A Builder's Guide to a Budget Game Machine

Zardon · Mar 28, 2003, 12:20 PM

Interesting article this...... Gamespy are offering help in building a budget game machine. Well that is if you class $1,800 as a budget system

Quote:

Of course, what "budget" means to you and to someone else is going to be totally different. I've seen suggested budget rigs that run anywhere from a low of approximately $800 to as high as $1,600 and upward. Personally, I don't consider $800 a realistic goal for creating a decently capable game machine (unless you limit your play to solitaire and hex-based war games). No, a budget system should be comprised of components at least a step or two above the minimum system requirements of the games you intend to play. That stated, I'm going to err toward the high end and make suggestions for corner cuttin' to accommodate those with fewer bucks, as well as a couple modifications you should consider if you have extra cash to invest. And, as with the Ultimate Game Machine, the component loadout presented here is more of a recommendation than a definitive list.

As for setting an upper spending limit, I've decided on a cap of $1,800 for a budget system. That falls pretty much in line with a cost ceiling in the $3,000 to $4,000 range selected for the Ultimate Game Machine. Accordingly, the goal is to come in at about half the cost, and that entails some significant compromises. However, the end result will still be a highly competent game system.

after you wade through the zillions of popups and flash advertisements read it here

digitalwanderer · Mar 28, 2003, 02:08 PM

What the heck is "budget" about that?!? I've always felt a 'budget game machine' should be under $1000, heck I just built a pretty decent one for $525 a couple weeks back....

Zardon · Mar 28, 2003, 02:31 PM

I agree..... seems alot of money for a budget system IMO.

Dom · Mar 28, 2003, 03:37 PM

$1,800, a budget for Bill Gates. Or is that just pocket change?

DriveEuro · Mar 28, 2003, 05:29 PM

$1800? Shit I added up what my rig is worth yesturday with my buddy. I got to about 1000$ without including shippnig in all of the items. So it was about 1100$ was put into this rig.

Matth · Mar 28, 2003, 05:41 PM

Advert in today's paper [UK]

From "Time Computers" (Time/Tiny/Colossus/MJN)
£799 inc vat (I think that's just the base unit)

Athlon 2600+
1024 Mb DDR2700 ram
160Gb HD (7200 rpm)
DVDRewriter (-R,-RW, CD-R)
DVD ROM
Geforce FX 128 Mb

Plus the usual - ethernet, modem, USB2

I thought the FX was hugely expensive?

DriveEuro · Mar 28, 2003, 05:47 PM

Why the hell would they put pc2700 in there? I know the CPUs speed is 166, but still.... And the FX? Bogus.

FuNsTeR · Mar 28, 2003, 10:22 PM

i wouldn't touch a Time Computers PC myself and several mates got the same system all 5 PCs were faulty and they were the pits to deal with south ayrshire trading standards has them on the blacklist of dodgy dealers

Mar 28, 2003, 02:08 PM	#2
digitalwanderer Colour Commentator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Highland, IN USA Posts: 5,620 Rep Power: 0	$1,800?!? What the heck is "budget" about that?!? I've always felt a 'budget game machine' should be under $1000, heck I just built a pretty decent one for $525 a couple weeks back.... __________________ WTF is up with the sigs?

Mar 28, 2003, 05:29 PM	#5
DriveEuro HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gurnee Illinois Posts: 4,677 Rep Power: 0	$1800? Shit I added up what my rig is worth yesturday with my buddy. I got to about 1000$ without including shippnig in all of the items. So it was about 1100$ was put into this rig. __________________ [color=orange]ASUS P4P800 Deluxe [color=black]-[/color] 2.4C --> 3300mhz [color=black]-[/color] Mushkin PC3200 at 220 5-2-2-2 (cpu limited) [color=black]-[/color] BBAti 9800Pro at 430/375 [/color] [color=black]3[/color][color=gray]D[/color]M[color=black]a[/color][color=gray]r[/color]k[color=yellow]01[/color] [color=black]3[/color][color=gray]D[/color]M[color=black]a[/color][color=gray]r[/color]k[color=yellow]03[/color] 16001200 12801024

Mar 28, 2003, 05:47 PM	#7
DriveEuro HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gurnee Illinois Posts: 4,677 Rep Power: 0	Why the hell would they put pc2700 in there? I know the CPUs speed is 166, but still.... And the FX? Bogus. __________________ [color=orange]ASUS P4P800 Deluxe [color=black]-[/color] 2.4C --> 3300mhz [color=black]-[/color] Mushkin PC3200 at 220 5-2-2-2 (cpu limited) [color=black]-[/color] BBAti 9800Pro at 430/375 [/color] [color=black]3[/color][color=gray]D[/color]M[color=black]a[/color][color=gray]r[/color]k[color=yellow]01[/color] [color=black]3[/color][color=gray]D[/color]M[color=black]a[/color][color=gray]r[/color]k[color=yellow]03[/color] 16001200 12801024

Mar 28, 2003, 10:22 PM	#8
FuNsTeR Caledonian and Proud Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Darkest Ayrshire Posts: 1,268 Rep Power: 76 System Specs	i wouldn't touch a Time Computers PC myself and several mates got the same system all 5 PCs were faulty and they were the pits to deal with south ayrshire trading standards has them on the blacklist of dodgy dealers __________________ "They say when you play a Microsoft CD backwards you can hear satanic messages ..... but that's nothing, if you play it forward it will install Windows"

Mar 28, 2003, 02:31 PM	Thread Starter #3
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 177	I agree..... seems alot of money for a budget system IMO.

Mar 28, 2003, 03:37 PM	#4
Dom DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 12,940 Rep Power: 0	$1,800, a budget for Bill Gates. Or is that just pocket change?

Mar 28, 2003, 05:41 PM	#6
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,409 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	Advert in today's paper [UK] From "Time Computers" (Time/Tiny/Colossus/MJN) £799 inc vat (I think that's just the base unit) Athlon 2600+ 1024 Mb DDR2700 ram 160Gb HD (7200 rpm) DVDRewriter (-R,-RW, CD-R) DVD ROM Geforce FX 128 Mb Plus the usual - ethernet, modem, USB2 I thought the FX was hugely expensive?