HTPC Console Gaming sytem $2,000 budget.

[mohikangamer]

This will be mainly be use for Gaming, and multimedia. this computer will be connected to a 55" DLP TV 1080p replacing my old outdated Xbox 360. Is this video card good enough to handle games at 1080p for 6 months? (im those people who upgrade video cards every 6 months). I will be overclocking, hopefully over 4.0ghz air cool. For now, it will be running under xp until vista gets better, maybe in 2 years. ITs going be a dedicated gaming and multimedia only running Gamex and TVedia.will be receiving internet for online gaming from wireless network. Im going to hide windows desktop and mouse cursor completely by doing a registry tweak so pc boots directly to gammex making it a game console. System will play PC games, N64, Dream Cast, Nes, Snes,Atari, Mame, Daphne, Sega Genesis, and Jaguar. I already have Logitech 5.1 505w surround system, and I'm making my own case. Any other things should be added? as long doesnt pass my $2000 budget. Will place order on Friday.


OCZ Technology OCZ OCZ600GXSSLI GamerXStream 600W Power Supply$103.17
GigaByte GA-P35-DS3L Motherboard 102.93
ntel E8400 Dual Core Processor $212
PNY XLR8 GeForce 8800 GT Video Card$240.75
WD Caviar SE 250GB Hard Drive $64.00
Asus Xonar D2X Sound Card$182.04
Corsair DOMINATOR 2GB PC2-8500 DDR DIMM Dual Channel Memory Kit$182.83
VisionTek TV Wonder HD 600 USB TV Tuner$92.00
Pioneer BDC-202 Black Blu-Ray Reader/DVD±RW DL Writer $222.94
Xbox 360 Wireless controller w/ Gaming Receiver for Windows $66.00
PCI Express x16 Flexible Riser Card 49.99
Flexible PCI Riser/Extender $22.00
Netgear WG111 Wireless USB Network Adaptor $24.84


Tax/Shipping Total: $1,565

 

[stonecold91]

u said that u'll be having 55" monitor do u think a single 8800gt is best?...you will need enough memory to have that resolution like crossfire or SLi will be better and which mobo will be you using?...i don't recommand Nvidia 780i mobo...for crossfire you will have to buy a X38..

 

[rgeist554]

Well, 1080p is only 1900x1080, and if all he plays is dated console games... then the 8800GT should be more than sufficient. Now, the PC games that he play could require the extra horse power of an SLI setup.

 

[mohikangamer]

my old amd fx-62 system with Nvidia 7950 512mb plays games like doom 3, farcry, battefield 2, battlefield 2142. half life 2 fine on this tv at 1080p at medium settings with only 1gb of system memory. It should play well at high settings with an 8800 gt on modern games at 1080p except crysis for the next 6 months. Im not interested in SLI, since this will be put on a small case.

 

[stonecold91]

hmm...sorry for the wrong info i gave u...actually i didnt know that 1080p is only 1900x1080...8800gt would be best...you can even wait till 23rd jan as ATi will show its 3870x2 card!!...but it would be out of your budget...8800gt is the way to go

 

[rickpcnerd]

nice!

 

[kentuckyranger]

Your setup sounds fine and the 8800GTX will do Hi Def very well.
Just looking I'm not sure if the M/B is SLI but you might want to look at an SLI Board for the future. Once you get your Rig up and running and save some more Money it would be allot easier and cheaper if you decide you want more power to SLI a second Card then spend the cash for extra hardware.
SLI has come a long way just in the last 3 months and many games like HL-2 have updated their drivers to include SLI tech.
Many will tell you SLI sucks but trust me, it's the bomb!
With an SLI M/B you can build your Rig now like you have it then if need be just get an extra Card if you want better performance.

 

[mohikangamer]

Like I said, not looking for SLI at all, and there no room for an extra card to fit on this case. Most likely I will sell 8800 gt in 6 months and upgrade to the newest, maybe a 9800x2

 

[kentuckyranger]

Just to help out I found a Gigabyte M/B that's SLI and cheaper than the one you're looking at.
I'm not sure how this Board rates but you don't have to spend a fortune to get SLI tech, I just wanted you to see that if you're stuck on Gigabyte they make decent SLI M/B's.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128073

 

[kentuckyranger]

Oops, didn't see the new post, sorry.
Then your setup sounds very good and the 8800 will do you proud.
Great choice in hardware.

 

[rickpcnerd]

upload pictures once you finish assembling case. This is better than a ps3, and xbox 360.

 

[VoidPhantom]

fyi dude, the new Radeon 3870X2 is said to come out tomorrow for around $586, and if you look at the main page there is a review that it is more powerful than the 8800GTX Ultra.

Just check it out and see if you would want to replace your 8800GT. It will still be under your budget.

And I love your setup as a HTPC.

 

[mohikangamer]

Thanks, Didn't know 3870 card sees the world tomorrow. I'll wait for the benchmarks, and see if is worth the money. I'll wait for 9800x2, they are schedule to launch on february at $449.99.