budget build for specific use

[bobbern]

Greetings, first time poster here

trying to build a system within my budget and knowledge ... I am on full time disability, so that explains my budget constraints ... I am retired, an ex-racer and my only "game" is Grand Prix Legends, a 10 yr old racing sim ... I run an online league and regularly race on a dedicated server ... my only other vice is general surfing and lots of pictures which I'll somehow transfer off my old zip disks

my last 2 systems have lasted 4-6 yrs each, in a dusty garage/office environment, with smoking allowed ... my last system:
AMD Athlon CPU 2100, P4 533 FSB, Seagate 80 gb HD, CD R/W, ATI Radeon 9600, 1024 DDR RAM, on board sound, ZIP Drive !!

pretty basic, but I was ok with minor upgrades over 6 yrs ... it ran GPL to my satisfaction ... due to a possible lightning strike, and old age, only salvageable part left is the hard drive ... I have useable XP os, monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers

I've taken suggestions from this board for a > $500 build ... I have a shop owner willing to put it together

I want something at least comparable, with possible upgrade capability, esp CPU ... my game is more CPU dependent than vid card dependent ... need at least 1gb ram, would 2gb be better for this old application ? ... is DDR3 better than DDR2 and compatible with a DX 9.0b application ? ... I'm not comfortable with over clocking ... prefer a tower case with plenty of room for heat sinks, extra fans and a full length video card

I considered ebay and almost bought a GX280 3.0 for $ 225 ... but for a couple hundred more, I could have a new, longer lasting system, I think ... already read many of your good suggestions, but now you know my specific use, so any low budget suggestions aimed at getting me back on track would be much appreciated ... wonderful site btw, suggested to me by my 72 yr old online racing buddy, lol

thanks in advance ... Bob

[pam123]

OK we'll go very conservative and still try to leave you with a future upgrade path.

Since you're happy with AMD this is a good bargain cpu AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Brisbane : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103210 $77.00

The motherboard is what will give you an upgrade path so we'll go "just" past economy with the GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-DS4 AM2+/AM2 : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128075 $124. 99

It uses 800/1066 RAM depending on the cpu, the pdf of approved memory is the attachment ( this means you can upgrade the memory later if you chose to upgrade the cpu.)

2 GB for $100 (or less if you get a rebate) is where you'll be if you buy DDR2 800 .


By your description you don't need that much video card making that 280XT overkill.
How about considering a 9600 GTX instead ?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150304 $124.99

Case and power supply . This Antec Sonata III is a good deal
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129024 $99

I'm a little over your budget but this should work for you now and in the future.

[bobbern]

thanks very much for the attachment and suggestions ... thks for considering an upgrade path, that could come in handy with our seemingly worsening storms here in FL, and I've been bitten twice ... I really like that case, esp the filter for my dusty environment ... I go combo whenever I can, and the 500W PSU should be plenty ...AMD has been long lived for me, twice ... cheers

[pam123]

I just realized that you need an optical drive.
This is a good one and the price is right : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106263 $23.99

You don't need to worry about software since there are several good free programs out there (I like XPCD but ImgBurn and BurnFree also work well.).

[Rev_pizzaguy]

Hmm, I would change that video card from that XFX to an EVGA (9600GT, as there is no 9600GTX):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130334

EVGA uses better quality ram chips than XFX.

I would also change the board to an ASUS P5Q Pro:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131299

and the processor to an Intel E7200:

http://microcenter.com/single_produc...uct_id=0288157

I currently have an AMD and have no problems going AMD, but a decent Intel Core2Duo will knock the socks off that AMD every time.

For ram, 2GB of DDR2 shouldn't cost you near $100. This ram is a bit overkill, but is very good:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145175

[glc]

If you are going to go Intel with a E7200, you can save some serious bucks with a lower end motherboard such as a P5K SE.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131278

[Rev_pizzaguy]

Good point, I just like the P5Q series for a nice mobo to last a long time.

[bobbern]

you guys are fast, you had already answered some of my questions before I got done typing

pam123, thks for suggestion, I had already chosen similar LiteON, Item# N82Exx264 vs your choice of N82Exx263, not sure what difference is between the 2, other than $5 ?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106264

Rev_pizzaguy, thks for the options, but your mobo is twice the cost, financial crunch at the the moment dictates my choices ... from user reviews, P5K seems ok, $20 cheaper, and less user probs than the P5K SE

if I go the extra $ on the Intel processor, is it a better bang for buck compatible with the P5K Asus board ?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131288

confused about DDR2 vs GDDR3 ... I've read what it is, understand the improvement, but priced out of my range, atm anyway ... I haven't chosen vid card yet, but if vid card states GDDR3, will it conflict with DDR2 RAM ? ... sorry for the silly question, but I just don't know ... also read the 9600GT card is long, will it fit in the intended Antec Sonata3 ATX midtower ? ... case bundled w/ 500W PSU, is this adequate for the 2gb of DDR2, and these other components ?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129024

finally, my major intended use is a 10 yr old program based on DX 9 ... are there any conflicts using these new components with such an old DX program ?

thks for your input and help

[Rev_pizzaguy]

P5KPL-CM is a great mobo. I just like the P5Q series for things like ICH10 and PCIE 2.0. Pair that Asus P5KPL-CM with an E7200 and it would be killer. Ram type on the vid card doesn't matter. You could have a board with DDR memory and use an ATI card with GDDR4 mem chips on it and it would be fine. They don't have anythying to do with each other. The 9600GT is long... if you have an OEM Emachines case! It fits perfect in a Sonata 3. I built a system for a friend with a 9600GT in a Sonata 3. 2GB of DDR2 ram would be fine and be handled perfectly in a build like the above. You don't have to worry about the components being a problem with DX version. Card will handle DX9 and DX10 fine (if you use Vista, XP won't do DX10).

[Alaron]

I'd stick with Pam's choice for the DVD Burner. It is a tad more expensive because they throw in Nero burning software.

[bobbern]

thks again for the excellent info ... I'll be using XP ... I did not know XP wouldn't work with DX10 ... that brings up my next silly question ... I've noticed some cards state specifically in specs, DX9 or DX10 ... does a card that states DX10 also work with DX9 ? ... or are they distinctly different and only work with one or the other ?

aha !! ... thks Alaron

oops, I think you already answered this a couple posts up ... sry for the repeat

[not important]

A DX10 card is backwards compatible and will work with DX9 games.

[vaporub]

i think you go for the dell pc.it have grate specification in low price ...at the time of the buy from dell use the coupon code...