Tom's Guide > Forum > Homebuilt Systems > New System Build > $800 build review request

$800 build review request

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - $800 build review request

TomsGuide.com: Over 800,000 questions and answers to address all your high-tech questions. Sign up now! Its free!
Word :    Username :           
 

Hi folks,

I'm putting together a system with a general budget of $800.
Here's what I'd like it to do:
Run Vista Ultimate 64-bit. I scored a copy through the Microsoft company store for cheeeep.
Run Warhammer Online at 1920x1200 on my 37" LCD TV at Max settings ideally (high might be acceptable).

Here's what I've come up with for $805, all from Newegg:
MB: ASUS P5E LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E7300 Wolfdale 2.66GHz
RAM: CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)
GFX: EVGA GeForce GTX 260 896-P3-1260-AR Video Card - Retail
PSU: OCZ OCZ700MXSP 700W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V
CASE: COOLER MASTER Centurion 5
HD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 250GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
DVD: SAMSUNG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model SH-S223Q

Sound card will be an Audigy ZS I'll pull from my current rig.

Will I be able to achieve my goals with this comp? I plan on dropping in a new cpu a year or so down the road, when the quads have come further down in price and higher up in clock speed per core.

Thanks ahead of time for your input. I'm exciting to catch up to gaming technology again (It's been 3 whole years since I've upgraded!)

Sponsored Links
Register or log in to remove.
- 0 +

change ur processor to a better E8500 and
cut the ram from dominator to xms2 800MHZ...
seriously u wont have much performance diff bet a 800mhz and a 1066mhz ram unless u paln to overclock ur cpu to 4GHZ( ocs tat time the ram's freq comes into picture)....
so u will save sum money but switchin to the xms and put tat on a better proc...mayb even a E8400 will do....

And looking at ur mobo i will go with ati cards cos x38 support crossfire n nt sli ...so no pt goin with the x38 and gtx260 combo...instead go for a 4850 or 4870 and later u can add 1 more in crossfire....

Reply to gkay09

I would say that ram is too much for the proc but since you plan on changing the core down the line we'll leave that one alone.

I would suggest the 4870 over the gtx 260, with that mobo you'll be able to crossfire in the future but not sli.... and the 4870 is faster than the 260 for very close to the same price. http://www.anandtech.com/video/sho [...] =3341&p=14

and for an extra 15 bucks you can get a 640 gig hd http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] WD6400AAKS
good luck

Reply to kurtyboh
- 0 +

i think am 10sec faster than kurtyboh :P

Reply to gkay09

Pointless upgrading the cpu .
Overclock the e7300 and its as fast as the e8500 anyway and you dont need it to live forever if there's a quad coming along behind .



Reply to Outlander_04

yeah i noticed that gkay, musta been typing while i was looking for the link... oh well

Reply to kurtyboh
- 0 +

^ hehe but am suprised...same thoughts :P


Message edited by gkay09 on 11-19-2008 at 12:51:09 PM
Reply to gkay09

You guys are the best. I did some research on your suggestions, and while I don't plan on ever going 2x crossfire with my system, the head-to-head article on 4870 vs. GTX 260 here at Tom's convinced me to go with the ATI GPU. As for the RAM, it's really a difference of about 10 bux to go with the 1066, and the mobo supports it, and I'm going to try OC'ing the cpu, so I think the 10 bux will be a worthy investment.

Unless you guys have other suggestions, I think I have my system. Thanks again!

Reply to chigasakigaijin
Tom's Guide > Forum > Homebuilt Systems > New System Build > $800 build review request
Go to:

There are 7 identified and unidentified users. To see the list of identified users, Click here.

Please mind

You are about to answer a thread that has been inactive for more than 6 months.
If you still wish to proceed, please ensure that your posting is original and does not duplicate or overlap any prior responses to this thread.

Add a reply Cancel
Google ads