PC building help

[la-li-lu-le-lo]

I believe I asked a similar question to this before, but the circumstances are a bit different. I'm trying to build a new, reasonably fast computer for around $500. I don't need to build it completely from the ground up; I already have a case, a HDD, a PSU, a DVD drive, a copy of Windows, and the necessary PCI cards. I'm not entirely sure if my PSU is up to snuff, though. I'd like to know what kind of PSU you think I'd need for this type of system.

So, basically I need a CPU, motherboard, video card, and memory for somewhere around $500. Of course I'm going to put it together myself. I'd mainly want to use it as a gaming machine, and I'd like it to be able to play high-definition (1080p) video. So, I'm pretty sure that I'd like the video card to be a priority. I'd probably want a GeForce 7900 of some type, but I'm not sure. As for the rest, I really have no idea.

So for that price, and with that type of use in mind, what parts do you think I should get? In particular, I have no clue as to what type of CPU I should get, except that I'd like it to be mid-range, and probably dual-core.

[the_steadster]

Go with something like this(pretty much the system i built myself 6 weeks ago:
7950GT (replaced the 7900 about 1 month ago, and 2 weeks after i bought mine :banghead:
Core 2 duo processor, if you can one of the models with 4mb cache (2.4 or 2.66ghz)
Motherboards tend to be personal preference, but anything based on intel i975x or p965 or Nforce 570 or 590. I went with an asus P5W DH-deluxe, but thats probably a bit pricey.
2gb of ddr2-800 ram

If you go with the core 2, its a very low power chip, so you should get away with the same PSU.

[la-li-lu-le-lo]

Thanks, sounds like good advice. Isn't the 7950GT kinda pricey, though? Also, what type of PSU do you think would be ideal for that setup?

EDIT: After looking some of that stuff up, it looks like it would come out to like $800 total. Do you know somewhere I could get it cheaper? Else, can you recommend a similar setup on a budget of closer to $500?

[the_steadster]

Thanks, sounds like good advice. Isn't the 7950GT kinda pricey, though? Also, what type of PSU do you think would be ideal for that setup?

EDIT: After looking some of that stuff up, it looks like it would come out to like $800 total. Do you know somewhere I could get it cheaper? Else, can you recommend a similar setup on a budget of closer to $500?

Just fiddle around with the specs - perhaps go down to a slower core 2 duo processor, and cut the card back to a 7900gt - its all about working out how best you want your money to be split between components

[EvilWays]

If you are going to play hi-def (1080p) video thru a tv, I'd recommend the Asus 7600GT card for the HDMI connector and HDCP stuff already on it. There's an ATi equivalent (might be an X1300 or X1600)...this is just from looking on NewEgg.

[la-li-lu-le-lo]

Well, I don't really need to connect it to an HDTV, I just want to be able to play HD video. HDCP could be useful, though.

the_steadster: That sounds like a good idea, but if I'm going to go for a cheaper option do you think an Intel Core 2 Duo is still the best choice? Do you think that the 1.86Ghz Core 2 Duo processor (E6300), for example, would be powerful enough to play most games and 1080p video?

Concerning video cards, do you think it would be better to get a 7900GTO with 512MB GDD3 or a 7950GT with 256MB GDD3? Also, does the GPU's memory make that big of a difference in performance?

Also, do you think just 1Gb of RAM would be enough?

[retro]

I'd personally go for an AM2 motherboard. You can get a Sempron pretty cheap, but still have the flexibility of going up to an AMD 64 or even X2 later. This also allows you to use DDR2, which is pretty cheap at the moment. Go for 667Mhz.

As for a graphics card - we run X1600XTs in our LAN (256Mb PCI-Express) and they play every game we throw at them very nicely (COD2, BF2, Prey, UT2004, Quake 4 etc.). They are very reasonably priced, too!

Dunno if you have them over there, but we sell a lot of ASRock boards. They are cheap and cheerful ;)

OK, so we would sell you the following:

AMD Sempron 3000+ (AM2 retail boxed - this has the higher 256Mb L2 cache)
ASRock AM2NF6G-VSTA Motherboard (mATX, DDR2 x4, PCI-e, PCI x2 and on-board everything)
512Mb DDR2 667MHz
Sapphire X1600XT 256Mb PCI-e
for £232

This is approx. $440, well within your budget. Don't forget, things are more expensive here! Our RAM is £44 - I think its about $50 there!!!

We would then discuss your needs, and make appropriate suggestions (RAM upgrade (likely), different board e.g. for SLI if wanted).

1Gb RAM is fine for general games-playing etc.

[Shadowlayer]

Man, 500 bucks for a gaming rig? is a low budget for one of the most expensive PC types theres in the market.

Well, for the CPU go for a Core2, you wont regret that. I got an Athlon64 which is nice and does the job, but seeing the benchmarks on the core makes me want to set my system on fire and use the money of insurance for a new rig. Plus even one of the lowest Core2 out there can be overcloked to the level of an Extreme edition using the stock fan, so you got enough power for a while.

Now graphics: the 7900GS is the way to go if you want good graphics but you lack the extra money. I think it has an HDMI, but again, if you dont want to use it with a TV then it doesnt matters.

For RAM, as retro said you only need 1 gig for now, but try to get some good quality chips. I found the best "cheap" RAM out there is the one for kingston. It doesnt crashes, has a good latency and its pretty good overall.

So, thats all...

[sexilicious]

right now i'd stay away from amd, especially the semprons; my athlon 2600xp still kills at least 3100 semprons. Personally i'd get a nice overclocking motherboard, socket 775, pentium D 805, somewhere around a $30 heatsink/fan and overclock the hell out of it. This would save you about $100 from a core 2 duo, and you still have the option to upgrade to at least them and probably future quad cores.

Ram is actually quite expensive now, ddr prices are on the rise and ddr2 prices aren't falling fast enough more my tastes. stick with a gig for now, and when prices fall add another gig or so.

As for video cards I prefer nvidia; but I'm not an expert in this area right now. Maybe go for a mid range 7600gs, or 7900 or ati equivalent, then in a year or so dx10 cards should be affordable.

just my 2 cents

[madhatter256]

If you plan on getting a 7900GS, then look into the 1900GT or the newer 1950Pro from ATI. Those outrun the 7900s and are more or less the same price. But if you want dual video cards, I'd still stick with nVidia's SLI over ATI's crossfire.

Heres a link that will be helpful.

http://www.pcper.com/hwlb.php

[la-li-lu-le-lo]

Thank you very much for your advice. In light of what all you guys have said, and the fact that I realized it could be a bit more than $500, I think I'm gonna go with this setup:

Intel Core 2 Duo Conroe 1.86Ghz
eVGA GeForce 7900GTO 512MB (still debating between this and the 7950GT 256MB)
ECS NForce 570
G.SKILL 1GB DDR2 800 SDRAM

That all comes out to about $637. What do you guys think of that setup? Should it be enough to run most games, and 1080p video? Especially, do you think I should go with the GeForce 7950GT instead of the 7900GTO?

[Barc0de]

wow thats really cheap! is that including taxes?

[the_steadster]

Try to avoid ECS for boards - I've had really bad experiences with them. You also might want to look to upgrading to 2gb in the future.

[la-li-lu-le-lo]

Not sure if that includes taxes or not. There's shipping too.

As far as the motherboard, I suppose I could get an Asus model instead; I've had good luck with Asus boards in the past. What's wrong with ECS, though?

Anyway, you still haven't answered my question; should all of that be enough to play most games and 1080p video?

[madhatter256]

ECS boards? Well capacitors in them tend to bulge and ultimately kills the motherboard.

If you want Asus quality but don't have enough cash then go for their sister company, ASRock.

[the_steadster]

Should be absolutely fine for your needs - mine isnt hugely better and runs all games at 1920x1200.

[Shadowlayer]

Dont buy MSI motherboards: I got a platinum one and the HDD controller just fucking died on me.

Now I've to replace the entire MB:DOH:

[la-li-lu-le-lo]

Should be absolutely fine for your needs - mine isnt hugely better and runs all games at 1920x1200.

I think you misunderstood me; when I said "1080p video" I meant actual video. That is, 1080p movie trailers and stuff like that, not games. Would that stuff run on this system?

[sexilicious]

I'd recommend gigabyte also as another motherboard vendor.

[Barc0de]

having had both GByte and ASUS i can confirm that they re both stars of performace. Keep any mobo away from humidity and open ur box regularly for maintanance against dust, and they ll work like dogs.