Buy this build???

[pc4life]

Hi, I have a few questions. First of all, please tell me if this would be a low end (medium if god blesses me) gaming computer with a good GPU. (haven't got one yet!)

Second, Does upgrading from an ATA 133 Harddrive to a Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3250318AS 250GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s really improve anything? (performance wise)

Here is my build:

Processor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103844

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817709011

MOBO: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128394

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231087

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147111

HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148451

To make sure I am right... please let me know if everything is compatible. Thanks so much!!!

 

[Atomic Rooster]

Looks like it will do the job. Just needs a good video card and an optical drive (DVD/CD).

A SATA drive will give you faster loading times with your files and apps over an old ATA 133 drive.

 

[pc4life]

Will any drive do the trick??? Because in my current system, i have a dvd drive and a CD/RW drive. Thats all right???

Also, is It worth spending an extra $40 on a SATA or should i just continue using my 133 and spend that towards a GPU. Will it affect any gaming? Or is it just for starting and loading programs???

Thanks for your help by the way!

 

[Atomic Rooster]

Yea, your current DVD and CDRW drives will be fine. If you are strapped for money, go ahead and use your old hard drive. It shouldn't affect your gaming performance. One thing to remember, the motherboard you selected has only one IDE port. If your optical drives are IDE, you'll have to connect one of those to the same cable the HDD will be using.

 

[4mattc]

SATA is definally worth it if you access files alot and if you want the convenince of having just one drive then you could get another but if you already have one it would be ok. Also you must check your motherboard to see if you have a hook up for a SATA connection. As for haveing a SATA drive to affect gaming it will not affect it. Also choosing a good drive is all in the preference, I love the Western Digitals but the second best in my opinion are the Segates, just make sure it has a lot of space.

Atomic Rooster beat me to it.

 

[pc4life]

Yea, your current DVD and CDRW drives will be fine. If you are strapped for money, go ahead and use your old hard drive. It shouldn't affect your gaming performance. One thing to remember, the motherboard you selected has only one IDE port. If your optical drives are IDE, you'll have to connect one of those to the same cable the HDD will be using.

Would connecting it to the same cable affect this at all???

Also, have any ideas on a cheap but fairly good GPU???

 

[Atomic Rooster]

Nope, a HDD and a CD/DVD drive will function happily together on the same cable. They will have to be configured correctly as master and slave.


How about a VisionTek Radeon HD 4850

 

[pc4life]

That looks good! Would these be almost as good?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102854


or


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102855

Which would be better???

 

[Atomic Rooster]

The 4670 is a step down from the 4850, but should work well for a low to mid-range system. Either one will do. The 1GB version will allow you to run higher resolutions at better speeds.

 

[pc4life]

The 4670 is a step down from the 4850, but should work well for a low to mid-range system. Either one will do. The 1GB version will allow you to run higher resolutions at better speeds.

two last questions!!!... For my system do you recommend xp, or vista, or even win7??? Would this PC play crysis on low???