I'll be buying a new PC,with the following specs,Im wanting to do some gaming (Counter Strike Source & Battlefield 2) Im not going for the latest and greatest though,Im just hoping to get some decent performance ,but this is the first PC Im getting with that goal in mind usually Im just a console gamer,so Id like your advice,since I havent done this before,maybe Im way off,thanks.

Intel Celeron D 351 3.2GHz, (533FSB) 256K Socket 775
Spire Socket 775 Intel P4 fan
ASUS P5PL2 945PL (dual core) PCI Express, DDR2, Sound,1GB LAN
1GB PC4200 DDR2 533
ATI Radeon x800 PRO 256MB DDR PCI Express 16x dual head, tv out
160.0GB IBM/Hitachi 7200rpm SERIAL ATA UDMA 150 8m Cache
AC 97 32 BIT Full Duplex sound card (onboard)
10/100 Network card adapter (onboard)
PowMax Black Mid Tower ATX Case w/ Front USB
Okia 400W ATX Power Supply

What do you think? Again Im going for something modest.Would change something? Should splurge a little more on a certain component? All opinions welcome,thanks.

p.s. I'll be purchasing optical drives seperate which is why theyre not listed

The lowest Id go for a video card would be a 7600GT, $180-200. Ive seen 7900GTs for under $250. Id also get a dedicated sound card. At least a Sound Blaster Live Digital, about $30.

The lowest Id go for a video card would be a 7600GT, $180-200. Ive seen 7900GTs for under $250. Id also get a dedicated sound card. At least a Sound Blaster Live Digital, about $30.

Well heres what I get to pick from,Can you recommend something or do you think I could buy it cheaper if I shopped around purchased he card you recommended,seperate?

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/3231/choicesht5.jpg

Well heres what I get to pick from,Can you recommend something or do you think I could buy it cheaper if I shopped around purchased he card you recommended,seperate?

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/3231/choicesht5.jpg
Assuming you can choose any one of those in the picture, go with the 7900GT. It will wipe the floor with the other cards.

Assuming you can choose any one of those in the picture, go with the 7900GT. It will wipe the floor with the other cards.

thanks,yeah I didnt picture the rest because that would really be the cutoff point for me.

Those prices are kind of high but you will get alot of mileage from a 7900GT. And it will work great with BF2.

Those prices are kind of high but you will get alot of mileage from a 7900GT. And it will work great with BF2.

Yeah I'll shop around and find it cheaper,I think I can get it from best buy for around $235 after 30% coupon if its still in effect.

thanks for the help,appreciate it.

Also check Newegg.com. They always have rebates on the 7900's.

Id also get a dedicated sound card. At least a Sound Blaster Live Digital, about $30.

can I ask,what the advantage of a dedicated sound card would be?

If you have onboard audio the CPU does most of the audio processing. In games that can lower your frame rates 10-15% because the CPU is having to handle audio and video processing. Most good sound cards have their own audio processor so the hit on the CPU is only 1-2%. Also onboard audio seems to cause alot more issues with gaming. This is prety good
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102176

If you have onboard audio the CPU does most of the audio processing. In games that can lower your frame rates 10-15% because the CPU is having to handle audio and video processing. Most good sound cards have their own audio processor so the hit on the CPU is only 1-2%. Also onboard audio seems to cause alot more issues with gaming. This is prety good
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102176

Cool, thanks for the help ;)

heh,since its looking more and more like I'll just buy all the parts seperate,can someone recommend a good motherboard that isnt too pricey,for use with the 7900GT card.

I wouldn't buy a 7900GT card, and then use it with a Celeron D processor. It will severely bottleneck it. If you can get a faster CPU (P4), it would perform way better.

If you can't, then you should get a 7600GT, or a X800GTO or XL.

I wouldn't buy a 7900GT card, and then use it with a Celeron D processor. It will severely bottleneck it. If you can get a faster CPU (P4), it would perform way better.

If you can't, then you should get a 7600GT, or a X800GTO or XL.

hey thanks for the advice.
specificaly,which Pentium 4 do you think I should go with.

As it is,I was thinking about either a Pentium 4 3.2ghz or a pentium dual core 2.8ghz

but I dont mind splurging a little more on the processor to get better performance,if you can make a recommendation.

At the same time Im not looking to spend too much,and I only want something decent,so maybe downgrading the card would be better?

I'd choose the single-core P4 3.2 GHZ, because most current games and apps, only use one core.

These days P4's have becomer very cheap, and it will surely be a huge boost over any Celeron D.

I'd choose the single-core P4 3.2 GHZ, because most current games and apps, only use one core.

These days P4's have becomer very cheap, and it will surely be a huge boost over any Celeron D.

Cool,thanks for the advice.I'll stick with a P4 3.2ghz and up. :)

Good choice mate! :) Enjoy your P4 and your video card.

BTW, do you still want the 7900gt?

Good choice mate! :) Enjoy your P4 and your video card.

BTW, do you still want the 7900gt?

Its the one I had my eye on,why do you ask.

Nothing wrong :)

Enjoy them :)

Why Dont u get a Pentium D Dual Core 3.0GHZ Or 3.4GHZ??It makes the Pentium 4 an old fashion,
But Like what Wolfram sed, Get a p4 Over a Celeron D.,

With intels recent price cuts on the Pentium D line, I would suggest pricing them out as well. Many games do not support Dual Core at the moment but they are starting to slowly.

JW^ does that mean i cant play games with Pentium D Dual Core? or what?

JW^ does that mean i cant play games with Pentium D Dual Core? or what?

Yes you can. But since most current games use only one core, a faster single core CPU will outperform dual-core ones. (unless you're talking about Core 2 duo's )

For example, you have a 2.8 GHZ Pentium D, and one 3.2 GHZ Pentium 4. Then you play any game that doesn't take advantage of your pentium D, and it will be slower than your Pentium 4 :)

JW^ does that mean i cant play games with Pentium D Dual Core? or what?

No, you can play games just fine. What I mean by that is you are paying more for two cores. But most games today are only devloped with on "thread" Now if game devlopers were to make games with two "threads" the full advantage of the CPU could be harnessed. Now newer games like FEAR and Oblivion (IIRC) both support Dual core. Its just a all around good idea to invest in a dual core when buying a CPU in the current market. (In my opinon)

Hope this clears things up.

Sean

EDIT


For example, you have a 2.8 GHZ Pentium D, and one 3.2 GHZ Pentium 4. Then you play any game that doesn't take advantage of your pentium D, and it will be slower than your Pentium 4 :)
I agree however.

Do remeber even if the game is not supporting multi cores, other aplications in the backround can still harness the extra core.

^ Now i got it, thanks for the Clear up Sean :)

Do remeber even if the game is not supporting multi cores, other aplications in the backround can still harness the extra core.

I forgot to mention that. He's totally correct :)
But most of us, don't have running any application, while gaming (not even AVG).

Why Dont u get a Pentium D Dual Core 3.0GHZ Or 3.4GHZ??It makes the Pentium 4 an old fashion,


because I was trying to keep the price down,but I porbably will end up with one of those,Ive upped my budget ;)

I forgot to mention that. He's totally correct :)
But most of us, don't have running any application, while gaming (not even AVG).


Thanks for that little convo you 2 had,cleared up some questions I had :)
I will be spending a little more on a dual core,so I can use that pc for processor intensive apps.

thanks everyone.

Good luck Mechz! :)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102176
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131578
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820146580(x2)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116230
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814143049
Im assuming you already have optical and hard drives, and of course an OS.
I would try and go with 2GB of RAM it will make a big diff.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811138049
The case of course is just a suggestion, it got space and power, just make sure whatever case you decide on has a good power supply at leat 450W.

Your total
case= 86$
Vid card = 151$
CPU= 97$ (You can get a faster CPU for more this was a value pick)
RAM=125$ (2GB would be way better but twice as much)
mobo=93$
sound=32$
total=584$ recommended total=709$
If you can afford more let us know and we can help you out.