Lan-Gaming Cafe Owner, Need Help...

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Xolture

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**Since I'm a new member, please forgive if I posted this in the wrong section**

hello everyone,

I'm going to open a LAN Gaming Cafe and i'm going to need your help and advice to get adequate PC specifications for my LAN Gaming Cafe.

First of All, here are some brief info;;

Most people here in my area play:

Offline/LAN games:
-Counter-Strike: Condition Zero
-Counter-Strike 1.6
-Unreal Tournament
-Need for speed Underground 2

Online Games:
-Gunbound ( www.gunbound.net )
-Ragnarok Online ( www.ragnarokonline.com )
-Tantra Online (a new rich featured 3D Online MMORPG Game)

Right now my LAN Gaming Cafe missions are:

-Provide a comfortable place (Air Conditioner, Leather Seat, etc)
-Cheap cost to play and surf
-Provide adequate entertainment in the PCs (Many Games, Music, Movies, scanned comics, etc)
-Provide adequate office applications (For people who come in to do their work)
-To defeat other Internet and Gaming Cafes in features and to take there loyal costumers to mine. (business is cruel, yes)

and..

-To bring Counter Strike: Source as full featured eye candy LAN-Gaming
(The game must run smooth in highest detail) Why? since all the people here is craze with cs.

There are some gaming cafes in my area that already installed CS:Source to
their system, however people don't play them since it
run bad (Slow & pixelated) on there pc systems (Most cafes only got low spec PCs such as athlon 2000+ combined with geforce 4mx/geforce fx5200) and they play the older condition zero and 1.6 instead.


Anyway, after All the confusion for weeks, i decided to get this PC specification for my LAN Gaming Cafe:

-Monitor: Samsung Syncmaster 793mb ($120) (Popular monitor in asia PC Market, if there's any better for value then let me know.)
( Pictures & Info: http://shopper.cnet.com/Samsung_SyncMaster_793MB_display_CRT_17/4014-3175_9-31097065.html?q= )

-Motherboard: DFI NF II Ultra AL ($60) (1 year old Mobo, however its a good nforce2 ultra mobo, and cheap too, 1/2 price of the LANParty version)
( Pictures & Info: http://www.new-generation.nl/index.html?target=p_1645.html&lang=nl )

-CPU: AMD Athlon XP 3000+ ($80) (Decided to get this because i think its's the best price/perfomance cost compared to its higher XP 3200+ model. and I say no to overclocking lower models.)

-RAM: Corsair/Kingston DDR PC3200 512MB Value ($70) (If there's anything better for value then let me know.)

-HDD: Western Digital 80GB SATA 8MB Cache 7200 RPM WD800JD ($60) (My best hard drive experiences were with the WDs)

-VGA: Geforce 6600 AGP ($120) (In my opinion, this is the best Value Card at the moment)

-Casing: Simbada 380W Black / Red ($20) (Cool looking case system, similiar to those much more expensive Xaser cases)
( Picture: http://www.rakitan.com/simbadda.jpg )

-K&M: Thermal Take Xaser Termaltake Xaser Desktop Optical Black / Red ($20) (Nice, smooth looking Keyboard and Mouse that will match perfectly with the simbadda case)
( Pictures & Info http://www.pccasegear.com/prod1032.htm )

-Headset: LABTEC Axis 002 (sleek, goodlooking headset)
( Pictures & Info http://www.gamingin3d.com/reviews/axis/main.shtml )

But after all of that, i still have confusions:

1.for the CPU & MOBO, Is it Worth to upgrade to Athlon 64 2800+ combined with DFI LANParty nforce3 250mb board? with $100 more. Will all the games and the application on the workstations will run faster compared to the Athlon XP 3000+? (If it's only gonna give small difference in system speed, and only like 4fps in cs source then i rather spend the extra money for a Geforce 6600GT.

2.I'm scared that Geforce 6600 AGP is not going to run CS: Source smoothly at highest graphic setting (with 4xAA and 16x FSAA), should i get Geforce 6600GT instead? ($80 more).

3.But come back to the point, do people like it to play CS: Source with AA and FSAA? or most people just gonna turn them off? if its true then theres no point in getting the Geforce 6600GT.

4.Should I get a single 512MB RAM or should i get 2x 256mb for the DDR Slots (extra $10).

5.Do you guys think the Thermaltake Xaser Keyboard & Mouse will do its job well? and about getting a high-end mouse model (above $30) i say no, because most people here bring there own mouse anyway to play CS. If the Thermaltake Xaser is good enough, then will it get any better if i get the wireless version ($20 more), such as in look, style and eye candy to customers. but I'm worried about problems with changing batteries and hardware response time, as many people say wireless K&M for gaming is a bad idea.
( Picture & Info: http://www.xoxide.com/a2209.html )

6.Is the Headset good enough? is there any better value ones?

7.If i get the DFI NF II Ultra AL, it won't have soundstorm.. then will the realtek soundcard will be adequate enough? or i should add a cheap SBlive 5.1 to go with?


And, as for network, since i've never had experience with making such big LAN network. then i need to ask few questions:

1.What do you think is best specification for building a server PC. the networked stations is going to be 30+ PCs.
2.Which one is better to install, Switch or a router. if it's router, can you beriefly explain how its going to be installed.


ok that's all... and my decision will greatly affected by your opinions..
thank you very much for helping with me out... if there's any error with my post please correct me. any questions just ask me.
Once again, Thank you very much.
 
Dam those pcs woud be very nice to play on considering its a Lan Gamins Cafe. Im not sure about the server and stuff someone else can help you out
 
I play CSS with AA and AF off, but thats just me. Im more about performance than looks, and with my 9600 XT it looks great at 1024x768 High REs. the 6600 should do nice though.

About the mice, pickup some mx510's or mx500's if you can find em. They are great gaming mice. Dont do cordless. They will go missing and you will also find yourself spending mucho money on batteries. Like you say, most people will prolly bring thier own anyway.

If you want to tweak your systems out for maximum performace, check out http://www.blackviper.com
Ive done most of his performance tweaks and they really really help.

lastley, if you didnt already know about it, load up all your PC's with AVG anti-virus. http://www.grisoft.com
Its free and uses low system resources. Norton and Mccrappy are system hogs. IMO, its the best out there.

Good luck!
 
4.Should I get a single 512MB RAM or should i get 2x 256mb for the DDR Slots (extra $10).

512 is gonna lag a bit, better to have 1gb

Definitely go router IMO cuz you'll have a seperate IP address for each pc. Not sure bout switches.

Don't forget the cost of the OS, make sure its a single purchase with a multiple pc license. you don't want to get cracked for installing a single license edition over multiple pc's
 
like jaksback said get 1gb. If you do get 512 DO NOT get 2x256mb you WILL want to upgrade later. I think you should also tweak yourt system too (like disable those stupid gui effects). Get a router and hook up like two 18 (or better) port switches or hubs. They are cheap on ebay.

Here is a 24 port one (uses standard pc cord too) ($17 if you are in the USA, no international option, but also ships to canada)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=11181&item=5742024223&rd=1
 
The server pc should have raid 1 with plent of storage, a crap video card, reliable mobo (asus, msi, dfi, abit), good case for cooling, and, well mabey someone with more experience in this area can figure the rest. I have no Idea what you would use for a cafe server software-wise.
 
wow, you're internet cafe sounds sweet, even tho i've never been to one... :( lol

PS. the router/routers will/should come w/ a CD that will explain what to do, its easy (my home router was easy to set up)

linksys is just about the best, but i'm not sure what kind you need
 
Quintox, are you kidding me? Linksys is the crappiest brand of routers on the market. Search the web and you will se what I mean. I had one and a couple port burnt out and then it died. I recomend Network Everywhere, a division of Linksys.
 
now i can finally post again, i tried twice already.

now, the thermaltake xaser k/b and mouse combo sucks. i have a set and just replaced them with a much more ergonomic and easier to use viewsonic k/b and a much faster and more comforatble mouse, the MX310.

the arrow keys on the thermaltake k.b are what's worst for gaming, the awkward position you have to scrunch your fingers.
 
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