Upgrade and Computer-Building Advice Thread

[kooz]

i just found a website with a few 5770s 512mb for €132 and 1gb for €155.. i guess i should go for the 1gb one?

now i need to find a cheap 450w psu :P

[aliquidparadigm]

Well, realistically, you just need a PSU over 300w; I just found the cheapest name-brand PSU on Newegg.

[kooz]

i found a 350w psu for about €45.. exactly my budget xD even tho i could easily go over it :P

but still.. 512 or 1024?

[aliquidparadigm]

At 1920x1080/1920x1200, go with the 1GB.

[kooz]

okay, that seems like a good idea

thanks for the help!

[hdantman]

Is this thread finally stickied? Great idea ALP--I hope to become more active in the forums again--I've missed it.

[Ih8Staples]

Just to get started to begin I have a computer that is 8 years old and have to continously upgrade it in an attempt to play most of the newer games. After much diliberation i have decided to attempt to build a new one.




1. Make and Model: Custom

a. Motherboard: 4 Memory Slots DDR3, Want to run 2 cards at once, Believe it needs to be SLI or Crossfire compliant. Preferably Nvidia

b. CPU: Want a Quad Core. AMD or Intel not a issue. OC is not really desired but would like a little wiggle room if I ever feel I have the stones to do it to a computer

c. Case Form Factor: ATX

d. PSU: Assume I need a 700 watt PSU to run to cards but not sure. Have a 450 Watt atm
e. GPU: I have 1 PNY Nvidia 9800Gt XLR8 512 DDR3. 2 PNY Nvidia 9600Gt 1GB DDR3

f. OS: Windows 7 OEM: Home or Professional. Probably Home

2. RAM: 3 Gb min. Would like to step up to 4 if the deal is to good to pass up

3. Disk Drive(s): SATA 320-500GB 7200

4. Optical drive(s): 1 DVD capable of reading DL disc

4. Image Quality: Going to be picking up a 20 in acer lcd monitor

5. Case+: Dont need anything flashy but would like a cool running case

6. BUDGET: Very poor, Have roughly 300 dollars saved atm. Could probably get a little more by pawning a few items but atm not sure.

Reason I have 2 9600GT cards is because they were 10$ apiece and monitor is 50$, all new items.

I believe it is probably an impossible task to build something half decent with my immediate resources but if anyone has any recommendations im open to all suggestions.

Thanks in advance for any assistance or comments.

edit: noticed a few kits available at newegg.com few in my price range say whether or not geforce sli capable

[aliquidparadigm]

If you're going to use this mainly for gaming, dual core is all you'll need for the rather distant future--but I'll link you to an appropriate quad core as well.

Your current operating system will need to be ported over with your budget; Windows 7 Pro 64-bit is $140 ($100 if you get home 32-bit, but fuck that).

CPU: This is where you get your biggest realistic choices, because there are quite a few options within a reasonable price range.

List.

I would buy this in the combo package with a case.

Mobo: If you want a board that can do SLI, this is it. AMD products with AMD chipsets are much cheaper than AMD products with nVidia chipsets--like half-the-cost-of-a-video-card cheaper. Link. With a crossfire board, you could use just the 9800GT for as long as it would take you to save up another $200 and buy a pair of 4850s.

RAM: I'd suggest getting 2x2GB right now, leaving you with two additional slots for upgrades later on to 4x2GB; if you want to go just 4x1GB now, though, you can... it's actually going to be more expensive than just 2x2GB, though.

PSU: Assuming you're going to just use the 9800gt, you don't really need much in the way of a PSU. Even 2x9800gt won't require much. This would more than suffice with what you have now... it would even do the job for what I'll suggest below.

Case: Covered in the CPU section with a current promo.

The CPU/Case combo + AMD/ATI mobo + RAM + PSU = $312.87 for me.


Now, either way you go with regard to the mobo, everything else will work with either board. The PSU is more than enough for the AMD/ATI mobo with a pair of 4850s on it, which also works well for you in the future should you opt to save up $100 for a 4850 and another $100 for another 4850.

[Ih8Staples]

Thanks a lot for your quick response.

The list you gave me is fantastic are the parts look great. I do have a few more questions though.

* After a bit of poking around in my old system I found out my PSU. http://www.bfgtech.com/bfgr450wgspsu.aspx . I do have a spare 350W Antec collecting dust and figured if it would be compatible with this new build might just pull it out.

* I have Windows XP Pro 32 bit OS. I thought in order to make full use of RAM over 3-3.5 GB I needed a 64 bit OS? I addition to this the HD is only 80 GB. This limits me in the amount of information programs I can keep on the system at once. I have been considering picking up a WD 320gb 7200 RPM SATA drive thats on clearance for 20$

* I can always throw the disc info on my 16GB flashdrive if I ever need to install or play games. For an OS install I would just borrow the on out of my old system temporarily. Gonna probably see if I can bum some money to pick up Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit from Amazon for 99.99.

* Found a Optical Drive that is fairly cost effective http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106333

* Assuming my math is close I could build this system if I could get about 125 more. Also assuming my existing PSU might work.

* Finally anyone have a secent site that might be able to give me a loose walkthrough of the process of building it. I fear I only know enough to be dangerous.

And once again thanks a lot for bearing with me and sharing your knowledge.

[aliquidparadigm]

Originally Posted by Ih8Staples

* my PSU. http://www.bfgtech.com/bfgr450wgspsu.aspx

* I have Windows XP Pro 32 bit OS. I thought in order to make full use of RAM over 3-3.5 GB I needed a 64 bit OS? I have been considering picking up a WD 320gb 7200 RPM SATA drive thats on clearance for 20$

* Found a Optical Drive that is fairly cost effective http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106333

* Assuming my math is close I could build this system if I could get about 125 more. Also assuming my existing PSU might work.

* Finally anyone have a secent site that might be able to give me a loose walkthrough of the process of building it. I fear I only know enough to be dangerous.

That BFG PSU is perfectly fine; just make sure you pay attention to the +12v connections when you do SLI/Crossfire.

It's true you'd need a 64-bit OS to utilize the additional .75GB of RAM if you had 4GB; you probably won't find yourself in a situation where you need the additional RAM unless you play incredibly memory-intensive games (like CIV4 w/RoM: aND) or are doing high-end photo/video editing. If you're just doing what 90% of people who use computers are doing, you'll be fine with a 32-bit OS and 3.25GB of RAM.

If you've got a working optical drive, it can be ported; you shouldn't bother getting another unless the new one has a feature you really want.

That math sounds about right. If your BFG PSU works just fine, you'll only need $265.95 for the CPU+mobo+case+RAM, and you may or may not need to buy the OD+OS, so you might not need to save any additional monies.

If you need help building a computer, we/I can help you there; you'll be surprised at how easy it really is. I had my roommate build his first computer with minimal assistance from me. I will say, though, this guide is actually pretty good.