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Building a gaming PC
BernardBernoulli
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So, I've been planning on building a gaming PC for a while now.
My current one's old enough so it can just about run Oblivion, and I want something that'll be able to run all recent-ish games comfortably and all upcoming games at least moderately well. Having said that, I haven't really kept up-to-date with modern technology. I was surprised that AGP had been make defunct by this PCI Express thing
So far I'm looking at:
GeForce 8800 GTS
AMD Athlon 64 6000+ (dual core, 3Ghz each)
4GB DDR2 RAM (4x 1GB sticks, maybe upgrade much later up to 8GB)
From what I read that sounds like it's going to handle things quite nicely without being extortionately expensive - is that going to be okay?
Also, I've got two conerns/question:
One is I'm wondering about RAM. All these motherboards I'm looking at say they have two DDR channels. Does that mean they supported four sticks of RAM?
The other thing is about cooling. It'll probably be very hot in there - how can I keep it cool enough in a reasonable way?
My current one's old enough so it can just about run Oblivion, and I want something that'll be able to run all recent-ish games comfortably and all upcoming games at least moderately well. Having said that, I haven't really kept up-to-date with modern technology. I was surprised that AGP had been make defunct by this PCI Express thing
So far I'm looking at:
GeForce 8800 GTS
AMD Athlon 64 6000+ (dual core, 3Ghz each)
4GB DDR2 RAM (4x 1GB sticks, maybe upgrade much later up to 8GB)
From what I read that sounds like it's going to handle things quite nicely without being extortionately expensive - is that going to be okay?
Also, I've got two conerns/question:
One is I'm wondering about RAM. All these motherboards I'm looking at say they have two DDR channels. Does that mean they supported four sticks of RAM?
The other thing is about cooling. It'll probably be very hot in there - how can I keep it cool enough in a reasonable way?
BernardBernoulli on
0
Posts
Yea, I guess. But out of those 3 things, I would personally change...everything.
1.) You could get better. Much better for nearly the same price.
2.) AMD vs. Intel in Dual Core = AMD beaten to a pulp. I have an E8400 at 4.1Ghz that proves it. My old 6400+ is crying in a corner, banished to my younger sister's room.
3.) 4GB of RAM is overkill. And 8GB? Are you fucking kidding me? 3GB of DDR1066 (Or DDR800 if you're not into OCing) is the max I would ever go.
PS. Someone move this to Moe's Tech Forum, it's more appropriate.
That said, that plan seems pretty similar to what I built earlier this year 8800 GTS, Q6600, 4gb DDR2 ram. It would probably help to answer your question more by posting some of your options for the mobo, case, power supply, the whole enchilada I guess. With what you've posted, I'd say for cooling go with something like an Antec 900, ensure proper air flow goes through your computer, etc.
Shall I re-post it in there or can a mod move it?
and provides tremendous airflow. It retails for $175 (though I got it for $85 on eBay), so it is pricey, but an excellent example of what a case can do for you.
Don't worry about it for now. It will most likely be moved. But yea, I'd change your specs from what I see you have listed. What IS your price cap?
I was really expecting that kind of spec to be comparable with other hardware these days, and I've had good experiences with AMD and nVidia products in the past. Looking at the E8400 which is apparently 3Ghz (I guess you overclock it?) it's £112, the 6000+ is £70.
If there's a seriously noticeable difference it might make it worth the money, but I'm not exactly planning to play Bioshock and Crysis and Assassin's Creed at exactly the same time, so will the difference be necessary?
As for the case, I have an interest in keeping it cool and I know it could be a big problem, but that Antec one is apparently £210 over here. I was planning to spend £30 on a case and maybe up to £500 or £600 overall (possibly extra in terms of additional fans and stuff). £210 would make it the most expensive part of the PC, which sounds kind of crazy.
So far I was looking at:
£70 for the 6000+
£100 for the motherboard
£14 for 1GB stick of DDR 800Mhz RAM
£180 for the 8800GTS
As well as a couple of extras like PSU, DVD-ROM, case, HDD
Oh, and does anyone know if two RAM channels = 4 slots?
Edit: For the motherboard I'd go for a GA-P35-DS3P. Also heat is not going to be a big problem for you in you're in England. You shouldn't attempt to overclock unless your 100% on what you're doing as any damage voids the warranty.
That's actually the kind of super-expensive stuff I wanted to avoid. I suppose it would sort me out for any future game ever, though.
The E8500 is a much more manageable £127
Actually, heating I'm quite worried about. Despite the stereotyping, it can get damn hot over here. Maybe not like the middle of the Sahara, but enough so that heating would become a problem for about 3 or 4 months around Summer. And even in Winter I'm not going to be keeping it outside, and I was planning to avoid freezing myself to death as a cheap cooling method
The difference is HUGE. As is the longevity. Right now, AMD Dual Core is almost...archaic. The potential for longevity is huge compared to the current AMD's. Even AMD's Quads are getting the floor pulled from under them from Intel...and I use to be an AMD fanboy until my friend convinced me that Intel was the way now. Don't be loyal to brands, be loyal to results.
As for your RAM, I'd say the SWEET spot is 2GB you'll find your happiness there.
Basically, it'll all become somewhat more expensive but with better performance and longevity. Both good things
Is getting more RAM a problem, then? I see the recommended specs for games these days being 2GB, so I figured 4 would cover it quite nicely. And it'd be the cheapest easiest part to upgrade
EDIT:
That makes it $336 USD. So a $180 4850 would be around £100, correct? Wouldn't you be saving money?
So, maybe not get 4 GB now, but be prepared for it when the next generation comes out?
Which I part of why I'm asking about the four slots thing - if I buy 2 sticks now, will I have to replace them later or will I be able to add to them later?
Actually yes - the 4850 is £115
That's odd. Does the 4850 really out-perform the 8800?
RAM, I'd say 2gb is fine but I'd personally get 4gb just because, I use Vista 64bit and it hogs a lot of resources even when idling so the extra RAM is a godsend.
Heating though, I live in Denmark, we have about the same climate and my case fans haven't worked for two years. I just leave the case open and I have the 4870X2 and no heating problems.
If you decide to get a high end card though, you'll want a powersupply able to feed at least 600mwh, which, depending on the brand, can get pricy too (I'd personally get a northq, corsair or OCZ).
Basicly though, with the current market trends (I work at a retailer) your better off paying a little extra for quality and have it last longer instead of needing incremental upgrades over a long period. My current system cost me £800 and it'll last me 5 years before I need a new one.
You, know, I actually love correcting people about Vista. When idling and not busy-working, Vista is actually applying your memory in other core processes that take the lowest echelon of priority, meaning they automatically become free when memory is required. Know what that means? That Vista is actually putting your CPU Cycles to good use, and not wasting your memory. I'm running Vista Ultimate at only 2GB, and after some analysis and testing, it seems that Vista runs fairly smooth with 2GB at minimum, and negligibly faster with anything more.
I'd also have to decline against sticking to Brand-Basing your Power Supplies. Again, loyalty to results rather than brands. Research what makes a power supply good. Usually it tends to be temperature tested at MINIMUM 30 degrees C, and runs on one 12v Rail with a minimum of 40 Amps. There ARE a few companies which tend to be consistently amazing though, and I let slip past the "Results > Brands" rule, such as PC Power & Cooling and CoolerMaster.
Also, I remember reading the 8800 is actually better than the 4850, when I was first looking into what to get
The general concensus is that the 4850 is pretty much on top. In the second Power per Dollar test, you can officially move the 4850 WAY up because now it's the same price of the 8800GT, meaning it should be #1 on that list. Even without the price drop, it's STILL above the 8800GTS.
Source: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Powercolor/HD_4850/23.html