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Gaming Machine
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Deanodriver (Talk | contribs) |
Decayed.cell (Talk | contribs) (→$1000 AM2) |
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! Hard Drive | ! Hard Drive | ||
| − | | 250GB | + | | [http://www.samsung.com/Products/HardDiskDrive/SpinPointPSeries/HardDiskDrive_SpinPointPSeries_SP2504C.asp 250GB Samsung SP2504C] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=250GB+SATA 99] |
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! Optical Drive | ! Optical Drive | ||
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! Graphics Card | ! Graphics Card | ||
| − | | 256MB | + | | 256MB 7900GS || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=7900GS 231] |
|- bgcolor="#efefef" | |- bgcolor="#efefef" | ||
! Sound Card | ! Sound Card | ||
Revision as of 21:23, 24 February 2007
EDIT: I've removed the scrolling navigation that was added, you have no idea how much of a pain it was for people on lower resolutions/who don't maximise their browser windows.
Contents |
$750 AM2
| Part | Model | Price | Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ | 125 |  |
| Motherboard | Abit KN9 | 109 | |
| RAM | 2x512MB Generic DDR2 667 | 84 | |
| Hard Drive | 250GB Samsung SP2504C | 99 | |
| Optical Drive | Pioneer DVR111D | 39 | |
| Graphics Card | 256MB Point Of View 7600GT GDDR3 | 151 | |
| Sound Card | Onboard from motherboard | - | |
| Case | Foxconn TSAA805 | 49 | |
| Power Supply | 430W Coolermaster Extreme Power | 49 | |
| Cooling | - | - | |
| Additional | - | - | |
| Total Cost | - | 705 + Postage |
This system, despite its low price is a viable ticket to entry level gaming. It features a reasonable sized hard drive (250GB) sufficient for most users, and a 7600GT (capable of pulling reasonable frames for most of today's games I believe). You could also replace the 7600GT with a 7300GT DDR3 and go for 2GB of RAM if you please.
I've included a dual-core CPU in this system, although a faster single core system may be better for gaming, in which case a 3500+ is about 125.
$1000 AM2
| Part | Model | Price | Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | AM2 X2 3600+ EE | 125 |  |
| Motherboard | DFI Infinity NF4 Ultra II-M2 | 127 | |
| RAM | 2GB G.Skill F2-5400PHU2-2GBNT | 195 | |
| Hard Drive | 250GB Samsung SP2504C | 99 | |
| Optical Drive | 16x LiteOn SHM-165P6S | 42 | |
| Graphics Card | 256MB 7900GS | 231 | |
| Sound Card | Onboard from motherboard | - | |
| Case | iCute S901-4GA-BB | 72 | |
| Power Supply | 430W Coolermaster Extreme Power | 49 | |
| Cooling | - | - | |
| Additional | - | - | |
| Total Cost | - | 936 + Postage |
I believe this system is the sweet spot for bang for buck computing. It features a decent CPU, plenty of RAM, a large hard drive, and a decent graphics card. The case is pretty good looking too. This system would be appropriate for moderate to frequent gaming.
$1000 Core 2 Duo
| Part | Model | Price | Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Core 2 Duo E4300 | 234 |  |
| Motherboard | Gigabyte 965P-S3 | 155 | |
| RAM | 1GB ADATA DDR2 667 kit | 105 | |
| Hard Drive | 250GB Serial ATA HDD | 95 | |
| Optical Drive | 16x LiteOn SHM-165P6S | 42 | |
| Graphics Card | 256MB Point of View 7600GT | 151 | |
| Sound Card | Onboard from motherboard | - | |
| Case | iCute S901-4GA-SS | 72 | |
| Power Supply | 500W Super Flower SF-500P14 | 90 | |
| Cooling | - | - | |
| Additional | - | - | |
| Total Cost | - | 944 + Postage |
At a touch under $1000 the Core 2 Duo system is quite impressive. The RAM, CPU and Board will allow for some nice overclocking, whilst the 7600GT is not too bad either. For $1000, this system would be very quick and well suited for demanding office applications.
$1250 AM2
| Part | Model | Price | Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ | 187 | |
| Motherboard | DFI Infinity NF4 Ultra II-M2 | 127 | |
| RAM | 2GB G.Skill F2-5400PHU2-2GBNT | 195 | |
| Hard Drive | 250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive | 95 | |
| Optical Drive | 16x LiteOn SHM-165P6S | 42 | |
| Graphics Card | 320MB Sparkle 8800GTS | 429 | |
| Sound Card | Onboard from motherboard | - | |
| Case | iCute S901-4GA-SS | 72 | |
| Power Supply | 500W Super Flower Black Diamond | 90 | |
| Cooling | - | - | |
| Additional | - | - | |
| Total Cost | - | 1237 + Postage |
This machine originally sported two 7600GTs in SLi, a 3600+ X2, and an aftermarket HSF. Whilst the aftermarket HSF is still able to fit in the budget (Thermaltake Big Typhoon 120), I've decided to focus this machine more on stock performance than overclocking, since the Core 2 Duo systems are typically the way to go for the overclockers.
Now with an 8800GTS, this machine will be little short of damn fast at gaming!
$1250 Core 2 Duo
| Part | Model | Price | Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Core 2 Duo E4300 | 234 | |
| Motherboard | Gigabyte 965P-S3 | 155 | |
| RAM | 2GB G.Skill F2-5400PHU2-2GBNT | 195 | |
| Hard Drive | 250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive | 95 | |
| Optical Drive | 16x LiteOn SHM-165P6S | 42 | |
| Graphics Card | 256MB Albatron 7950GT | 309 | |
| Sound Card | Onboard from motherboard | - | |
| Case | iCute S901-4GA-SS | 72 | |
| Power Supply | 500W Super Flower Black Diamond | 90 | |
| Cooling | Thermaltake BigTyp 120 | 60 | |
| Additional | - | - | |
| Total Cost | - | 1252 + Postage |
This machine is similarly specced to the AM2 system, however with the aftermarket HSF and the E4300 CPU, probably better suited to overclocking.
$1500 Core 2 Duo
| Part | Model | Price | Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Core 2 Duo E6300 | 259 | |
| Motherboard | Gigabyte 965P-S3 | 155 | |
| RAM | 2GB G.Skill F2-5400PHU2-2GBNT | 195 | |
| Hard Drive | 320GB Serial ATA Hard Drive | 127 | |
| Optical Drive | 16x LiteOn SHM-165P6S | 42 | |
| Graphics Card | 320MB Sparkle 8800GTS | 429 | |
| Sound Card | Onboard from motherboard | - | |
| Case | iCute S901-4GA-SS | 72 | |
| Power Supply | 500W Antec Neo HE 500 | 135 | |
| Cooling | Thermaltake BigTyp 120 | 60 | |
| Additional | - | - | |
| Total Cost | - | 1474 + Postage |
Sub $1500 Core 2 system with 8800GTS in da house!
$1750 Core 2 Duo
| Part | Model | Price | Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Core 2 Duo E6400 | 315 | |
| Motherboard | Gigabyte 965P-S3 3.3 | 175 | |
| RAM | 2GB F2-6400CL4D-2GBPK | 312 | |
| Hard Drive | 320GB Western Digital Caviar SE16 | 135 | |
| Optical Drive | 16x LiteOn SHM-165P6S | 42 | |
| Graphics Card | 320MB Sparkle 8800GTS | 429 | |
| Sound Card | Onboard from motherboard | - | |
| Case | iCute S901-4GA-SS | 72 | |
| Power Supply | 550W Neo HE 550 | 164 | |
| Cooling | Thermaltake BigTyp 120 | 60 | |
| Additional | - | - | |
| Total Cost | - | 1704 + Postage |
$2000 Core 2 Duo
| Part | Model | Price | Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Core 2 Duo E4300 | 234 | |
| Motherboard | Gigabyte 965P-S3 3.3 | 175 | |
| RAM | 2GB A-DATA Vitesta DDR2 800 | 225 | |
| Hard Drive | 320GB Western Digital Caviar SE16 | 135 | |
| Optical Drive | 16x LiteOn SHM-165P6S | 42 | |
| Graphics Card | 768MB Inno3D GeForce 8800GTX | 823 | |
| Sound Card | Onboard from motherboard | - | |
| Case | iCute S901-4GA-SS | 72 | |
| Power Supply | 650W Antec TruePower Trio TP3 650 | 185 | |
| Cooling | Thermaltake BigTyp 120 | 60 | |
| Additional | - | - | |
| Total Cost | - | 1951 + Postage |
2K system designed for overclocking, hence the E4300 but DDR2 800 RAM and the trusty 1333 FSB of the 965P-S3 V3.3
$2250 Core 2 Duo
| Part | Model | Price | Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Core 2 Duo E6600 | 439 |  |
| Motherboard | Gigabyte 965P-S3 3.3 | 175 | |
| RAM | 2GB G.Skill F2-5400PHU2-2GBNT | 195 | |
| Hard Drive | 320GB Western Digital Caviar SE16 | 135 | |
| Optical Drive | 16x LiteOn SHM-165P6S | 42 | |
| Graphics Card | 768MB Inno3D GeForce 8800GTX | 823 | |
| Sound Card | Onboard from motherboard | - | |
| Case | Thermaltake Armor Jr. | 165 | |
| Power Supply | 600W OCZ GameXStream | 174 | |
| Cooling | Thermaltake BigTyp 120 | 60 | |
| Additional | - | - | |
| Total Cost | - | 2208 + Postage |
$2500 Core 2 Duo
| Part | Model | Price | Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Core 2 Duo E6600 | 439 | |
| Motherboard | ASUS P5N32-E SLI PLUS | 310 | |
| RAM | 2GB F2-6400CL4D-2GBPK | 312 | |
| Hard Drive | 320GB Western Digital Caviar SE16 | 131 | |
| Optical Drive | 16x LiteOn SHM-165P6S | 42 | |
| Graphics Card | 768MB Inno3D GeForce 8800GTX | 823 | |
| Sound Card | Onboard from motherboard | - | |
| Case | Thermaltake Armor Jr. | 165 | |
| Power Supply | 600W OCZ GameXStream | 175 | |
| Cooling | Thermaltake BigTyp 120 | 60 | |
| Additional | - | - | |
| Total Cost | - | 2457 + Postage |
After this stage, you get to the area of diminishing returns. This machine is not so much faster than the $2250 system, more a better platform for going crazy with even more high end upgrades, such as two 8800s in SLi or quad core CPUs. However, after this stage, you will get to the stage of spending hundreds of dollars for a small improvement in performance.
The PSU might need to be a little more powerful if you're gonna run two 8800s in SLi and/or quad core CPUs, though.