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Help Build Me a PC

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Ok guys,

Here's my current specs

System Specification---6/23/2009 11:22:22 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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?)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.

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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.

------------------------------ Q8300 | 6GB DDR2 | Vista Home Premium 64-bit
Reply to vettedude

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.

Reply to HundredIslandsBoy

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

------------------------------ Q8300 | 6GB DDR2 | Vista Home Premium 64-bit
Reply to vettedude

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!


Message edited by vh1atomicpunk on 06-23-2009 at 09:52:06 PM
Reply to 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.

Reply to vh1atomicpunk

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

------------------------------ i7 920, E5300
GTX260, HD4870, HD4830
Reply to Bluescreendeath

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/Comb [...] mbo.198673


Message edited by wisecracker on 06-24-2009 at 03:00:47 AM
Reply to wisecracker

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...

Reply to Ffejeriah

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

Reply to Ffejeriah
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