Building a new computer

[X-Death]

I'm trying to build a computer with a limit of 500 dollars that's good enough to play WoW properly, but not perfectly. I need opinions on the hardware I picked out from Newegg.com.

The hardware is as follows:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822144415

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814143049

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820211013

http://www.newegg.com/product/Produc...82E16819103023

http://www.newegg.com/product/Produc...82E16813131069

http://www.newegg.com/product/Produc...82E16811208021

http://www.newegg.com/product/Produc...82E16817159009

Thanks. ^_^

[walter34payton2002]

Is the budget for new everything or can you use some of the old stuff? I always try to save by transferring as many supported components as possible (case, optical drives, floppy, ect). I think I can help you build a mean machine for that budget, but what exactly do you need? Also, is OCing an option?

[X-Death]

Right now I'm on some piece of garbage '95 Compaq computer, the only thing I can reuse is my CD-ROM drive, OS, Mouse, Keyboard, Monitor, and Speakers.

I don't know what OCing is.

[walter34payton2002]

Originally Posted by X-Death

Right now I'm on some piece of garbage '95 Compaq computer, the only thing I can reuse is my CD-ROM drive, OS, Mouse, Keyboard, Monitor, and Speakers.

I don't know what OCing is.

Overclocking. I am going to guess no on that, but that's ok. I am going to see what I would build with that budget and get back to you. I guess you need:
case, PSU, mobo, HDD, optical drive (unless you want to keep cd drive for now, you could save here), CPU, and RAM.

[X-Death]

What about the parts I already showed in those links? Those were what I was gonna use.

Im going to go to bed, but I'll leave you with this note: I'll probably be using my older CD-ROM drive, and my first post had all the hardware I was planning on getting. Unless you can make something better, of course.

If you can, you can IM me on MSN or AIM so we have a better communication...

AIM: ne0xdeath
MSN: infernalxdeath@hotmail.com

See you again, Walter. ^^

[walter34payton2002]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813135026
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115005
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145568
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150202

Above comes out to about $493 after rebates (1 rebate on vid card). I know I am pushing it, but if you can get a PSU similar to the one you have but with higher amps on 12V and find a cheap case ($30), you will be very close to $500 and have an SLI ready rig. You can add another vid card when you have some cash and run SLI. This rig will blow away the one you have listed above. Double check compatibility because I put this together quickly. The rig you proposed will be a bit weak in my opinion.

I would just get a cheapo case if I were you and mod it a bit if necessary. The PSU you have is a bit weak on the 12V. I would find one at least with 25 or so. This rig could come out to a little over $500, but will be pretty damn solid and you could go SLI. It is very upgradeable, as well.

[viper_boy403]

wow for $500 u can build a much better system than that.\

a core 2 e4300
a gig of value RAM
a case+psu combo (antec makes nice cases and good PSUs)
a cheap core 2 duo motherboard
an x1900, 7600gt, or 7900gs
a seagate or WD hard drive, about 200 gigs

that should come out to about $500

EDIT:
here's some links and how id do it (to change walter's list a bit )

e4300 instead of the e6300, saves $20
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115013
pretty much any of these cases: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&SubCategory=7

everything else looks good to me

[Tourangh]

In my opinion if your going to just use this PC for WoW you can cut down on the video card. I think you could go with a 6600gt or somthing instead to save some $$

[viper_boy403]

well im guessing he's not going to be playing WoW forever, it will give him some sort of future-proofing and costs about the same as his proposed system

[walter34payton2002]

Originally Posted by viper_boy403

wow for $500 u can build a much better system than that.\

a core 2 e4300
a gig of value RAM
a case+psu combo (antec makes nice cases and good PSUs)
a cheap core 2 duo motherboard
an x1900, 7600gt, or 7900gs
a seagate or WD hard drive, about 200 gigs

that should come out to about $500

EDIT:
here's some links and how id do it (to change walter's list a bit )

e4300 instead of the e6300, saves $20
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115013
pretty much any of these cases: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&SubCategory=7

everything else looks good to me

I don't know if that is $20 well spent in that savings for the CPU. Remember he is not going to OC. You are getting a lower clocked cpu with a lower FSB. Viper....I think my proposed machine might beat yours down a bit:D ! I am with you on the case/PSU combo. You can get those in like the $30 range, but the problem will be 12V amps. I think my proposal might need something a little better, but you can find it if you look.

[Core2Conroe]

"OMG OMG!! THE CPU IS SOOO UNDERPOWERED!!!"


I played WoW on my 600MHz P3... a c2D is built for gaming no matter what... cry about its 800MHz FSB and .06MHz clock loss...

[viper_boy403]

true, true yours would give quite the beating to my lil e4300...

as far as those cases go, i chose the antec ones because they make good cases AND good PSUs so you know that its not some generic POS PSU that you're getting with the case.

this one here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129163
has 29v on the 12v rails which is plenty for this setup

so...

case+psu: $85
mobo: $70
proc: $183
ram: $75
video card: $155

under his budget IF he uses his old HDD along with his CD drive

actually, ive found that the x1900XT (from a MaxPC article) is actually the best midrange card and runs around $110-130 which could save some more money for a new HDD or whatever

[X-Death]

I'm a little lost here... could someone sum up the results of what I should be getting? xD

It's very nice to see some REAL help for once, compared to what I usually get.

Also... my old HDD is only 7 GB's, so that'd be a big no on keeping my old HDD.

Like I said, only Monitor, CD-ROM, Mouse, Keyboard, and Speakers are the only things I can reuse.

[walter34payton2002]

Originally Posted by Core2Conroe

"OMG OMG!! THE CPU IS SOOO UNDERPOWERED!!!"


I played WoW on my 600MHz P3... a c2D is built for gaming no matter what... cry about its 800MHz FSB and .06MHz clock loss...

It's not huge, I didn't say that. If you read what I said it is that I don't think $16 is a bad price to pay for that extra 266MHz (66 real) and .06 clock, do you? Do you not think that is worth $16? Ok, so no need for the exaggerations then. E4300 is an OCer. That's its purpose. E6300 is best value. This guy is not going to overclock.

I doubt he will play WoW exclusively and forever, as Viper pointed out.

[walter34payton2002]

Originally Posted by viper_boy403

true, true yours would give quite the beating to my lil e4300...

as far as those cases go, i chose the antec ones because they make good cases AND good PSUs so you know that its not some generic POS PSU that you're getting with the case.

this one here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129163
has 29v on the 12v rails which is plenty for this setup

so...

case+psu: $85
mobo: $70
proc: $183
ram: $75
video card: $155

under his budget IF he uses his old HDD along with his CD drive

actually, ive found that the x1900XT (from a MaxPC article) is actually the best midrange card and runs around $110-130 which could save some more money for a new HDD or whatever

Agreed. I was referring to an SLI card though for the SLI rig.

[walter34payton2002]

Originally Posted by Core2Conroe

a c2D is built for gaming no matter what.

Ok, offer him your opinion then. Why are you telling me this?

[viper_boy403]

i think he means it doesnt matter if he gets the one clocked a bit slower because they will both perform very well (i couldnt tell if u were being sarcastic or not walter )

heh heh yea i forgot about SLI

[viper_boy403]

ok so, as requested, the "official" and final parts list:

proc: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115005
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145568
case/psu: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129163
hdd: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822144415
video card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814142084
mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813135026

walter i talked to him on AIM and SLI is a no-go so he can same a few more bucks by going ATI

i think that its really close to your budget and will perform VERY well. you're really gonna like it

[walter34payton2002]

Originally Posted by viper_boy403

i think he means it doesnt matter if he gets the one clocked a bit slower because they will both perform very well (i couldnt tell if u were being sarcastic or not walter )

heh heh yea i forgot about SLI

I don't want to speak for him, but he was implying that I was making a huge deal about the differences and all I was saying was not that the differences were VAST but that for $16 the upgrade is worth it.

I think the system I offered would be pretty mean overall, but may just be a little over $500. The vid card is pretty mean (20 pipes and SLI), E6300 has a SLIGHT (not enough to cry about, though) edge, DDR2 667 standard is not too shabby, and he can go SLI. For in the neighborhood of $500, that is not too shabby.

Viper, your specs are probably more in the exact specified neighborhood that he wanted and I would say something like you recommended next. I was just trying to let him know that he could go from trying to build a decent machine to a pretty solid one in the same price neighborhood. I agree with you though.

[walter34payton2002]

Our posts crossed Viper. I like your choices. ECS doesn't give a lot of options as far as OCing and stuff, but I have found that if you know you are going stock, ECS is not too bad and has good support. The only thing I see is the vid card. It only has 12 pipes. For $119 though, it is a good price.