Cheap, Gameable PC?

[scripkiddie]

Well I'm thinking about building my next PC, I don't really know much about hardware (I can HTML/PHP fine..) so please don't be so harsh.

Here's the current specs:

SAMSUNG 18X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write, LightScribe Technology Black SATA Model SH-S183L - OEM
$38.99

RAIDMAX SMILODON ATX-612WBP Black SECC STEEL ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply - Retail
$89.99

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
$74.99

ENCORE ENF656-ESW-NDPR 56Kbps Fax Modem - Retail
$5.99

ASUS M2N4-SLI Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 500 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
$86.99

EVGA 256-P2-N751-TR GeForce 8600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
$114.99

CORSAIR ValueSelect 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Desktop Memory Model VS2GBKIT667D2 - Retail
$79.99

AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+(65W) Windsor 2.0GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADO3800CUBOX - Retail
$65.99

Total: $557.92

Everything Is off of Newegg. Any suggestions/additions/etc? BTW, any suggestion on what monitor I should get? I'm fine with CRT, though LCD would be really nice, about or less than 19in. I'm more worred about the actual PC than the monitor so a fairly cheap one will be fine.

[Jamie Nixx]

Scrap the AMD cpu and motherboard, and get an Intel core 2 duo instead, they blow AMD out of the water.

Second, a 7900GT or GS is going to be much more powerful than an 8600GT, the only advantage the 8600GT has is that it is direct x10 and their are no drivers at the moment decent enough to download, plus you need vista which itself it pretty sketchy at best.

I have an Asus 19'' widescreen monitor. Its costs about £120 in the UK. so it will probably be even cheaper in the US.

Hope this helps.

[scripkiddie]

What motherboard would you recommend? And do you know any major games coming out that isn't going to support XP?

[Jamie Nixx]

I would recommend the Asus P5N-E Sli motherboard. No games coming out in the near future (i mean at least 2 years) will not support XP. Vista is very poor when it comes to gaming at the moment and until Crysis comes out no games are even going to run on DX.10. So XP is still going strong and hardly any games out at the moment are even optimized for vista.

[The Wise Monkey]

^^ Did you forget about Halo 2? Thats Vista only, iirc.

Oh, and everything is so much cheaper in the US... :*(

I agree with Jamie about the AMD processors - wait until the 22nd July though, as Intel are slashing their prices. I recommend the E6600 - very good dual core processor.

[Jamie Nixx]

Ah tuche wise monkey ;) . I don't like Halo at all so it skipped my radar:p .

And on the 22nd Intel are slashing prices (and i mean slashing). If you are still on a budget go for the E6400 or E6420. Even the lowest speed core 2 duo will give any AMD a run for its money even the FX series.

[Cirndle]

How do you guys know when Intel or AMD are slashing their prices?

I mean is there a bulletin, or can you post some verbatume (sorry bad speller) in your reply post to show me what information you use to interpret this?


Okay thanks,
Crindle

[Jamie Nixx]

On the 22nd of july Intel are intoducing some new processor models. Its common practice that when newer models come out, the older models are cut in price to make way for the price of the newer models (if that makes sense:rolleyes: )

Reports suggest that they are going to cut their core 2 duo models by 50%. I know the urge to build your new rig straight away can get to you ;) . But wait a couple of weeks and you will save yourself some money you can put towards other better pc components.

I get my Info from the net and forums, as well as my local computer shop. Don't worry its valid info mate, just wait and see on the 22nd July.

Hope this helps

[Cirndle]

Only reaon i ask is because i want to have it available to me as readily as u do.

one site i went to showed cpus and had red green numbers like stocks with an arrow showing theirs drops in price or rise can't remember where though.


So how can i get this info make new forum topic> cpu and price tracking?