Need help for a new gaming rig.

Sandino · Need help for a new gaming rig.

Hey my current specs are:
Asus p4s8x, 2.6Ghz
AGP 8x
Radeon 9800 pro
1 gig ram

I'm having problems running the new games. Thats why I'm gonna get a new gaming rig. I'm not updated in the latest hardware and would like some1 to help me out :-D

My goal:
Play Supcom/cnc3 and Starcraft 2 on medium quality.

I was thinking of spending 400-500 £ ( I have dvd/cd player+LCD screen+mouse\keyboard and a headset )

*note I dont care about a fancy case

Any suggestions?
thx in advance

[TFL]Temmu

gforce 8800 sli card.... 640 mbs of pure video pwnage
specs
http://www.nvidia.com/page/geforce_8800.html
pics
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applic....asp?EdpNo=2570706&CatId=2514
check out tiger direct, newegg and geeks.com
should go with an intel core 2 duo since those are the nciest avaible so far....
also 2 gbs of ram...
basically what you need for great gaming graphics =)

Sandino

yeah im deff gonna get a intel dualC. The GeForce8800 is 2 expensive for me

I'm thinking of getting a Gainward GeForce 7900GS 512MB.

[TFL]Zanarkand

Thats a nice solid performer. With supcom i do think that once you around 7800GT , 7900 GS level , your graphics are pretty much sorted and you can put high fidelity whatever the map or size.

And basically its just up to what sort of CPU power you want inorder to handle soo many units.

Its a bit of a hard one for yer , because I think quadro cores are coming out soon , but you should be able to tolerate supcom till then with your current rig , its a really a question of whether you can put up with being an expert 1v1 finns player until Quadros become more mainstream. I know it probably sucks if you get a big ass map in the ladder.

For costs Id say...

GPU £150 - you should get atleast a 7900GT or X1900XT . 7900GS is okish.
CPU £180 - go absolutely nuts with this. 180 gets you a very good duo core, probably top of the range. CPU is always the bottleneck. the better you get the more units you can handle.
Mem £60 - I was going to say go for 2gigs but I think 2x512mb Dual channel is good considering your budget.
WaterCooling CPU Fan £60 - Yea why not lol . Its awesome.
PSU £50-80 - a good brand like Tagen - get 450W+. look it up. Whatever powered your 9800pro probably isnt gonna be good enough. You could go for unbranded if your budget is tight.
Case £30-60 - Functional is good
Mobo £50-80 - Dont need to go over the top with mobo , just make sure its compatible etc.

On a tight budget..sacrifice Water Cooling, go for a Generic PSU generic case combo.

If very tight...then just harvest your old ram and have odd fsb speeds. Its slow but i think it still works. then just buy a really cheap 512mb of generic to make it 1.5gig , or get 2 gig.

[TFL]Temmu

cpu is usually a bottle neck but the ram is more important... you will notice a diff between 1 and 2 gigs of ram... not so much between a 1.83 core duo and a 2.00

just make sure its dual core

[TFL]Zanarkand

Yea ram is important but with supcom , its all cpu. ram seems to be alright at about 1 gig for supcom. Thing with ram is its easily upgradable. i.e u just add more when u want to.

If you start off sacrificing a bit of your graphic card budget and cpu budget to get that extra ram , you wont be able to add back that little extra to cpu and gpu later on. Your stuck for the next 3-4 years with a CPU that you knew could have been better , and a GPU you knew could be better. . Blow your budget on CPU and GPU primarily. If you want, just use your harvested ram for the time being+another 512 cheapo ram - that would do for supcom. After a couple of months , generate a bit of cash then upgrade the memory then but atleast you know you got the best computer available to your budget at the time.

Reason i go for more expensive branded PSU , is because people are often plagued by computer problems caused by crap generic PSU.

[TFL]Apocalypse

Personally I would wait while the pc tech gets stable in about 6 months time or so.

Sandino

Thx for the help guys.
Im thinking of getting this rig:

GPU
EVGA GeForce 7900 GT CO
http://prisguide.hardware.no/product.php?productId=43324
-152.46 £

CPU
Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 2.13GHz Socket LGA775, 2MB, BOXED m/vifte http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.asp?sku=322632
-156.56£

MOBO
Asus P5B, P965, Socket-775, ATX, GbLAN, 6xSATAII, PCI-Ex16
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.asp?sku=321781

-88.23£

Memory
TwinMOS DDR2 PC4200 2048MB Dual Pack KIT ,w/two matched DDR2 PC4200 1024MB CL4
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.asp?sku=312091&cks=ACC
-132£

Case
Just gonna use my old case.

PSU
LC, PSU, 420W, SuperSilent, black
http://www.3dfxcool.no/product_in...=c24ea925fea3d546c1f7158b2d5a8b48
-31.71

CPU fan
Zalman CNPS9500LED Ultra Quiet CPU Kjøler
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.asp?sku=312473&cks=ACC
-35.25£

=569.6£

Let me know if I'm using any parts that are crap.
thx

Q: GeForce 7900 GT/ Radeon X1950 or GeForce 7950 GT, whats the best card?
Edit: nvm I just found out that I can OC the Geforce 7900 GTO to be almost as good as a 7900GTX

And the 7900GTO has the same price as a 7900 GT

Sandino

kk this are the parts I'm buying for the new pc
GPU
Sapphire Radeon X1950XT 256MB GDDR3, PCI-Express,ViVo/HDCP,2xDVI, Lite-Retail
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.asp?sku=327135

CPU
Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 2.13GHz Socket LGA775, 2MB, BOXED m/vifte http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.asp?sku=322632

MOBO
Asus P5B, P965, Socket-775, ATX, GbLAN, 6xSATAII, PCI-Ex16
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.asp?sku=321781

Memory
Crucial DDR2 PC5300 2048MB CL5 Kit w/two matched DDR2 PC5300 1024MB CL5
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.asp?sku=312372&cks=ACC

PSU
Hiper HPU-4S435, Silent 435W, 120mm vifte, 2xSATA, ATX, PCI-E, 20/24pin
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.asp?sku=324701&view=detailed

CPU fan
Zalman CNPS9500LED Ultra Quiet CPU Kjøler
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.asp?sku=312473&cks=ACC

[TFL]LordofCheese

I assume Supcom will support a 2 core processor? People always seme surprised when their application can only run with one, so older games will have only the processing power of one core . . . or so i've been told.

LoC

edit: you should reconsider getting a bigger case with better cooling opportunities... that rig will generate some heat.

LoC

[TFL]BigBANGtheory

Personally I would go for the E6300 CPU and save yourself a bit of money there, then overclock it. Apparently these chips will sometimes do 3.4GHz off the stock heatsink&fan so with the money saved by not getting the Zalman cooler and the cheaper Intel chip get yourself some better memory.

i.e. decent DDR2-800 (PC2-6400)

That way for a similar price you get a much faster sysyem.

Sandino

@LoC
Midi tower 2 small for this?
Supcom does support DualC.
If im gonna get a new Case is gonna be this:
Antec Performance One P150 Miditower
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.asp?sku=314780&view=detailed
with a PSU 430.

Thx for the advice BBT, im gonna get E6300 and DDR2-800 (PC2-6400).

I'm gonna need some OC help though

[TFL]LordofCheese

hmm , I like aluminium cases... especially big ones. . . . lots of cooling means more potential over clocking!!

LoC

[TFL]BigBANGtheory

Aluminium cases are also more expensive, and for modest overclocks on a Conroe chip heat shouldn't be a big issue. You guys seem to be overlooking Commanders budget.

my favourite case is the SilverstoneTj-09b:
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=487766

excellent in every respect you will be hard pressed to find a better case than this, I don't own one cos it costs £200 .

[TFL]BigBANGtheory

If your budget allows I would take a look at the Ati Radeon X1950 XT its basically the fastest card you can buy without having to spend alot more on something like an 8800 or a crossfire/SLi setup.

The longer you wait the cheaper it will be, Ati/AMD are releasing the R600 in March which should push the prices down a little.

It all depends on how long you are prepared to wait before upgrading to a DX10 card & Vista i.e. the sooner you think you will do that then the cheaper/lower the spec DX9 card you should go for.

My own gaming PC should last me another year I reckon.

Sandino

thx for the tips
Yeah im planing to buy a Sapphire Radeon X1950XT 256MB is the ATI version better?

Im gonna wait some weeks and see what GeForce 8800 GTS 320 MB will do to the prices.

Hm im gonna play Supcom/cnC3 and mabby starcraft 2 on my pc. Supcom and CnC3 supports dx9 but .... im not sure if starcraft 2 will...

Sapphire Radeon X1950XT or GeForce 8800 GTS 320 MB.....

[TFL]Temmu

i am waiting for the prices to come down on the direct x 10 cards before i go and setup my new rig.... cause direct x 10 is the way of the future... all the new games will be using them =p

[TFL]BigBANGtheory

The other thing you could consider is buying a 2nd hand GPU, something like an Nvidia 7900GTX off ebay.

[TFL]LordofCheese

Hmm I'd reconsider if your planning on getting an ATi card.. my friend got one of the latest cards and has trouble with the new drivers and "plays best on Nvidia endorsed crap".. namely CoH.

LoC

[TFL]Temmu

yea also with ati using amd chipsets now *shivers* its quite ugly at times... drivers are crap tbh

[TFL]BigBANGtheory

well I have an Ati Radeon X800 XT PE and its running SupremeCommander at 1024x768 on high detail, thats not bad going for a card that is 2 years old.

Also if you look at recent history the Ati 9700 series almost put Nvidia out of business alot like Nvidia's own Geforce2 cards killing off Voodoo.

You should be careful about writting off a particular brand wasn't it Nvidia facing a class action law suit from owners recently about drivers not doing there job? I think it was

Do a quick search on SLI issues in games, and you will think twice about SLI.

There is a popular saying about 'Always use the latest drivers' etc etc but that is crap find the driver that works best for you is my advice. I haven't updated my Ati driver in ages and sometimes more recent drivers do cause problems.

At least the price of the 8800 is starting to fall, we should have the Ati R600 series in March and Nvidia's 8900 series in June.

Ati merging with AMD makes alot of sense, how many 80nm fabrication plants do you know of in the world? There are some pretty smart people doing chip design at AMD thats got to be a good thing for GPU's.

Can you imagine the shape of PC hardware for gamers if AMD manages to trump the Intel chips in the next few years?

One fact that cannot be denied is that the Ati architecture is currently more advanced than Nvidia's, we will have to wait until March to see how that translates into performance.

Personally I will get which ever GPU offers the performance I want at a price I am prepared to pay be that Nvidia or Ati.

Sandino

[TFL]BigBANGtheory

I would stay clear of SLI it seems more hassle than its worth. Intel 965 motherboards are the best value, Nvidia 680 board are the best performers but not by much.

[TFL]Temmu

sry to bump this thread but found an intersting deal... for 1600$ US which is like 800 euros if i am not mistaken you can get a core 2 duo 3.0 with 2 gbs of ram and the gforce 8800 that is at the 640mb capability....
and for 1600$ that is a dam good deal....
all at ibuypower.com
i believe they do ship internationally but you have to call to make the order =)

Sandino

whoa nice but I cant spend 800 Euros on my new pc.

Think im gonna wait till the 8800 gts is abit cheaper before I buy my new pc

[TFL]Tank0

and now a little break from the ones who can calculate

4$ = 3 €

1600$ = 1200€

[TFL]bclaytz

how many British pounds is 1600 dollaroo?
because im kinda browsing around for a new pc so i can get the new games that are comin out

[TFL]Tank0

1$ = 0.509191£

1600$ = +- 800£

[TFL]bclaytz

haha sweet! i may be gaming SupCom/SoaSE sooner than i thought :D

[TFL]Temmu

lol sry tank... my math is very very bad... =p.... but yea its a pretty sweet deal... and they are only dropping faster =p

Hideki

even if u dont know math, here it is.
http://xe.com/ =p

[TFL]Temmu

alrite.... i just saw a comp that made me drool for 2100$ US
a 1 gb vid card cost $600
2 gbs of ram (top of the line with onboard heat sink)
3.0 ghz dual core
so crazy... that is just the start though..... i will get more specs 2morrow when i go back to work..........

Sandino

Ok thx for the help guys.
I ended up with this system:

Asus P5B, P965, Socket-775

Intel Core 2 Duo E6400

Corsair TWIN2X 6400 DDR2

MIST, 500W, ATX 2.2

Lian Li Miditower, Aluminium, USB, Sort (Ver.3)

Asus GeForce 8800 GTS 320 MB

for 469.46 £

[TFL]bclaytz

SB are you building it or are you ordering it from somewhere? what processor speed is it? if your ordering it can you link me please :)

Sandino

I'm building it claytz

processor :
Intel Core 2 Duo E6400
2.13 ghz

Sandino

Just got my pc parts :)

Spoiler:

*installing

[TFL]Temmu

hehehehe nice... you got the 8800... tell me how it looks =)!!!!!

[TFL]Temmu

where did you end up buying the parts... cause i need something like that... and how much did you pay for the gforce??? and where =)

Sandino

The 8800 is HUGE. :)

Bought my card from komlett.no, and paid 197.58$(50%off) for it, because i got connections

Sandino

Here are some pictures of the pc

[TFL]BigBANGtheory

looking good m8, I'll be joning you next week on the 8800 front

Evga 8800 GTX KO, best thing about it is if Evga release a faster card in the next 3months I can trade up by only paying the difference.

I chose the Abit AB9 QuadGT over the Asus having completely ruled out any 680I board. I think the Intel P965 chipset is a much safer bet the 680's are feature rich but they have been rushed and some of them have a shed load of problems.