Martin makes an excellent point. How long will your computer remain "the best"?
On the other hand your xbox360/ps3/revolution will remain the best until... well next gen. And you can still do all of your work on that shiny new Mac
Computer Science Canada Final Verdict (Gaming Computer) |
| Author: | StarGateSG-1 [ Thu Oct 06, 2005 7:30 am ] |
| Post subject: | Final Verdict (Gaming Computer) |
I have decided on the final list for the computer now CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 2.0 Ghz\1MB Cache\Socket 939\Duel-Core (Manchester0\Processeer with Fan MOBO: Asus A8N SLI Deluxe nVidia Socket 939 MotherBoard\PCI Express\Duel GigaBit Lan\Serial ATA\Duel Raid\USB 2.0 & Firewire Video Card: 2 eVGA GeForce 6800\256MB DDR\PCI-Express\SLI\DVI\VGA\HDTV\Video Card Hard Drive: Maxtor\DiamondMax 10\250GB\7200\16MB\SATA-150\OEM\RoHS Compliant\Hard Drive Power: Xion\600-Watt\ATX\140mm\SATA-Ready\SLI-Ready\20/24 Pin\Power Supply RAM: 2 Corsair Dual Channel\ 1024MB\PC3200 DDR 400Mhz Memory (2x512) Case: Asprie Black/Black X-Plorer ATX Mid_Tower Case with Clear Side, Fan Controller, Front USB and Firewire Port Speakers: Cyber Acoustics CA-4400 Black 5-Piece Surround SOund Speaker System DVD\CD ROM Drive: LG GDR-8163B\16x DVD-ROM\52x CD-ROM\Black\DVD-ROM Drive Sound Card: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS PCI SOund Card Mouse: Diablo Black PS/2 Optical Mouse withy Illuminated Scroll Wheel Keyboard: Diablo Illuminated PS/2 Keyboard (black) Monitor: NEC LCD1970GX / 19" / 8ms / SXGA / 1280x1024 / Black / LCD Monitor Refurbished Extra's: Case Fans: 2 Aerocool UV Led (Blue/Blue) 80MM Case Fan Surge Protector: Newpoint Wallhugger\7-Oulet\1500 Joules\Surge Protector Cyber Acoustics Neckband Style Headset and Microphone / Silver The Total Price of everything here is $3,462.88 CND as of today from tigerdirect.ca Edit: Added a Poll. |
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| Author: | Andy [ Thu Oct 06, 2005 11:55 am ] |
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hm wow that is a nice system.. but if i were u, i'd invest in an extra 150 and get two gigs of ram.. but then again, 1 gig should be plenty for now but yea that is pretty kick ass |
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| Author: | codemage [ Thu Oct 06, 2005 12:01 pm ] |
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More than I'd spend on a rig; I noticed you bumped your spending allowance... I agree with the RAM; if you're not going to spring for the 2 GB, leave room - that'll be your first upgrade. |
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| Author: | [Gandalf] [ Thu Oct 06, 2005 2:45 pm ] |
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I would buy the cheaper CPU, slight performance loss, larger cost decrease. Amazing computer, all in all. |
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| Author: | StarGateSG-1 [ Thu Oct 06, 2005 8:29 pm ] |
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There are 2 gB's of Ram, there is a 2 inform of the RAM section and then in the back (2x512) The processer is duel core and that is the way of the future. Well lets just say I came into the light about spending, if I am going to get the best, I might as well. |
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| Author: | Martin [ Thu Oct 06, 2005 8:51 pm ] |
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I'd wait a few months and get an XBox 360 and a 42" Panasonic plasma HDTV and use the money that you'd save to buy a few games. Actually, I'd wait a bit longer and get a Nintendo Revolution, but yeah, you get the point. XBox 360 does look pretty cool too though. Or if you already have a decent HDTV, get an XBox360, PS3, Nintendo Revolution, 10 games and an iMac for about the same cost. You following me here? |
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| Author: | Tony [ Fri Oct 07, 2005 7:28 am ] |
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Martin makes an excellent point. How long will your computer remain "the best"? On the other hand your xbox360/ps3/revolution will remain the best until... well next gen. And you can still do all of your work on that shiny new Mac |
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| Author: | codemage [ Fri Oct 07, 2005 8:52 am ] |
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For that price, you wouldn't have anything left over for a console system or games if you bought a shiny new power mac of equivalent power. (Well over $4000). Oh... and nobody knows how long we'll be waiting for the nextgen Nintendo yet. My money is on PS3 to win the nextgen marketshare, again. |
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| Author: | StarGateSG-1 [ Fri Oct 07, 2005 9:12 am ] |
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It really doesn't matter how long my computer will last, becasue i can just upgrade it, piece by piece as it requires. Yes I could by a Xbox 360 and I probaly will but this is my computer plan not wyas I could spend money else were. I know there are lots of things I could buy and most likely will buy aleats Xbox 360 and Nitendo revolution. |
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| Author: | Tony [ Fri Oct 07, 2005 10:04 am ] |
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StarGateSG-1 wrote: I know there are lots of things I could buy and most likely will
Maybe you could like.. donate some of that towards compsci's hosting. |
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| Author: | StarGateSG-1 [ Fri Oct 07, 2005 10:18 am ] |
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Maybe I could!!!, now there's an idea  I could think about that. |
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| Author: | [Gandalf] [ Fri Oct 07, 2005 3:23 pm ] |
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Tony wrote: Martin makes an excellent point. How long will your computer remain "the best"?
On the other hand your xbox360/ps3/revolution will remain the best until... well next gen. And you can still do all of your work on that shiny new Mac Yeah, but xbox360 and all that will be outdated when the 'next gen' comes, a computer still has it's uses for a very long time. Sure you could play the same games over and over, but for how long? I am sure he will not solely use this computer for gaming. Besides, why would you get a xbox360? ps3 is much better  . |
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| Author: | Martin [ Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:54 pm ] |
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[Gandalf] wrote: Tony wrote: Martin makes an excellent point. How long will your computer remain "the best"?
On the other hand your xbox360/ps3/revolution will remain the best until... well next gen. And you can still do all of your work on that shiny new Mac Yeah, but xbox360 and all that will be outdated when the 'next gen' comes, a computer still has it's uses for a very long time. Sure you could play the same games over and over, but for how long? I am sure he will not solely use this computer for gaming. Besides, why would you get a xbox360? ps3 01s much better .You're clearly missing the point. Didn't you see the post where I said you could get ALL 3 next gen consoles, 5 games AND a computer? For $3500. And the consoles'd last you about 5 years, the computer probably 2.5. Besides, I only mentioned the XBox 360 because it's going to come out first. As for being outdated, yeah, near the end of the line it will be. But I mean, the Xbox holds its own fairly well even now in terms of graphics. In any case, spending $3500 on a gaming computer is one of the worst investments you could make. |
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| Author: | StarGateSG-1 [ Mon Oct 10, 2005 9:07 pm ] |
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Thank you for your opinion, but your wrong, plain and simple, not everyone plays console games, besides the ocassional xbox live game of halo 2 I don't use consoles. So form were i am yes I could buy the next 5 consoles but they would gather dust in my basement. I am a computer person, not console. Maybe you should come back when you come up with constructive critizim instead of how you would spend my money. |
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| Author: | md [ Mon Oct 10, 2005 9:10 pm ] |
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I built a decent computer for someone last week and the total cost was under $1000; p4@3 (overclocked), good mobo, 1gb ram, decent video card, and 200gb drive. Sure he used an old dvd burner, and it's certainly not top of the line... but his system will perform almost as well as yours and he paid 1/3 as much for it. |
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| Author: | Martin [ Mon Oct 10, 2005 9:19 pm ] |
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You're buy shitty video cards. nVidia 6800's are junk, even in SLI. Get a 7800 GTX instead. If you want performance, get two hard drives instead of one and set up RAID. What are the timings on the RAM? And buy a warrenty on the ram. Don't get a refurbished LCD. It'll have dead pixels. And don't give me lip or I'll ban you. Cornflake's right though. Spend $1500 now, $1000 in a year on upgrades, $1000 in another year and in the end you'll have a better computer than your $3500 one, and you'll be able to play your games the whole way through. |
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| Author: | [Gandalf] [ Mon Oct 10, 2005 9:25 pm ] |
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Monitor? What video card was it? *edit* Quote: nVidia 6800's are junk
hey... hey! Go for a good computer, but don't get everything "best" for 3x the cost. |
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| Author: | Martin [ Mon Oct 10, 2005 10:41 pm ] |
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What I meant was that you can get better performance for your dollar elsewhere. One 7800 GTX'll give you better output than two 6800's. |
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| Author: | StarGateSG-1 [ Wed Oct 12, 2005 9:12 am ] |
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As well as mine, 
One 7800 will not give you better prefromance, I did my reasearch, you think I would just up and spend 3500 dollars, lol! I have checked and doubled check and even triple checked. I have revisied and revisied, endlessly. I have taken a look at many reviews. |
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| Author: | apomb [ Wed Oct 12, 2005 7:33 pm ] |
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how i wish i could have a computer like that :drool: however, im quite content with the rig i describe in this thread... its a BEAST, can multitask (xcept limewire, its pissing me off) like anything ive seen or experienced. let me just put it this way: youll feel so much better if you have the money left over from comparabe components, maybe save yourself about 2000 bucks and get a blistering fast computer that you can have the joy of upgrading when the next PCI express Video card comes out or a new dual core AMD, trust me, youll be kicking yourself if you buy this, something better wil come out a month later, but you wont have the money to buy it, youll feel like you wasted your money. if you get a little cheaper component, youll have the money to upgrade quickly. sure you could upgrade in 2.5 years, but youll already be WAY behind, upgrade with the tech, dont try going ahead of it. |
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| Author: | 1of42 [ Wed Oct 12, 2005 8:36 pm ] |
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frankly, i wouldn't call that blistering fast. sorry. |
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| Author: | StarGateSG-1 [ Wed Oct 12, 2005 9:04 pm ] |
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I do plan for the future, I just got a nice stiff job, I get 8.50 and hour and soon i will get 21 hours a week, I am roling in dough for buying a beats and university, I have planed this out to the last detail barring the fact that my list will change by feb. when they release a DDR2 RAm compat motherboard with SLI! arg we need a druel Emoticon! |
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| Author: | wtd [ Wed Oct 12, 2005 9:06 pm ] |
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Save your money. Seriously. College = Money |
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| Author: | apomb [ Wed Oct 12, 2005 9:26 pm ] |
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1 of 42 ... what are you refering to? the fact that you can get a very good computer for under $3000 ? im sorry, but yes you can, i have one, now go single post without support somewhere else. |
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| Author: | [Gandalf] [ Wed Oct 12, 2005 9:51 pm ] |
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You shouldn't care that you have an amazing computer, just as long as it does what you want it to do at the speed you want. My overclocked P4 has lasted me perfectly for all these years (what, has it been 3/4 now?) with RAM/Video Card upgraded. Also, I got an amazing Athlon for <$2000, no it doesn't have some pointless sound card, or dual cores, but who cares? It can crush any current game requirements. Finally, I dislike over-achievers. |
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| Author: | StarGateSG-1 [ Thu Oct 13, 2005 10:56 am ] |
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How am I over achieving building something to crush game requiremens for the future. If that is wrong, I don't see it, as an exmaple the game I really wnat to get requires 1GB DDR RAM and a 3.0Ghz processer to run on low graphics, the low graphics are still amazing, but on high graphics you can see the eye move and the chest rise and fall with each breath, now that is cool, Earth 2160 if you wnat to chck it out, it is a stragety game with quality greater then FPS, the company a german or polish ( not quite sure) has pieoneered the best in graphics technology, I would be a fool to paln for what works now. My list will change as I have said before, but only to find a motherboard that rusn DDR 2 RAM and SLI. |
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| Author: | [Gandalf] [ Thu Oct 13, 2005 2:58 pm ] |
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My comment of over-achieving was more of a general statement, not to you specifically Stargate. The thing is, my computer could run that game too, well. All these "gaming" style things (for lack of a better word) are just conveniences. If it suits you, fine, but I would never get that computer (if I had to pay, of course  ). |
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| Author: | Martin [ Thu Oct 13, 2005 6:54 pm ] |
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StarGateSG-1 wrote: How am I over achieving building something to crush game requiremens for the future. If that is wrong, I don't see it, as an exmaple the game I really wnat to get requires 1GB DDR RAM and a 3.0Ghz processer to run on low graphics, the low graphics are still amazing, but on high graphics you can see the eye move and the chest rise and fall with each breath, now that is cool, Earth 2160 if you wnat to chck it out, it is a stragety game with quality greater then FPS, the company a german or polish ( not quite sure) has pieoneered the best in graphics technology, I would be a fool to paln for what works now. My list will change as I have said before, but only to find a motherboard that rusn DDR 2 RAM and SLI.
What game has minimum requirements of 1GB DDr ram and a 3GHz processor? |
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| Author: | StarGateSG-1 [ Thu Oct 13, 2005 8:08 pm ] |
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Martin wrote: StarGateSG-1 wrote: How am I over achieving building something to crush game requiremens for the future. If that is wrong, I don't see it, as an exmaple the game I really wnat to get requires 1GB DDR RAM and a 3.0Ghz processer to run on low graphics, the low graphics are still amazing, but on high graphics you can see the eye move and the chest rise and fall with each breath, now that is cool, Earth 2160 if you wnat to chck it out, it is a stragety game with quality greater then FPS, the company a german or polish ( not quite sure) has pieoneered the best in graphics technology, I would be a fool to paln for what works now. My list will change as I have said before, but only to find a motherboard that rusn DDR 2 RAM and SLI.
What game has minimum requirements of 1GB DDr ram and a 3GHz processor? That Game! See the thing is, This computer gets high ratings from people who build computers on other sites for personal use, This is the only site were you guys say i shoudln't buy it, so you must be missing something, I would like idea's what you think it is, becasue I don't know. |
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| Author: | Martin [ Thu Oct 13, 2005 8:12 pm ] |
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The only reason we don't like it is because we think it's a waste of money. Yes, it's a fast computer. Yes, it'll play games well. Cost aside, it's great. It's for the same reason that I wouldn't drive a McLaren. Yeah, it's a nice car, but I'd prefer to spend my money on other things. Your choice though. And Earth 2160: Minimum Requirements: PC with Pentium IV processor or equal AMD (1500+ processor) Windows 2000 or XP Home / Professional 512 MB RAM DirectX TM 8.1 compatible Video card with 128 MB RAM (GeForce 3, GeForce 4 TI, ATI RadeOn 9000+ etc.) DVD-ROM drive DirectX compatible sound card Windows R compatible mouse and keyboard 1.5 GB free disk space Recommended Requirements: PC with Pentium IV processor or equal AMD (1500+ processor) Windows XP Home / Professional 512 MB RAM DirectX 9.0c compatible Video card with 256 MB RAM (GeForce FX better 6800 Ultra, ATI RadeOn 9800+ etc.) DVD-ROM drive DirectX TM compatible sound card Windows R compatible mouse and keyboard 2.0 GB free disk space This information is based on specifications supplied by manufacturers and should be used for guidance only. |
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| Author: | StarGateSG-1 [ Thu Oct 13, 2005 8:23 pm ] |
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Ya those aren't offical thats the box label which i have in front of me. I have tested the game And it runs like crap with those requirements, everyone knows that those requirements minimun and recommended are always to low. Maybe I should add as a side point I will be doing game creation with C# in 3-D which takes alot of space, this includes video and what not, A basic computer would run agmes but I plan to do other thigns, I methioned that somewere i am sure. |
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| Author: | Martin [ Thu Oct 13, 2005 8:28 pm ] |
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Alright well, have fun with it. Just get a warrenty on the ram, it burns out more than any computer componant. |
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| Author: | StarGateSG-1 [ Thu Oct 13, 2005 9:25 pm ] |
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Its limited Lifetime, which isn't bad. |
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| Author: | 1of42 [ Fri Oct 14, 2005 8:26 pm ] |
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CompWiz333 wrote: 1 of 42 ... what are you refering to? the fact that you can get a very good computer for under $3000 ? im sorry, but yes you can, i have one, now go single post without support somewhere else.
I'm referring to the fact that I don't consider your computer anywhere near blistering fast. That's my opinion, if you don't like it, that's your opinion. And I'll post wherever I damn well want. K, thx, bye. |
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| Author: | StarGateSG-1 [ Thu Oct 20, 2005 9:54 am ] |
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I went in for pofessinal help the other day, and he helped me design a better comuter for cheaper, $1000 cheaper. |
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| Author: | codemage [ Thu Oct 20, 2005 11:39 am ] |
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Well?  ... do tell. |
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| Author: | StarGateSG-1 [ Thu Oct 20, 2005 1:16 pm ] |
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Ok, I will tell. CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3500+ / 512KB Cache / 2000 MHz FSB / Socket 939 / Processor with Fan MOBO: Asus A8N SLI Premium NVIDIA Socket 939 ATX Motherboard / Audio / PCI Express / Gigabit LAN / USB 2.0 & Firewire / Serial ATA / RAID Video Card: BFG GeForce 7800 GTX OC / 256MB DDR3 / PCI Express / SLI / Dual DVI / HDTV / Video Card Hard Drive: Maxtor\DiamondMax 10\250GB\7200\16MB\SATA-150\OEM\RoHS Compliant\Hard Drive Power: Enermax / 535-Watt / ATX / Dual 80mm Fan / SLI-Ready / SATA-Ready / 20/24-Pin / Power Supply RAM: 2 Kingmax Dual Channel\ 1024MB\PC3200 DDR 400Mhz Memory (2x512) Case: Asprie Black/Black X-Plorer ATX Mid_Tower Case with Clear Side, Fan Controller, Front USB and Firewire Port Speakers: Cyber Acoustics CA-4400 Black 5-Piece Surround Sound Speaker System DVD\CD ROM Drive: LG GDR-8163B\16x DVD-ROM\52x CD-ROM\Black\DVD-ROM Drive Sound Card: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS PCI SOund Card Mouse: Diablo Black PS/2 Optical Mouse withy Illuminated Scroll Wheel Keyboard: Diablo Illuminated PS/2 Keyboard (black) Monitor: LG L1950S-SN / 19-Inch / 1280 x 1024 / 12ms / Silver-Black / LCD Monitor Extra's: Case Fans: 2 Aerocool UV Led (Blue/Blue) 80MM Case Fan Surge Protector: Newpoint Wallhugger\7-Oulet\1500 Joules\Surge Protector Cyber Acoustics Neckband Style Headset and Microphone / Silver Most stuff didn't change and in some ways parts prices went up. But I and not going to deal with tigerdirect rather I will deal with a local company, which I get better deals and free support. |
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| Author: | 1of42 [ Thu Oct 20, 2005 2:20 pm ] |
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Hate to say this, but that computer is basically exactly what all of us were telling you to get - and you were ignoring  |
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| Author: | Martin [ Thu Oct 20, 2005 8:13 pm ] |
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Looks good. One thing though, I'd recommend getting a nicer mouse and keyboard. This is hands down my favourite mouse. You can probably find one on sale for cheaper. http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=986637&CatId=539 I've heard very good things about this one too. http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1268673&CatId=0 As for keyboards, I don't think it's possible to top this one: http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=443120&CatId=142 My absolute favourite Microsoft product. Even wtd might agree with me on that.
The mouse is more important than the keyboard though. Also, I don't know what you plan on using your hard-drive for, but I'm telling you, RAID is where it's at. You might want to look into getting two smaller hard-drives instead of this one. Less storage, but faster. It's really not terribly important though. |
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| Author: | wtd [ Thu Oct 20, 2005 9:08 pm ] |
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Sorry to let you down, Martin, but I'm not a fan of "natural" keyboards. 
Nor have I been overly impressed with the key action on the Microsoft keyboards I've used, though I certainly can't claim to have tried them all. |
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| Author: | Martin [ Thu Oct 20, 2005 9:11 pm ] |
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Microsoft's wireless keyboards are beyond belief bad (they cut off keystrokes after a few seconds, so they're worthless for gaming - you can hold forward for a couple of seconds and then you can't strafe). Microsoft's wired keyboards are mediocore. This one, however, is godsent. I like natural keyboards though. |
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| Author: | 1of42 [ Thu Oct 20, 2005 9:58 pm ] |
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Natural keyboard != good for gaming... Ever. |
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| Author: | Martin [ Thu Oct 20, 2005 10:15 pm ] |
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I like them. Anyway, don't buy a $500+ video card and a $10 mouse. |
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| Author: | wtd [ Thu Oct 20, 2005 10:17 pm ] |
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He should buy a Quadro FX 4500. |
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| Author: | Martin [ Thu Oct 20, 2005 10:23 pm ] |
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Or, you know, a car. |
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| Author: | StarGateSG-1 [ Fri Oct 21, 2005 9:25 am ] |
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The mouse has great reviews, not forrm tiger but form professinals that you can talk to, I want to get that keboard mainly because of the back lighting, The ligths in my room are bad for gaming. I will look into a better mouse maybe, in that there is logic. On the Video card what are you think Man, the Quadro FX 3000 is $1800, the 4500 is more!!!!!! I am trying to cut costs. Martin the hard drive is RAID, just becasue it isn't listed there. Why would I buy a Car??, lets see I am going to go to university 10 minutes from my house walking time, I then and going to Europe most likey to work in gaming there, maybe Virginia but I really wnat to go to Europe. |
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| Author: | Martin [ Sun Oct 23, 2005 7:01 pm ] |
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The joke was that you could get a Quattro FX or a car for about the same cost. And you need at least two hard-drives for RAID. Hence, you know, Redundant Array of Independent Disks. RAID 1'd give you a nice read performance boost. But yeah, the keyboard's not important, but the mouse definitely is. You can always get this one and if you don't like it just grab another one later. |
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| Author: | wtd [ Mon Oct 24, 2005 10:09 pm ] |
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Martin wrote: And you need at least two hard-drives for RAID. Hence, you know, Redundant Array of Independent Disks. RAID 1'd give you a nice read performance boost.
Put the OS on an 18GB 15K RPM SCSI drive. |
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| Author: | Paul [ Tue Nov 01, 2005 10:09 pm ] |
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Er, i don't suppose software RAID has any uses? |
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