Building my first computer

[Squeeky]

Well, i'm building my first computer.

Specs:

Case: Thermaltake Tsunami
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3800+
Mobo: ABIT KN8 Ultra nF4
Memory: 1gb Corsair PC3200
Video Card: GeForce 6600
HDD: Maxtor 200gig
CD/RW, DVD

I have everything but the motherboard/processor, which should be here by monday. I'm thinking about taking the video card back, and spending a bit more money. Hell, I get paid tomorrow, and could drop another $80-$100 and get something with a bit more performance value. Maybe the 6600 is sufficient? It's AGP, and the motherboard has PCI-E slots, so i'm tempted to just spend the extra money.

Or, I could take that $100 and buy another gig of ram? :confused:

[Ivan]

Just don't forget to use lube. ;)

[Electrofreak]

You forgot the hamster

[Setari]

I think you'd at least want to go with a 6600GT. I don't think the vanilla card is good for much of anything. I don't think that mobo has an AGP slot anyway. If you have the money you might want to get one of these or something similar:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102483

Or here's a new gen mid-range card:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150141

Not too big a deal really, just get at least a 6600GT. :P

[Hamma]

^^ Aye

I have the 6600 GT and it's great. They aren't all that expensive now either I paied quite a bit more for mine when I got it.

[Squeeky]

I don't think that mobo has an AGP slot anyway. If you have the money you might want to get one of these or something similar:



I think i'm going to pick up the 7600GT after work. You're right, it doesn't have an AGP slot anyways. :lol:

[Mag-Mower]

I think i'm going to pick up the 7600GT after work. You're right, it doesn't have an AGP slot anyways. :lol:

Sounds good. I have been thinking of getting a 7600gt, as they are the newer generation, and they have excellent price/performance ratio.

[Rbstr]

Go for the 7600gt.

The AGP card won't work in that mobo anyway.

Also make sure you have 2x 512 sticks and not a single 1gb stick of ram. Dual channel is important.

[Squeeky]

Go for the 7600gt.

The AGP card won't work in that mobo anyway.

Also make sure you have 2x 512 sticks and not a single 1gb stick of ram. Dual channel is important.

Ya, dual channel, hurr. I'm still learning. :(

I'm sick and tired of returning shit to Fry's, so i'll just pick up another 1gig stick in the next few weeks.

Returned the 6600, and currently shopping on Best Buy website for a new card. (Ordering from best buy because I have a $75.00 gift cert, :p)

[Derfud]

Mini-hijack here.

I have a 6600 GT right now and I'm looking to get a new graphics card to increase my system's performance in Oblivion, as well as maybe increase the graphical settings. It doesn't run terribly, but it isnt exactly the best performance. The rest of my system is: Athlon 60 3000+, DFI Lanparty NF4 Ultra-D and 1024mb of ram.

Would upgrading the video card be the best course of action? If so, what are your guys' suggestions? As for the meantime, how would I go about overclocking my GPU?

[Rbstr]

BB is gonna kill you on prices for hardware, things like keyboards and monitors can be fine.

I don't see any 7600s there, but the 7800gt's are decently priced, you might try it. I have one, it's a great card.

[Rbstr]

Mini-hijack here.

I have a 6600 GT right now and I'm looking to get a new graphics card to increase my system's performance in Oblivion, as well as maybe increase the graphical settings. It doesn't run terribly, but it isnt exactly the best performance. The rest of my system is: Athlon 60 3000+, DFI Lanparty NF4 Ultra-D and 1024mb of ram.

Would upgrading the video card be the best course of action? If so, what are your guys' suggestions? As for the meantime, how would I go about overclocking my GPU?

Athlon 64 you mean? :p that cpu is getting a bit old, a second gig of ram will help. But a new card is going to make things improve too probably the most of the three, though it can depend on the game.

realy you need to move up to a 7800/7900 or x1900, I wouldn't move up to a new mid range card.

[Derfud]

I have no idea how I typed a 0 instead of a 4, probably lack of sleep, speaking of which it's 5:00 am and I still am not sleeping.

thanks for the tips rbstr, I've been out of the hardware loop for about a year now, I don't know what is good anymore :p

[321]

I am the best player of PS so my computer is a guarenteed sucess.

ATI Rage 9MB
32MB RAM
AMD Am5x86

[Mag-Mower]

I am the best player of PS so my computer is a guarenteed sucess.

ATI Rage 9MB
32MB RAM
AMD Am5x86

how u ge tat? i r need sistem wit goood stuf LOL!

I have no clue Why I decided to post this...

[Hamma]

I am the best player of PS so my computer is a guarenteed sucess.

ATI Rage 9MB
32MB RAM
AMD Am5x86
http://www.thenetworkadministrator.com/crackpipe.jpg

[Derfud]

Athlon 64 you mean? :p that cpu is getting a bit old, a second gig of ram will help. But a new card is going to make things improve too probably the most of the three, though it can depend on the game.

realy you need to move up to a 7800/7900 or x1900, I wouldn't move up to a new mid range card.

I was looking at the 7800GS, it seemed like it would be ideal since it had good overclocking capabilities, and it was well within my pricerange. However, I've only been able to find AGP versions of this card. Is it an AGP only? If so, is there a PCI-E counterpart to this card?

[Squeeky]

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/2946/img21758wa.jpg

It's ALIVE!!! :eek:

And before you ask, yes, that is a female cutout beer coozie. :lol:

And that porcelain statue is my "Bud Hound". You can lift him off to reveal a small place to store your goodies. :)

(yes, the dog is holding buds)

[Hamma]

Not bad :D How's she running?

[Squeeky]

She's running sweet. I got Speedfan regulating fan RPM's.

Temps are 30 idle, and 42 under load. :D

Just ran America's Army, highest settings for everything, 80-90FPS.

Gaming just isn't the same anymore :D :D

[Hamma]

Sweet :D

Yea a good PC really makes everything 100x better.

[Rbstr]

Oh fuck yeah it does.

Installed oblivion today, it set default to "Ultra high" Fucking owns.