I've been searching all over the web for parts for a gaming rig and i wanted everyone's advice. I want to build a gaming rig that has sli technoligy, a fast processor, and a video card that i can later buy a second to use sli. The only problem is that i only have about $1,610 to build it with. PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!! Any advice on parts or stores to look at. Also if i should wait or not (i dont want to wait too much longer).

THANX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Newegg, all you need to know.

i can try to build you one for fairly cheap.... need to know what you will be playing though

Here it is:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...131-478&depa=1
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...103-506&DEPA=1
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...130-220&depa=1
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...106-035&depa=0
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...144-122&depa=1
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...151-054&depa=1
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...144-203&depa=1
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...103-116&depa=0
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...196-001&DEPA=1

http://secure.newegg.com/app/ShoppingCart.asp -- EVERYTHING (the link may not work) it all added up to about 852 bucks.... thats everything you need beside floppy cable, ide cables, PSU, uhhhhh.... cant really think of anything else you truely need.... if i were you, i would get me an x-connect....

http://secure.newegg.com/app/WishR.asp?ID=1196022

Leaves $150 for a case of your choice.

kinda off topic, but what does everyone think of the x connect.? everyone on the net seems to think its great, but maximum pc gave it a 3 and said it failed their load test. i love the idea and all, but if its not gonna pass a load test forget it. what do yall think of yours pimps who have them?

Quote: Originally Posted by 4rm4g3dd0n kinda off topic, but what does everyone think of the x connect.? everyone on the net seems to think its great, but maximum pc gave it a 3 and said it failed their load test. i love the idea and all, but if its not gonna pass a load test forget it. what do yall think of yours pimps who have them?

i believe they said it was not very consistent power or something didnt they? if thats the right one.... they didnt know it had varying power

Quote: http://secure.newegg.com/app/WishR.asp?ID=1196022 Leaves $150 for a case of your choice.

oh yea!!?!? well mine leaves him 600-800 for the case lol

Quote: Originally Posted by 4rm4g3dd0n kinda off topic, but what does everyone think of the x connect.? everyone on the net seems to think its great, but maximum pc gave it a 3 and said it failed their load test. i love the idea and all, but if its not gonna pass a load test forget it. what do yall think of yours pimps who have them?

IIRC they had a pre-production model or something. I've had 0 problems with mine.

Quote: Originally Posted by phin3s oh yea!!?!? well mine leaves him 600-800 for the case lol

Yeah, but I payed attention to what he asked for.

Quote: Originally Posted by HebrewHammer I want to build a gaming rig that has sli technoligy, a fast processor, and a video card that i can later buy a second to use sli.

Mine is based on socket 939 which will be scaleable in the future, offers 64 bit processing, better ram, better HSF, I didn't see if you had a sound card but I figured I would throw one in for him, an Antec Neopower 480W psu (he is gonna need some serious juice if he goes SLI) and it has PCI-E with SLI ability.

Shrug, if I had that ammount to drop on an SLI platform, thats prolly what I would build. Maybe not the soundcard, but it would be close.

AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanx everyone. Will the pc on newegg that Caspertg built (shown here)be able to play Doom3 and half-life 2 with really good graphics and speed? Also, i've never used AMD and i know the differences between amd and intel; so will photo editing and apps be a problem with the cpu in the comp.?

THANX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

yeah, HH, that'll play it very well.

one thing I'm not sure on, Casp, don't you need a fan for that heatsink?

Yes, you will need the obvious odds and ends. Fan of the HSF, a case fan or 2 depending on the case you pick, etc...

The vid card will play HL 2 and Doom 3 pretty darn well. Your only other options (while being able to upgrade to an SLI system) is to jump up to a 6800 GT for about $450 bucks. I wouldn't spend that much for a vid card in the first place, I darn sure wouldn't start sacrificing parts in the rest of the system to pay for it.

Plus, in 6 months or so, if you want some more performance the 6600GT's will prolly be around $160-175. You can just throw another one in.


Edit: That rig will handle just about any app you throw at it with similar performance to Intel.

Edit 2: There, I threw in a 120mm fan. Not the best performer, but it won't sound like a lawn mower either.

All great components that you chose casper

HH, just wondering what you are leaning towards (case wise) right now if you haven't already purchased one. Let us know what you choose or have =]

Aight, AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Everything looks perfect!!!!!! Heres one thing though. I have the Logitech z-680s so i can use the fiber optics port on the mother and cut out the audio card which gives me another $180. Now i know the motherboard wont have the premium quality sound that the card would have but i can always upgrade later and in the meantime HAVE A FIBER OPTICS I CAN USE!!!! So heres a new question: Should i put this $180 inot a better cpu..... or and better video card???


THANX EVERYONE SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


P.S. Dont worry about the case........i got a full acrylic case in mind, MUHAHAHAHAHAAHA!!!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by HebrewHammer Aight, AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Everything looks perfect!!!!!! Heres one thing though. I have the Logitech z-680s so i can use the fiber optics port on the mother and cut out the audio card which gives me another $180. Now i know the motherboard wont have the premium quality sound that the card would have but i can always upgrade later and in the meantime HAVE A FIBER OPTICS I CAN USE!!!! So heres a new question: Should i put this $180 inot a better cpu..... or and better video card??? THANX EVERYONE SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! P.S. Dont worry about the case........i got a full acrylic case in mind, MUHAHAHAHAHAAHA!!!!!

I would say CPU since you said you aren't into gaming as much. The 6600gt is a very good card already for all of the current games available even for hardcore gamers imo. And on-board sound has gone a long way in a few years (according to many members and post throughout the forum). I myself am using onboard sound and it is adaquate for my needs. And like you said if it isn't, it is always something that you can upgrade in the future. Cheers Dan.


ps Remember to post some kind of followup including some pics when you are finished

I would spend the extra money on some memory with TCCD chips inside, the ones Casper picked don't have em, but aren't too bad if you don't plan on Overclocking it much.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...220-033&depa=0

I would also get the 3200+ for 179$ at Monarch, if you plan on Overclocking, this is the one to get, it has a 10x multiplier, that way you don't have to push the FSB as hard to get a decent speed from it.

http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merch...ct_Code=120422

I also would never spend 275$ on a Motherboard...OUCH!

They have other models that are coming soon that will be more reasonably priced, and there are a few out now that are around 200$, someone started a thread with links to em all the other day.

Well about a year ago i decided to build this and overclock the crap out of it but over the time i decided to too for some reasons: 1) It voids the warranty (duh); 2) This would mean that i would have to spend extra money on good colling (possibly water, whic could cost up to $200); and 3) The life of the component drops drastically!!! and this is like a once in a lifetime amount of money to have for a comp. so i want it to last.

So upgrading memory or cpu to overclock is uneccesary. Also, i do plan to (once again) become a hardcore gamer ( i quit b/c of school before ) so i still am trying to decide wether to get better graphics or cpu? If i upgrade the video card will the cpu be able to keep up with all the graphics in the games?

P.S. AndI will definately be posting pics

Ok, i was goin around newegg and was looking what it would look like to upgrade the video card and i decided that upgrading to a 6800GT costs more than just to get two 6600Gts. So i added a second 6600GT!!!! but do u guys think that it would be better to get two 6600GTs or better in the long run to get one 6800Gt and later in the year get a second one. Heres what i have right now .

Necro is correct on the memory. The TCCD chips are far superior even if you arn't OC'n. I was in a hurry at work making the list up. Thats also why I listed all the parts from newegg.

I updated the list. If you get the 3200+ at Monarch (I'd recomend that as well, only 25 bucks more than the 3000+) that puts us at $1,365. That leaves $245 left over.

My choice would be to spend $100 on a decent case, and grab a good pvr card. That way you can use your computer as a media center as well. Tons of free software out there that will let you use it as a TIVO. Plus you can play all your media files directly to your TV/ stereo.

Might not fit your needs/wants, but thats what I would get.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...116-602&depa=0

$140

Quote: Originally Posted by Caspertg Yeah, but I payed attention to what he asked for. Mine is based on socket 939 which will be scaleable in the future, offers 64 bit processing, better ram, better HSF, I didn't see if you had a sound card but I figured I would throw one in for him, an Antec Neopower 480W psu (he is gonna need some serious juice if he goes SLI) and it has PCI-E with SLI ability. Shrug, if I had that ammount to drop on an SLI platform, thats prolly what I would build. Maybe not the soundcard, but it would be close.

i thoguht i would save him some money man.... is there something wrong with that?

Quote: Originally Posted by phin3s i thoguht i would save him some money man.... is there something wrong with that?

Naw bro, its all good, but if I ask a salesman to show me a Mercedes Benz I sure as hell don't want him to show me a Saturn. I just showed the man what he asked for.

EDIT: Don't forget about that fan for your heat sink. You will be cussin if you get everything in and don't have a fan.