Help me build a pc for around a grand gogogogogoog

[Rhound50]

[Beavis68]

[Beavis68]

[Beavis68]

[Beavis68]

Here is what I would probaby build but I didnt pick a graphics card or HDD. It is up to you if you want to go with XP or Vista. If you get XP get a something from a 7600GT to a 7950GT.

I have built two systems on this sonata case and we have 10 or so at work, the PSUs seem solid and we havent had any complaints so far. We are running Q6700s. I used the ADATA RAM in my home system. I set up my home system as RAID 1 for data protection. I will look around a little more later.


Antec Sonata III Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16811129024
$129.95

A-DATA 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model ADQVE1A16K - Retail
Item #: N82E16820211066
Return Policy: Memory (Modules, USB) Return Policy
$47.99


Intel BOXDG33BUC LGA 775 Intel G33 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813121304
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy (this board will run quad core processors too and there is a full ATX version for 2 bucks more if you want more expansion slots I like Intel boards because of the warrentees, I has one replaced after a year no questions asked and got it within a week - the warrentee is 3 years)

Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 Conroe 2.33GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6550 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115030
Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy
UBISOFT Gift- Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII PC Game - OEM
Item #: N82E16800992008
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy -$39.99 Combo $214.98
$174.99

[DoctorHandles]

[Beavis68]

Forgot the DVD burner, here is my preferred.

Pioneer 18X DVD±R DVD Burner Black E-IDE/ATAPI Model DVR-112D - OEM
Item #: N82E16827129007
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy $29.99

That system is under $500 without HDD, OS, or graphics card.

One the gatweway system what kind of upgrades are you thinking of? Sorry if I missed it. It has a PCIe x16 port so you can put in whatever graphics card you want.

On Vista, I have used it and liked it, but the performance hit you get can be crippling in some apps like gaming, and there are still some compatibility and DRM problems.

If you stick with XP you won't get to use DX10, so you won't get that greatest 3D effects, but you may not be able to afford the hardware to notice it. A great DX9 card is at least $100 cheaper than a DX10 card.

Also, when you are looking at just the processor, it seems like it may not be cost effective to upgrade the processor, but when you look at system cost and the performance of the system overall, it balances out more.

Look at the CPU charts at www.tomshardware.com The CPU affect just about every aspect of system performance. Even mundane tasks like burning and ripping CDs to tasks like 3D gaming performance. Spending 150$ for a process instead of 60$ seems steep. But spending $1090 on a system that multitasks better, uploads PT data faster, burns and rips discs quicker and allows your to run a game at full resolution vs $1000 for a system that doesn't perform as well and has degraded graphics performance doesn't seem like much. Especially if you are going to spend $150-$300 for a graphics card. Make sure you system can get the best out of the card.

[low dough]

[Beavis68]

good point low dough, thanks. The new graphics cards are really power hungry.

that one has a 400W PSU. in my exprience the PSU requirements are usually padded heavily, but I dont know what the 8800GTx cards require.

BTW, what is up with all the PCI Express 2.0 8800GT cards?

Here is why I was asking about the commments on the 8500+ being so amanzing

[EscapePlan9]

[Beavis68]

[EscapePlan9]

[Marm]

Here is a site to help you determine what your minimum PSU should be: http://www.extreme.outervision.com/index.jsp

[EscapePlan9]

[Marm]