Are These PC Specs Good For PS2?

[Aaron]

ASUS F1A75-M PRO FM1 mATX Motherboard
AMD Quad Core 3620 APU/CPU
Samsung 1Tb 7200 32mb cache Hard Drive
Asus 22x CD/DVD
Gigabyte 6670 Video Card
Antec 400w Power Supply
Cooler Master 80mm APU Cooling Fan
G.Skill 8 Gig total Ram (2x4Gb) DDR3 1866
Rosewill Ranger Micro ATX Case

I'm looking for a PC for my sister, and this is a pre-built from Ebay. I need a second opinion.

[Goku]

What exactly does she need the computer for? How much do you want to spend?

[Aaron]

I mean, are the specs good in a PS2 sense? The price we're aiming for is about 500.

[Goku]

Sorry I totally missed that lol.

I wouldn't get that one personally. I would aim for something with the Core i3 2100 in it instead.

[Aaron]

Thanks! Alright, one more thing. How about a custom build with these in it? Will it have trouble?

Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit
AMD FX-4100 Zambezi 3.6GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 95W Quad-Core
Kingston HyperX 4GB

[Goku]

Oh god thats even worse. No FX processors. I'm actually whipping up a custom build on Newegg right now for the hell of it. Are either of you students in college?

[Goku]

Here is a quick one a did for $560. Has a i3 2100 and 7750. I'll try making this better if you are interested in doing a custom build.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147123

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121633

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231423

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.954644

[Aaron]

No, we're not in collage, but we've been doing some local work. It pays around 10 an hour, so we're making some monies.

Oh, lemme check it out.

[Aaron]

Looks pretty awesome! But shouldn't the processor be quad-core? Or is that not much of an issue?

Oh, and yes I think we're going custom. So I appreciate your interest. You seem to know what you're doing xD

[Goku]

Doesn't have to be. Having a quad helps, but we don't have any info on whether or not PS2 will make use of quads as of yet. Even if it did the i3 2100 shouldn't have any issues keeping up and will out do the cheap AMD quads I'm sure.

Are you ordering this soon?

[Aaron]

Maybe, depends on my sister. But this build does look very tempting, and it is in consideration.

One guy says that your processor beats out a Phenom II x6! Doesn't that have 6 cores?

[Goku]

I did some looking around and that seems to be your best bet. You can get this 1TB HDD (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185)for $80 after coupon code EMCNDNJ42 if you order by the 7th.

[Aaron]

Lol, 500 GB should be plenty. I can't even fill a 250GB HHD. But you are confident in this build? Because I am very interested in this build. It can run things like Skyrim without a sweat, right?

[Goku]

Here is a review of a 7750 (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/HD_7750/21.html) for Skyrim and other games. You can only do so much with a budget gaming build unfortunately. I can recommend other cards if you want better performance. What resolution is she trying to play at?

[Johari]

If it helps at all I built my current rig with an i3-2100 and some 2nd hand parts. I run games like BF3 and Skyim just fine on high/ultra. Goku I didnt look at your posted specs but I suspect that the i3, 4gb ram, and a decent gpu will do ya just fine.

Edit: Took a look at the parts. Seems fine to for a ~$550 machine.

[Aaron]

She'll be playing at 1024x1280 at first, maybe something else later. But I currently use a 6770 for Skyrim and BF3 and they run quite well. What would it look like if you upped the GPU one notch?

[Goku]

This EVGA GTX 460 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130749). Actually about the same price as a 7750 after MIR. Probably better off with that I guess. Either will do 1280x1024 good though.

[Aaron]

Sounds cool. Thanks for all the help Goku.

[Goku]

You're welcome.

[Aaron]

Well, those parts should be arriving here tomorrow. The only thing I changed was the PSU and case with a PSU/case shellshocker combo. I got these two for only $70.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152041

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156254

This will be my first custom built from scratch, so it should be fun!

[Goku]

Did you read the reviews of that PSU unit? Its sounds really low quality. I highly suggest NOT putting that in your computer. Over half the reviews note that PSU blowing up on them. There is a high chance of a PSU going "pop" taking a few components with it. The one thing you cannot get a cheap part in a system in the PSU. Return that and get the unit I linked to you before.

You really should of got a hold of me to see if these parts were worthwhile prior to ordering.

[Aaron]

Oops, I assumed it was alright because it came with I high quality case. I checked the case, forgot to check the PSU. Anyhow, I did also accidentally order this PSU when I bought the stuff. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027

So, can I send back the 600watt I got from the combo?

[Goku]

Due to that being a combo I don't know how that is going to work on your end. You may either have to return both the case/psu or just the psu and eat the full price of the case itself. Best to get a hold of the chat service with Newegg and see what they have to say at this point. Keep that Corsair unit regardless.

[Aaron]

Okay, I read up on how refunds work on combos. I can get a refund from the 600 watt but the combo discount will be voided. This is fine by me.

The case is -$30 for the combo, it is originally $80.

The combo discount for the bad PSU is nothing, and it is originally $50.

So, with the combo discount voided, and after I get a refund for the PSU, I am paying $30 dollars for the case. Sounds pretty sweat to me.

[Goku]

Sounds like you got a good deal. Worked out at least. If you have any questions when you are putting it together feel free to ask!

[Aaron]

You're such a help, man. Saving me so much money.

[Coreldan]

I'm no tech sawwy like Goku is but I wouldn't get below a quad core at this day and age o.o

Once again I really only use APB as an example, but even if the dual core had much more clock speed, the game would run much better on a quad core. That said, APB isnt all that well optimized, but I guess in that sense it takes good'ish use of several cores?

But could just be the same "paranoia" as the OP. While the answer we got from the devs on the issue was fairly vague, I would not be counting on Forgelight not being able to use more than two cores :D Actually, I've really only played one modern game that truely struggled to use more cores than 1-2.

[Aaron]

Yeah, I'm a little paranoid when it comes to duel cores, but I can't spend too much. Intel quad cores are pretty pricey.

P.S. I don't know If I did my math right on the case. I think it's going to be more around $60. BUT, I will save on shipping because the combo had free shipping. It's also a really nice case. Worth it.

[Goku]

The i3 2100 has HT that makes it have a total of 4 threads. While its not a quad core its more then a two core CPU. Thanks to games taking advantage of four threads now that gives the 2100 a good boost in a lot of games.

[NivexQ]

Oh god thats even worse. No FX processors. I'm actually whipping up a custom build on Newegg right now for the hell of it. Are either of you students in college?

:confused::(:confused:

I love my FX processor...

[Goku]

:confused::(:confused:

I love my FX processor...

No one should be buying FX processors unless they are a total AMD fanboy or for whatever reason a task they have takes advantage of their new core approach.

[NivexQ]

I got a stable 5.0 with my FX-8120, and I'm a super multitasker, so thats why i guess

[Goku]

I got a stable 5.0 with my FX-8120, and I'm a super multitasker, so thats why i guess

And there you go. 5 GHz is a good clock!

[DEA]

LOL, AMD fanboys.

After all is said and done who cares what processor you have as long as you are happy and it plays the game you want to play yeah?

[Whalenator]

Goku is this good enough?

i7 3770k Ivy Bridge
GTX 690 Quad SLI
LHCS-2X (Liquid Helium)
32GB DDR3 CorsairX RAM

[Goku]

Goku is this good enough?

i7 3770k Ivy Bridge
GTX 690 Quad SLI
LHCS-2X (Liquid Helium)
32GB DDR3 CorsairX RAM

Unfortunately no. With the delay of PS2 to 2015 your hardware is going to be way dated with the implementation of DX13.

[Whalenator]

But in all seriousness you think a GTX 560 Ti is good enough for PS2?

[Goku]

I think the GTX 560 Ti is still a very capable card as long as your are 1920x1080 or lower. Don't expect the highest graphic settings, but I bet it can handle the upper tier settings with the proper tweaking. I'm thinking with still having a 60+ FPS experience here. Maybe we could average lower then that with full settings, but I don't think eye candy trumps frames for a FPS game.

[Whalenator]

I think the GTX 560 Ti is still a very capable card as long as your are 1920x1080 or lower. Don't expect the highest graphic settings, but I bet it can handle the upper tier settings with the proper tweaking. I'm thinking with still having a 60+ FPS experience here. Maybe we could average lower then that with full settings, but I don't think eye candy trumps frames for a FPS game.

I only go 45 FPS, really. I've been using 60hz screens for as long as I can remember, I really don't mind choppy performance. I deal with it.

[Bags]

Higby tweeted to someone a month or two ago that their system with an i5 and a 560 ti was "bitching".

[Aaron]

Hey Goku, I need a little help. Alright, so I got everything connected correctly (I believe), but I'm not getting a POST beep or a signal for the monitor. However, the motherboard did come with a separate internal speaker, but I don't know where to connect it. The manual wasn't much use. Have any idea? http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg17/scaled.php?server=17&filename=dscf1490v.jpg&res=landing

I'm pretty sure I have the CPU correctly installed. I took off the fan again to check. http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg442/scaled.php?server=442&filename=dscf1482i.jpg&res=landing

Some other images:
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg138/scaled.php?server=138&filename=dscf1485ru.jpg&res=landing
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg28/scaled.php?server=28&filename=dscf1484a.jpg&res=landing

The motherboard light comes on and all the fans are spinning, but no beep(maybe because the little speaker isn't installed) and no signal for the monitor.

There was also a 20+4 pin connector. I snapped off the 4-pin part for the CPU, and used the other 20-pin part for the motherboard. The motherboard still gets enough power, right? I think it says I can do that in the manual at least.

Thanks!

[Goku]

The 20+4 pin needs to go into the 24 pin power connector together. There should be a 8 pin that comes apart that forms 2 4 pin connectors. Use one of those to put in where you have the 4 pin that goes with the 20 pin.

[Aaron]

Oh my gosh, I love you. That seemed to work xD

I'll let you know If I run into anything else.

[Goku]

You're welcome.

[IIILSDIII]

the 2130 is a better option because of the slightly higher clocks for not a lot more money... you may also wanna try for a 2 gig model due to the larger draw distances needed for the maps...
but yeah even if your on a tight budget stay away from amd unless you have an am3 board already and in that case, get a 960t as theres more than a 50% chance that you will be able to unlock it to six working cores. if your board supports unlocking.
but im glad to see the op managed a good build and has it working...

[Aaron]

Sorry I haven't gotten back to you with a performance report, but my sister wanted to order in a new monitor and DVD drive before I got everything configured.

Anyway, for a game performance test I ran Skyrim. It recommended High settings and ran flawlessly through the start of the game. The dragon came and the soldiers were running around but there wasn't the slightest bit of lag. I ran through a town and got all the guards riled up and still no fps lag. I am truly amazed at the capabilities of this CPU; knowing that Skyrim is very CPU intensive game.

Thanks you once again for this awesome build!

[Goku]

Glad it meets your expectations! Should be a good rig for a year or two. Then you can upgrade the CPU/GPU as needed.

[Aaron]

Certainly! Thank you!

[Bags]

Curious, what did the final build end up being?

[Aaron]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156254&Tpk=raidmax%20helios

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.954644

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027&Tpk=corsair%20500

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130749

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231423

[Megiddo]

Unfortunately no. With the delay of PS2 to 2015 your hardware is going to be way dated with the implementation of DX13.

What??? PS2 is delayed to 2015? I'm looking around for this news and I don't see it.

[Vancha]

What??? PS2 is delayed to 2015? I'm looking around for this news and I don't see it.
You don't do well with sarcasm, do you?

[Megiddo]

You don't do well with sarcasm, do you?

Oh phewww... I guess not. Thanks for the sanity check.

I was thinking... 3 years from now? What the heck could have gone that wrong.

[Goku]

Haha. Sorry about that.