Building a computer for HL2

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imphasing

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I'm in desperate need of a new computer (the one I'm running is a
1.3ghz celeron, 192 ram, radeon 7000 PCI video)

I can play half-life 1 just fine, but that's getting old. I would like
to save a LOT of money, and try to build a computer so I can play HL2
(and other newer games) Here's the catch:
I can't spend more than about $350.
can it be done? I've seen pretty cheap barebones systems on
newegg...does anyone have any experience with these? I think I can buy
a 64bit AMD barebones for around $140, and a 64 bit amd chip for around
$120, and cheap ram, HD etc...then I would need a good video card.
Can someone suggest a moderatly priced decent video card? I would like
to spend less than $60 on the card, but if I have to, I'll spend
more...

anyway, if someone could help me, that would be awesome.

Alex
 
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imphasing

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what do you guys think about this setup? slightly cheaper (just changed
the video card) and a bit more in my range...will any ATX mobo fit in
an ATX case?

Alex
 
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Guest

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On 8 Jun 2005 14:34:38 -0700, imphasing@gmail.com wrote:

>I'm in desperate need of a new computer (the one I'm running is a
>1.3ghz celeron, 192 ram, radeon 7000 PCI video)
>
>I can play half-life 1 just fine, but that's getting old. I would like
>to save a LOT of money, and try to build a computer so I can play HL2
>(and other newer games) Here's the catch:
>I can't spend more than about $350.

That's too low if you want to run that generation of games. However:

- Some stores sell a $300 computer model. These are cheap and usually have
an onboard video card.
- Go to a place that sells second hand components. it can either be a
store, or an online site or newsgroup that trades in computer components.
(Global internet sites such as E-Bay are not recommended - the shipping
charges are generally high between two traders.)
- Install a $60 video card, such as an ATI 9000. Instant gaming machine.
- If your computer has 256MB ram, Install a 512. Usable gaming machine.
- After that, upgrade as necessairy.

One other thing you should know - Buying a $350 computer only saves money
upfront. If you need performance, you'll still be paying a bit more than
full price for a normal performace system as you have previous components
that you need to get rid of.
 
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<imphasing@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1118266478.619681.108280@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
> I'm in desperate need of a new computer (the one I'm running is a
> 1.3ghz celeron, 192 ram, radeon 7000 PCI video)
>
> I can play half-life 1 just fine, but that's getting old. I would like
> to save a LOT of money, and try to build a computer so I can play HL2
> (and other newer games) Here's the catch:
> I can't spend more than about $350.
> can it be done? I've seen pretty cheap barebones systems on
> newegg...does anyone have any experience with these? I think I can buy
> a 64bit AMD barebones for around $140, and a 64 bit amd chip for around
> $120, and cheap ram, HD etc...then I would need a good video card.
> Can someone suggest a moderatly priced decent video card? I would like
> to spend less than $60 on the card, but if I have to, I'll spend
> more...
>
> anyway, if someone could help me, that would be awesome.
>
> Alex
>

There's no $60 video card that's going to run HL2 decently. For $350 lose
the 64 bit dreams. Off the top of my head I put together something like
this. Run the CPU at 200x12 for a cheap 3200+.
http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Wishlist/WishShareShow.asp?ID=1535899&WishListTitle=%24350
 
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Andrew

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On Wed, 08 Jun 2005 22:07:55 GMT, "Kill Bill" <a@b.c> wrote:

>There's no $60 video card that's going to run HL2 decently. For $350 lose
>the 64 bit dreams. Off the top of my head I put together something like
>this. Run the CPU at 200x12 for a cheap 3200+.
>http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Wishlist/WishShareShow.asp?ID=1535899&WishListTitle=%24350

Pretty good advice, although I would add another 512MB RAM (use the
saving from the video card rebate). Nothing wastes CPU/GPU power more
than not enough memory.
--
Andrew, contact via interpleb.blogspot.com
Help make Usenet a better place: English is read downwards,
please don't top post. Trim replies to quote only relevant text.
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shawk

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"Andrew" <spamtrap@localhost.> wrote in message
news:3brea1tk2bhf7lnffsfvlneualvdtlpt57@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 08 Jun 2005 22:07:55 GMT, "Kill Bill" <a@b.c> wrote:
>
>>There's no $60 video card that's going to run HL2 decently. For $350 lose
>>the 64 bit dreams. Off the top of my head I put together something like
>>this. Run the CPU at 200x12 for a cheap 3200+.
>>http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Wishlist/WishShareShow.asp?ID=1535899&WishListTitle=%24350
>
> Pretty good advice, although I would add another 512MB RAM (use the
> saving from the video card rebate). Nothing wastes CPU/GPU power more
> than not enough memory.

Seconded on the RAM. I saw a real difference in games like Far Cry when I
went to a gig of 3200 from 512. Otherwise, for the money, KB has suggested
a decent rig for what you want.
 
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Guest

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Nonymous wrote:
> "Sleepy" <nospam@here.com> wrote in message
> news:sASpe.17721$bl3.15953@fe1.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
> > http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Shopping/shoppingcart.asp?submit=view
> > Another thing to consider (which is why my quote was a little short is
> > that your old PSU may not be good enough - you need a decent quality 300w
> > PSU for all of this.
>
> Plus the old PSU is probably lacking that extra little 12v plug that plugs
> into the MB to power the CPU. Most new MBs require that.

And remember to get enough connectors or splitters so that you've got a
spare one for the GPU (in the case of an ATI 9800 at least).
 
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<imphasing@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1118266478.619681.108280@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
> I'm in desperate need of a new computer (the one I'm running is a
> 1.3ghz celeron, 192 ram, radeon 7000 PCI video)
>
> I can play half-life 1 just fine, but that's getting old. I would like
> to save a LOT of money, and try to build a computer so I can play HL2
> (and other newer games) Here's the catch:
> I can't spend more than about $350.
> can it be done? I've seen pretty cheap barebones systems on
> newegg...does anyone have any experience with these? I think I can buy
> a 64bit AMD barebones for around $140, and a 64 bit amd chip for around
> $120, and cheap ram, HD etc...then I would need a good video card.
> Can someone suggest a moderatly priced decent video card? I would like
> to spend less than $60 on the card, but if I have to, I'll spend
> more...
>
> anyway, if someone could help me, that would be awesome.
>
> Alex
>

First, what components can you keep from your old system? Monitor, HD,
mouse, case, power supply....

2nd, is this for a laptop? Cause on your gamer wish list at Newegg, you
picked an AMD Mobile cpu. If this is for a desktop, recommend you look at
the AMD 2600+ Barton 333mhz instead. Plus its cheaper.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103417

Finally, $350 (USD) might get you a decent cpu(&fan)/mb/RAM. But then the
hard part is getting a decent video card for the $ left over. You list the
Nvidia 5700 LE. Why this video card? The reason that I ask is that if
I'm thinking about getting a video card, I'll look at the benchmarks online,
find the frames per sec that I feel comfortable with, in the video rez that
I tend to play my games at. Then I'll use Newegg & www.pricewatch.com to
see what the video cards are going for.

If you can get by with your old HD, you might be able to use that extra $ to
spring for an ATI 9800Pro 128mb. This card can be found for about $130.
And it'll blow away the 5700LE.


Some more links for you:

http://www.sharkyextreme.com/guides/MVGSBG/article.php/3501646 (they're
over your budget though)

http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20031229/index.html list major AGP
video cards. Use this to compare the benchmarks of desired video card vs
the price.

http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20041110/buyers_guide-19.html

http://www.anandtech.com/

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2278

good luck
OldDog
 
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imphasing

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Here's the deal with my old computer:

I'm 16, and my dad works at a company with lots of computer supplies,
and every once in a while, they throw bits of computers out. I was
lucky enough that they threw out a dell optiplex gx50, which is not
really a full size computer...it's just a bit smaller. It had the
1.3ghz celeron, no ram, no PSU, and no HD. so after much more
scrounging, I found a 64mb ram chip, and a 128mb ram chip, a 10gb hd
(really hard to have ANYTHING on a 10gig hd...) and several power
supplys. I put it all together, and got what I ahve now. then I finnaly
broke down and bought a cheap video card (radeon 7000, first computer
part I ever bought...) I also have another cumputer they threw out, and
it has an ATX case, and I've got several 250 watt psu's hanging around.
so I've basicaly got a case and an okay power supply...which is
probably not big enough. and I've got a little bit of ram...not much
though. I have like 5 64mb ram chips, but that's no good if it only has
2 slots.

anyway, I'll look at video card benchmarks, and see what might fit my
style/budget.

Thanks,
Alex
 
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imphasing

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oh, my dad's company also threw out a perfectly good 20 inch moniter.
(score!!) so a moniter I have, and a good one at that.
 
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sleepy

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http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Shopping/shoppingcart.asp?submit=view
this will do okay. The 9600pro is better than the 5700le particularly for
HL2 and D3D games. The Abit board is nice but the Epox a little cheaper and
theyre a reliable make. You basically need a 2ghz CPU and 512mb RAM as
minimum - 1gb is sweet for HL2, Far Cry and Doom 3. If you stick at 512 RAM
then put the newer 7200rpm HDD as master and your older HDD as slave and
format the slave then put the swapfile on it. It'll smooth out the HDD
accessing. Then put the remainder of your money into a 9600pro or if you can
scrape a little more together a 9800. Another thing to consider (which is
why my quote was a little short is that your old PSU may not be good
enough - you need a decent quality 300w PSU for all of this.
 
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Nonymous

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"Sleepy" <nospam@here.com> wrote in message
news:sASpe.17721$bl3.15953@fe1.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
> http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Shopping/shoppingcart.asp?submit=view
> Another thing to consider (which is why my quote was a little short is
> that your old PSU may not be good enough - you need a decent quality 300w
> PSU for all of this.

Plus the old PSU is probably lacking that extra little 12v plug that plugs
into the MB to power the CPU. Most new MBs require that.
 
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imphasing

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what do you guys think of the mobo/proscessor? I added the 6600GT, and
it came out to $370, which is doable for me. any ATX motherboard will
fit in an ATX case, right? will that video card require another plug on
the power supply?

Alex
 
G

Guest

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imphasing@gmail.com wrote:
> what do you guys think of the mobo/proscessor?
Gigabyte's a "safe" brand. You shouldn't have any problems there.

> I added the 6600GT, and
> it came out to $370, which is doable for me. any ATX motherboard will
> fit in an ATX case, right?
Yes.

> will that video card require another plug on
> the power supply?
Pass.
 
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imphasing

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I wouldn't be using the case from my dell. I'm sertain it isn't ATX.
I've got a generic ATX case from another computer. not like I want this
to win beauty contests...
 
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imphasing

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oh, I've got a HIPRO 235 watt psu with more than enough plugs to go
around, and an "ATNG" 250 watt with 4 standard plugs, and one for the
floppy. (plus the one that plugs into the mobo)
 
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imphasing

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hehehe...is there any danger of hurting something expensive? this case
already has an ATX mobo in it, so it obviously can hold one...can you
"blow" some part up by using an inadequet PSU?

Alex
 
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Andrew

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On 9 Jun 2005 07:36:54 -0700, imphasing@gmail.com wrote:

>what do you guys think? is that a solid video card?

It would work, but is probably half the power of the 6600GT originally
suggested. The extra $50 would be well spent IMO.
--
Andrew, contact via interpleb.blogspot.com
Help make Usenet a better place: English is read downwards,
please don't top post. Trim replies to quote only relevant text.
Check groups.google.com before asking an obvious question.
 
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Andrew

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On 9 Jun 2005 08:39:54 -0700, imphasing@gmail.com wrote:

>what do you guys think of the mobo/proscessor? I added the 6600GT, and
>it came out to $370, which is doable for me. any ATX motherboard will
>fit in an ATX case, right?

You should check the specs to confirm it, Dell machines aren't known
for their adherence to standards.

> will that video card require another plug on
>the power supply?

Almost definitely, but a splitter will suffice if the PSU is up to the
job (which I have my doubts about from what you have said so far).
--
Andrew, contact via interpleb.blogspot.com
Help make Usenet a better place: English is read downwards,
please don't top post. Trim replies to quote only relevant text.
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shawk

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"Andrew" <spamtrap@localhost.> wrote in message
news:l8mga1hn29u6qdr0bkomp4imf1h95oem1s@4ax.com...
> On 9 Jun 2005 07:36:54 -0700, imphasing@gmail.com wrote:
>
>>what do you guys think? is that a solid video card?
>
> It would work, but is probably half the power of the 6600GT originally
> suggested. The extra $50 would be well spent IMO.

Yeah - 128bit (not MB) - it's a crippled 9800Pro. As Andrew said try and
raise the other $50.
 
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Andrew

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On 9 Jun 2005 09:16:38 -0700, imphasing@gmail.com wrote:

>oh, I've got a HIPRO 235 watt psu with more than enough plugs to go
>around, and an "ATNG" 250 watt with 4 standard plugs, and one for the
>floppy. (plus the one that plugs into the mobo)

This "project" is starting to scare me, I am glad I am a safe distance
(another continent) away! ;-)
--
Andrew, contact via interpleb.blogspot.com
Help make Usenet a better place: English is read downwards,
please don't top post. Trim replies to quote only relevant text.
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