Gaming PC Build

[arcox80]

Hey all. I have been looking to build a pc for a while that I can use for gaming. I would want it to be able to handle the most recent games (COD: World at War) and be able to handle the higher end games in the near future (Modern Warfare 2, etc). I'm trying to spend around $600 and I would want something that can last a while before needing to upgrade. I hope this is possible on a $600 some budget....

I found this package at Tiger Direct and I was wondering if this would fit my needs.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...8&Sku=B69-0056

Your thoughts on this item would be greatly appreciated.

[Khalil]

Hi,
1. Tigerdirect is one of the worst places you can buy computers or computer parts. Try newegg.com

2. EVGA has no business making motherboards. I suggest you look into Asus, Intel based or AMD based motherboards.
3. That power supply is no more than paper weight. Give us a realistic budget and we will see what we can recommend for you.
4. Anytime you see package advertised as such, does not matter where at, usually it is as such for a good reason, it is distressed merchandise.

Please post your budget.

[arcox80]

I'd love to get away with something in the $500's range, but I'm willing to spend up to $700.

[Khalil]

AMD Athlon X2 7850 Black Edition Kuma 2.8GHz
ASUS M4A78 Plus AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard
CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb
ASUS EAH4850 TOP/HTDI/512M Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP
SeaSonic SS-500ET 500W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V V2.91
Your choice case.
Your choice operating system. I recommend going with the beta windows 7 and buy it when it becomes available for purchase.
Everything above is high quality, this is a machine that will serve you for 3+ years without a problem.

[arcox80]

This is great. Thanks so much for your help. I do have a couple of questions.

First, I've been looking at cases, and I think I'm missing some information. I see that the motherboard is an ATX, but the cases are described as ATX Full, Mid, and Mini Tower. Should I assume that the board will fit in all of these and it is up to me which size I want?

Also, I was looking at the warranties being offered by newegg for the motherboard, cpu, and graphics card. They're each around $20 or so. Do you have any experience with the warranties? Are they pretty hassle-free, etc?

Thanks again for all your help.

[Khalil]

If you stick to Asus motherboard and Asus or Diamond video cards and Corsair you will have a 3 year warranty directly from the manufacturer, sames applies to the AMD CPU.
ATX motherboards will only fit in mid and full tower cases, they will not fit in a mini or micro atx case.
You don't need to buy warranty from newegg.

[arcox80]

Thanks for the info. I've been looking through a bunch of different cases and I'm pretty troubled with the reviews. It seems like when it comes to buying a case most people are expecting issues, so the one with the most acceptable problems wins out. Are the certain brands I should stay away from or stick with?

[Khalil]

Foxconn are really good cases for the price. Most cheap cases are exactly that, cheap!
Here is a great case that will work out real well for you IMO.

[LeftyAce]

Cases are pretty much personal preference, so long as you get a separate, quality power supply.
I wouldn't worry too much about the newegg reviews. As a general rule, many of the reviews on newegg don't know what they're talking about, or what they're buying (so they're expecting something other than what they get).

EDIT: Recommendations from Khalil, on the other hand, are pretty reliable :-)

[Khalil]

Thanks Lefty, I look at cases from the prespective that my hands are in them most of the day, a lot of cases are made so poorly you cut your hands on them easily. Others have such low tolerances that components don't fit in right. Antec is a sure way to go. I would love to use only Antec cases in all my builds but I can't make them fit (price wise) into the large builds for school districts and colleges.

[arcox80]

Thanks again for the help. I was actually looking at the exact same case as my favorite. I'm not a big fan of all the lights and crazy designs of the other ones.

I saw that the motherboard has an integrated ethernet, so I don't have to buy a NIC. I'm assuming that integrated audio probably wouldn't cut it, so I found this sound card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829102003

If that looks fine, then I should have everything I need...right?

[LeftyAce]

Onboard audio should be fine, unless you're a serious audiophile. The motherboard you have listed even supports surround sound, if I'm reading the specs properly. Our advice is to try it, and if you decide you want an add-on card, purchase it later.

[arcox80]

Okay, I think I just have one final question.
Looking at the specs, I would want to get the 64-bit Windows OS, correct?

[glc]

There are "mini-tower" cases that will take a full size ATX board. Look at the pictures - if there are 7 card slots in the rear cage, it will take a full size board. If there are only 4 slots, it will only take a micro ATX board.

I have built with the following brands of cases and consider them all decent quality:

Antec
Coolermaster
Foxconn
Enlight
Chieftec
Compucase
Inwin
Thermaltake
Lian-Li (THE absolute best but COSTLY)

[Khalil]

Gaming righ though would be better in a mid or full tower, more ventelation, better cooling and more room for upgrades. mini atx with a full atx board is a bit of very tight fit specially with the Big ATI video cards. Don't you think glc?

[glc]

No argument there.

[arcox80]

Just an additional question: would I want to go with the 64-bit Windows OS?

[Khalil]

I use 64 bit on my Gaming and Music studio Machines. If you plan on doing any kind of multimedia, like watching bluray or using it to watch TV, or other music applications I would recommend you stay away from 64 bit.
Everything works with 32 bit.