Gaming Desktop for $1000?

lrite, I know Ive made a lot of threads asking various questions, but this will be the last, I swear

Anyway, I was wondering if I could get a decent gaming desktop for around $1000. I want it to be able to play all the newest games at without much trouble. I also want it to be able to last without needing upgrades for a couple of years. Ive got this set up for around $1600:

Thermaltake Tsunami Case
Antec TruepowerII 380W PSU
AMD Athlon 64 3500+ 939PIN Processor
ASUS A8V Deluxe 939PIN Motherboard
Corsair 1G[2x512MB] TwinX Memory
BenQ Combo Drives
Mitsumi 3.5" Floppy
Western Digital 160GB 7200rpm Hard Drive
Viewsonic E9OFB 19in CRT Monitor
HIS Radeon x800XL Video Card
X Ray Thunder Gamepad
Altec Lansing Speakers
Saitek Eclipse Keyboard
Logitech MX518 Mouse
Windows XP with SP2

But I think that is a little expensive for me and it would take me forever to get that much mulah. So, any ideas? Or should I just stick with that? Also, I already know about ibuypower.com and cyberpowerinc.com, but I dont know what a good configuration would be. Any help would be appreciated.
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Well, if you're looking to cut some of the cost the obvious area is the monitor. 19" monitors are expensive and dropping to a more standard 17" can easily save about $100. Also the cpu you picked is a good CPU. But the best bang for your buck is around an Athlon 64 3200+. Also on the bright side the CPU is rarely going to be the bottle neck in games. The video card is much more important and to be quite honest you could most likely run everything on the market with this setup and a 2800+ or even the old 1.5gig type 32 bit CPU's. So you can afford to drop down a bit without hurting the gaming system.

The remaing cuts would hurt system performace however. For example you could cut the ram in half and be fine if you just didn't run a lot of crap in the background. But the thing is RAM is so cheap right now that I wouldn't really recommend it. I'd keep the gig.

After that the next cut is going to be downgrade the video card but you likely don't want to do that if you want it to be a gaming system for many years. Although even older 9800 handle current games just fine.

Of course you can use more standard mice and keyboards as well, but that's not going to be a big price diffrence. So overall I think the best cut would be to lower the CPU to roughly a 3200+ and save the extra hundred. You won't need the extra power a 3500+ provides.

Alternativly you could save even more money by using a 754 pin motherboard as most places are really happy to get rid of them and want them out of stock. The downside to this is, you won't be able to upgrade it because everyone is getting rid of it. Of course most people don't upgrade a CPU anyways, when they upgrade a CPU they tend to get a new board. SO maybe this is a viable option for you.

 

check out
www.cyberpowerinc.com
www.ibuypower.com

 

You dont think 17in would be too small? Ive never really looked at one, so I wouldnt know. The one Im on know, I think is a 19in. And Ive known about those sites, but I dont really know what a good configuration would be for less than $1500. Thanks for the help guys. So I think Ill probably get the 17in Viewsonic Monitor and the AMD 3200+ processor, about a $200 drop without sacrificing mcuh performance. But keep in mind I want this computer to last for a good while, 2-3 years minimun, because its unlikely Ill ever to be able to amass that much money again ,

 

Actually, now that I look at the prices, the 17in of the exact same type is only $60 less. Enough to constitute the switch? And the processor of the exact same type is only $77 less. Enough to constitute switch?

 

If it were me, I'd buy as much as possible from places like http://www.overstock.com. Especially on the monitor, floppy drive, case and keyboard. Everything from the PSU to the CPU, mobo, and HDD I'd buy of at least average quality.

And don't forget: you get what you pay for.

 

This is the monitor I'm getting. It's got a slightly larger veiwable size than average, if the claims are right, for a 17" monitor.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...-details.asp?EdpNo=1189894&sku=SYX-RFB-090231

 

Are Phillips monitors good?

 

Ok Ive been given a quite good idea. Ive been told that buying a computer such as this, which has everything I need except video card, monitor, PSU, and speakers, and then buying a good video card[HIS x800XL], monitor[Viewsonic], PSU[Antec], and speakers[Altec Lansing] would save a good bit of money. And from what Ive figured, it does. The starting build is $650. Then $290 for video card, $150 for the 19in Viewsonic Monitor, $60 for the PSU, and $60 for the speakers. Thats around $1200, and has everything my build has. So, yay or nay?

 

I'd dump the av8 and get something along the lines of a gigabyte nforce 4,get a cheaper uglier case with similar cooling performance,a monitor with built in speakers,generic keyboard and mouse,as said drop down to a 3200,value branded ram will do,why does it have to be his video card?,have a look at the tiger direct offer of the 800 plat from TG.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1476861&Sku=C261-3025 R

Sometimes you just gotta slap yourself in the face and say I cant afford it

 

Rikky, what do you think about what I said in an ealier post, about buying the Pavillion and then just buying a few upgrades. That would have all the same parts for less money.

 

linnk me or quote what we talked about please ,I thought the point of this thread was to get the price of this computer down to $1000?

 

That is the point, and that would get me close. But I dont know if thats a good idea. I also posted this thread on www.pbnation.com, where I actually got the idea, and there has been a lot of controversy ver it. I trust you guys more than them, so thats why Im trying to get confirmation of what to do. And heres the thread on pbnation: here

 

My computer right now, is my gaming comp which i bought for just under $500 and this was when my 5200 AGP 128MB vid card was $100, I still havent upgraded it and im playing stuff like battlefield 2, Doom 3, Counter Strike, Return to Castle Wolfenstein... Heres MY current (never been upgraded) system specs.
--all prices are probably cheaper now---

AMD Athlon XP 2600 which runs at 2GHz +/- $117
ASUS A7N8X-X mobo $67
PNY Geforce Verto 5200 128MB Agp $98
Generic case (its a comp store brand, cheap yet good quality) $30
Generic 400watt PSU (also comp store brand, again cheap yet good quality) $40
Dynex floppy drive (why do we even have these any more????) $ 20
ASUS QuieTrack CD-ROM (who needs a burner anyways? its a GAMING comp) $30
Hitachi DVD-ROM GD-7000 (i got the BattleField 2 DVD version) $20
512MB PC3200 DDR-400 Corsair Value Select CAS 2.5 $80
Generic Keyboard $15
Microsoft USB Infared mouse $15

I already had the monitor which is a Viewsonic A70f purchased for about $210
Had some Sony Viao Speakers (you might consider a headset...)

Some other good computer sites are www.widowpc.com (has good tips too) www.newegg.com www.zipzoomfly.com and www.pricewatch.com is good, but make sure you dont get house brand mobos and RAM...

Ive had this computer for about a year now and its still running strong, and i just put in a new watercooling setup, not like it was overheating but it DOES get up there when playing games...

Another point i havent mentioned yet is, PAY MORE FOR COOLING!!! especially with a gaming comp. they get so hot, especially in LAN party rooms... all that heat.. Here is a link for cooling and another for Gaming PC tune up (just for future references, also its good to bookmark the tune up page)
Cooling
http://www.widowpc.com/2005/06/cooling_a_gamin.php
Tune Up
http://www.widowpc.com/2005/07/gaming_computer_1.php

That compUSA setup you posted is perfectly good, you may want to change to a different case though, which is completely fine any ATX case mid tower will do... As a matter o' fact my PSU and case ARE compusa brand..

Although your performance from it maybe less, your going to have to face the unbearably torturing upgrade monster if you want TOP O THE LINE GAMING performance...

NOTE : My system is NOT Overclocked, even though i have water cooling... Odd eh?

 

Its really up to you,the parts in the ready made pc will be crap,they wont perform as well as parts you buy yourself,but it makes it affordable,1 pc is better than 0 pc,you will may also get a good parts and labour warranty with that computer,i think you should do a shop on newegg using mine and others reccomendations see how much it will cost you,mine alone should bring the price down by about $400,post all the links here

 

Alrite Im using evryones advice and searching newegg: Heres the links

Case
here

PSU
here

Motherboard
here

Processor
here

Memory
here

CD-ROM/DVD ROM Drive
here

Floppy
here

Hard Drive
here

Monitor
here

Video Cardhere

Gamepad
here

Speakers
here

Keyboard
here

Mouse
here

OS
here

And there it is. That us $1327 without shipping[ I just caculated]. So thats about $150 more for parts I know about. Worth it?

 

you could try finding those parts at www.zipzoomfly.com (formerly www.googlegear.com) it has 2nd day shipping on pretty much everything except stuff like the case and other heavy stuff... But otherwise that is a good setup and its DEFINITELY worth the price....

Hehe you might just have one of the best comps at a LAN party... My comps the best at a local store thats by my house...

 

Alrite I checked that site and the prices are pretty much the same except for a couple things and those thigns are cheaper at newegg. So youd suggest that computer over the pre built and theun upgraded one?

 

PSU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103444 $44

MOBO=same

CPU=same

memory=same

cd drive=same

floppy=dumped

harddrive=say hello to your new 80gig WD $52

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144102

monitor=I'll let you have a 19incher,you should consider a 17 though $156

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824103203

vid card=$257

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102425

gamepad=50 cent from wallmart

speakers=$23

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16826106306

keyboard=$8,it has the same response time as the other one you chose

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16823144002

mouse=$5

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16826156005

os=same whats that come to?I have left out the case,the one you chose has a built in psu dump it,you need a black case you like,without a psu,with at least 1 120mm intake and 120mm exaust,I cant find one on newegg

 

Just over $1100 me thinks

 

Ok thanks a ton Rikky. Few questions though. What do you mean buy say hello to your new 80gig WD $52? Also, why do you pick that video card? And $23 speakers?

 

Nevermind, I figured it out. I was feeling a little wierd then...

Dont you think itd be better to just keep the 160g hdd cause its only $30 more..

Also, is that monitor good quality? I want it to be cheaper, but not at the price of quality and performance...

 

Click the link and say hello and it costs $52,you only need an 80gig drive if that you could stick 14 4gig games on there and still have room

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144102

I picked the vid card because its cheaper and anything more and your 3200 a64 wont be able to feed it,and the $23 speakers,clue-their headphones

 

Alrite, but are they quality parts? I know you wouldnt give me bad parts rite

 

You could say that about everything just $30 more and you would be back where you started,i have yet to fill my 36 gig raptor and my program folder looks like this,with 5gigs of space!

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b214/Rikky_/unt.jpg

 

And the keyboard and mouse use PS/2 style connections.. Arent those the older kind? Could that be bad? Just trying to figure out everything

 

No not at all,you will have more free usb ports,I use them,I also use a ball mouse logitech m-s48 the first mouse I ever had 7 years old and it kicks ass,cheap optical mouses lag,also when I'm fps gaming,I like to pick up the mouse when you run out of mat,optical mouses send your crosshair all over the place

 

Get some reviews of them

 

Ok Ill go with everything you said except the video card. I still want the PC to preform very well on gmaes, and Im willing to pay $40 more for a better card. If it is better... I fnd it hard to find reviews of specific things...

 

And why not the SATA version of the HDD? Its only $2 more, and Ive read they are better...

 

get the sata version I missed that,the mobo,cpu,mem and psu are a lock they are good parts,the monitor has a 3 year warranty and does 12x10 at over 85hz,you can use your imagine with your headphones find some you like,also your case has to be to your taste.

I'd go with the original vid card aswell I was tryin to trim some fat off,your cpu wont be able to push it to its limit though,but then you will discover overclocking

 

Alrite, but why cant the CPU handle that video card? It makes me sad, cause I was looking forward to some awesome graphics.. Should I get the 3400+, so I can take full advantage of the card?

 

Penguin your a tough nut to crack,your off again spending money you dont have,send me your wallet and give you your allowance You totally misinterpret the situation,what if I told you you would need an a64 4000+ to make the most of that card?You are gonna get awsome graphics,we are now talking 5fps terms that you wouldnt even notice with the 3400+

The 3200 is what you can afford its an awsome chip,read this

http://www.guru3d.com/article/article/136/

 

All that stuff is great, you should have yourself an excellent computer! The reason i suggested zipzoomfly.com is because of free shipping on most items, if shipping is more than that of paying a little more on things at zipzoomfly, use zipzoomfly... but if every thing on zipzoomfly.com costs MORE go with newegg.... just trying to save u some money (shipping can get way up there...)

 

Lol sorry, just trying to get everything straight. And sorry I havent been replying, my house got hit by lightining and blew the modem. my sisters TV, and worst of all, my beloved Xbox. If anyone has one they dont want, you can send it to me

Anyway, I think Ive got myself a computer for a little over $1100. Thats much better than the original $1600.

As for the case, Ive found two. This one here for $60, and this one for $75, but looks cooler . Are those good cases?

 

Both seem pretty good cases,intake and exaust fan mounts,its just a matter of taste,I prefer the first one the thermaltake looks tacky to me as do most thermaltake cases I like more a minimalist practical case,its just a matter of taste

 

Ya, and the first one is cheaper, which is always nice. So, I think I got everything I need. If I have anymore questions, Ill ask. Thanks for the help.

Oh yea, one more question. Does the 3200+ mean that the card is 3.2 Ghz?

 

The cpu is rated at 3200 equivalent to a p4 3.2ghz,The mhz is irrelevant its the 3200 that important

Good luck gets some pictures up when you have built it,buy a file put all your reciepts in it,dont throw away the boxes,cut the tape on them fold them up and stick em in the back of your wardrobe or something,and check the serial numbers on the stuff you buy matches the box

 

Will do, thanks a ton