Rate my build

[1stimebuilder]

I am going to build my first PC that will play most current and upcoming games. I am on a low budget less than $600 and want to know what the minds out there think of the components before i start buying. Any input would be helpful THANKS!

GIGABYTE GA-M61PM-S2 Socket AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 6100 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

COOLMAX CP-500T EPS12V 500W Power Supply

AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Windsor 2.0GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADA3800CUBOX

CORSAIR XMS2 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X1024A-6400

Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600JSRTL 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

MSI NX7600GS-T2D256E GeForce 7600GS 256MB GDDR2 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail

Soundblaster Sound Card

[Lord Sirian]

Hi, I think its great that you're building your own computer, that's the only way to make sure you get exactly what you want. I think that is a decent gaming system for a low budget, just one thing, I'd get a 550 Watt PSU.

[mecoatwar]

yeah its good you got the videocard you did and didnt spend 500 dollars on a 7900 gtx because in the next year or two directx9 cards wont be able to play some of the newer games that are only directx 10 compatible.

[Indoril Nerevar]

Originally Posted by Lord Sirian

just one thing, I'd get a 550 Watt PSU.

Lord Sirian has hit the nail right on the head. For that kind of system, you really should get a 550W PSU, but most importantly, you need a high quality brand such as FSP, OCZ, Silverstone, Seasonic, Antec. Read "Power Supply Info" in my signature to understand why. Spend the money on a quality PSU now, and save your system from damage down the track.

The rest of the system seems pretty good. If you can, I'd bump the CPU up a notch or two as well. You'd find that the 3800+ would slow you down at times. It's a budget CPU, and not really designed for heavy gaming. Even the 4200+ would be a much better choice.

[Tiber Septim]

Lucky for us there is a big price war on CPU's at the moment so going for a better CPU shouldn't be that much of a problem.

One question though: The soundblaster card, is it 100% neccasary. For the price you would pay for one, it isn't that big of a difference over Onboard sound. Unless you are an avid audiophile with a decent 5.1 or 7.1 Surround Sound setup, you won't notice a difference.

[Indoril Nerevar]

Originally Posted by Tiber Septim

One question though: The soundblaster card, is it 100% neccasary. For the price you would pay for one, it isn't that big of a difference over Onboard sound. Unless you are an avid audiophile with a decent 5.1 or 7.1 Surround Sound setup, you won't notice a difference.

Excellent point. Unless you particularly want it, drop the sound card and use the extra money to get a better PSU and CPU.

[1stimebuilder]

Hi guys, I haven't purchased anything yet so these comments are appreciated. here is an updated list of components, let me know what you guys think.

SoundBlaster - Already have from previous pc, no extra cost for it.

GIGABYTE GA-M57SLI-S4 Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

eVGA 256-P2-N615-TX GeForce 7600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail

CORSAIR XMS2 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X1024A-6400 - Retail

Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600JSRTL 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Retail

APEVIA ATX-CW500WP4 ATX 500W Power Supply - Retail

[Indoril Nerevar]

You haven't listed a CPU with that. Are you still going for the 3800?

You also still have a low-quality power supply listed. I highly recommend you read the power supply thread I mentioned, and get a high quality unit from Antec, FSP, OCZ, Silverstone or Seasonic. Save yourself some grief later on, and give your system the backbone it needs - the power supply is the most important part of your computer, so spend the money on it first and build the rest of your system around it. You will be sorry if you get a low quality unit.

[1stimebuilder]

Hi guys, I haven't purchased anything yet so these comments are appreciated. here is an updated list of components, let me know what you guys think.

SoundBlaster - Already have from previous pc, no extra cost for it.

GIGABYTE GA-M57SLI-S4 Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $118.99

eVGA 256-P2-N615-TX GeForce 7600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail $129.99

CORSAIR XMS2 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X1024A-6400 - Retail $123

Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600JSRTL 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Retail $59.99

FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX450-PN, 12cm FAN, version 2.2, 2 SATA, PCI Express, 450W Power Supply - Retail $53.99

AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Windsor 2.0GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADA3800CUBOX - Retail $135

sounds like FSP is the way to go, just need to budget in some extra $$
Total: $670.95 is this good for upper mid to high end gaming?

[Indoril Nerevar]

I understand you're trying to save as much money as possible, but your really need that system to be running on a 500 - 550W PSU, preferably a 550W. The power supply is not the unit you should be looking to save money on - drop something else down a little bit, and spend what you need to on the power supply. I can't say it any clearer than this: if you don't get the right power supply for your system, you are risking damaging all the other components in your computer.

Other than that, you have quite a good system. It should play most games at medium detail levels.

[Indoril Nerevar]

I moved your question about Open Box components to the Other section in Hardware, where you'll get more responses.

Here's the thread:
Open Box