think i could run half life 2 on this thing?

um, just get virtual pc

TreeHugger said:

um, just get virtual pc

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Even with a Dual 2.5 with 8GB RAM and 6800 Ultra, you'd wont be able to run it.

You'll be able to run it flawlessly. I broke down for Sid Meier's Pirates! (and HL2 to a lesser extent), and built this, attempting to make a relatively cheap system (general specs, I can't remember specifics):

Athlon 64 939 3000+
Asus Mobo
512 MB Crucial RAM
Radeon 9600 XT 256 MB
Seagate 160 GB HD

I have the settings turned way up - highest for everything, 4x AA and AF. The problems I notice are stuttering, but not as a result of CPU or vid card - rather I think 512 isn't enough RAM, because it seems to be paging the HD and not actually decreasing framerate - and long load times - again a result of 512 RAM I believe. CS: Source is amazing, I have the settings turned up in that as well (highest, 4x AA and AF). This is DX9 of course, and amazing.

Your specs outweigh mine, and you have double the RAM. Be sure to buy Sid Meier's Pirates! And perhaps play around with linux on that box (just put Fedora Core 3 on mine and got it on the internet). However, I type this from my Mac of course. Good luck!

Those sound like pretty decent specs....

I have played and beaten HL2 with pretty much the same specs (1.5GB PC2700 RAM, Radeon 9800 pro) only I have an older processor (an Athlon XP 2000+). I get a few hiccups sometimes, mostly due to the bugs they had in HL2 (I heard they fixed most of them), but still plenty playable. The Athlon 64 is a great gaming chip and with the Radeon card I think you'll be pretty content with those parts.

This your first homebuilt?

I think there is a marginal increase in the fps you will get with the 939pin 90nm chips, but are you willing to pay $30-40 more for it?. Check out [Tom's Hardware] for more info and benchmarks on the differences between 754 and 939pin processors. If you do decide to go the 939 route, [here] are some reviews of several 939pin mobos.

As for the PCI express/AGP debate. AGP isn't going away for a while and I think you're safe for at least another year. If you want to really future proof it, then go PCI Express, but be ready to pay for a mobo and video card that supports it.

Good luck with the build! I had some trouble at first, but it turned out pretty well. Going to be building my 2nd machine in a couple months here with some updated parts (Athlon64 3200+ 90nm 939pin, MSI K8N Neo Platinum mobo, 1GB Dual channel RAM)

My Windows game console(what else is a Windows PC good for?) is an AlthonXP 1700+, 384MB RAM, and a 256MB Radeon 9250, and it runs HL2 fine. It can even run Doom 3(although not quite as well.) That's even with the video card being PCI.

Tehehe. NICE. Should run beautifully. Outta try Doom 3 too. Awesome game, im running it on a Duron 900 with 768 MB of RAM and a Radeon 9600 (Soon to be a Athlon XP 2400+) and I average 20-40 FPS, and this is using a 900 MHZ! Your computer, should run Half Life 2, and any other game you toss at it, smoothly and beautifully.

But to really experience the beauty of HL2 with all the graphics and effects turned up, stick with beefier components

Yea, it'll run just fine. Played it at 1280x1024 on our PC:

2.6GHz P4 with HT
512MB PC2700 (2x256)
nVidia 5600 Ultra AGP 8x

What other specs ya need?

Go Socket 939

Go socket 939. The reason why is when you want to upgrade the processor the fastest socket 754 is the AMD Athlon 64 3700+. AMD has said that all new AMD Athlon 64 Processors are going to be socket 939. Moreover, the socket 939 features a 2000 MT/s system bus whereas the socket 754 features a 1600 MT/s system bus.

I say go AMD Athlon 64 3500+, Socket 939!

go for a 6600 gt, it's faster...

You said something about a place to get the components and i would recomend newegg.com. I have used them before and they are an excellent buisness. Some components you can probably find for cheaper, but newegg is very reputable.

ProjektJ said:

go for a 6600 gt, it's faster...

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I agree - significantly faster with things like AA and Ansio filtering on. About the same price too.

carlos700 said:

Go socket 939. The reason why is when you want to upgrade the processor the fastest socket 754 is the AMD Athlon 64 3700+. AMD has said that all new AMD Athlon 64 Processors are going to be socket 939. Moreover, the socket 939 features a 2000 MT/s system bus whereas the socket 754 features a 1600 MT/s system bus.

I say go AMD Athlon 64 3500+, Socket 939!

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The main advantage of 939 is that it runs dual channel memory, whereas the 754 is only single channel. Also the price difference now is neglicable and 939 ensures easier upgrades in the future.

I have one word for anyone considering building a PC:

Pricewatch

As carlos700 said, go a for a socket 939 motherboard. AMD has said that that is the future socket for the AMD 64. And buying a AMD 64 3500 and using it at stock speeds is a waste. Get 3000 and overclock it to 3500-3600 speeds. Buying a sound card would be a much better investment.

And a 6600 GT would be a much better investment for a video card as ProjektJ said.

BoardCertified said:

I have one word for anyone considering building a PC:

Pricewatch

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While Pricewatch has been around for quite a while some of the companies have not. You always need to check the reseller ratings (accept only 90% and above) before you even go to the website. This way you avoid those long-stretched out processes where you try to buy a product and then you notice its out of stock. Shady/dodgey companies will NOT refund your money sometimes, so again, 90% reseller rating or above. I don't care how good the price is, value your credit/checkbook/money.

will some one please buy my gaming rig and give it a good home its been sittin on the floor lookin all sad for the past 5 weeks....

Muskyto3 said:

will some one please buy my gaming rig and give it a good home its been sittin on the floor lookin all sad for the past 5 weeks....

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Depends if you got a Winchester core + Samsung TCCD w/ Brainpower PCBs in that rig. If its anything less than that, its not big enough of a jump for me.