Build me a computer

[Peppermint]

Well, I still haven't got a new one yet...I'm looking at other options to go with, as well as the original one I was looking at from VR concepts. I know building one yourself is cheaper, but I don't know what parts go with what. So my plan is to get a bunch of different options, write it all down then go to a few different computer places and get them to give me a quote on how much it will all be.

Basically, I want it to be able to play all current games, and to be able to run FSX very well. Budget: around $3,700 for the actual computer.

Must have:
1TB of hard drive space total, preferably fast harddrive/s too.
A Nvidia graphics card
Dual core, not a single or quad
4gb of decent ram.

For comparison, here's the details on the system VR concepts is offering for $3695, which I think is a pretty good deal for what you're getting:

Intel Core2Duo 3.0GHz E8400 CPU
Gigabyte Triton Case
Silverstone 750watt Power Supply
Gigabyte P35-DS3R Motherboard
4GB DDR2-800 Corsair Ram
2 x 500GB Hard Drives (Raid 0 configuration)
Asus DVD-RW DL Writer
Nvidia 9800GTX Video Card
WinTV HD4000 Freeview Capable Quad TV Tuner
Windows Vista Home Premium
Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard
Logitech G5 Gaming Laser Mouse

Appreciate any advice here. Thanks.

[Anthony]

Looks pretty good to me. You might be able to get better value from shopping at a few different places as some will do bundles deals and stuff.
I would have thought it would have been a bit cheaper but maybe not.
Most stores will tell you if something's incompatible, or you could Google it or ask here.
The actual building is quite easy too, just plug and pray it's a bit like a jigsaw puzzle.

[Charl]

Not a bad price...
Try for XP SP2, still I believe the better all-out gaming system.

[brownbox]

for a budget like that, you will get some kind of super computer.


This is comparing to that example system you have posted
That video card will definately hold you back. You will be wanting something with x2 on the end or SLI 9800GTX. Why is a Nvidia card a necessity for you? AMD/ATI offers some decent solutions too

Assuming you will have a bigger video card, you will need a bigger PSU too. Maybe a 1000W.

Now days, 800mhz ram is pretty slow. You will be wanting something with 1066 or 1333 ram on it, especially how it seems like you need the performance

If you are really wanting the absolute most performance, you wont want vista. However, with a system like that, you will be playing directx 10 games, so you will need vista for this.

Otherwise, its pretty good. May I ask why you dont want a quad core?

Also, for that price, you should be able to get heaps better than that. Shop around.

[Anthony]

I also wondered about the Nvidia requirement.
ATI's stuff is very powerful and great value for money.

[benwynn]

Seems these days Nvidia is better than ATI in the really high spec cards, though, ATI is usually better value for not a huge difference.

[HardCorePawn]

Best cards on the block at the moment are the ATI HD4850 and the ATIHD4870's... the 4850's are like $300 and 2 in SLI are giving better than 9800 performance for about $150-200 less... they will hold their own against the Nvidia 260 and 280...

[Peppermint]

I guess it's just because I'm so used to Nvidia cards, never had anything but them, so I'm not that keen in going over to something else even if it may be better. Dual core instead of quad...well, I'm not too sure. Seems to me that still not too many games can support quad yet, but a few more do dual.

I took down the same specs of the system VR concepts offer, down to the local computer guy here...what a shock, he quoted me that for him to build all that it would be well over the $4,000 mark.

The new video card..GTX280 is it? I've been looking at that and an upgraded power supply. I'm still wondering what the price would be of the vr system if they took out the psu and card they offer, and stuck the new ones in, would be.

Pretty much....if it's a system that can run FSX well, then I'll be happy with it. There's other games that I've seen that would handle a system like this well, like Bioshock, Crysis etc.

Thanks for your help guys.

[Anthony]

Yip I think the ATI cards are much better than the Nvidia cards in the middle range, but I don't know about the high end.
Fair enough if you want to stick with Nvidia as it's not like Nvidia make horrible graphics cards or anything.
For a computer that will be used for lots of stuff, you might find that quad core would be more appropriate but for gaming there's nothing wrong with dual core.
The best bit about going dual rather than quad is that you will get higher clock speed (which doesn't mean all that much).