Legit Reviews

Hi i'm building a computer for gaming and make the noise level to a minimum. i would like you guys to asses if it is good enough for gaming

Computer Specs
MOtherboard Type:
Asus P5K-VM motherboard(http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/pro ... s_id=25290)
Value:$189.20

CPU:
Intel CORE 2 DUO E4400/ 2.00GHz/ 2MB CACHE/ 800FSB/ LGA775(http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/pro ... s_id=23492)
Value:$148.00

CPU HEATSINK:
Gigabyte Rocket Cooler Pro(http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/pro ... s_id=13116)
Value:$82.50

RAM:
Kingston DDR2 2GB (2x1GB) 667Mhz Non-ECC CL5 DIMM Value Ram(http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/pro ... s_id=23471)
Value:$119.00

Graphics Card:
ASUS EAH2400PRO-HTP-256 Radeon HD2400PRO, 256MB, DDR2, 64bit, PCIEx16, VGA, HDTV, DVI, HDCP(http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/pro ... s_id=25419)
Value:$101.20

HardDrive:
Seagate Barracuda 320Gb 7200RPM 16Mb SATA 2(http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/pro ... s_id=18224) X2
Value:$95 x 2 = $180

Optical Drive:
Pioneer DVR-212D SATA DVD Re-Writer (18x/8x Dual Layer Black)(http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/pro ... s_id=23615)
Value:$51.70 x 2 =$103.40

Case:
Antec Sonata III Quiet Super Mini Tower(http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/pro ... s_id=24490)
Value:$185.80

EXTRA COMPONENTS:
Router:
D-Link DI-624 108Mbps Wireless IP Router with 4-Port 10/100 Switch(http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/pro ... s_id=14572)
Value:$96.80

Adapters:
D-Link DWL-G520 108Mbps Wireless PCI Adapter(http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/pro ... s_id=14527)
Value:$52.80

Monitor:
Samsung 19" 940N SILVER LCD(http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/pro ... s_id=24445)
value:$290.40

Fan:
Antec "TriCool" 120mm Case Fan(http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/pro ... s_id=11510)
Value:$25.30

Speakers:(Depending on Budget)
1st Preference:Logitech Z5400 $304 @ MSY (http://www.mrgadget.com.au/catalog/logi ... -2221.html)
2nd Preference:Altec Lansing GT5051 Speakers $127.60(http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/pro ... s_id=18626)
3rd Preference:Logitech Z530 $86.90 (http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/pro ... s_id=18626)

depends what games you play. 2400 isn't gonna be that good

mm then what graphics card would i be needing?

Well its hard to say. Dx10 will get upgraded to Dx10.1 soon. Current cards are not compatible/fully compatible, so even though that Ms says the DX10.1 games will be playing on DX10 cards, you might be missing some eyecandy. I believe a good older generation card is better, you wont have to pay big bucks and you will have great performance. Besides, i believe new cards are expected already (with dx10.1 pcie 2.0 etc). To play dx10 you need a serious card...
In example my 8600GTS didnt cope very well with the Demo of World in Conflict (DX10), in fact the performance was awfull. Take into account that games will keep on supporting dx9 for some time. (in example World in conflict plays on both dx10 and dx9).

If you want serious dx10 ati 2600xt or nv 8600gts i believe would be the absolute minimum, to what i saw with the later they will just be able to play them (average fps 10!! 1280x1024@medium...!!wtf?! drivers something else i dont know).

If you need value hardware, i believe you should go for a dx9 card for now.

mmm thank you for your very thoughtful explanation helped me alot. i only play wow(use to),dota and cs and sometimes just random games that come out eg battlefield f.e.a.r and stuff

http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/pro ... s_id=24602
or
http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/pro ... s_id=26356

would they be anygood if not then i'm just going back to the dx9 because this computer is to be built for me to play games after i finish my studies/holidays which is soon =D

the one i hav right now..sometimes i just want to snap it in half http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/pro ... ts_id=3162

Check this out:
http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_ ... &chart=277
C'mon 9600pro is a nice card . I used to have this one (sapphire though) before upgrading. It wasnt that bad for its age.. And with a bit of overclocking it was ok still.
Anyway the problem with some of the new cards like x2600,8600gt/gts is that they have low memory bus (128bit).. So they kinda suck a high res, AA, AF..
How about a X1950?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi ... n+X1950PRO
You could also buy it cheap second hand. Otherwise, if you are after dx10 you will have to pay more for the same performance! Plus in few months you will have to change again for dx10.1 if you want the full potential.. Doesn't really worth it today in my opinion.

One more think, why P5k-VM?? Do you need a mini-atx motherboard with on board graphics? A P5K (plain) will be much better... and It will overclock far more. (I had p5B-VM and i would max out my C2D E4300 at 2~2.2G.. Now with a normal mobo its running at 3Ghz undervolted )
I believe p5k-vm and p5k have more or less the same price.
Does anyone know if that gigabyte cooler is good?

hmmm now i dont know which graphics card to get if you dont mind..going to this site http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/def ... 1&cPath=26 and suggesting a good graphics card that supports dx10 thats under $200 if not then i'll just go back to dx9 ^^ thanks for your help

as for the motherboard i dont really know which one to get to be honest... i thought the p5-vm would be good because my friends computer has this one and its pretty good its so fast my current motherboard p5p800s is doing well but i thought i would try something better to suit dual core...

p5k mmmm i will consider that but i dont really know how to or have overclocked my computer =S thanks once again

Wow isn't very graphically demanding and runs full tilt using dx9 and most any 8 series card, even if you use AGP. My oldest computer is a p4 3.0 ghz, 1 gb ram, geforce 7600gs agp, and it runs WoW at over 40 fps on highest settings.

Now if you decide to run a game more demanding, say like Vanguard, then its a completely different story entirely.