Oh All Seeing Eye?
 

I've been thinking about building a new computer and would like to get some advice from our resident whiz kids. I'm thinking on basing the system on [url=http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=177901:8f9 1b]this[/url:8f91b] package from Micro Center. I don't want a big flashy case with lights, windows and a tissue dispenser. I plan on changing out the power supply for a 300 or 350 watt unit. With a gig of PC-3200 and a 120 g hard drive (I have a Maxtor 120G 7200rpm) and a decent video card.

I'm looking for good reasons why this would or would not make a decent gammimg machine.

beer: dance:

Sounds ok to me. Wouldnt nearly be my first choice. I think there cutting you short on a lot of good other features that are out there. If you do get this I recommend petitioning your harddrive, say 20-30 gigs OS side and the rest as a storage unit and backup. This way if u get a virus you can restore your computer For a video card, highly recommend anything ATi since its compatible with just about everything.

However, if you like that type of case, look for aopen products, there fairly cheap and ive never had problems with them, they have both Intel and AMD compatible motherboards

Overall on a scale of 1 to 10 i rate that system with your addons as a 5

Thats all

i'd personally prefer to choose my own motherboard, case and accessories myself. as this usually works out cheaper than buying the barebone system, besides you get the package to your exact specifiation!

I agree, thats how ive done my last two systems and they work great

The problem is the size of the case. I can get a case for $10.99 at P C Warehouse, 4 5 1/2 bays and 3 3 1/4 bays with no power supply. I don't want that big a package. Small cases are impossible to find.

type in "small pc cases" in google search or "form factor case"

Screw it I'll just buy some stupid looking big, cheap case and paint it flat black. I did find an AMD64 3000 for $240.00 at the PC Warehouse in Kansas City MO.

G-force make great cards dont go with ATI's my friend hate his but some people love them get a G-force that suites ur comp and u should have great frames and shading and all that good stuff

hellfire:

OK I ended up with an AMD64 3200+ for $220.00 (I had to go pick it up) and a [url=http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0183840:48 a1a]1BIT NF8[/url:48a1a] motherboard. Of course the LAN and the sound don't work. I put in old PCI cards and whamo...Sound and Internet. Tear it down for phase 2.

cuss:

*bump*
OK here is what I think I want. Now is the time to try to change my mind. In your opinion will this make a decent gaming machine?

ABIT "NF8" NVIDIA nForce3 250GB Chipset Motherboard For AMD Socket 754 CPU


Model# NF8
Item # N82E16813127190

Specifications:
Supported CPU: Socket 754 Athlon 64/Sempron processor
Chipset: NVIDIA nForce3 250Gb
RAM: 2x DIMM Supports DDR266/333/400 Max 2GB
Slots: 1x AGP 8X/4X, 5x PCI
Ports: 2x PS/2, 1x COM, 1x LPT, 8x USB2.0(Rear 4), 1x IEEE1394, 1xRJ45, Audio Ports
IDE: 2x ATA 133 up to 4 Devices with NV RAID 0,1
SATA/RAID: 2x SATA with NV RAID 0,1
Onboard Audio: Realtek ALC850(8-Ch)
Onboard LAN: NVIDIA Gigabit Ethernet and NVIDIA Firewall
Onboard 1394: 2x IEEE 1394
Form Factor: ATX

AMD Athlon 64 3200+, 512k L2 Cache, The Only 64-bit Windows Compatible Processor -

Model# ADA3200AXBOX
Item # N82E16819103483

Specification
Model: AMD Athlon 64 3200+
Core: Newcastle
Operating Frequency: 2.2GHz
FSB: Integrated int chip
Cache: L1/64K+64K; L2/512K
Voltage: 1.5V
Process: 0.13Micron
Socket: Socket 754
Multimedia Instruction: MMX, SSE, SSE2, 3DNOW!, 3DNOW!+
Warranty: 3-year MFG
Packaging: Retail Box (Heatsink and Fan included)

Corsair Value Select Memory 184 Pin 1GB DDR PC-3200, Model VS1GB400C3 -

Model# VS1GB400C3
Item # N82E16820145505

Specifications:
Manufacturer: Corsair
Speed: DDR400(PC3200)
Size: 1GB
Type: 184-Pin DDR SDRAM
Organization: 128M x 64-bit
Manufacturer Warranty: Lifetime

Rosewill nVIDIA GeForce 6600GT Video Card, 128MB GDDR3, 128-Bit, DVI/HDTV-Out, AGP 8X, Model "R66GT-128" -

Model# R66GT-128
Item # N82E16814164035

Specifications:
Chipset/Core Speed: nVIDIA GeForce 6600GT/500MHz
Memory/Effective Speed: 128MB GDDR3/1000MHz
BUS: AGP 8X
Ports: VGA Out(15 Pin D-Sub) + TV-Out(HDTV Out) + DVI
Support 3D API: DirectX 9(Shader Model 3.0), OpenGL 1.5
Max Resolution@32bit Color: 2048X1536@85Hz
RAMDACs: 400MHz

Looks like a VERY nice computer. Id go with it