January 23, 2008
-
Game Machine Vol. 2
A few years has passed since I built my previous machine and now it is a good time for an overhaul. I’ve been itching to play the latest games like it is meant to be played, at the highest quality. After much research and shopping I am set on these components:
- DFI BloodIron P35-T2RL LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard
- Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz
- Crucial Ballistix Tracer 2GB (2 x 1GB) PC2 6400 – BL2KIT12864AL804
- Coolmax CU-600T 600W Power Supply
- Western Digital 74GB 7200 RPM SATA (Boot drive)
- Western Digital Caviar RE 160GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA
- MSI NX8800GT-T2D512E OC Geforce 8800 GT 512MB
The gaming experience is awesome! Love the Ballistix Tracer RAMs, the LEDs that light up are pretty psychedelic when it’s busy. I’m never really a big fan of using RAID in my game machines, I like to keep it simple. A 10,000 RPM drive would be nice but it is almost 3 times more expensive, I’ll keep the money saved to buy games with.
I’ve also heard there are issues with the fan’s auto setting in the 8800GTs, the speed doesn’t increase when you’re playing a game and it’s true so keep an eye on the temperature. Many have reported games freezing and/or crashing when playing for more than 30 minutes because of overheating. You’re best to download nTune and manually set the fan speed for now until an update have been released. Also the latest NVIDIA driver didn’t cause a BSOD on Vista as I mentioned in my previous blog so I’m relieved.
The power supply is decently quiet and it has a weird smell coming out of it. Kind of like that new car smell except not quite as good. The SATA power cables is way too short even though I have a mid tower.
So far so good and everything is running smoothly as expected. Another fine machine built without breaking the bank.
Comments (26)
What was the total cost?
I wish I had a game machine.
I wish I had time (and the knowledge) to build a game machine.
I wish I had time to play games. Curse your, higher level education! When will you leave me alone?!?
@dan - It was a little over $800
Wow, a little over $800? My gaming machine could use a dire upgrade. This Athlon 64 just isn’t what is used to be. /cry
Sweet system Jon! So what are you going to play first on it?
cool i going to soon try to build me a computer
@adam - CoD 4 ohhh yeaaaaa
Jon, you’re a genius. When you take over the world, please make me your secret service captain or something.
Last year, I was looking at really kick-ass machines, like with 2GB of RAM, Duo 2.66 GHz Processors, I don’t remember how much disk space, but let’s just say it was around 9,000,000 terabytes. That, plus graphics cards, speakers… mouse… keyboard… a monitor I think…
Anyhow, the point is, it was nice. NICE. Also 1,200 dolla. You already know all this. Why am I saying this? Because I’m saying that building your own computer is way more smarterer than buying one from those money-grubbing swine at Intel. Word.
RYC: Thank you.
@Amandasbiggestfan - hahaha, i’ll keep that in mind if that happens. building a computer is easy, the hard part is what do you do if something doesn’t work and can you fix it yourself.
Wow, that’s awesome, really. It would probably take me 100 or more years to build one of those because I’m not tech savvy.
Thanks for your comment on my blog. It made me smile.
I hope you have a wonderful day!
ryc: You seem excited for the end of the world. I’m excited too. I hope that there are lots of good end-of-the-world parties.
Do I know you? Which picture did you like best?
@alwaysamy - You don’t know me but I saw your pictures in the featured photos. I like the robots with a heart
reminds me of the tin man in Wizard of Oz.
@Jon - Weird. I didn’t know they were in the featured section at all. I’m glad you liked them. I totally had a blast making them.
& though I never thought of the Wizard of OZ myself, I can see that. Thanks for dropping by.
I agree with the comment you left on my blog. If all people helped others, it would be so AWESOME. I’m a huge fan of superheroes. Even though they’re not real, I still like them. I wish all people would take the time to help others.
By the way, I’m sorry if I left any rude comments in the past. It’s totally not like me to be rude to other people or make fun of the things they like just because I’m not interested in the same things that they’re interested in. If you laughed at my comments then that’s cool. I just wanted to apologize in advance and I hope your feelings weren’t hurt.
@desert_roses19 - i don’t remember you leaving me any rude comments so it’s all good
Jon, you’re my personal hero.
Hello Jon,
You worked hard to make your site so simple yet elegant. The pictures are a nice touch. I see that you have lofty ambitions!
I want to help people to really know why these are troubled times and what God intends to do about the people causing the world’s problems: “And those slain by Jehovah will certainly come to be in that day from one end of the earth clear to the other end of the earth. They will not be bewailed, neither will they be gathered up or be buried. As manure on the surface of the ground they will become.” (Jeremiah 25:33) (YLT) I like to write articles about God and religion on my site. I hope you get a chance to look at them.
Is That………… A Real Live………….. Warp Engine?!?!?!?
Sorries, I Couldnt Help The Star Trek Reference… -.-’
@HungLho - Hahaha, it does kind of look like the warp core.
@Jon - If Only It Were Really Real…
nice.
but i’m just sticking to console for now.
taking little break there and there playing.
its a bit pricy on the tag.
i have all my components orders and they are in the corner of my room waiting to be built. and it will be as soon as my midterms are over. i cannot wait. i built my first one over ~8years ago and it is high time for an overhaul. and of course i am going to blog about it once i am done !
http://www.xanga.com/owbert/636269609/big-pimping.html holler! i picked up 4gb (4x1gb) of the tracer since there was a sale =X kind of splurged on that part.
p/s.: i cant wait for starcraft2. are you into rpg games or shooter games? own a xbox360 or heard of the game masseffect? it is being ported to the PC and i highly recommend the game if you havent had a chance. they have alrdy started on the sequel (it is going to be a triliogy), and , also, i cannot wait for part 2.
p/s.: a new macross, the anime, series has been release. its called macross the frontier. the first episode is up for grabs on Bitorrent.
@owbert - cool it’s going to be awesome building a new game machine. i play all type of games but i’m more of a shooter guy, i do play rts but i have a hard time getting into them. starcraft 2 looks awesome but i’m sure i’ll stop playing that after a few weeks. i don’t have a xbox 360 but i’ll probably buy a ps3. i heard of mass effect but didn’t play it, maybe i’ll give that a try.
Ahh, real PC’s doing real things
Not sure if my next custom project is to build a PC in a fishtank full of mineral oil or to put an Xbox 360 into the new, super-sexy Lian-Li case and then water cool it for extra points.