Basic/lite gaming build

[eagle777]

BI am wanting to build a basic/lite gaming computer. My budget is about $600. I allready have most of everything else (monitor,keyboard,mouse,etc.) I also hAve this case which was given to me. http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16811125480
I want use these parts for the rest of the build. Am I forgetting anything? What's your opinion? any suggestions, Thanks .
EAGLE777

MOBO: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16813138264

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16819103537

MEM: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16820231036

HDD: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16822148149

GPU: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16814122203

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16817189003

DVD: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16827106015


I also have a new copy of WinXP Home, so i won't need that, not quite ready for VISTA yet .

[AnotherMuggle]

Do you know its a Micro ATX motherboard that you have listed? It will work but will limit you when considering upgrades.

Other than that I see no issues

[eagle777]

Yes i realize it's a Micro ATX. It's the only board i found that will handle up to 4 GB mem and PCI-e and that's in my budget, and got good ratings on newegg. Find me another one and I'll consider it, that's why i posted this thread.

[freakitchen]

Because you're getting a dedicated video card, you can skip the motherboard with on-board video. Doing so allows you to get a higher quality motherboard for just a few more $

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131569

Everything else is compatible, though I would say that the system will not be a strong gamer. You'll have to turn graphical settings down to low on modern games to allow them to run smoothly with that video card.

FK

[eagle777]

Thanks for your suggestion on the mobo Freakitchen. I'm not a big gamer any way but if you think of a better card I'll take your suggestion. Thee computer will be used for my wifes home card printing business. I'll just use the computer for gaming when she's not looking...lol.
This is a serious upgrade from our aging and wheezing socket 462 comp. It was a freebie.

[eagle777]

There was a reason i liked the mobo i posted but i can't remember what it was.

[newbuilder14]

I have a 6600 video card, runs fine. Consider a 7600gt for $115 after rebate if you can afford it, though.

Remember, the great thing about building yourself is the room to upgrade, although the socket 939 is fading away, you can still overclock that thing to 2.4 with another HSF, etc.

[freakitchen]

That level video card is just fine for business tasks plus occasional (sneeky) gaming. I'd actually suggest you look at this video card:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130270

very similar price to the 6600, but from Nvidias newer '7 series' of cards. It has a higher clock speed than your original choice, though less pixel pipelines, but I'd still prefer it as it's newer technology.

The Biostar you chose doesn't have any benefits over the A8N5X, apart from the on-board video which you don't need, and the ASUS is a higher quality motherboard.

FK

[eagle777]

Freakitchen..will that ASUS mobo you suggested handle SATA 3gb/s ? It was not listed on newegg. If not that is what i liked about the Biostar mobo. I do admit I don't like mATX form factor.
Eagle777

[freakitchen]

Aha, I guess that's one difference I missed!

SATA 3gb/s, however, is a largely un-utilised feature. Because of hard drive limitations, those higher speeds are purely 'burst rate' speeds - sustained transfer speeds in no way approach those. In fact, It's very difficult to tell the difference between SATA 3b/s and old ATA133 (with similar drive specs), let alone SATA 3gb/s and SATA 1.5gb/s.

That said, the ASUS A8N-E - a step up from the A8N5X, has SATA 3gb/s if you really want it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131530

FK

[whubbard]

How much more are you willing to spend than what you have listed above?
Because I would highly recomend that you get the higher end video card they recomended, and then depending on what devices you are using/will be using the higher end motherboard.

[eagle777]

Yeah, I'm starting to lean toward the ASUS boards. Now about vid cards..what's more important clock speed or Pixel pipelines? What about this card?
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16814133172
E777

[eagle777]

Well, I guess I'm going with the ASUS A8N5X cause it supports Athlon 64FX the other two don't. That's if the SATA speeds don't really matter that much. maybe I'll pick out a 1.5gb/s HDD as well and some some more money. Thanks
E777

[freakitchen]

Both the A8N5x and the A8N-E support all Athlon socket 939 processors. Always check the manufacturer's website if in doubt, Newegg can't always supply every spec.

SATA speeds really don't matter, but I doubt you'll save much money by finding a 1.5gb/s hard drive - 3gb/s is the new standard for those.

Between the eVGA card I linked to, and the PNY card you linked to, I'd take the eVGA, since they're a higher quality manufacturer. I would guess that the increased clock speed on the eVGA makes up for the inreased pipelines on the PNY, but again, I doubt you'd notice any difference between the two in real-world performance.

FK

[eagle777]

O.K I see where i jumped the gun on the mobo, you're right about the A8N-E.

You're right again about the 1.5gb/s HDD, no savings there, maybe a little worse.

So you're saying a faster clock speed on the vid card would make up the difference with the pipelines? I can see where you're with the quality of the vid card. Thanks for watchin my back. Thanks FK.

E777

[glc]

http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/09/..._for_under_100

[eagle777]

Thanks GLC

E777