$500.00 Gaming PC-- Your opinions please :)

[echofoxtrot]

I have selected these components for a decent gaming rig- I already have a sata hdd and an accelero s1 (rev2) for the gpu (w/ 2 80mm fans attached)

1 G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ - Retail
Item #: N82E16820231122
Memory (Modules, USB) Return Policy $79.00
1 Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 Wolfdale 2.53GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80571E7200 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115052
Processors (CPUs) Return Policy $119.99
1 Antec EA650 650W ATX12V Ver.2.2 / EPS12V version 2.91 Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817371015
Limited 30-Day Return Policy $64.99
1 Open Box: MSI NX8800GTS 512M OC GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
Item #: N82E16814127325R
Open Box Item Return Policy $129.99
1 Open Box: ASUS P5K PRO LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813131275R
Open Box Item Return Policy $71.38
Shipped from TN
1 Antec Three Hundred Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Item #: N82E16811129042
Standard Return Policy $69.95
Subtotal $535.30
Tax $0.00
UPS Ground $8.89
Order Total $544.19

 

[echofoxtrot]

So I guess i'm wondering how this rig will do with kind of modern games? I've got bioshock , C&C 3...

 

[zenmaster]

I would be especially concerned about the Open Box Mobo.
Spend an extra $15 or So and get a DS3L that is not Open Box.

 

[ZOldDude]

Open box/returns are like buying another persons problems.
You don't need 4 GB of RAM unless you insist on Vista (bloated and crappy) and 2GB RAM sets are all over the Net for $29 with email code.
9800GTX was onsale last week for $149 with an email code.
Dualcore 3Ghz AMD and Asus MB combo's are on the Net for about the same price as the E7200 alone...and while game playing you can't tell what CPU it is.

Save your cash and spend some of it on a real PSU.
PC Power & Cooling 610 (49 Amp constant @ 12V) are $109-$119 with free shipping.

 

[one-shot]

Spend a few more bucks and let them keep the Open Box item. Get a new one. The vid card looks great for that price, but again, no Open Box items. I didn't think you could build a pc that fast for that cheap. I never really added up how much i've spend on mine. I also just ordered the same RAM that you did so I guess we'll both see how it works. Good Luck

 

[echofoxtrot]

Thanks so much for all the replies so far-- I think I went open box on these items, well b/c of the cost-- and I'm not in too big of a hurry to throw it all together. I've bought bad open box in the past, rma'd w/ asus and got a new one-- but I've never worked with MSI before--anyone have any thoughts on experiences with warranty (what is their warranty for gpu's?) and rmas?

Great suggestions so far on the gigabyte board and the 9800gtx--I'm reconsidering

Oh and btw i picked out the 4g of ram for the vista 64-bit that will be installed (indeed crap when it comes to compatibility with older games but other than that I don't think its so bad)

 

[njalterio]

That PSU should be fine. Do not get an open box motherboard whatever you do. It will not have the cables or anything with it. You should be able to get a different P35 at around the same price. If you are gaming, spend $30 more and get a 4850, way better performance.

It's amazing how much prices have fallen.....

 

[echofoxtrot]

You know-- and I almost went for a pre-configured dell, b/c I was like "wow for 400 bucks this thing is cheap", but then I went on a mission to build something from newegg and was like "wow dell is raping us" b/c you can something MUCH better if you spend the time and spec out cheap crap. lol

 

[ZOldDude]

Yeah if your going to use Vista then get 4GB of Ram.
I also use G.Skill (the older 7 unit LAN system in my profile is OC'd 50% on stock volts w/ PC P&C).
You could still save money on the RAM by getting two sets of the Corsair TwinPacks.

Mostly I would still spend a bit extra and get a "real" PSU (PC P&C)...every Antec I ever used died about the same time the warrenty did!

 

[aevm]

Try getting a new HD 4850 instead of the open box 8800GTS. The price difference is not that big, and you'll get a better card and you'll know it hasn't been damaged by somebody else.

Edit: oh yeah, and open box MB, that's really risky.

 

[roadrunner197069]

If you buy open box you will be in for disappointment. And as far as a warranty from the mfg. they will require all the original components and cds which you most likely wont recieve.

Have fun running a motherboard without a i/o plate to help gorund.

A video card that is open box is almost a garantee DOA. They either work or they dont.

 

[Shadow703793]

+1 for no open box items.

If really on a budget and willing to OC:
P35-DS3L (good OCing) $85
E2180/E2160 (OC easily to 3-3.25Ghz; upgrade later to E8x00 or better) $60-70
ATI 4850 $175-220
XIGMATEK S1283 (+ bolt in kit) $40
2*1GB DDR2 800 ($25-30)
Corsair 650TX ($80 after MIR, good quality) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005&Tpk=Corsair%2b650TX

Total cost for above parts: $~400-420

That leaves ~$120+ for HDD and DVD RW,etc.

 

[Onus]

I don't think I'd trust open box either. As ZOldDude said, you could be buying someone else's problems.
That PC Power and Cooling PSU is currently only $80 after MIR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005.

For a bottom-mounted PSU, I was about to suggest this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341001
OCZ GameXStream OCZ600GXSSLI 600W ATX12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V CB/CE/CSA/UL/FCC - $60 after MIR; until I saw it will not be able to draw its air up from the bottom in that particular case unless you mod it. The PC P&C unit is a better one, but this is also a high quality unit if you need to save $20.

 

[atrain]

You know-- and I almost went for a pre-configured dell, b/c I was like "wow for 400 bucks this thing is cheap", but then I went on a mission to build something from newegg and was like "wow dell is raping us" b/c you can something MUCH better if you spend the time and spec out cheap crap. lol

Yeah, I just built my computer for <$1700 and saw an HP one in an ad for $3k+ that was only better because it had 2 9800GTXs and a nice sound card.

 

[aevm]

I don't think I'd trust open box either. As ZOldDude said, you could be buying someone else's problems.
That PC Power and Cooling PSU is currently only $80 after MIR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005.

For a bottom-mounted PSU, I was about to suggest this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341001
OCZ GameXStream OCZ600GXSSLI 600W ATX12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V CB/CE/CSA/UL/FCC - $60 after MIR; until I saw it will not be able to draw its air up from the bottom in that particular case unless you mod it. The PC P&C unit is a better one, but this is also a high quality unit if you need to save $20.

I'm voting for the $80 Silencer 610W with free shipping. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005
Be careful, there's a $80 Silencer 500W there too with $11 shipping. Stay away from that one.

 

[dirtmountain]

Antec 300 case for $63 and free shipping from buy.com
http://www.buy.com/prod/antec-three-hundred-atx-computer-case/q/loc/101/207906549.html

 

[evilshuriken]

I've honestly never had any problems with open box motherboards on newegg. I have gotten some sweet deals that way a couple times, receiving all accessories and a perfectly working item(getting all accessories is extremely unlikely).

Though I guess if it can be avoided it should, not having an I/O panel is a real inconvenience and it's always nice to know you have something brand new.

 

[rodney_ws]

What sort of testing does NewEgg do on open box items? I can't imagine any testing scheme being good enough to catch even a majority of the problems. I would never feel comfortable buying an open box product. Maybe that's just me.

 

[Shadow703793]

+1 for PP&C 610.

 

[spunks]

Every open box item (2) I've ever ordered from newegg, Ive sent back.


drop memory in half to 2gb (unless going to vista 64 or xp 64) save $40

bump up the video card to a hd4850, so you absoultly no question on gaming power. spend $40 more



4gb system with an 8800gts vrs a 2gb system with a hd4850


No contest. Hd4850 with 2gb will walk all over that 8800gts



spunks

 

[daffy1108]

My son just built his $1200 gaming PC with his summer job money.
It uses a Visiontek 4850. It really flies with 2GB PC8500 memory
and Vista 32bit and Intel Q6600 quad-core.

For open box, I don't like to order open box from mail order.
I prefer to get open box from local electronics supplier like "Fry's Electronics"
because I can always claim the part as defective and get my money back.