How is this gaming rig - UPDATED yet again

[StevenNevets]

As always:
comment on compatibility issues
suggest new parts
guess how it will perform
talk about pros and cons

yaa know.. just anything that will help me improove on this (still have 1 month before final desision if I'm aloud to buy and what I will buy)



CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Windsor 2000MHz HT 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103735
$170 after July 24th – 7/24/06

Motherboard: ASUS M2N-E Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 Ultra MCP ATX AMD Motherboard (on board sound)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131022
$96.99

Operating System: Windows Xp home with SP2 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16837102059
$87.99

Case/PSU: Antec LifeStyle SONATA II Piano Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 450Watt SmartPower
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129155
$99.99

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 SATA NCQ 3Gb/s ST3160812AS 160GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148105
$69.99

CD/DVD Drive: LIGHT-ON DVD/CD/DVD burner drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106017
$34.99

OCZ Platinum 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM Unbuffered DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit System
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227089
$219.99

Video Card: eVGA 256-P2-N553-AX Geforce 7600GT CO 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Cardhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130283
($149.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate)

Monitor: Acer AL1917ABMD Black 19" 8ms LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 700:1 Built in Speakers 0.294mm Pixel Pitch
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824009083
$199.99

Keyboard/Mouse: Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000/ Microsoft - 3 button optical mouse
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16823109156
$24.99 (cheap combo)


Approximate Price = $1,155

[(FR)DeadlyMarauder28]

My only things i would suggest would be to up the monitor size to 19" (youll spend a little more now but you will be happier with the larger screen i think)

Plus your a pilot for god sakes:slap:

I would just use your old keyboard and get a logitech or razor mouse(since you fly with mouse and keyboard)

[StevenNevets]

Hmm.. hears the deal

Its either eVGA 7600 GT CO and ACER 19' lcd monitor (built in speakers
OR
eVGA 7900 GT and 17' ACER lcd moniter (built in speakers)

both monitors run the same resolution and probobly have the same if not similar crappy speakers

so I think of it as another 2 inches on the monitor or a 7900 GT over 7600 GT CO
___________________

unless you think the 19 inch mointor betters the graphics more than the 7900 GT

[KAstickboy]

IMO

7600GT with 19" FTW

Im runnin a 7600GT on a 17" CRT and it looks good, but a 19" LCD would look Freakin SweeeeeeeeT!

Screw the small screen and go big with the 7600GT and then later on you can save a couple hundred bucks and get another 7600GT and run dual! W00T!

KA

[StevenNevets]

alright, changed back the 7600 GT and ACER LCD 19'

but about SLI.. my video card supports it but do my mobo/proc/psu need to?
and do they:dunno:

hopefully I can buy new speakers/sound card for this around Christmas or next year

[vortex19103]

You can always swap out your motherboard later, when you are ready for another video card, and then get the SLI mobo that will work with your ram and processor.

and by then the mobo would be lower in price

[Bonez]

i would go straight for a MCP 590 based board, their a little more expensive, but they up the proformance and overhead you will be able to get out of the system.

[StevenNevets]

You can always swap out your motherboard later, when you are ready for another video card, and then get the SLI mobo that will work with your ram and processor.

and by then the mobo would be lower in priceI think I'm goint to do that

[Kev Kanos]

The only things that have to be SLI compatable are the mobo and power supply. Your mobo isnt. and you need at least a 500 watt ( I would say more like 550 or 600) to run SLI. If you want SLI then this isnt the setup you want.

Like I said before, I wouldnt go for the AM2 but it is just me. If your convinced in AM2 then go for it but DDR2 is only more expence and not that much better. Wait until the price drop in july and see what comes of that. Then decide on AM2 vs 939. That is the best advice I have.

[StevenNevets]

The only things that have to be SLI compatable are the mobo and power supply. Your mobo isnt. and you need at least a 500 watt ( I would say more like 550 or 600) to run SLI. If you want SLI then this isnt the setup you want.

Like I said before, I wouldnt go for the AM2 but it is just me. If your convinced in AM2 then go for it but DDR2 is only more expence and not that much better. Wait until the price drop in july and see what comes of that. Then decide on AM2 vs 939. That is the best advice I have.I'm ready for the AM2 proccesor (thats why it says 7/24/06) - sounds like a great price for a great proccesor

and there is still a month to go before I purchase (if I do) - its possible half the items could go down in price by then:yaya:
__________

eVGA 256-P2-N553-AX Geforce 7600GT CO 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card

"Minimum 400 Watt for SLI mode system."

says there 400 is minimum (that might be a little low but I have 450 W)

[Kev Kanos]

Oh that says 7600, I thought it was 7900. The 7900 is 500 watt min.

[StevenNevets]

Oh that says 7600, I thought it was 7900. The 7900 is 500 watt min.oo, makes sense now..

It was 7900 for some time but I changed it and decided to go 19' + 7600 instead

Within a year of purchase I will probobly update:
speakers
sound card
mouse
keyboard

And in the second year:
a new mobo
another 7600 gt
__________

I do so much searching and planing yet I'm still not positive my parents trust that I can built this:wallbash:

[sir_digalot]

it will be fine, a bit of glue, some sticky tape, and a bit of beer, all will simply fall into place... ;)

[kippendrecht]

I do so much searching and planing yet I'm still not positive my parents trust that I can built this:wallbash:

I feel your pain. I planned this great update. had all the money. but then my processor was not the same socket and now its all for nothing. I'll have to wait till I get 200 euros out of nowere

[StevenNevets]

it will be fine, a bit of glue, some sticky tape, and a bit of beer, all will simply fall into place... ;)wood glue, duct tape, steal my dads beers.. got it

thanks for the advise:thumbsup:

[vortex19103]

I have the AOC 19" Flat Panel with Analog/Digital at 4ms; but its costly $350.00.

[Smurf]

And in the second year:
a new mobo
another 7600 gt


:thumbsdown: Don't do that, no no no no no! (Um, maybe that is too much)

Why not? Soon the R600's and G80s will be out and will be far more powerful and fuller support Vista and DirectX 10. So why buy another one for SLI? Not every game even gets along with it anyways.... Also Geforce 7 series from eVga seem to be having problems, so be wary of that.

Here we go, first, you don't really need the low latency RAM, ditch it and go with standard 5-5-5-15 unless you want to spend it. I agree with Bonez, go with the 590 and go with the cheaper RAM.

Also, DDR2 isn't really better than DDR, it give much higher bandwidth with higher latency. Also, DDR will soon be more expensive because of decreased demand and production. So, DDR2 is cheaper because all new systems will need it.

Otherwise, I'd keep it as is and don't go with the 7900GT.

[StevenNevets]

1. Soon the R600's and G80s will be out and will be far more powerful and fuller support Vista and DirectX 10. So why buy another one for SLI? Not every game even gets along with it anyways.... Also Geforce 7 series from eVga seem to be having problems, so be wary of that.

2. Here we go, first, you don't really need the low latency RAM, ditch it and go with standard 5-5-5-15 unless you want to spend it. I agree with Bonez, go with the 590 and go with the cheaper RAM.
Also, DDR2 isn't really better than DDR, it give much higher bandwidth with higher latency. Also, DDR will soon be more expensive because of decreased demand and production. So, DDR2 is cheaper because all new systems will need it.

3. Otherwise, I'd keep it as is and don't go with the 7900GT.1. thats true.. we will see in 2 years I guess - depends on the price and performance on the new cards

2. All i know is I'm going an AM2 proccesor (DDR2 ram) and there are only a few 2 GB kits compatible with my motherboard..
The one I picked out is the cheapest

3. Ya, I know the 7 serious as a whole is having problems, but especialy the 7900 GT so I'm going to pass on that