Build Or Not 2 Build?

[wolfie 0]

well since my computer is getting quite old [4 years very soon] i would sorta like the rundown of how much a decent comp would be or how much to build one would b so i can see if i need start working to get more money and have enough by xmas for the comp stuffz and TF2 [so my bro can use the othe account]

so ya if someone could help me with that theyd b the awesomest person

~*~WOLFIE~*~

[Mana 3,867]

Well, what is your budget?

[wolfie 0]

well i duno so far i think ill have at least like 300 but thats not much... so i think ill need 2 start working and i guess ill have mayb 500-600 by middle of jan? i duno so i about 550$$

[Dovi 3]

For a gaming PC i'm guessing atleast over a thousand

[wolfie 0]

o well that makes me feel great >.< i gota get my butt in gear now...

[Deepy 0]

For like 200$ I got a PC that's 'on par' with todays games

But with a 128 GPU and no HDD/case :/

[wolfie 0]

hmm well... the time that im at my mom's work (from wen i get there atfer skool til we go 2 pick up my bro) ill work prolly be like 20-50$ a week and if i keep it up i think i may have enuff for sum stuff and ill just build on it... i guess unless sum1 has a better solution?

[Sand 0]

I got mine for $1300 with a 8800 GTS

I hand built it myself...

[Voxicles 0]

You can put together a fairly decent sli-capable computer for about 600 bucks. I do it all the time. Then turn around and sell em on craigslist for 750. Tiger direct always has great deals. Keep in mind that you might be able to re-use stuff taht's already in your computer.. Memory, harddrive, optical drives and what not. Hell, depending on what you have in your current computer, you might be able to just upgrade your cpu, gpu, and add some memory for around 300 bucks.

[Mana 3,867]

You can put together a fairly decent sli-capable computer for about 600 bucks.  I do it all the time.  Then turn around and sell em on craigslist for 750.  Tiger direct always has great deals.  Keep in mind that you might be able to re-use stuff taht's already in your computer.. Memory, harddrive, optical drives and what not.  Hell, depending on what you have in your current computer, you might be able to just upgrade your cpu, gpu, and add some memory for around 300 bucks.

3204[/snapback]

If it's a computer by HP or the likes chances are there can be no CPU upgrades :/.

[-=^*Draco*^=- 0]

If I was going to build a new gaming rig I'd get components all just under top-of-the-line. We all know the newest stuff is overpriced when it's launched, so going right beneath it won't give you any extra stress from the latest games, and will save you around $500 total.

I can build a top-of-the-line computer for just under $2600 just shopping off of Newegg. I also cross-reference between TigerDirect but honestly lately I haven't seen too many great deals there.

Now if I was to really go all-out I'd get a full liquid-cooling set from Koolance. That'd cost me an extra $700 though, probably gonna try mass air-cooling first and see what kind of OC'ing I can get before I upgrade to any liquid cooling solution.

With liquid-cooling, the 8800 Ultra can handle ANYTHING thrown at it right now, along with a Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 Conroe CPU (which is quite a bit better OC'ing and stock than a Q6600 that everyone seems to want so bad, and only costs about $20 more, reason being because most applications haven't been optimized for any quad-core CPUs at the moment, and there isn't really a need to, with some of these core 2s clocking stock at 3.0+ ghz and running very cool, I think the one above can be clocked to 4.0 ghz just with good air-cooling), until apps are optimized for real quad-core usage, C2D is going to be better at relatively equal prices. Also, don't buy AMD or ATI right now. Both companies are doing terrible against Intel and NVidia solutions.

And Mana is right, HP is a terrible company to get any desktop from. We all know laptops can't really be upgraded (aren't worth it either way), but their desktops are terrible IMO. I won't buy from a name-brand computer company ever again after the computer I got from them years ago. The CPU was literally glued down a LOT. I'd have had to take like a fucking torch in there to get it out, which would of course fry the components. Also most of those companies give you the crappiest BIOS they can think of so that you can't overclock your machine.

Also one more thing, if you're gonna buy an Nvidia card, get it from EVGA. They have a 90-day step-up program that allows you to exchange your already-bought card (within 90 days of original purchase) for any newer card provided they have them in stock (first come first serve policy) and that it has no user-caused defects (like spilling liquid coolant on a card and fucking it up bad), and your card will be worth its original bought price. So say you buy an 8800 Ultra for $650, and you want a 90 series GPU from EVGA that just came out that costs 900, you'll pay only $350 to upgrade it, instead of the full price like you'd normally do. It's a very sweet deal. And EVGA has some of the very best in quality products. All I've ever heard is good things about them.

Just some useful tidbits of info.

[TheMonkee 0]

Ebay FTW....

upgraded wifes computer few weeks ago, moboard, 2.8ghz dual process (thats 2.8 each, not confused with redarded postings on ebay) 2 gig ram, nvida 8500, spent under $300 usa....

u can easily get a computer just behind the "power curve" for very good money and not much at that....

i would think, if ur just "upgrading" not "total rebuild" u wont need things like hard drive, maybe not memory,

u should be able to easily do it under 200$ just shop around ebay...