Desperately Need Help!!!!!!

[CaptHandsome]

Ok, so its not desperately, but I really could use it. Alright, up until about 4 days ago, I was almost EXACTLY sure what kinda computer I was getting. (Right now I have a P3 700, 256 sdram...yada yada yada) I was gonna get an athlon xp 2600 or 2800, 1 gig ram, g4 128mb ti4800se, and just some other basic stuff. NOW...after asking around on sysopt, and just browsing other stuff, Im gravitating toward 94 ht.

First off I want to let all you guys know im on a realtively tight budget, about $800-$900, really no more than that. Obviously I play games, some are real pushovers, like CS and whatnot, and others are quite a bit more demanding, Raven Shield, Ghost Recon etc etc. So, if its not too much of a hassle or anything, Id really apprieciate it if some of you guys could give me some suggestions for a better than average gaming system. Obviously the more imortant things to me are MB, CPU, Memory, Vid Card, and...thats all i can think of right now, but feel free to suggest Hard Drives, CDRWs, cases, power supplies, fans, the works. Thanks a lot!

[CaptHandsome]

Heh...94 is code for P4....and yes I realize HT is more useful for servers but its also good if you run a lot of apps at once....but you all prob know that, Im just saying it so I dont look stoopud.

[Optimus Prime]

I'd translate $800 as around £600, k?

With £600 you could buy an amazing PC, look on your american retail sites, newegg.com, etc.

You could get a lot of neato parts, and it is always cheaper than buying a pre-built one.

[CaptHandsome]

Ya i know, i go to newegg a lot, pricewatch too, and for anyone in san diego, you've probably heard of computer edge (also in denver, and texas too i think). I really just need component suggestions cuz i know where to get em (im sorry does that sound arrogant, cuz i dont want to sound arrogant, really):p

[CaptHandsome]

I prolly shoulda said im building it myself huh? :t

[Disk11]

Would you be looking to overclock this rig?

[dajogejr]

You didn't mention which type/speed of Hard Drive you're using, or if you can reuse any of your old drives...the real budget saver.

I DON'T want to start a flame war here...but, due to your budget, I think Athlon might be the way to go...

From what I've read, top of the line P4s, with HT, are a bit pricey...but very good for gaming.
But, they will be eating up a lot of that fund...

I think the Athlon XP 2500 or even 2800 will fly...both Barton core, and very affordable, too.
And...both overclock quite well. (I've read the 2500 will clock a little better than the 2800, overall...)
2600 is a great choice, too.

Asus, EPoX, MSI and Abit, all good offereings for Mobos. Depending on if you want a lot of goodies on board (Asus A7N8X Deluxe is king there) or want max overclocking...(EPoX)...look for something with the newer NVidia chipset. Very good stuff...you can read all about it throughout this forum.

Good Vid Card you mentioned...price that along with a ATI 9500 Pro...and get what suits your budget best. Should be happy with either.

Your Old PC's RAM probably is SDRAM, rather than the newer DDR. So, new memory more than likely will be in order...
All kinds of good choices there. Memory, I'd recommend...Crucial, Geil, OCZ, Mushkin, Kingston Hyper X...everyone has thier own favorite there. I would say all are pretty good.
Cruise the forum for advice on those.

Good luck!!

[CaptHandsome]

well my old HD died, so i got a new one a while ago....im gonna use that for backup storage and stuff, cuz its only 40....ok so lemme tell what i wanted to get. Athlon XP 2500 or 2800 w/barton, i was looking at the asus a7v8x, but everyone said stay away from via kt400, so i started looking at the a7n8x, but then some peeps suggested epox. i took a look and it was better price wise. ive actually found a mobo for the p4 ht, thats about as much as an nforce amd mobo, the only thing really expensive is the cpu and thats only about 30-50 more. than a 2600 non barton. even supports 800mhz, but not ata 133. its an MSI but there stuff is good enough right?? heres link: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?submit=manufactory&catalog=280&manufactory=1312&DEPA=1&sortby=14&order=1 I can get it for $79 at a local shop. the 2800XP barton is $169 and i can get the 2.4ghz p4 HT for $189. i hope that the mobo isnt too bad, and that im not missing much between ata 100 and 133, which i dont think i would. also saves me some $$ on the HD. also i could save a bit as far as CD drives. I wanna plextor, but i could save a load if i get a teac or something similar....but i want at a least 4mb buffer, so its still a toss up. memory has gone up quite a bit since when i started shoppin for a new comp. but im leaning more toward kingston hyper X 3200...at least 512, and thats only temporary. Cool, so thats it.

OH!!! and i dont want to overclock...cuz im way too lazy and ill probably mess it up. alr

[CaptHandsome]

another thing...on the topic of memory, whats the difference in CL's, 2, 2.5, and 3, and also, is it worth is to get ram w/ecc?

[Dennis Bacon]

Epox 8RDA+
barton xp2800+
Radeon 9500 Pro (built by ati retail)
1 gb Geil pc3200 memory
80 GB seagate barracuda hard drive EIDE
Lite on 52x burner
Antec Case with 350 watt antec psu

All of this can be had for just over 800 dollars from newegg.com, this is a great system and pretty cheap hopefully I can build something similar soon enough.

[dajogejr]

I agree with DB...good stuff.

The only other recommendation I could make is go with a WD Rapter SATA, 10K RPM.

I know, I know...they are only 36GB, but man...are they fast. You won't notice a difference in ATA 100to133...but, SATA runs @ 150...and the Raptor at 10K RPM...it is supposed to be something else. Not quite as fast as some SCSI, but pretty darn close.

I didn't check the specs on that EPox...so I don't know if it supports SATA...
I'm picking up my Raptor end of next week...so I'm gonna mark it before and after I get that installed...

Good little bit of research..DB.

[CaptHandsome]

Ok, ONE last question. Should I spend the money on a nice Thermaltake case w/6 built in fans and a temp monitor, or just a chieftec w/3 and spring on the cpu fan/heatsink? if so, what cpu fan do you recommend? im looking at the slk-7 hs. for 20 bux u can beat the goodness of it, but theres still no fan. maybe a thermaltake 9+? Im probably going w/p4 2.4 w/HT.

[dajogejr]

Vantec Aeroflow. You're going to get all kinds of suggestions...but, I had the Thermal TANK Volcano 11...cooled ok, but went on kinda tough. Oh...and it was a **** hair dryer over 3500RPM.
The Aeroflow I have now, is super quiet...at 5200 RPM. Read about it...instead of a motor in the middle, it's magnectically driven from motors around the corners...so, nothing in the middle but the fan itself. And...the Heatsink is nice! Copper slug, alu fins, and it just plain out works. I think it's 24 bucks or so.

Get the case you want...Mine, is a cheap but efficient LANBOY. Came with a 350W Blue PSU, and under 100. It has room for two fans, one back one rear...and it always stays cool!! Up to you on that one...good luck.