Hello,

I would ask for some advice from you guys, because I'm thinking of building a gaming system.

I don't want to spend more than 700 bucks, so here are my thoughts:

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM - $80

CORSAIR XMS 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail - $82

ASUS A8N-SLI Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail - $107

Thermaltake TR2 W0070 ATX 430W Power Supply 115/230 V - Retail - $25

XFX PV-T73G-UDD3 Geforce 7600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail - $196

<<And the processor>> (a max of $140) I am looking forward an AMD, but about processors is what I don't have much knowledge. What would you recommend me to buy? Is this one ok? AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice 2000MHz HT 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor - Retail - $99

Another thing I would like to ask, is about the MOBO. Is that MOBO/other pieces ok for overclocking + future upgrades?

Thanks in advance!


-FreakyShadow

Now that AMD has released the AM2, you can get the X2s and old 64s cheaper, but the MBs and new AM2 processors are not compatible. If you want upgrade furture, then you will need to get a new AM2 MB (recoment the nVidia 5xx equipped MBs) to have a future. However, if you are willing to fore go the future for current cheap, then you can get a 3700+ for about 150/160 for that MB.

AphJN, thanks for the reply!

I think I've changed of opinion when I looked into Tom's Hardware Guide website's article "Your DIY 4 GHz Dual Core Gaming Rig For $720".

Do you think that PC (the budget version) is O.K. for modern gaming? Or I should spend more money on the video card than in the hard drive?

First, are you in the US? If so, you are already in the shoals, because the Asrock MB is not available in the US. 2nd, are you an experience Overclocker? If not, then you are also getting into the shoals with possible grounding because you Need the watercooling to compensate for the higher temps from the overclocking that Tom's is recomending. It is do-able as listed. I was basing my system off of Maximum PC's list for an under 1k USD system. the difference for me was that I already have a new DVD-R/RW DL so I dont need to spend that $50 bucks, but I did decided to buy a new copy of XP Pro with media center at a discount so that I am truly legal. I do have licenses laying around on dead machines, but MS is getting so flakey about what is and what isnt "a legal copy" now-a-days.

I have found that even though people are recomending AMD, Intel Processors are as much as $200USD cheaper at equivalent speeds as the AMDs. DDR2 is supported in the chipset with Intel vs. on the processor with AMD. With the release of AM2 socket processors, they now support DDR2 and thus a much hotter item than the Pentium Ds. Also something else to consider, Core2Duo is coming up and is "supposed" to blow the doors off AMD's AM2 processors. Again, because of this speculation, it may be smarter to buy a pentium MB that has Core2Duo compatibility than an older X2 or 64 that is S939.

Reading the Tom's article brings out good points, but it all hinges with the cheap system on how comfortable you are at overclocking and how much equipment you already have hanging around. When chosing the case and PSU, I disagree with the PSU, I went with the Antec TPII 550 instead of a Case Stock 450...I have already fried a MB by using a 400 PSU that should have used a 450 or 500 but went with the Case stock 400. I also went with an SLI capable MB instead of using an ATI card. Yes, it locks me into an nVidia instead of the ATI/nVidia switch over because I want to go with SLI instead of Crossfire (which also requires you to get an ATI32xx MB to handle Crossfire!) SLI can be achieved by buy a mid range 66/76xxGT nVidia now then buying another one later of the same time (was going to get a eVga 7600GT with 512) on a SLI board or just waite and then replace the 66/76xxGT with a 7950GX2 which is a Dual GPU card without needing SLI or two slots.

i think you should try and save some more money and aim for the am2 socket option my freind they are newer faster and more efficent than the core2duo (i have seen them in action vs one another in loading games and such) the am2 sockets provide a small amount of processors right not but with the amd 62 on the way and am2 x2 allready here along with the am2 3700+ for around £100 something like 130 dollars you should really be into this

Thanks for the replies!

I'm not quite an experienced OClocker... so I might not get too much into it because it might lead me to danger! >.< I'm not going for the water cooling OC'ed PC.

I think im going fot the 3200+ Athlon 64 Socket AM2 Processor, thanks a lot!

thats no problem just looking out for the fellow gamers and such all the best with your new system

hey fellow gamer

can we instant message quickly, please?

I would like to do that so we can answer questions quickly and efficiently

how do you want to IM? do you have an MSN Messenger account?

yes i do i have msn if you would care to add me on it? liquidsnakepliskin@gmail.com :P lol see you on mate sorry for long response time