Gaming PC

[Shrug]

Buying a new computer and i have two different options. I have inculded their details here can i get some feedback.

Now option 1 is cheaper and includes monitor, so on a $$ basis do you think the second option wil be worth the extra.
Option 1 $1479
PROCESSOR Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E6600 (4MB L2 Cache,2.4GHz,1066 FSB)
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium
MEMORY 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 2 DIMMs
HARD DRIVE 250GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™
OPTICAL DRIVE Single Drive: 16X CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) w/double layer write capability
MONITORS 19 inch E197FP Analog Flat Panel
VIDEO CARD 256MB nVidia GeForce 7900 GS
SOUND CARD Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
My Accessories
SPEAKERS Dell AS501PA 10W Flat Panel Attached Spkrs for Analog Flat Panels
KEYBOARD & MOUSE Dell USB Keyboard
MOUSE Dell Optical USB Mouse
FLOPPY & MEDIA READER No Floppy Drive Included
MODEM 56K PCI Data Fax Modem

Option 2 $1665 and approx $245 for monitor

Case ( [New !!!] Eagletech Viper II Gaming Tower Case w/420W Power Supply Red/Black 2-Tone )
Case Lighting ( Cold Cathode Neon Light Blue )
Power Supply ( NZXT PRC-550 550W Power Supply [SLI-Ready] )
Processor ( Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E6600 (2x 2.4GHz/4MB L2 Cache/1066FSB) )

Processor Cooling ( [New !!!] iBUYPOWER Liquid CPU Cooling Fan System Kit --- [for INTEL CPU] )
Motherboard ( ** iBUYPOWER Recommended ** ECS 965T-A P965 Chipset w/7.1 Sound, Gb LAN, USB 2.0 PCI-E MB )
Memory ( 2048MB [1024MB X2] DDR2-800 PC6400 Memory Module Corsair XMS2 Xtreme w/Heat Spreader )
Video Card ( 2x NVIDIA GeForce 7600GS 512MB w/DVI + TV Out Video )
Video Card Brand ( Major Brand Powered by NVIDIA )
Hard Drive ( 250 GB HARD DRIVE [Serial-ATA-II, 3Gb, 7200 RPM, 8M Cache] )

CD/DVD Drive ( 16x DVD-ROM Drive Black )
CD-RW/DVD-RW Drive ( [** Special !!! ***] 16X Dual Format/Double Layer DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW Drive Black )
Sound Card ( 3D Premium Surround Sound Onboard )
Speaker System ( 600W PMPO 3 PCS Super Bass Subwoofer Speaker System )

Network Card ( Onboard LAN Network (Gb or 10/100)
Monitor ( None )

Keyboard ( Logitech Deluxe Keyboard Black )
Mouse ( [$12.99 Mail-In Rebate] i-Rocks Superman Series SP-7000 Optical Mouse Blue/Red )
Operation System ( Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium )

[kerowo]

Nice they are kicking back 13 bucks for the mouse. Do you play enough games to need that machine? Hard drive is pretty small, you'll want to put in another one of those with either machine. I'd rather spend the extra 400 on the first one for a better monitor.

[NL Newbie]

Hmmm

Is the first one from DELL Or someone?

I just got a system, E6600/Gigabyte GA-965p-S3(Rev 1)/HSI 1950PRO 256/2Gig DDR 800/250GB SATA/Mambo thermaltake case/HIPER 580PSU.

All for £700.

Just built it today, 10 666 3d mark 05 score - dunno if thats good LOLOLOLOL


Heres what i'd do (besides build my spec system [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img])
Go with the 2nd specially if its individually bought components, DELL SUCKS.

1, Change case to something cheap and ugly but with good ventilation.

2, Take the gay light out the case - Dont add to the heat, REMOVE IT.

Video card - Shop around and compare models, Tomshardware guide, Xbit labs etc. I went for ATI - If your gaming wait till the 12th as NEW 8800's DX10 SUPPORT(WOO!!!) come out then, cheaper ones - [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] Much better than SLI 7600. Infact 7600 is ugly. my 1950 beats that and i dont even game much.



OS - Vista or XP, read up [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[ADBjester]

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Buying a new computer and i have two different options. I have inculded their details here can i get some feedback.

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If I were building a gaming rig (and I am), I'd reject both of these unless the $1600 is absolutely the outer edge of your budget. Here's why:

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Power Supply ( NZXT PRC-550 550W Power Supply [SLI-Ready] )

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This is not enough power for an SLI gaming rig. It may be barely adequate for an SLI setup with nVidia 7950's... but those are also underpowered video cards for a true gaming rig. (You want the 8800GTX if you can afford it, see below).

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Processor ( Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E6600 (2x 2.4GHz/4MB L2 Cache/1066FSB) )
Processor Cooling ( [New !!!] iBUYPOWER Liquid CPU Cooling Fan System Kit --- [for INTEL CPU] )

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These are way mismatched. You don't need to go with liquid cooling unless you intend to seriously overclock... and the E6600 is not the Extreme edition with the unlocked multiplier. In short, while it can be overclocked, it can't be overclocked nearly so well as the Q6800 Extreme Edition 2.93 Ghz chip. Either go for the better CPU, or ditch the liquid cooling.

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Motherboard ( ** iBUYPOWER Recommended ** ECS 965T-A P965 Chipset w/7.1 Sound, Gb LAN, USB 2.0 PCI-E MB )

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I do not agree with this selection. If you're going to go with SLI video cards, get the new nVidia 680i chipset. Or the ASUS P5NSLI.

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Memory ( 2048MB [1024MB X2] DDR2-800 PC6400 Memory Module Corsair XMS2 Xtreme w/Heat Spreader )

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You don't need memory NEARLY this good unless you're going to overclock. See above. OCZ memory of similar timings is about 35% less and just as good for non-overclocking purposes in such a system.

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Video Card ( 2x NVIDIA GeForce 7600GS 512MB w/DVI + TV Out Video )

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See above. Why spend money on two of these when you can spend the same money and get the latest technology in a single 8800GTS (512 MB) or 8800GTX (768 MB, faster GPU clock rate)? You'd then have head room to expand to dual 8800's in SLI if you really wanted to (though for the forseeable future that's not necessary for any but the most extreme fraggers). If you do go with the 8800, this is the primary reason that a 550W power supply is not enough. The 8800 GPU is a power beast.

If you want a gaming rig, the best route is to either build your own or to aim just a little bit higher so you're not buying built in obsolence by next Tuesday. You don't need to by from HP/Voodoo or Biohazard-computing.com (but just damn, wouldn't I like to have a CryoniCool'd SHOC'd system from them!) to get a great gaming rig.

If I weren't building my own, I would have considered:

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com
http://www.gateway.com Model FX530XT

Both are considerably more expensive than the $1600 you're pricing out at (about $4,000), but will last you much longer.

To see what I'm in the process of building:

http://adbjester.livejournal.com

Jester

[Shrug]

Thanks guys i am looking at a different config now [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Shrug]

Case ( [New !!!] Eagletech Viper II Gaming Tower Case w/420W Power Supply Red/Black 2-Tone )
Case Lighting ( Cold Cathode Neon Light Blue )
Power Supply ( Thermaltake Purepower 700 Watt Power Supply [SLI Ready] )
Processor ( [Socket-AM2] AMD Athlon™64 X2 5200+ Dual-Core CPU w/ HyperTransport Technology )
Free Software/Game ( Free Games - [Age of Empires III] and [Rise Of Nations: Rise Of Legend] must purchase with AMD Athlon 64 X2/Mobile AMD Turion 64/Turion 64 X2 Processor based system )
Free Software/Game ( Free Game - [Hero] )
Free Software/Game ( [Free] iBUYPOWER T-Shirt with AMD 64 X2 Logo on front and back with Archlord Game Graphic --- $19.99 value )
Free Software/Game ( [Free] iBUYPOWER Aegis Case - for your Games, Accessories, Disks, Manuals ... etc. --- $19.99 value )
Free Software/Game ( [Free] Tom Clancy Rainbow Six Vegas Game must purchase with AMD Athlon 64 X2/Mobile AMD Turion 64/Turion 64 X2 Processor based system )
Processor Cooling ( CoolerMaster Liquid CPU Cooling Fan System Kit )
Motherboard ( Abit Fatal1ty AN9 32X nForce 590-SLI MCP Chipset w/7.1 Sound, Dual Gb LAN, S-ATA Raid, USB 2.0, IEEE-1394 Dual PCI-E MB )
Memory ( 1024MB [512MB X2] DDR2-800 PC6400 Memory Module Corsair-Value or Major Brand )
Video Card ( [==New !!!==] NVIDIA GeForce 8800GTS 640MB w/DVI + TV Out Video )
Video Card Brand ( === High Performance === eVGA Brand Video Card Powered by NVIDIA )
Hard Drive ( 320 GB HARD DRIVE [Serial-ATA-II, 3Gb, 7200 RPM, 16M Cache] )
CD/DVD Drive ( 16x DVD-ROM Drive Black )
CD-RW/DVD-RW Drive ( [** Special !!! ***] 16X Dual Format/Double Layer DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW Drive Black )
Sound Card ( 3D Premium Surround Sound Onboard )
Speaker System ( [Black] Logitech X-530 5.1 Surround Speakers + Subwoofer )

Network Card ( Onboard LAN Network (Gb or 10/100) )

2nd Monitor ( LCD Monitor ViewSonic 19" Q19WB Widescreen TFT LCD Monitor [Black] )
Keyboard ( Logitech Deluxe Keyboard Black )
Mouse ( Logitech Optical Internet Mouse Black )
USB 2.0 Accessories ( Build-in USB 2.0 Ports )

Flash Media Reader/Writer ( 12-In-1 Internal Flash Media Card Reader/Writer Beige )
Vista home premium
Wireless Network Adapter ( [Special !!!] Wireless 802.11g 54Mbps PCI Adapter )
Warranty ( Warranty Service Standard 3-Year Limited Warranty + Lifetime Technical Support )

[ADBjester]

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Power Supply ( Thermaltake Purepower 700 Watt Power Supply [SLI Ready] )

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Thermaltake makes a good PS. 700W isn't enough for dual 8800 GPU's in SLI (so if you get a second 8800 later, you'll need to upgrade to a 1000W unit, which is pricey to be sure, as the $300 units you can get aren't worth it). Since you're not going SLI today, this unit will handle almost anything else you can throw at it, and you can trust Thermaltake far more than, say, Enermax.

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Processor Cooling ( CoolerMaster Liquid CPU Cooling Fan System Kit )

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One of the main benefits of liquid cooling is that it is QUIETER than air cooling. Most liquid coolers prefer to roll their own (they even use radiator elements from certain cars), buying parts from the likes of dangerden.com.

CoolerMaster isn't the quietest "LCS kit in a box" on the market, but I think it's a good choice for you. I'd say only Thermaltake makes it both quieter and easier... but Thermaltake's best stuff comes integrated in the the Kadalf or Armor cases.

I think that you being a liquid cooling rookie who does not intend to overclock that this is as fine a choice as any.

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Memory ( 1024MB [512MB X2] DDR2-800 PC6400 Memory Module Corsair-Value or Major Brand )

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As mentioned before, you've saved money with this choice without sacrificing performance. You don't sound like an overclocker, or someone who's goiong to cry over the difference between 64 and 66 fps in F.E.A.R., so PC6400 on an 800 Mhz FSB is quite adequate and won't hold you back at all.

Make sure you leave open DIMM slots for expansion, or consider the upgrade to 2 GB RAM now. Vista is memory-hungry like you never saw... and if I was given the choice between a barely adequate CPU and barely adequate RAM, I'd take more RAM and a lesser CPU.... and 1 GB is barely adequate for Vista.

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Video Card ( [==New !!!==] NVIDIA GeForce 8800GTS 640MB w/DVI + TV Out Video )

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Again, I like your choice. *ALMOST* top of the line (the GTX is slightly faster internally and has slightly more RAM), won't be obsolete when the ATI R600 (finally) comes out, and leaves you room for expansion into SLI if you decide you just *must*. eVGA makes a fine card -- my last one prior to the BFG 8800 GTX was an eVGA nVidia 6600GT, never had a lick of trouble.

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Sound Card ( 3D Premium Surround Sound Onboard )

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Live with this for now.... but if you truly are going to use this for gaming, you'll want to upgrade this. Nothing beats the Sound Blaster X-Fi series these days... and without an external unit such as in the Elite series, you won't pay more than about $100 for the upgrade which you'll find well worth it... IF you have decent 5.1 or 7.1 speakers to match it.... and you do.

I think you'll be much happier with the system you've just quoted than the one you mentioned a wek or so ago. It will last longer before obsolescence, and outperform the one you last quoted (especially graphically).

Keep us posted as to how you do with it!

Jester

[buckslayer80]

What freakin game requires dual 8800 GPUs? That's a lot of video power.

[Freakin]

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What freakin game requires dual 8800 GPUs? That's a lot of video power.

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i resent your choice of adjectives

[goldtoes]

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What freakin game requires dual 8800 GPUs? That's a lot of video power.

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i resent your choice of adjectives

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lol