The next-gen Baumaxx Beast? Coming Soon?
Posted: 27 Jul 2008, 08:50
Remember how my comp died a while back?
Well... I had to replace the mobo cos that failed, rendering the CPU, RAM and GFX incompatible, so I got some 2gb DDR 2 RAM, a cheap 8600GT 512mb that my friend used for a month while waiting for his 9800, and an E2180.
It's alright for my puny 17"... can push medium setting on newer games, and high on some lower or less intensive ones. However... I will be dropping some cash on a BenQ E2200HD 21.5" 16:9 Full Hi-Definition monitor, as the 17" is lame and I want to be able to multi-task for uni... so have a few windows open on the same screen like a translator + word, or encyclopaedia + word, etc. Also, it'll be much nicer and I can plug my headphones into the side rather than getting on my knees. It also appears to be a good quality monitor in terms of colours and blacks and that.
A Logitech G15 and Mx518 Gaming are other goodies. As one of my keyboard stands is broken and it's held up by a mint tin. It's pretty crap equipment anyway.
However... there are significantly more pixels to render now... and my hardware won't really cope.
So... going for this:
Motherboard Gigabyte EP45 DS3L 164
CPU Intel Q6600 295
RAM 4GB G.Skill DDR2 RAM 800 115
Master HDD WD SATA 400GB 79
Secondary HDD WD SATA 400GB 79
GFX Card ATI HD 4870 512 MB Asus 355
DVD Burner 20x Pioneer SATA 34
Case Antec 900 190
PSU Seasonic PSR650+ 158
TV Leadtek DTV1000 54
Keyboard Logitec G15 89
Mouse Logitec MX518 Gaming 33
Monitor BenQ E2200HD 22" 2ms Wide 239
OS Vista Home Premium 165
Total: 2049
Prices are in Australian Dollars, and getting the gear at http://www.msy.com.au
There isn't anywhere cheaper locally.
I've already put a fair bit of thought into the pack and gotten some advice. Now I just need the cash. I have it actually... but I'm trying to avoid taking cash out of my savings account. Don't want to stretch the budget any further. No point really; this is good stuff.
A bit of a graduation gift from myself, as I haven't spent much over the past year. Also gives me something to relax at after coming home from the factory (Working for dad until I find another job... It'll be a bit difficult, as I won't be home during Christmas and New Year... so no one would hire me, lol).
So yeah, this is basically to replace a 5.Y.O. system. Why not upgrade what I have now again? HDDs are old, IDE, and not benefit much from doing a full system wipe and getting a SATA one, just a waste of time. Space... I can't fit the larger GFX cards in there and this case doesn't cool well. Not that the 450watt PSU will hold up. The CPU isn't great... The mobo is a cheap M-ATX
Yeah... see... I'll be better off with a new rig as I'd probably only be keeping the DVD drive and the TV card off the current one, lol.
Plus, second PC would be handy... want it as a media centre in my room.
Well... I had to replace the mobo cos that failed, rendering the CPU, RAM and GFX incompatible, so I got some 2gb DDR 2 RAM, a cheap 8600GT 512mb that my friend used for a month while waiting for his 9800, and an E2180.
It's alright for my puny 17"... can push medium setting on newer games, and high on some lower or less intensive ones. However... I will be dropping some cash on a BenQ E2200HD 21.5" 16:9 Full Hi-Definition monitor, as the 17" is lame and I want to be able to multi-task for uni... so have a few windows open on the same screen like a translator + word, or encyclopaedia + word, etc. Also, it'll be much nicer and I can plug my headphones into the side rather than getting on my knees. It also appears to be a good quality monitor in terms of colours and blacks and that.
A Logitech G15 and Mx518 Gaming are other goodies. As one of my keyboard stands is broken and it's held up by a mint tin. It's pretty crap equipment anyway.
However... there are significantly more pixels to render now... and my hardware won't really cope.
So... going for this:
Motherboard Gigabyte EP45 DS3L 164
CPU Intel Q6600 295
RAM 4GB G.Skill DDR2 RAM 800 115
Master HDD WD SATA 400GB 79
Secondary HDD WD SATA 400GB 79
GFX Card ATI HD 4870 512 MB Asus 355
DVD Burner 20x Pioneer SATA 34
Case Antec 900 190
PSU Seasonic PSR650+ 158
TV Leadtek DTV1000 54
Keyboard Logitec G15 89
Mouse Logitec MX518 Gaming 33
Monitor BenQ E2200HD 22" 2ms Wide 239
OS Vista Home Premium 165
Total: 2049
Prices are in Australian Dollars, and getting the gear at http://www.msy.com.au
There isn't anywhere cheaper locally.
I've already put a fair bit of thought into the pack and gotten some advice. Now I just need the cash. I have it actually... but I'm trying to avoid taking cash out of my savings account. Don't want to stretch the budget any further. No point really; this is good stuff.
A bit of a graduation gift from myself, as I haven't spent much over the past year. Also gives me something to relax at after coming home from the factory (Working for dad until I find another job... It'll be a bit difficult, as I won't be home during Christmas and New Year... so no one would hire me, lol).
So yeah, this is basically to replace a 5.Y.O. system. Why not upgrade what I have now again? HDDs are old, IDE, and not benefit much from doing a full system wipe and getting a SATA one, just a waste of time. Space... I can't fit the larger GFX cards in there and this case doesn't cool well. Not that the 450watt PSU will hold up. The CPU isn't great... The mobo is a cheap M-ATX
Yeah... see... I'll be better off with a new rig as I'd probably only be keeping the DVD drive and the TV card off the current one, lol.
Plus, second PC would be handy... want it as a media centre in my room.