Nice budget gaming computer

[ItHurtz]

A friend of mine wants to get a gaming computer, he has a monitor,keyboard,and mouse. He needs everything else tho. So with $700-$800 to spend, can you help him out?

 

[Nukem]

CPU - Athlon AM2 3800 x2 - 160.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103733
MOBO - ABIT KN9 Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce4 - 75.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813127010
RAM - pqi POWER Series (2 x 1GB) DDR2 533 - 183.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141224
PSU - COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power 550W - 70.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817171016
HHD - WD Caviar SE 160GB SATA 3.0Gb/s - 58.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144415
DVD - NEC Black 18X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW - 30.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827152076
CASE - COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-WW - 55.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119077
OS - XP Home Sp2b 1pk w/Upgrade for Vista - 90.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16832116169

721.00 without shipping

 

[ItHurtz]

I was reading other topics and a lot are saying go with the new core 2 duo's. People have been saying how some builds are "future proof" is this one as well?

 

[Elbatrop1]

Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 $180.00

GIGABYTE GA-945GM-S2 Socket T $83.99

pqi 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 $195.99

The rest of the stuff Nukem said would be the same.

A couple bucks more to get you a little more performance. I'd say both systems have pretty comparable performance to price ratios. So, it comes down to preference on how much you want to spend.

 

[j12]

umm...i didnt see anyone mention a videocard. isnt that kinda important for a gaming computer. i would reccomend the nvidia geforce 7600gs or gt.

 

[Nukem]

LOL... Naaaaa... video cards are overrated!!!

BFG 7600GT - 89.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814143054

 

[fr34ky]

LOL... Naaaaa... video cards are overrated!!!

BFG 7600GT - 89.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814143054

Thats a GS version which is clocked alot lower than gt.But it still pakcs a punch for the price, i would kno I own one but... dont buy it unless you plan on getting an Ati chipset there known not to work with nforce4.I found this out when I tryed to drop it in a Biostar m9-6100....then a ASus A8vm and then both of my DFI lan party's.So keep that in mind .I got a low 4k in 3dmark 05 after a slight OC w/stock cooling.But the GS is a good core but just go with a 7600gt for the extra bucks.Ati chipsets are very good and the card is a un beatable price that you might wanna get a ati chipset. ohh got it to work in an ASUS A8R-MVP, ASUS A8R-MX/SI, and ASUS A8R32-MVP which are all awesome boards.

 

[Cdub89]

Dont get that crappy 7600GS get the 7600GT. I have this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150186

 

[ItHurtz]

Elbatrop1

GIGABYTE GA-945GM-S2 Socket T $83.99

Reviews on that mobo isnt the best, and its micro atx. I will probably go with a new intel processor since their the better processor out now. Yeah, i think ill go with the 7600gt for him.

 

[maroon1]

eVGA 7600GT for $109.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130062

eVGA 7900GS for $159.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130056