Tom's Hardware: Topic Building Low-Budget Gaming PC - Opinions appreciated :p
Tom's Hardware > Forum > Homebuilt Systems > New System Build > Building Low-Budget Gaming PC - Opinions appreciated :p
Tom's Hardware: Over 1.4 million members in 6 different countries available to answer all your high-tech questions.
Sign up now! Its free!
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
EDIT:
Final configuration:
CPU - INTEL Pentium Dual-Core E2160
CPU Cooler - Cooler Master Hyper TX2
MB - Gigabyte P35-DS3L
RAM - CORSAIR TWINX XMS2 DDR2 800MHz CL4-4-4-12
Gr. Card - BFG GF9600GT 512MB DDR3 OC
PSU - CORSAIR VX550, 550W
Case - Thermaltake VI1000BNS M9
HDD - from previous system (SB 7200 RPM 160Gb, Maxxtor 5400 RPM 40Gb)
Grand total: ~600$
If you can give some more tips/tricks/links/hints I'll be glad if you do, thanks for all the help.
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Additional info - yeah I'm pretty much a beginner at this so don't hurt me too much 
. I'd like to hear your opinions (preferably practically tested ones), on how to improve this build overall. I'll be overclocking the CPU and the Graphics card (oh yeah advice on this is appreciated too - you guessed it - I've never done it before! 
).
Thanks for all the tips guys, I really need help with this stuff.
Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by Anonymous on 04-23-2008 at 06:23:33 PM
Message edited by Anonymous on 04-23-2008 at 06:23:33 PM
| Anonymous wrote : So here are the specs i was thinking about: CPU - INTEL Pentium Dual-Core E2160 Additional info - yeah I'm pretty much a beginner at this so don't hurt me too much Thanks for all the tips guys, I really need help with this stuff. |
Everything looks good and balanced as it is.
This 9600gt comes with aftermarket cooler and overclocks better. Not sure if it's worth the extra to you, since you're on budget.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814127333
Happy building.
Reply to dagger
| zenmaster wrote : The PSU is nice, but if this is budget, Consider the Antec Sonata III Case/PSU combo. It's often on sale and the PSU included as actually good, which is rare for PSU/CASE combos. |
And with the money saved, get a E4000s chip instead of the old Pentium D.
Reply to dagger
enjoy the high detail! 
| dagger wrote : Everything looks good and balanced as it is.
|
Hmm, if I calculated it right from my currency into USD, it's about 10$ more expensive than the BFG. I'm trying to keep the price as low as possible with the highest possible value. Uhm, my point: is it worth it? (I heard from a friend that BFGs are great for overclocking, can't verify it though as I haven't tried it)
| Quote : The PSU is nice, but if this is budget, Consider the Antec Sonata III Case/PSU combo.
|
I have great experience with Corsair, so if it's not necessary to switch, I wanna keep it. I'm not very fond of case/psu combinations, so even if I'm on budget, I'm gonna invest a bit more to really ensure that it will perform as I want it to. Thanks for the advice though, I checked the case and it wasn't so bad, but I'm not sure that the PSU would be able to handle the OC-ed processor and gr. card.
| Quote : And with the money saved, get a E4000s chip instead of the old Pentium D. |
I know from experience that 2MB and 1MB cache makes a hell of a lot difference in games, and a little off topic - is 4MB and 2MB cache so different too, in terms of performance in games? I chose the E2160, because I think it's the best for low-budget systems overall. It overclocks like hell, it's affordable, the only downside is the 1MB cache (but a better processor could cost twice as much as this one).
| Quote : You mean Pentium Dual-core not Pentium D (there is a big difference). The Dual-core can hit up to 3.2GHZ on air easily and is a great overclocker. Instead of a 9800Gt go for a 8800Gt wihich is slightly cheaper and overclocks better (last time I checked). |
Umm it's a 9600, a 9800 would be (a little ) too expensive for a low-budget system. No probs mate, thanks anyway .
| Quote : Ya the E2160 isn't a bad chip at all. The only thing I saw that didn't seem as good as it could be is that you could get a better CPU cooler maybe. Not sure about that one. Everything else looks great. |
Could you make a suggestion for the possible replacement?
Thanks for the fast replies guys! I really appreciate it, keep 'em coming!
Update guys - I've been looking up a fitting case for my system, and I believe I got a good one . Check it out - Thermaltake M9. Let me know what you think guys, because I can be wrong! (I'm not an expert case-wise). Thanks!
Looks good I got a HDT-S1283 for my e2160 and got it up to 3.0 ghz and will go higher later I'm using a p35 ds3l too check out
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] uals-guide
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] erclocking
Thanks! Those links helped .
I'm still curious what you guys think about the Thermaltake M9 Case. Good/bad experiences anyone?
Okay . Probably the last question from me (don't kill me yet ): would you rather go for a cheaper THERMALTAKE VI1000BNS M9 case without a window or the more expensive THERMALTAKE VI1000BWS M9 with a window? The window's the only difference, otherwise they're the same cases. Does a window provide better air circulation / heat dissipation? I know it may be a stupid question but I really have no clue , thanks. Oh and another thing - do you think the cooling will be sufficient if I do high overclocking (CPU 3+GHz, GPU ~725Mhz (if possible))? Would you consider switching to a Thermaltake Ultra 120? Oh yeah, I don't like peak temperatures at my components, I'd like them to survive for a few years at least .
Thanks for the help guys, I really appreciate it.
Ok, seems like a fair reason 
. I edited the first message, you can find the finalized config there, thanks and see ya, this is Spirit signing off .
------------------------------
Q6600@3.6ghz, GA-EX38-DS4 motherboard, 8gb 800mhz ddr2 4-3-3-12, 8800GTS(g92)@780mhz, 1TB + 1.5TB hdds, 850watt psu
Reply to dagger
Reply to dagger
^The freezing to death part backs my vampire theory!
Cooling a PC with snow 99/100 not a good idea 
Buffy grew up and went home. Spike took over her job.
Don't hurt animals, hurt little girls... 
Reply to dagger
This is indeed a very solid build, although I bet you paid a tad bit more for the lower CL Corsair ram. IMO, if on a crazy budget, go with the G.Skill DDR2 800 2 x 1 GBs, they've got a tad slower latency but they're extremely affordable. Now to wait for DDR3 to start lowering in pricing... 
------------------------
www.project-8pr.com >>--__-_--
Message edited by Fractal_FX on 04-25-2008 at 04:23:56 AM
| amdfangirl wrote : ^ Now before you give me a steak you should know I'm a vegetarian. |
62°C on water? 
Holy Smokes Batman.
Someone needs a new radiator. I hope he didn't use cheap tubing!
I'd call that a threat to global warming. 
If most of us saw a chicken farm up close, we'd be vegetarian as well.
As for staking ... we'll leave that to Buffy and her gang of social misfits.
Why hurt anybody? Ignore them.
In this dangerous world that gives them a chance to hurt themselves and leaves you with a clean record.
| amdfangirl wrote : ^^ Yes, you should be pacifist like me |
That's a phase. It passes with age and the amount of unreasonable people you meet.
Message edited by Andrius on 04-25-2008 at 11:09:13 AM
| amdfangirl wrote : You mean Pentium Dual-core not Pentium D (there is a big difference). |
there is? I was aware of pentium d and celeron D.Pentium d = dual core. Its still netburst anyway .
| acidpython wrote : there is? I was aware of pentium d and celeron D.Pentium d = dual core. Its still netburst anyway |
Look at the name of who your quoting man, I mean; common sense with the naming scheme would be out the window.
Just wait till this girl has a boyfriend and she's walking down the street with him. He'll look at another girl walking by. End of pacifism.
Let the hurting begin.
As for the chips in question:
Pentium D 9xx series = NETBURST = avoid at any cost.
Pentium Dual Core E2xx0 series = Alenndale 1MB budget version = good
| amdfangirl wrote : ^ I already have a boyfriend (he's not a pacifist or vegetarian but I've known him for ages (we even started our own comic strip and band together)) He wouldn't do something like that. Anyways he's only interested in me because we both are technology enthusiasts (and both love AMD and underclocking) and mainly because I have natural red hair (and I'm the only girl he'll ever get mind you). |
My bad. Your profile states you're 13. I didn't imagine you have use for a boyfriend at that age. Anyway. He's a man right? He'll do it you just have to watch out for it. It's in our nature to look. It's also in your nature to beat us for it.
Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by Andrius on 04-25-2008 at 11:31:07 PM
Message edited by Andrius on 04-25-2008 at 11:31:07 PM
| Andrius wrote : My bad. Your profile states you're 13. I didn't imagine you have use for a boyfriend at that age. Anyway. He's a man right? He'll do it you just have to watch out for it. |
Meh, p3d0s are hard to come by those days. Going by the news you'd think they're everywhere. It's misleading. And I've had use for a bf since 12. They're useful for buying stuff and whatnot...
Reply to dagger
| dagger wrote : Meh, p3d0s are hard to come by those days. Going by the news you'd think they're everywhere. It's misleading. And I've had use for a bf since 12. They're useful for buying stuff and whatnot... |
Okey. I've never looked at it from an economic point of view. Good thinking.
I didn't really have any money to spend on girlfriends until I was 25 (a steady job) so I never thought of that benefit.
Most of my spare cash went into PCs since I was twelve. Dune 2, Privateer, Master Of Orion FTW.
| amdfangirl wrote : ^ that's normal for me |
and your how old again ma'am? - got sake don't tell me the youth of this country are that bad yet...
| macgirlfriend wrote : [to you: alright] Missy this man is trying to help you with your binge drinking and all you do is just ignore this generous man. He's even trying to teach you good habits and lessons about life and all you do is shrug those words off and make silly rhetorical questions and answers. |
And then teach you something else after you're drunk.
Reply to dagger
How did this topic get from a cheap build question to teenage girls arguing over alcohol (and it's not cooling related)?
@ amdfangirl
Told you about the looking part. Now you will have to do the beating part.
Message edited by Andrius on 04-26-2008 at 05:13:18 PM
| amdfangirl wrote : ^ Beat up whom? I'm a pacifist remember |
You'll know when it happens. Just keep an eye out.
| amdfangirl wrote : All animals are our friends, we don't hurt each other on purpose |
Wasn't that the guy who got eaten by a lion at the zoo said?
Reply to dagger
^My cat snores like a bear!
That hornet didn't sting me on purpose but it hurt like hell anyway and I had an 8cm bump on my chest for like a month. It's a good thing I didn't have my improvised flamethrower with me on my bike.
Message edited by Andrius on 04-26-2008 at 07:00:37 PM
^I do that daily. I'm a programmer/logic designer.
In my line of work the poeple who give orders never know what they want until you've written everything they ordered and debugged it to an acceptable level. Then they want additional features that increase the workload by 300% or so and they don't want the price to change. They also want free tech support for a year and that includes additional features.
Pain is good they say. I really wish I went into road construction instead.
Message edited by Andrius on 04-26-2008 at 08:20:35 PM
| amdfangirl wrote : ^ Isn't that tar kinda stuff bad for your lungs |
In general life itself is hazardous to your health. EMI/EMR from a computer isn't healthy either.
I say die "young"(like late 60/early 70 or so) and save yourself from the experiance of not being capable of taking care of yourself again.
Please mind
You are about to answer a thread that has been inactive for more than 6 months.
If you still wish to proceed, please ensure that your posting is original and does not duplicate or overlap any prior responses to this thread.
Sponsored links
Ad
Related Topics
- looking for advice on this gaming build please
- New $2000 build. Comments are appreciated
- advice/recommendations on new gaming pc
- First build - advice appreciated
- Rate this budget gaming build TomsHardware!
- Gaming System Build: Need critque and advice please
- AMD vs. Intel (Two builds; One choice; Need your opinions)
- Thoughts about gaming build
- first build for gaming, need advice
They won a badge
Join us in greeting them
- 05:23 jsc won the Overclocking badge
- 01:00 rolli59 won the Spy badge
- 01:00 sponger 117 won the Uniformed badge
- 01:00 ujaansona won the Uniformed badge
- 01:00 jerryc won the Freshman badge
- 03:17 BadTrip won the CPUs badge
- 01:00 kidaquarius won the Freshman badge
- 02:04 OvrClkr won the Graphics badge
- 01:00 BadGirl won the Uniformed badge
- 01:00 pathasse won the Uniformed badge