[NoReMaC]

I'm getting a custom computer made for me, and I'm unsure on what parts to get. My budget is around $1,500, but i wouldn't like to spend that much. I guess I would like to spend aas little as possible, but still get a quality product at the same time. I would mainly be using it for games.

The only thing that I have decided on is the processor. AMD Athlon 64 4000+. I think that is a good choice.

For the video card, I want an nVidia, at least GeForce 6 series.

So basiclly everything else I'm gonna need some help on. (Motherboard especially.)

Please give me some of your feedback. Thx

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Good gaming motherboards are Dfi, Abit, gigabyte and some msi.

That cpu would do fine for you.

Good memory is the corsair xms series memory. #1 leader in memory.

For a video card I really recommend the 7800 gt or 7800 gtx.

For harddrives get a serial ata harddrive and if your really into gaming then get the 10,000 rpm raptor by western digital for your games then another for other programs/ files.

Get a good case that would have sufficient cooling.

Get a good powersupply that has good voltage on the rails. Dont get a cheap brand of power supply. example, if the power supply says its 500watt and the power supply is a cheap brand that dont mean jack. Get a true power, power supply.

Edited by jrm20, 13 November 2005 - 04:38 PM.

[jrm20]

Good gaming motherboards are Dfi, Abit, gigabyte and some msi.

That cpu would do fine for you.

Good memory is the corsair xms series memory. #1 leader in memory.

For a video card I really recommend the 7800 gt or 7800 gtx.

For harddrives get a serial ata harddrive and if your really into gaming then get the 10,000 rpm raptor by western digital for your games then another for other programs/ files.

Get a good case that would have sufficient cooling.

Get a good powersupply that has good voltage on the rails. Dont get a cheap brand of power supply. example, if the power supply says its 500watt and the power supply is a cheap brand that dont mean jack. Get a true power, power supply.

Edited by jrm20, 13 November 2005 - 04:38 PM.

[NoReMaC]

Ok, I'll check into those. Thx for the help

[jrm20]

ok

[warriorscot]

Yeah the 4000+ should be fine, i would look into the 3800+ x2 dual core cpus are the best to get now of you have enough money for them.
On the power supply front Antec and enermax are the industry leaders anything by them you know is quality and antec also does great deal on cases with their powersupplies(the cases are good and rock solid).
Corsair memory is great and also look into crucial they also make great ram, Gskill or patriot are also good brands.
For Gfx cards ATI make the fastest cards on the market and are going to be in the lead until at least next june in terms of card performance, the x1800s have the edge now but there is another set of cards(really a new generation) released next month and Nvidia will be releasing a lightly more powerful revision of the 7800 but its mostly going to be mid range 7 series cards coming from Nvidia.
Motherboards I love MSI never had a dodgy board and they have all worked flawlessly, they also have good customer care from what ive heard(never needed any aftersales assistance) and they come with a nice software bundle with an updating tool to keep your hardware drivers and BIOS up to date. Abit are great of a bit pricey some of their boards are better value than others. DFI are good but only if you are into overclocking unless you give them a good bit of overclocking they arent worth the money. Asus are also alot better than they used to be for AMD boards, the older ones are to be avoided but if you are buying a new one its fine.

[NoReMaC]

Ok, appreciate the input.

[NoReMaC]

Ok, I've put together somewhat of a computer I guess. I was hoping someone could look over it and give me any suggestions they have, or tell me anything I'm missing. Thx

Processor: AMD Athlon 64 4000 Socket 939

Video Card: XFX GeForce 6600 / 256MB DDR / PCI Express / SLI / DVI / VGA / TV-Out
http://www.tigerdire...5&Sku=P450-7276

Optical Drive 1: LG GDR-8164B / 16x DVD-ROM / 52x CD-ROM / DVD-ROM Drive
http://www.tigerdire...&Tab=2&NoMapp=0

Optical Drive 2: HP DVD740VI / 16x8x16x DVD+RW / 6x4x16x DVD-RW / 8x DVD+R DL / 40x32x40x CD-RW / DVD±RW Burner with Lightscribe
http://www.tigerdire...56&sku=L12-1060

RAM: Corsair TWINX Dual Channel 1024MB PC3200 DDR 400MHz Memory(2x512MB)
http://www.tigerdire...sp?EdpNo=618631

Hard Drive: Western Digital / Caviar SE / 120GB / 7200 / 8MB / SATA-300 / OEM / Hard Drive
http://www.tigerdire...p?EdpNo=1617854

Sound Card: Creative Labs SoundBlaster Live 24-Bit PCI Sound Card
http://www.tigerdire...64&Sku=C44-1010

The things I would like some help with choosing are the motherboard, case, power supply and cooling system. I'm not really sure what I should be looking for in those areas.

Also, I wasn't sure if I needed a NIC or ethernet adapter. I basiclly know what a NIC is, but I'm not so sure about an ethernet adapter. (hope that isn't too much of a noobish question.)

Thx again.

EDIT: I added the links for the parts.

Edited by NoReMaC, 15 November 2005 - 03:18 PM.

[NoReMaC]

Bump

[jrm20]

The motherboard that you buy will have a integrated network card for ethernet now adays.

For a good power supply for a great price go for the thermaltake 420 watt. Its all you need and it is a pure power meaning it is actually the full 420 watts. Cheap brand power supplies are not pure power and they dont last.

Another thing, goto www.newegg.com they are atleast $10-$15 cheaper on all of there items than tigerdirect.com

Tigerdirect is an okay company but they would be like my third choice if my other favorite companies didnt have my part in stock.



Example that thermaltake 420 watt powersupply at tiger is $49.99

http://www.tigerdire...1104458&CatId=0

the same exact power supply at newegg.com is $36.99

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16817153006

Newegg is alot better and their prices always change per day. There shipping owns tigers.

[NoReMaC]

Alright, sounds good.

By the way, does anyone have any suggestions for any of the parts there? Because I'm starting to think I should get a better video card.

Edited by NoReMaC, 16 November 2005 - 06:33 PM.

[jrm20]

Ya I noticed you said mainly for games. I would get a nvidia 6800 gt or ati x800 xl or above. Many new cards just came out from ati and nvidia. 7800 series from nvidia and x1800 from ati but that might be to much for you.


What motherboard did you pick?

You need to get a newer motherboard that has pci express, you will thank me. Dont stick to agp.

[NoReMaC]

Does this motherboard look good?
http://www.tigerdire...&Tab=2&NoMapp=0

[jrm20]

Yeah that motherboard is nice.

[NoReMaC]

I switched my video card to this:
http://www.tigerdire...1211889&CatId=0
Do you guys think it is worth the money?

Also, I chose this case:
http://www.tigerdire...&Tab=0&NoMapp=0
Please let me know what you think of it. And to be safe, should I have another fan or cooling unit installed?

And I guess I'll go with the power supply jrm reccomended.

[warriorscot]

pwersupplies you cant go wrong with either thermaltake or Antec(i like antec but thermaltake dont sell here, Hiper i like but i dont think they sell in the states, they are actually coolermasters PSU division).

The video card is good but me i would get a x800xl over a 6800GT, but nvidia replaced the 6800GT with the 6800GS its supposed to be more powerful and genreally more uber but i havent checked how it stands up against the older cards, cheaper than the GT though as well.

Case nothing wrong with it really i can see, it seems alot for a rather bland case myself, mind you some people get really gawdy awful looking ones, check out Antec(Solid utterly reliable good cooling can be very good looking and cheap, masters of quality in the PC world) or coolermaster (some fo the best looking cases are coolermaster they have some really good features build quality is usually very good, they can be expensive but some are good value like the centurian 530s are nice lookin and cheap with some nice little features on em), up to you though they all generally boil down to asthetics for most people, i chose my own case becasue it had certain things i wanted(aluminum, light weight, good cooling and the great antec HDD bays, ant it was cheapish as well) settle for nothing less than two 120mm fans or the capacity to mount them at least, and a good bit of wroking room as well is nice. The case ive always lusted after is the akasa eclipse with the window amazing case, i could have got one, could have afforded it but im a stereotypical miserly scotsman and couldnt bear to part with any more cash.