PC for online poker

[MelissaVLok]

Hi everyone.
This is my first post and first project as well.

I'm trying to build my own PC (hopefully is cheaper than buying from the store) mostly for playing online poker and was wondering if there is anybody here that can give me some advise. I'm prepare to spend about $500 but willing to go higher if required.

The setup i'm looking for is to be able to at least support a 30" Samsung 305T monitor (if i make some money online i might play with 2 30" monitors in future ).
There is a software i i use which generate alot of data (PostgreSQL 8.2.7) so i would probably need a big enough hard drive.

Most importantly, i have no knowledge about computer but i thought i pick up a hobby and learn something at the same time.

Thank you for looking up this thread and all the advise.

[pam123]

At that price it's on-board graphics but I can't, off hand, think of any on board vga that can do the 2560x1600 that you'll need for a 30" LCD.
Otherwise any dual core with a recent video card should do what you want.

[MelissaVLok]

Thanks pam123.
How about $700? If not what $ should i be looking at?
My budget does not include the monitor.

Thanks.

[pam123]

This would be a good choice for a motherboard :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128075 $120

CPU : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103254 $100 ( This may be more processor then you need but it's a good price. )

RAM : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231144

$43

Video card : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121271 $85

This card can support your 30" monitor at it's native resolution.

HDD : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148317

$80

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

$29.00

Case/Power supply : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119142

$150


Operating System : Vista Home Premuim (OEM) $100

or

XP Home with SP3 (OEM) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116511

$90

edit : I've been debating about recommending a floppy drive, they're cheap and still very useful, the other alternative would be a floppy/card reader combination.
What else will you be doing with the computer ?

[MelissaVLok]

Thanks again Pam123.
Is there any reason why AMD and not Intel?

[MelissaVLok]

Originally Posted by pam123 I've been debating about recommending a floppy drive, they're cheap and still very useful, the other alternative would be a floppy/card reader combination. What else will you be doing with the computer ?

No need for floppy drive.
Mostly for playing online poker and surfing the internet.

I not sure if 320B of HD would be enough though cos i was told PostgreSQL 8.2 (software to track poker player's stats) use up alot of memory.

Thanks again.

[pam123]

You can certainly increase the hard drive size ( I think that's what you meant, not memory.).

The reason for AMD over Intel was to get you as much performance as possible on a limited budget, something one of the new tri-cores should do for you.
For your stated purpose one of the more expensive Intel quad cores would have been overkill.

[MelissaVLok]

Originally Posted by pam123 You can certainly increase the hard drive size ( I think that's what you meant, not memory.).

yes thats what i meant. Should i add more hard drive or should i get external hard drive in future?

How about supporting my 2 30" monitors(2600x1600 resolution) in future?

Thanks for taking time to help me out.

[pam123]

That will require a more powerful, and more expensive, card.
For now go with one and see what the tech has to offer when that day comes rather then locking yourself into a solution now.

[MelissaVLok]

Originally Posted by pam123 That will require a more powerful, and more expensive, card. For now go with one and see what the tech has to offer when that day comes rather then locking yourself into a solution now.

You meant more expensive video card for that extra 30" monitor?
So is it correct that with the video card you recommended, is good enough for 1 30" monitor?

Thanks pam123.
sorry if i asked some really silly question.

[pam123]

Originally Posted by MelissaVLok You meant more expensive video card for that extra 30" monitor? So is it correct that with the video card you recommended, is good enough for 1 30" monitor? Thanks pam123. sorry if i asked some really silly question.

Yes.
When you click on the link I gave you to newegg you'll see photos of the card, it has one DVI connection.

A more powerful an expensive card will give you two of them.
As a newbie on a budget you don't have to go for a multi-monitor set up now.

[MelissaVLok]

Thanks pam123.
Gonna take your advise sticking to the card your recommended.
With the list you have given me plus a mouse, keyboard and a monitor and i'm all ready to go?
Did i missed anything?

About the hard disk, should i get a bigger one or i can easily add one more in future?

Thanks

[pam123]

Add a surge protector if you don't have one already but otherwise you're fine.

[MelissaVLok]

Appreciate all your help pam123.
Guess i'm almost ready to checkout.

Will the items come with any instruction on how to assemble or is just like pluging and play? No special tools required i hope.

[pam123]

Originally Posted by MelissaVLok Appreciate all your help pam123. Guess i'm almost ready to checkout. Will the items come with any instruction on how to assemble or is just like pluging and play? No special tools required i hope.

No they don't and you've got some reading to do first.
This site has a "How to build a PC" download as well as a book and a CD you can order.
Your library has them, you can google them on the web, they're in your local bookstore.

Spare yourself unnecessary grief, read first !

ExtremeTech and PCMag have free, and detailed, "How to" guides as does PCGamer on line.

Start reading!

[MelissaVLok]

Thank you. Will do that.
Guess i better do some reading before clicking checkout huh?

[MelissaVLok]

Did my homework Pam.

Also did some research at some online poker site and this is what they came up with...
Minimium requirement to run PT3,
1) Dual Core
2) at least 2 GB RAM
3) at least 7200 RPM hard drive.

Guess your recommendation was all good huh?
CPU is a Deactivated Item at newegg, does it mean i have to wait or look for another site?

Thanks

[pam123]

Glad to help.

That processor is still available over at Mwave (for a few bucks more) : http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewprodu...ocessors+-+CPU

but if you're in no rush you can wait the week or so it may take newegg to re-stock.
Either on-line retailer is good.

[MelissaVLok]

Thanks Pam.
No rush.

[MelissaVLok]

I think i'm getting there lol.
What do you think of this Pam?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103210
I read that if i'm using XP and Poker Tracker software a dual core is more than good.

Also someone recommended this video card,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814133239

Please advise.
Thank you.

[MelissaVLok]

This is what i found at Poker Tracker website.

What are the recommended requirements to run PokerTracker 3? We highly recommend that you have at least a dual-core process with 2GB of memory (RAM). The single most important hardware for PokerTracker 3's speed is your hard drive. We suggest that you are using a at least a 7200RPM hard drive.

Should i get a faster hard drive just to be safe? Is so, what would you recommend?

Thanks

[pam123]

You do not need a Raptor, the only hard drive that would be faster, for on line poker and it's impossible to find an SATA desktop drive at less than 7200 RPMs.
Pay attention to cache though; if speed is really a concern get a drive with a 32mb cache.

As I said the processor was a little over the top for you but the price was excellent.
Yes that AMD dual core will work if that's what you decide on.

[MelissaVLok]

Thanks for the quick reply.
How about this HD?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148335
$25 difference with 640GB and 32Mb.
Btw, i understand whats 640GB but can you tell me whats 7200RPM, 32MB cache please?

[pam123]

RPM is revolutions per minute and the cache is where data is stored so that it can be rapidly accessed by the drive.

The drive you've linked to is an excellent choice and 3.0 is supported by the motherboard so you can set the drive's jumpers to that with no worries.

[MelissaVLok]

RPM is revolutions per minute and the cache is where data is stored so that it can be rapidly accessed by the drive.

Hmm.. guess bigger is better huh?

3.0 is supported by the motherboard so you can set the drive's jumpers to that with no worries

Did you mean i have to modifiy the motherboard?
Isn't the one you recommended 3.0 as well?

Thanks.

[pam123]

The sata hard drive will have a jumper on it.
One position, usually the default, sets it to 1.5 for older motherboards, the other position will set it to 3.0, for current motherboards (like the Gigabyte).

[MelissaVLok]

Thanks pam.
I think i'll manage .

[MelissaVLok]

I feel i'm better with this now .

Did some changes to what pam123 recommended and this is what i came up with. Please let me know if it is not compatible or there is something i missed?

ASUS M3A78-EM AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard $77
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...SUS%20M3A78-EM
(gigabye reviews seem pretty bad, that why i did the switch)

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Brisbane 2.7GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor $66
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103210

Kingston 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory $32
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820134635

SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 22X DVD-R 16X DVD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe $27
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827151173

Seagate ST3640323AS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive $85
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148335

ASUS EN9600GT TOP/HTDI/512M GeForce 9600 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121242

COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKA1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case Real Power Pro 550W Power Supply $150
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119142

Does it looks ok?

Thank you very much .

[MelissaVLok]

Oops!
Just found out that the motherboard micro .
I would have stick to pam's recommendation but i heard some bad reviews about gigabyte support.

Back to the drawing board.

[The Village Idiot]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131340

Could try that motherboard. ASUS is a good make. As for Gigabyte, I've never heard anything particularly bad about them, and its a much better choice than the ASUS one in my opinion as that one only has 1 PCI-Express slot whereas the Gigabyte has 2. Nevertheless go for whichever one you want, do bear in mind pam does know what he's talking about and probably has had more experience than most of the reviewers who just plug in the boards and test them.

As for the rest, i'd recommend changing a few items.

Kingston has had a few problems recently and so i'd look at the Corsair XMS2, its a bit more expensive but i'd trust the brand a bit better.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145590

Samsung aren't renowned for their dvd drives, look at Lite On or some of the newer NEC/Sony drives.

If you really are only going to be playing poker, I don't remember them being heavy on the graphics, could look at an 8600GT or something.

As for the case, thats optional, i'd grab a look at the Antec Sonata III, that comes with great reviews.