Noob with computers

[Higach]

Hey i registered for these forums to ask you guys a few questions about computers. Im trying to make a good gaming computer for a good price, but not exactly top of the line. Ive posted the stuff that I was thinking about putting in and just wanna hear some input from people that are very good with this stuff... Is there anything i should really change for a good but not $4000 computer, I wanna try to buy it after christmas for some potential after christmas sales. Thanks for your time and help.

-Higach


Processor: AMD Athlon X2 4600+ 2.4GHz AM2 $202.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103751

Motherboard: BIOSTAR TForce 6100 AM2 $ 74.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813138027

Video Card: NVidia eVGA 7900GT 256mb PCIe x16 $235.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130033

Memory: Patriot 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 800 PC2 6400 $276.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820220144

Hard Drive: WD 250GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s $ 79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144701

Sound Card: Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS Platinum 7.1 $182.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102163

DVD Drive: Sony 16x DVD 48X CD $ 18.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827101131

Power Supply: Rosewill 550W SLI Ready $ 59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817182030

Case: Cooler Master Praetorian $139.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811119085

Mouse: Razer Diamondback Plasma Blue $ 43.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16826153005

Keyboard: Saitek Eclipse $ 44.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16823175103

----------
Sub-Total $1361.89
Sound Card Mail-in Rebate - 100.00
Video Card Mail-in Rebate - 20.00
Memory Mail-in Rebate - 40.00
Total $1201.89

 

[bobojuice]

Why dont you go for a core 2 duo? Moe betta performance and moe betta overclocking. ^^

 

[thirdleft]

first off are you set with an AMD? a core 2 duo build would give you better price/performance.

i suggest this:

Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Conroe 1.86GHz 2M sharing L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115005

GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128012

FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX450-PN, 12cm FAN, version 2.0, 2 SATA, PCI Express, 450W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104954

and maybe up the video card to
BFG Tech BFGR7950512GTOCE GeForce 7950GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 OC Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814143071

everything else should be fine.

 

[darkop16]

Get a CL x-fi fatality instead.

And get a gigabyte ds3 and C2D e6300 instead of amd.

Get a fsp 450w instead. I know less power but i don't trust rosewill as much as i do froton, and 450w is plenty to power that system even if you upgrade to a dx10 card.

Everything else looks good. Make sure you check out the new dx10 cards coming out early next year since you can trade in that graphics card for one minus the price of that graphics card.

edit: ^^ rofl...beat me to it ....but still get the fatality instead and stick with the evga so you can use the step-up program to get a dx10 card later.

 

[Higach]

Are the x-fi cards better? I heard bad things about them but I am not really sure, plus i like the 100 dollar mail in rebate with the other one

 

[NeedAcpu]

Yea x-fi is the best for gaming and they are also very good for music.

 

[Higach]

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 1.86GHz 2M $183.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115005

Motherboard: Gigabyte Socket T $134.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128012

Video Card: NVidia eVGA 7950GT 512mb PCIe x16 $235.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814143071

Memory: Patriot 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 800 PC2 6400 $276.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820220144

Hard Drive: WD 250GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s $ 79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144701

Sound Card: X-fi Xtreme Gamer Fatal1ty Pro 7.1 $145.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102005

DVD Drive: Sony 16x DVD 48X CD $ 18.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827101131

Power Supply: FSP 450W 2.0 $ 53.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104954

Case: Cooler Master Praetorian $139.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811119085

Mouse: Razer Diamondback Plasma Blue $ 43.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16826153005

Keyboard: Saitek Eclipse $ 44.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16823175103

----------
Sub-Total $1328.90
Sound Card Mail-in Rebate - 30.00
Video Card Mail-in Rebate - 20.00
Memory Mail-in Rebate - 40.00
Total $1268.90

 

[darkop16]

your graphics card goes to the bfg now. Its a good card, but only evga has the step up program.

 

[Higach]

woops forgot to change it from eVGA to BFG Tech

 

[cwiz]

evga's step up program is sweet, u can upgrade the hsf w/o voiding the warentee. also, im not sure, but i think a voltmodded 7900GT will beat a 7950GT