i really need some expert advice in building a gaming computer.

[axion]

for graduation i'm getting a new desktop computer, but i haven't built a computer in a few years and frankly i am having trouble remembering all the components i need and what all will match well.

my price range is a total of sub-$1000.00 .. maybe a little over but not much. so i'm working on a budget that's not usually normal for a gaming computer.

main uses of the computer will be some gaming (but not hardcore), photoshop, media use.

i think i'm pretty much set on an AMD 64 chip processor, but that's pretty much the only thing i have squared away. I really need some help in choosing everything and here's what i want you guys, the experts on this kind of stuff, to help me out with (if you want ):

-graphics card (based on: i want to be able to play cod2 and nhl2006 and 07 mostly, but i want them to look smooth, as close to console quality as possible for the right price)

-motherboard .. (and this is the toughest part for me because i don't know what motherboard will match well with what processor and memory and all that stuff.. so if someone could suggest a good match between these things together that is maybe working really well for them, i'd greatly appreciate it.)

-ram (i am thinking either 2x512 or 2x1gb but i don't know if i'll need 2gb ram.. so again i need some suggestions.)

-where to get winxp media center for a good price.. i heard something about fry's and an oem version.. being that it's just the cd and key by itself?

-what brand flatscreen monitor to get for a good price... i'm thinking 17 inch but i don't want some offbrand that will get all dead pixel on me.

-the other components i need (like what power supply and fans and other stuff i will need that will be sufficient for the other stuff).



i know i'm asking a lot but i am really really new at all this, though i can catch on fast so i just need some good suggestions, maybe even some links on where to get the best stuff for a good price (i've checked out newegg and stuff i just haven't been able to start, not knowing where to start).

other people have suggested that i get some stuff from newegg and the rest from fry's on a friday.. like the case and stuff. and i work at best buy so i think the only stuff i could get a good discount on would be hard drive and dvdrw drive and stuff.

thanks again and i REALLY REALLY appreciate any help you guys can give me

-colin

[jayb1234]

motherboard: One of the ASUS A8 series, non- sli (except the ones with the via or sis chipsets) with whatever features you want

Hard drives Seagate or western digital sata 16 mb cache

Ram 2x512 corsair value select for now.

XP MCE OEM

Optical drives: Liteon

Monitor Dell or Samsung

Case/ power supply Antec Sonata II one of the very few case brands that come with decent power supplies.

other stuff: floppy drive

shouldn't need any case fans.

Stick with the stock cpu fan/heatsink unit

Sound card, not needed can be added later if you want

Graphics card: I'll defer to the gamers for that reccommendation

Newegg is good as is zipzoomfly, don't have much of an opinion about fry's, Avoid tigerdirect.

Look around and put a parts list together and someone will be glad to check it for any problems.

[axion]

alright so at work yesterday i did some shopping around, and figured out i could pretty much buy everything there, but i could also get some of the stuff for cheaper maybe online, so just notify me if i can. and also tell me if this build is compatable and whatnot. some of the prices are my bestbuy discount prices and some are newegg, whichever's better.

Dynex ATX Mid-Tower Case - Black $67.20
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1091099784169

ABIT KN8 ULTRA NFORCE4 ULTRA 939 DUAL DDR400 SATA II RAID PCI-E $88.26
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813127222

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 2000MHz HT Socket 939 Processor $154.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103535

3D Fuzion Geforce 7600GT 3DFR76256GTE Video Card $169.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814143051

Western Digital 250GB Internal Serial ATA Hard Drive $109.44
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1130985130674
(should i get an OEM from newegg for cheaper? someone explain this concept to me.)

Pioneer 16x Internal Double-Layer DVD±RW/CD-RW Drive $44.10
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1140392418231

Westinghouse 19" Widescreen Flat-Panel LCD Monitor $260.36
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1134698030120

Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 1000 $32.46
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1108125653569

Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 w/Update Rollup Release 2 OEM 1 Pack - OEM $115.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832102357

can someone just choose the right memory for me at the best price? that would be greatly appreciated.

any other suggestions? does this all work out? any better deals i could get?
thanks forever if you can help me out

[glc]

Best ram is a dual channel kit of Corsair Value Select DDR400.

My only issue may be with the Dynex power supply - you need an ATX 2.0 power supply with a 20 pin or 20+4 pin main connector and some serious amps on the +12v rail or (preferably) dual rails. I have no data on the reliability and quality of Dynex - you may want to talk to a knowledgeable tech at BB. Can you open one of those cases up and take a good digital pic of the power supply label and post it? I need to be able to read *all* writing on the label.

YES, get an OEM drive from Newegg - those retail box drives only have a 1 year warranty, and the only difference is the OEM drive is just a bare drive in a bag - the motherboard comes with the cables you need.

[drew.]

INstead of that video card go with the eVGA 7600GT, its actually cheaper than the one you picked, and made by eVGA who makes probually the best nvidia cards.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130283

[axion]

anyone got any comments about hte motherboard i picked? is it good or compatible or what..

[blue60007]

It looks fine. Another choice would be the ASUS A8N-E or A8N5X. You might want to compare features and prices. Actually, the A8N5X is $20 cheaper. You might want to look at that one. Compare features to make sure it still has everything you need/want (like expansion slots, IDE/SATA ports, Firewire, etc).