Need quick advise on a computer build

We may earn a small commission from affiliate links and paid advertisements. Terms

phyregod

phyregod

!!YTINASNI
Well, my friend is building a gaming PC.. And I used to be his "go-to" guy for anything computer related.. I've been out of the computer game for 5 years now, so I'm sure I have no idea whats going on anymore as far as technological advances, prices, etc.

So, he is building a PC to play world of warcraft. This game is very hard on a system and eats resources like crazy. I would like to know how to build a good solid system for cheap. He also likes to run 98698765 programs in the background, such as limewire, a crapload of WOW add ons, virus protection, half a million IE windows, etc..

I think he is looking to spend $1k or so. He already has all the junk (keyboard, mouse, monitor, etc..

So, I need specifications on two systems.. The very best, and the best for the money. He is heading to Fry's today.

So far, the "best for the money" is a Dell system in a business catalog I'm looking at. He, however, is looking to custom build. (the dell, as far as i can tell is pretty lackluster)

Specs on the Dell:
Pentium 4 524 HT, 3ghz, 1mb L2 cache, 533 FSB
Windows xp home
1gb shared dual-channel ddr2 SDRAM
80 gig SATA HD
"Intel graphics accelerator 900" <--- no idea, but I'm sure its not good enough
48X CD rom (read, no burner)
integrated NIC
Free 19" flat panel monitor <--- nice freebie!
$449.00
 
dont buy a dell.
dont buy xp home.
533 fsb is half the speed of todays standard
dell's 19" is weak. they ultra brights are good, but their reg monitors suck. more so, its a free upgrade... not a free monitor. you're still paying for the 17".
shared ram sucks.
intel graphics = onboard. = sucks.
check out the thread endlesszeal posted a couple days ago. he built a bad ass system for like 600 bucks.
 
Well, he came, dropped the keys in my hand, took the cash and ran.. I had printed out one of each of alienware's sytems, starting at $800 and going to $6,000. I printed the tech specs and parts lists.. So he at least has a guide to go by. I told him to build the $2,000 system for $700 bucks or less.. Without the pretty case and support/building/middle man, Alienware brandname, etc.. he should be able to pull that.

the 6k system:
  • Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional
  • Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005
  • Microsoft® Windows® Vista Capable
    Click here to Learn More
Processors, Chipset & Memory
  • logo_core2x.gif
    Intel Core 2 Processor with Dual Core Technology
  • Intel Core 2 Extreme 2.93GHz, 1066MHz FSB
  • NVIDIA nForce 4 SLI
  • Up to 4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz
Graphics & Video
  • Dual Graphics
    • 2 x 512MB Nvidia GeForce 7900 GTX
    • Dual SLI Enabled
  • Quad Graphics
    • 2 x 1GB Nvidia GeForce 7950 GX2L
    • Quad SLI Enabled
    logo_sli.jpg
  • Connectivity
    • Video out: Up to Four DVI Connectors
    • TV out: Up to Two S-Video Out Connectors
Storage
  • Hard Drive Options
    • RAID: Options 0 and 1 Available
    • RPM: Starting at 7,200 up to 10,000
    • Capacity: Starting at 250GB up to 750GB per Drive (4 Drives Maximum)
    • Interface: Serial ATA 3Gb/s
    hard_drives.jpg
  • Optical Drive Options
    • Standard 16x Dual Layer DVD±R/W Drive
    • Optional 16x Dual Layer DVD±R/W Drive w/LightScribe Technology
  • Digital Media
    • Optional 28-in-1 digital media reader / writer
Networking
  • Integrated Dual High Performance Gigabit Ethernet Ports
dual_ethernet.jpg
Audio
  • High Performance Surround Sound Audio
    • Supports 8-channel (7.1) 20-bit audio
  • Optional Sound Blaster X-Fi High Definition Surround Sound Audio
    • Supports 8-channel (7.1) 24-bit high-definition audio
    • Up to 64MB dedicated Audio XRAM
  • Connectivity - Standard Audio:
    • Six 1/8" analog jacks (Rear)
    • One Coaxial digital output (Rear)
    • One Optical digital output (Rear)
    • One 1/8" analog headphones jack (Front)
    • One 1/8" analog microphone jack (Front)
Peripheral Connects

usb_firewire.gif

  • One PS/2 keyboard port
  • One PS/2 mouse port
  • One FireWire 400 port (Front)
  • Six Hi-Speed USB 2.0 ports (4 Back / 2 Front)
  • One External SATA 1.5Gb port
front_ports_new.jpg
Case & Chassis
  • Exclusive Alienware ALX chassis design
  • Exclusive chrome-finished chassis accents and black-anodized chassis interior
  • Exclusive dual-zone liquid chilling for system and graphics processors
  • AlienIce™ 3.0 high-performance cooling
  • AlienFX for quick and easy system lighting
  • Easily accessible front ports
  • 850-watt Multi-GPU-approved power supply with Active PFC
  • Tool-less front and side panels
  • Height: 19.01”
  • Width: 9.97”
  • Depth: 25.02”
All wrapped in a sexy case and dual zone liquid cooled video cards and processor. :drool:
 
Last edited:
6 grand for that?

i'd have a 1u rack server, cisco pix, and a friegerator sized ups for 6k.
 
put it this way...most gaming computers are gonna be hella expensive and the best way to go is home made.

AGP/PCI-E x16 video card
at LEAST 512MB of RAM
AMD-64 Processor
a decent mobo chipset (preferably nVidia chip)

Those are the minimum reqs for a WOW system

Ive built a few recently and that game does EAT your computer's resources.
 
pissedoffsol said:
6 grand for that?

i'd have a 1u rack server, cisco pix, and a friegerator sized ups for 6k.
Click to expand...

For 6k he could buy a car. That's about how similar those two things are to what he wants. (Start talkin' 6 thou on dames and booze and maybe we'll be on the same page :eek: )

But definatly check out endlesszeal's post. That should give you a good idea of what you can do. You are planning to build it right? I wasn't sure if you were just looking to buy it since you've talked about dell + alienware.
 
dell IS alienware. they bought them last year....
 
So 1000 is his budget? And whats up with that 6000 computer? Anyway for 1000 on just the tower, thats one hella of a machine.

Intel Conroe 2.4ghz w/ 2x2Mb cache = 370
ASUS P5W DH = 260
2x1GB Corsair DDR2 800 XMS = 190
OCZ GameXstream 700 Watt PSU = 130
BFG Tech 7900 GT = 281
Seagate 2x320GB RAID 0 = 200
NEC3550A DVD+/-R = 30
Lite-On DVD-ROM = 20
LianLi Case = 120
-------------------------------------
Total: $1481



This system would rock anything AMD has to offer. Easily overclockable and can crush anything including FX. Of course you can take or add some stuff off, but this system would be crazy.

Anyway, get a more solid budget, and ill piece a system for you accordingly. =)
 
For around a grand I would go with the Following:
AMD X2 4400+
ASUS A8N-SLI Premium Socket 939 (I would say AM2, but it is too new/buggy)
XP Home (It is faster than Media Center or Pro)
GeForce 7900GT
2GB RAM
Lite On CD/DVD Drive
Antec Sonata Case w/power supply
Seagate 320GB SATA Drive


If you want Intel, I would probably go with:
Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe
ASUS P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe
XP Home
GeForce 7900GT
2GB RAM
Lite On CD/DVD Drive
Antec Sonata Case w/power supply
Seagate 320GB SATA Drive


Hit up newegg they have the deals right now. For prebuilt systems, man I do not know the local computer vendor in my area has an AMD X2 3800+ system, with an X1600 Pro (PCI-E) card 1GB of RAM, and a DVD writer for $999. But if you build it your self, you get a buttload more machine for your buck.
 
I wouldnt get an AMD system unless it was seriously budget. Because a $186 Conroe chip has been reaching more than 3ghz with a good motherboard and that out paces anything AMD has to offer by far and away. The only downside is, its a bit buggy, kinda hard to find, expensive boards and somewhat over the msrp. However, the AM2 is just as buggy, if not more. The board choices are just about as limited as Conroe, but a bit cheaper. Its been a totally flip-flop. AMDs chips are picky about using DDR2 533 vs DDR2 800, while the Conroe takes less of a hit. But if he was really on a tight, the AMD is a good choice.

I wouldnt go with a Conroe E6400 because its a tad faster than the E6300 and that can easily be overcomed with an effortless overclock. Id move up to the 4MB cache range where it would show the best bang for buck. With the extra saved cash, can use it for bigger HDD or better gfx card.

You can just replace the E6600 with the E6300 and save 180 there. Then go from the ASUS board to the Gigabyte DS3 for another 100 saving. Then you can save another 100 by getting one 320GB drive instead of two. And another 80-90 or so for getting 1GB RAM instead of 2. That should put you in the 1000 range.

I wouldnt get an Antec psu. Sure theyve made good stuff, but power supplies from OCZ, Enermax, and Seasonic have been outperforming them and if you search the DFI forums, they dont recommend many Antec power supplies because DFI boards require premium juice. The Sonata is a very nice case though.
 
antec true powers have done me good forever...i havent had much luck with any other line, so thats what i stick with
 
Well, he came back with a bunch of goodies..

AMD X2 4600+ (dual core, 64 bit, blah blah blah)
Abit NVIDIA® nForce™ 4 SLI Socket 939 ATX Motherboard
2 gigs DDR 2 800 MHz ram (I forget the brand)
300gb seagate 7200rpm SATA HD
Geforce 7900 GT 256m.. SLI ready (I'm going to push him until he gets another 7900 GT and uses the SLI...)
A case.. I forget what brand but it was sexy enough, had 7 cooling fans mounted in various locations and a 420 watt power supply.. (not enough imho)
And a Pioneer DVD/CD RW

And the damn thing wouldn't load XP.. Then crashed completely, not even a happy beep.

Turns out the ram had to be dialed down to (I think) 677mhz.. Now the system is rocking.. Weird stuff.

*edit* yeah, I built it, played with it for 12 hours, then passed it on to my father, who is extremely computer savvy.. He figured out the ram thing, not I.

And yeah, I built computers for years and years... Tired of messing with it, which is why I own a Dell, and would sooner purchase an Alienware system than build my own. All the new high end stuff has to be massaged too much for it to play nicely together initially (but next years drivers usually correct most of that crap..) when you buy a large company pre-built computer, they have *most* of the bugs worked out already. They know that this ram hates that processor, so they don't put them together.. Believe it or not, before dell releases a system to the public they have put in a rediculous amount of R&D into the build. They don't just slap something together and call it good.

None the less, it is up and running.. Hopefully it will kick ass and take names for him.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top