What do you think about this new rig?

[Loud_Silence]

I'm saving some money for a new PC. Just wanted to show to you guys so you can tell me what you think about it.

First of all, it's not an "ultimate gaming machine". I'ts just a mid range computer, intended to be able to run games with a decent performance over the next couple of years for a good cost.

CPU: AMD Athlon II X2 265, 2x3300mhz
MoBo: ASUS M4A77T
Memory: 4GB DDR3-1333 Kingston (two modules)
Hard Drive: Samsung HD103UJ, 1TB 7200rpm
PSU: Corsair CMPSU-650TXV2, 650W 53 amps on the V12 bus
...and a new LG SATA DVD-RW drive

For the graphics card, I'll be keeping my current GeForce GTS250.

And I forget to mention, I'll be using Windows XP on it (hence the 4GB ram limit).

The total cost is about 350€ (about 500$). Keep in mind that sellers are a bunch of MFers when it comes to pricing things for selling on europe, as they normally use a conversion of 1 euro = 1 dollar, when in reality it's more like 1 euro = 1.5 dollar.

And remember, it's NOT an "everlasting ultimate gaming machine", it's just a mid range computer.

[Jan Kyster]

Originally Posted by Loud_Silence

...sellers are a bunch of MFers

what's that?

Price here for same pieces is $468 or €320.


Your current rig must be really, really old and slow? otherwise I would wait and double the savings before upgrading.

[Loud_Silence]

The main issue with my current PC is the CPU (Athlon X2 4800+, 2x2500mhz). It runs very well all the time with games like Aliens vs Predator, Mass Effect 2, Bioshock...
But it gets short on Arma II, Black Shark or Flight Simulator X, and I can't play The Force Unleashed or DCS A-10 on it (TFU needs at least a 5200+ and A-10 needs a Phenom X3 8750, which I think is way too much).

[Jan Kyster]

I'm afraid you'll be disappointed by that upgrade then. The difference is so small that I doubt you can feel any difference...

Why not go the overclocking way instead.
Instead of spending $500 on a dubious upgrade, spend some $50 on a good CPU fan, one or two chassis fans and then OC the heck out of the good, old Athlon

It is capable of running really fast...

[Loud_Silence]

Originally Posted by Jan Kyster

I'm afraid you'll be disappointed by that upgrade then. The difference is so small that I doubt you can feel any difference...

Why not go the overclocking way instead.
Instead of spending $500 on a dubious upgrade, spend some $50 on a good CPU fan, one or two chassis fans and then OC the heck out of the good, old Athlon

It is capable of running really fast...

I've been thinking on that. I can overclock it to 4800mhz per core without even messing with the voltage. The problem is that my Mobo is AM2, and I can't find cpus for that socket, at least in spain (buying outside makes the shipping costs go sky high), and if my CPU dies because of the overclocking I will have no choice but to upgrade the whole system. If I could find AM2 processors, I would probably buy a faster one and save more money to get a more decent rig later.

[Jan Kyster]

Some AM2 sockets I can order:

Athlon X2 7550 €36,-
Athlon X2 5200 €46,-
Athlon 64 X2 5600 €54,-

Postage from Denmark to Spain will be less than €28 (depending on weight) as package, but if I ship the cpu alone in a brief it will be some €6...

If you're interested, PM me your address and I'll ship the one(s... ?) you want.


Remember though there's very little you win by overclocking it the last steps.
Better keep it safe than putting too much strain on the chip.

But I understand why you would like to have a backup

[Loud_Silence]

Athlon X2 7550 for 36 bucks?!?!?!?!?
ME WANT IT NOW!!!!!!
Seriously..... shipping costs from Denmark to my doorstep just 6€? Omg... the shipping costs for deliveries just inside madrid are 10+€....
What shop sells that? Because I could buy one right now...

[Jan Kyster]

PM sent - but that one was found here http://www.proshop.dk/ShowProduct.as...&prodid=417379

Some other (danish sites):
http://www.computersalg.dk/produkt.h...&producent=AMD
http://www.compumail.dk/vare-oversig...&type=hardware
http://www.shg.dk/CPU/AMD-Athlon-X2-...&ref=edbpriser

[Loud_Silence]

Well..... new rig scuttled indefinitely.

It seems that the money from the new job will have to be invested on other more urgent things.
As you may know, things in spain are going pretty bad, and the "vacas flacas" have finally caught up.

PS:Kyster, thanks for your links. I really was THIS close to replying to your PM, but it will have to wait.