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justagirl
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Location: Cheonan/Portland
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 Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 5:32 am Post subject: buying a gaming computer |
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Hey computer guys! We're looking to get a new computer when we go back to the states in December. Basically, we want one for gaming and Internet and Photography, so good graphics/video card and lots of memory.
We'd like it to be fast, and other than that, I really don't know what the different parts of the computer do. Here's a list that a friend back home game us. Is this good/average/bad? Is this top of the line? Anything you'd like to explain would be great. Thanks so much--our laptop is over 4 years old and that was the last time I knew anything about computers.
justagirl
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This is my favorite case with an AMD 64bit processor, 1GB dual channel RAM, 2 160GB SATA drives (set up for a RAID array for redundancy and speed), a 16X DVD-RW, and the second best Nvidia video card. I never buy the top one because they are so overpriced and they drop after six months. If he waits until he gets back in the country, PCI Express (New video slots) may be worth it instead of an AGP video card. Currently, PCI Express is not an advantage over AGP, but it will be.
>
> Windows XP Home would be another $56 from
> PCBASE.com.
>
> Thermaltake VA3000 Dream Tower Tsunami VA3400BNA
> Black Mid Tower Case With 400W PSU -RETAIL
> Item# N82E16811133140 $115.00
>
> Lite-On Black 52X32X52X16 Combo Drive, Model
> SOHC-5232K, OEM Bulk Pack
> Item# N82E16827106932 $45.00
>
> Pioneer Black DVD+RW/-RW Drive, Model DVR-108, OEM
> Item# N82E16827129157 $81.00
>
> Hitachi 120GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model
> HDS722512VLSA80
> Item# N82E16822145047 $87.00
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> Hitachi 120GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model
> HDS722512VLSA80
> Item# N82E16822145047 $87.00
>
> Mushkin Basic Green Dual Pack 184-Pin 1GB(512MBx2)
> DDR PC-3200(Paired sticks for Dual channel RAM)
> Item# N82E16820146351 $169.00
>
> ASUS "A8V Deluxe" VIA K8T800 Pro Chipset Motherboard
> For AMD Socket 939 CPU -RETAIL
> Item# N82E16813131510 $129.00
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> AMD Athlon 64 3400+, 1MB L2 Cache, 64-bit Processor
> - Retail
> Item# N82E16819103426 $295.00
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> Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 PCI Sound Card,
> Model "SB0244" -OEM
> Item# N82E16829102158 $74.99
>
> Prolink nVIDIA GeForce 6800 Video Card, 128MB DDR,
> 256-Bit, TV-Out/DVI, 8X AGP, Model
> Item# N82E16814108138 $289.00
>
>
> Product total: $1,371.99
> Shipping & Handling: $ 33.95
> Total (Before tax): $1,405.94 |
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Demophobe
Joined: 17 May 2004
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Gord
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 10:19 pm Post subject: Re: buying a gaming computer |
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| justagirl wrote: |
| 2 160GB SATA drives (set up for a RAID array for redundancy and speed) |
You cannot get both speed and redundancy with a RAID that has only two drives.
Two drives will either give you speed (through a RAID-0 striping setup) or redundancy (through a RAID-1 mirrored drive). To get speed and redundancy, you will need a RAID-5 which requires three drives at a minimum, or run both a RAID-0 and a RAID-1 which requires an equal number of each (in short, minimum four drives). |
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Gregarious Monk
Joined: 13 Sep 2004
Location: Busan
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| Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 10:39 pm Post subject: |
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| That motherboard only has 2 SATA channels. Unless you spring for an additional controller your best bet is to go for the redundancy (I'm paranoid about losing stuff.) If one of the drives in a striped setup using two drives fails, it's all gone to hell. |
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Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 4:15 am Post subject: |
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Does your average home user really need disk stripping anyway?
I don't think so. |
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Demophobe
Joined: 17 May 2004
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| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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| RAID will help in some situations, but for an average home system/gaming computer, it's a waste. |
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Kim Jong Jordan
Joined: 13 Mar 2004
Location: The Internet
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| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 6:51 pm Post subject: |
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| I have a new laptop with the AMD Athlon 64 3000+ processor, 512 RAM, NVidea 32 Mb, and I have never played a game on it (I got it a month ago). Should I upgrade or would this suffice for my gaming wants (I like shooter games like Medal of Honor, Battlefield 1942) |
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Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 7:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Demophobe wrote: |
| RAID will help in some situations, but for an average home system/gaming computer, it's a waste. |
RAID-1 might be a good idea given the drop in HD prices and the ubiquity of built-in RAID controllers on most systemboards these days (but still wouldn't replace the need for some other sort of back up in case your pc gets hit with a nasty virus), but striping your disks to get faster HD access speed is just silly and dangerous for most home PC users.
Last edited by Bulsajo on Tue Oct 12, 2004 7:34 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Kim Jong Jordan wrote: |
| I have a new laptop with the AMD Athlon 64 3000+ processor, 512 RAM, NVidea 32 Mb, and I have never played a game on it (I got it a month ago). Should I upgrade or would this suffice for my gaming wants (I like shooter games like Medal of Honor, Battlefield 1942) |
If the video card is upgradeable you will want to consider doing so in the near future, but the first thing to do would be to up the RAM.
I wouldn't bother doing anything until you notice a drop in frame rates.
Medal of Honor and BF1942 should be okay, but if you want to play Far Cry, Doom3, and Half Life2 (eventually) you'll probably want to upgrade. |
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Kim Jong Jordan
Joined: 13 Mar 2004
Location: The Internet
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| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Would upgrading to a 64 Mb be a good measure? I really like inVidea, but I'm curious as to whether or not they have anything greater. If so, what is the cost? |
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Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 7:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Kim Jong Jordan wrote: |
| Would upgrading to a 64 Mb be a good measure? I really like inVidea, but I'm curious as to whether or not they have anything greater. If so, what is the cost? |
Find out first if the video card in your laptop IS in fact upgradeable, more and more are being built that way, but it's still far from industry standard. |
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Kim Jong Jordan
Joined: 13 Mar 2004
Location: The Internet
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| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 8:37 pm Post subject: |
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| How would I find out whether or not it can be upgraded? |
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Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 8:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Google the name and model of your laptop, and read the specs. |
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Kim Jong Jordan
Joined: 13 Mar 2004
Location: The Internet
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| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks Bulsajo |
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