Budget computer for AoC

[boubou]

I am looking to change my computer, my budget is lower than it usually is for this. I want to know what you think I should get, I want something that will run the game good, and that the graphics will be nice. I need to know what cpu speed to get (probably duo) and which video card to get (people talk a lot about the 8800).

Also, I hate vista, but will vista give me really better graphics than XP ?

Boubou

[Zeratulx]

How much are you looking to spend?

First thing to do would be to know what mother board you have and if you are looking for a new one. Once we know the specs of the board we can proceed from there. Does the mobo support pci express x 16 or is it pci express 2.0?

[boubou]

new computer. I can have computers close to cost, so I pay for a tower 700 but it would normally sale for $1000. So budget for a tower usually selling for 1000. I am sure that US and Canadian prices are close to equivalent.

Boubou

[Zeratulx]

Ok I will put together something for you within an hour, at work now lulz.

[Zeratulx]

Mobo :

Asus M3N-HT Deluxe/Mempipe Motherboard - NVIDIA nForce 780a SLI, Socket AM2+, ATX, Audio, Video, HDMI, PCI Express 2.0, SLI Ready, Gigabit LAN, S/PDIF, USB 2.0, eSATA, RAID

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... CatId=2320

$269


Processor:

AMD Phenom X4 9550 Quad Core Processor HD9550WCGHBOX - 2.20GHz, 4MB Cache, 1800MHz (3600 MT/s) FSB, Agena, Quad-Core, Retail, Socket AM2+, Processor with Fan

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... CatId=3496

$195


Video Card:

Lulz time to break your wallet

EVGA GeForce 9800 GTX Video Card - 512MB GDDR3, PCI Express 2.0, SLI Ready, (Dual Link) Dual DVI, HDTV

10 Users Rated

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... CatId=3585

$269


RAM:

Corsair DHX XMS2 Dominator Dual Channel 2048MB PC8500 DDR2 1066Mhz Memory with Dominator Airflow Fan (2 x 1024MB)

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... CatId=2531

$204 a bit pricey for only 2 gigs, I am putting 4 gigs in my current machine.

This brings you up to $939 without tax and shipping and without a power supply and case.

I will be posting a power supply and case below. You can build a pc with similar parts that I have listed here for cheaper so keep that in mind. It looks as if this will be coming up to 12-1300

Power Supply:

Thermaltake / ToughPower / 700-Watt / ATX / 140mm Fan / SATA Ready / SLI Ready / PFC/EPS / Power Supply

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... CatId=2533

$159


Case:

Cheap case, looks good.
hermalTake Tsunami Series Aluminum ATX Mid-Tower Case with Clear Side, Top USB, Firewire and Audio Ports - Black

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... =T925-4002

$109


Total without Tax and Shipping $1205

You can get a cheaper motherboard, one that supports pci Express rather than Express 2.0 for about $100 cheaper.

Asus M2N-SLI Deluxe GR Motherboard - NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI, Socket AM2/AM2+, ATX, Audio, PCI Express, SLI Ready, Dual Gigabit LAN, S/PDIF, USB 2.0, Firewire, Serial ATA, RAID

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... CatId=2414

You could also get cheaper ram, the ram i listed is based off the mobo ram speed 1066 mhz, If you choose a diff mobo make sure the memory speed is the same.

PNY Dual Channel 2048MB PC4200 DDR2 533MHz Memory (2 x 1024MB)

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... ory-PC4200


You could also change the video card for something a bit cheaper also.

EVGA GeForce 8600 GTS Video Card - 512MB GDDR3, PCI Express, SLI Ready, Dual DVI, HDTV, Video Card

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... ideo-Cards

$119

I have not put together a new pc in about 2.5 years so I would get a second opinion. I would ask Ting as he is always on top of shit in the pc world.

[barbos]

Intel Core 2 Duo's or Quads are the way to go... skip the AMD crap until they get their act together.

[TrollFunk]

PSU:

ThermalTake / PurePower W0129RU / 600-Watt / ATX 2.2 / 120mm Fan / SATA-Ready / PCI-E Ready / Active PFC / Power Supply

$89.99

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... =T925-1178

Case:

NZXT Lexa Black/Silver Aluminum ATX Mid-Tower Case with Clear Side, Front USB, FireWire and Audio Ports

$119.99

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... =A406-1070

CPU:

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Processor BX80562Q6600 - 2.40GHz, 8MB Cache, 1066MHz FSB, Kentsfield, Quad-Core, Retail, Socket 775, Processor with Fan

$239.99

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... CatId=2758

Motherboard:

MSI P7N SLI Platinum Motherboard - NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI, Socket 775, ATX, Audio, PCI Express 2.0, Gigabit LAN, S/PDIF, Firewire, eSATA, RAID, CMOS

$179.99

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... CatId=1533

Memory:

Patriot Extreme 4096MB Dual Channel PC6400 DDR2 800MHz Memory (2 x 2048MB)

$79.99* (think * is rebate. Its $99.99 without.)

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... CatId=3412

GPU:

EVGA GeForce 8800 GT Video Card - 512MB DDR3, PCI Express 2.0, SLI Ready, (Dual Link) Dual DVI, HDTV, Video Card

$159.99* (with *rebate its $189.99)

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... CatId=3670


Total price not including tax or shipment = $919.94
List does not include OS, HD or Preferences such has Mouse, Speakers, Keyboard and External harddrives.

I would advice for Vista(64bit ofcours!) since it takes better advantage of Quad Cores and yes, it will give you better graphics(DX10). Just be prepared for some compatability problems with older programs. One of Vista's main issues is finding a firewall/spyware deal. For this i recommend Bull Guard. Am using it myself and i have never been infected. I sometimes gets a message that it has caught a trojan or worm but i have never been infected. Also, Bull Guard is very user friendly, auto updates and constantly scans your HD without causing massive or for that matter, minor system lag.

If you stay with XP you can:

For HD options i'd suggest you just cannibalize your old PC and yank that HD out and put it in the new PC, no loss of data and no time spent on re-installing the nightmare Xp installing can be.

Hope this has helped ya out mate, hope to see you in AoC !

P.s fuck Tigerdirect for not selling Antec 900!.

[Tingtong]

you guys are putting the $$ in the wrong parts IMO for gaming and going balls out. No need for all that.

A core2 Duo is fine, Quad is overkill IMO same with 1066+ memory that 5% extra performance from 800mhz is like $100 more and just not worth it in a gaming platform.

CPU $135 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819115052

4GB Memory - $85 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820145184

Asus P35 Board $135 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813131275

320GB 7200RPM HD - $70 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822148316

650Watt Corsair P/S - $110 ($20 rebate) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817139005

20X DvD Burner - $28 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6827106073

Geforce 9800 GTX - $350 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814130349

CASE - $50 pick any ATX case you want

TOTAL- $963

After Rebates - $943

Figure $25 for shipping.

Under a grand gets you a PC that will get the same FPS as a $2000 PC basically. (will blow the 2 builds above out of the water. Load times might be slightly slower but for the 4-5seconds you save your saving $1000. Pocket that extra grand and buy a new PC with similar priced parts 3-4 years down the road.

[boubou]

There is computer on sale at Bestbuy, seems good, maybe in a year or so I could upgrade the graphics card. Price is good.

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetai ... &langid=EN

Boubou