"budget" gaming system-plz critique

bruceModn · Rated NC-17 Joined: 06 Mar 2004 Posts: 155 Location: texas

building this system for a friend with limited funds

1.AMD Athlon XP 2500+ 1.83GHz 333FSB 512KB Processor

2.Abit KV7 Via KT600 Athlon(XP)/Barton DDR ATX Motherboard Retail /Audio, LAN, RAID/Serial ATA Retail 200/266/333/400FSB, ATA/133, AGP, 3DDR DIMM, 5PCI, USB
3.Kingston KVR333X64C25/512 512MB DDR333 PC2700 Memory
4.Antec Sonata 380Watts - Piano Black

5.Gigabyte RADEON 9600XT Video Card, 128MB DDR, 128-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP

6.Western Digital Caviar 80GB Ultra ATA/100 7200RPM
7.Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Sound Card

8.Asus CRW-5232AS 52X/32X/52X (Black)
9.IBM Optical Navigator Mouse
10.Logitech Elite Keyboards

11.Sony FD (Black)

i realize it could use a faster processor, but havent found a better deal.

BeerCheeze · Posted: Sun, 07 Mar 2004 02:27:19 Post Subject:

Nothing roung with that deal. I would suggest looking at a Nforce2 board instead of a KT600. The onboard sound is supposed to be on par with that sound card. So you can save a little bit of $$$.

And ther CPU is just fine.

Spire · Posted: Sun, 07 Mar 2004 03:05:13 Post Subject:

This is completely my opinion only... I can however point to many reasons backing this opinion up!!!

DFI Infinity MB - Nforce 2 (as EC said)
2500+ Processor (although if overclocking is an option, get a mobile processor - they are unlocked)
2 x 256 Corsair XMS matched pair (for Dual Channel support)
Onboard Soundstorm audio (excellent savings - and ALMOST as good as an Audigy 2)
Lite-on 52x32x52 black CD-RW (best drive at cheapest price)

The case is great, the video card is great.

I would choose a Seagate SATA hard drive (price is comparable, and SATA is the future, and its available onboard).

Also, go for the Elite Duo from Logitech, the KB is great and the MX700 Mouse is second to none.

Again just my $.02

bruceModn · Rated NC-17 Joined: 06 Mar 2004 Posts: 155 Location: texas

ty for replies.

i have changed my mobo to:
DFI NFII ULTRA INFINITY nForce2 Athlon(XP)/Duron SktA DDR ATX Motherboard w/Audio, LAN, RAID/Serial ATA Retail
(im not sure if that mobo comes with soundstorm..)
my memory, cdrw, hd have changed also to spire's specifications.

so congratulations spire, Trophy

you have designed my whole pc. Laughing

Spire · Posted: Sun, 07 Mar 2004 05:51:05 Post Subject:

The Infinity is Soundstorm!!! The Kingston memory you list will work, but keep in mind, the Infinity is the best OCing board out right now. It starts at 200MHz and will climb to the heavens. Don't scrimp on memory.

Spire · Posted: Sun, 07 Mar 2004 05:53:36 Post Subject:

BTW, I haven't designed your system, I have bought and sold an insane amount of parts and spent an ungodly amount of time on forums reading to build just about the same system!!!!

BeerCheeze · Posted: Sun, 07 Mar 2004 12:44:24 Post Subject:

dadx2mj · Posted: Sun, 07 Mar 2004 13:06:19 Post Subject:

From what I have been reading on another forum the "Mobil" processors seem to be over clocking better. A couple of the guys there have got mobile 2400+ running at 2.4 Ghz on air real easy.

Spire · Posted: Sun, 07 Mar 2004 13:47:03 Post Subject:

They start at 1.45 volts!!!

Some folks are getting them way higher than 2400MHz too. On air, they are capable of 2.7 to 2.8 with the right person at the helm!!!

**JimBowy** · Moderator Joined: 02 Aug 2003 Posts: 1627

380W power supply, consider something a little larger so when he wants to add a 2nd harddisk or optical drive down the line he can without also upgrading the PSU.

I'd suggest Antec TruePower 430W