Need help on casual gaming pc

[zphdbblbrx]

I was wavering between building my own pc and buying a preconfigured one. And once i happenned to discover these forums my decision was made.
I would like to build a decently configured casual gaming pc. budget preferably within $600 not including OS. I do not have any strong preferences between AMD and Intel, I just need something that wouldn't cause any problems if i decided to install multiple OS's(most probably XP and Linux). I am not too much into gaming but would like to play occasionally and would like to get decent performance, do not have very high expectations.
Current idea that i am having is
CPU - no idea yet
PSU - have no clue
MOBO - no clue
HDD - WD 250GB SATA 16MB Buffer
RAM - Kingston 1gb
DVD drive - NEC 3550A
Sound card,video card - no idea

I would like some advice on how to go about getting one around these, and also what specific parts to choose.
Thanks in advance

[kram 2.0]

First off, AMD or Intel - that'll be up to you. Granted you don't have any predetermined preference on it, but really, both of them are good enough for today's games. Chosing your CPU will lead you to what motherboard/RAM you will need.

Yes, purchasing from CC may seem cheaper. Don't play the MIR (Mail-in rebate) game if you don't have to - Newegg has cheaper prices w/out rebates.

kram

[glc]

Don't buy that ram. It's only DDR 333. Don't even pick the ram till you know what processor and motherboard you are getting.

Does that $600 have to include keyboard, mouse, speakers, and monitor?

[zphdbblbrx]

I'd prefer that entire config comes for under $600.
Am looking for a system that is capable of supporting the odd game or two. Am not very much into gaming, probably wouldn't be going in for extremely resource hungry games, etc, if u get my drift.
Had a sizeable coupon at CC, so was checking out if I could get any decent parts from them, couldn't find the 250gig drive, got a 160GB WD, though. And before I could read the earlier reply, got that and also got these two items
Kingston 512mb DDR 400
and
evga e-GeForce 6200 256MB AGP
I would like to know if I can work around these.

[glc]

Buy another one of those ram modules while you can - you need a gig to game these days. The 6200 is not a very good gaming card, but I guess it will have to do. You have also limited yourself by buying an AGP card - you are pretty much looking at a Socket 754 build now, probably with a Sempron - or a socket 478 with a Celeron-D.

[zphdbblbrx]

thank you very much for your patient feedback.
so does that mean it negates using a p4? i'd prefer that to a celeron. had a celeron long time back ('99), wasn't very impressed with it.
so should i be exchanging it for a pci card? i am totally unaware of all this.
I don't know much about all this but i guess I'd much rather choose components around my processor/mobo than the other way round. am i right in thinking this way? sorry if i sound too dumb.

[glc]

You can get a full P4, but your budget is going to get blown. PCI-Express is the new way to go for video cards, then you can go with Socket 775 P4's or socket 939 AMD's.

Let's pin a dollar value down - exactly what components do you need and how much can you spend? List all components you presently have that can't be returned.

[zphdbblbrx]

WD 160GB HDD,Maxtor 120Gb
evga GeForce 6200 256mb agp
kingston 512mb ddr 400 . planning to get one more in a week.
NEC 3550A
I am thinking of spending about $400-500 more
kindly advice me on how to go about deciding on the other parts.
thanks in advance.

[zphdbblbrx]

Would this fit the bill?
Intel Pentium 4 2.8A Prescott 533MHz FSB 1MB L2 Cache Socket 478 Processor

[glc]

Okay - for the $400 to $500, you need case, power supply, motherboard, processor, keyboard, mouse, monitor, and speakers? Are both hard drives IDE or are they SATA - or one of each?

[zphdbblbrx]

both ide.
and just to make myself clear, casual gaming is probably even overstating it.
I'm not gonna be playing for hours at end, and neither would i be playing state of the art games.
just to give you a better idea at guiding me.

[Alaron]

Ok, here is what I've come up with. You can use that 2.8A CPU and other parts with the following:

Antec Sonata Case with PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129155

Asus P4P800SE Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131484

17" CRT Monitor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824197001 You could look for one locally to save on shipping.

Logitech 2.1 Speakers: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16836121123

Total for that with CPU is $471. Throw in a mouse and keyboard and you can just squeak by at $500.

[zphdbblbrx]

Thanks a lot glc and alaron for your insightful and patient replies.
I really appreciate you guys helping me out in spite of not getting much of a clear input from me.

[glc]

I'd really try to squeeze another $60 and go 800 FSB -

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116171

Otherwise you might as well just save some bucks and get a Celeron-D. 533 FSB, same as that 2.8A. The D is NOT a bad processor.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819112186

EDIT -

The Sonata isn't really needed with a 478 board, you don't need the 24 pin PSU. You can get an Enlight and save 50 bucks.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811116165

The black one should be back in stock soon, same thing as that beige one.

[zphdbblbrx]

thanks glc, i think i'll probly go in for this processor. is there any other case that'd be suitable in the same price range?

also, is it possible to improve overall performance if i increase my budget slightly. i am thinking of returning my agp card and go in for a pci based on your advice. or if this should be sufficient, i'll go ahead with current config.

[glc]

The 6200 is a pretty weak gamer. Going to a socket 775 for PCI-E will entail a few changes - and there aren't too many 775's that will accept standard DDR ram. Why don't you just go with what you have there and upgrade the video card later if needed? You will be able to get decent AGP cards for quite a while longer. If you want one now - look at this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130220

You can get a case without a power supply pretty cheap - one that you like the looks of - and buy a decent separate power supply. However, there is not a cheap case out there that has the construction quality of an Enlight - it's built like a tank.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104951

[zphdbblbrx]

My one concern was the inability to get a better card down the line if the situation demanded it. But if you say that i should still be able to get agp cards for a while, i guess i'll go ahead with this config. i guess i should've discovered this forum a while earlier(lol), so that i would've made all the right decisions. anyways, as long as i get something that satisfies my needs for the moment, i guess i'm happy. so shall i go ahead and order the parts?
Also, i figured that i might be better off in going for an lcd as compared to a crt and am looking for a good sub $200 lcd monitor. any suggestions on that?

[glc]

In the bargain basement, I prefer Acer and BenQ LCD's.

[zphdbblbrx]

is there another case that's built like the enlight, but in black?
the color is the only reason am not going in for the beige enlight.

[Alaron]

Glc mentioned it earlier, but there is a black Enlight: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811116166

It's currently out of stock, but it shouldn't take long for some to reappear.

If you're in a hurry, Mwave is another good store, they have it: http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec....iteria=BA14423

[zphdbblbrx]

i have a quick question about this case. it says it has 1 internal 3.5" drive bay. so does that mean i can not have two hdds in this? i am confused.

[glc]

It has 3 3.5" drive bays - 2 of which are externally accessible if you need it. You can put 2 hard drives and a floppy in - or 3 hard drives.

[zphdbblbrx]

thanks. now i get it.
i must say that you guys are awesome. giving such quick replies for such dumb questions.
keep up the good work and the world'll be a better place.

[zphdbblbrx]

I went ahead and got a SATA HD. I have had no prior experience with SATA, is it connected any different from regular ATA? Do I need any special connectors to get it on or does the motherboard come fully equipped to handle it?

All my components except the case have arrived. Case should be in early next week. I am looking to you guys to help me get everything together.

[Alaron]

Originally Posted by zaphod I went ahead and got a SATA HD. I have had no prior experience with SATA, is it connected any different from regular ATA? Do I need any special connectors to get it on or does the motherboard come fully equipped to handle it?

The motherboard will be ready to handle it. The only thing that is different is the connector itself. But they are notched so they only fit one way. Enjoy the build.

[glc]

The motherboard should come with a couple SATA data cables - and the power supply should have a couple SATA power connectors too. If your hard drive has both the SATA power connector *and* a standard 4 pin Molex, use only ONE, not both.

[zphdbblbrx]

I got the enlight case from another store but this one is without the power supply. That was quite dumb of me(as can be expected). What are the specifications i must look for in a power supply that would be compatible? If possible, I'd like to pick it up from a local store rather than wait another week to get it shipped.

is this any good ? DYNEX 350W
seems to be extremely overpriced compared to online stores, though.

[glc]

Pay through the nose.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1109233297979

http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?
product_code=332376&pfp=BROWSE

Wait a week - order this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104901

[zphdbblbrx]

i guess my choice is made, as always. Will wait.

[zphdbblbrx]

I am thinking of adding a tv tuner card, so that I can record some tv shows. can u suggest a decent one?