ALL comments wanted (all comments are welcome)

[dunno 103]

Hi

I have posted a few threads but have decided on a budget system and would like everyone's opinion. If you don't wanna be shot down pm me or email me at dunno103@hotmail.com.

an ASUS M3N78 Motherboard
AMD Athlon X2 7750 CPU
2GB Kingston HyperX 1066MHz RAM
Pioneer 216D DVD Burner
Seagate 500GB HDD 32 Mb cache
Besta 4 USB Case with Shaw 860 W PSU

I will get a video card later (maybe from India, I have contacts). and eventually I will change the cpu to a quad core. AT the moment (in Australia) this is one of the better options I have found for my needs.

I want to play older games such as Diablo 2, Far Cry, Doom2 and 3, NFS Underground, but would also like to play Diablo 3, Far cry 2 and any other game that takes my fancy.

So I need a board etc that is versatile (such as what I have chosen) that can accomodate all of these games. I am an older member and am not interested in getting the game ASAP.

I can wait but I need to know if I am on the right track.

Advice on an OPS would be handy too, or is this another thread?

Cheers

[glc]

Never heard of that brand PSU. Can you get a WD drive instead of a Seagate?

[dunno 103]

Not sure, was told this was a fast HDD (I prefer WD), and yes I haven't heard about that PSU either.

cheers

[Masaki 7-11]

Looks like a pretty good build, the integrated graphics should work until you can get a better video card. I would take a look at getting a different power supply if possible; you don't need anything fancy, a good 400W+ power supply should be ok. What kind of monitor were you thinking of using with the computer?

[glc]

Seagate has been having major issues with their 7200.11 drives, hence the WD recommendation.

[jdeb]

power supply
http://www.gocomp.com.au/index.php?c...catpath=0_7_77

[dunno 103]

Thanks for the advice guys but there is a video card which requires 580W minimum which I am looking at getting eventually, hence the higher wattage power supply.

cheers

[glc]

That is not a link to a Shaw 860w power supply - it's a link to an Antec Sonata III case which comes with a high quality 500w power supply. If that's the case you want, the power supply in it will be very suitable for almost anything.

[dunno 103]

Hi

This is a video card I am looking at in the future

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....:X:AAQ:AU:1123

and this needs 580W, this is why I am looking at higher wattage PSU's.

cheers

[glc]

Fine, but why did you give us a link to a case with a power supply? If you want a big power supply, buy a case without a power supply then get a proper power supply. I'd really like a link to that Shaw power supply to see if it's any good.

If you want a recommendation for a suitable PSU:

http://www.scorptec.com.au/computer/30694-cmpsu-650txau

[Masaki 7-11]

Originally Posted by dunno 103 Hi This is a video card I am looking at in the future http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....:X:AAQ:AU:1123 and this needs 580W, this is why I am looking at higher wattage PSU's. cheers

That 9800GX2 is overpriced, the performance for it isn't that great and it uses up a lot of power; might want to take a look at the HD4870 which has similar performance at almost half the price: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NEW-ATI-HD487...3A1|240%3A1308

[Masaki 7-11]

Originally Posted by glc Fine, but why did you give us a link to a case with a power supply? If you want a big power supply, buy a case without a power supply then get a proper power supply. I'd really like a link to that Shaw power supply to see if it's any good. If you want a recommendation for a suitable PSU: http://www.scorptec.com.au/computer/30694-cmpsu-650txau

Jdeb provided the link to the Antec Sonata III, haven't seen a link to the proposed power supply yet.

[dunno 103]

Hi guys

I am just asking opinions and will source items that are compatible myself, I don't need links to sellers, just products. I do not care where the seller is from so newegg links are acceptable. I just want a good system that works, I can go to a "computer market" which draws huge crowds every Sunday very close to home, sellers travel for hours to get there.

Please just give me a link to parts (within my above parameters), including a video card that will allow me to play Doom3, Far cry and older games at maximum graphic experience.

I do not have a link to the PSU (or case) because I rang a local dealer and this is what he recommended.

I can pick this stuff up (I am in Sydney, Australia) and if anything is wrong, he knows that I will pay him a visit.

The case and PSU have a 1 yr warranty, but please keep talking I need to know.

I am very greatful for the HDD advice and will be asking for a similar WD drive, it definately does not need to be more than 160 Gb, but I want a large cache.

cheers

[glc]

Oops - didn't see that it was jdeb. Sorry about that.

I apologize for posting a link to a product from an Australian vendor. Apparently my thoughts that it would be convenient were wrong. I'll back out of here now, you don't seem to want my recommendations.

[dunno 103]

glc, I do want your recommendations but would also like reasons why you recommend a certain part.

thanks

[glc]

I recommended it because a Corsair 650TX is an award winning very high quality power supply. You may be building a budget system, but you cannot skimp on power supply quality, especially when you are building in the ability to handle a video card that has a huge appetite for clean power. Raw wattage ratings mean NOTHING. Manufacturers can rate them any way they want. I see test after test where cheap 600 watt power supplies roll over and die or start zapping components with dirty power long before quality 400 watt units quit when the load is cranked up.

Again , I provided that link simply so you could see the unit, and I always provide links to vendors in the poster's country when known. I am not endorsing any particular vendor, I just happen to know that Scorptec is one of the major vendors in Oz and has an adequate selection of components, and their website is easy to navigate. Pretty much the same reasons I use Newegg when making recommendations for our US and Canadian members. There are components that are sold in the US that are not sold in other countries for various reasons, so providing links to stuff in Oz guarantees you that the particular component would be available and compatible with your electrical system. How would you like to try to get a power supply working that only works on 115 volt 60 Hz AC power?

[dunno 103]

Thanks for that.

cheers

[jdeb]

and I thought the same thing in regards to where he lived... Plus I recommended that antec case (I called it a power supply, my bad) because he was playing older games and would not require a overpriced video card. Man I thought this post was going to be a slam dunk but it is getting more confusing by the day. Makes me not want to post...

[glc]

Nah, you just have to slow down a bit and read more thoroughly. I got bit in this thread too, I thought he said what you said........never mind......oh well!

[GodofCats]

Originally Posted by dunno 103 Hi This is a video card I am looking at in the future http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....:X:AAQ:AU:1123 and this needs 580W, this is why I am looking at higher wattage PSU's. cheers

Hey this is just my opinion on Nvidia, take it or leave it. There is a known issue with newer Nvidia cards and a series of Real Time Strategy games. With Shogun and Medieval Total War, they have an issue that they refuse to fix with their newer drivers. Many would argue that it is the game software producer's responsibility, but the older drivers worked just fine, so why should the game developers / producers have to fix it? I am not trying to offend anyone with Nvidia cards or say that Nvidia cards are bad, but this issue is known in a few other games (cant remember the exact ones right now).

Because of this, I always recommend ATI cards. Since you listed (if I remember correctly) that you like to play Legacy-type games, I would also recommend an ATI Radeon card for this venture. I'm fairly certain that the games you did list would work with the Nvidia cards, but there are other legacy games that just won't work with them since the driver upgrade about a year back.

Just my two cents, like I said, take it or leave it, and don't get upset over it, it's just an opinion.