The Sub $1000 gaming computer

[bignick]

Nice write up from tomshardware.com on building a nice gaming machine under $1000.

http://www.tomshardware.com/game/20040529/index.html

[guyver2077]

i built my monster under $600(probably less dont remember) and i can play anything!!!

[xzafixz]

you could easily trim at least 100 off that price, 80 gigs is plenty enough and wireless keyboard and mouse for gaming?! anyone that did that is insane.

[Cracka]

the white monitor fucks it all up

[defender]

That system sucks.

I got a p4 3.2ghz with 2 gigs ram for $800.

[bignick]

That system sucks.

I got a p4 3.2ghz with 2 gigs ram for $800.

what else? mobo? vid card? hard drives?

[Cracka]

nah none of that crazy shit

[zzl365]

I built roughly the same system (same Mobo and CPU) for around $500 (n o monitor though)
The differences:
instead of the 2 80 GB HDs I have 1 120GB
instead of the pc3200 ram I have pc2700 (shouldnt make a big difference considering the FSB on the AMD is 333 and the RAM will probably be able to outperform the mobo/chip)
I put a DVD-R in my rig
I used a 9800 Pro rather than the 9600 XT.

I'd like to see the 3d mark scores on the one they put together to see how it compares to mine, personally I'm guessing I'm gonna pull higher scores simply from the 9800 pro.

[bignick]

Ya, they could have cut about $275 by getting rid of the 2nd HD, wireless combo and monitor and using the stock HSF. They also dropped $80 on a case. But the point is, you can get a decent gaming pc for a good price.

[Medium_Pimpin]

I upgrade a little bit of my pc about every 6 months. Selling off the old parts for %80 of what i payed for them. $1000 in one chunk seems like it will never happen again for me.

Most recent purchases: Sony 17in LCD $375 AR
Pacific Digital 8x Dvd+/-RW $40 AR
Ati Radeon 9600 $70 AR
Corsair Xtreme Gamer DDR 2700 512mb $60 AR


Oh yeah and yesterdays deal:
WD 160gb 7200rpm 8mb cache HD $70 No rebate.

[bignick]

I upgrade a little bit of my pc about every 6 months. Selling off the old parts for %80 of what i payed for them. $1000 in one chunk seems like it will never happen again for me.

Most recent purchases: Sony 17in LCD $375 AR
Pacific Digital 8x Dvd+/-RW $40 AR
Ati Radeon 9600 $70 AR


Nice snags. I just hate rebates!!!!

[Cracka]

i seriously need to build my own PC... i've got a POS that i bought from walmart for $700 .. :(

[Medium_Pimpin]

I upgrade a little bit of my pc about every 6 months. Selling off the old parts for %80 of what i payed for them. $1000 in one chunk seems like it will never happen again for me.

Most recent purchases: Sony 17in LCD $375 AR
Pacific Digital 8x Dvd+/-RW $40 AR
Ati Radeon 9600 $70 AR


Nice snags. I just hate rebates!!!!

I have never had a problem with them. Some people just dont know how to fill out a simple form after reading instructions. My roomate got in on one of those Pacific Digital 8x dvd-rw's and somehow botched his rebate form, nearly missed out on his rebate.

[Medium_Pimpin]

Actually the corsair rebate was a rebate on a crappy memory stick from frys. They ended up giving me Corsair Xtreme mem for the same price i paid, and a few weeks later my rebate check from the other ram came.

[Medium_Pimpin]

^^^oops, i thought this was bragging rights.

[Medium_Pimpin]

http://maddox.xmission.com/c.cgi?u=compusa_sucks

Heres what Maddox sez about rebates.

[msdmoney]

I will be building a comp probably in Sept for probably a little over a thousand without a monitor. I will probably get a sff.

[Cracka]

i'm gonna have to get a new comp, cause my POS wont be able to play any of the new games that are comin out

[SS4Brolly]

Medium_Pimpin - Use the edit button. Its not just for looks, ya know.

I've been meaning to get a new PC for a while now. The computer I spend 95% of my time on is almost 6 years old. Got it for Christmas in '98. It wasnt the top of the line then, either. Been used every day as a family computer until about a year ago, when it became mine. I actually ran AdAware for the first time ever last week and got next to nothing. I keep good care of it.

Anyways, building a PC scares the hell out of me. I know that it cant be too difficult, but I dont know what exactly I need to get, like extra fans and whatnot. I'd gladly pay an extra $50 or so to have it built by someone who knows what they're doing. I've been looking at ibuypower.com a lot recently and Ill probebly buy a new one from there eventually.