ottoman Posted October 10, 2002 Share Posted October 10, 2002 Folks, I am going to purchase a new CPU (happy with monitor - Iiyama Pro450). I am looking to get a CPU that I will not feel the need to update or replace for about 3 years. Money is not so much an object as not having to not bother with updating for awhile. Main purpose of the machine is gaming. I play Combat Mission, OPART and Uncommon Valor. With that said, the following are the specs on a machine I am thinking of getting. Your comments (positive or negative) would be greatly appreciated as my knowledge is fairly limited. System: Pentium 4 2800 Base System/533MHz FSB Motherboard: Asus P4T533-C P4 RDRAM Motherboard w/USB 2.0, 6-ch audio, 10/100 LAN Memory: 512Mb PC 1066 RDRAM Hard Drive: 120Gig EIDE Western Digital Caviar (Special Edition) Model 1200 JB Drive Controller: Promise Fast Track - 100 TX2IDE RAID Controller Video Card: ATI Radeon 9700 Pro AGP w/128Mb DDR memory CD DVD #1: Lite-On 16X IDE DVD Drive Model LTD-163 OEM CD DVD #2: TEAC CDW540E 40x12x48 EIDE CDRW Drive w/8m Cache Operating System: Windows 2000 Thanks in advance for any thoughts or comments. Pete 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Canuck Posted October 11, 2002 Share Posted October 11, 2002 Originally posted by ottoman Main purpose of the machine is gaming. I play Combat Mission, OPART and Uncommon Valor. With that said, the following are the specs on a machine I am thinking of getting. Your comments (positive or negative) would be greatly appreciated as my knowledge is fairly limited. System: Pentium 4 2800 Base System/533MHz FSB Motherboard: Asus P4T533-C P4 RDRAM Motherboard w/USB 2.0, 6-ch audio, 10/100 LAN Memory: 512Mb PC 1066 RDRAM Hard Drive: 120Gig EIDE Western Digital Caviar (Special Edition) Model 1200 JB Drive Controller: Promise Fast Track - 100 TX2IDE RAID Controller Video Card: ATI Radeon 9700 Pro AGP w/128Mb DDR memory CD DVD #1: Lite-On 16X IDE DVD Drive Model LTD-163 OEM CD DVD #2: TEAC CDW540E 40x12x48 EIDE CDRW Drive w/8m Cache Operating System: Windows 2000 Thanks in advance for any thoughts or comments. Pete[/QB]-------------------------------------------------- Wish I had one of those!! One point though, the Radeon card does NOT support fog. I'm not knocking the system.....just trying to help. Krazy 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sirocco Posted October 11, 2002 Share Posted October 11, 2002 I'd take 1Gb RAM and a SoundBlaster Audigy card, possibly the bundle with Inspire speakers. I bought that and I'm very happy with it. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ottoman Posted October 11, 2002 Author Share Posted October 11, 2002 Thanks for the video card update. How about this video card? MSI G4Ti4600 GForce-4 (MSI-8872) w/128Mb DDR 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bodman Posted October 11, 2002 Share Posted October 11, 2002 Ottoman, Here are my recommendations: CPU:AMD athlon xp (I use it with no problems) IMHO don't waste your money on intel. MOBO:asus a7v8x with usb 2.0 firewire and raid built in. has 333 frontside bus etc got a great reveiw at tomshardware.com Mem:Crucial or Kingston 2x512MB ddr 333 or 400 HD:Western Digital Rocks but you'll need 2 or more to utilize the raid. Vid:MSI geforce 4 ti 4600 is a great choice. If you want fog, avoid any non geforce vid cards. CDRW:lite on makes a great 48x unit thats on sale right now at Newegg.com for 64 bucks shipped. DVD:your choice again newegg has those for 42 dollars shipped. Sound:6 channel sound built into mobo. I don't work for newegg.com. It's just that I have ordered a couple of thousand dollars worth of parts from them and I have always got what I ordered and everything worked out of the box.(not to mention the great pricing. This setup should last at least two or more years. Also, Antec or Cheiftec make the best cases. Hope this helps Bodman 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bodman Posted October 11, 2002 Share Posted October 11, 2002 Ottoman, Before I forget. Logitech's THX certified Z560 4.1 surround sound system is the best speakers for the money, around $150. I would also recommend Win xp instead of 2000. It is much more compatible for gaming. I use Win xp pro myself. Email me if you want any more hardware suggestions. Bodman 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Bailey Posted October 11, 2002 Share Posted October 11, 2002 Hey, Where do you guys buy all this stuff? I have been browsing around looking for a new computer for my home for several months -- primarily at Dell.com. I don't have any skill with computers so I need to buy something and have it work after taking it out of the box and hooking several wires together. I can buy a fairly beefy system from Dell (2.5 GHz, lots of RAM, big hard-drive, fancy graphics card, nice 18" Flat Panel) for about $1,200. Having something that works (and plays CMBB w/ fog) is more important to me than saving a few hundred bucks. Any suggestions? Thanks much in advance. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sirocco Posted October 11, 2002 Share Posted October 11, 2002 Originally posted by ottoman: Thanks for the video card update. How about this video card? MSI G4Ti4600 GForce-4 (MSI-8872) w/128Mb DDRI have the Creative GeForce 4 TI4600. I always find it hard to make comparisons between these things, but the smoke and general effects in MoH with it are breathtaking. I'd go for an Intel processor, simply because money isn't an issue. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWB Posted October 11, 2002 Share Posted October 11, 2002 Originally posted by James Bailey: Hey, Where do you guys buy all this stuff? I have been browsing around looking for a new computer for my home for several months -- primarily at Dell.com. I don't have any skill with computers so I need to buy something and have it work after taking it out of the box and hooking several wires together. I can buy a fairly beefy system from Dell (2.5 GHz, lots of RAM, big hard-drive, fancy graphics card, nice 18" Flat Panel) for about $1,200. Having something that works (and plays CMBB w/ fog) is more important to me than saving a few hundred bucks. Any suggestions? Thanks much in advance.Give me a call sometime, we can discuss details over beers or somesuch. If you have the cash, and dont care about upgrading aside from replacement of the entirey system, Dell etc will work fine. I actually bought one of the above mention Asus A7V8X motherboards recently and I am quite happy with the thing. Lots of upward potential (aformentioned features plus Serial ATA, firewire, gigabit ethernet). I avoid WD hard drives like the plague, that might be residual from having 25/80 go bad on me at work here in 18 months. WWB 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunnergoz Posted October 12, 2002 Share Posted October 12, 2002 I have a very similar system, same mobo, 512 mb of fast RAMBUS ram, 2 80 gig WD 8mb cache HD's striping RAID to a Promise controller; major differences, I'm using a GEForce 4200/128mb card for video and have a 2.53 mhz P4. The thing rocks and is rock solid (always a nice combination, when you can get it). CMBB, even large scenarios, load fast and play flawlessly. AI think times are quite low, even on big scenarios. This one is a keeper! I had it built locally to my specs, I usually build my own but this saved me a lot of time fussing and burning-in. Also has DVD and CD-RW drives and a heap of cooling fans. Runs Win XP Pro. Cost: around $1600. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Canuck Posted October 12, 2002 Share Posted October 12, 2002 Originally posted by James Bailey: Hey, Where do you guys buy all this stuff? Any suggestions? Thanks much in advance.All my PC systems have been custom built. Done properly a new system should be upgradable for the next 2 yrs, 3 yrs would be stretching it, at least compared to the pace technology has changed these last 5 yrs. Find yourself a local reputable shop, research for your own requirements(this board has some tremendous systems for example) and shop 'em hard. Then you'll have a great system with local support. Krazy PS:I should add that I'm close to PC illerate and have had great success with my custom builds! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Letsbe Ave. Posted October 13, 2002 Share Posted October 13, 2002 www.bensbargains.net seems to have Dell deals all the time. Checking this site IS the path to madness, however... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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