building an inexpensive gaming/internet comp.

[killercow]

I want to make a computer that can have awesome gaming and some network/internet capabilities. My problem is I dont know good parts. If i could get some names of good inexpensive products for my 'super pc'. I also dont want to spend that much im 13 and know about computers just not specific products and dont have a big budget. If anyone could help me i'd really appreciate it. My email is c77man@aol.com

thanks

[BigBlue66]

Hi and Welcome,

The word "inexpensive" and the phrase "super pc" do not go together.

Do you want to build an AMD or an Intel system? AMD would be cheaper.

Here's a couple of ideas for your rig:

* Nice case with at least a 400watt power supply
* DDR RAM based motherboard
* Athlon XP 1800+ Tbred (Or lower or higher depending on budget)
* At least 512mb of quality DDR RAM (Either one 512mb stick or two 256 sticks, although one 512mb is preferable. It leaves more room for upgrading the memory)
* A quality video card with 64mb DDR RAM (Can either be ATI or Nvidia)
* Good soundcard (You can get a Soundblaster Live 5.1 for $34 at Newegg)

And the list goes on, but those are the main components other than a good 17" or 19" monitor along with mouse, keyboard and joystick or gamepad.

Check out www.newegg.com to get an idea of prices. Another good online site for shopping is www.kdcomputers.com, http://bestbyte.net, www.nexfan.com, www.kommax.com, etc.

[deddard]

The above posts pretty much covers it.
A reasonable graphics card will cope with just about everything the net can throw at it - no way are you going to need a GF4 ultrasuperduper bit of kit when you're on the net!
A good Mobo plus DDR ram (it may be more expensive than normal SDRAM, but it's effectively working at twice the the frequency)
just to echo the point - at LEAST 512 MB DDR RAM (512MB SDRAM should really be considered the minimum for WIN XP & games now - it's so cheap they could give it away!)
the real test is your modem - broadband, cable is really what makes the difference.
If you have a broadband connection, keep checking it, the speeds can drop like hell. NTL are about to get a shock from the consumers association on my behalf - a 600K connection doesn't manage above 210K.
You can spend a fortune on the system, but at the end of the day, bandwidth is where it's at.

[BigBlue66]

One thing you shouldn't skimp on and that's the power supply. Get a reputable brand such as Antec. If you're building an AMD system, check out their website for brands of power supplies they have found to be acceptable.

Another thing is the video card. As mentioned, you won't need an Nvidia GF4 at this point. I wouldn't go any lower than an Nvidia GeForce3 Ti 200. Anything lower than that and you won't have true hardware accelerated Direct3D. That' important in gaming.

Somebody can probably explain the ATI equivalent boards. I don't use them so I haven't kept up on their offerings.

[saphalline]

Price range for an inexpensive graphics card is around $100. If you can get a GeForce3 Ti 200 card, that's great. Next choice IMO would be an ATI Radeon 9000 (either "Pro" or standard, but obviously the Pro is a bit better).

Last on the list would be the GeForce4 MX's. I know they look better than a GF3 (a "4" is bigger & better than a "3", right?) but they're really just a dressed-up GF2! That's my rant so you have been warned. ;)

[Tarrant28]

For a video card if you want a good one i wouldn't get a radeon 9000pro there not as good as they apear.

Read the review on toms hardware http://www.tomshardware.com/graphic/200207181/index.html

go though that review and u will find that radeon is a peice of sh#t compared to the to the radeon 8500 is a great card for price and quality.

[saphalline]

the radeon 8500 is a great card for price and quality.
No arguments there, except that the Radeon 8500 is a serious heat-producer! :eek: Additional cooling may be required. But on that note, a GF3 Ti 200 is an excellent performer, runs much cooler, and is highly overclockable! :D It also doens't have the driver issues of the Radeon 8500 (the 9000 series made an attempt at unified drivers that were much better than the 7000 & 8000 series drivers). The drivers bear mentioning...

[gwallen4]

Best card for the mmoney right now is the GeForce4 - Ti4200. The version by eVGA is for sale at newegg.com for $118 with free shipping.

[killercow]

:confused: ok i am looking @ a geforce3 ti200 64 mb memory. It is made by PNY is PNY a reliable company?

[Budfred]

PNY seems to be pretty decent judging from their RAM. They are making a lot of different stuff and I have used a couple of their products without problem.

BTW, check out any vendors a www.resellerratings.com before you buy to save headaches later.

Budfred

[killercow]

ok thanx

[killercow]

i ended up getting the GF3 ti200 for $40...pretty good deal at a computer show (unopened)!

[killercow]

Ressurecting this old thread for more of my building and upgrading questions.
With my K7S5A Mobo and THIS chieftec case (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?description=11-125-220) with firewire(which i wont use unless my mobo supports it.) and 2x USB 2.0 on the front; will the mobo be compatible with the USB 2.o ports on the front? Will this have any effect on the USB ports on the back of the mobo? I like to know before hand so I don't buy then have to send back.
Thanks

[Budfred]

If your K7S5A is the Pro version, I believe that handles USB 2, but the earlier version does not. Even though the manual isn't very good, it should say in there somewhere.

[killercow]

Sorry it's not the pro version. New mobo (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?description=13-131-451) ?

[saphalline]

Ugh! No! If you're gonna get a new mobo, get one with the NForce2 chipset. Supports all the latest features, including Firewire/IEEE 1394 and USB 2.0. Don't be fooled by it being the best chipset around for the AthlonXP, either! ;) You can get them cheap, also.

Newegg has the Epox EP-8RDA+ on sale right now for only $85! That one got great reviews if I remember correctly. For $99 you can get the MSI K7N2 Delta-L which has the revised NForce2 chipset and guarantees 400MHz FSB & DDR RAM support. Either of those would be a good choice.

[killercow]

Epox EP-8RDA+ ;) will install after vacation to nevarre beach, FLA...leave friday
http://www.navarrebeach.org/Navarre_Beach_Aerial.JPG:D

[killercow]

Ok I installed the epox mobo and start everything up. at the top it says pheonix and the bios name ad numbers under that:
03/05/2003 For nForce2-ST Chipset

Memory Frequency is at 133 MHz (DDR 226)
Memory Dual Channel Enabled
Primary Master : WDC WD400BB-00DEA0 05.03E05
Primary Slave : None
Secondary Master : DVD-ROM DDU1621 VER S2.9
Secondary Slave : SONY CD-RW CRX215E1 SYS2

Primary IDE channel no 80 conductor cable installed

Floppy disk(s) fail (40)





==========================Magic Health=========================
CPU FAN:4440 RPM ***insert all the other goodies of tempertures, volts, and speeds here***
================================================== =============
Press F1 to continue, DEL to enter SETUP
03/05/2003-nVidia-nForce-6A61BPAAC-00


**Then I press F1...:**
|The box at the top is cut off I cant see it all |
| Pri. Slave Disk : NONE DDR DIMM at Rows : 2 0 1|
| Sec. Master Disk : DVD,ATA 33 |
| Sec. Slave Disk : CD-RW,ATA 33 |
|_________________________________________________ __________|

Pri Master Disk HDD S.M.A.R.T capability .... Disabled


PCI device listing ...
Bus no. Device No. Func No. Vendor/Device Class Device Class IRQ
__________________________________________________ ___________________
0 1 1 10DE 0064 0C05 SMBus Cntrlr NA
0 2 0 10DE 0067 0C03 USB1.0/1.1 OHCICTL NA
**and so on and so forth**



Verifying DMI Pool Data ..........

**then after about 5-6 seconds**
We apologize for the inconvenience, but windows did not start successfully. A recent hardware or software change might have caused this.

BLAH BLAH BLAH
-Safe Mode
-Safe Mode with Networking
-Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Last known good configuration (your most recent settings that worked)

Start windows normally

**this has happened before when I install new hardware and i hit start windows noramlly**
Then for a split second a light blue screen comes up that resembles the one that comes up when you pop in the Windows XP cd and run it as forst boot in D:. I cant tell though it wont pause fast enough. And then it restarts the computer. Any help on this? why can't I start my computer? How do I fix this?
THanks
KC

[killercow]

Also I do believe the recent memory upgrade of 512 MB was DDR300 or 333 whichever it was.