My first gaming rig need some help please,

[whrzmud]

I am getting one of the 2 systems below but need some input. i have $800 USD to spend and this will be a gameing machine only

1.

ok i found this on E-Bay for $377

http://cgi.ebay.com/INTEL-PENTIUM-4-3-2GHz-2GB-PC-DESKTOP-COMPUTER-SYSTEM_W0QQitemZ300180664642QQihZ020QQcategoryZ140076QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Motherboard: ECS P4M890T-M (V1.0) 775 Motherboard 2DDR2-533 PCIe 2PCI 2SATA 4IDE RAID VIDEO
CPU: Intel Pentium 4 641 LGA775 Single-Core Hyper-Threading (3.2GHz / 2MB / 800FSB)
CPU Fan: CPU Heatsink & Cooling Fan for Socket 775
Hard Drive: 250GB 7200RPM SATA2 Hard Disk Drive
Optical Drive: 18X Dual Layer DVD-RW Burner
Video Card: 2D / 3D Video Graphics Card OnBoard
Sound Card: Multimedia Sound Card OnBoard
Network Card: Network OnBoard (Cable / DSL / LAN Ready)
PC Tower Case: BLACK NEON & Side-Window Mid-Tower with Front USB
Power Supply: Basic 600W ATX Power Supply
Case Fan: Ball Bearing ATX Case Fan (RECOMMENDED)
Warranty: Standard 3 Years WARRANTY for Complete SYSTEM

=====================

2.

then i went over to new Egg and prices some stuff out the following IMO is better product that will stay cutting edge for a while:

Sunbeam Transformer IC-TR-BA Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case $74.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811166004


ASUS EAX1950PRO/HTDP/256M Radeon X1950PRO 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card $148.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121031


COOLMAX CXI-600B ATX12V 600W Power Supply $79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817159055


G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ $46.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231098


GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059


Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 Conroe 3.0GHz LGA 775 Dual-Core Processor Model BX80557E6850 $279.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115028


total: $720.94

 

[Blackra1n]

The Pentium and on-baord graphics are pretty useless in any modern game.... what games in particular will you be playing? Resolution/settings?

 

[CNeufeld]

I'll give you my $0.02 for free...

1) A 3 year warranty from an eBay seller is worthless... I'm not sure I'd even trust the manufacturer's warranties to be valid, since the parts might be black or grey market.

2) I wouldn't buy any system that's not a current AMD or Intel Core2Duo-type processor.

3) Your second system doesn't include a HD.

4) I'd try to pony up the bucks for an ATI 3850 card, rather than the 1950Pro in the second system.

5) If you want to save some money on the second system, drop the processor down a notch to the 6750.

6) What resolution do you want to game at? Are you using an LCD? If so, what size?

Clint

 

[whrzmud]

i would be playing WoW, Crysis, and perhaps BioShock.

The second spec doesn't have a Hard drive because i was going to cannibalize my current system that has a 350GB drive. and i currently have a 19" KDS LCD screen at 1024 x 768

Also i will be keeping this system Win XP SP2 and probably not upgrading to vista so i can't take advantage of the DX10. i have heard to many bad things about Vista aka ME II

 

[Blackra1n]

Keep XP, Vista bad (I tried it only last weekend) WoW does not have a big impact on the system, and your second would be capable of Bioshock at max settings, Crysis however will be playable at med seetings (some can be turned to high) but an E6850 is a lot for only an X1950.. my X2 4600+ EE doesn't run full load with my HIS X1950PRO (590/770) and I have played and beaten Crysis..the best deal is for a little more the HD3850 twice as powerful for barely the cost difference.. as mentioned before dial back your CPU for graphics performance (almost always true in gaming)
Edit: I forgot to mention, grab a different PSU, preferably not from newegg (they just cost more)... for PSU reference
http://www.tomswiki.com/page/Tiered+PSU+Listings?t=anon

 

[nameneeded]

Here's my thoughts.

Like its been said non duo and on board video are a waste of money at this point for a game rig. Avoid them.

Check out this article. http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/09/12/pentium_dual_core/

With the E2160 overclocked you can get some great performance. The $$ saved gets you a better v card like an 8800 GT 512MB and mobo thus a better system. But thats only if your comfortable with overclocking.

Otherwise at thevery least I would spend a bit less on CPU and a bit more on vcard. The best bang for your buck card wise is these days seems to be the 8800 GT. IMO

Cheers!

 

[nhobo]

Build.

Good mobo, get the E6750. The E6850 is waaay overpriced for it's performance, which can easily be surpassed with an easy overclock of the DS3L. Take the extra $80 and get an HD 3870 or GT8800 video card.

That's a hideously ugly case, but to each his own 😉

 

[whrzmud]

ya i was looking for the cheapest ATX case i could find, where everything would fit into it


*edit*

one other question about the PSU what does Rail mean?