Another PC spec; is it OK?

I appreciate the feedback on the other PC spec I described in another thread. Here's another that looks more promising. If it's as decent as it seems, I'll get it and review it here. I'd appreciate your feedback before I do so.

The vendor is Directron.com. A good friend recommended them. The configurator for the following spec can be found at:

http://store.yahoo.com/directron/sysax568.html

The spec (modified from defaults) is:

- Processor: AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Socket 939 2.0GHz processor with 64-bit architecture and HyperTransport technology.
- Memory: One DDR 400MHz 1GB
- Motherboard: Biostar 6100-M9 Socket 939 MicroATX motherboard with nVidia 6100 chipset and GPU, SATA, PCI-E, LAN, VGA, Audio
- Video: PCI Express Video Card: Biostar GeForce 7300GS 256MB Video Card V7302GS26
- Sound: Onboard AC97 sound.
- Network: Onboard 10/100 ethernet.
- Storage: Western Digital Caviar SE SATA 80GB hard drive, 7200 RPM, 8MB cache.
- Optical Drive: Black NEC ND-3550A Double Layer 16X DVD Burners, OEM

Final price (before S&H) is $538.99.

- Lavanya

Wowza! I will just say you sure know how to set these up and poll in a really eye-catching way.

I don't have personal experiences with most of those components, but like your similar thread, the graphics card in this system seems less-than-satisfactory--especially as SL moves towards more visual eye candy using the GPU (including a better lighting system in the future, and of course, the recent Ripple Water). So for a longer-term solution, it would not be desirable.

Something like a trusty-and-proven GeForce 6600GT (sweet spot in price right now, not that much more than a 7300GS) would be a better choice, if not the even better 6800GS. I have a very nice 7800GT and am extremely happy with it--the more "mid-range" 7600GT is new and I don't know quite how it performs.

Also something very important to consider, altho it will add to the price: is multitasking very important to you? Do you want to run lots of other programs (e.g. graphics editing or other content creation apps) while SL is also open? Any other aims or particular whims you have? If that doesn't matter, then no worries... otherwise I must simply say I'm very pleased with my dual-core system, and these types of things are dropping rapidly in price as they become more common.

I like a big bang for a buck too!

Looking at the Anandtech review of your video card, (http://anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2699), I'd say you might want to spend a bit more to get a beefier video card. The 7300gs is ~$75, it's worth spending a bit more to get a better video card, such as a 6800gs. Seriously, the video card is one of the most important components, and spending a bit more right now means that you don't have to buy a new computer in a year or two, in order to play an interesting new game.

Other than that... it looks pretty good, but you may want a bit more hard drive space if you're going to rip a CD collection.

"Lag" is a broad term in SL. I will not go into what causes "lag" here, but I can say that everyone in SL gets lagged at times. Machines with waaay higher specs than what you intend to buy get lagged. Put simply, your milage may vary.

That's a Micro-ATX motherboard. While "feature packed", for a micro, it is limited (two PCI slots, etc), and isn't really a gamer's choice, imho.

It does appear to be a nicely featured mATX, with 4 DIMM sockets, SATA support (x2), 4 IDEs, 6 USB, onboard LAN/sound/etc. Only negatives I found (and I didn't look hard) was that you'll (probably) want to flash the BIOS.

Get a better video card.
6600GTs are about $85.
6800's start around $140 (that's a plain ol'6800, still I'd take that over the 7300)
7600GT's start around $200.

Seriously though, I wouldn't get a micro-ATX for gaming. Course that is just my opinion -- I do suggest investing in a good room fan, you'll probably need it (to blow air into the case -- that tight space is going to heat up fast).

i have an ati x850. it has a built in vent for it's cooling fan so that it doesn't add as much heat inside the machine. i recommend this since SL will always use as much CPU and GPU as it possibly can 24/7.

i had 1 GB of DDR ram but found after a while of being logged in, SL would max it out and my system would crawl. i recommend 2 GB. it solved my problems.

an ideal system would have the fastest processor available, 2x nvidea 7800 vcards, and 2 GB DDR2 ram.

I am so deeply confused about the video card options, really. The list found at that configurator I cited is expanded on here:

. http://www.dark-circuit.com/directron/sorteditems/pciexpressa.php

There's only one thing new I'm realizing now: that the products are both chipset (e.g., GeForce 6600) and containing board (e.g., Chaintech GeForce 6600 PCI-E Video Card SE6600). One consistent message I hear is that the GeForce 6600 chipset is a reliable performer for SL. OK. Then there's chipset versions (e.g., 6600LE, SE6600, 6600GT), which means nothing to me.

Some of you have expensive tastes. My goal is to keep the price below $500. If I keep the price of the card under $100, I'll be just over $500 total. Does anyone care to suggest which ones, under that limit, are the best values?

Can anyone provide some additional insight into which chipsets, board vendors, etc. are any good and generally why?

Following is a subset of what's on that page, limited to 6600s:


Asus Extreme GeForce 6600LE Silencer PCI-E Video Card EN6600LE/T/256/S, 256MB DDR, w/ DVI-I & TV-Out, ds-sy
$92.00

eVGA GeForce 6600LE Video Card 256-P2-N363-TX, 256MB 128-bit DDR, PCI-E, w/ VGA, DVI-I & S-Video.
Regular price: $94.99
On Sale92.99

Chaintech GeForce 6600 PCI-E Video Card SE6600, 256MB DDR 128-bit, w/ DVI-I, HDTV & TV-Out
$103.00

XFX GeForce 6600 PCI Express Video Card PV-T43P-ND, 128MB DDR, HDTV Ready, w/ Dual DVI
Regular price: $125.00
On Sale119.99

XFX GEFORCE 6600 GT PCI-E Video Card, 128MB DDR3, Dual DVI & TV Out, SLI Ready, Model: PV-T43G-ND.
Regular price: $142.00
On Sale124.00

*backorder* Biostar GeForce 6600GT 256MB PCI-E Video Card V6602GS21, SLI Ready, w/ D-Sub, TV-Out & DVI
Regular price: $149.00
On Sale132.00
XFX GeForce 6600 GT SLI Ready Video Card PV-T43G-UDL6, 256MB DDR2, HDTV Ready, w/ Dual DVI Out
Regular price: $143.99
On Sale139.00

*Free UPS Ground* MSI NX6600GT-TD128E Video Card, GeForce 6600GT, PCI-E, ** SLI READY **, 128MB DDR3, DVI / TV-Out / HDTV, Retail box
Regular price: $175.00
On Sale156.00

PNY Verto GeForce 6600 GT PCI-E Video Card, 128MB 128-bit DDR3, 400MHz, w/ VGA & DVI & S-Video, SLI-Multi GPU, Model: VCG6600GXPB, ds
Regular price: $239.99
On Sale188.00

BFG GeForce 6600 GT OC PCI-E Video Card, 128MB 128-bit DDR3, 400MHz, 256-bit nVIDIA GeForce 6600GT GPU, /w S-video, TV-Out, Dual DVI. ds-dh
Regular price: $259.99
On Sale239.99


You guys know so much. I appreciate the help, too.


- Lavanya

Most of what is on that list will run SL fine, but I'd avoid the "LE" cards. Usually, the manufacturing process used to produce a silicon chip will turn out a few duds. These chips don't perform up to spec, and are rejected. The worst ones never make it into a final product, but some low achieving chips are slightly crippled and used in lower priced cards. LE cards are generally the recipients of crippled chips. They do work, but they are slower than their non-LE counterparts.

I voted, but where is PI?

I have to agree with what some ppl posted: 1 more Gig of RAM, and a 6600/6800/or 7800 series card. The LE series are the "light" series. You get the name but not the power. SE from what I've always understood is "Special Edition", GT & GTX are like the "sporty" gamer models. You will pay dearly for those

Also, since I didnt notice it, Get a decent Power Supply. 500 Watts at least. Might get by with 450 Watts as long as you dont start adding a bunch of stuff. And don't go cheap on Power Supplies!! Not all PSU's are created equal. Try Ultra, ASUS, Antec, Thermaltake, just to name a few.

I've got an MSI NX6200AX 128. Is this totally under powered?

Its a lower end card, but it should still at least do ripple water in SL. You could actually run SL with a much slower card that can't do ripple water.

Currently, looks like GeForce 6600GTs are a real bang for the buck. They've fallen enough already in price due to the 6800GS and will likely continue to be made cheaper by the introduction of the 7600GT, and a solid variant like EVGA's makes them a good investment. They should readily be available for around US$125 now.

Especially with SL going to use more eyecandy in the future which makes more use of your graphics card. Ripple water will look like a slideshow on slower graphics cards--on faster ones you will nary take a performance hit.

Read more in Runitai's post here.

I do not have a 6600GT, but I have a 7800GT by EVGA and I am very pleased. They have good customer service too.