Gaming Computer help

Devilfruitgrower

This for any and all tech heads around, I'm currently looking for a computer that'll run a few games (namely Doom, the Orange Box and Counter Strike.). My current laptop isn't powerful enough to run those games.

I'm pretty much set on buying from iBUYPOWER.com, But I'm not sure what parts I need. I have a moniter, so that should take from the cost a little. But I'm generally looking for a rig that'll run that for under $1000. If you have anything pre-built to suggest, please do so.

I currently have a rig set up for $746.

Here're the specs:

AMD Athlon X2 DDR2-800 PCI-Express

Cooling: 600 Watt – Power Supply SLI Ready
Processor: AMD Athlon X2 6000+ Dual-Core CPU w/ HyperTransport Technology
Processor Cooling: [=== Quiet ===] AVC Silent AMD CPU Fan and Heatsink
Motherboard: [SLI] Asus M2N-SLI Deluxe nForce 570-SLI MCP Chipset w/7.1 Sound, Dual Gb LAN, S-ATA Raid, USB 2.0, IEEE-1394 Dual PCI-E MB
Memory: 2 GB [1 GB X2] DDR2-800 PC6400 Memory Module
Video Card: 2x NVIDIA GeForce 94000GT 512 Mb w/DVI + TV out Video - Running SLI Mode.
Hard Drive: 500 GB HARD DRIVE [Serial-ATA-II, 3Gb, 7200 RPM, 16M Cache]
Network card: Onboard LAN Network (Gb or 10/100)

So, where am I over doing it? and where do I need to improve?

Bounty1Berry

@Devilfruitgrower:

This for any and all tech heads around, I'm currently looking for a computer that'll run a few games (namely Doom, the Orange Box and Counter Strike.). My current laptop isn't powerful enough to run those games.

I'm pretty much set on buying from iBUYPOWER.com, But I'm not sure what parts I need. I have a moniter, so that should take from the cost a little. But I'm generally looking for a rig that'll run that for under $1000. If you have anything pre-built to suggest, please do so.

I currently have a rig set up for $746.

Here're the specs:

AMD Athlon X2 DDR2-800 PCI-Express

Cooling: 600 Watt – Power Supply SLI Ready
Processor: AMD Athlon X2 6000+ Dual-Core CPU w/ HyperTransport Technology
Processor Cooling: [=== Quiet ===] AVC Silent AMD CPU Fan and Heatsink
Motherboard: [SLI] Asus M2N-SLI Deluxe nForce 570-SLI MCP Chipset w/7.1 Sound, Dual Gb LAN, S-ATA Raid, USB 2.0, IEEE-1394 Dual PCI-E MB
Memory: 2 GB [1 GB X2] DDR2-800 PC6400 Memory Module
Video Card: 2x NVIDIA GeForce 94000GT 512 Mb w/DVI + TV out Video - Running SLI Mode.
Hard Drive: 500 GB HARD DRIVE [Serial-ATA-II, 3Gb, 7200 RPM, 16M Cache]
Network card: Onboard LAN Network (Gb or 10/100)

So, where am I over doing it? and where do I need to improve?

Assuming you want to go with AMD, might I propose instead the MSI K9A2 board and a Radeon 3870? The board is $46 less, and the card's $11 less. This gives you the following benefits:

1. A newer board with a modern AMD 790 series chipset, instead of the now quite old nForce 570.

2. Only one video card– less driver snafus, and the potential to upgrade to a second in CrossFire later.

3. $50 released into your budget.

4. Better performance. Looking at benchmarks, the 3870 is comparable with the 9600GT. And the 9600GT is faster than two 9500GT cards in SLI, so it should be much better than two 9400GTs in SLI.

Now, personally, I think these prices are a ripoff. I note:

The price to upgrade to a Phenom 9950 from their baseline is over $200. You can buy one for $185, and resell the old CPU.
You have to pay $15 extra for 64-bit Vista; the prices are generally equivalent if you buy it yourself.
4Gb of memory is ~$75, not ~$150.

Have you ever built your own? If you don't mind some do-it-yourself, you can probably take a parts-list you find there, and buy the parts on Newegg yourself, and save quite a bit.

Devilfruitgrower

I was considering doing it myself. It'd certainly make me appriciate it more, but I canned that idea due to the fact that I have no real prior experance to do it. And I don't want to break anything.

But the two you mentioned, The MSI K9A2, and the Radeon 3870, are those both pre-built? And if they are, where can I buy them?

Edit: Ahh, they're parts. Well, as I said, I'd like to have somthing pre-built. Do you have any suggestions? I hear Toshiba is doing well on gaming comps.

Bounty1Berry

Well, I just saw them on the choices that iBuyPower offered since you said you wanted to shop with them.

Devilfruitgrower

Ahhh, well, I'm completely open to any suggestions, except HP, I've been having issues with that brand. But I'll look into that.

brennen.exe

@Devilfruitgrower:

Ahhh, well, I'm completely open to any suggestions, except HP, I've been having issues with that brand. But I'll look into that.

~~Newegg.com has an option to build and test the system before they ship it I think. Let me check, BRB.~~ Nevermind, it was MWave that does. Building a PC isn't hard at all though – but I understand your hesitation. Building one is as easy as setting up an entertainment system and plugging all the cords into the wall and equipment; setting up is easy, but if you run into issues with something not working then troubleshooting can be tough for someone with no experience.

Edit: Note that ATI Video cards are having a major comeback. Bang for the Buck too. I am also still privy to Intel processor's as well, such as the E8400.

Elric

@Devilfruitgrower:

X2 6000+ DDR2-800

The ram will only run at 750mhz though. Also if at all you should use an 6000+ EE.