New here, please help

[RESmonkey]

Hi,

I'm on a low budget (don't want to screen past $3000) and only go past $2500 if necessary, what kind of gaming computer can I get that's top of the line?

Desktop and Notebook (undecided). I like Alienware, but I'm not so sure what's good currently in technology (I still have a Radeon 9600...agp4x....). Also, how is Turion better than Core 2 Duo (Alienware's best notebook uses Turion, so I assume).

[pt]

Hi,

I'm on a low budget (don't want to screen past $3000) and only go past $2500 if necessary, what kind of gaming computer can I get that's top of the line?

Desktop and Notebook (undecided). I like Alienware, but I'm not so sure what's good currently in technology (I still have a Radeon 9600...agp4x....). Also, how is Turion better than Core 2 Duo (Alienware's best notebook uses Turion, so I assume).

welcome to TPU

just a question first
why won't you mount your own pc, it isn't hard:) , and it is a lot cheaper than buying one from alienware

about Laptops the core 2 duo for laptops (dont remenber the name) are better than the turions

[Canuto]

Just explain me something here how is 3000$ a low budget? :confused:
With all that money there's no comp you can't buy or build.

[pt]

With all that money there's no comp you can't buy or build.

there is :)

[Canuto]

Name one(supercomputers excluded)...

[RESmonkey]

Oh. Is that a lot for a gaming? Alienwares went past 3k :(

My rig is too old, Dell Dimension 4400

1.6ghz P4 without HT or anyhting good
512 pc2100 lagram
256mb 128bit radeon 9550 (9600)

^ Yeah....

But wait, if I do buy a new mobo and everything, CAN it become a leet rig?

edit= help me with the upgrading if possible, but do tell me about laptops (i might go mobile. no idea)

[pt]

Name one(supercomputers excluded)...

just a sec. i'm looking for prices

[pt]

Oh. Is that a lot for a gaming? Alienwares went past 3k :(

My rig is too old, Dell Dimension 4400

1.6ghz P4 without HT or anyhting good
512 pc2100 lagram
256mb 128bit radeon 9550 (9600)

^ Yeah....

But wait, if I do buy a new mobo and everything, CAN it become a leet rig?

edit= help me with the upgrading if possible, but do tell me about laptops (i might go mobile. no idea)

you are talking about american dollars right???

[RESmonkey]

yes, USD

[pt]

Name one(supercomputers excluded)...

2x x1950xtx - 958.98
core 2 duo x6800 - 949.5
CORSAIR Dominator 2GB - 610
ASUS P5W DH DELUXE/WIFI-At - 269.99
2x Western Digital Raptor X WD1500AHFD 150GB 10,000 - 458.98
total - 3247.45

and it is missing a lot of things :nutkick:

[Canuto]

That's a supercomputer, doesn't count :p

[pt]

yes, USD

you can get a great rig for well below 3k, do you know what is overclocking?

[pt]

That's a supercomputer, doesn't count :p

no it isn't
a supercomputer is the blue gen or somme other big pc :D

[RESmonkey]

hey dude, can u configure me some internal parts (i only need a smalllll hd, 20gb if 10,000) because i have 2 HD's at 7200 @ 100gb. Looks like you guys know a lot!

[Canuto]

Yeah but 3000$ is an insult to poor/humble people.

[RESmonkey]

yeah, i have a pre-driver overclocked gpu, but I'd rather leave it up to ppl like you guys who know a lot to help me with a new pc or pc parts.

I'm liking this new GDD4 radeon

[RESmonkey]

sorry for the double post, but I'm getting this anywhere from now till Feb or possibly even later if you guys know if anything major is coming out. The reason is I'm supposed to score past 30 on my ACT standardized test.

[pt]

score past 30 on my ACT standardized test.
:confused:

[Canuto]

Well directx10 is right around the block.

[RESmonkey]

It's an academic test for college/school. if I do good, I get a new comp (which I know I will do good, of course, haha)

When are hardware DX10 cards expected? That would be something I am interested in (wouldn't want to buy DX9 Hardwawre now...)

[Canuto]

In christmas so it's not that far away.

[pt]

It's an academic test for college/school. if I do good, I get a new comp (which I know I will do good, of course, haha)

When are hardware DX10 cards expected? That would be something I am interested in (wouldn't want to buy DX9 Hardwawre now...)

until dx10 will be good you will wait a long time...

[pt]

hey dude, can u configure me some internal parts (i only need a smalllll hd, 20gb if 10,000) because i have 2 HD's at 7200 @ 100gb. Looks like you guys know a lot!

there are ppl here that knows more, but i think we can help you

Intel core 2 duo e6400 - 220
ABIT AW9D-MAX - 239.99
mushkin eXtreme Performance 2x1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 - 289.8 (ask ketxxx for the best)
SAPPHIRE Radeon X1900XT 256MB GDDR3 - 259.99 (and save for a good dx10 card)
Western Digital Raptor WD360ADFD 36.7GB 10,000 RPM - 104.99 (for windows and games)
mushkin 550200 ATX12V 550W Power Supply - 89.99
subtotal - 1204.94 :)
do you need a case, dvd rw, coolers, fans, etc... :)

[Canuto]

I agree with him :)

[AshenSugar]

http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=18154

check that, i dont want to repost what i did there(to much work damn it)

read the whole thred, the last post is mine, basickly what i list there will come in at around 890bucks then add the case you want and floppy(if you want/need one) and your set, the parts listed will give you perf of an overpriced "game computer" from the likes of alienware but will caust you sooo much less, also if you need it setup for you find a friend OR local shop that will chage you a flat fee for installing the parts for you(most will do this happly)

that will give you a better bang for the buck for gaming then anything your currently looking at i would bet ;)

http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MTEwOCwxMSwsaGVudGh1c2lhc3Q=

read that artical, it pretty much proves that the canned benchmarks are worthless when testing real gaming perf, and a x2 3800+@2.7gz is faster then the latest x2 5000+ or even 5200+(new chip limited sales run)

[pt]

but are you planning to do overclocking on the new pc? :)

[RESmonkey]

WOW! That is awesome!!!

questions:

1. The motherboard works with all parts?
2. Will a DX10 Card(s) (possible SLi) work with that motherboard?
3. Is that any faster RAM/motherboard combination ( I saw RAM over 1ghz)
4. How do I cool that? Watercooling or fan?
5. I have a Dell Dimension 4400, but I think getting a new case would benefit.
-------------------------------

The only problem is that my dad says he wants my computer, and I can get a separate one now. Makes sense, since everything in this comp except the HD must go. Can you add everything needed to that configuration to make a whole new comp? (case, cooling, etc.)

[pt]

it's a Crossfire mobo (sli for ATI)
do you know how to set a watercooling setup?
do you want a sound card?
monitor?
speakers?

Intel core 2 duo e6400 - 220
ABIT AW9D-MAX - 239.99
mushkin eXtreme Performance 2x1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 - 289.8 (ask ketxxx for the best)
SAPPHIRE Radeon X1900XT 256MB GDDR3 - 259.99 (and save for a good dx10 card)
Western Digital Raptor WD360ADFD 36.7GB 10,000 RPM - 104.99 (for windows and games)
mushkin 550200 ATX12V 550W Power Supply - 89.99
AeroCool AeroEngineII - 75 (the case is more a matter of personnal choice, i have that one and i love it)
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - 5.99
Thermalright HR-01-775 CPU Heatsink - Retail - 59.99
3xSILVERSTONE FM122-B 120mm (for side and rear) - 50.7
LITE-ON 16X DVD±R DVD Burner W/LightScribe and 5X DVD-RAM - 36.99
SILVERSTONE FP33-B Controller, Panel - Retail - 24.99
subtotal - 1458.6

[pt]

3. Is that any faster RAM/motherboard combination ( I saw RAM over 1ghz)

like i said, ask ketxxx here on tpu for the best ram :)

[RESmonkey]

Thanks

What is

SILVERSTONE FP33-B Controller, Panel -

With those specs, can I expect to run Crysis? Or do I need a future DX10 setup?

edit = crysis and all 2007 games like unreal 07, on full with all eye candies?

[pt]

Thanks

What is

SILVERSTONE FP33-B Controller, Panel -

With those specs, can I expect to run Crysis? Or do I need a future DX10 setup?

edit = crysis and all 2007 games like unreal 07, on full with all eye candies?

it's a fan controller :)
you will need a dx10 card for full gfx on dx10 games, but on the begin they won't be as good, if i were you i would buy a cheaper card now, and wait for dx10 to become very good, new cards will certainly have problems :shadedshu

[RESmonkey]

So any current motherboard can support future DX10 cards?

[Ketxxx]

3k is a sky high budget.

first and formost, do you want an AMD or Intel rig? If im honest core2 i dont think is that great you see impressive benchmarks but in games there really isnt a massive gap betweena dualcore amd or intel cpu. as for ram XP6400 or XP8000 ;)

[pt]

So any current motherboard can support future DX10 cards?

yep

[RESmonkey]

I'm going to go do some homework now, Thanks for your help, I'll return later on tomorow on this site. Thanks very much!

[RESmonkey]

My dad says I should just wait a while.

Any good technologies coming out around August 2008 (when I enter college)? Desktops and laptop.

[pt]

My dad says I should just wait a while.

Any good technologies coming out around August 2008 (when I enter college)? Desktops and laptop.

dx10
quad core
pci-x
low nm on cpu and gpu production
bigger hdd's
...
:D

[Judas]

there are ppl here that knows more, but i think we can help you

Intel core 2 duo e6400 - 220
ABIT AW9D-MAX - 239.99
mushkin eXtreme Performance 2x1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 - 289.8 (ask ketxxx for the best)
SAPPHIRE Radeon X1900XT 256MB GDDR3 - 259.99 (and save for a good dx10 card)
Western Digital Raptor WD360ADFD 36.7GB 10,000 RPM - 104.99 (for windows and games)
mushkin 550200 ATX12V 550W Power Supply - 89.99
subtotal - 1204.94 :)
do you need a case, dvd rw, coolers, fans, etc... :)



yup i think that would do him nicely :cool:

[i_am_mustang_man]

i would go core2 6600 (more cache)
and get the ram ketxxx described, the less expensive one (prolly the 6400) because oc won't be limited with that board
and get something more along the lines of a 700w thermaltake or real real quality wattage because if he wants to run cf dx10, 700w might not even be enough.

[RESmonkey]

pci-x? Isn't that old?

[pt]

pci-x? Isn't that old?

pci-e isn't the same as pci-x
and there is also going to be pci-e 2.0 :)

[RESmonkey]

i see, thanks :)