Help Build Me a PC

[Ffejeriah]

Ok guys,

Here's my current specs

System Specification---6/23/2009 11:22:22 AM
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Windows Windows XP5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 2
Memory (RAM) 896 MB
CPU Info AMD Athlon(TM) XP 2000+
CPU Speed 1652.3 MHz
Sound card Creative Sound Blaster PCI
Display Adapters NVIDIA GeForce 6200 | NetMeeting driver | RDPDD Chained DD
Monitors 1
Screen Resolution 1024 X 768 - 32 bit
Network Adapters D-Link AirPlus G DWL-G510 Wireless PCI Adapter(rev.B) - Packet Scheduler Miniport
CD / DVD Drives D: LITE-ON DVD SOHD-16P9S
COM Ports COM2 | COM1
LPT Ports LPT1
Hard Disks C: 149.0GB
USB Controllers 8 host controllers.
Firewire (1394) 1 host controllers.
BIOS Info AT/AT COMPATIBLE | 04/17/02 | ASUS - 42302e31
Motherboard ASUSTeK Computer INC. A7V333
(Friggin old, right?)
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I need help building a new computer. I don't need tonz of power, i'm not going to play Crysis on it or anything of that nature, but I do want to play these games without lag from my end (I know there's not much I can do about internet lag).

World of Warcraft (I guess I would also like to know what the best internet conn. speed is for this)
Warcraft 3
Starcraft 2
Diablo 3
Half-Life 2

As you can see I don't do a whole lot of PC gaming, but it's really getting on my nerves when my computer lags when more than 8 players are around me in WoW, I get killed by a demo-man planting 8 remote mines at my feet, and I can't play through a whole Warcraft 3 match without being booted with 5 mins left in gameplay.

I need help.

I don't know enough about PCs to build my own, and all the sites i've visited so far want me to buy things that I wouldn't use ever.

I have an assistant management position at Gamestop and get paid very well, but i'd rather this not go over 600 bones. I don't need an OPS for I have XP Home, and it woiks for me.

 

[Vettedude]

I would go with 3 GB of RAM and Vista Home Premium. A C2D or even Pentium would probably be fine if you want Intel, and I know nothing about AMD, so can't help you there. No need for a GTX series graphics card either. An 8 or 9 series would be fine. But try to get a x6xx or higher. Don't get an x4xx or x2xx card. Those are low-end cards. So an 8800 would be fine.

 

[hundredislandsboy]

Man, if you're gonna use that same monitor, get a celeron or an atom with built in graphics.

Get a Newegg special on an 22" LCD for about $140. Leaves you $440 for the PC. Use your old hard drive, DVD drive, and upgrade them later so that leaves you with $440 for CPU, mobo , RAM, case.

e6300 and 9600 GT will be a good combo.

 

[Vettedude]

If you are gonna use XP, forget the 3GB RAM too. 1-2 would be plenty.

 

[vh1atomicpunk]

Newegg is your friend. Here is a complete system that should max all those games out at 1024*768 or 1280*1024 w/o issue for less than $450 shipped (if you are in the U.S.)

SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 22X DVD-R 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner - OEM

RAIDMAX SMILODON ATX-612WBP Black 1.0mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Foldout MB Computer Case With 500W Power Supply - Retail

HITACHI Deskstar P7K500 HDP725050GLA360 (0A35415) 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM

Foxconn A76ML-K AM3 Ready / AM2+ / AM2 AMD 760G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

HIS Hightech H467QSS1GP Radeon HD 4670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK - Retail

AMD Athlon X2 7550 Kuma 2.5GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache 2MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 95W Dual-Core Processor - OEM

This does not include a monitor or OS. Assuming you will be re-using those, this is a great deal. If you already have a DVD/RW, either SATA or IDE you can leave that off the list as well. A couple of the items have mail-in rebates if you choose to utilize them, which could easily drive the total cost under $400.

Hope this helps!

 

[vh1atomicpunk]

P.S. - If you do decide to upgrade the monitor, do yourself a favor and save some more cash. Don't buy a cheapy $120-150 unit. It will suck. Get this instead for $180

ASUS VH226H Black 21.5" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen 16:9 Full HD 1080P LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 (ASCR 12000 : 1) Built in Speakers - Retail

It's the bee's knees, and barring the monitor goes tits up, you probably won't be buying another monitor for 10 years with this unit.

 

[Bluescreendeath]

He can get a 4850 or a 4830 for almost the same price as a 4670 nowadays

 

[Wisecracker]

Free Win7 RC download will save some up front cash.

Go with an AM3 mobo like the Gigabyte GA-MA770T-UD3P and an Athlon II 250 Regor 3.0GHz - around $170



edit: Fergit it .... go with the Asus 770 AM3 and the Phenom 720BE for $189
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.198673

 

[Ffejeriah]

I found this set up on www.computerlx.com looks pretty nice, whaddya think?

Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q9400 2.66GHz 1333MHz 6MB LGA775 EM64T CPU
ASUS P5N-D LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard
Western Digital/HITACHI WD1600JS 160GB SATA2 7200rpm 8MB Hard Drive (DAILY SPECIAL)
NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GT 1GB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
6-CHANNEL DIGITAL SOUND ONBOARD
10/100 ETHERNET ONBOARD
BCC VOYAGER MID-TOWER ATX
OKIA 80MM CASE COOLER
OKIA A-POWER 680 WATT ATX POWER SUPPLY

too much?, too little? ... ?

Yeah, checked newwegg, looks awesome! But I don't know one bit about building it from scratch, and I'd worry about blowing something to pieces...

 

[Ffejeriah]

Yeah, i'd like to get a nice monitor as well, but they're hecka expensive :S