Recommendations for a gaming machine
 

Im currenty running a piece of shit in regards to gaming.

P4 1.7 Celeron
256 RAM
GeForce 5200

Im aware that I need a much better system. If I wanted to play the latest games, what requirements would you recommended, and how much would this cost me. My limit is probaly around 800-100.

Upgrade to a 2.4-2.8 GHz Hyper Threading 800Mhz FSB
OR get a new mobo (Asus A7V8X Deluxe) and a AMD XP2500 (overclock to 3200 with a good HSF)
Both will cost about the same.. maybe the AMD a little more.

Then get a FX5600-5800 (or a 5950U if you have the money)

Then get 512MB DDR PC3200 Crucial or Kingston (1 gig if you have the money)

Intel 2.8 GHz-$175 OEM (183 retail)

XP Barton 2500 $75 OEM
Asus A7V8X-E Deluxe $113
Thermaltake Volcano 6- $7

Kingston 512MB PC3200 $82
Crucial 512MB PC3200 $84

FX5600XT- $93
FX5600 - $119
FX5700 - $145
FX5700U - $183

There ya go..
All prices from Newegg

Now, the final decision! AMD or Intel!! Either one is fine considering you're spending $800-$1,000. Budget-minded gamers usually go AMD, but with $1,000 you can afford either choice.

If you want an AMD system, there's another choice on top of the first one: Athlon XP or Athlon 64? Yeah, with $1,000, you can afford either. I suppose I'll list both recommendations!

Athlon 64 Setup

GIGABYTE GA-K8VT800M Motherboard - $96
Athlon 64 3000+ Retail - $227
Corsair XMS Extreme Memory Speed Series, PC3200, 256 MB x 2 - $124
Lite-On 52x32x52 CD-RW - $38 OEM
Samsung Floppy Drive - $9
Maxtor 80GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive - $82
Whatever Case You Want® $50
ENERMAX EG365P-VE(FCA) 350W Power Supply - $59
SAPPHIRE RADEON 9800PRO Video Card, 128MB DDR, 256-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP - $214

The total on that computer is $899 before shipping. This system will deliver incredibly performance on ANY of today's games. All prices are directly from the one and the only -- NEWEGG!!

Now for the Athlon XP system:

AMD Athlon XP 2500+ Barton at 1.8 GHz stock - $75 OEM
Abit NF7-S Revision 2.0 Motherboard - $97
Corsair XMS Extreme Memory Speed Series, PC3200, 256 MB x 2 - $124
Lite-On 52x32x52 CD-RW - $38 OEM
Samsung Floppy Drive - $9
Maxtor 80GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive - $82
Whatever Case You Want® $50
ENERMAX EG365P-VE(FCA) 350W Power Supply - $59
SAPPHIRE RADEON 9800PRO Video Card, 128MB DDR, 256-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP - $214
Thermaltake Volcano 9+ CPU Fan - $30

The total on the Athlon XP system is $778 before shipping.

Now for the Intel system:

Intel Pentium 4/ 2.4C GHz 800MHz FSB, 512K Cache, Hyper Threading Technology - Retail - $164
ABIT 875P Chipset Motherboard for Intel Socket 478 CPU, Model "IC7-Max3" - RETAIL - $186
Corsair XMS Extreme Memory Speed Series, PC3200, 256 MB x 2 - $124
Lite-On 52x32x52 CD-RW - $38 OEM
Samsung Floppy Drive - $9
Maxtor 80GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive - $82
Whatever Case You Want® $50
ENERMAX EG365P-VE(FCA) 350W Power Supply - $59
SAPPHIRE RADEON 9800PRO Video Card, 128MB DDR, 256-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP - $214

The Intel system is about $926 before shipping.

I hope these recommendations help with buying your computer! They are the exact combinations I'd get if I had between $800 and $1,000. Good luck!!

-Lasereth