Keep me from buying a Dell

[xray328]

Ok, so before I buy I Dell, I wanted your advice on building my own gaming system. Totally noob here.

I'd like to stay under $600 (I don't need a monitor or windows)

Heres what I want it for:

Minimum Recommended System:
Some graphical features may be disabled. Aerodynamic Calculations will still be high quality.

* Windows* 98SE, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows Vista®
* Intel® Pentium® 1.0GHz or equivalent
* .512 MB RAM
* 3 GB Hard Drive Space
* 3D Accelerated Video with:
32 MB Dedicated Video Memory
Full Windows DirectX® 9 compliant (Pixel Shader 1.4 support)

Optimal System:
For best graphical performance.

* Dual Core 2.4GHz CPU
* 2 GB RAM
* 3D Accelerated Video with:
256 MB dedicated video memory
(Pixel Shader 2.0 support)

I'll build this over the course of a year, so I want to make sure that I can upgrade the heck out of it for the future. It'll be using a 56" DLP for a monitor.

I was considering this...

http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/...Number=6913348

Your help is appreciated.

[Alaron]

Welcome to PCMech.

That list is pretty good. Just a few things to point out.

You'll need a video card, that board doesn't have onboard video.

Swap your Burner for a SATA versions instead of IDE. Be sure it comes with Nero.

No need for the Arctic Freezer, your CPU is Retail. It will come with a heatsink/fan.

[Cricket]

$600 for a gaming rig is pretty tight...anyway of upping your budget? A good gaming video card is gonna eat up half that $600 leaving you with only $300 for everything else. Pretty hard to do. You could do a decent build for $800 but a real gaming rig normally starts around $1200 and goes up from there.

Cricket

[Caskey_10]

If you want I good gaming rig you'll need a bit more than 600 bucks. The PC i'm building is a little over 600 bucks and i'm replacing everything but the video card and CD - ROM Drive. In then end my PC would be considered a high home PC, to a low - end game rig.

If you want a good machine I would recommend using AMD Dual - Core or Quad - Core proccesors. They are usually a bit faster and more advanced than that of Intel based processors. Hell most AMD Dual - Cores run better than Intel Quad - Cores. As for a video card I would go with an Nvidia with AT LEAST 256 MB of Card RAM. With your RAM stay around 2 GB if you plan to run Vista, and be sure it is DDR2 based.

These are just some basics.

NEVER BUY A DELL! THEY SUCK!

[shadowpr]

Originally Posted by Caskey_10 If you want a good machine I would recommend using AMD Dual - Core or Quad - Core proccesors. They are usually a bit faster and more advanced than that of Intel based processors. Hell most AMD Dual - Cores run better than Intel Quad - Cores.

Do you have proof of that statement? Cause the proof here: http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu_20...=882&chart=419 suggests otherwise.

Originally Posted by Caskey_10 NEVER BUY A DELL! THEY SUCK!

Maybe you had a bad experience, but for a low budget computer, Dell does a good job.

[Caskey_10]

Originally Posted by shadowpr Do you have proof of that statement? Cause the proof here: http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu_20...=882&chart=419 suggests otherwise. Maybe you had a bad experience, but for a low budget computer, Dell does a good job.

Maybey it's just my biased opinion torwards AMD, but I just feel that AMD processor's run faster and better than Intel's. Also the fact that they are cheaper for the most part is nice also.

I currently am using a Dell until X - Mas once I get my new PC rig up and running (it's my X - Mas gift). I just don't like how i've had to splurge out all the cash that i've had to, to replace all of the low end stock parts that i've had in this machine (This was one of the first machines capable of running XP). I just don't like how Dell overprices every damn thing on there especially when your buying PC's let alone PC Parts.

[Alaron]

Folks, let's not turn this thread into an AMD vs. Intel debate.

_Moderator_

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by Caskey_10 Maybey it's just my biased opinion torwards AMD, but I just feel that AMD processor's run faster and better than Intel's.

Yes, it's just that...your biased opinion. AMD processors were performing better when Intel was still using the old Netburst architecture but ever since the newer Core architecture came out Intel has been top dog in the performance ring. AMD may eventually came back and take the performance crown away from Intel but that won't be for awhile...even AMD admits they stumbled in 2007.

Cricket

[joytime365]

Your list is very good for that budget, if you intend to use it for gaming, you should get a good video card , for say a 8600 or 8800.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by joytime365 Your list is very good for that budget, if you intend to use it for gaming, you should get a good video card , for say a 8600 or 8800.

The problem is he's at $575 without shipping right now and even the cheapest 8600GT is gonna put him over his budget.

When I build computers for other people, a $600 computer is just a very basic home computer that has on-board everything (video, sound, NIC, etc...) and no bells or whistles, it's just very basic. Trying to build a gaming rig for $600 is just about impossible because of the video card...a halfway decent one that will play current games is gonna cost at least $250 to $300 and that blows the $600 budget. If I'm asked to spec out a gaming rig I tell the person to expect a cost of about $1200 to $1500 for a low/mid range gaming rig and $2000 or more for a more serious gaming rig.

Cricket

[Caskey_10]

Originally Posted by Cricket The problem is he's at $575 without shipping right now and even the cheapest 8600GT is gonna put him over his budget. When I build computers for other people, a $600 computer is just a very basic home computer that has on-board everything (video, sound, NIC, etc...) and no bells or whistles, it's just very basic. Trying to build a gaming rig for $600 is just about impossible because of the video card...a halfway decent one that will play current games is gonna cost at least $250 to $300 and that blows the $600 budget. If I'm asked to spec out a gaming rig I tell the person to expect a cost of about $1200 to $1500 for a low/mid range gaming rig and $2000 or more for a more serious gaming rig. Cricket

It is possible tyo build a low to mid end gaming machine for around 600 to 700 bucks. That is about how much I have spent to get my PC for this chrsitmas and you can consider it a mid end game rig once the Video card is vastly updated. Also nothing on it will be onboard.

[Caskey_10]

Originally Posted by Cricket Yes, it's just that...your biased opinion. AMD processors were performing better when Intel was still using the old Netburst architecture but ever since the newer Core architecture came out Intel has been top dog in the performance ring. AMD may eventually came back and take the performance crown away from Intel but that won't be for awhile...even AMD admits they stumbled in 2007. Cricket

You can argue day and night over which company makes better processors. This is obviously not the thread to argue this. But I still feel that when it comes to pricing AMD's are the better choice for getting the most out of your money. Sure if you have the budget to afford the Intel quad cores and high end dual cores then be my guest.

[mairving]

This doesn't add up.
$600 computer + 56" DLP.

[Masaki 7-11]

Regarding the addition of a video card, look at the 10-25 price range at new egg, a card such as the x300 or x1550 have tv output, but do not come with the additional cable modules, so you will have to use an S-Video cable. Once you are able to put aside more money for upgrades, you should look to buy a better video card.