Help with motherboards and cases

[shadow024]

Im building my own gaming computer and I plan on getting an AMD Processor (Anthlon 64? not really sure advice would be nice ) But I see all these motherboards and I dont know how to tell which one would be good for my and gaming for a good price. Thanks in advance.

Also, Im trying to get a good gaming case for my new gaming computer. But my friend said to look for the PCI slots in the back of the case. Is this True? Or what would be your suggestions.

(Any advice on good Video Cards would be nice )

Thanks for your help!!

[thefultonhow]

What is your budget? And no, all ATX cases have standardized slot designs, so you don't have to worry about slot placement.

[Alaron]

Welcome to PCMechanic.

Do you need a monitor, keyboard, speakers etc, or just the tower?

Some general points to help you.
For AMD64s, I'd look at Venice core chips, such as the 3800+. Case wise, grab anykind you like, I personally like Antecs because the come with good power supplies. And video cards depend on your budget, but if you're a gamer, look at the ATI X1900 or the Geforce 7000 series.

[shadow024]

Well about 1000$ But I want good stuff that is still fairly cheap.

[shadow024]

Originally Posted by Alaron Welcome to PCMechanic. Do you need a monitor, keyboard, speakers etc, or just the tower? Some general points to help you. For AMD64s, I'd look at Venice core chips, such as the 3800+. Case wise, grab anykind you like, I personally like Antecs because the come with good power supplies. And video cards depend on your budget, but if you're a gamer, look at the ATI X1900 or the Geforce 7000 series.

Thanks Glad to be here and get help!

The 3800 sounds good but whats the price range on it.
Ill look at the Antecs, do they have a website?
ATI X1900 and Geforce 7000 series...Ok wrote all of it down.

Thanks for your help I really appreciate it!

[thefultonhow]

Assuming you don't need monitor, keyboard and mouse:

AMD Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego 1GHz HT 1MB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor - Retail -- $213.99
Asus A8N5X Motherboard w/ nVidia nForce4 Chipset for AMD Socket 939 CPU (Retail) -- $88.98
CORSAIR ValueSelect 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR 400 (PC 3200) System Memory - Retail -- $150.80
eVGA 256-P2-N516 Geforce 7800GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 VIVO PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail -- $289.89
Antec LifeStyle SONATA II Piano Black ATX Mid Tower Case w/ 450Watt SmartPower 2.0 ATX 12V V2.0 PSU - Retail -- $118.98
Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST3250824AS 250GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive w/ NCQ & 8MB Cache (OEM) -- $102.99
Lite-On SHM-165H6S 16x DVD+/-RW/RAM Dual-Layer Burner with LightScribe -- $60.88

TOTAL -- $1026.51

If you need other components we can bump some of the specs down a bit.

[paJAMbla]

[QUOTE=thefultonhow]Assuming you don't need monitor, keyboard and mouse:

AMD Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego 1GHz HT 1MB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor - Retail -- $213.99
Asus A8N5X Motherboard w/ nVidia nForce4 Chipset for AMD Socket 939 CPU (Retail) -- $88.98
CORSAIR ValueSelect 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR 400 (PC 3200) System Memory - Retail -- $150.80
eVGA 256-P2-N516 Geforce 7800GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 VIVO PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail -- $289.89
Antec LifeStyle SONATA II Piano Black ATX Mid Tower Case w/ 450Watt SmartPower 2.0 ATX 12V V2.0 PSU - Retail -- $118.98
Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST3250824AS 250GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive w/ NCQ & 8MB Cache (OEM) -- $102.99
Lite-On SHM-165H6S 16x DVD+/-RW/RAM Dual-Layer Burner with LightScribe -- $60.88

TOTAL -- $1026.51

I don't know anything about AMD processors but I know they are the way to go for gaming. Would this set up you put together here work well (high settings) on BF2? I might go this way on my next build.

thanks!

[jayb1234]

Antec website.

[thefultonhow]

Originally Posted by paJAMbla I don't know anything about AMD processors but I know they are the way to go for gaming. Would this set up you put together here work well (high settings) on BF2? I might go this way on my next build.

I'm guessing it would do BF2 on high settings with no problem. BF2 is limited by the RAM (it works best with 2 GB, which this config has) and the graphics card (a 7800GT will take almost anthing you throw at it). The 3700+ is no slouch either -- 2.2 GHz with 1 MB of cache.

[shadow024]

thefultonhow
Thank you! It helped me get a good idea on things. But I didnt mean for you to go out and do all that looking. But I appreciate it much!

How many GHz is 3700? 3.7?

I ve been to tigerdirect.com and they have good deals.

I saw a good case for 40$ and a 25O gig HD w/ 16 mb cache for 100 (+ or - )

Thanks

[shadow024]

I will post links to stuff I like tomorrow cuz Im on my PSP and it takes awhile to type.

[glc]

I don't recommend Tiger Direct for several reasons - look at Newegg, Zipzoomfly, or Mwave. What looks to be a good deal at Tiger is often substandard quality hardware. It is impossible to get a good case with a quality power supply for 40 bucks.

[thefultonhow]

Originally Posted by shadow024 thefultonhow Thank you! It helped me get a good idea on things. But I didnt mean for you to go out and do all that looking. But I appreciate it much!

Actually, I just took a build that I'd speced out for someone else a couple days before and took about 5 minutes to modify it.

Originally Posted by shadow024 How many GHz is 3700? 3.7?

It's equivalent (so AMD says) to a 3.7 GHz original Athlon, or (so others say) to a 3.7 GHz P4. But it really runs at 2.2 GHz. Confused yet?

[shadow024]

So is it better to have a 3.2 GHz Intel P4 or a AMD Anthlon 64 3700+ at 2.2?

Isnt more GHz better? I might be wrong.

I decided that Newegg has WAY better deals than Tigerdirect! I compared parts and NE was cheaper.

[glc]

If you are gaming, the 3700+ will be faster.

[PCgamerX]

Originally Posted by shadow024 Well about 1000$ But I want good stuff that is still fairly cheap.

if you have $1000 to spend on a gaming rig, spend it all. but if you want to keep it cheap, $800 or so, the rig i want to build is an AMD meant for playing high end games such as BF2. here is the link if you happen to be interested.

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=152416

its at the very end.

[shadow024]

Originally Posted by glc If you are gaming, the 3700+ will be faster.

Well lets say I want to play Elder Scrolls 4 Oblivion. Its minimum required GHz is 3.0. If I have this processor will I be able to play it?

Thanks!

[Alaron]

Yes, with the rig thefultonhow suggested, you'll be able to play Oblivion just fine.

[shadow024]

Originally Posted by thefultonhow Assuming you don't need monitor, keyboard and mouse: AMD Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego 1GHz HT 1MB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor - Retail -- $213.99 Asus A8N5X Motherboard w/ nVidia nForce4 Chipset for AMD Socket 939 CPU (Retail) -- $88.98 CORSAIR ValueSelect 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR 400 (PC 3200) System Memory - Retail -- $150.80 eVGA 256-P2-N516 Geforce 7800GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 VIVO PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail -- $289.89 Antec LifeStyle SONATA II Piano Black ATX Mid Tower Case w/ 450Watt SmartPower 2.0 ATX 12V V2.0 PSU - Retail -- $118.98 Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST3250824AS 250GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive w/ NCQ & 8MB Cache (OEM) -- $102.99 Lite-On SHM-165H6S 16x DVD+/-RW/RAM Dual-Layer Burner with LightScribe -- $60.88 TOTAL -- $1026.51 If you need other components we can bump some of the specs down a bit.

Well I would like a cheaper case to save money and I found a cheaper motherboard.http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...uctCode=241799

It works with the amd proccesor and is cheaper.

and the graphics card is pricy too. hmmm. I know I what a geforce, but I wonder what graphic cards Oblivion takes, maybe the 6800 would be ok? or maybe not, Im not sure.

well thats what I think.

[thefultonhow]

Originally Posted by shadow024 Well I would like a cheaper case to save money and I found a cheaper motherboard.http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...uctCode=241799 It works with the amd proccesor and is cheaper.

It's an AGP motherboard, and a Gigabyte (not as good as Asus). Go with the A8N5X -- it's really not that expensive.

As for the case, the Sonata II is about the cheapest you're going to get while still having a good PSU. Buying a case and PSU separately also isn't cost-effective.

[glc]

If you have to save money - the first thing to cut is the processor - like to a 3200+ Venice core. The video card and ram is very important for playing high end games, the raw processor speed, much less so. You also do NOT want to cut corners on a power supply, a substandard unit may fail and take out other components when it does!

The best thing about building with quality components such as have been recommended is the ease of future upgrades and long term reliability. You can slap a faster processor in there a couple years down the road without rebuilding the entire system again.

You buy at the "sweet spot" now to fit your budget.

[shadow024]

Oh ok now. I see, you really do make a good point (all of you).
Thanks now I really know what to get and look at.
Thanks again.