building a new PC

[svt_lightning]

Hello everyone I am not new at play emulation games, but I love playing them so much I want to make a PC and play them on my new LCD tv and I have a built going on but I need some help I need the right GPU and the right MOBO (motherboard). Now might I add the highest bit of games I will be playing are dreamcast emulator and the lowest bits are NES and all the others like Mame and so forth. My question is what kind of graphics card will I need just to play those kinds of game? and connect to my Tv here is a sample what I have plained out for my built so far

 

CPU=Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor $83

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16819116072

 

RAM=OCZ Platinum Revision 2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit $39

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820227139

 

now here is where it gets tricky for me I need to know what kind of graphics card I need nothing fancy or top of the line just something that will do the job and run my dreamcast games smooth and the other emu. I was thinking something like this but I'm not sure

 

JATON VIDEO-PX9500GT-LX GeForce 9500 GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 SLI Supported Video Card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814139036

 

but then I need a MOBO that will support that ^^GPU above please I need some advice plus anything else I need to change like the ram maybe

[emsley]

Hang on till cinder sees this hes like a mountain of information for all things hardware.

[svt_lightning]

Hang on till cinder sees this hes like a mountain of information for all things hardware.

 

thanks I will wait just I don't want to waste money for something I"m not going to use at it's max potential

[ken_cinder]

What is your budget?

I can make a few motherboard suggestions based on the hardware you picked, but if your budget permits (or isn't a big issue) you're going to want to futureproof yourself with a quad core/ddr3 capable motherboard.

 

In the case your budget isn't a big issue, I'd recommend other parts beyond the video card. Socket 775 has been surpassed by 1366 now.

[svt_lightning]

What is your budget?

I can make a few motherboard suggestions based on the hardware you picked, but if your budget permits (or isn't a big issue) you're going to want to futureproof yourself with a quad core/ddr3 capable motherboard.

 

In the case your budget isn't a big issue, I'd recommend other parts beyond the video card. Socket 775 has been surpassed by 1366 now.

 

I might as well show you what I was thinking of getting with the CPU I choose

 

MOBO=GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard $100

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813128345

 

GPU=GIGABYTE GV-R467D3-512I Radeon HD 4670 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card $76

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814125244

 

I was thinking about this MOBO and GPU^^ right here I don't want anything fancy the highest emulation I will be playing is I think dreamcast or PSX my price range for my build is around 500-600 dollars I like to spend 100 or less on the MOBO

[svt_lightning]

here is the rest of my setup so you can see what I"m working with

 

HDD=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148262 $55

 

Burn=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171 $25

 

case=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042 $50

 

OS=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116511 $90

 

now the PSU I'm not sure yet b/c of how much W... I will be needing

[svt_lightning]

just let me know if I got everything good I want to know how you guys feel about my setup

[ken_cinder]

Ok well you listed an NvIdia SLi capable video card in your first post, and then an ATi Radeon (Crossfire) in your next.

Do you care to ever run 2+ video cards? If you do, you're gonna have to pick SLi (NvIdia) or Crossfire (ATi)

 

As for your motherboard selections, I'd personally stay away from Gigabyte. They're cheap, for a reason.

 

My top 3 pics:

 

#1: Asus - You can get good boards, for good money or great boards for......well you get it. Nothing "budget" here

 

#2: DFI - You should probably stay away from DFI, they really only make enthusiast boards these days.......$$

 

#3: MSI - Good quality, budget boards. Don't go with for a Crossfire or SLi setup, spend the $ on a solid board

[svt_lightning]

Ok well you listed an NvIdia SLi capable video card in your first post, and then an ATi Radeon (Crossfire) in your next.

Do you care to ever run 2+ video cards? If you do, you're gonna have to pick SLi (NvIdia) or Crossfire (ATi)

 

As for your motherboard selections, I'd personally stay away from Gigabyte. They're cheap, for a reason.

 

My top 3 pics:

 

#1: Asus - You can get good boards, for good money or great boards for......well you get it. Nothing "budget" here

 

#2: DFI - You should probably stay away from DFI, they really only make enthusiast boards these days.......$$

 

#3: MSI - Good quality, budget boards. Don't go with for a Crossfire or SLi setup, spend the $ on a solid board

 

ya my mistake I didn't want the nvidia card I was thinking the ATX one however you tell me b/c I just you guys more b/c of what I want to use it for connecting my tv and playing emul games online

 

give me an example of a good build around 500-650

[ken_cinder]

Go with an ATi card if your plans are TV out, ATi has always been better in that department.

 

In that case, with the other parts you picked I'd suggest these motherboards.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813131288 - $54.99 (Damn, you really can't go wrong here. Supports everything you've chosen and more)

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813130217 - $44.99 ($10 cheaper than the Asus, but missing more than $10 worth of features, and not as scalable as the Asus board.)

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813136038 - $109 (DFI's cheapest offering on Newegg, and it offers less than the Asus board does in every relevant category except SATA ports [6 versus the Asus 3])

 

I honestly think the Asus is the best buy here.

 

As for PSU - 700w or more, with at least 40 amps on the 12v rail (36 amps on at least 1 rail if more than one 12v rail). Check the technical specs on PSU's to determine this. This will ensure you have plenty of power when you decide to add more hard drives or a video card that is even more power hungry in the future.

 

Note: Boards with onboard video can and should be disabled when running a PCI-Express card, they share system RAM. Onboard video isn't such a taboo, and should your card die on you, you can still use your system in the meantime.

[svt_lightning]

Go with an ATi card if your plans are TV out, ATi has always been better in that department.

 

In that case, with the other parts you picked I'd suggest these motherboards.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813131288 - $54.99 (Damn, you really can't go wrong here. Supports everything you've chosen and more)

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813130217 - $44.99 ($10 cheaper than the Asus, but missing more than $10 worth of features, and not as scalable as the Asus board.)

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813136038 - $109 (DFI's cheapest offering on Newegg, and it offers less than the Asus board does in every relevant category except SATA ports [6 versus the Asus 3])

 

I honestly think the Asus is the best buy here.

 

As for PSU - 700w or more, with at least 40 amps on the 12v rail (36 amps on at least 1 rail if more than one 12v rail). Check the technical specs on PSU's to determine this. This will ensure you have plenty of power when you decide to add more hard drives or a video card that is even more power hungry in the future.

 

Note: Boards with onboard video can and should be disabled when running a PCI-Express card, they share system RAM. Onboard video isn't such a taboo, and should your card die on you, you can still use your system in the meantime.

 

I see you have AMD CPU how is that working out for you I have always used intel but never AMD. Would it work well for what I'm going to be using it for?

[svt_lightning]

will 2GB of ram be enough for me or would I need more?

[svt_lightning]

I try comparing what you have as your PC and what I'm buliding here and see how much do they compare to one another however as your going to see I cant find your CPU or your 80GB or 250GB HDD that your using but i think I'm pretty close to what you have here. Is your setup for extreme gaming? or just emulation? or other things?

 

CPU= cant find yours

 

MOBO=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131095

 

RAM=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211066

 

GPU=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102064

not sure if your using two of these or different ones

 

HDD= can't find yours

 

PSU=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102064

I'm guessing here

 

for the rest OS, case, burner not sure but those aren't important and how do you like your AMD 64? better then intel or same?

[svt_lightning]

well please tell me where and how much your CPU and HDD were I might look into your setup if you don't mind b/c here is my "setup" that I made and I want to see what will do the job for me and save me money in the long run.

 

CPU=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116072

 

MOBO=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131350

 

RAM=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211066

 

GPU=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125244

 

HDD=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148262

 

PSU=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182067

 

case=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042

 

now I'm not putting up wth XP-home or the burner b/c those are giving for me but my total with my setup is $631 including the XP and burner I like to be less if it's possible b/c I still need the key board and mouse plus bracket to hold my tv and HDMI cable. however how much do you think your setup cost? and which of the two setups are better I'm assuming yours b/c you know what your doing plus I think your doing more then just playing emulation gaming but if I can have your setup without some of the fancy stuff you might have which I might not need tell me heck I might save some cash man thanks!

[ken_cinder]

I built mine over a year ago, it's 'outdated' as far as current tech goes. And yes 2GB will do you just fine, you could put in 4GB (But know that with a 32bit OS, you won't see all 4GB)