Gaming Budget Build PC

[GexX2]

As a general rule of thumb, any PSU that comes with a case, is usually awful. And it's usually not too much more, if any to buy the PSU seperate if it's a high quality case. With PC's, it's never a good idea to skimp on the important stuff like cooling, memory, and PSU. Having a good quality motherboard will help it last a while as well.

 

[Raki]

just a really really unprofessional note:
how about that bootbooster in asrock MBs? (boots up windows fast like hell)
Is this avaible in Asus Motherboards by now? If yes I would go for a Asus one (or put your PC in sleep mode - in windows 7 it's quite fast)

 

[Taza]

9600GT vs 9800GT is usually a matter of what you can fit, what you can afford and what you're looking for.

There is a single case where 9600GT is always better than 9800GT, and that's silent computers. That's why I'm using a 9600GT even when I could easily afford a 9800GT. The 9800GT needs a bit more power, but 500w 80plus power should still handle it easy.

PSU's coming with high quality case sets are usually pretty damn decent - I have no experience with RAIDMAX however, I always go Nexus due to the Catepillar. I'm a silent system fan. And when I go with cheapie builds I usually go with a really cheap case and a FSP Group separate PSU. Go with 80plus quality PSU anyway - cheaping out on them is the short way to wondering why your motherboard is fried.

Dual channel memory is ALWAYS worth it, even if he plans on upgrading later - average computers have four memory slots and you can fit something like 2x1gb and 2x2gb as long as you set them to the right channels. This is no longer true with i7 processors, but he's going Core 2 Duo anyway.

 

[Joe88]

Really, really, really don't go with an ATI card.

You said your choice of CPU and GPU is final - and frankly, they were fine in the original post.

The memory you picked is fine, the one playallday did isn't. (Dual channel mode, you only get 50% of the speed with playallday's option)

ATI cards + MSI == double nightmare. The openGL crashes, the cheaping out on essential components... (ATI cards have notable driver problems, MSI graphics cards have rickety, noisy and downright bad parts. Personal experience on both.)

General way to good computers here: First ignore War, playallday and Joe88. Place extra weight on my and FAST's opinions, because we actually have professional experience. It might sound arrogant but in the long run there's three kinds of people here - those who know, those who don't and those who are irritatingly loud and clueless. I don't know who else is a professional or ex-professional - though I wouldn't be surprised if garf is. alltooamorous also sounds competent.

Also, I suggest separating the G11 from the main order. Less hassle that way. And I'd go with an Asus P5Q, but that's personal preference - the Gigabytes aren't that horrible either.

I love how you just come in here and be a fanboy and basically say F-U/insult everybody in the thread for recommending stuff/brands you dont have and take a big steaming pile of sh*t on the thread while you are at it

ATI and MSI = double trouble?
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/838/1/
http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=2345
yea..., I really dont think so at all, I think it just you trying to get him an nivida card when the ATI card clearly outpowers it and competes with a $130 card for only $90
http://www.fudzilla.com/index.php?option=c...mp;limitstart=0
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Powercolor/HD_4830
but hey if you dont like the MSI card, the sapphire ver is very good as well but about $10 more expensive

and I notice how Taza always spews about driver problems and crashing with ATI cards
yet I have owned a very high power ATI card and guess what, no crashing
and my last ATI card also which I used for over 3 years, no crashing

 

[Taza]

*snip the rant just above for readability purposes*

Have you heard of the return rates on those things? As in exceeding 20%, mostly due to overheating and design problems?
And the ATI driver troubles border on legendary, and professionals everywhere know it.

And I only told him to keep away from problem posters... of which one hasn't even posted in this thread yet. Luckily.

@Everyone: I don't exactly enjoy popularity here because I'm a fair bit older and more experienced and the majority, and have no qualms about shooting down people sharing bad advice. Or just being incompetent.

 

[Shakraka]

This is my final build. Unless there is a critical flaw in it, I will not change anything. Once I add in the G11, the total price comes out to be $712.65. Only around 13 bucks over my budget, but I'm sure I can scrap up that much when I actually order it (somewhere in March, lol).

Note how I got two orders of the Kingston ram, for a total of 4GB.

 

[GexX2]

The good thing about buying computer hardware, is that its constantly going down in price. By next month I'm sure you'll be able to knock off a good $20 or more off the total. Might even be able to fit in a better gfx card.

 

[Joe88]

that PSU is no good
its not the fact it wont power everything
its the fact that the PSU maker has a very high failure rate in their PSU's and most of the time they fry every component thats hooked up to it

Corsair and PC Power & Cooling are companies you want to shop within when choosing a PSU
there are a few others but these are most trusted in the PSU community

I fell like you had to spend a lot more money on that 9600GT and now you have to skimp on the PSU
Im just trying to get you the best performance while meting your budget

 

[Shakraka]

Most reviews on newegg at least have a couple of reviews saying a certain PSU was a DOA or it was awful. Honestly, I have no idea which PSU to get and it's frustrating the shit out of me, I'd be glad if I get a recommendation.

If I must spend extra money for a better PSU, I will go back the XFX(I meant PNY) 9600 GT I planned on once it goes back in stock, and I appreciate your concern Joe, but I honestly want to make this build as hassle free as I can as this is my first build with only the help of my brother who built his computer five years ago and my somewhat reliable friends. I think for a beginner, nVidia makes the simpler cards, and I just really want to avoid any trouble I might encounter.

Fucking tax is fucking all my prices. Why do I live in New Jersey, nothing actually happens here anyways. Now this is really starting to piss me off.

 

[Joe88]

yea I heard that if you live in a state where there is a newegg factory you get taxed
theres one in TN, CA, and NJ

I was lucky, they used to tax NY but they removed it


as for the PSU either one of these

PC Power & Cooling 500w
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817703015
note: this PC Power & Cooling model comes with a free 4GB flash drive

FSP Group 500w
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817104034

Corsair 550w
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817139004

 

[Taza]

I'm a big fan of Nexus and FSP Group PSUs. FSP Group being something that has served me and a number of professional builders I know extremely well. And Nexus being something that fits silent computers better than well. They are sometimes DOA, yes, but that applies for every component out there. Heck, I had a DOA Logitech high-quality mouse not a month back. That's what warranty is for.

That PSU is a cheapie PSU - and that case is a vastly overpriced cheapie case.

Do replace the Galaxy 9600GT with the PNY 9600GT - you get a really significant quality increase. Of course, my preferred brands are Asus and XFX, and I've never had trouble with either.

And to top off your problems - 2x2gb is almost always better than 4x1gb, yet 4x1gb is better than 1x4gb. You always want DDR2 sticks to be in multipliers of two, but other than that bigger is better. New Core i7's need them to be in multipliers of three, but that's neither here or there.

 

[playallday]

Go with this case. $10 cheaper then the one you got there.

Soooo.... Am I somehow wrong Taza?

 

[Taza]

Go with this case. $10 cheaper then the one you got there.

Soooo.... Am I somehow wrong Taza?

Suggesting anything else over Rosewill? Pretty much never.

 

[Shakraka]

I hope I don't have to change this. 20 bucks over budget when I throw in that G11, but I'll scrap up 20 bucks by the time I order it. I got a cheap Cooler Master case, PNY 9600 GT and the PC Power and Cooling 500w PSU, which says comes with a free flash drive but the picture says it costs 15 bucks. Hopefully it's out of stock when I buy it; I have no need for it.

Spoiler

 

[playallday]

Cool down Taza! He had Rosewill case, but it was $10 more then the one I showed him. Now that he isn't getting a Rosewill case, its a lot harder to say "this case is better."

 

[Shakraka]

I believe you misread his answer, playallday. You asked if you were somehow wrong in that case you suggest, and Taza said "Suggesting anything else over Rosewill? Pretty much never." meaning suggesting anything over Rosewill is a much better option.

 

[playallday]

I NEVER said Rosewill was a good/better brand. All I said was you might as well go with this Rosewill case because it's almost the same and cheaper.

Get it? If your going with a brand, why not pay less for something the same brand but cheaper.

 

[Scorpei]

I believe you misread his answer, playallday. You asked if you were somehow wrong in that case you suggest, and Taza said "Suggesting anything else over Rosewill? Pretty much never." meaning suggesting anything over Rosewill is a much better option.

Now this could be me, my english I mean naturally, but it sounds to me like he is saying that suggesting anything over a rosewill case never happens (suggesting rosewill is a great manufacturer).

 

[p1ngpong]

Well I think its a pretty sad state of affairs to be honest. Where people are afraid to give their free and well intentioned advice and opinions to people here, just because some so called "professional" feels the need to shoot people down in an arrogant manner if he disagrees with what they say. Taza dont forget that this forum consists of 98% kids, so yes feel free to give your "expert" help to people here if you wish, just dont rub it in peoples faces though, like every comment here requires your approval. At the end of the day all you are proving is that you know more then some 15 year old, so well done on that you professional you.

 

[playallday]

Taza, just wanted to give you the heads up that you'll be looking at a ban soon if you don't shut up. I'm 99% sure you know lots and lots about computers, likely more then most. Now, I ask everyone, does that give him to flame everyone and call them stupid? No it doesn't. Even if he helps out someone, half the time while doing that he starts a flame war! The staff here are a little soft, but even they will only take so much of it.