Building A Gaming PC (before my beloved P-4 Dies...)

[dreviewwriter]

Hey folks,

My name is Sagar.

I really need some help with setting up a gaming rig before my current PC that I lovingly assembled dies of stress, lol.

Here's my current (coming-of-age) config:

Processor: Intel Pentium IV 3.0 GHz
Memory: DDR 2 RAM - 2 GB (1GB X 2)
Motherboard: Intel D101GGC
Graphics: ATI Radeon XPRESS 200 Series

Storage:
Hard Disk 1: Seagate Barracuda ST380011A (80 GB)
Hard Disk 2: ST3160215A Barracuda 7200.10 Ultra ATA/100 (160 GB)

Input: Logitech Keyboard Mouse Combo (iTouch version).
Monitor: Standard LG 17" CRT Monitor
Speakers: Simple Creative Stereo speakers

This machine has been very faithful to me and though I can't run the current high-end games, it easily runs Need for Speed Most Wanted, GTA Vice City and other games like them. I run FL Studio 8 on this machine and it works fine (although a bit slow if the files are too large - same goes for Adobe Photoshop CS3).

I am looking to upgrade this into a full on gaming rig or buy a new one if that's required. My target games are Burnout Paradise and Grand Theft Auto IV (with settings set to 'High') and future games.

I do know my way around computers but have NEVER bought a graphics card. I'd like to reuse whatever parts of my current system can be reused, although I doubt anything other than the hard disk would come in handy.

My budget is Rs. 50,000.

What can I expect to buy with that and is it possible to reuse anything from what I already have. I'm fine with using a 17" TFT and don't need fancy audio either. My current Philips headphones serve me well

My guess would be an Intel Core 2 Duo and DDR3 RAM with a good Graphics Card. Not sure which one so would love some input from the great members on here.

Regards,
Sagar

[prateek007391]

Okay check out these stuffs

Zotak 780i supreme
AMD Phenom X4 9850 Black or 9650 difference is about 2K
Palit Radeon HD 4850 Sonic
Hard Disk WD 750 GB

These combined would cost u 35K to 37K some thing
then check other stuffs like cabinet monitor Keyboard mouse etc.

[dreviewwriter]

Thanks for your suggestions, Prateek!

That's sound like a cool config. I've NEVER bought an AMD though - can it lead to compatibility issues with games?

I looked around for pricing on the things you suggested and here's what I got:
AMD Phenom X4 9850 Black: 8800
Palit Radeon HD 4850 Sonic: 9000
Hard Disk WD 750 GB: 6500

Couldn't find the price for Zotak 780i supreme though. It's not on Ebay.in or other places. Any idea on what it costs approximately? Would love to know.

Thanks and keep 'em coming

Sagar

[desiibond]

you better follow this thread: RIG ~ 50K

[prateek007391]

Zotak 780i supreme would cost u upto 15000 may be some less.

AMD surely has no compatibility problem with gaming infact mostly AMD provided a good performance for gaming

however if gaming is only need check out Playstation 3

this PS3 will accompany u for years without upgradation.

[dreviewwriter]

Thanks for your suggestion, Desibond. I'm closely watching that thread to find things that interest me

Prateek, Zotak @ 15000 sounds reasonable. And good to learn about AMD too. If it can do the job, I don't really care about the company so much.

Gaming is actually the only need right now. I learned only today that PS3 80GB was released in India back in February! Not sure if the local stores have it but well, sooner or later..

I'm more accustomed to playing with my mouse and keyboard rather than with a remote as I find it easier to use (especially in games like GTA).

If I go with the above config as is, what kind of cabinet, power supply and fans to fend of the heat should I be looking for?

Regards,
Sagar

[dreviewwriter]

Thanks for your suggestion, Desibond. I'm closely watching that thread to find things that interest me

Prateek, Zotak @ 15000 sounds reasonable. And good to learn about AMD too. If it can do the job, I don't really care about the company so much.

Gaming is actually the only need right now. I learned only today that PS3 80GB was released in India back in February! Not sure if the local stores have it but well, sooner or later..

I'm more accustomed to playing with my mouse and keyboard rather than with a remote as I find it easier to use (especially in games like GTA).

If I go with the above config as is, what kind of cabinet, power supply and fans to fend of the heat should I be looking for?

Regards,
Sagar

[prateek007391]

Check out some cabinets

Thermaltake Xaser VI & Coller Master Cosmos 1000 @ 13000

Antec Twelve Hundred @ 12000

or some mid range cabinets are
Cooler Master CM 690 @ 4000
Antec P182 @8000

[amitash]

1.phenom 2 920 -- 10.5k
2.transcend 4gb ddr2 800--2.3k
3.Biostar 790gx mobo--4.5k
4.gtx260 core 216 zotac -- 10k
5.corsair vx450 -- 4k
6.k/b + mouse--750
8.segate 250gb HDD--2.2k
9.zebby antibiotic cabby--2k
10.dvd writer--1k
11.BenQ E2200 full HD--11k

[dreviewwriter]

@Prateek: Thanks for the recommendations. Thermaltake Xaser VI & Coller Master Cosmos 1000 cabinets are a bit on the higher side but will the mid-range ones able to handle the heat that my system would generate while playing high-end games? Sorry about the noob kind of questions: I'm just new to hardware stuff.

@Amitash: Thanks for that complete config Man! I cannot find some of them on ebay.in and don't know where's a good place to get them in my city (Ahmedabad) but thanks nonetheless I'll see if I can use them as pointers and find any better models which may fit my budget.

Regards,
Sagar

[prateek007391]

hey dreviewwriter

I have not seen the cabinets physically that I can tell u if they need extra cooling

however if u find that there is a requirement for extra cooling and they are not so airy s

so buy some good quality third party fans and heat sink they would be available there.

some times these cabinets alone are sufficient in handling the heat however it depends on usage, if u r thinking of overclocking ur system then I must say that u need a good cooling system, if needed water cooling

[ashis_lakra]

I would recommend you the following configurations:
1. Intel Core2quad E8400 9K for the additional rendering required in some games, although there are good processors available, but under 50K, it can be as good as 15K processor.
2. Corsair 2x1 GB memory modules Rs 3K
3. Asus 780a Chipset motherboard Rs 9.5k
4. BenQ E2200 full HD--11k
5. Cooler Master CM 690 @ 4000
6. Seagate Barracuda 500 GB @ 5.3 k
7. Zotac 9800 GTX AMP Edition 12k
8.Logitech Combo 2K

These configurations will allow you to play latest games with high resolutions but you will not get performance as 250K Gaming rigs, so these could best match your specifications.

[desiibond]

Zotac 9800 GTX AMP Edition 12k?????

You get GTX260 for 11.5k which is leagues ahead of this one in performance.

Seagate 500gig is 3k
E8400 is not core2quad it's core2duo

[amitash]

@Amitash: Thanks for that complete config Man! I cannot find some of them on ebay.in and don't know where's a good place to get them in my city (Ahmedabad) but thanks nonetheless I'll see if I can use them as pointers and find any better models which may fit my budget.

You can find everything listed on theitwares.com...gfx card and monitor on lynx-india.com

[dreviewwriter]

Prateek, thanks. I'll see if some of the local stores has a model lying around. You're right about extra fans and heat sinks though - if need be, I'll get them.

@Ashis: Thanks for the sharing configuration. : )

@Desiibond: Do you know how Zotac 9800 GTX AMP and GTX260 compare in performance? if you could point me to a review that compares the two, I'd be very grateful.

@Amitash: That TheITWares.com site rocks man! Thanks!

What kind of games should I expect to play on the configs recommended to me above? GTA IV is the benchmark I am using so would it play without problems even with high settings?

Also, any chance of reusing anything from my old comp? I think I can reuse the DVD Writer I have but apart from that?

Sagar

[desiibond]

http://www.guru3d.com/article/geforce-gtx-260-review

[NVIDIAGeek]

@Sagar: Which resolution are you planning to play video games??

[desiibond]

^^he is okay to game on 17" CRT (1280x1024)

[prateek007391]

forget abt high end gaming for now, now what I need is a person to take challange

any one ready

[dreviewwriter]

@Desiibond: That was one heck of a marathon review man! Thanks a ton.

@nvidiageek: Like Desiibond said, 1280x1024 or 1280x768 is fine by me.

Sagar

[prateek007391]

hey nobdy to take challenge

[desiibond]

Originally Posted by dreviewwriter

@Desiibond: That was one heck of a marathon review man! Thanks a ton.

@nvidiageek: Like Desiibond said, 1280x1024 or 1280x768 is fine by me.

Sagar

wlcm.

remember, the GTX260 in that review is the first edition and now the second is available which is much more faster. You do make sure that it is second edition (denoted as GTX 260 sp216)

[Silicon Chip]

There is no diff b/w 24 sp.

I am ready for challenge.
Bt that res is totally ghetto for me, i was abt to get 1900 x 1200 bt then i thought it wud be too much for 17".

[amitash]

If you want to get 1900x1200 atleast make sure its a 22" + monitor...24 if u ask me...I think a 22" with 1680x1050 is perfect

[dreviewwriter]

Thanks for that nugget of info on GTX260 Desiibond. I didn't know there was a new version. How does it compare to the Radeon HD 4870 though (the guru3d review of it is good)? I see a HD 4870 from Palit and Sapphire listed on TheITWares.com. Are these two the same as Radeon HD 4870?

Amitash: I am going to get a big screen. I don't worry too much about the resolution but I do want to get a 22" minimum.

Regards,
Sagar

[desiibond]

for 22", get Samsung 2233SW FullHD

there isn't much difference between Palit's and Sapphire's HD4870.

GTX 260 is faster than HD4870.

[desiibond]

for 22", get Samsung 2233SW FullHD

there isn't much difference between Palit's and Sapphire's HD4870.

GTX 260 is faster than HD4870.

[dreviewwriter]

Originally Posted by desiibond

there isn't much difference between Palit's and Sapphire's HD4870.

Can the same be said about Palit and Zotac versions of GTX 260? There's one from POV too. All three are listed on TheItWares.com site.

Sagar

[desiibond]

EVGA and XFX are the best for nvidia cards
Try for these two first and then looks for Palit or Zotac.

[dreviewwriter]

Originally Posted by desiibond

EVGA and XFX are the best for nvidia cards
Try for these two first and then looks for Palit or Zotac.

Okie dokes : )

By the way, what do you think of the following config and would you change anything?:

1. Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E7300 - 2.53GHz
2. Motherboard: Gigabte EP45-DS3L, Intel P45
3. RAM: 2 GB Kingston DDR2-800MHz X 2
4. HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB SATA
5. Graphics Card: Zotac GEForce GTS 250 - 512 MB
6. Monitor: Samsung 2233SW FullHD
7. Power: Cooler Master Extreme Power 500W
8. Cabinet: Thermaltake Matrix VD2000BNS

Plus a keyboard mouse combo and a DVD Writer.

I found the above config in Chip's May issue that I got yesterday. I've changed Monitor though as per recommendations on this thread.

What do you think about the Graphics card? Am I better off getting a Radeon or GTX 260?

Sagar