Planetside Rig Suggestions

[Sentrosi]

Greetings one and all. Rbstr tasked me with putting up computer rig suggestions for those looking to gain the ultimate Planetside experience. I split up the suggestions based upon a budget scheme.

The low end will be for around $500 and will be for those working on a tight budget and want the best bang for the buck.

Middle end will be a budget of $1000. If you are looking for your first system, here is a nice place to start.

High end has a budget of around $1500. This is for the hardcore gamer who has either money from mom and dad or does not care how burned their credit card will get (or their credit rating!).

Systems over $1500? I personally do not think a customized PC should ever run more than this. With Alienware and FalconNorthwest you are paying for the name. Granted both of those companies do put out a really nice system, but for almost 3/4ths of their ultimate rigs you can have one that works just as well.

You may find that the suggestions I put up here do not meet with what you think is better. That is ok. These are suggestions, mostly for those people who come into the forum wondering what to upgrade or if they need to ditch their old PC for a new one. Ok, enough blabbering. Here are the recommendations;

None of these systems includes shipping and handling. All prices in American dollars.

Low end system (around $500)
CPU: AMD XP 2800+ ($81) Link (http://www.buyaib.com/amdatxp282sb.html)
CPU Fan/Heatsink: ThermalTake Volcano 9 ($12) Link (http://www.bestbargainpc.com/thvo9a1amdhe.html)
Motherboard: Asus A7N8X-X ($59) Link (http://216.71.46.69/store/product2.html)
RAM: 1 GB (512 x 2) Dual channel DDR PC2700 ($160) Link (http://www.komusa.com/noname.html)
Hard Drive: Hitachi 80Gb SATA ($60) Link (http://store.bestbargainpc.com/ibmhide80sa7.html)
Video Card: Radeon 9600XT ($131) Link (http://www.buyxg.com/store/item.asp?cat=120&id=681)
Optical Drive: LG Combo 52x32x52x and 16x DVD ($35)Link (http://store.compbus.us/lgco5216xdvd.html)
Total = $538

Middle end system (around $1000)
CPU: AMD64 3200+ ($230) Link (http://www.gameve.com/gve/Store/ProductDetails.aspx?sku=CPU-AMD64-0010)
CPU Fan/Heatsink: Zalman CNPS7000-CU ($39) Link (http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=130819&Category_Code=64Heatsinks)
Motherboard: MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum ($133) Link (http://www.pcdirect.com/product.asp?Sku=MBMSK8NNEO2%2DPL)
RAM: PDP 1Gb (512 x 2) Dual Channel DDR PC3200 ($195) Link (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-220-006&depa=1)
Hard Drive: Hitachi 160GB SATA ($97) Link (http://www.memorylabs.net/hitachi-hds722516vlsa80-13g0254-160gb-serial-ata-hdd-7200-rpm-8mb-buffer-bare-drive.html)
Video Card: eVGA GeForce 6800 ($275) Link (http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=190140&Category_Code=VC-EVGA)
Optical Drive: Lite-On 16X DVD Dual Drive, Model SOHW-1633S ($79) Link (http://www.24x7pc.com/cdromliteon.htm)
Total = $1048

High end system (around $1500)
CPU: Intel P4 - 550(3.4Ghz) LGA 775 ($270) Link (http://www.pcboost.com/store/viewitem.asp?idproduct=10442)
CPU Heatsink/Fan: Thermaktake Jungle 512 ($27) Link (http://www.censuspc.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=CL-P0037&Category_Code=SKT-T-LGA775)
Motherboard: ABIT AA8-DuraMAX i925X Chipset ($152) Link (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-127-180&depa=1)
RAM: 3x Geil 512Mb DDR2 PC4200 ($179 x 3 = $537) Link (http://www.memory-up.com/merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=M-533D-512GX5124300X)
Hard Drive #1: Hitachi 160Gb SATA ($97) Link (http://www.memorylabs.net/hitachi-hds722516vlsa80-13g0254-160gb-serial-ata-hdd-7200-rpm-8mb-buffer-bare-drive.html)
Hard Drive #2: 2x Hitachi 80GB SATA configured in a RAID 0 Array ($60 x 2 = $120) Link (http://store.bestbargainpc.com/ibmhide80sa7.html)
Video Card: Nvidia 6600gt ($215) Link (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-145-098&depa=1)
Optical Drive: Lite-On 16X DVD Dual Drive, Model SOHW-1633S ($79) Link (http://www.24x7pc.com/cdromliteon.htm)
Total = $1469

[Corrosion]

Why have a crap graphics card for the high end?

[Rbstr]

Fuck sorry coor i hit the edit post button instead of the quote button.

x600 = 9600 + PCIe i'd shoot for a PCIe 6800gt or x700xt/6600gt atleast

[Sentrosi]

That would have overblown the budget considerations. The budget considerations held me back a lot.

Agreed about the 6600GT though. Will fix link.

ATi x800XT PCI-E (http://www.allstarshop.com/shop/product.asp?pid=9709&sid=5V73RNFRW9MK9KDWJJV84A73RCC27RM4)
GeForce 6800 ULTRA PCI-E (http://www.gameve.com/gve/Store/ProductDetails.aspx?sku=VC-EVGA-057)

Bah. Rbstr, I'm PMing you the info on the 6600GT PCI-E. Add it into the list please. Thanks.

[Rbstr]

i would change the whole thing then to a cheaper AMD64 system to accomadate a nice big vidcard. It would pobalby end up better. You could still do PCI-e if you wanted as Nf4 paper launched this week.

You could use my system as a P4 example, it cost a bit over 1k(purchace price, probably less now), and runs ps nicley un oced at up to 250 fps, and in my configuration 60fps constanly w 4xAA 8xAF.

To be honest i do not like the current presscotts, hot, not so great OCing, not all the well performaing and Intell cant even ramp it to 4ghz(the netburst achitecture is supposed to ramp to 10). Untill the dual core chips 775(or perhaps the 2meg cache single cores) is not worth the money


EDIT: meh its hard to do a good top end system right now AMD/intel are not on the same page, and PCIe avalibility is sketchy i guess i'd leave it as is for now

[MattxMosh]

My suggestion, feel free to delete if you think t should be, but do a top end intel and a top end amd.

[Sentrosi]

I'll wait another month or so before I do a top end A64. As Rbstr said, the Nforce4s should be hitting the consumers in about a month. That will bring us PCI-x for AMD users.

It was tough to go with the SocketT, but I only did that because of the PCI-x.

[StrikerTek]

Just a suggestion on the high end system, I'd change the 1.5gb of RAM to 1gb, and spend the extra money on a 6800gt instead of the 6600gt. That should add up to around $1500, and will offer massively better performance in any other FPS and probably a good amount better in PS too.

[Rbstr]

i didn't notice that, yeah definently give it a gig and then a top o the line vidcard, that way it dual channels(very important in PS) aswell

[Biohazzard56]

I have less than a low end and I fucking own.

[Lise]

IMHO, it's a bad time to be doing system upgrades right now; with PCI-X coming out, the entire graphics card industry is in bedlam. I'd wait a few more months before doing a full computer rebuild.

[martyr]

i strongly disagree with a p4 in the high-end system. the amd 64fx chips far outperform any p4.

(posted from a dual-xeon)

[Rbstr]

IMHO, it's a bad time to be doing system upgrades right now; with PCI-X coming out, the entire graphics card industry is in bedlam. I'd wait a few more months before doing a full computer rebuild.
i totaly agree but this will get updated from time to time.

Also martyr i agree. 64fx for top end, 64 3500 or so for mid, and a northwood p4 for low

[StrikerTek]

64fx for top end, 64 3500 or so for mid, and a northwood p4 for low

Ouch. And I thought my northwood was still a mid range rig. It just got classified as low end.

Eh, I don't really care. With a 9800XT, it's more than enough to run HL2 at good settings. I have a hard time seeing the need for a higher powered 8x AGP card with PCI-Express starting to become more common.

[Electrofreak]

PCI-E isn't a viable alternative to AGP for a while yet.

[martyr]

still better off than my pci-x slots, grumble

[Hamma]

Anyone built the Hi End? if so how is it. (Dont ask me to go AMD)

[Rbstr]

it would get stomped compered to an AMD price Equivelent CPU/mainbaord(nf4).

to give you and example my 2.8 runs at 3.3 ghz and have a gig of ddr400, and a 6800gt. i run most everything at 4xAA 4xAF at 1280x1024 and full/just shy of full settings. Everything i play runs at 45fps or above(thats taken form farcry as my mobo broke so i can't play HL2 on it yet, or doom 3).

That system would probably be better.

[Hamma]

I just dont want to go AMD, Intel has always been good to me

[Sentrosi]

For anyone interested, the new xfx 6600GT has just released the 8x AGP. much better than the Radeon 9800pro at only about a $30 to $40 increase in price. Blew away on Far Cry and Doom3 Benchies.