Gaming computer buffs, Help me out. (Deciding on computer)

[Pl8er 5,000+ posts]

Also remember that 2,000 is the MAX you want to spend. You dont' need to buy every bell and whistle to get to 2,000. You would be amazed how many people add things they don't need.

4GB is overkill, but due to prices being so low, it is well worth it. Expect ram prices to rise in the coming months as well. If you keep information on your computer that is very important, think about a RAID (at least 2 hard drives) so you can mirror the drives. This will allow you have a backup of everything. But having 2 video cards (SLI) or 2 or more harddrive etc is just more things that can go wrong.

 

[jdc753 10+ year member]

Case: COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower

Case lighting: standard in case, or disconnect for no lights

Power supply: COOLER MASTER Real Power Pro RS-750-ACAA-A1 ATX12V / EPS12V 750W Power Supply

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor

Freebies: My tender loving care while assembling, and some packing penuts

Processor Cooling: Certified CPU Fan and Heatsink

Motherboard: A ASUS P5E LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Intel Motherboard

Memory: G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000) Dual Channel Kit

Video Card: XFX PVT88PYDD4 GeForce 8800GT XXX 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

2nd Hard Drive: None

External Hard drive: none

Cd/Dvd drive: none

Cd Rw/ Dvd Rw Drive: ASUS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA

Sound Card: Supreme FX II 8 channel audio

Speaker System: none

Network Card: D-Link DWA-552 32-bit PCI Xtreme Desktop Adapter

Floppy Drive: none

Monitor: Hanns·G HW-223DPB Black 22" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor

2nd Monitor: none

Keyboard: Logitech G15 2-Tone USB Wired Standard Gaming Keyboard

Mouse: Logitech G5 2-Tone 7 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Laser Mouse

Operating system: Windows XP PRO with SP2

Wireless adapter: D-Link DWA-552 32-bit PCI Xtreme Desktop Adapter

Just an example of what could be built for you, could also do an SLI setup pretty easily, its actually what I had speced at first but it started going over budget. Could always cut out some fat or fatten it up here and there.

 

[Pl8er 5,000+ posts]

No reason for SLI with an 8800GT. Just overkill. Doesn't get you much more in Crysis and it still totally playable for every game.

 

[Foote 10+ year member]

I'm really looking for a deal to get it all in one, built. With monitor...

 

[jdc753 10+ year member]

Also remember that 2,000 is the MAX you want to spend. You dont' need to buy every bell and whistle to get to 2,000. You would be amazed how many people add things they don't need.
4GB is overkill, but due to prices being so low, it is well worth it. Expect ram prices to rise in the coming months as well. If you keep information on your computer that is very important, think about a RAID (at least 2 hard drives) so you can mirror the drives. This will allow you have a backup of everything. But having 2 video cards (SLI) or 2 or more harddrive etc is just more things that can go wrong.

Some good advice right here. Personally I don't have a raid setup but I have become a strong believer in having at least 2 hard drives. I have an old 15GB drive I bought for my first computer about 7 years ago (back when 15gb cost about $150 lol) this serves as my OS and applications drive, stuff that can get corrupted and easily replaced. All the data is stored on either my old 120gb or one of my 2 500gb drives.

Ram prices really are dirty cheap atm, cheap enough to make me wanna buy some when I have no use for it.

 

[Pl8er 5,000+ posts]

I'm really looking for a deal to get it all in one, built. With monitor...

If that is what your set with, then so be it. You will pay more for sure but look at dell.

I know I know...lots of other places and you call india for support, but its better than buying from an indian and when it breaks them not being there.

 

[jdc753 10+ year member]

I think personally I would get a slightly different config between A and B. I'm looking at ibuypower.com atm to see what I can come up with for a possible system. Otherwise I got one question on option B. It appears you have listed a PCI network card. I don't believe you need this as there is an onboard network and it is the same speed as the pci addon card you listed, that should cut some cost from option B

The scary part is if you look, all ibuypower.com is doing is buying from Newegg, building it and then warrentying it. So essentially your paying for the warranty and for them to assemble it. I guess thats about as good as anyone of us building it.

Now thats got me curious gonna have to see what their markup is if I were to spec the exact same machine through newegg. I bet they get a volume discount or something though.

 

[WildcatNate 10+ year member]

I built computers for people while I was in college and have since I got out. I know it's hard to trust people on the net, but ibuypower can be anyone. I can build you a computer, that would equal or kill those for $1,500. If you notice, those don't include software for the most part, etc...With monitor. If you are interested, let me know by PM. Don't trust places like that, they are not using the best equipment. Yeah they have an ASUS board, but its not a very good one. Plus ASUS has gone down hill the last year or so. I won't use them anymore. Too many other good ones out there for a better price.

Also, a guy on here I know builds computers for a living, has his own store. He could get you a good price as well. I don't care if I do it, I just don't like to see people getting ripped off.

Lastly, build the thing yourself if you want to try. It is really not that hard. With all the tutorials etc...out there, its fun to do. I enjoy it.

 

[jdc753 10+ year member]

After fiddling around with the ibuypower the main thing I say is if you buy from them MAKE SURE you get the cheapest ram then buy a kit from newegg and throw out what came with the machine. Their prices for ram are a TOTAL ripoff. $408 for 4096MB [2048MB X2] DDR2-800 PC6400 Memory Module thats just insane as best as I can see.

 

[Foote 10+ year member]

I think I'm going with pc-infinity.com

I get the computer, keyboard, mouse, 22 inch monitor, online adapter..everything all together and ready to go. With ...

3.00ghz duo core processor,

4 GB of 1066 ram

512 mb Nvidia Geforce 8800GT Video card,

Excellent cooling (fan upgrades, heat spreader, thermal compound)

500 GB @ 7200 rpm hard drive.

I can't find all that in one bundle, built, and ready to go for cheaper anywhere else.

Dell is out because they only come with windows vista (I have heard nothing but bad things about it).

Newegg is out because they don't have package deals.

 

[Scoobydoo 5,000+ posts]

I could build something like that for well under $1500 including the monitor, would have to check current prices though

 

[uPsDdOWN 10+ year member]

http://www.geeks.com -- watch the sale prices and bundled prices (tower. p/s, MB, processor combos)

 

[Foote 10+ year member]

Still havent seen any deal that can hold a candle to pc-infinity.com

 

[bds0688 10+ year member]

Dell has an option for XP I believe, can be a ***** to find on the site.

Why do you need a network adapter? Most, if not all MOBOs have built in networking that's more than fast enough.

One thing to check, even with prebuilts, is the PSU. Not just the wattage, but the make. Unsteady current and voltage are the two main causes for overheating/system instability. I trust these companies match their PSU's as well as they match components, but definitely look at it.

Beside the fact they're from India, Dell has **** good customer service, imo. When they accidentally didn't ship my mom's, they shipped it next day with an upgrade in ram. My friend's monitor began to develop some dead pixels, they sent him one with no shipping. make sure you read up on these online companies and how they handle problems after you buy their product.