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PC-GAF: Let's Build A Budget Gaming Box
- Thread starter Lhadatt
- Start date
Along with nlite there is also autopatcher xp/vista/2k for those who dont want to use ms's auto update, all it does is install the entire month's worth of patches in one shot. I believe you can streamline those updates with nlite and other applications. I really don't remember how to do it, but that's what google is for.
As for the PC, overclocking should be mentioned as an option for those who are game enough to do it. It saved me $$$ back in the day when i decided to pickup my AMD 2500+ barton and OC that baby to a 3200+ speed.
Someone also mentioned sharkyextreme, which always has monthly guides as to what you should look at getting for X amount of cash. There are a couple of other sites that also do the same thing, i can't remember them from the top of my head though.
Nice list so far.
As for the PC, overclocking should be mentioned as an option for those who are game enough to do it. It saved me $$$ back in the day when i decided to pickup my AMD 2500+ barton and OC that baby to a 3200+ speed.
Someone also mentioned sharkyextreme, which always has monthly guides as to what you should look at getting for X amount of cash. There are a couple of other sites that also do the same thing, i can't remember them from the top of my head though.
Nice list so far.
Both, my friend. I'm recycling some components, so my cost will be lower than the cost in the first post, but the goal is to get this down as low as possible and still make it relevant for 2-3 years. I'm aiming to spend ~$500 after rebates.SRG01 said:
I'm still gaming on a Radeon 9600XT 128MB, Athlon XP 2500+, and 1 GB of RAM. Team Fortress 2, Portal, and all the other cool games coming out for PC soon have prompted me to think about a new PC. I have enough parts in this one to create a completely new one for gaming and general use, while letting me use the old one for a server or something. Problem is, I don't know anything about the current PC market. GAF does, so here we are.
Zaraki_Kenpachi
Member
"IzumiK's nonsense"
Why do you even post sometimes? That's a high end server right? That has nothing to do with anything. Ya big business servers are expensive, what's your point?
Why do you even post sometimes? That's a high end server right? That has nothing to do with anything. Ya big business servers are expensive, what's your point?
Lhadatt said:
I am currently playing the TF2 beta on about the exact same setup, except my videocard is a Radeon 9700 non-pro. The game runs fine in 1024x768 with shit on low. It drops a few frames when everyone just starts to go nuts and it's all out war. Apart from that i haven't had any troubles with TF2/HL2+E1.
Of course if your wanting to play crysis when it comes out then you will really need to upgrade.
Mr. Pointy
Member
The 2600XT is a mid-end card. It's basically the X1650, but it does DX10 and has full HDMI support and HD video acceleration. It'll handle games well enough if you're running them at 1280x1024 or less.Lhadatt said:
The X1950Pro is a high-end (near the top) DX9 gaming card.
devilscallmedad
Banned
Can't find it, can i get a link ?perryfarrell said:
Zaraki_Kenpachi
Member
"Seriously, get out sometimes.
And it's not a server. It's a custom Mac Pro for home use."
If only your jokes were funny once in a while... Since you brought it up though I wonder if they've sold one of those yet...
And it's not a server. It's a custom Mac Pro for home use."
If only your jokes were funny once in a while... Since you brought it up though I wonder if they've sold one of those yet...
Zaraki_Kenpachi
Member
IzumiK said:
:lol That must be it
You! GTFO of my thread. And learn how to use the Quote feature.Zaraki_Kenpachi said:
I thought that pic was pretty darn funny. $21k for that box is overkill. It's market prices, sure, but there's no need to have that machine unless you're going to be doing hardcore stuff, like heavy data processing, superduper rendering/CAD crap, time travel, or hacking the Pentagon from your mother's basement.
Mr. Pointy: Thank you. DX9? Hm. That changes a few things. I might just want to get a DX9 AGP card and forgo upgrading other stuff for now. Waiting until MS caves in and releases DX10 for XP (ha!) sounds like a good idea.
evlcookie: I can get 1280x720 with no problem, but I'm on a widescreen monitor and 1024x768 would be stretched. However, that 9700 should be able to perform better than my card - those things are beasts.
AltogetherAndrews
Member
For reference, I bought a PC from cyberpower not long ago that had a core 2 duo 6550, 2GB RAM and a 8600 512MB video card. With the operating system, it ran me somewhere around $900.
I'd like to point out that http://provantage.com has academic versions of Windows for sale. Prove your status as a student/faculty/staff at a learning institution, or get a student to buy it for you. XP Pro for $90!
Mr. Pointy
Member
http://techreport.com/discussions.x/13292
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102706
ATi (AMD, whatever) Radeon HD 2900Pro. An underclocked 2900XT with the same (512MB GDDR3) RAM for less than a 320MB 8800GTS. It outperforms that one, so you can breathe easy.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102706
ATi (AMD, whatever) Radeon HD 2900Pro. An underclocked 2900XT with the same (512MB GDDR3) RAM for less than a 320MB 8800GTS. It outperforms that one, so you can breathe easy.
Holy schnikeys. That puts this build into midrange territory. I'm trying to keep the video card below $150.Mr. Pointy said:
booj: No problem. I know a bunch of sites are doing their own price-target builds, but I figured we could create one with our own GAF-sort of flavor. Whatever that might be. Although I'm not sure I'd like to find out. Really, the prospect kind of frightens me.
Lhadatt said:
Here's the one I ordered just this Friday:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814131055
$140 with the rebate. It's not quite as fast as the HIS card, but it's supposed to be really quiet with the stock heatsink, which is actually an Arctic Cooling Accelero X2.
MickeyKnox
Member
Buy an OEM version of XP pro, it's dirt cheap and get Vista later.oo Kosma oo said:
Er, this spec is a Vista-ready system. Vista just isn't ready for the market. No where have I positioned this system to not run Vista, unless you count the DX9 video card.oo Kosma oo said:
My current PC will run Vista with all eye candy enabled just fine. I'm sure I could game on it without any problem. I just choose not to, since Vista is a piece of garbage and market forces are making Microsoft painfully aware of this.
Academic. It's cheaper.micky said:
dark_preacher
Member
a lot of people that hate on vista just don't have pc's that can run it properly. all of these midrange pc's you guys are building are not suitable for vista. i'd go so far as to say a serious gaming pc running vista needs 4gb ram minimum.
that being said, i run vista ultimate 64 bit on a pretty boss machine and i have no complaints. it's an excellent upgrade over xp. sp1 will only widen the gap. don't hate on vista unless you've actually used it. i know it's easy to jump on here and join in on the group think.
that being said, i run vista ultimate 64 bit on a pretty boss machine and i have no complaints. it's an excellent upgrade over xp. sp1 will only widen the gap. don't hate on vista unless you've actually used it. i know it's easy to jump on here and join in on the group think.
Edited for clarity, since people thought I was saying Vista needs expensive hardware to run right:dark_preacher said:
1) We're not focusing on Vista here. You can still buy XP. Vista is not ready for market, there are too many flaws and the user experience just isn't there.
2) This thread is not for building a Big Bad Mama. Not everyone has the cash for this. If we did, I imagine we'd all be buying Mac Pros or something.
3) You don't need a 4GB machine to run Vista. It makes it smoother, yes, but it's not needed. Further, you don't need to run Vista, period.
The attitude that Vista is all things to all people seriously annoys me, because I know it's not. I have used it, and I have serious problems with it.
Teknopathetic
Member
Yes, it is.
I've edited that post above to show what my point was really going for.Vic said:
Yeah, we won't be seeing games that really take advantage of DX10 for a while yet, so I don't understand the need to upgrade. Example: Alan Wake looks good on DX9 as-is. It looks great on 10, but why spend the cash on a DX10 card and a new OS? Microsoft will probably have released their supersecret build of DX10 for XP or decided to ditch Vista by the time this becomes an issue.
Teknopathetic
Member
Short of DX10, pretty much all of the ZOMG UPGRADE worthy features of Vista have been axed over the years of delays.
Teknopathetic
Member
Let's see if we can't find one.
Lhadatt said:
Yup, it's more like a reason why the average joe (consumed by the Apple mentality) would think PC gaming is expensive. They probably look at their PC Gamer mags and see the 1k-3k Alienware rigs ads at the back (even though I could only make an 11k max custom Alienware rig. Apple just downright beats it down.)
I like your set up. Since CAD > USD right now, it's pretty cheap. I could do better but only because I build a computer over an entire year of waiting on monthly cheap specials at my local PC place. One time I got an 8800 GTS for a hundred bucks.
Zaraki_Kenpachi
Member
I don't know I'm not trying to say that the things vista have are things that make it where you have to get vista but I mean I like a lot of the tweaks. I really like the way aero works, it's a nice addition for me and some of the other features are nice to use. Not there's anything wrong with xp, since I still use that on my laptop.
Teknopathetic said:
Something is very... wrong with this post. It lacks clarity and sureness. Using my amazing abilities, I will peer into your mind and remove the veil covering your deceit.
It's becoming... clearer. So, so much clearer.
Yes!
I can see it now. This is what your heart truly desired to post!
Teknopathetic said: