Attention all pc builders

[Hueywolf123]

I have decided to start and build myself a kick-ass gaming pc. I was wondering if anyone here could list some 'must have' components, ie
Motherboard + chipset
Ram + rom
Hdd
Graphics card
Sound card
DvD drive
monitor
tower cooling system
any kind of fan filter (lots of dust in my place)
anything that will decrease the humidity
I know I need these things, but if anyone could suggest brands or specs. My ultimate would be to view SHIII GW, like I was watching the TV. A flawless non-jumpy picture

[Gizzmoe]

What´s your budget?

[Hueywolf123]

Well, ok, to start with I'm just looking at getting 1 component every couple of weeks. So I'm not too sure, but say give me a top range, then a mid range and I'll sort it from there.
My budget will be limited by the Admiral at home, she doesn't see any worth in any of this

[Gizzmoe]

Well, ok, to start with I'm just looking at getting 1 component every couple of weeks.

That´s not a very good idea for various reason. You should better wait until you can afford to buy all components at once, even if that would take 6 months or more. That saves a lot of money.

[marius]

Ok. Obviously now you know AMD CPUs are half price! So I hope you didn't buy one last week otherwise you would have wasted alot of money.

Here is what I think you should buy. The prices are in australian dollars.

Gigabyte M55SLI-S4 $152
AM2 Dual Core 5000+ $490
2G Kit Corsair DDR2 667 5300 $225
Maxtor 16M SATA II 250G x2 (raid 0) $230
512MB X1900XT Gigabyte $675
16x Samsung DVD-ROM $30
16x Pioneer 111D Black DVD-RW $53
Thermaltake Soprano case $125
TOTAL $1980

No screen keyboard mouse is included. You can pick you r own stuff there.

[frenzied]

I upgraded the guts of my computer (i.e. kept the drives, monitor, keyboard, mouse) a couple of weeks ago in Aus, and here's roughly what I got with rough prices:

MB: Asus A8N-SLI deluxe $200 - This MB rocks, I know several people with one, and it is highly recommended. It uses the nForce 4 chipset.

CPU: AMD athlon64 2700+ $350ish - It seems that dual core's are not really worth the price at the moment unless you do a lot of multitasking

Graphics: XFX GeForce 7900Gt 256Mb 520Mhz (not sure about the speed, but don't get the super-overclocked ones as they die very easily) $450 - Seems to be going very well, not top of the line, but you can get 2 of these for the price of one 7900GTX. It is possible to get a 512mb 7900GT for around the same price from inferior brands, but they are very rare.

RAM: go for 2 gigs if at all possible, I've only got 1gig, but really want a second.

Antec case, not sure which model but it was $170ish, and is very big and roomy and has funky blue LED's (mind you, LED colour shouldn't be the deciding factor).

One place you should check out is http://www.tomshardware.com/ a very useful site with reviews and comparisons of lots of stuff.

Hope this helps.

[Teho]

7900GTX is good, 7950 better and 2x7900GTX the best

[catar M]

7900GTX is good, 7950 better and 2x7900GTX the bestyou really don't need 2x 7900 for today's game's .My next upgrade is going to be when Direct X10 is out and all new vid cards. As Gizzmoe said save your many and buy all the parts at once.When I did my I got good discount when I bought all the parts in one shop

[rpckvv]

and my suggestion is instead of getting the best of the best as far as components are concerned, aim to buy, at the very most, the second best. quite a price difference between the newest and the second newest parts of your system, but not much performance difference. could easily shave $500-1000 off the price of your computer with no noticeable performance drop. if you do it right, you shouldn't have to upgrade anything in your computer for at least 3 years.

hell, i built my computer four years ago and all i've changed is more ram (512 --> 1024. actually tried 1.5g, but the third and fourth dimm slots were crapola) and maybe a step or two up with the processor. same mobo, gfx card, hdd, etc. and i've never had problems playing games, except battlefield 2, which was nvidia's wet dream game b/c you had to upgrade your video card in order to play it.

[Hueywolf123]

Thanks for your suggestions, if anyone on this forum from Aus can give me an idea of price, I'll speak with Admiral (Mrs) Hueywolf and work on a budget. Buying all at the same time does make more sense.
As my house is on a hill-side in bushland, we get a lot of humidity and a lot of dust. These two factors don't do pc's any favours at all. Has anyone, or does anyone know of anything that can limit this damage other than hermatically sealing off the room?

[Wulfmann]

There are a few points most important here.
Everything is already obsolete; everything.
No matter what expensive toy you buy it is not DX-10 nor is it HD.
So, since no matter what; we will be replacing everything with the next OS, so, there is no point in spending any more than does a good job for what one plays now.

One can buy a non SLI MoBo for under $75.00. A new AMD 3500 is $109.00 shipped from Newegg and a 7600 or X800 256MB VC will insure you run everything at max settings or very close with 1280X1024 resolution.
SLI is not worth it, as the Geek squads repeatedly state
Yes dual core will give you more if you have one PC tower as you can split the functions but if one has an existing 32 bit just leave all the day to day stuff there and build the 64bit just for your games/sims.
It will save you money and no one will give you a turd for your 32bit stuff anyway. A simple switch will allow you to use the same monitor/keyboard/mouse.
The 3500/X850XT/A8N/2GBDDR400 without all the small crap that is running on my 32 bit runs my set up maxed for CoD2 and every game in between at 1280X1024.

Don’t let me stop you from spending money by all means. But, for a lot less you can run the next year maxed, save a few bucks and be ready when we all trash our DX-9/XP stuff for all new systems, no matter how big, bad and bragging right super it is, it is already obsolete.
Wulfmann

[fredbass]

Just make sure your new motherboard will be able to handle Windows Vista, which many new ones are capable of already.

Other important items which may have been mentioned already:
1. Dual Core Processor (fast as you can afford)
2. Dual video card capable (as much memory as you can afford)
3. Get 2g of Memory (DDR2 and fast) and expandable for the future
4. Plenty of Power
5. A Good case that is easily accessible and will keep your hardware cool.
6. DVD-R/W
7. Plenty of USB connections
8. A good LCD Monitor (19" or bigger)
9. Plenty of Harddrive space

[Wulfmann]

FB, I respectfully disagree. The new OS (Going by past experience) will be bugged and frustrating for 6 months to a year.
SC 64 bit can handle any game currently out.
S-VC, a good one, can handle any game out. SLI only improves the big cards by a few FPS and buying an SLI so you can use 2 6600 does not give you the performance of a single 7800
DDR2 is 10% faster, not worth the cost increase, again, say the super PC geeks.
All the rest may be good advise but for now I believe build only what runs current spec games.
The new OS and DX-10 plus HD means every item will be old hat for Vista that we buy today. Do you really think in 2008 the CPU and VCs will be the same? They will be on another planet and what we are doing now will compare to Vodoo cards, the ultimate in their day, a day long gone.
Every single item will be useless because a new set of standards are coming. For one it will not be GB anymore; it will be TB
But, like I said, don't let me stop anyone from spending money for bragging rights.
I was going to get a AMD4000SC but could not find anything that needed to run better

Wulfmann

[fredbass]

FB, I respectfully disagree. The new OS (Going by past experience) will be bugged and frustrating for 6 months to a year.
SC 64 bit can handle any game currently out.
S-VC, a good one, can handle any game out. SLI only improves the big cards by a few FPS and buying an SLI so you can use 2 6600 does not give you the performance of a single 7800
DDR2 is 10% faster, not worth the cost increase, again, say the super PC geeks.
All the rest may be good advise but for now I believe build only what runs current spec games.
The new OS and DX-10 plus HD means every item will be old hat for Vista that we buy today. Do you really think in 2008 the CPU and VCs will be the same? They will be on another planet and what we are doing now will compare to Vodoo cards, the ultimate in their day, a day long gone.
Every single item will be useless because a new set of standards are coming. For one it will not be GB anymore; it will be TB
But, like I said, don't let me stop anyone from spending money for bragging rights.
I was going to get a AMD4000SC but could not find anything that needed to run better

Wulfmann

Well I really do appreciate your thoughts Wulfmann, but from what I know and have been told, as long as you get an appropriate motherboard and the right hardware etc, the only thing that someone might want to upgrade for DX-10 would be their video card, so you might want to hold off on that second card at this point. But we are really just guessing. And I don't think Vista is going to have that many bugs based on the amount of beta testing and delays which Microsoft has done to ensure it's quality. IMO

[mapuc]

....and the day after you have build it, it's stoneaged.

Markus

[fredbass]

....and the day after you have build it, it's stoneaged.

Markus

It's hard to get ahead when you always feel behind. And you can't wait forever.

My philosophy in general is to create something really good that will need little upgrading and will last around 3 years, then startover and buy or build a new one again. It might end up costing you less in the long run.

[GT182]

:hmm: I'd actually wait awhile. Reason is Vistas is coming out in 2007 along with Flight Simulator X. And long with that the new DX10 will be coming out. What you build today will need to be rebuilt when all this happens to get the most out of FSX....... that is if you fly and want what the newest MS sim will offer to play at 100%.

Remember, things will be changing in a big way in the coming year. As Fred said, you might be saving more by waiting.

[Wulfmann]

Hold off on what second card? I was not planning any second card. My point is that one should not try and build to the highest most expensive specs as all will be obsolete. Build to what runs current games well and no more.
Your build idea is a good one but this is not an evolution of tech it is a clean sweep restart so I do not believe this applies to your 3 year plan. What you build now is good for a year and no more, no matter what it is.

You believe Vista will not be bugged?:damn:

Trust them their MicroSoft?.:rotfl:

Even if its runs fine most of us want that proven not assumed as past experience has never once shown M$ to be bug free on any release.
That said we are still a year away.
By waiting you will then buy what you "know" will work not over spend and hope.
What ever you buy today that is not yet needed will be cheaper next week and much more in a year when you do need it.
I try and buy what is just passing out of super geek favor.
Do you really think other areas will not be advanced in CPU, VC, RAM, HD, MoBo, sound etc a year from now? None of us know what the system requirements will be so it just makes sense, IMO, to only buy what one knows will run current games fine and save some serious cash for when we can not resist the new stuff that will (hopefully) blow us away

Wulfmann

[Harmsway!]

I just purchased a whole new system from newegg myself. I didn't spend a ton of money but I did get something with it that hasn't been mentioned here yet. I got a 20 inch widescreen flat panel monitor.

Of course I wanted high performance and was cafefull to buy the right stuff. Yet the one item that is so noticible is the monitor. Gaming on a widesceen is awesome.

As far as what others are recommending I also made sure I got the new technology (PCI Express X) in a graphics card even if I didn't buy the most expensive. For around $100 I got the SAPPHIRE 1600X Radeon.

Wait, here is the best part. When my son's computer died I stalled in repairing it. My wife got so annoyed at him being on our machine she begged me to give him ours and get us this new one. Seeing the time was right I asked if we should go for the flat panel. Whoa...she said yes. Subsiming is better then ever.

Oh, it cost me a total of $1150 for everything shipped to my house.

Gene

[Hawk_308]

I figure this is a good thread to ask my question.
I have a machine a built in 03 specs are 3 ghz p4ht 1GB ram 9800 pro I plan on making some upgrades to get another year or so out of it. Im wondering what would I see the most bang for my buck with in SH3 ? The vid card or 2 more GB of ram?SH3 has been a little jumpy since GW.
TIA

[Wulfmann]

H, 2 GB of RAM is a good amount for SH3 and it is very cheap now (I assume you mean DDR RAM)
Before you upgrade your 9800 download the ATI Tool. You may be able to jump the performance more than you might guess. If you can I advise getting the Arctic Cooler fan for the 9800 about $18.00 shipped from newegg which will cool the overclocked 9800 to less temps than it now runs stock. I know this for a fact.
Because you have an AGP8 video slot upgrading to a bigger VC will not do as much as upgrading the system.
Right now that is very cheaply done.
A new Mobo, a 3500 AMD 64 bit CPU and an X800 256MB PCI express VC will run about $300.00.
With 2GB of RAM you will play any game available now bar none.
You ill not believe the difference in SH3 will have.
But if you just add 1 GB of RAM, OC the 9800 with the free ATI Tool (very easy to use) and add the AC fan for it that will cost you about $75.00.
Just an opinion

Wulfmann

[frog7]

i know you got to get things right...But im a firm beliver in RAM RAM and more RAM build your pc whats left get as much.....RAM!...lol:up:

[fredbass]

What you build now is good for a year and no more, no matter what it is.
None of us know what the system requirements will be so it just makes sense, IMO, to only buy what one knows will run current games fine and save some serious cash for when we can not resist the new stuff that will (hopefully) blow us away
Wulfmann

Well I certainly hope you are wrong. I did quite a bit of research b4 I had made my decision as i definitely wanted to avoid the types of things that you have mentioned. And I came to a different conclusion than you have. That's really all I can say. I checked online and talked to other experts and all sources said that my system would be fine for Vista. And I think you're really too concerned about DX10. But regardless, I've already made my choice and I wish good luck to anyone else who needs to make a similar decision.

my specs:

Case: Gigabyte 3D Aurora with clear side panel window
motherboard: ABIT AT8 32X crossfire
processor: AMD Athlon 64 x2 dual-core 4400+
Windows XP Professional 64bit
memory: 2x1gb Corsair DDR 433 pc3500 pro
video card: Asus X1900XT 512mb/256bt
Harddrives 2x74gb Western digital wd740 raptors, 10000 rpm, SATA 150
monitor: ultrasharp 20" lcd flat widescreen

[von]

AMD blow up if pushed, P4 dont so i use a P4 Intel chip, they have a Blow ballast on them allso if they get too hot they slow the CPU useage DO AMD :lol: I use a P4 2.6 g with a 9600pro with 256 ,1 gig ram {fast}.motherboard Jetway.This works just fine but u always get someone saying mine goes faster:rotfl: .try and push an AMD chip see what happens{Call the fire brigade} just go like the Oldskool who know Intel says it on the tin ,not like AMD.Why do AMD say its a 3000 something but only a 2000 somethink :rotfl: Look out for the new Intel chips gonna bugger AMD:arrgh!:.My 1st chip was an Intel sx33 :sunny: the 1st cd rom drive i bought was a X4 at 120 QUID:rotfl:.Man them the days Pipex dial at 30 quid a month plus 10 p a minute :x .Tuning CPUs ive never BLOWN an INTEL Many crap AMDs have fallen and left a MARK on the MB!!Intel unlike AMD mark their CPUs down Amd mark theirs full wack:know: .So dont go with what u heard ive be using Intel and have never been let down.I must say the new Intels are running hotter core temps now but them AMDs been cooking for years=heat means ur buggered:dead:
Capt Von Bollocks

[THE_MASK]

X GAMER ULTIMATE VIPER COMPLETE COMPUTER GAMING PACKAGE 4000+ 7900GT x 2-4gig DDR 250gig/16
Item Code X_GAMER_ULT_VIPER X GAMER ULTIMATE VIPER COMPLETE COMPUTER GAMING PACKAGE

The Ultimate package for the gamer starting from scratch, value packed and powefull!
Dont be fooled by immitations from the competition buy the BEST there is from the company that knows how to make a gaming system!!
Our system includes many extras not found in most immitation/copy systems including custom high powered brand name PSU, Fast SATA-2 16meg Cache HDD Quality Motherboard and a case which include great features like a cable tidy at the rear.

FEATURES
AMD Athlon64 4000+ Socket939 DUAL CHANNEL 64bit CPU
Nforce4 SLI Motherboard inluding
7.1 Channel Audio Sound, Gigabit LAN, USB 2.0, SATA-2, Firewire ect.
4gig of DDR400 High Performance Memory running Dual Channel (4 x 1gig) **
16x DUAL LAYER DVD Burner and an extra 16x DVD-Rom for movies, backups, and the latest games on DVD
250gig SATA-2 16meg Cache Harddrive for the latest and fastest Performance
Floppy drive and Internal memory card reader included as a BONUS

2 x nVidia 7900-GT 256meg PCI Express video cards running SLi mode for extreme gaming
Internal Memory card reader and a floppy drive for every day needs with file transfers and memory types
SuperFlower 500watt PSU with plenty of grunt to run all the high end gear.
XG VIPER Gamers Case with grab handles, cable tidy, temperature monitor, crazy side window and the best paint job you will probably ever see in a case.

To make this a complete computer package we have also included the following....
SILVER / BLACK Multimedia Keyboard
BLACK Optical Mouse
17inch 8ms TFT Gaming Monitor or a 19inch Flat CRT Monitor
5.1 Channels Labtech ARENA 675 Speaker Set featuring powerfull bass Or Equivilent alternative
*
* Award was based on older model, NEW model now has faster CPU, faster VIDEO and double the RAM all for the same PRICE!!!

**To use the full 4gig of memory Windows 64bit is needed, Windows XP can still be used but cannot use the full 4gig

[bigboywooly]

Well ? how much :rotfl:

[stabiz]

AMD blow up if pushed, P4 dont so i use a P4 Intel chip, they have a Blow ballast on them allso if they get too hot they slow the CPU useage DO AMD :lol: I use a P4 2.6 g with a 9600pro with 256 ,1 gig ram {fast}.motherboard Jetway.This works just fine but u always get someone saying mine goes faster:rotfl: .try and push an AMD chip see what happens{Call the fire brigade} just go like the Oldskool who know Intel says it on the tin ,not like AMD.Why do AMD say its a 3000 something but only a 2000 somethink :rotfl: Look out for the new Intel chips gonna bugger AMD:arrgh!:.My 1st chip was an Intel sx33 :sunny: the 1st cd rom drive i bought was a X4 at 120 QUID:rotfl:.Man them the days Pipex dial at 30 quid a month plus 10 p a minute :x .Tuning CPUs ive never BLOWN an INTEL Many crap AMDs have fallen and left a MARK on the MB!!Intel unlike AMD mark their CPUs down Amd mark theirs full wack:know: .So dont go with what u heard ive be using Intel and have never been let down.I must say the new Intels are running hotter core temps now but them AMDs been cooking for years=heat means ur buggered:dead:
Capt Von Bollocks

Do you work for Intel, or something?

PS: A 2 gig AMD is the same as a 3 gig Intel.

[stabiz]

Ok, this was rewarding. *off to do a patrol on a uboat with well mannered crew"


Edit; I have now read your earlier posts, where you behaved like a human being, so what happened to you?

[von]

**********

[von]

Stabi what ever :rock: a 2 gig AMD is the same as a Intel 3 *** of go have a ****** m8 you aint got a clue so ***************
Russell

Von, this is a PG rated forum, please look around and use thge same language the rest of us are using. -- NS

[Sailor Steve]

You want to clean up the language a little, son? There are posters here as young as 10 at last count, and there's no need for that kind of talk or that kind of attitude. We like our arguments to be a little more mature here.

[von]

Hi Bugger just dont like folks talking about what they dont know about sorry to all the ten year olds
Russell

[von]

Steve how old are u ?
Russell

[Sailor Steve]

I don't know anything, but the benchmark tests I've seen do indeed rate the 2 Gig AMD about the same as a 3 Gig Intel (which 3 Gig Intel is what I have, by the way).

[GT182]

2 gigs of RAM using 2 sets of "matched" sticks is just fine for gaming and SHIII. There can be such a thing as having too much RAM. Usually your pc will not even notice or use anything over 2 gigs. Told that by many computer pros that know more than I do. ;)

Yep heat will slow down your pc so use a good heatsink and fan. Put your pc in an airconditioned room helps too. Use a case with more than 2 or 3 fans, with the intakes filtered. Clean them like clockwork or clean out the inside of your computer once a week with canned air. I've seen computers not cleaned in a month and they'd be loaded with crap... and the the owner wondering why his pc won't work.

But everyone here knows this stuff.... right? LOL ;)

My son-in-law is a Penn State college grad, cellphone exec bigshot know-it-all that hasn't cleaned their computer but only once in 4 years... by me cause I did it while he was at work. It's a wonder it didn't catch fire. The CPU and GFX card heatsinks were all but plugged solid. LOL

[Sailor Steve]

Steve how old are u ?
Russell
Fifty-six years, two of which were spent in the navy, one of which was in Viet Nam.

[von]

Gt how right you are m8
Russell

[stabiz]

Von, I remember the when I joined this site not long ago, and praised it for being troll-free. It has been a beautiful couple of weeks.

[von]

*******

[von]

*******

[Onkel Neal]

Three days in the brig, von. Please don't use bad language.

[Hueywolf123]

Wow guys, all I asked for was some advice on components for a pc I want to build, not WWIII. Von, you really need to keep calm, I respect your knowledge, but there really is no place for foul language. Lets keep this as a discussion. If any of you can compile a list - pm it to me.
Thank you all for your help, and I must appologise to the mods for posting a thread that has caused such a blow-out of bad tempers

[pabloh20]

Hueywolf123

Pleease don't respect von's knowledge of PCs as he doesn't seem to have any, or at least not an unbiased view, for sure. However, don't take my word for it & have a look around for your self and see if you agree with his comments. The only thing that he actually got right is that Intel's new chip does seem to be very good. As for the rest of his comments - well I guess starting with 'AMDs blow up if pushed' is as good an indicator as anything.

If you're thinking of buying all the components it will work out more cost effective to buy a complete system (well it does in the uk, anyway), but you probably won't get all the exact components that you want & will have to make a bit of a compromise on some bits. If you do want to buy all the separate components, then I agree with an earlier poster that you would have to get a fair chunk of these together, otherwise it may be a while before you found out if a component was faulty or not. Having said that, it is quite satisfying to build your own pc.:lol:

Pablo.

[Wulfmann]

I have killed Mobos, Video cards, RAM, PS and sound cards but I have never killed an AMD CPU. The ones I no longer use are in family and friend's PCs and all are working perfect to date.
I have nothing agianst Intel I just follow the super geek advise
I suggest more intense study at FiringSquad would benefit those wishing to get into more serious detail. In truth I ask them at the hardware forum and base my opinions on those of more experienced geek types.
They swear (up to now) by AMD, say anything more than 2 GB of DDR RAM is a waste of money as well as doing SLI on super cards.
Fred, I hope for your sake I am wrong but that is not what I have been told.
Hey, its only money!
Here is the link to the hardware forum:
http://forums.firingsquad.com/firingsquad/board?board.id=hardware

Wulfmann