Help me building a pc plz!!

[Rexoar]

I want to build this pc primary to play video games like WoW and HL2 right now...
It looks like I can't build a good pc with 1300 £... how much money do you think I need to build a kicking ass game computer?
/José

[skattrd]

I want to build this pc primary to play video games like WoW and HL2 right now...
It looks like I can't build a good pc with 1300 £... how much money do you think I need to build a kicking ass game computer?
/José

Thats plenty money for s a serious gaming pc ........ someone shall be along shortly with some specs

[skattrd]

You say you've got case sorted - psu?
Anyway, heres a quick A64 939 system, I know its not pci-e, but thats nforce4 which is still a couple of weeks away, personally I'd wait

1x XP3200+ 2.0 GHz Socket 939, 512KB cache, BOXED £147
1x MSI K8N NEO2 Platinum-54G Mainboard S939 nForce3 250Ultra,SATA,GbLAN,ATX,Dual-DDR £95
2x Crucial PC3200 BallistiX DDR 512MB CL2 £172
1x Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 200GB S-ATA 8MB cache 7200RPM £84 1x NEC DVD recorder ND-3500A IDE Black Bulk,DVD+R/+RW/DVD-R/-RW (Dual layer) £49
1x 6800GT (dabs) £280

TOTAL: £827

Thats a very rough outline and I've not included any bits and bobs, just the bare guts of the machine. It was all taken from komplett except 6800 - dabs

You can change the drives for raptors if you're that way inclinded and whatever, but thats the basis I'd go on if I was doing one NOW.


If you REALLY want LGA 775 change board cpu ram for:

1x Abit AA8-3rd Eye Mainboard for S775 I925X,SATA,ATX,GbLAN,Dual-DDR2,PCI-Ex16 £114
1x Intel Pentium 4 540 3.2 GHz Boxed Socket LGA775, 1MB cache £152
2x Corsair Value S. PC4200 DDR2 512MB KIT 2 x 32Meg x 64, CL4, 533MHz, 240-pin £188

That works out £38 more than the 939 setup - but if I was going LGA I'd wait until 1066mhz bus is more widespread

[Rexoar]

Ok thank you!
I think I'll wait til the nforce4 comes out and I think i'll get an AMD 64 as you guys recomended it for gameing. So what I need help with now is a VERY GOOD nforce4 mobo (doesn't matter if its expensiv) a good but not too expensive gcard that supports pci-e x16 (if not all do) and the ddr2 (min. 1024). I'll look up the processor, but i wonder does the socket matter? I mean to fit the mobo it does, but is there anything else that the socket does? Ex: Is there any difference between socket 754 and 939?
Thank you for all replays! /José

[ed^chigliak]

I like good performance for games but also I like good value and a quiet PC. I like to overclock if possible so I try to choose a good CPU/motherboard/cooler combination.

If I built a PC now it would go something like this:-

£135 A64 3200+ Winchester 90nm
£30 Thermalright XP-90 CPU cooler
£90 ?? 939 Motherboard (Abit/Asus)
£180 1GB PC4000 Crucial Ballistix
£60 Samsung SpinPoint 160GB HDD
£290 Galaxy 6800GT graphics
£30 Jeantech Phoong Case (built in fan speed controller)
£65 Enermax 470w noisetaker PSU
£8 Panaflo 92L1BX 92mm - Low Noise - 43cfm 27dB(A)
£18 2xPanaflo 120M1A 120x38mm - Low Noise - 86cfm 35.5dB(A)

£906

[Thorsson]

DDR2 is not for AMD builds Rexoar.

I think skattrd's build is pretty well spot on. Personally I'd add an OEM SB Audigy 2 ZS - I've seen the stats on how much CPU use you get with onboard sound, plus you will get EAX 3. You could go with the 3000+ Winchester and save a bit of money (not stocked at many places though) as it seems like the chips will all overclock well currently (probably all the same chip if the truth were known).

Note the use of CL2 PC3200 rather than Ed's suggested PC4000. At the speeds you will be running at it's better to have the low latency than the high bandwidth.

Make sure your current PSU is up to the job (which is frankly unlikely). The Tagan 480 is highly recommended as providing good, stable power (been used in Scan's new dual Xeon SLI machine). A good, but more expensive, alternative is the Antec Neopower - main benefit of this is to cut down on cable clutter.

Having built many systems over the years I know how important a good case is. At the moment the best case by far is the Antec P160. It's not cheap, but it's got all the things you need in a good case - motherboard tray comes out, side facing pull-out drive bays, largely screwless construction, aluminium case, air filter, 120mm fan + space for one more, plenty of air-intake at front (mistake in most cases is that there isn't which means poor airflow), plenty of space inside. Add to that it looks good too, without being tacky. Recommended this to my brother and he said it blew his previous case (a very expensive Lian Li) totally away. Unless you have a good case then this would be a worthwhile upgrade.

Note that ed's prices appear to be without VAT (except hopefully the Galaxy).

[Rexoar]

The case I was going to use is the Antec Super Lanboy...
what do you think about it?

[mr_anderson187]

if someone hasnt said ti already

skt754 is the budget amd64 bit cpu socket,
skt939 is the daddy producing expenisve and very high spec chips,

(go 939!!)

[Thorsson]

The Super Lanboy is a good case, but I expect they'll bring out an update next year based on the new stuff they've done in the P160.

My main gripes with the SL would be: no removable mobo tray, no air filter, and the door on the front (the stealth covers on the P160 are much nicer). If you want to carry your case around a lot, though, then there's a lot to be said for it.

[Rexoar]

Ok.. The thing is that I'm not planning on carry it around.. I just want to have it at home.. But i like the design and have planned to put som lights in the pc so I can se them through the window... I've also read a review and they liked it and it sound good.. So if there isn't much difference between them I'll stick to the Super Lanboy...
And one question shall I wait till the nforce4 comes out or not? You have different opinions about it so why should I wait and why shouldn't I???
Your opinions are very important /José

[Thorsson]

It should be out RSN. I'm waiting. The previews are looking good.

Two reasons: 1. PCIe, which means I get the option not to upgrade the mobo next time I want a speed boost. 2. It's a further maturity of the NF chipset, which is going to mean improvements without the risks of a totally new chipset.

[Rexoar]

Ok good I'll w8!