Suggestions on a PC for gaming and editing

[mikey2021]

hi i was wondering if anyone would be able to make a few suggestions or changes to a system i am planning to buy
i wanted this system for gaming and video editing


Case: -ThermalTake Xaser II 5000A (Black) with Antec True 430w PS

Intel CPU: -Intel Pentium 4 3.0 GHz (512k Cache, 800 MHz FSB)

Motherboard: -Asus P4C800-E Deluxe with
Audio/GB.LAN/S.ATA/Firewire/RAID (800MHz FSB)

Case Fan: Cold Cathode 11in Light, Red
RAM (1st stick): Corsair XMS TwinX 1,024 MB PC3200 DDR400, Heat Spreaders, Matched Pair

Hard Drive 1: Maxtor 160 GB, Serial ATA, 7200 RPM, 8MB Cache

CD-ROM: Mitsumi 54x CD-ROM - Beige

Video Card: Asus Radeon 9800XT-TVD 256MB with TV-In/Out, DVI

Sound Card: SoundBlaster Audigy ES (OEM)

Speakers: Cambridge SoundWorks PC Works (3 Piece)

Operating System: Windows XP Home (OEM)

Network Card: PCI 10 / 100 Network Card (DLink DFE530TX+)


i was thinkin of goinin istead with a gigabyte 8KNXP instead of the Asus board , and wondered if Cosair would have advantages over crucial or kingston Hyper X .


Anymore suggestions would be greatly appreciated

thanks again
mikey

[thall]

AMD64 would be a great choice ove rthe P4. Doom3 and other new games are coming out in 64 bit and you can get the Windows 64 bit OS free for a "360-day preview" and get up and going tomorrow. Other specs are rockin'. Add a second drive for a stripped SATA RAID config and its maxed. All your old stuff will run at the same time while optimizing the 64 bit compatible apps.

[Ultima]

If you stay with P4, I'd go for the MSI 865PE Neo-2 motherboard.

It's the fastest in it's class, or so I've heard. I have it myself too, and I'm loving it, blistering fast.

Get a cdwriter instead of the cdrom, they are about as cheap.

[DanGrease]

Maybe this isnt proper but I only have one word for you for gaming machine: Alienware

dan

[mikey2021]

thanks for the replies, i have a sony dvd writer on my other pc with i was gonna use instead of the cd rom so thats not a problem but thanks for the suggestion,
Assuming i do go with a amd 64 which processor would be better the 3200+ or the FX-51 and would these be good for video editing and graphic designing and the likes,

Hi Mikey,

That motherboard already has onboard gigabit LAN, so no need for a separate network card. Since your case selection is black, why get a beige optical drive? I'd suggest a more versatile optical drive, like a DVD/CD burner, or a least a DVD-ROM drive, unless you already have external drives you'll be using with the system.

I highly recommend the Gigabyte motherboard you mentioned as a possible alternative...more stable BIOS and dual BIOS chips.

That Maxtor drive is good, but Seagate makes a 160 GB SATA drive with an 8 MB cache that is quieter.

The Asus 9800XT is a great card...you'll love it.

Corsair and Mushkin are the 2 memory manufacturers on the short list if you want premium memory.

I sell systems with similar configurations. Visit my web site for compatability/configuration ideas.
http://www.resellerratings.com/seller4865.html

Good luck,
Russell
http://tastycomputers.com

[Starfury_2260]

If you go with a 64bit AMD get the 3400+.

[Muffins666]

Dude, if you're going for a custom built machine that is done by the company you are buying from...don't go Alienware. At one time this was a good company, but now they are more hype than anything else.

If you are going to spend the money man, go Falcon Northwest, Hypersonic, or Voodoo. At least they actually go through the testing process that they claim, and do provide the service and support that they charge you for.

Take a good look at the reseller ratings on companies before you buy.

[kjg]

Well I will be a dissenting voice here,
I have a similar board to your asus one and I have had no problems with it at all, I have no hesitation recommending it.
And the 9800xt is an awesome card, I have the 9800pro and it is blisteringly fast.

As for the 64bit AMD's I agree with starfury and go with the 3400's as I believe the fx range are incredibly expensive and similar to the 3400.