Bought to build me another gamers rig

[IHaveAMustang]

Well the last time I built a machine, this is what I built it with (probably 2 or so years ago)

AMD 64 3400+
1.5 GB DDR400 memory
120GB IDE hard drive
ATI X1600 512 MB AGP 8x Graphics Card

Now I am going to this:

Intel Dual Core E6550 (2.33GHz/4MB Cache/1333 MHz FSB/Low Multiplier..but eh)
4 GB DDR2 800
500 GB (yes...half of a terabyte) SATA 2 16MB buffer/7200RPM/9ms seek time

1) Is this a pretty decent setup? I spent about $349.00 on it.

2) I have not purchased my video card yet. I am unfamiliar to this "PCI-E" world. AGP was the only thing I knew. From what I can tell PCI-E is faster...but how much faster?

Also, brands...who is the best to go with? NVidia or ATi?

These are two cards that I have found...which would you guys rather purchase:

http://images10.newegg.com/brandimage/Brand1402.gif (http://www.newegg.com/Store/Brand.aspx?Brand=1402&name=EVGA) [size=2] EVGA 256-P2-N751-TR GeForce 8600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card[/size]

http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/ProductImageCompressAll200/14-130-085-08.jpg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.aspx?Image=14-130-085-08.jpg%2c14-130-085-02.jpg%2c14-130-085-03.jpg%2c14-130-085-04.jpg%2c14-130-085-05.jpg%2c14-130-085-06.jpg%2c14-130-085-07.jpg&S7ImageFlag=0&Depa=1&Description=EVGA+GeForce+8600GT+256-P2-N751-TR+Video+Card)

Specs:
[size=2]Core clock[/size] [size=2]540MHz[/size]<script type="text/javascript">document.write(neg_specification_newline('540MHz'));</script>
<table class="specification" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="name">[size=2]Memory Clock[/size]</td> <td class="desc"><script type="text/javascript">document.write(neg_specification_newline('1400MHz'));</script>[size=2] 1400MHz [/size]</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="name">[size=2]Memory Size[/size]</td> <td class="desc"><script type="text/javascript">document.write(neg_specification_newline('256MB'));</script>[size=2] 256MB [/size]</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="name">[size=2]Memory Interface[/size]</td> <td class="desc"><script type="text/javascript">document.write(neg_specification_newline('128-bit'));</script>[size=2] 128-bit [/size]</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="name">[size=2]Memory Type[/size]</td> <td class="desc"><script type="text/javascript">document.write(neg_specification_newline('GDDR3'));</script>[size=2] GDDR3[/size]</td></tr></tbody></table><table class="specification" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="name">[size=2]
[/size]</td><td class="desc">[size=2] [/size]</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="name">[size=2]Pixel Pipelines[/size]</td> <td class="desc"><script type="text/javascript">document.write(neg_specification_newline('32'));</script>[size=2] 32[/size]</td></tr></tbody></table>400MHZ RAMDAC
Dual-link DVI's
PRICE: $89.99
========================================================
http://images10.newegg.com/brandimage/Brand2058.gif (http://www.newegg.com/Store/Brand.aspx?Brand=2058&name=HIS) [size=2] HIS Hightech H260XTP512DDN-R Radeon HD 2600XT 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported iSilence III Video Card - Retail[/size]




http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/ProductImageCompressAll200/14-161-203-06.jpg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.aspx?CurImage=14-161-203-06.jpg&Image=14-161-203-04.jpg%2c14-161-203-07.jpg%2c14-161-203-05.jpg%2c14-161-203-06.jpg%2c14-161-203-08.jpg%2c14-161-203-03.jpg%2c14-161-203-02.jpg&S7ImageFlag=0&Depa=1&Description=HIS+Hightech+Radeon+HD+2600XT+H260XTP512DDN-R+iSilence+III+Video+Card)

Specs:

<table class="specification" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="name">[size=2]Core clock[/size]</td> <td class="desc"><script type="text/javascript">document.write(neg_specification_newline('800MHz'));</script>[size=2] 800MHz [/size]</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="name">[size=2]Stream Processors[/size]</td> <td class="desc"><script type="text/javascript">document.write(neg_specification_newline('120 stream processing units'));</script>[size=2] 120 stream processing units [/size]</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="title">[size=2]Memory[/size]</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="name">[size=2]Memory Clock[/size]</td> <td class="desc"><script type="text/javascript">document.write(neg_specification_newline('1400MHz'));</script>[size=2] 1400MHz [/size]</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="name">[size=2]Memory Size[/size]</td> <td class="desc"><script type="text/javascript">document.write(neg_specification_newline('512MB'));</script>[size=2] 512MB [/size]</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="name">[size=2]Memory Interface[/size]</td> <td class="desc"><script type="text/javascript">document.write(neg_specification_newline('128-bit'));</script>[size=2] 128-bit [/size]</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="name">[size=2]Memory Type[/size]</td> <td class="desc"><script type="text/javascript">document.write(neg_specification_newline('GDDR3'));</script>[size=2] GDDR3[/size]</td></tr></tbody></table><script type="text/javascript">document.write(neg_specification_newline('400 MHz'));</script>RAMDAC 400 MHz
Built in HDMI
PRICE: $129.99

From what I can tell, the ATi seems to be better..but more expensive (duh). But I value the gamer's opinion. Any input would be appreciated.

[momo stallion]

i can help you some since i was just looking into vid cards last night..

the nvidia 7600gt is a good home theater pc video card since it was built in with HDCP and h.264 support. i mean it will play games fine but there are better performers. i was thinking about buying the XFX brand 7600gt (cost more, but its overclocked with better fan).

the ati 2600 should be about the same price as the 7600 ~ $100. for the money you put there ($130) you can get the ati 1950 pro which is a better gaming card than both of the ones you listed.


personally, i usually wind up picking nvidia.

[The Big Matt]

i bought the XFX 512mb 8600GT from new egg for just over 100 bucks, seems to be a pretty good card, installing a new box now, so we'll see

[1994SilverGT]

what kind of games are you gonna play? You can always get one of those two, and if it turns out your card isnt doing so well for games, its easy to swap em out.

[J Osh10]

sounds like a deal on the stuff you bought so far where did u but it at?

[NeedleSharp]

500 gigs on your main drive? thats alota shit to go through to find a sound effect clip or a picture when your playing a game even with SATA 2. i have a 80gig as my windows/program drive and a 300 and 200g as cold storage and music.

[Stang2be]

I run one single 400gb sata 2 drive and building up a new file server now

[Hunt4m3x]

Lol @ the half a terabyte.

[07:52] <@Hunt4m3x> HD: [C:] 39.13/139.73 GB [D:Mp3 Drive] 66.02/186.31 GB [H:Storage Unit 5] 26.28/232.88 GB [K:Storage Unit 2] 23.06/232.88 GB [N:New Volume] 105.78/279.47 GB
[07:52] <@Hunt4m3x> Total Free: 260.25 GB/1071.28 GB



Use a raptor drive. 74gigs is fine @ 10000rpms/

[8mpg]

lol also at 500gb.. My home computer is running just under 1.5tb

[Stang2be]

Once I'm done with my "new" file server I'll have 1.5 TB of raid 5 IDE for now then slap the os possibly on a 36gb raptor

[IHaveAMustang]

[QUOTE=8mpg]lol also at 500gb.. My home computer is running just under 1.5tb[/QUOTE]


Hey, give me a break. I am going from 120 GB (which I maxed out with episodes of 24 and Top Gear) to 500 GB...that's a pretty big leap for a guy like me.

And I wasn't planning on leaving the drive at its full 500 GB. I was thinking 160 and 340.

The parts I got at Fry's but the deals have since expired. I thought I did pretty good too...

The 3 games I play mostly are BF2 (Project Reality or S.F.), DoD:S (runs great now, so not upgrading for this game) and F.E.A.R.

BF2:PR runs like crap. In this game, one bullet can take a guy out, but with AA off I can't tell if its a pole or a person at long ranges....not to mention my sound crackles and I am jittering every where I go. I want to play the game smooth

The big matt, let me know how that card does for you...I really want to play games on MAX settings with full AA (or at least 4x)

Momo, will the ATi 1950 let me play at max settings? And where are you getting your prices at? I was at newegg.com

Thanks!

[momo stallion]

[QUOTE=Restomod66]Momo, will the ATi 1950 let me play at max settings? And where are you getting your prices at? I was at newegg.com

Thanks![/QUOTE]

i took a look and found this 512MB 2600xt
http://www.ncixus.com/products/27222/2600XT512PESB/Diamond/

as far as the 1950pro, i believe so. most people recommend that card and toms hardware still puts it ahead of the 8600 or the 2600

[IHaveAMustang]

After reading some reviews, I think the X1950 PRO is the card for me. Thanks for your advice. It seems to kick most if not all games to pieces...