 8800GTS
PSU: 500W Seasonic
Hard Drive: Western Digital 320MB SATA2
Motherboard: MSI K9N Diamond
OS: Windows Vista Home Premium
Speakers:Logitech X230 2.1 Speaker System
LG 18x DVD-/+RW with Lightscribe
19 in 1 Card Reader

Great choices, but for only $225.00 you could have an E6600 Core 2 Duo and I might add I am running mine at 3.6GHz bus @1600MHz. Its very very FAST and for the same money you could get a E6600 vs 5200+, but thats just my my take on it. The Core 2's tend to run games smoother and faster, all with 4 MB's of L2 cash. If you do go Core 2 you can get some very good (GSkill 6400HZ's CL4) DDR2 800MHz Ram for under $110.00

 

[biohazard420420]

I have 2 suggestions first go with a core2duo since they out perform most amd offerings for about the same price, if you go that route getting 800mhz ddr2 would be a good choice as the above poster stated. I would also drop windows vista for the time being and go with xp home or pro. Granted with xp you dont get dx10 but xp will be faster in almost every game more often than not. you can always upgrade to vista at a later date if you like but at the moment xp is still the better windows os to choose until vista gets all the bugs worked out after i would say about a year. You can still go with vista now but xp will be cheaper and give you better gaming 9 times out of 10.

 

[computator]

Thanks for the advice, I've been hearing for a while that Intel's Core2Duo processors are far better for gaming so I'm defiantly going to take that advice as well as the 800Mhz DDR2 RAM advice. I'm defiantly sticking with Vista though since I don't plan on buying any DX9 games any time soon. But what about my motherboard. The MSI K9N diamond is only compatible with AMD processors. Any recommendations on a motherboard with similar specs except compatible with Core2Duo processors?

 

[systemlord]

Thanks for the advice, I've been hearing for a while that Intel's Core2Duo processors are far better for gaming so I'm defiantly going to take that advice as well as the 800Mhz DDR2 RAM advice. I'm defiantly sticking with Vista though since I don't plan on buying any DX9 games any time soon. But what about my motherboard. The MSI K9N diamond is only compatible with AMD processors. Any recommendations on a motherboard with similar specs except compatible with Core2Duo processors?

You want the best there is go an Asus P5B Deluxe WiFi AP and can be had for only $209.99 at NewEgg. I've even seen the Asus P5B's out of stock becase there so good at overclcking if your into that. The P5B have no bugs to speak of and is "the best board for Core 2 Duo". Those Gskill's I spoke of have been known to overclock 380Mhz over there rated speed on the P5B. Thr best board I could have bought! G.Skill 6400PHU2-2GBHZ's reviews at NewEgg, and Anandtech.com

 

[goldragon_70]

I'm defiantly sticking with Vista though since I don't plan on buying any DX9 games any time soon.

So you have old games and will just buy games that support dx10?

 

[VFighterX]

For the video cards I would just pick the cheaper one.

EVGA - good warranty

BFG - software bundles?, extras?, overclocked?

It's your choice. 8)

 

[jonnyli]

Asus P5B Deluxe OR since the P35 intel chip set is out, the Asus P5k deluxe is a very attractive option

 

[computator]

I'm defiantly sticking with Vista though since I don't plan on buying any DX9 games any time soon.

So you have old games and will just buy games that support dx10?

I only have a couple of old pc games as I have never had a good PC in the past. Most of the upcoming games that I want to buy (crysis, age of conan, bioshock etc) are DX10 compatible so I'm not too worried about using Vista for gaming.

 

[Jdm240sx]

first of all to save some money
ditch that thermltake matrix and get the centurion 5
second of all the 2gb ddr 2 667 is just as expensive as 2gb g.skill ddr2 800 (on newegg)
for an amd motherboard go with the biostart tforce 570 sli itll be a better choice

dont get lg they suck at drives
get a sony nec, samsung, or plextor

 

[Daredevil_8]

Get a Core2Duo and a P35 motherboard for sure. The Asus looks good, or take a look at the Gigabyte DS3R as well.

Heres a good SATA DVD -/+RW drive:
Lite-On

Centurion 5 is a good case, too.