Need help!!!!!!

[SoliD]

Hey everybody, I am considering purchasing a new desktop rig.... I don't need a monitor or keyboard or mouse or anything, just the tower.

I want a computer that will run CSS on "high" settings at a constant 70fps..... hopefully. What kind of money am i lookin at spending?

I'm looking at around 1000~ maybe less if possible..... i doubt it though.

anyone knowledgable i'd appreciate the help~!!!! THANKS!

[rew ? sky]

You could easily do it for less than 1,000. My computer is about that.

Case - 60-70 $
Mobo - 60-70 (you dont need special doo hickies and all that shit)
Processor - 150 (a 3.0 intel is enough. Do the equiv. in amd if want)
HD 250 gig seagate - 100
Geforce 7800GT - 260
gig of OCZ ram with heat sink - 88
Fans - 25 bucks
550 watt power supply - 70
Unexplained costs/extras/anything - 100
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Total: $933

Now if you needed a monitor, keyboard and mouse...just buy some cheap shit. Monitor really isn't that important as long as it's 17'' plus. That'll run you about 50-100 dollars depending on where/who you get it from. Check a bargain bin store, second hand or something. Check your local paper for ads - people get rid of tons of shit for cheap - flea markets/tag sales.

Keyboard - 10-20 dollars. Don't spend more.

Mouse - i got my razer for 50, which means you can get hella good enough for 25.

headphones - don't use speakers.

If you think this set up is you - i'll suggest products which have never failed me. I currently get 300-400 fps on aim maps and about 140 on regular maps. During heavy stress it drops to 70-80, but that's prolly because of the conflict i have with my motherboard chipset and video card drivers.

But seriously - you don't need killer shit because guess what - it'll come down to YOU and how YOU perform when it comes time to play, not your equipment. I've met people who rape with garbage...you do excellent with your laptop - so while the upgrade will improve you a lot, don't rely on it to increase your skills from unstoppable to god-like.

[SoliD]

i'm not getting a new rig solely to improve my performance.... my wife's computer is very VERY old and shitty (1.4 P4 64Meg Vid card). Anyway, i'm looking to let her use the laptop as her main PC while i get the slightly better one for my competative gaming needs. It's a win-win situation.

I know that a new rig will improve my game at least a little... cuz on some maps i can REALLY feel the slow down on my machine... plsu the sound card ****ing up is really pissing me off.

Anyway, thx sky for the breakdown... I figured that's about how much i'd have to spend on something with those specs. The ram i am not knowledgable about though, so thx for telling me exactly what to get. I'll probably save some money up.. Ill definately have this new rig in time for next CAL season!!! =)



ps : any other people's opionions are welcome!! bring 'em on!

[HaVoK]

well you should expect around 1000 for the tower...
case is whatever looks good yet functional to you
cpu: are you going amd or intel?
ram: At least a gig of high speed ram
Video card: well...most gamers know how to make the decision about these.
Motherboard: depends on cpu choice.
PSU: Depends on other hardware
HDD: depends on how much space you think you need. Remember the newer games are taking up anywhere from 2-4 gigs themselves so that can eat up space as well as all those programs. More space=better but get one that spins at atleast 75k

most of it depends on how much money you're willing to spend and how what type of cpu you are going to use, as well as what you plan to do most of the time on this machine (work/surfing the internet/games/etc)

[SoliD]

thanks for not being helpful havok lols.. oh well I think i figured out what I am going to get... it's as follows:

200Gig 7200RPM Western Digital low latency HDD = $90
1x 1Gig Corsair XMS Ram (so i can upgrade to 2 gigs soon) =$100
eVGA geforce 7800GT graphics card = $300
FREE SLI-ready AMD mobo (it's actually nice) = $free with gFX card
AMD 64x2 3800+ (awesome for OCing) = $275
Case (5 total fans, sexy, 500 W PowerSupp) = $100

Total = less than $900 which is right around my price range.
I have extra CD/DVD drives, and monitor and keyboard/mouse.
The mobo has 8 channel 7.1 sound so I don't need an extra soundcard (i dont think)

this rig should be good enough to run CS:S like a charm and be as cheap as possible.

[HaVoK]

link to case and mobo?

[SoliD]

case = http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811144168

mobo = http://www.newegg.com/product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813188002