Newegg system, what graphics cars to buy?

[adrianse]

I'm buying this system from newegg and I have two questions.
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/ComboBu...758258-_-Combo

What kind of video card would you put in it if you were upgrading from a e-GeForce 9800 GTX PCI Express that I've had for several years?

Is there anything you would tweak for just a few dollars more?

Thanks, I'm mostly a gamer and plan on running Win 7.

adrianse

[jdeb]

Unfortunately, that power supply probably would not be efficient enough to run that 9800 GTX. If I recall correctly, you need to have at least 24 amps on the 12v rail and I seriously doubt that Logisys power supply will provide that. That is a nice video card and to recommend an upgrade to that would also include a quality power supply recommendation. That is a great example of why we do not recommend combo's. Rarely are the combo'd systems complete with quality components.

The motherboard and CPU are fine but the case/power supply, hard drive, and memory are sub quality. Do you have a micro center close to you?

[adrianse]

Good advice.

Can you recommend a power supply and a case and ram? I thought G.Skill was pretty good, but maybe not. I wouldn't mind keeping the card, but thought an upgrade may be in order.

I'm trying to get a nice upgrade to my current rig which is a 7 year old AlienWare Area 51 system.

I do not have a micro center close to me, nor a Fry's. I'm trying to keep the whole thing under $500 and maybe even under $400 if I don't get a new vid card.

Thanks again,

adrianse

[Masaki 7-11]

If you can use parts from your current rig, I would reuse the hard drive until prices come down, with a $400 budget, the price of a new hard drive is around 20-25% of that budget, reusing the hard drive will allow you to buy better parts.

Where do you plan on buying from? Your profile lead me to believe that you are in the states, but the link in your first post is from Newegg Canada.

[jdeb]

Buy the same motherboard, cpu and hard drive.

Replace the power supply with this. great power supply and can handle most video cards.
Newegg.ca - Antec EarthWatts EA-650 GREEN 650W ATX12V v2.3 SLI Ready CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

This case
Newegg.ca - COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Video Card
Newegg.ca - EVGA 01G-P3-1370-TR GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

Memory
Newegg.ca - Kingston ValueRAM 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model KVR1333D3K2/4GR

[adrianse]

I like it. I will reuse the hard drive as you have suggested.

I like the case just fine, but can you recommended the smallest possible with these parts? The Alienware was flipping huge and I want something smaller for sure.

Thx

adrianse

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by adrianse I like it. I will reuse the hard drive as you have suggested. I like the case just fine, but can you recommended the smallest possible with these parts? The Alienware was flipping huge and I want something smaller for sure. Thx adrianse

Just find a case you like around that price. If it has a junk power supply, pull it out and use it for testing.

Masaki brings up a good point. Your links targeted Newegg Canada. Are you from there?

[adrianse]

I'm in the US. That link came from a friend in Canada.

adrianse

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by adrianse I'm in the US. That link came from a friend in Canada. adrianse

Well you got the model numbers, just cut and paste. That is a nice little board by the way, I have used many of them in budget builds. Maybe wait until Black Friday so you can get free shipping and a little more savings. Your really limited with a 400.00 to 500.00 budget

[Masaki 7-11]

Not sure if you like the style of the case, but this In Win case is of fairly good quality, has good airflow and is small (microATX mini-tower): Newegg.com - IN WIN Dragon Slayer Black 0.6mm SECC MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case

Newegg.com - LITE-ON 24X DVD Writer 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model iHAS-324-98B

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE Ultra Durable VGA Series GV-R685OC-1GD Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity

Newegg.com - Antec NEO ECO 520C 520W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply

Newegg.com - CORSAIR 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 Desktop Memory Model CMV8GX3M2A1333C9

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-H61M-DS2 LGA 1155 Intel H61 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

Newegg.com - Intel Pentium G850 Sandy Bridge 2.9GHz 2 x 256KB L2 Cache 3MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80623G850

Grand Total: $499.56 (With Shipping)

Assuming you are reusing the hard drive, this should be a pretty big upgrade in terms of gaming. I picked the Pentium since it's one of the fastest processors for gaming and it's quite inexpensive. The motherboard I picked out is pretty barebone, but it has everything you need, is fairly good quality and is inexpensive. The power supply should have no trouble with the setup I listed above and will allow you to make upgrades down the line if you choose. I also went with 8GB of ram since you'll get close to using 4GB right now and going from 4 to 8GB is only an extra $15.

[adrianse]

Well, I couldnt add that processor AND motherboard unless it was part of that original build, so I chose another combo. Please feel free to suggest another combo if you see fit.

Here is the updated build.

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Antec EarthWatts EA-650 GREEN 650W ATX12V v2.3 SLI Ready CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

EVGA 01G-P3-1370-TR GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

Kingston ValueRAM 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model KVR1333D3K2/4GR

AMD Phenom II X2 565 Callisto 3.4GHz Socket AM3 80W Dual-Core Desktop Processor HDZ565WFGMBOX

BUNDLED WITH

BIOSTAR A880G+ AM3 AMD 880G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

I'll be re-using my hard drive.

Thx, $505.53 shipped. I just saw the last post, so I'll be looking at that too.

adrianse

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by adrianse Well, I couldnt add that processor AND motherboard unless it was part of that original build, so I chose another combo. Please feel free to suggest another combo if you see fit. Here is the updated build. COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case Antec EarthWatts EA-650 GREEN 650W ATX12V v2.3 SLI Ready CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply EVGA 01G-P3-1370-TR GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card Kingston ValueRAM 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model KVR1333D3K2/4GR AMD Phenom II X2 565 Callisto 3.4GHz Socket AM3 80W Dual-Core Desktop Processor HDZ565WFGMBOX BUNDLED WITH BIOSTAR A880G+ AM3 AMD 880G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard I'll be re-using my hard drive. Thx, $505.53 shipped. I just saw the last post, so I'll be looking at that too. adrianse

I like it. You love looking at the bundles don't you

[adrianse]

Thanks for all the help, I'm going with that smaller Dragon Slayer case. Thanks for finding that.

adrianse