Budget Gaming Build ($300)

[Luclin999]

Decided to take the plunge and update my system.

I am using my existing case, mouse, keyboard and DVD drive and scrapping most everything else.

My current machine:

AMD Athlon 64 3000+
2 gigs of generic PC 2700 RAM
Zalman 7000B Heat Sink
Seagate 120g HD
ECS Nforce3-A MB
BFG 6800 GT (AGP)
Thermaltake 450w PS

My New Machine:

$42 - AMD Athlon 64 x2 5000+
$20 - 2 gigs of Corsair DDR2 800mhz
$30 - Zalman 9700NT Heat Sink
$50 - WD 250g HD
$38 - ECS GeForce 7050M-M MB
$80 - BFG 9600 GT OCX
$45 - Antec Neopower 550

$305 total.

I went with the 9600 GT OCX over an 8800 GT because my monitor's maximum resolution is only 1680x1050 and at that screen size the 8800 GTs don't seem to provide much of an edge over the 9600 GT.

Any comments or advice?

 

[vonbose]

The factory overclocked 9600 gts have been having an issue where in many games, they will randomly go to black screen and sieze up your machine. Look through this thread: it's nightmarish. I would get the 8800gt if I were you.

http://www.evga.com/forums/tm.asp?m=272011

 

[br3nd064]

I agree, stay with an 8800gt. Also, unless you're on a tight budget, get a better motherboard (preferably nothing made by ECS). They aren't exactly known for having "quality" products...

 

[hesskia]

1680x1050 isn't a 'small' resolution--One 9600 will have difficulties running at your LCD's native resolution (I'm assuming its an LCD).

If you in fact want to run at 16x10, I would recommend using 9600GT SLI or a 4850.

the 9600GT SLI is a more expensive option, requiring you to pick a SLI motherboard and an additional card.

 

[megamanx00]

Actually that's a good budget build. Personally though I would use the old power supply and use the money saved to get a better motherboard and GPU. I really dislike the abnormally high failure rate and lower quality rate of ECS boards. Every manufacturer has a few dead boards, but COME ON!! The Thermaltake 450w PS should be good enough to power that system with an 8800 GT or Radeon 3850. Of course anything more powerful would definitely warrant a better PSU. I'm assuming that your going to use your old optical drives and case.

 

[Luclin999]

Well, I can't afford to add any $$$ to the overall budget so unless there is an 8800 GT (512mb) or a 4850 out there for $80 or less I am not likely to be swapping the video cards.

The only other cards I have seen at the $80 price point are the 9500GT and the 8800 GT 320mb.

In all the reports I have seen, the 9600GT 512mb manages to consistently beat out the 8800GT 320mb in every test.

As to the 9600GT 512mb vs. the 8800GT 512mb every benchmark and review I have seen puts both cards within 1-2 FPS of each other at resolutions of 1600x1200 (roughly the same number of pixels as my monitor) so I can't really see an 8800gt being that huge of an upgrade.

And I've never seen a 4850 below $100.

 

[chris312]

1. I have a 9600 GT OC (made by MSI) and haven't had any problems with what you mention.
2. My 9600 GT can max out just about everything I throw at it but Bioshock and Crysis at 1440x900. I would tend to think that it could do 1680x1050 at medium-high settings.

I definitely agree that ECS is one of the cheapest and least reliable motherboard manufacturers, though. I'd drop the hard drive and the 120gb Seagate, and with that 50 bucks, upgrade to a better motherboard.

 

[Luclin999]

Actually that's a good budget build. Personally though I would use the old power supply and use the money saved to get a better motherboard and GPU. I really dislike the abnormally high failure rate and lower quality rate of ECS boards. Every manufacturer has a few dead boards, but COME ON!! The Thermaltake 450w PS should be good enough to power that system with an 8800 GT or Radeon 3850. Of course anything more powerful would definitely warrant a better PSU. I'm assuming that your going to use your old optical drives and case.

Switching to the Antec because the Thermaltake fried. (one of the reasons I decided to do the whole upgrade right now.)

 

[Luclin999]

1. I have a 9600 GT OC (made by MSI) and haven't had any problems with what you mention.
2. My 9600 GT can max out just about everything I throw at it but Bioshock and Crysis at 1440x900. I would tend to think that it could do 1680x1050 at medium-high settings.

I definitely agree that ECS is one of the cheapest and least reliable motherboard manufacturers, though. I'd drop the hard drive and the 120gb Seagate, and with that 50 bucks, upgrade to a better motherboard.

ECS wouldn't be my first choice but it was bundled with the processor so I ended up stuck with it although I do have to admit to having personally had good luck with the two other ECS boards I have owned over the years.

I have already purchased/assembled most of the components this morning (still waiting on the video card) and have been running the system off of the on board video. No hang ups or weirdness so far.

Assuming the ECS board doesn't fry, I'll probably swap it out for a better brand, PCI-e 2.0 compliant board around Feb-March '09.

 

[chris312]

That seems to be a good plan. Well done on staying under your budget limit! For what you are getting, I think 300$ is a great deal.

 

[jamay]

I would skip the zalman heatsink unless you plan on overclocking (not a good idea with that CPU). With that extra 30$, you can get a better mobo.

Also, did you forget to get a case and DVD drive or are you going to reuse those?

 

[Luclin999]

Also, did you forget to get a case and DVD drive or are you going to reuse those?

I am using my existing case, mouse, keyboard and DVD drive and scrapping most everything else.