Personal computing discussed

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APWNH
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Yes, finally, a customer

Tue Apr 06, 2004 1:33 pm

One of my friends agreed to have me build him a computer, and he really likes the idea of having something similar to those "FragBoxes", which I hope is a good thing, since i can then charge him more for one. :D Now obviously i would need a Radeon card in there, as well as a decent 2.5Ghz or faster processor. I really don't know too much about these SFF systems, and how the heat buildup and other things are, with them.

Essentially, I just need some suggestions on the setup for a stable gaming machine, in one of those SFF cases.
 
the_silver_bullet24
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Tue Apr 06, 2004 4:48 pm

2.5GHz? You can try to get those speeds with a Mobile 2500+ :D

For a gaming rig I'd go for maybe 2800+ or 3000+ AMD64, gig of RAM, Radeon 9800 Pro, Seagate 7200.7 drive and an M-Audio or Santa Cruz sound card...

How much are you looking to spend?
 
eckslax
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Tue Apr 06, 2004 5:28 pm

As for cooling concerns, I wouldn't worry too much. Unless your friend plans on doing heavy overclocking, the included cooling is usually adequate. If his budget allows, I would go for an A64 system, as you can get the 3000+ for just over $200 at Newegg. As Bullet mentioned above, the Radeon 9800 Pro is your best bet for the video card, since it is a nice bang for your buck at just over $200. New games like Farcy have shown that nothing less than a gig of RAM will cut it with the next generation titles coming down the pike, so don't skimp in that area. These specs are a good base for a system that will easily play all the current titles, as well as the hotly anticipated titles coming out shortly (Doom 3 and HL2).
"God created man. Samuel Colt made them equal."

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APWNH
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Tue Apr 06, 2004 5:41 pm

the_silver_bullet24 wrote:
2.5GHz? You can try to get those speeds with a Mobile 2500+ :D


I meant P4 2.5 speed. 2500+, etc.

I don't even think his parents let him play violent games at all. :-?

But that hardly matters. If i get AMD, I could give him 512 ram and tell him to get another 512 later.

god.. I would kill to have a 9800 pro. :evil:
 
the_silver_bullet24
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Tue Apr 06, 2004 6:24 pm

a person who needs help wrote:
god.. I would kill to have a 9800 pro. :evil:


You and me both.
 
red0510
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Tue Apr 06, 2004 6:24 pm

a person who needs help wrote:
god.. I would kill to have a 9800 pro. :evil:


So do it. Walk into your nearest computer retailer, look for the lamest salesperson you can find, put a .44 to his head and pull. Oh, and then walk out calmly with a shiny new 9800 pro under your arm.

I do it all the time. It's great therapy, and I get all the best new gear this way.
 
Foolio
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Wed Apr 07, 2004 12:59 pm

red0510 wrote:
a person who needs help wrote:
god.. I would kill to have a 9800 pro. :evil:


So do it. Walk into your nearest computer retailer, look for the lamest salesperson you can find, put a .44 to his head and pull. Oh, and then walk out calmly with a shiny new 9800 pro under your arm.

I do it all the time. It's great therapy, and I get all the best new gear this way.



I assume that they let you use the internet from yer cell, right red? :lol:
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steelcity_ballin
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Wed Apr 07, 2004 1:15 pm

the_silver_bullet24 wrote:
a person who needs help wrote:
god.. I would kill to have a 9800 pro. :evil:


You and me both.


They are not that expensive anymore. My 9800 pro is running very nicely overclocked and only cost me 200+ shipping. :)
 
pez-king
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Wed Apr 07, 2004 1:27 pm

I've shyed away from building systems for people. As soon as something goes wrong, it suddenly becomes your fault. Then they tell everything you have no idea what you are doing, blah blah blah.

Anymore I just offer basic hardware advice and let them do it.
 
Slade
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Wed Apr 07, 2004 1:33 pm

Amen brother. Family and friends - that's it.
I value my free time and weekends too much.
 
Usacomp2k3
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Wed Apr 07, 2004 1:37 pm

especially with all the new technologies and stuff coming out, it's difficult to keep up with that and seem "knowledgeable" to the person with the problem "video card drivers maybe" is hardly a satisfactory answer to a newb and also, if it's not your system and don't know how they use it (or even worse that they don't know they don't know), it is really difficult to troubleshoot it. I leave that to the pro's.
 
SpotTheCat
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Wed Apr 07, 2004 1:52 pm

I'm building a system for my girlfriend, and I'm hoping she doesn't riddle it with ****.
 
derFunkenstein
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Wed Apr 07, 2004 2:03 pm

OK, so you get the MSI Mega 180 or a Shuttle cube, then get a 2500+ M and crank it up as fast as it'll go on the original "default" voltage (1.65v), throw in a ton of fast memory and a 9800 Pro...no reason it wouldn't run well with the SFF's cooling...
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APWNH
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Wed Apr 07, 2004 5:20 pm

pete_roth wrote:
the_silver_bullet24 wrote:
a person who needs help wrote:
god.. I would kill to have a 9800 pro. :evil:


You and me both.


They are not that expensive anymore. My 9800 pro is running very nicely overclocked and only cost me 200+ shipping. :)


That's not the point. If they were $50 my parents still wouldn't let me get one. :evil: :evil: :x :x :x :x :x :cry: :cry: :cry:
 
d_rogue
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Sun Apr 11, 2004 8:17 pm

Consider the SN41G2 V2,
Silent X
IGP
Sweet looks

Your girl friend will be on her knees for weeks
 
the_silver_bullet24
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Sun Apr 11, 2004 10:48 pm

pete_roth wrote:
They are not that expensive anymore. My 9800 pro is running very nicely overclocked and only cost me 200+ shipping. :)


Yeah but I need the whole thing.
 
Nikto
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Sun Apr 11, 2004 11:06 pm

pez-king wrote:
I've shyed away from building systems for people. As soon as something goes wrong, it suddenly becomes your fault. Then they tell everything you have no idea what you are doing, blah blah blah.

Anymore I just offer basic hardware advice and let them do it.


Not to mention that they freak out about every little thing and expect to be able to call you and ask you why their system froze up once. ARGH!

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