Building a Decent Gaming Computer for under $1,000

[Zaerik]

I know the basics of computers but I have no clue what what get when it comes to Motherboards and Processors. I want to build a cheap gaming computer around $800 is my goal. Anyone have any tips for what a good motherboard and processor i should get? A friend recommended this one: ECS nForce4-A939 (1.0) S939/nForce4/PCI-Express/A&L/ATX Motherboard

Any help building this is apprieciated.

-Zaerik

 

[The_Tobes99]

ok, i think you'll probably get a list sumthing like this
Athlon 64 3000+
Nvidia 6800GS
1GB Ram
A 450W PSU
250GB Sata hdd

 

[Zaerik]

Heres what I got picked out so far:
__________________________
ECS nForce4-A939 (1.0) S939/nForce4/PCI-Express/A&L/ATX Motherboard

* Mfr Part Number: NFORCE4-A939 (1.0)
* CPU: Socket 939, Supports AMD Athlon 64/ 64 FX 2000 MEGA-TRSFRS Per Sec
* Chipset: Nvidia Nforce 4
* Memory: 4 DDR 400/333/266 Up To 4GB (Dual Channel)
* Slots: 1* PCI-E X16, 2* PCI-E, 3* PCI
* IDE: 4* Ultra DMA 66/100/133; 4* Serial ATA 2, RAID 0,1,0+1
* Audio: Realtek ALC655 6-channel Audio Codec On Board
* LAN: Marvell 88E1111 Gigabit LAN
* Ports: 10* USB2.0(6 By Cables); 1* Serial, 1* Parallel, 2* PS/2
* Form Factor: ATX
* Package: Retail
____________________________
AMD Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego 1GHz FSB 1MB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor
____________________________

Does it matter what RAM I get? I think I want 2 x 512MB and I dont know much about these pin number things.

 

[PcMe]

You're pretty much in the same bandwagon as I was in, but I took a cheaper route.
I'd say -
MSI K8N Neo4-F Socket 939 Motherboard
or
DFI Lanparty UT Socket 939 Motherboard (both amd)

AMD 3700 Socket 939

1Gig Corsair ValueSelect Memory (Or G.Skill, Geil, etc.)

Fortron Source 450W Psu

Pick your own case, but I recommend the Coolermaster Cavalier

Seagate 7200RPM 8MB Cache 250Gb

Sony Combo CD-RW/DVD Drive

SoundBlaster Live! or Audigy2 Value Soundcard

6800GS or 6600GT video card

Monitor? Keyboard? Mouse? Speakers? Misc.?

 

[chrispowell]

pending on what games you play pends on the card.. such as HL2 or doom get ati buy what you play with and how hard your pushing your machine. GL thow man

 

[PZEROFGH]

stick with the 6800GS not the 6600GT

 

[Zaerik]

Alright, the price is higher then I expected but I want to check if everything is in Order and will work perfectly.

Heres what I have:

:::MOTHERBOARD:::
MSI K8N Neo4-F Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 ATX AMD Motherboard

# AGP Slots: None
CPU Type: Athlon 64 FX/Athlon 64
DDR Standard: DDR 400 (PC 3200)
Dual Channel Supported: Yes
FSB: 1000MHz Hyper Transport (2000 MT/s)
Maximum Memory Supported: 4GB
Number of DDR Slots: 4x 184pin DDR
PCI Express x1: 1
PCI Express x16: 1
PCI Slots: 3
# Model #: K8N Neo4-F
# Item #: N82E16813130491

PRICE: $83.00

Source: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130491

==========================================================
::ROCESSOR:::
AMD Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego 1GHz FSB 1MB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor

Price: $233.00

Source: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103539

=========================================================
:::RAM:::
MSI (Micro Star) MS-7125 (K8N Neo4-F)

Crucial Part Number: CT2KIT6464Z40B
Module Size: 1GB kit (512MBx2)
Package: 184-pin DIMM
Feature: DDR PC3200
Specs: DDR PC3200 • CL=3 • UNBUFFERED • NON-ECC • DDR400 • 2.6V • 64Meg x 64

Price: $127.99

Source: http://www.crucial.com/store/MParts...WSMD=MS-7125+(K8N+Neo4-F)&WSPN=CT2KIT6464Z40B

================================================================
::OWER SUPPLY UNIT:::
FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX450-PN ATX12V 450W Power Supply

# Dual +12V: Yes
Efficiency: > 70%
Fans: 1
Hold-up Time: 12.0mS minimum
Input Frequency Range: 47 - 63Hz
Input Voltage: 115/230 V
Main Connector: 20+4-Pin
Over Voltage Protection: +3.3V (4.6V max.), +5V (6.5V max.), 12V1 (15.5V max.), 12V2 (15.5V max.)
PFC: No
Power Good Signal: 100-500ms
# Model #: AX450-PN
# Item #: N82E16817104954

Price: $49.99

Source: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...ategory=0&minPrice=&maxPrice=&Go.x=26&Go.y=36

==============================================================
:::HARD DRIVE:::
Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 SATA NCQ ST3120827AS 120GB 7200 RPM 8M Cache Serial ATA150 Hard Drive

# Average Latency: 4.16ms
Average Seek Time: 8.5ms
Cache: 8MB
Features: SATA interface with NCQ 350 Gs non-op shock 3D Defense System
Form Factor: 3.5"
Manufacturer Warranty: 5 Years
# Model #: ST3120827AS
# Item #: N82E16822148039

Price: $83.00

Source: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148039
==============================================================
:::VIDEO CARD:::
eVGA 256-P2-N386 Geforce 6800GS 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card

# Core clock: 425MHz
D-SUB: 1
DirectX: DirectX 9
DVI: 1
Memory Clock: 1000MHz
Memory Interface: 256-bit
OpenGL: OpenGL 1.5
PixelPipelines: 12
TV-Out: HDTV Out
VIVO: No
# Model #: 256-P2-N386
# Item #: N82E16814130258

Price: $209.00

Source: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130258

=====================================================================
:::SOUND CARD:::
Creative Sound Blaster Live! 24bit 70SB041000000 8 (7.1) Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card

# Digital Audio: 24-bit
Features: EAX 3.0, Plug and Play, DirectSound® 3D 7.1 speaker support, 24-bit ADVANCED HD sound quality.
Hardware Decode: Dolby Digital
Line In: Yes
Line Out: Yes
MIC In: Yes
MIDI/Joystick: No
Other Ports: Digital I/O Aux Audio in
Remote Control: No
Sample Rate: 96KHz
# Model #: 70SB041000000
# Item #: N82E16829102176

Price: $35.00

Source: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...tegory=36&minPrice=&maxPrice=&Go.x=28&Go.y=36

===================================================================
:::CD-ROM DRIVE:::
SONY Black 16X DVD-ROM 52X CD-R 32X CD-RW 52X CD-ROM 2M Cache IDE Combo Drive

Price: $30.99

Source: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106826

===================================================================
:::CASE:::
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-WW Black/Silver Aluminum Bezel, SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Price: $54.99

Source: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119077







The Total I got was $905.

 

[Duplicity]

What do you need? Monitor, OS, Speakers, Keyboard, Mouse? For just about $1000 you can build a very nice system:

EPoX EP-9NPA+Ultra $105
Amd Athlon 64 3200+ Venice $150
Corsair Valueselect 2x1GB $190
eVGA 7800GT CO $320
Samsung Spinpoint P Series 160GB SATAII $80
Cooler Master Centurion 5 $50
Fortron 450W $50
Lite-On DVD Burner $40

That comes out to roughly $985 (The prices aren't precise) and you have a very nice system. Now, it will be much much different depending on whether you need a monitor and such.

 

[Zaerik]

I removed the PSU and Sound Card and decided to get a case with a PSU already in it and use the motherboard sound card. The price dropped to $839.00. I think this should be a pretty good gaming system. Im building this to play well with my current game World of Warcraft and for the future Lord of the Rings Online game. Im gonna use my current keyboard, speakers, monitor, and mouse.

 

[Running]

usually the cases that come with a psu in it, the psu's are really bad. you should maybe reconsider that choice but onboard audio is fine.