the box

[LA_MERC_sLingbLade]

Hey I work with Rick and he has me thinking of a build my own. What is a better motherboard for gaming, is INTEL better? I already have a ATI Radeon 9600Pro video card, I just happened to get pushed on me. Is a case a case? What else should I look for?

Thanks for any and all recommendations. Robert :stpat2

[SaBeR512]

Most important feature to a case is Ventilation (fans) and build quality. Then you can worry about style. Look for a name brand case such as thermaltake, antec and so on. I would recomend AMD boards over intel ones for gaming.


Good Luck!

WWW.NewEgg.COM <=BEST PLACE TO BUY ANYTHING COMPUTER RELATED!!!


:xmas7 :xmas7

[npor]

For gaming, right now the best thing is the AMD Athlon 64 series. Of course, if you're on a budget, an Intel P4 or AMD XP will work.

Saber is pretty much right about the cases, try to get a name brand, as they are usually better built. My vote is for Antec or Lian-Li.

[LA_MERC_eX1|eS' ch1|d]

I know people are always talking about a good case that has some rigidity to it, but if you don't move your case much and don't plan on sitting on it I don't think it really matters.

Now your power supply is something that you want to make sure is quality b/c if it's throwing wrong voltages or can't power all your hard drives, fans, and accessories then you have problems. So basically if you get a case that comes with a power supply then you should have 400 watts or better, but it really depends on how much stuff you have that needs powering.

Newegg is w00t and has low shipping charges on the main parts, motherboards, video cards, hard drives. But they charge you an absurd amount for the little stuff like fans and lights and whatnot, which is what most companies do anyway.

Tell us your basic budget and I'm sure we can put together 2 or 3 systems for you. Also tell us what you plan to do with this computer, I'm guessing gaming is the main thing, but are you doing any video editing? Is your ATI 9600PRO and AGP card or the PCI one?

[LA_MERC_eX1|eS' ch1|d]

Oh yeah when do you plan on upgrading again? Next year, or do you want it to last a couple of years before another upgrade?

[LA_MERC_LaTech]

The power supply is MUCH more important than the case. Most cases come standard with a couple fans, so air flow won't really be an issue. Your best bet: but a case without a power supply and then buy yourself a GOOD (Antec, Enlight etc) 400 watt+ power supply. Just my opinion.

[LA_MERC_Dirge]

Do yourself a favor and get an Aluminum case. Everyone time you have to kug the thing around or pull it out from the desk, you'll glad you went tin! I personally recommend as Tech said, but them seperate.

[CajunTech]

Sling what kinda budget you looking at for the new machine. I usually ask people that and then see what can be built for that amount. Also what are some of the games you're planning on playing. My wife's machine runs a Radeon 9600 PRO and she can play pretty much any game out right now (Doom3, EQ2, CS Source etc.). Some of the newer games run better on a slow machine with a lot of memory than on a fast machine with little memory.

[-=C.O.P.S=-KOrruptED]

I personally like ASUS motherboards. Do they make motherboards for AMD CPU's that have DDR2 memory slots?

[LA_MERC_sLingbLade]

What I have to spend is up to $1000.00. Will this be okay, or should I wait for more bones? I was looking at some cases at www.xoxide.com. The one in particulr was Xoxide Blue UV Reactive case with 5 quad uv led fans, 5 alien laser cut grills, 420w Enermax Noisetaker SATA power supply, and of course a counterstrike sticker, and a UT2004 decal ($253.93). I picked up the ATI Radeon 9600pro (AGP) vc for $100.00 brand new in the box, I also heard from some local yocals that AMD is one sick mother for gaming. I am going to play Counterstrike/UT 2004 alot online over DSL (my neighbor is a high up for qwest). I am not biased towards any brand in particular. I just want something my wife can check her email on, and I can tear up Rick on (JK). My personal email is [email protected] and I am willing to give anybody a call if they want.

Sorry for the rant. Thanks again, you all are great.

Robby

[LA_MERC_LaTech]

If you're going to game, A64 is the way to go right now. The thing you have to think about is, when do you plan on upgrading again? If not for a year or more, get an A64 and some FAST DDR RAM. DDR2 won't be worth the price difference for you right now. Also, I would suggest a Raptor (WD 10,000 RPM HD). FAST...man, just be sure you get SATA onboard the motherboard. For a MoBo, I would stick with Asus, ABit or Gigabyte. They all make good stuff.

[LA_MERC_sLingbLade]

Is this the HD you would recommend?

http://www.dealtime.com/xPF-Western_Digital_Raptor_WD360GD_36_7_GB

Thanks,
Robby

[LA_MERC_LaTech]

That or they also make a 74GB version. Check out newegg.com, man...they have excellent prices on stuff and reasonable shipping.

[LA_MERC_sLingbLade]

So this is what I should buy.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-144-160&depa=0

Robby

[SaBeR512]

Get a 10,000rpm drive. The western digirtal raptor with 74gb is awsome! and you can afford it also. I would also reccomend a AMD Athlon 64 3400+ becuase its awsome. I own a 64 3200 and its fast as can be!

This MOBO is great==> http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=13-131-510&depa=0

AND FOR A POWER SUPPLY I STRONGGGGLYYY reccomend ANTEC. 430 watts is fine==> http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-908&depa=0

For an OPTICAL DRIVE ====> http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=27-131-329&depa=1

HAPPY LOOKING! :xmas7 :xmas7 :xmas7 :xmas7 :)

[|Team Moped| Kripto]

Once you figure out what parts you are going to buy, go to www.PRICEWATCH.com YOu will find the best prices here. Alot of time it refers you to newegg and other places mentioned above. Just watch out between OEM and RETAIL stuff, sometimes its a cost cutter and sometimes it's stupid.

[npor]

Why so much for the DVD/CD writer?

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=27-152-031&depa=1

That's what I have. It write more than fast enough, and has support for dual layer DVD's.

[npor]

Once you figure out what parts you are going to buy, go to www.PRICEWATCH.com YOu will find the best prices here. Alot of time it refers you to newegg and other places mentioned above. Just watch out between OEM and RETAIL stuff, sometimes its a cost cutter and sometimes it's stupid.

Also look at http://pricegrabber.com and http://froogle.google.com/

[LA_MERC_MadMAX]

Just get yourself a Cyrix 266, 32 MB Sdram, a 2 Gig drive and a Voodoo 2, and you'll be all set :)

[npor]

']Just get yourself a Cyrix 266, 32 MB Sdram, a 2 Gig drive and a Voodoo 2, and you'll be all set :)

Uh.... no.

How about a Commodore VIC-20 with an Apple IIe emulator :)

[LA_MERC_MadMAX]

or better yet, a TRS-80 :D

[LA_MERC_sLingbLade]

Does this case look adequate enough? How is the power supply?

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=11-170-020&DEPA=1

thanks once again.
Now I am off to compare prices.
Here is what I have so far:
- http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=13-131-510&depa=0
- http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=22-144-160&depa=0
- http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=20-223-009&depa=0
- http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=27-152-031&depa=1

What will I need as far as internet stuff? I will be running a DSL line.

[SaBeR512]

you should be good to go, if u have money left over get another stick of that ram

[npor]

Yeah, your budget being $1k, I think you should get 1GB of ram.


I've never heard of that PSU though. If you want to, you can always get a case you like, with whatever PSU, and buy a nice PSU to use in the case. Use the crap PSU as a backup.

[SaBeR512]

amen.

[LA_MERC_eX1|eS' ch1|d]

Sorry Sling, I've been afk over the weekend, especially with the holiday and all.

Ok for the case if your happy that's all that matters, but as others have said you may want to get a different power supply. Two reasons a) get a name brand that has a good reputation, b) if you want your computer to look nice in the modding department you can get a modular power supply. A modular power supply is one that you don't have any unused wires hanging in your case, I know Antec has one and Antec is a good brand name.

For the lan theory the motherboard you have has an onboard lan built in, so you don't need anything else for your box.

I would also recommend I different brand name for the RAM, the DDR400 is good but I've never heard of Rosewill. I think the MERC approved brands are Crucial, Kingston, and Corsair. I would also go with 2 sticks of 512 RAM, a lot of programs take your RAM but don't like to give it back to your system and it helps you run more programs smoother.

Right now your at $523.98 with all shipping costs, but you still lack a CPU which anymore is kinda pricey. So if you double your RAM your new total will be $598.98, which leaves you a good margin for your CPU. I'm guessing your like most people and if you can save some it's all to the better, especially with Christmas coming up.

I would recommend you get a Retail box Processor because you get a 3 year warranty instead of a 1 year warranty, plus it comes with a heatsink/fan. With the motheboard you have you need a Socket 939 Processor, you can narrow your search at Newegg by specifing you need a socket 939 when you search for processors.

That being said the only things in your price range are...

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-463&depa=1
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-502&depa=1

With the top processor being my choice, which brings you to a grand total of $863.98 with shipping. So with $136.02 leftover you can get a new/better power supply, a damn good one I might add, or you can spend that extra money on the wife. (That's a tuff decision there Sling, I'll leave that one up to you)