PCA Forums

I'm buying parts now.. No, Really.. I'm still quite torn between Intel & AMD and ATI & NVidia.. Anybody got any recommendations for purchase? I want to get the absolute best bang for the buck. SLI is not really really important to me. But, it is something I'm willing to think about. I know that Crossfire isn't anywhere near as much of a performance gain, but also something I'm willing to consider.. Just kind of looking for some ideas and opinions.. Trying not to spend much more than $7-$800.. I already have the hard drives, DVD-RW and Memory.. As well as the case & 500W Antec SmartPower PSU. So I just need the other stuffs..

TIA!

eGo

if you have everything else, nice intel quad core/mobo and 8800gt for about $5-600

Ok.. So, which motherboard would be good? I'm not too concerned with overclocking, but it could happen lol.. Also, has anybody had any experience using a video card with HDMI? Is it worth it? Or should I just stick with the ole DSUB connector? My monitor has an HMDI connector and I dunno if the image would be noticeably better or not? Thanks again for the input

eGo

HDMI is for HDTV right now although I suppose a few high end monitors may use it.

You don't want to use Sub-D anymore if you can help it- most any monitor has DVI. I believe there is also an HDMI to DVI adapter if your card doesn't have a DVI output. That's how they save space on the card.

Well, I don't think (but I'll look when I clean off my desk) that my 32" LCD has a DVI plug lol so the converter may be the way to go.. Don't know for sure. I'd rather not use the DSUB, but don't think I have any choice.. I'll check it out and post back..

Thanks!

eGo

If D-Sub is all you have on the monitor then that's your only choice. DVI is nice if you have it. Not a startling difference but it is better (digital versus analog).

Ok, just checked.. Only option is DSUB, so I'll have to stick with that.. EVGA is the brand to go for I hear is it not?

TIA!

eGo

I personally do like EVGA. My last two cards (7950GT and 8800GT) were both EVGA and I'm very happy with them.

ExtremeTech has parts recommendations for a best-bang-for-the buck system here: http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1 ... 693,00.asp

Would you consider an OEM system? I'm sick of building my own PCs which is why I jumped on the Dell 9200 Quad Core system when it was on sale for $600 last year. Nice to just open the box, fire it up, and everything works.

Dell Vostro 400 package, base price $549: http://shrunklink.com/apmc

Nice package for the price. Comes with 2Gb, DVD-RW, 20" DVI monitor (believe it or not you get a better deal with the monitor than without), 250Gb HDD, WinXP Home. Dell installs little bloatware and since it's from the business division you can request almost all the bloatware be removed.

Upgrade it to the E8200 CPU, and upgrade the video card to an 8800GT and you have a darn nice gaming system for $860 + tax and free shipping if you select 4-5 day ground. My friend bought one of these with a Q6600 when they were deeply discounted a couple of months ago and he's very happy with it. It's basically equivalent to my rig.

You can save a little by buying your own 8800GT instead of getting it through Dell since Dell charges $250 for the 512Mb version and you can definitely do better (under $200). Just order it with the default 8300GS and swap the card out later. That's what my friend did.

You an also check back every week on Thursday morning to see if they have a better deal. Dell's weekly package specials all start on Thursday right after midnight and exppire the following Wednesday at midnight. Go here: http://www.dell.com/content/products/fe ... l=en&s=bsd

Also GotoApex.com usually lists the best bang-for-the-buck deal available from Dell that week. Let me just warn you NEVER buy from the Dell Home division - buy it from the Small Business division. You get treated better on tech support and you get a better deal generally.

Ahhh FP... I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I personally wouldn't buy a DELL unless they were literally giving them away.. And even then I'd have to think long and hard about it. I see sooooooooooooooooo many of them come into my office daily with this problem or that (mostly hardware related) that I'm beyond even considering them. ;\ Kind of sad really. And unlike you, I still LOVE building these things. I usually build two or three a day, just depends on what's going on hehe..

And that link you provided has some really outdated prices/hardware on it. But I did look it over. Very useful information.

I'm still looking for some recommendations on motherboards that people have used in their builds, AMD or Intel compatible. I'm still on the fence about that one lol

Thanks Again Guys!

eGo

at this point, for a decent system it'd be crazy to get any other proc than an e8400 (for dual core) or q9300 (for quad core).

at least, imo.

I have my computer hooked to my LCD TV, I use a DVI to HDMI cable (DVI on the compuiter side) to connect it. No issues whatever, picked up a 15 foot cable from Newegg.

For video cards, I use BFG Tech, good cards like the EVGA, and they have a lifetime warranty that has not failed me yet. You still talk to actual English speaking people too..

If you are going Intel, keep your eye on a motherboard with an Intel chipset. They really are the better way to go, be sure to get the newest one possible. Also, be sure to choose a motherboards for your needs, how many SATA, etc. micro-atx or atx.

My motherboard is by Gigabyte, Ram by OCZ, hard drives by Seagate. Its listed in my profile.

i'd go with some x38 mobo
c2D e8400 (for games) or q9300 (if you do more than game)
4x2gb of whatever ram you can get cheapest.
some harddrives (i avoid seagate... they're among the loudest. samsung, WD are my choices)
video card (i'd go with ATi, but that's just me.)
XtremeGamer soundcard (i play a lot of battlefield 2, so it's worth it to me.)
vista x64.

I prefer Seagate because they have a 5 year warranty and I haven't had a Seagate fail me in a long time.

Not sure why you think Seagates are loud Walleye. The fluid bearing drives are as quiet as anything on the market. I'm rather fussy about noise and I can barely hear my Seagates.

FlyingPenguin wrote:I prefer Seagate because they have a 5 year warranty and I haven't had a Seagate fail me in a long time.

Not sure why you think Seagates are loud Walleye. The fluid bearing drives are as quiet as anything on the market. I'm rather fussy about noise and I can barely hear my Seagates.

Same here. I currently have a Western Digital Raptor 75 gig as my boot drive that runs at 10,000rpm, and I can hear that drive, but its still not that bad. I hardly hear my 500gig Seagate.