comp help

[berick]

I'm in the process of having a new computer built by one of my brothers. I wanted to check and make sure the items were sound and to see if there were any problems / suggestions / whatever.

My budget: $900-$1000 (currently at $935, but I may be able to squeeze some more out if it's dire)

Computer purpose: Gaming, not really much else. I'll surf the web and play movies on my computer of course, but gaming is the big thing. Probably the most recent game I will be playing would be Bioshock, may be a few of the newer ones, but I mostly stick to MMO's and a couple of not-so-recent FPS (Battlefield 2142, original Day of Defeat, etc.)

Keyboard and a Sound System do not need to be included in the budget (unless someone pinpoints eye-openers).

I do not intend to overclock unless someone can convince me otherwise .

My computer layout is the following:

Monitor:

http://shop2.outpost.com/product/5175416?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

I picked up for about $189 at a local Fry's.

Power Supply:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171018

I also picked up this up at the local Fry's, for $40 (9$ after the 30$ mail in rebate)

Tower/Case:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137

Picked it up at a local Comp USA that was having a closing sale for $80.

Fans:

My brothers stressed that cooling was very important for my computer, so we bought 4 120mm fans at $15 each at the local Fry's.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835209011

Mouse:

http://www.emprex.com/02_products_02.php?id=91

Picked it up as we were in a hurry for $20.

Video Card:

I couldn't find a link, but it's a XFX GeForce 8400 - 512 MB - DDR2 for $84, however my brother decided to buy it for me.

Hard Drive:

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=101259&prodlist=froogle

Got a deal on it at the local Fry's, $97.

DVD burner:

Brothers asked me to buy one as neither of them had one, bought it for $45, getting a $15 rebate.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Shop/DVD-Burners/ci.DVR-2810.Shop

Motherboard:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130081&ATT=13-130-081&CMP=OTC-pr1c3watch&nm_mc=OTC-pr1c3watch&cm_mmc=OTC-pr1c3watch-_-Motherboards+-+Intel-_-MSI-_-13130081

Ordered online for $130.

RAM:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211188

Got two of them online for $83 total.

Processor:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116237

$110

CPU Fan:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835114034

$40

If you have any questions, just ask, I'll be monitoring this thread continuously . Any help / suggestions / answers are welcomed, as I'm not the most tech savvy person out there.

 

[emp]

The processor is really bad... Pentium Ds are on the bottom of the food chain as far as processors go, they are basically two Pentium 4s glued together, so they're basically only good for creating heat. Not much to say about the PSU, it's just as bad if not worse than the processor, Cooler Master is known for making bad PSUs, but good cases and cooling systems.

Motherboard is so-so, ram seems alright, never heard of that CPU cooler and that's not a good sign to me. The worst part about your build is the 8400GS, it's not a gaming card at all. It's not even good for watching HD videos! With that budget you could've at least gotten the HD 3850 that would've crushed any midrange card in the way.

Onto the good stuff... the HDD is pretty good, so are the fans in my opinion (These fans come with the Antec Nine Hundred case), and the case also looks to be pretty good as far as cooling goes. I have an LG 19" LCD screen and it looks awesome, at least I think it does, so if the quality is anywhere near mine, then you did a very good choice.

Here's a system I just spec'd for someone in this forum that will run him for about $900 without a screen, and it's absolutely kick ass as far as gaming goes (Before you ask, yes it will definitely stomp yours to the ground to the point that it would be a no-contest):

Intel E6750

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115029

GA-P35-DS3R

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128050

A-DATA 2GB DDR2 800

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211066

PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610 (Now this is a true PSU!)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...7703005&Tpk=PC+Power+%26+Cooling+Silencer+610

Western Digital Caviar 320GB 7.2k Rpm

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136098

Arctic Cooling Freezer Pro 7

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134

Lite-On DVD Burner

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106073

Cooler Master Centurion 534

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119106

Sapphire HD 3870 512MB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102713

 

[chuckm]

I have to agree with emp, you can get a Pentium dual core 2180 for around $85 that'll smoke the P4. The video card should be an 8600 at minimum. Go with the power supply suggested or a Corsair.If your not doing SLI return the motherboard and get one with a P35 chipset & do a mild overclock. Use emp's list and just go from there.

 

[berick]

Thanks for the tips and advice.

 

[jsc]

He is also right about the HSF.

Arctic Cooling Freezer Pro 7

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835186134

Excellent budget cooler

 

[systemlord]

Geforce 8400. This is supposed to be a gaming PC? Sorry but this PC is well below what is considered a budget gaming PC.

 

[batuchka]

AMD 5000 Black = $99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103194
MSI K9A2-CF = $99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130138
HD 3850 512MB = $160
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814140086
2 x 2GB DDR2 800 = $66
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211066
Earthwatts 500w PSU = $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371007
NZXT Apollo Black = $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146025
WD 320GB/16MB cache HDD = $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136074
Samsung DVD Burner = $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151161
Acer 22" = $230
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009094
CPU Cooler = $13
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186010
Total with monitor = USD$872

 

[dankcomp_danknuggets]

ya man, ur deffinitly f***in urself on that processor, and mother board. 650i chipsets r kind of outa date, and for the price ur paying, u can get a 680i for round the same price, maybe even cheaper. u can definitely get better deals on ur ram. ur processor will just bottleneck ur computer with its 800mhz fsb. thats just a waste of time and money. i'd definitely take the time to find a core2duo, and a 680i chipset. i'd wait for the new 45nm processor from intel, it's newer technology, better clock speeds and fsb for a cheap price. and ur graphics card is a good price, but ur gaming will totally suck. i just built a comp with a core2duo, 4 gigs of ram, a 680i sli chipset mobo for a few hundred bucks. dont just stick to newegg, u can find better deals from other websites. good luck dude, i hope u didnt already purchase that, cuz u will be kickin urself in the ass.

 

[grieve]

The processor is really bad... Pentium Ds are on the bottom of the food chain as far as processors go, they are basically two Pentium 4s glued together, so they're basically only good for creating heat. Not much to say about the PSU, it's just as bad if not worse than the processor, Cooler Master is known for making bad PSUs, but good cases and cooling systems.

Motherboard is so-so, ram seems alright, never heard of that CPU cooler and that's not a good sign to me. The worst part about your build is the 8400GS, it's not a gaming card at all. It's not even good for watching HD videos! With that budget you could've at least gotten the HD 3850 that would've crushed any midrange card in the way.

Onto the good stuff... the HDD is pretty good, so are the fans in my opinion (These fans come with the Antec Nine Hundred case), and the case also looks to be pretty good as far as cooling goes. I have an LG 19" LCD screen and it looks awesome, at least I think it does, so if the quality is anywhere near mine, then you did a very good choice.

Here's a system I just spec'd for someone in this forum that will run him for about $900 without a screen, and it's absolutely kick ass as far as gaming goes (Before you ask, yes it will definitely stomp yours to the ground to the point that it would be a no-contest):

Intel E6750

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115029

GA-P35-DS3R

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128050

A-DATA 2GB DDR2 800

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211066

PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610 (Now this is a true PSU!)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...7703005&Tpk=PC+Power+%26+Cooling+Silencer+610

Western Digital Caviar 320GB 7.2k Rpm

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136098

Arctic Cooling Freezer Pro 7

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134

Lite-On DVD Burner

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106073

Cooler Master Centurion 534

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119106

Sapphire HD 3870 512MB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102713

Go with this setup apposed to yours, far batter.