gaming computer/Media computer - please help

[lokodezine]

I am wanting to build a computer (through monarchcomputers.com) for about 1800 that will be a good gaming computer/media computer.

I am not a havey gamer... play Call of Duty and will probbably get Battlefied 2. But I am going to get Microsoft MEdia Center OS with TV Tuner. I will be using the computer mostly to watch DVDS, watch/record TV, listen to music, and then gaming and for designing purposes (photoshop, etc).

SO basically what should I be looking at as far as:

1. Processor - AMD or Pentium? Speed?
2. Hardrive - 120 GB or more? 2 hardrives or one large?
3. Video Card - Is a 6800 GT ok?
4. Motherboard - any ideas... Asus n4force?

Any other recommendations owuld be much appreciated as well.

[rspassey]

AMD maybe 3500+ or higher. (skt 939) - speed in ghz doesnt mean much, there are other factors like FSB, caches, RAM speeds, everything.
Hard drives, I would say one 80 (raptor maybe) for boot and OS and all games and apps, and either an 80 or 120gb for recorded TV and videos. (maxtor and seagate are good drives, you will most likely want an SATA for your drives)
Video card, a 6800gt will be great.( i like ASUS cards)
Mobo, ASUS A8N SlI, IMO it would be best to get an SLI board since you are getting an SLI video card, so if you ever want to upgrade to SLI you just need the second card.
PSU- enermax 600w noisetaker (SLI compatible, alongwith a few other choises)
RAM - Corsair valueselect(if your not going to OC) 2 X 1gb.
Will the 1800$ include a monitor, and keyboard and mouse?
If no then you will have some more breathing room, If yes, then if you go with the parts i suggested and two good opticals then you will be up around 1500 with case and all.(only one video card)

[lokodezine]

thanks...

I am not planning over OC. ALso I am not even sure exactly what SLI is? If oyu wouldnt mind explaining Id appreciate it.

As far as Sound Card would you say I should go with Soundblaster Audigy Z wil do?

Also as far as cases what would you recommend? I was looking at the Cooler Master TAC-T01-Ek or the Antec 1 180?

What you think?

[rspassey]

SLI is scalable link interface, I do beleive this website has a really good description of it, but in general it is using two video cards to produce one image, basically giving you 1.8times more preformance. It is the newest technology from Nvidia and can dramatically increase how games play as long as the game supports this. AS of now, there are gains for going with SLI, but I would recomend getting just one video card now, then after 6 months or a year or when ever games get more demanding, get the second card.

[lokodezine]

to take advantage of sli, what all needs to be sli? Just the mobo?

[rspassey]

The mobo and an SLI capable PSU (which i would recomend getting anyways since they are really good PSUs)
and of course two SLI video cards (there are over 50 of these)

[lokodezine]

Here is the pc I configured:

Monarch Furia Custom Desktop w/PCI-E 1 $59.00 $59.00
Case: 100998 - No PS - Antec Performance One P180 ATX Mi $129.00 $129.00
Power Supply: 100122 - PS 535W - Enermax EG565P-FMA REV.2.0 ATX $89.00 $89.00
Case Fan: None
Motherboard: 110314 - Asus A8N-SLI NForce4 SLI Audio/GB-LAN/USB $139.00 $139.00
Processor: 120207 - AMD Athlon 64 3700+ 1MB 90nm Rev. E San D $262.00 $262.00
Thermal Grease: 800018 - Shin-Etsu G675 Thermal Grease (Cools CPU $14.00 $14.00
Heat Sink Fan: 130099 - Zalman CNPS7000B-AlCu Silent CPU Cooling $46.00 $46.00
Memory: 140305 - DDR (400) 3200 - 1 GB (2 pcs 512) Corsair $144.00 $144.00
2nd Memory: None
Hard Drive: 150630 - SATA - Seagate (ST380817AS) 80 GB/7200-RP $69.00 $69.00
2nd Hard Drive: 150614 - SATA - Seagate (3120827AS) 120 GB/7200-RP $77.00 $77.00
RAID Setup: None
RAID Controller: None
CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW: 160236 - DVD±RW - NEC ND-3540A 16X Dual Layer DVD± $46.00 $46.00
CD-RW/DVD-RW: None
CD-RW Software: 210613 - Ahead Nero 6.3 Suite DVD+-RW Software (OE $6.99 $6.99
DVD-ROM Software: 210601 - Cyberlink PowerDVD 6.0 (OEM) $6.99 $6.99
Floppy Drive: 170101 - Mitsumi 1.44 MB 3.5" Floppy Drive $15.25 $15.25
More Storage: None
Sound Card: None
Video Card: 190670 - eVGA 6800 GT 256MB DDR3/PCI-E/TV-Out/Dual $289.00 $289.00
Modem: None
Network Card: None
Wireless Network Card: None
Add-On Card: None
Case Function Add-On: None
Round Cables: None
Operating System: 210222 - Microsoft Windows XP Media Center 2005 (O $121.00 $121.00
Additional Software: None
Antivirus: None
Warranty: 800072 - 24/7 Tech Support + Plus 3 Year Onsite Wa $99.00 $99.00
Molex Connector: None
Video Capture: None
TV Tuner: 190399 - eVGA NVTV PCI 32MB SDR Dual TV-Tuner (Med $127.00 $127.00

Subtotal for 80311 with your selected options: $1,739.23

1. Should I spend an extra 20 bucks on the processor and get the RETAIL VERSION with the cp fan or is it better to get the SAN DIEGO VERSION for cheaper and go with the Zalman cpu fan and heatsink for an xtra 40 bucks?

2. Hows that PSU? I can upgrade from that to (the one I have above is $86):
- ANTEC TRUE POWER 2 SLI ATX 12V supply 550 W - $135
- ENERMAX EG701AX-VE-SFMA ATX 2.0 w/ SLI Power SUpply 600 W - $144
** But if the one above is all I need Id rather save the money, but if it will make a difference I can go with one of these.

3. Are you saying I should get 2 G of memory? Isnt that overdoing it... will what Ihave work?

4. Hows the case? Can I downgrade in the case and maybe upgrade osmwhere else more important, what you think?

5. I have about 100 more I can spend.

[lokodezine]

bump any opinions please... need to get thi pc asap for school use ll

[lokodezine]

please any opinions need to put this order in tommmorow

[Cricket]

1. Should I spend an extra 20 bucks on the processor and get the RETAIL VERSION with the cp fan or is it better to get the SAN DIEGO VERSION for cheaper and go with the Zalman cpu fan and heatsink for an xtra 40 bucks?The retail CPU comes with a 3 year warranty from AMD. The OEM version doesn't have a long warranty and it's not with AMD, it's with the place you buy it from (vendor warranty period is usually 30 -60 days).2. Hows that PSU? I can upgrade from that to (the one I have above is $86):
- ANTEC TRUE POWER 2 SLI ATX 12V supply 550 W - $135
- ENERMAX EG701AX-VE-SFMA ATX 2.0 w/ SLI Power SUpply 600 W - $144
** But if the one above is all I need Id rather save the money, but if it will make a difference I can go with one of these.If you plan to run SLI (dual video cards) you're going to need a nVidia SLI certified power supply so you'll need to get one of the more expensive ones. If you don't plan to run SLI that Enermax you've posted will be fine. 3. Are you saying I should get 2 G of memory? Isnt that overdoing it... will what Ihave work?I'm not a gamer and don't know how demanding those games you play are, but most games run fine on 512MB of RAM. I understand Battlefield runs better on 1GB of RAM. I haven't heard of any game that requires 2GB of RAM to run good.4. Hows the case? Can I downgrade in the case and maybe upgrade osmwhere else more important, what you think?Sure you can downgrade...it's your computer, you don't have to use a $130 case if you don't want to. Antec has several good steel cases that cost a lot less than that one and they're good cases.

:) Cricket

[blue60007]

For older games, yes 512MB of RAM is good, then some of the newer ones are best with 1GB. BF2 uses about 800-1000MB, so in that case you need at least 1.5GB (that's what I have, and with BF2 running and 300MB of background stuff in RAM, that uses it all up). I would recommend getting 1 GB ( 2 x 512MB) of RAM for now, remember, if you need more you can always add two more sticks in later on.

[Amazin Caucasian]

not sure whether or not the WD Raptor is a choice...but I suggest Getting a 36gb Western Digital Raptor for the OS and then a bigger space drive for data

[lokodezine]

Thankyou

Ok
I will upgrade my psu just incase further down the road I wish to go SLI even though now I do not...

I can get a 40 GB WD HD for the OS and then get a 120 GB HD for everything else... hows that sound?

Also does anyone know if I just got one CDRW DVD RW drive and then installed my old CD RW drive when the pc comes if that would totally voide my whole warranty or anything?

[lokodezine]

Also what about the soundcard... Is it a big difference from the soundblaster Live audigy 7.1 compared to the 2Z?