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Upgrades: Advice on budget/moderate gaming system

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - Upgrades: Advice on budget/moderate gaming system

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klaud1   08-18-2007 at 11:45:33 PM

Hello all!

I'm trying to strike an acceptable balance between cost and performance. I'd label myself as a casual to moderate gamer; most of my computering needs are strictly typical: email, internet,music. That said, I would like the ability to play DX10 games, hence the 8600GTS, which has received good reviews. True, it's no 8800, but alas, that's significantly more expensive.

Questions:
What CPU cooling technology would you recommend -- if any?
What power supply would you recommend?
Any substitutions?

Upgrades:
Mobo = GA-P35C-DS3R
Vcard = BFG Tech BFGE86256GTSOCE GeForce 8600GTS
CPU = Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz
RAM = SUPER TALENT 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)

Thank you people of the New System Build forum!

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emp   08-19-2007 at 12:31:02 AM
- 0 +

The 8600GTS will NOT be playing any DX10 games, only DX10 slideshows simply because it lacks the raw power. If you want to play DX10 games, then you'll have to bite the bullet and get at least a 8800GTS.

If you're willing to pay anywhere between $160-180 for a graphics card, then you'd be better off with a X1950XT ($170) or a 7950GT ($180), they offer an enormous performance increase over the 8600GTS for virtually no cost.

SAPPHIRE 100186L Radeon X1950XT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102067

BFG Tech BFGR7950256GTOCE GeForce 7950GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814143090

Als o you're going to NEED 2GB of ram to play games, no point in making a gaming machine with only 1GB.

Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820146565

Als o, I'd change that GA-P35C-DS3R to the GA-P35-DS3R unless you're dying for DDR3 support, because this way you're saving $30 on a feature you most likely won't use.

I'd recommend you go on air cooling unless you have about $300-400 ready to drop into a high quality liquid cooling system.

As far as PSUs are concerned, zipzoomfly currently offers two killer deals on two great PSUs, let me link you.

ANTEC NeoPower 650 Blue NeoPower650Blue 650W Power Supply Retail ***Free Shipping***

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Prod [...] e=10006251

Corsair HX Series CMPSU-620HX 620W Power Supply Retail ***Free Shipping***

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Prod [...] ode=373110

They both cost nearly the same and perform about the same.

------------------------------ Anxiously awaiting the Hydra 100 and the Hydra Engine...
www.lucidlogix.com
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