ULTIMATE Gaming Computer

[JBistodeau]

Hey, im trying to make the ULTIMATE gaming computer. Here are my specs plz help me on how you feel about them or if i should get something better or not.



FlexiGlow FX Pro Game Mousepad with 7 Colors LED Acrylic Flashing Base, Model FGMPFX -RETAIL

Western Digital Raptor 74GB 10,000RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model WD740GD, OEM Drive Only

SAMSUNG 160GB 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive, Model SP1604N, OEM Drive

OnlyLogitech Extreme PC Gaming Headset -RETAIL


Auravision EluminX S203-12 Silver Illuminated Keyboard PS/2 104keys -RETAIL

Corsair XMS Extreme Memory Speed Series, (Twin Pack) 184 Pin 1GB(512MBx2) Registered DDR PC-3200 w/ Platinum-Silver Heat Spreader - Retail

ViewSonic P95F+B 19" PerfectFlat CRT Monitor –RETAIL

GIGABYTE "GA-K8NSNXP-939" nForce3 Ultra Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket 939 CPU -RETAIL

Logitech Blue Performance Optical Mouse PS2/ USB, Model "MX510" -RETAIL

AMD Athlon 64 3500+, 512K, L2 Cache, Windows Compatible 64-bit Processor 939 Pin - Retail

Targus DEFCON Authenticator, USB-based fingerprint Scanner Model PA460U Retail


Microsoft Windows XP Professional with Service Pack SP1a - OEM

INFOGRAMES Unreal Tournament 2004 - PC Game RETAIL Battlefield -

Vietnam (ibox) - PC Game RETAIL

ACTIVISION Call of Duty United Offensive -



Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS GAMER Limited Ed

EVGA nVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT Video Card With Free Doom 3Bundle, 256MB GDDR3, 256-Bit, TV-Out/DVI, 8X AGP, Model "256-A8-N349-AX" -RETAILLUCASARTS Star Wars Battlefront - PC Game Retail

and heres my case...http://store.yahoo.com/xoxide/xopacl1.html
the power supply is here....http://www.xoxide.com/x-connect-500-uvblue.html

I have a couple questions. Do i want a registered or unregistered memory?
Should I raid my 2 hds?
Do i need extra heatsinks?
Anything else you recommend to go with my system?


THANKS ALOT!

 

[tom10167]

For your questions
Unregistered
NO(You need the same drives)
Get a better one for the cpu
Yes.

You said ultimate, get an FX-53, an extra 512MB of ram, maybe the X800XT?(wouldn't know) and get something more than air cooling. More than water cooling.

 

[Yuriman]

Im not going to go in any order, so bear with me.

For startes, get 2 raptors. You cant raid drives of 2 different sizes. I dont suggest that mouse pad, get a good one like a funcpad or icemat(or corepad). I dont suggest a lighted keyboard, it will get anoying. Your monitor provides plenty of light. If you want ultimate gaming, get 2gb of ram. 1gb is not top of the line anymore, some games need more. Lose the 3500+, get an FX or dont waste ur cash. I would get either a 3000+ or FX, nothing in between. You dont need an audigy 2 gamer, get the cheapest audigy 2. The gamer just has more plugs. If you want a top of the line video card, get an X800XT. Dont buy XP, steal it(j/k). Now, the psu. I would recomend going with a trusted brand, like fortron. FINALY, ditch that monitor, get this one and a dvi cable: http://www.azatek.com/details.asp?iid=510

For heatsink question, YES!!! Get an Slk-948, or maybe an SP-120.

EDIT: Lol we most of the same stuff.
Btw, whats with the finger print scanner?

 

[JBistodeau]

I have a 2500$ budget so i cant get a FX unless i ditch 2 gb of memory possilbly

What should i ditch to get the FX then if i need it that much?

 

[CrawlerZX]

ok check around the whole forums for the best hd not becaust its SATA and 10k means it's the fastest and get 2 to raid it i c 7200 rpm drives being able to keep up. second what's with the fingerprint thing? third get a cheaper sound card with that kind of hardware u won't notice the difference except in sound cause audigy is for gaiming not for sounnd enthusiasts so the sound quality sux neway i suggest a C-media or an m-audio.

an easier answer is save up more cash cause as far as ultimate goes u would spend more than that. what i did is i got a list of what i want and saved here and there evry month till i was able to afford it.

 

[LmpPns]

For it to be ultimate you would have to have top of the line everything, this means 4GB of RAM, top end processor for either S393 or LGA775 platform, atleast 1 Terabyte of storage space (with it all being 7200 RPM 16MB cache HD's), high end case, real high quality PSU, perhaps a solution from PC Power & Cooling. You would also need top of the line cooling such as a Prometia or Vapochill. A mere 6800 GT wont cut it, you would need to wait for SLI and get two 6800 Ultras. You would also want to get high end sound, like Klipsch Promedias' or Logitech Z-680's. Hell, you should also invest in a solid state Hard Drive to put all your games on. An un-ultimate 19" monitor wont cut it, you will have to go grab Apple's $3000 30" LCD. All said and done... you'll require about $10,000 USD as a baseline for an Ultimate PC that should stay Ultimate for about 6 months.

 

[twump]

Now, the psu. I would recomend going with a trusted brand, like fortron.

Btw, whats with the finger print scanner?

the ultra x-connect is a god solid psu. if you go look at reviews it scores high in every one. it is a great balance of looks and performance. it can handle alot of power draw without flinching. the detachable cables just make it all that much better. i have one and love it. the wires could be a little less stiff but overall its an excelent psu.


I to ant to know whats with the finger print scanner. whats the point. its not like its going to stop people from using your computer.

 

[LmpPns]

the ultra x-connect is a god solid psu. if you go look at reviews it scores high in every one. it is a great balance of looks and performance. it can handle alot of power draw without flinching. the detachable cables just make it all that much better. i have one and love it. the wires could be a little less stiff but overall its an excelent psu.


I to ant to know whats with the finger print scanner. whats the point. its not like its going to stop people from using your computer.

A yes.. the module PSU, where you snap molex connectors on/off... Making for a neat looking PSU and case. The tests I looked at concerning performance had it pitted against an Allied 400W though, so I don't really know what to expect.

Does anyone here own one?

 

[9mmCensor]

Targus DEFCON Authenticator, USB-based fingerprint Scanner Model PA460U Retail

get rid of that. its useless.

Wait for a nForce 4 board, they should be out soon.

and get the OCZ 520W PSU instead.

 

[JBistodeau]

But i have a acrylic case and im liking the blue led on the cords i want a flashy psu

 

[JBistodeau]

I decided to go with Weekend Special!
Corsair Value Select (Dual Pack) 184 Pin 1G(512MBx2) DDR PC-3200 - OEM

Does that work with the NForce4? heres a website about the NForce4
http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/chipsets/display/20040405142953.html

 

[JBistodeau]

Ok, i figured out it works with the motherboard. But, i have a question....Should i buy a video card with PCI express, if so what should i buy?

 

[tom10167]

PCI-E won't matter. I'm recommending the X800XT PE, but good luck finding one at ANY price. I would say get the FX-53 and one gig of ram, opposed to 2 gigs of ram and the 3500+. While the extra gigabyte of memory would help, it would not help as much as the better processor would. I agree with Yuriman, don't get the 3500+ regardless, get either a 3000+ or an FX-53, the cost/performance of the rest is not worth it right now.

I also am going to say no to the RAID. While it would help, with a budget of "only"(believe me, it's still a lot) the money could be spent elsewhere, on something that would give you a MORE significant increase in performance.

 

[Andyman902042]

Yes , don't get RAID. Maximium PC did a test and RAID only helped map loading time between about 0-2 seconds. Spend the money on something else.

-Andy

 

[Yuriman]

Personaly, im a raid fan, so it gets my vote. I traded one of my hard drives for some other parts, and my system on the whole feels slower. Its not significant, but raid will help in everything but games.

 

[tom10167]

im trying to make the ULTIMATE gaming computer.

raid will help in everything but games.

 

[Yuriman]

Heh, well I was just saying. I only game on my pc but occasionaly I do a little video editing(not much) and it helps tremendously. Its also nice to be the first one loaded in every game every time, I get probably 4 kills in halo before the others can even move.

 

[tom10167]

You'd get 6 if you had an FX-53.

 

[mils128]

ok get these parts

ATHlon 64 3000+ 939
Nice Nforce 4 or 3 Board
WaterCooling (cause 64's produce alot of heat i have one)
X800XT
Cheap Audigy 2 (because you are gonna be using HeadPhones)
2GB Of RAM
RAID 0 74 GB Raptors

Lose the Fingerprint Scanner because that is a waste of money then don't get a lighted Keyboard i got a Cold Cathode in my computer and it is alwas off because it gets to look annoying. Get a good gaming mousepad.

 

[JBistodeau]

Im gonna get a FX-54, can i get a good heatsink instead of water cooling?