As some of you know/remember, I used to have a very nice rig(E6600 @ 3ghz + 8800 Ultra). Unfortunately I encountered some issues down the road and sold off all the parts(except board which was faulty)to buy a 32" Samsung 1080p TV. Recently I've been gaming on my PS3, but can't help still wanting to play PC games.  Money isn't exactly super tight, but I'm certainly not rich by any stretch so I opted to build a budget rig that only needs to last about a year(waiting for Nehalem)and only wanted to spend about 500-700max. I wanted a rig that will let me play games @ 1080p on my new TV and with settings no lower than medium(I can live without AA/AF if need be)with decent frames. I ordered all my parts from the egg already(less hdd which I already have)and only spent 600 altogether.

CPU = E4600(will use stock cooler unless heat becomes an issue)

RAM = Mushkin value type(no heat spreader)6400 - C5 - 1.8v

Board = Intel G31 micro(deffinately no frills or OC'ing, but dependable & cheap)

GFX = MSI OC'ed 8800GTS 512

PSU = OCZ StealthXtreme 500w(2 rails - 18A ea., very inexpensive)

Optical = Lite-on DVD burner(SATA)

Case = CoolerMaster Elite 340(mATX that full size GFX will fit in + accepts 2x 120mm)

It should be up and running by the weekend so I'll be posting pics and benchies for those interested in seeing what kind of performance 600 bux'll buy. I would've got a different board(something OC'able), but after doing some homework came to the conclusion that 2.4ghz + 2mb cache will easily feed the GTS. I'll be running XP... stay tuned!

I remember you were pretty ticked off with compatibility issues on PC gaming.  Guess you can't resist, eh?

Good build for $600.  Just the other day someone was rattling on about needing a $500 video card to play newest games, but a complete system is built for just over that.  Just a little more than PS3.  This just further shows it to the PC gaming haters.

Throw some benchies our way.  I suspect you'll get Call of Duty 4 at 1080p with highest setting on that. 

Crisis Causer:

I remember you were pretty ticked off with compatibility issues on PC gaming.  Guess you can't resist, eh?

Not compatability per say... just lotsa little things that I had trouble pinning down, but I learn as I go.

Crisis Causer:

Good build for $600.  Just the other day someone was rattling on about needing a $500 video card to play newest games, but a complete system is built for just over that.  Just a little more than PS3.  This just further shows it to the PC gaming haters.

For 6 bills it does look like it should be very nice indeed, but I must admit that choosing just the right mix of parts took many hours of pouring over my options as well as concluding that OC'ing isn't truly needed right now. Luckily this setup will allow some upgrade options. I can wait till wolfies are much cheaper and/or get an OC'able board and a better cpu cooler(most likely choice).

Crisis Causer:

Throw some benchies our way.  I suspect you'll get Call of Duty 4 at 1080p with highest setting on that. 

Yeah... and probably most new games for that matter. From what I've read I should even be able to run AoC at max/near max settings with fps not dipping lower than 20-30 which works for me.

BTW: Just wanted to say congrats again on winning that awesome rig that I have dubbed the Patriotic Pwner!!!

~bump~

1st benches:

Super Pi, 1M = 23.6 (far from mind blowing, but decent IMO) spec recap = 2.4ghz, 2mb cache, 800mhz fsb, 2x 1gb PC6400 5 5 5 18 1.8v

CS:S, all settings high, reflect world, color correction enabled, v-sync disabled, 0xAA, trilinear, full HDR, 1920 x 1080 = 204 fps

With the CS:S video stress test I encountered some trouble when enabling AA/AF, but at this high res it looks virtually "jaggy" free and very sharp even without AA. The lack of AF is slightly noticable, but doesn't detract from the picture quality at all IMO. I actually had to back the factory OC down a hair for stability, but aren't hung up about it all. In fact I noticed something odd: With the GFX core @ factory OC of 678 and memory @ factory OC of 972, my framerate was 8 frames slower (196 fps) than when I backed it down to 650 core and 950 memory... go figure. I also used Riva to lock the fan speed to 54% (perfect balance between noise and efficiemcy IMO, temps = 50c idle, 59c max during 1hr of playing HL2).

More to come!

Do you have Crysis?  Do the included GPU and CPU benchmarks on High settings, though I wouldn't try 1080 for that.  If you don't have the retail product you can do it in the demo too.

Will deffinately throw some #'s up for Crysis, but later though... guess I'm kinda buildin up to it.

HL2:Lost Coast, all settings high, reflect world, color correction disabled, v-sync disabled, 0xAA, trilinear, full HDR, 1920 x 1080 = 114 fps

 I thought Lost coast was a informational demo. Well looks good better than my rig.

Lightsmark 2007, 1920 x 1080 = 322 fps

3Dmark06, default settings/1280 x 1024 = 10,335 (XP w/ SP3)