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Riiiiight.. well i got my place at University confirmed today.. So i can go ahead and start building my new pc for it..
1 problem.. dunno what parts to use and where to get them from (obviously i'm a brit so US based retailers might not be the best choice, lol)
It'll have to handle gaming (obviously).. Half-life, HL2, CS: source.. the usual...
Be able to process graphics, compile (or whatever) programming, maps.. etc basically everything to do with game developement and play..
i'm not sure how the internet will work on it, might be usb might be standard ethernet - i'll sort that out later though..
I'll need plenty of space.. i'm thinking 2x 120GB..
Anyone with computing know-how care to offer me advice on which parts will be best for performance i need, and not too harsh on the pocket. Obviously i want quality, but not overly excessive. lol
Cheers,
Frootbag:D
Edit :: Ps gwars did you get my PM??? It's not showing up on my sent box O.o
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08-18-2005, 12:17 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-18-2005, 12:18 PM by Miagi.)
Hrm. These are the parts I have picked out for mine. Might give you ideas.
Not too high-end and not too junky.:P
DFI Lanparty Ultra Nf4 = 139.99
Athlon 64 3500+ = 267.00
eVGA Geforce 6600GT 128MB PCI-E = 154.00
Corsair Memory pc3200 1gb = 147.67
SAMSUNG 120GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive = 87.00
Total $795.66
Prices are U.S and might have changed since I last looked(April 2) on newegg(US store :/ )
Of course I wanted to go with an AMD 64bit cpu and a pci-e video card. The video card according to reviews runs hl2 well. The motherboard isn't SLI, BUT it can be modded to be if I want to in the future:D.
I'd recommend looking at benchmarks/reviews at Toms Hardware
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08-18-2005, 01:28 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-18-2005, 01:29 PM by -Pipo.)
all the things you need:
motherboard
gfx card
cpu
hdd
ram
case
powersuply (if not incl in case)
cooling (same)
and maybe other things (monitor, mice, keyboard,...)
You first need to think around what price it has to be (800, 1000, more...)
....and wrong forumsection i think....
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-Pipo,Aug 18 2005, 05:28 PM Wrote:all the things you need:
motherboard
gfx card
cpu
hdd
ram
case
powersuply (if not incl in case)
cooling (same)
and maybe other things (monitor, mice, keyboard,...)
You first need to think around what price it has to be (800, 1000, more...)
....and wrong forumsection i think.... i know how to build a pc thanks, i built the one i've been using for 2 years.. i'm after help with which specific parts.
As for pricing (if it helps any of you to help me) i'm looking at around 600GBP ($1000 ish)
That's got to include EVERYTHING. TFT monitor, keyboard, mouse, mobo, gfx etc etc
Oh and i did look at the IT Geek section, but none of the sections really fitted my request, the only one to come close was if you had actual problems, error messages, etc.
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sorry, i tought you were total new to this, my bad
I'll look up a good system for you when i have the time
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ty^_^
nah im not a noob at it, i just ain't really kept with what parts are best - changes too quickly for me to even bother:P
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08-18-2005, 05:23 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-18-2005, 05:26 PM by Gollum.)
Miagi,Aug 18 2005, 04:17 PM Wrote:The video card according to reviews runs hl2 well.
I'd recommend looking at benchmarks/reviews at Toms Hardware Just an FYI, you'll get better performance on HL2 by using an ATI card. HL2 was optimized specifically for ATI cards and if you look at benchmarks on Tom's Hardware or other places you'll see the difference. I'm sure the 6600 runs HL2 just fine though, seeing as how my nVidia GeForce 4 ti4200 64 megabyte graphics card can run HL2 decently.
I'd go with a 9800 Pro (bit dated now) or a X800. The X800 has really come down on price it seems and you can get one for relatively cheap. The 9800'll run HL2 like a dream though, my dad's got one in his rig and it works amazingly well despite not being "top of the line." If you're going to go ATI it's probably your best buy at the moment.
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Gollum,Aug 18 2005, 09:23 PM Wrote:Miagi,Aug 18 2005, 04:17 PM Wrote:The video card according to reviews runs hl2 well.
I'd recommend looking at benchmarks/reviews at Toms Hardware Just an FYI, you'll get better performance on HL2 by using an ATI card. HL2 was optimized specifically for ATI cards and if you look at benchmarks on Tom's Hardware or other places you'll see the difference. I'm sure the 6600 runs HL2 just fine though, seeing as how my nVidia GeForce 4 ti4200 64 megabyte graphics card can run HL2 decently.
I'd go with a 9800 Pro (bit dated now) or a X800. The X800 has really come down on price it seems and you can get one for relatively cheap. The 9800'll run HL2 like a dream though, my dad's got one in his rig and it works amazingly well despite not being "top of the line." If you're going to go ATI it's probably your best buy at the moment. Hardly an upgrade from my 9600 Pro.. lol:P
I'm looking at the X800XT with big googley eyes ;o
Thinking i might go the same way as miagi with most of it.. change the ram, hdd, gfx.. so basically most of it:P
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cdrom?
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Good call Miagi. Also, the 9600 isn't a very good card from what I've heard. There's the 9500, the 9600, and the 9700. The 9500 was supposed to be a crippled version of the 9700 card, but they didn't cripple it enough and it's actually a pretty good card. Then the 9600 came out and 9500 shortly went off the market. Though you're going after an X card anyways which is probably better than a 9800 regardless. I'm not even sure if I have all the cards straight anyways, I just know that the 9500 turned out to be a really sweet card for the cost and the 9600 was worse off. I dunno much about the X700, but I'm sure it'll suffice. Other than that DVD Writer you're going to want (=P) this sounds like a decent machine.
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The only thing I would add is that if you go with a NVidia graphics card it would be easier to get working in the event you decided to experiment with Linux. I know that many of the ATIs can be tweaked to work but NVidia is activiely working with open source to create drivers.
desNotes
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well i'm using the dvd/cdrw from my current pc, as i have 2.. so thats the cdrom covered..
And i really don't plan on using linux at all, the main reason i went with ATi is that the card owns the geforces of similar value, for SLi to work effectively you'd need 2 cards - waste of money..
Other than that, any problems / improvements to be fixed/made?
Edit :: Btw nice to see you again EA:)
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The best thing I have heard today
Quote:The X800 has really come down on price
I sure hope your right, it is a sweet card. From what it sounds like you should go ATI, but the x800 will hit your wallet, and hit it hard.
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Well then again I subscribe to a newsletter called "Dealnews." It finds all sorts of sweet deals for various odds and ends out there, and you can subscribe to a specific category of deals that you'd like to be emailed. I've seen the X800 AGP card for as low as 200 some dollars, which in comparison to when it first came out is quite a bit cheaper. Still expensive, but not too bad. Dealnews mostly looks at US sites though, so that's why I haven't mentioned it before.
http://dealnews.com
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I would spend a bit more for a decent mouse. I have a trust optical mouse for my laptop, and while it is a good mouse generally, it has an annoying habit of jumping the cursor randomly no matter what type of surface I use it on. Doesn't happen that often but when playing rico for example, one minute I am shooting discs, the next I am staring at the floor.
I was given a five-button Microsoft Optical mouse about 4 years ago and apart from a slightly creaky mouse wheel it is still going strong, and works spot on. I use this on my main PC. Speaking from experience, I would recommend a Microsoft mouse (wired).
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Also - I live only a couple of miles from Savastore.com (AKA Watford Electronics).
I have witnessed several arguments inside this shop over faulty goods, surcharges for returns etc.
My friend bought a supposedly new hard disk from this shop a few years back to find someone elses Windows installation complete with CV on it. He actually had to get trading standards involved to receive a refund.
Although they have allegedly improved, I still read horror stories on the uk.* newsgroups.
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WidowMaker,Aug 24 2005, 12:37 PM Wrote:I would spend a bit more for a decent mouse. I have a trust optical mouse for my laptop, and while it is a good mouse generally, it has an annoying habit of jumping the cursor randomly no matter what type of surface I use it on. Doesn't happen that often but when playing rico for example, one minute I am shooting discs, the next I am staring at the floor.
I was given a five-button Microsoft Optical mouse about 4 years ago and apart from a slightly creaky mouse wheel it is still going strong, and works spot on. I use this on my main PC. Speaking from experience, I would recommend a Microsoft mouse (wired). yeh i've had a 5 button Trust optical mouse for 5 years, and i get the same problem as you sometimes, it just goes wappy and spins you off to look at the floor/sky... did your Trust ever.. freeze on you? Like mine does it and i can't move - gotta unplug and reseat the cable at the back...
Still undecided about what mouse to pick though, that trust was only a budget one for my pc.. I'm sure i'll find one^_^
Cheers for the advance though:D
And as for the savastore, i don't think i'm using them.. I think i'll most likely be gettin the laptop:)
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It hasn't frozen on me, but I did think it had once until i realised that it didn't like the glass table I was using it on ^_^
My laptop is actually a better spec for games but I prefer using my desktop for some reason.
I managed to pick up an Acer laptop at an opening day sale at Staples for £300, with 9700 ATI graphics !
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http://www.questcontrol.net/images/razor_viper.jpg <--my mouse
Its the Razor Diamondback with 1600 dpi..not the cheapest but the best Ive ever used
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